How To Reduce System Restore Space To Gain More Space On Disk

HOW TO REDUCE SYSTEM RESTORE SPACE TO GAIN MORE FREE SPACE ON DISK

System Restore is a component of Microsoft’s Windows Me and the later editions like Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems that allows rolling back of hardware drivers, system files, registry keys, installed programs, etc., to a previous state in the event of system crash or malfunction.

For instance, if the computer does not work normal after you installed a program, you can do a system restore to a date before the installation of that program. That would remove the program and also get your computer to a state when it was working fine.

System Restore takes a snapshot of the system files, drivers and settings each time a restore point is created. When too many system restore points are created that occupies a considerably huge disk space.

You can remove the older restore points to free that disk space or just restrict the space used. To do that:

1. Right Click on “My Computer”
2. Go to “Properties”

3. In the Window that appears, Click on “System Restore”. You would see the drives on the computer as “C:\” , “D:\” etc.

4. Highlight the drive where you would like to free up the disk space and then click on “Settings”

     5. In that window, under the disk space usage, use the scroll bar to reduce the disk space allocated for “System Restore”

     6.The default size is 12% of the disk space. You can increase or decrease it as needed

The computer has to be restarted for the changes to take effect.

Connect to Peripheral Devices with IrDA In Windows XP

Windows XP provides computers with the ability to connect to peripheral devices, such as printers and modems, by using infrared light, in the same way that a TV remote control sends signals. This is especially important to users of laptop and notebook computers, because they often need to easily connect to peripherals at a variety of locations. Use of infrared connections eliminates the need to carry the cumbersome and expensive cables that otherwise might be required. Under Windows XP, infrared connections are established by using the standards and protocols that are supported by the Infrared Data Association (IrDA).

Many new laptop and notebook computers support infrared connections. In addition, a wide range of peripheral devices, such as digital pagers, personal digital assistants, electronic cameras, organizers, cellular phones, and hand-held computers, are capable of infrared connections. If a device has an infrared transceiver, you will see a small, dark red window on it.

Requirements

• IrDA Support
• Synchronizing Data with ActiveSync

Verifying IrDA Support

1. Check for an infrared transceiver on each device that you want to connect (the transceiver appears as a small, dark red window).

2. Click Start–> click Control Panel–> and then double-click System.

3. Click the Hardware tab–> and then click Device Manager.

4. Double-click Infrared Devices. If your computer has an infrared transceiver, but Infrared Devices does not appear in Device Manager, you do not have an infrared device installed. For information about how to install an infrared device, view your computer’s documentation.

5. Verify that at least one infrared device is listed and that it is enabled. If an infrared device is installed but is not enabled, verify that it is installed correctly.

Establishing a Connection

1. Place your devices within one meter of each other.

2. Verify that the transceivers are pointing at each other. When the devices are correctly aligned, the icon appears on the taskbar.

Synchronizing Data with ActiveSync

If you are using Microsoft ActiveSync in conjunction with a device such as a Pocket PC-based device, use the following steps to establish a connection and synchronize data:

1. Click the ActiveSync icon on the taskbar–> and then click Connection Settings.

2. In the Connection Settings dialog box–> ensure that the Allow serial cable or infrared connection to this COM port check box is checked. If it is not, click to select it.

3. Click the infrared port.

4. Turn on your Pocket PC-based device (or similar device), and align its transceiver with your computer’s.

5. Click the Get Connected button to start a connection wizard .

6. On the Pocket PC-based device–> tap Start–> and then tap Connections.

7. Tap the IR icon on the Pocket PC-based device.

8. On your computer–> click the Next button in the connection wizard. The initial connection is created. 

After the initial connection is created, you can synchronize data between your Pocket PC-based device and your computer by turning on your computer and Pocket PC-based device and aligning the transceivers. From the Start menu on the Pocket PC-based device, tap Programs, tap Connections, and then tap the IR icon. For additional information about IrDA, click Start, click Help and Support, type irda, and then press ENTER.

How to increase the Virtual Memory

Virtual Memory is a Memory Management technique where a part of the hard disk can be used as RAM aimed at increasing the performance of the computer and also to allow better multitasking in the kernel.

 To increase the virtual memory

 
1. Right Click on “My Computer” and then click on “Properties”

5. Click on “Change” under “virtual Memory”4. In the “Performance Options” click on the “Advanced” tab 3. Click on the “Settings” under “Performance”2. In the “System Properties” window, choose “Advanced” tab

 

The computer has to be restarted for the changes to take effectIn this Window you would find the list of drives and the size of memory allocated out of each drives. You can set the size to be recommended or increase it as needed. The recommended minimum size is the same as 1.5 times the RAM on your computer, and 3 times that figure for the maximum size. For example, if you have 256 MB of RAM, the minimum size is 384 MB, and the maximum size is 1152 MB.

