HOW TO MANAGE ISO FILES ON WINDOWS XP

An ISO image (International Organization for Standardization) is an archive file known as a disc image of an optical disc, composed on the data contents of every written sector of an optical disc, including the optical disc file system. ISO images can be created through optical discs, or can be used to re-create optical disc’s using special software’s from different software vendors. ISO image files in general have a file extension of “.iso”
The most important characteristic of an “ISO image” is that it’s usually a CD image but it could be simply burned to various media’s such as a Compact Disc, Digital Video Disc or to a Blue ray Disc even by using special disc burning applications. Moreover’ it can also be used through any file archiver. ISO burning is now generally a native feature of modern home and business computer operating systems.

USING ISO FILES IN WINDOWS XP
If you are using Windows XP, then there is no standard support for the ISO files. These files however are pretty common as an alternative to installation CDs or DVDs. An ISO file is in general an image of a CD or DVD. You can use little specific CD Burning software to create a CD from an ISO file. Most of the time you might not looking to write a CD or DVD from the ISO file, you simply want to view the contents while the ISO file is on your hard disk. There are few software solutions available for this, which creates a virtual CD or DVD drive. You can then built the ISO file as a drive and view the contents of the ISO file. Most of these software solutions are commercial software, which means you need to pay something in order to use those software’s. If you do not need the fancy user interface, you can also use a virtual cd-rom utility created by Microsoft. It is called as the Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel, and can be downloaded for free from the official Microsoft web address.
An ISO file allows you to keep images of CDs and DVDs on your hard disk for backup purposes. You can always use ISO files to create images that you can burn to CDs or DVDs. Virtual drive emulators(a piece of hardware or software that permits a computer to run programs and process data designed for a different type of computer system) allow you to mount your ISO files in Windows XP.

SUGGESTING SOME SOFTWARE FOR USING ISO IMAGES IN WINXP:
Power ISO:
1. Download and install Power ISO from the internet and double click to open the program.
2. Click on “Mount” the program’s toolbar and select the option “Mount Image to Drive.”
3. Indicate the ISO file you would like to mount and then press the “OK” button.

Magic Disc:
1. Download and install Magic Disc from the website and double click to execute the software.
2. Right-click on the MagicDisc icon in Windows toolbar system tray and select the option “Virtual CD/DVD-ROM.”
3. Select any drive of the virtual drives that are listed and click on “Mount.” indicate the file that you are looking to mount
And then hit the “OK” button.

ISO Disk
1. Download and install ISO Disk from the website and run the application.
2. Select the option written as “Mount ISO Image as Visual Disk” tab and choose any drive from the listed virtual drives.
3. Click the “Open” button close to the drive’s name and select the file you wish to mount in the Open dialog that
Appears. Click “Open” to mount the ISO file image.

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How to find out Multiple copies of Windows XP on the same disk

How do you get rid of one Windows XP copy, when it have got two copies on the same disk?

Windows XP is one of the mainly popular operating systems from Microsoft, for use on personal computers, with home and business desktops, laptops, and media centers. Released in 2001, it is the descendant to both Windows2000 and Windows Me. In 2006, it was succeeded by Windows Vista. However, there may be certain times when the user ends up installing two copies of the operating system on the same disk.

Below are few steps on how to handle this situation:

• When do you end up with two copies of Windows XP?
• How to find out whether it has two copies?
• How to resolve this problem?

When do you end up with two copies of Windows XP?

Two copies of Windows XP on the same disk of system might be out of two reasons mainly. Often, the inexperienced user ends up making a general mistake and installs a second copy of the operating system in the system, on top of an already installed copy of Windows XP. Or, the original installation gets in use down by viruses or malware or set up computer for a dual-boot system.

How to find out if it has two copies?

In order to take out extra copy of Windows XP from the disk, first, determine whether it has one and where it is stored. Then find out if second copy of Windows XP is just left over from an over-written installation, or if it is, in fact, an entire second copy of Windows. This can be done by finding out if there are two ‘Windows’ folders on two different drives on computer. This folder contains all the important Windows files. The second folder will be the one located on the drive that does not have current Windows XP’s My Documents folder.

How to fix this issue?

