Questions tagged [windows-xp]
For questions specific to Windows XP. Use [windows] instead for questions involving Windows in general.
9,227
questions
226
votes
15
answers
925k
views
How do I know what proxy server I'm using?
I need to know what the address for my proxy server is so I can configure another program to also use it. If I go into IE, Internet Properties, LAN Settings, then all I see is an automatic ...
181
votes
12
answers
363k
views
Apostrophes and double quotes don't show up until I type the next letter
in Windows XP, when I type an apostrophe ', or dumb/typewriter quote ", no character is displayed. If I type another character, the apostrophe or dumb quote and the next character appear at the same ...
143
votes
9
answers
202k
views
Is it safe to delete from C:\Windows\Installer?
I've been looking on an XP machine what is using all that diskspace, and it turns out C:\Windows\Installer is high up there on the list of directories that use the most diskspace.
It seems to contain ...
135
votes
9
answers
309k
views
Can I delete the folder "C:\WINDOWS\Installer\$PatchCache$"?
This folder is taking up nearly a GB of my C partition. Is it possible to just delete it?
125
votes
4
answers
431k
views
How to add command line options to shortcut?
How can I add command line options to an executable in a shortcut in Windows XP?
For example in the shortcut properties in target I have:
"c:\path\to\exe\pogram.exe"
I want to add some options:
"c:...
119
votes
11
answers
392k
views
Does an equivalent of Time Machine exist for Windows? [closed]
A simple Google search for "Time Machine for Windows" results in a flurry of different little apps. But instead of relying on forum anecdotes and advertisements, I call on the much wiser Super User ...
111
votes
12
answers
236k
views
How to pick a color from an image
How can I pick a color from an image?
When I move the cursor to any particular point in the image, I want the hex code of the color at the cursor to be displayed. I would like to be able to do that ...
108
votes
10
answers
443k
views
How to make a shortcut from CMD?
How can I create a shortcut file (.lnk) to another file or executable, using command line utilities?
107
votes
5
answers
202k
views
How do I do comments at a Windows command prompt?
What's the equivalent of # for Windows cmd console sessions, to create a comment?
The operating system is Windows XP.
105
votes
6
answers
257k
views
How do I activate WindowsXP now that support has ended?
What Options are there to activate Windows XP nowadays?
The "regular" methods provided with XP (phone and online) don't work anymore. The phone number is not valid for activation anymore (I tried the ...
101
votes
4
answers
200k
views
How to check the exit code of the last command in batch file?
Inside a batch file on Windows, I use 7-zip like this:
...\right_path\7z a output_file_name.zip file_to_be_compressed
How could I check the exit code of 7z and take the appropriate action ?
100
votes
10
answers
498k
views
How can I split a large file on Windows?
Is there a tool to split large text file (9 GB) into smaller files, so that I can open it and look through?
Is there anything usable from the command line that comes with Windows (XP)?
Or what's the ...
100
votes
12
answers
208k
views
How to avoid keyboard layout automatically changing on windows
I have two input languages in my language bar (windows xp).
The problem is that windows likes changing between them without any intervention.
That's really annoying!
I know about the shortcuts and ...
86
votes
6
answers
218k
views
Is there a way to xcopy just changed or new files?
I am trying to deploy a website from my desktop to my webserver and so right now I am doing this:
xcopy C:\source X:\destination /s
My desktop is a Windows XP machine, and I need to copy to a ...
75
votes
17
answers
211k
views
How do I find the largest files and folders on a drive? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can I visualize the file system usage on Windows?
I am looking for a tool to tell me which files and folders are the largest as I need to do some cleanup.
75
votes
7
answers
73k
views
How do I reset the Windows XP Administrator password?
I have forgotten the Administrator password of my Windows XP installation and locked out. Is there a way to reset it? I do have physical access to the PC.
67
votes
12
answers
70k
views
What can I do to retrieve windows that have gone off screen?
I am having a weird issue with a machine where sometimes when a window is initialized, it will shoot off screen and out of sight. I am unable to click on it to drag it back to sight.