Uninstall Service Pack3 From RECOVERY CONSOLE In Windows XP

The following article will help you when you are unable to boot your computer including any of the Advanced Boot Menu after installing Service Pack 3

1. Boot to the Recovery Console using the Windows XP disc
2. Type in the Administrator if you are prompted to and then hit ENTER.
   Note: This Password is of the Local Administrator. If you have not set a password, just hit ENTER leaving the password space blank.

You would be taken to C:\WINDOWS\>

3. Type in cd $ntservicepackuninstall$ and hit ENTER
   You would be taken to C:\WINDOWS\$NTSERVICEPACKUNINSTALL$>
4. Now type in cd spuninst
   You would be taken to C:\WINDOWS\$NTSERVICEPACKUNINSTALL$\SPUNINST>
5. Now type in batch spuninst.txt and hit ENTER
6. Now the SP3 uninstallation will go on for about ten minutes and after it is complete, you would be taken back to C:\WINDOWS\$NTSERVICEPACKUNINSTALL$\SPUNINST>
7. Type Exit and hit ENTER

The computer would restart and take you to the desktop of Windows XP with Service Pack 2

WINDOWS ADVANCED OPTIONS MENU – Enable VGA Mode

The Windows Advanced Options Menu or the The Windows Advanced Boot Menu helps to boot the computer in safe mode, safe mode with networking, the DOS mode etc.

The primary objective of the The Windows Advanced Options Menu is to let the computer to boot with minimal drivers and services when there is any problem for the computer to boot normally.
One Important feature of the The Windows Advanced Options Menu is the Enable VGA Mode

The Enable VGA Mode option enables the computer to boot Winodws in normal mode but with 640 x 480 display mode using the current video driver installed on the computer like nvdia or ATI

The screen might look similar to the safe mode where VGA.sys video drivers are loaded. But in fact it is the current driver that is loaded.

In a nutshell, This mode helps you to get the computer booted even when the monitor is unable to display high resolution of your video.

Update or change a device driver In Windows XP

Ensure the latest device driver for each of the devices is loaded in Windows XP. Manufacturers frequently update their drivers to fix problems and take advantage of operating system features. These drivers are usually available from the manufacturer’s Web site, and Microsoft also maintains driver files for many devices on its Web sites.

Upon downloading drivers, read the manufacturer’s instructions before attempting to use the files to update the device. Often, downloaded driver files are compressed into a self-executing file that needs to be extracted in order to use the driver. In the Hardware Update Wizard, click to select the Have Disk option, then click the Browse button to locate the driver files.

Install a new driver from Device Manager

1. Double-click the type of device you want to update or change.

2. Right-click the specific device driver you want to update or change.

3. Click Update Driver to open the Hardware Update Wizard. Follow the wizard instructions.

Rolling back to a previous version of a driver

Use this feature if you encounter problems after you install a driver, such as error messages when you access the device, faulty behavior of the device, or even the inability to start Windows.

Windows XP provides this roll back to a previous, working, device driver:

1. Right-click the device for which the previous version of the driver is desired and then click Properties.

2. Click the Drivers tab.

3. Click Roll Back Driver.

Device Manager In Windows XP

Device Manager provides a graphical view of the hardware that is installed on the computer, as well as the device drivers and resources associated with that hardware. Using Device Manager provides a central point to change the way the hardware is configured and interacts with the computer’s microprocessor.


Using Device Manager to manage devices and their drivers require the following permissions, all of which are granted to Administrators:

1. The Load\Unload Drivers privilege.

2. The permissions needed to copy files to the system32\drivers directory.

3. The permissions needed to write settings to the registry.

Device Manager allows the following functionality:

1. Determine if the hardware on your computer is working properly.

2. Change hardware configuration settings.

3. Identify the device drivers that are loaded for each device and obtain information about each device
driver.

4. Change advanced settings and properties for devices.

5. Install updated device drivers.

6. Disable, enable, and uninstall devices.

7. Reinstall the previous version of a driver.

8. Identify device conflicts and manually configure resource settings.

9. Print a summary of the devices that are installed on your computer.

Typically, Device Manager is used to check the status of computer hardware and update device drivers on the computer. If you are an advanced user, and you have a thorough understanding of computer hardware, you can use Device Manager’s diagnostic features to resolve device conflicts, and change resource settings.