After locating and understanding if it has a second copy of Windows XP, then restart the system and run the version of Windows XP that has to be in computer. Now, delete the ‘Windows’ folder for the version to get rid of. Then, right-click on ‘My Computer’ and choose the ‘Properties’ option. From the dialog box that pops up select the ‘Advanced’ tab, and then find the ‘Startup and Recovery’ section and choose the ‘Settings’ button. Now, click the ‘Edit’ button, which will open up a Notepad program. Find the line that reads “operating systems” and just below this line find lines that tell computer to offer the choice to boot to one of the Windows XP operating systems on computer. Delete the one which has to get rid off and save the “Boot.ini” file. At last, restart computer to complete the process.

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Drivers for Windows XP

If there is a problem with one of Windows XP Driver, here are few steps which can help in resolving this.

Causes

The driver might be the ultimate cause of instability in computer. However, the procedure of troubleshooting a driver begins with checking the hardware for compatibility. Hardware running Windows XP must be compatible with that operating system. Specialized software is used to check the hardware in a computer for compatibility with hardware. Such software as Driver Verifier will check that the driver is corrupted or not (a corrupt driver could crash a computer). The user will open Verifier.exe, and then reboot the computer’s operating system. No other action is required to begin the analysis procedure.

Running operating system in normal mode

Find out, update, rollback or uninstall is only possible if the Device Manager is running (rather than opening the Display Properties). Click on the Start Menu button to use “Settings.” when “Settings” is open, click on the Control Panel. To check the hardware, double-click on “System” and then click on “Hardware.” Click “Device Manager.” In order to view other display adapters, click on the plus sign. This is to locate a video adapter. Double-click on the video-adapter driver to launch tabs. To troubleshoot the driver, click “Troubleshoot” on the common tab.

Device manager

If the video-adapter driver is causing the operating system failure, the driver can be removed from the Device Manager. After locating the driver in the Device Manager window, double-click on the driver to launch the options for that driver (Driver tab). On the driver tab, choose the “Uninstall” option. However, if the driver is simply out-of-date, select “Update Driver” from the similar driver tab. And also roll back a driver to a earlier version by selecting “Roll Back Driver.”

Safe Mode

Running operating system in Safe Mode will prevent the execution of the video-adapter driver during troubleshooting (The Vga Save continues to function in Safe Mode, allowing for the Windows XP system to show the current screen while troubleshooting the driver). The disadvantage of troubleshooting in Safe Mode is that the screen resolution might become distorted (extra-large icons and windows might be difficult to fit on the screen depending on the video-adapter type). Click on the Start Menu button to enter the Control Panel. In the Control Panel window, double-click “Display” to open the Display Properties dialog box. From this dialog box, click on the Settings tab. And Select “Advanced.” On the Adapter tab, click on “Properties,” and then click on the driver tab.

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How to reinstall Dell Windows XP home CD

Step 1: Backup main files and data.

Utilize Windows XP Files & Settings Transfer Wizard To Backup Files & Data
The Files & Settings Transfer Wizard will automatically gather and save the files in My Documents folder, including Music, Pictures and Videos folders. Also, the wizard will gather and save the files on desktop and in Shared Documents and Shared Desktop.

1. Click Start go to All Programs and select Accessories, now choose System Tools and click Files & Settings Transfer Wizard.

2.Select Old Computer and click Next

This selection will identify that this is the computer which want to back up important files and settings from. The wizard may take a minute to prepare for the next step.

3. Select transfer method, from one of the following selections:

Floppy drive or removable media (Recommended) – select this option if there is a USB memory key, USB hard drive, CD or DVD writable drive and blank discs.

Other – select this option if it’s on a home network and can save files to another computer or shared network drive.

After selecting click next

4. Select Files only and click next

The wizard will start collecting and saving files to the specified location. If specified a removable drive, the wizard may prompt to enter an additional blank disc if more than one is necessary to hold all the files. Be sure to label the discs thoroughly (like “My Files Disc 1” etc.) to quickly restore them later.

5. Once completed then click finish to close the wizard.

Step 2: Remove unnecessary peripherals

Apart from the monitor, keyboard, and mouse, removes all external peripherals including:

• Scanner
• Printer
• Modem or Network cables
• Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
• USB flash drive or other external Hard Drive
• Other external devices (e.g., USB-attached devices)
• Remove the computer from the docking station.