Are there any ...
65
votes
6
answers
34k
views
How do I remove a file named "NUL" on Windows?
I have a Windows XP box (NTFS filesystem) on which I found a file named NUL. I have not been able to remove this file in any usual way. The file appears to be owned by Administrator in the SYSTEM ...
64
votes
9
answers
54k
views
How do I delete a 'locked' file?
On Windows XP, when I try and delete a specific file it says:
Cannot delete blah.blah: Make sure the
disk is not full or write-protected
and that the file is not currently in
use.
How can I ...
61
votes
8
answers
157k
views
How to untoggle Right-to-Left text in Notepad?
I seem to have accidentally hit a couple hot-keys and my Notepad is now showing text from Right-to-Left.
What was the hot-key combo and what can I do to reverse it back to Left-to-Right?
60
votes
4
answers
13k
views
Buy old Windows version now and still get the upgrade for free?
We have a little office for our local sports club here. In this office we have three PCs which are all running on Ubuntu.
Because all of the PC users in this office are not that well educated in ...
59
votes
16
answers
10k
views
Can I paste plain text by default?
I regularly copy and paste text between spreadsheets, emails, browser windows, etc. I can't think of a single time when I've wanted to keep the formatting from the source text.
I already know about ...
59
votes
4
answers
104k
views
Finding out which app is using the webcam
Yesterday I was working on my laptop. Suddenly I noticed that the indicator light of the webcam was on, despite the fact that I wasn't making a video call or using the webcam in any other way at the ...
57
votes
12
answers
241k
views
How can I detect the amount of memory slots I have?
I know that there used to be a Corsair memory detection tool, but I can no longer find it. I didn't find anything when searching Google.
I would like to scan my machine to know a few things:
How ...
55
votes
7
answers
57k
views
Create an alias in Windows XP
Back in school, I used to have a .login file along the lines of
alias ll = ls -l
alias dir = ls -Fhl
alias web = cd ~/public/public_www/development
I'd like to do that sort of thing with my XP ...
54
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Saving "Bush hid the facts" in notepad
When saving the text "Bush hid the facts" in notepad under Windows XP, how come when you reopen it shows squares instead of the text?
I saw it in this video if you need an example
http://www.youtube....
52
votes
5
answers
4k
views
What are the potential security issues when I keep using Windows XP? [closed]
Microsoft stopped updating Windows XP and the media warns us of security leaks. I actually just read that continuing to use Windows XP is "extremely" dangerous. Why exactly is this such a danger? I ...
51
votes
15
answers
154k
views
How can I monitor all and any Internet traffic from my home PC?
I would like to monitor all and any Internet traffic from my home PC to see what programs installed on my home machine are accessing the Internet.
I thought I could use Fiddler for this, but I ...
48
votes
4
answers
18k
views
With dual monitors, one rotated 90 degrees, how can I get windows to line up correctly?
I have two monitors. One rotated 90 degrees. The other at standard station. I've adjusted the two monitors to heights that are comfortable for me.
Allow me to attempt some ASCII art to demonstrate:
...
44
votes
14
answers
116k
views
How do I force single (only) channel audio in youtube/flash videos to play in both (left/right) channels?
Occasionally, I find Youtube videos that have only one audio channel (only left or only right); example video (left channel only).
This is quite annoying, especially with headphones on, as I hear ...
42
votes
5
answers
247k
views
Force Windows XP to output only mono sound
So, the 'right' half of my pair of headphones broke (the transducer+wire are fine, but the earpiece broke on the headband and so the earpiece won't sit over my ear). So now the right channel is being ...
40
votes
6
answers
46k
views
How to extract a complete list of extension types within a directory?
Within a directory, and recursively within it's sub-directories, meaning every directory within a directory is processed, how do I compile a complete list of unique extensions within the directory?
...
40
votes
5
answers
51k
views
USB sticks and multiple partitions
I've got a USB stick with multiple Partitions on it (FAT32 (active), FAT32, Ext2, but that's another story) and it seems like that my Windows XP can only mount the first partition of the stick. If I ...