To access Device Manager, use any of the following methods:

1. Click Start–> click Run–> and then type devmgmt.msc.

Or

2. Right-click My Computer–> click Manage–> and then click Device Manager.

Or

3. Right-click My Computer–> click Properties–> click the Hardware tab–> and then click Device Manager.

4. Type the following command at a command prompt:

start devmgmt.msc

If you want to access Device Manager on a local or remote computer:

1. Click Start–> click Run–> and then type mmc.

2. Click Add/Remove Snap In on the File menu (or press CTRL+M)–> click Add–> and then click Device Manager.

When you use this procedure, a shortcut to Device Manager is created that you can use to open Device Manager.

Viewing information about a device driver

To get information about the driver for a device, perform the following steps:

1. Double-click the type of device you want to view.

2. Right-click the specific device and then click Properties.

3. On the Driver tab–> click Driver

Views and characteristics

The views and their characteristics are available in the following options with descriptions:

1. Devices by Type: displays devices by the type of device installed, such as Monitor or Mouse. The connection name is listed below the type.

2. Devices by Connection: displays devices by how they are connected in your computer. Each device is listed under the hardware to which it is connected. For example, if a small computer system interface (SCSI) card is listed, the devices attached to the SCSI card will be listed beneath it.

3. Resources by Type: displays the status of all allocated resources by the type of device using these resources. The resources are direct memory access (DMA), channels, input/output ports (I/O ports), interrupt request (IRQ), and memory addresses.

4. Resources by Connection: displays the status of all allocated resources by connection type. The resources are: DMA channels, I/O ports, IRQ, and memory addresses.

5. Show Hidden Devices: includes non-Plug and Play devices (devices with earlier Windows device drivers).

Configure Devices in Windows XP

Manually Configure Devices Using Device Manager.

When you install a non-Plug and Play device, the resource settings for the device are not automatically configured. Depending on the type of device that you are installing, you may have to manually configure these settings. Instructions for doing so should be supplied in the manual that came with your device.

Remember: Changing resource settings improperly can disable your hardware and cause your computer to malfunction or become inoperable. You should only change resource settings if you are certain that the new settings do not conflict with other hardware, or if a hardware manufacturer has provided you with specific resource settings for a device. Use caution before you use the following procedure.

To configure devices:

1. Click Start–> click Control Panel–> click Performance and Maintenance–> and then click System.

2. On the Hardware tab–> click Device Manager. Double-click the type of device you want to change.

3. Double-click the specific device you want to change. If the device has resources settings that you can change–> the Resources tab is visible.

4. Click the Resources tab–> and then click to clear the Use automatic settings check box. This check box might be unavailable if you have selected a non-Plug and Play device.

5. In Setting based on–> click the hardware configuration you want to change.

6. In the Resource settings box–> click the resource type you want to change in the Resource type column.

7. Click Change Setting–> and then type a new value for the resource type.

Connect to Wireless Network in Windows XP

Here is simple way to connect to wireless network in Windows XP using its built-in wireless zero configuration tool:

1) Go to Start–> click on Control Panel.

2) Control Panel window will appear. Double click on Network Connections.

3) Network Connections window will appear. Right click correct Wireless Network Connection by identifying correct wireless network adapter–> click View Available Wireless Networks.

4) Wireless Network Connection window will appear. Select the network you wish to connect–> click Connect.

5) If the network is one that supports Wireless Provisioning Services, such as a public wireless network or a corporate network, you might be asked to download additional files that will allow your computer to connect to the network.

a. If the Web site listed in the dialog box is one that you trust to provide you with this information–> click Download. Otherwise–> click Cancel and choose a different network to connect to.

b. Once the files are downloaded (or if they were previously downloaded), follow the instructions in the Wireless Network Registration Wizard

6) If the network you choose is security-enabled–> means requires authentication. One of the following will occur:

a. If the network key is automatically provided by your network or system administrator (that is, the network supports IEEE 802.1x), the connection will be made automatically.

b. If the network key is not automatically provided, type in the key.

7) You will get connected to wireless network.

Disable File Indexing in Windows XP

One of Windows XP useful features is the file indexing service. This extracts information from documents and other files on your hard drive and creates a “searchable keyword index”, which is used to make searching for files more efficient.

Follow the steps below to disbale file indexing:

1. Double click on My Computer–> located on the Desktop.

2. Right click on the C: drive.

3. Select Properties. You should see a window that resembles as below,

4. Uncheck the box next to Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching. A window will pop up asking where to apply the changes.

5. Select the bullet next to Apply changes to C:\, subfolders and files, and press OK.