 

 

Step 3: Reinstall the operating system since the OS Setup Disk.

1       Insert the Windows XP CD in the CD drive, and then restart the computer. If the message Press any key to boot from the CD, appears, press a key to carry on with booting to the CD.

2       In the Windows XP Setup screen, press Enter to set up Windows XP.

3       In the Windows XP Licensing Agreement, read the license agreement, and then press Page Down to navigate through the agreement.

4       Press F8 to agree the terms and conditions specified in the license agreement. The partition screen will displayed. Depending on computer configuration, the partitions listed might include a PC Restore partition (2.7 to 4.75 GB) or a Media Direct (1.2 GB) partition.

5       Highlight the biggest partition and press Enter.

Step 4: Install Dell drivers & utilities.

Step 5: join computer to the internet or network.

Step 6: Install critical and suggested Windows Updates.

Step 7: Install the applications.

Step 8: Install the third-party hardware and software drivers.

Step 9: Restore personal files and data from backups.

 

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How to Host A File in Windows XP

There are number of things that can be done with the Hosts file on Windows XP. This file is usually used to resolve IP addresses; from this ability springs a range of uses.

Let us just see that what else the hosts file can do.

There are some actions that are performed everyday automatically while surfing on web, and very rottenly no one ask that what are we actually doing. For example, we type the URL of our preferred website in the address bar of our browser, and if all goes fine, the website is displayed on computer’s screen.             But what is going on behind this process?

Well, what the browser does is try to establish a connection to the computer which is presently hosting the website that has to be access. But for this to be completed successfully, behind the scenes computer is running several tasks that are worth describing in more detail. In the earlier example, assuming that its performing a search through Google.com, browser tries to connect to a host with the IP address 74.125.45.100 (assuming that the folks at Google haven’t changed this by the moment of this writing).

Naturally, to resolve the domain google.com to this definite IP address, computer first determines if the address is not its own local IP address (the so-called loopback, usually identified as 127.0.0.1). If this isn’t the scenario, it attempts to complete the resolution process using a local text file named HOSTS, and then it looks at the DNS server of the ISP; at last, it looks serially at the DNS servers that are available online.

As mentioned earlier, the previously IP resolution process involves a local text file named HOSTS, which in the case of Windows XP is generally located under the C:windows system32driversetc folder. In easy terms, the HOSTS file acts like an address book in which it is possible to link a domain name to a specific IP address, which can be used for various purposes, including blocking unwanted hosts, speeding up navigation across websites, and even creating neat shortcuts to them.

Of course, the HOSTS file can’t be considered a panacea, but due to its extensive functionality, it deserves a deeper study. So, in the lines that follow will explore collectively the potential uses of this file in specific cases, so it can be use for fitting one’s own needs.

Few important steps to be follow are:-

Mapping host names to IP addresses

Blocking unwanted advertising

Using shortcut navigation

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How to Reinstall Windows XP

Install Windows XP

 

Most new computers come with Windows XP installed, so people never have to install it. However, you may need to reinstall Windows XP if:

•	You replaced your hard disk drive with a new hard disk drive that does not have Windows XP pre-installed.
•	You are reinstalling Windows XP on a computer because you want to clean off your hard drive and remove any unwanted programs, such as spyware or other malicious programs.
•	You purchased a computer without an operating system installed in it.

Fortunately, you do not need to be a computer expert to install Windows XP operating system. Installation of Windows XP is a straight forward process that takes between one to two hours. Of that time, you need to be present for only about 30 minutes during the entire process.

Note: If you have a computer which has got an older operating system, such as Windows 98, Windows ME, or Windows 2000, you should upgrade to Windows XP instead of performing a clean installation.

Pre-installation checklist

Before begining the installation process, use this checklist to make sure that you are fully prepared:

ü  You have got the Windows XP CD with you.

ü  You have the product key available with you. The product key is located on your Windows XP CD case and is required to install and activate your Windows XP.