39
votes
1
answer
15k
views
Why can I write files into a folder that is read-only?
I've tried this on both Windows 7 and Windows XP. Start Windows Explorer and create a new folder in some temporary location called (say) NonWriteable. Right-click the folder and set the properties of ...
36
votes
12
answers
49k
views
Straightforward, easy way to create symbolic links on Windows?
I need something supported at least on Windows XP and not requiring any new user downloads hopefully.
36
votes
6
answers
127k
views
Ways to check if user is active on remote machine before RDP'ing
We have a common Windows XP machine that's shared between multiple users. All of them use a common domain login to rdp into it. Now the problem is, we some times end up taking over other persons ...
35
votes
9
answers
203k
views
How do I move my current active window from one monitor to another using a keyboard shortcut?
I use a multiple-monitor setup on Windows XP. I would like to be able to move the active window from one monitor to the other with a keyboard shortcut.
I know that I can use Alt+Space, M, or drag the ...
35
votes
7
answers
116k
views
How can I force an internal hard drive to power on or off when I want?
Obviously there are power management settings which Windows uses to determine when to power a hard drive off, and when to power it back on again. Powered down I assume doesn't mean absolute zero power,...
33
votes
5
answers
65k
views
VirtualBox Windows XP has no local network
I’m trying to set up a Windows XP VirtualBox (with Oracle’s VirtualBox) yet it seems I don’t have drivers. In the guest Windows XP, the network section is empty, typing ipconfig in command prompt does ...
33
votes
6
answers
35k
views
How can I log my hard drive activity by program?
I am using Windows XP and am looking for a utility that can tell me the percentage of hard drive activity a program is using.
Basically, I'm looking for something like Task Manager and its ability ...
33
votes
4
answers
16k
views
How do Microsoft Word and Excel run without any installation?
I was having a discussion on bookmarks in Word with a friend, and he suggested me to check out his implementation of a query in Word. Since I did not have Microsoft Word installed, I told him I don't ...
32
votes
10
answers
57k
views
How can I generate a UUID from the command line in Windows XP?
How can I generate a UUID from the command line in Windows XP? Something like "uuid" or "uuidgen" in Linux.
31
votes
6
answers
166k
views
Change Windows sound volume via the command line
Is it possible to change the volume in Windows XP via the command line?
31
votes
12
answers
172k
views
How can I make my screen blank by a shortcut?
I'd like a shortcut that makes the screen go to a black screen immediately, without turning any power off, or even putting it to sleep.
What ways can I do that?
How more efficient the solution is ...
30
votes
10
answers
20k
views
Determining if a hard disk has been removed and data copied from it?
Is there a method or a tool that can detect if someone has separated my hard disk from my computer, copied data from it, and returned it back?
I want to be sure that no one has done this without my ...
30
votes
2
answers
7k
views
IE 8 doesn't open certain website, firefox does [duplicate]
OS: Windows XP SP3. When I try to open the website brokerkf.ru in IE8, it says, that it can't find the server. While it opens google.com and many other websites.
Firefox and Chrome open brokerkf.ru ...
30
votes
5
answers
3k
views
What technical reason did Microsoft give for no Internet Explorer 9 on Windows XP?
I have the belief that Internet Explorer 9 unable to run on Windows XP is really marketing. But I want to ask you if there really is a technical reason why Microsoft didn't release Internet Explorer 9 ...
30
votes
3
answers
34k
views
How to access the system tray using the keyboard?
Is there a way I can access the system tray items using the keyboard in Windows XP?
30
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How can I rename a file whose name is in itself a full path (e.g. begins with "g:\")? [duplicate]
Inadvertently, I have created a file named g:\filename.csv on Windows XP through a Python script.
Note that g:\filename.csv is the filename. Actually it is saved on the F: drive.
I can't rename it ...
29
votes
11
answers
174k
views
How to delete files and folders that cannot be deleted?
I have a backup copy of a previous Windows' Documents and Settings folder which only contains my original user and within 2 more directories: Favorites and Local Settings.
When I try to delete Local ...