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Each week we will try to add useful tips about annoying problems that everyone has when using windows XP 

 

Click here for a complete list of Tips!

Computer Tips

 

 
WiFi Connection Keeps Dropping
Windows has a service called WZC (Wireless Zero Configuration) this service connects you to WiFi when you first start up your computer and is necessary for you to connect, but this service also tries to reconnect every 3 minutes.  This works fine as long as you have a near perfect connection, but if the connection is the least bit shaky, this WZC service can cause you to loose your connection.  There is a program called "NET.EXE"  Located in the "C:\windows\system32" directory (Folder) that stops and starts this service. See figs1,2 and 3 on the right

  • Create 2 Short cuts on your desktop

  • Copy the exact phrase C:\Windows\system32\net.exe   START wzcsvc in the shortcut target box..Fig#1

  • Click finish then change the name of the shortcut to STOP and then change the icon..Fig#2

  • the second shortcut should say stop instead of start.

Now then after you start your computer, and you have established an Internet connection just minimize your browser and press the STOP button.  This will stop the WZC service from trying to reconnect every 3 minutes. If for some reason you want to re-establish service press the START button and wait till you get a connection again then stop the service once more.


USB won't connect to certain Items
Problem: When you try to connect a camera, printer, scanner or other similar USB item nothing Happens!

SOLUTION: This happens from time to time, but usually can be fixed by deleting ALL USB drivers in device manager.

  • Highlight each line item under the Universal Serial Bus Controller (USB) and delete each one.
  • After deleting them All and with the Printer, scanner, Mouse that you want to connect plugged in to the USB port, then right click and select "Scan for hardware changes from the menu.
  • The Computer will then redo the drivers and connect old as well as new devices.

This is a scary thing to do but, it will work, and your USB drives will be working again!


OFFICE Programs load really Slooooow!
There is a file called Normal.doc that can get corrupted from time to time.  Simply search your Computer for the normal.doc file and RENAME it to normal. old.  Now when you restart Word the program will look for the file normal.doc and when it doesn't find it the Word program will automatically re-create it.  Your Microsoft word program should start working much faster!


 

Identify Mystery Apps Running in the Shadows

I close every window and every icon in the system tray, then press Ctrl-Alt-Delete, but I still see that programs are running in the background. What are they?

Answer:

They could be anything; many programs have modules that lurk in your PC's shadows. To find out what a particular unidentified program is, press Ctrl-Alt-Delete to open the Close Program dialog box, go to the Processes tab then write all of the image's name down on paper (ones ending in exe). After you've closed the box, select Start, Find, Files or Folders. In the Named field, enter the name of the program followed by .exe, such as dbserver.exe. In the Look In field, select Local hard drives, then click Find Now.

Chances are you'll find the file. When you do, the folder it's in should tell you what program put it there. For instance, if the file's in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office, chances are it's part of Office.

If you can't determine anything then try using Google or Yahoo and lookup that file. Chances are you will see if that file is an acceptable file.

If your  file search doesn't turn up a program, or if it's in a common dumping-ground folder like C:\Windows\System, turn programs on and off. Select Start, Run, type msconfig, and press Enter. Click the Startup tab for a list of all programs that load at boot-up. Find out what's loading a particular program by unchecking options and rebooting until you can identify the malefactor.

Programs you're likely to find in the Close Program dialog box include:

Explorer and systray: Basic parts of Windows that should always be up.

Findfast and osa: Parts of Microsoft Office 97 (but not of Office 2000). If you don't want them, you can get rid of them by removing Microsoft Find Fast and Office Startup from the Start, Programs, Startup menu.

Rnaap: Part of Windows. It loads when you use dial-up networking, and then stays in memory until you close Windows.

MORE........


Shortcut Target
C:\Windows\system32\net.ext   STOP wzcsvc 

 

Fig#1


 
Change Icon

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Fig#2 
 


 
Change Icon 2
Select any icon from list that you wish. My selection was a bright red one for stop and a green one for start. 

Fig#3