ü  Your computer hardware is set up accordingingly. Atleast, you should connect your keyboard, mouse, monitor, and CD drive. If available, you should connect your computer to a proper wired network.

ü  You have Windows XP drivers available with you. Drivers are software that helps Windows XP to communicate with your computer’s hardware. Most of the new computers include a CD containing drivers. If you do not have drivers available with you, Windows XP may already include drivers for your hardware. If not, you should download them from your hardware manufacturer’s Web site after you have set up Windows XP.

ü  If you are going to reinstall Windows XP on an existing computer, you need a backup copy of your files and settings. The process of installation will delete all of your files.

Installation process

Installing Windows XP can take up to two hours or so depending on ther processor. To make the process more manageable, it has been broken up into several sections by the engineers. When you are ready, this is how to install Windows XP:

 

Part 1: Begin the installation process

 

1.	Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer’s cd drive and restart the computer.
2.	If it is prompted to start from the CD, press the SPACEBAR. If you miss the prompt (because it only appears for a few seconds), restart your computer so thwt you can try again.
3.	Windows XP Setup will begin. During this part of setup, your mouse will not work, so you must use the keyboard as a primary input. On the Welcome to Setup page, press the  ENTER button.
4.	You will get the Windows XP Licensing Agreement page, read the licensing agreements. Press the PAGE DOWN key to get scrolled to the bottom of the agreement. Then you should press F8.
5.	This page will enable you to select the hard disk drive on which Windows XP will be installed. Once you have completed this step, all data on your hard disk drive will be removed and cannot be recovered again. It is extremely important that you must have a recent backup copy of your files before continuing the process. When you have a backup copy, press D, and then press L when prompted on the computer’s screen. This deletes your existing data in the hard drive.
6.	Press ENTER to select the Unpartitioned space, which will appear by default.
7.	Then press the ENTER again to select Format the partition using the NTFS file system, which also appears by default.
8.	Windows XP erases your hard disk drive using a process known as  formatting and then copies all the setup files. You can leave your computer during this process and return back in 20 to 30 minutes.   Part 2: Continue the installation
9.	Windows XP will restart and then continue with the installation process. From this point forward, you can use your mouse and keyboard at the same time. Eventually, the Regional and Language Options page will appear. Post that you can click Next to accept the default settings. If you are multilingual or prefer a language other than English, you can change language settings after the setup has been completed.
10.	On the Personalize Your Software page, u can type your name and your organization name. Some of the programs are there which use this information to automatically fill in your name when required. Then, go forward and click Next.
11.	On the Your Product Key page, type your product key as it is written on your Windows XP CD case. The product key is unique for each and every Windows XP installation. Then, go forward and click Next.
12.	On the Computer Name and Administrator Password page, in the Computer name box, type a name that identifies only your computer in your house, such as FAMILYROOM or NANCYS. You shouldnot use spaces or punctuation as its not accepted. If you are connecting your computer to a network, you will use this computer name to find shared files, printers, etc. Type a very strong password that you can always remember in the Administrator password box, and then type it in again in the Confirm password box. Write the password down and store it in a secure place or memorizing it will be great. Then Click Next.
13.	On the Date and Time Settings page, set your computer’s clock by clicking the Time Zone down arrow, and select your time zone whatever it is. Then click Next.
14.	Windows XP will spend about a minute or more configuring your computer. Then on the Networking Settings page, go forward and click Next.
15.	Then you will get the Workgroup or Computer Domain page, where u have to click Next.   Part 3: Complete the installation
16.	Windows XP will spend near about 20 or 30 minutes configuring your computer and will automatically restart when it has been finished. When the Display Settings dialog appears after the configuration, click OK.
17.	Then you will get the Monitor Settings dialog box, click OK.
18.	Then the final stage of setup will begin, you will get the Welcome to Microsoft Windows page, click Next.
19.	Then you will get the Help protect your PC page, click Help protect my PC by turning on Automatic Updates now. Then, u can click Next.
20.	Windows XP will then check that if you are connected to the Internet connection: • If you are connected to the Internet already, select the choice that best describes your network connection on the Will this computer connect to the Internet directly, or through a network? page. If you’re not sure about that, accept the default selection, and click Next. • If you are using a dial-up Internet access, or if Windows XP cannot connect to the Internet, you can connect to the Internet after setup is completed. On the How will this computer connect to the Internet page, you can click Skip.
21.	Windows XP Setup will display the Ready to activate Windows page. If you are already connected to the Internet, click Yes, and then click Next. And if you are not yet connected to the Internet, click No, click Next, and then skip to the step 24. After setup is complete, Windows XP automatically reminds you to activate and register your copy of Windows XP.
22.	When you have got the Ready to register with Microsoft page, click Yes, and then click Next.
23.	On the Collecting Registration Information page, complete the form with the required details. Then, click Next.
24.	On the Who will use this computer page, type the name of each person who will use that particular computer. You can use your first names, nicknames, or full names. Then click Next.
25.	On the Thank you! Page which is final page, click Finish.

Congratulations! Windows XP setup has been completed. You can log on by clicking your name on the logon main screen. If you’ve installed Windows XP on a new computer or new hard disk drive, you can now use the File and Settings Transfer Wizard to copy your old  data to your computer or hard disk drive.

After logon,it may take a few minutes to validate your copy of Windows. Validation gives you hundreds of free downloads from the Microsoft Download Center. If you want to learn all about the new features that Windows XP provides, click the Start button, click All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Tour Windows XP.

 

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How to Reinstalling Word Pad in Windows XP

Knowing how to reinstall WordPad without reinstalling Windows saves hours of time. WordPad is a word processor program build into Windows. WordPad has additional features than the Notepad program, but has significantly less features than Microsoft Word. Reinstalling WordPad only includes a few steps. Unlike Microsoft Word, it’s easy to download a free copy of WordPad from the Internet

 

WordPad is a program used for simple document editing and word processing, and it is incorporated with Microsoft Windows. If WordPad is deleted accidentally, there is no obvious method to reinstall it; it is not shown on the Add/Remove Windows Components menu. Always use the original installation script to reinstall WordPad.

 

Reinstalling WordPad

To find the installation script for WordPad, it is require configuring Windows Explorer to display all files. Double-click the “My Computer” icon, then scroll to “C:” Click “Tools,” and then click “Folder Options.” Click the “View” tab. In this window, make sure “Show hidden files and folders” is checked, and “Hide protected operating system files” is unchecked. Click “OK” to close the window and go back to the Windows Explorer window.

 

Now Double-click the “Windows” folder, and then double-click the “Inf” folder. Search the file “Wordpad.inf,” and right-click on it. Choose “Install.” Is the Windows XP CD ready, as the program might need to be extracted from the installation files on the CD. Once installation is completed, use the WordPad again.

 

Starting with Windows Vista, Microsoft added a feature to stop WordPad from being inadvertently deleted. When Vista users try to delete WordPad, they receive an “Access Denied” error message.

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Comparison between Windows xp and Windows vista

Windows XP and Windows Vista were 2 succeeding versions of Microsoft’s Windows computer operating system. Microsoft marketed both versions as main updates of Windows with new features, improved security and better overall consistency. Each system came already loaded on personal computers from many different manufacturers and was also available as an advance for existing Windows computers.

History

Windows XP went on sale around the globe in October 2001. It replaced the existing Windows Me (Millennium Edition), which had appeared about one year before. Windows XP was the major operating system offering from Microsoft until Windows Vista went on sale in early on 2007. Windows XP’s life duration of more than five years makes it one of the longest releases of any version of Windows. In October 2009, Microsoft released Windows 7 to swap Windows Vista, giving Vista a more distinctive two-to-three year life cycle.

Appearance and Versions

Windows XP retains most of the visual cues and icons from previously editions like Windows Me and Windows 2000. Microsoft created three different versions of Windows XP, targeting various users: Windows XP Home Edition was design for casual users, Windows XP Professional for businesses and users with more highly developed systems, and Windows XP Media Center Edition came with unique features for playing DVD video, recording music and viewing television programs.

Windows Vista was a visual exodus from its predecessor, giving Windows an extra streamlined appearance (known as the Windows AERO scheme) and replacing the common “Start” rectangular icon in a circle Windows logo in the bottom left-hand corner of the home screen.

Security

Though Windows XP came standard with basic security features, Internet safety was a main concern and criticism of the operating system. In particular this was because of the number of viruses to which Windows XP was susceptible, along with the huge amount of control given through an Administrator account kind (which could make the entire system vulnerable if accessed without authorization). Microsoft highlighted improved security with Windows Vista, including a User Account Control feature which removes administrative privileges that hackers might be able to use.

Features

Moreover enhanced security, Windows Vista includes some other notable features lacking in Windows XP. One of the features is Windows Sidebar, which gives Windows right to use small applications known as Desktop Gadgets. One more feature exclusive to Vista is the Instant Search feature, which displays predictive results while the user is still typing a search word. Windows Vista also brought updates of popular programs as well as Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player and Windows Calendar.

Performance

Both Windows XP and Windows Vista consist of built-in support for both 32- and 64-bit applications. In terms of user opinions and standard testing, the operating systems reveal same performance capabilities. In a few tests, including 3D graphics tests, Windows XP in fact outperformed its newer counterpart. In real-world scenarios, users are much more likely to experience improved or worse performance due to hardware and application differences rather than which of the two Windows systems they run.

 

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How to install ActiveX on Windows XP

ActiveX is a set of applications formed by Microsoft for use on Windows operating systems to enable interactive content to be used on the Internet. ActiveX applications are almost same as Java Applets, but they only work in Windows and have complete access to the registry programs. Few times, ActiveX applications run into errors in the registry and become corrupt from improper system changes. There are simple measures which can be taken to repair ActiveX problems as they arise.

Enabling ActiveX

Launch Internet Explorer web browser and click the “Tools” button.

Navigate and click “Internet Options.” Click the “Security” tab and click “Custom Level.”

Click “Prompt” under “Download signed ActiveX controls.” Click “Enable” under “Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins.” Click “Enable” under “Script ActiveX controls marked secure for scripting.”

Click “OK” to save the changes and click “OK” once more to close the Internet Options.

Solving ActiveX Registry Errors

Download and install C Cleaner for free.

Launch program after it has installed and click the “Registry” button on the left panel.

Place a check on “ActiveX and Class Issues” and click “Scan for Issues.” When the scan is finished, click “Fix selected issues.” Click “Yes” to back up and save registry.

Click “Fix all Selected Issues” and click “OK” to repair the ActiveX errors and issues.

Uninstalling and Reinstalling ActiveX Application

Click the Windows “Start” button and then click the “Control Panel.”

Double-click “Add or Remove Programs” to open applications and programs window.

Navigate through and click downloaded ActiveX application. Click “Change/Remove” and click “Yes” to remove it from your computer.

Navigate to the website from which its downloaded the ActiveX application to reinstall it on computer.

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How to Reinstall Word Pad in Windows XP

Knowing how to reinstall WordPad without reinstalling Windows saves hours of time. WordPad is a word processor program build into Windows. WordPad has additional features than the Notepad program, but has significantly less features than Microsoft Word. Reinstalling WordPad only includes a few steps. Unlike Microsoft Word, it’s easy to download a free copy of WordPad from the Internet

WordPad is a program used for simple document editing and word processing, and it is incorporated with Microsoft Windows. If WordPad is deleted accidentally, there is no obvious method to reinstall it; it is not shown on the Add/Remove Windows Components menu. Always use the original installation script to reinstall WordPad.

Reinstalling WordPad:-

To find the installation script for WordPad, it is require configuring Windows Explorer to display all files. Double-click the “My Computer” icon, then scroll to “C:” Click “Tools,” and then click “Folder Options.” Click the “View” tab. In this window, make sure “Show hidden files and folders” is checked, and “Hide protected operating system files” is unchecked. Click “OK” to close the window and go back to the Windows Explorer window.

Now Double-click the “Windows” folder, and then double-click the “Inf” folder. Search the file “Wordpad.inf,” and right-click on it. Choose “Install.” Is the Windows XP CD ready, as the program might need to be extracted from the installation files on the CD. Once installation is completed, use the WordPad again.

Starting with Windows Vista, Microsoft added a feature to stop WordPad from being inadvertently deleted. When Vista users try to delete WordPad, they receive an “Access Denied” error message.

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