ERPMan's Computer Tips for Windows page: [part 2]
Updated: Monday April 14, 2008

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<Computer Tips page links: (part 1) (part 2)>



Other Computer Tips:

To use or not to use Advanced Power Management [APM]:
Many PCs made from fall of year 1998 up to now have power management features that are much more
reliable than PCs made before Windows 98 ever came out.  Windows 95 OSR2 included several improve-
ments over previous versions of Windows but Windows 98 allows users total control over APM features.
If your computer supports either the Advanced Power Management [APM] or the Advanced Configuration
and Power Interface [ACPI] standard use it to its full potential but let the Windows operating system control
power management functions rather than letting the BIOS control them.  To do this, go into BIOS setup,
select the power or power management feature and disable ALL timers (or set them to their maximum
settings) BUT have power management enabled (then save your settings & exit BIOS setup).  Putting a PC
into 'hibernation' mode shuts down the computer normally but when the Power putton on the computer is
pressed to turn on the PC, it will reload Windows and the desktop exactly as you left it; it's better than
shutting down the PC and turning it on again & going through the whole boot process.  Hibernation is best
used with ACPI-based computers using Windows ME, 2000 or higher; some laptop/notebook PCs may
include a hibernation utility that can be used regardless of what version of Windows is used (converting a
hard drive or partition from FAT16 to FAT32 disk format may disable hibernation).  If problems occur when
power management features are enabled simply turn off or disable power management completely.  If you
want to save power on non-power management computers just turn off the monitor while away from the
computer for a short or long break.  For those using Windows ME and are having problems sending it into
hibernation with 192 megs of RAM or more installed download the Q296773 hotfix from MDGx's web site.
MS KB article 296773 is no longer available from the MS support site but nevertheless, the Q296773
hotfix seems to have elliminated the hibernation problem (or at least most of the time) unlike the solutions
mentioned in the Workaround section of support article no. 296773, which were less effective than the
hotfix.  There are also other issues & problems with Windows 98 & ME, power management & with 512
megabytes of physical RAM or more installed.  See MS articles 253912 & 304943 on how to deal with
the memory problems.   Those using Windows 98 2nd edition on an ACPI-ready computer, download the
Q275873 update from this FTP site.  For those using Windows Millennium Edition on an ACPI based
machine, get the Q296883 patch from here.   Before putting a computer to hibernation mode, close
as many programs as possible if using a lot of programs under Win98 SE, 2000, ME or WinXP.  The
Hibernation feature in Win98 FE/SE is only possible under laptop computers and is not available on
desktop computers.  Even if your laptop/notebook PC is using Win98 FE or SE, you may have to setup
a "Suspend to Disk" partition, then enable the Suspend-To-Disk power management setting in the
BIOS/CMOS setup program of your laptop and then use the FDISK tool to create a normal partition &
perform a 'clean' install of Win98 with the Portable setup option.  If your computer has ACPI support
an you are installing Win98, run the setup program with the "/P J" option to install ACPI support.  In
Win2000, XP & higher when you setup any of these OSes, if it finds a BIOS date higher than Jan. 1999,
these OSes should automatically install ACPI support.  For BIOS dates earlier than Jan. 1999, Win2k
and higher OSes may not install ACPI support and will install APM support instead.

Keep your PC & monitor clean or close to being dust-free:
Whenever you use your PC for a long time and there are dust & dirt on the computer and/or monitor, take
some time to clean the monitor screen [wipe it with a dry, moist but NOT a wet paper towel].  Also try to
clean the 'inside' of your PC by using a can of compressed air or a miniature vacuum cleaner to blow
away dust from all the computer parts inside the PC.

To 'Flash' (aka. upgrade by software) or not to Flash your BIOS on your computer:
Most computers now come with BIOS chips that can be upgraded by running some software.  To determine
what version a BIOS is using, press a key that enters the BIOS setup program when you turn on the PC or
when restarting the PC.  Check with the PC maker's web site on how to upgrade the BIOS first before
actually doing so because if it is done improperly the computer will never boot and you'll have to get a new
one.  Upgrading the BIOS by running some software is necessary when planning to upgrade to Windows XP
[or a newer version of Windows like Windows Vista] on a PC that is a few years old or to add support for
newer types of devices.  There are some BIOS tools listed at this Majorgeeks.com BIOS page you can use
to check the kind of BIOS and what version it uses. You can use the BIOS Agent program to determine what
kind of BIOS your computer is using [for very old and brand new machines].  After downloading and
upgrading your BIOS you must reset your BIOS settings because in some BIOSes after being upgraded
you may encounter 'invalid checksum' errors when your computer starts up.  So after updating the BIOS with
a flash program, go into the BIOS setup program, load the default settings, make a few minor changes if
necessary and save settings to ensure your settings work correctly with the updated BIOS version.  Better
yet, download and run the CPU-Z utiliity to gather info about your RAM, CPU, motherboard and BIOS.
Note: The latest version of the BIOS Agent tool can work on most 32-bit version of Windows as I have tested
the latest version.  If you are using MS-DOS or Windows 3.x, try using an old version of BIOS Agent found in
the BIOS Agent Feedback page.  Latest version of the BIOS Agent tool is [v3.66].  Use [v2.01] if you have
a very old computer that can not properly handle the latest version.  If you need a self-booting BIOS Agent
boot disk, go here.  The latest version of the BIOS Agent tool can now work on 64-bit editions of Windows
including the 64-bit versions of Windows XP & Windows Server 2003 and on all editions of Windows Vista.
<> Caution about the BIOS Agent tool: Versions 3.60 to 3.66 of the BIOS Agent tool no longer work
correctly under any version of Windows 95.  WIndows 95 users should run either version 2.01, the DOS
version of BIOS Agent from a DOS Boot disk or version 3.55 which is the last version to work under WIn95.
BIOS Agent v3.55 can be downloaded from here.  Extract the ba.exe file from the ZIP file and run it on
a Win95 machine.  Also, it would be wise to check with the motherboard or the computer maker's web
site for BIOS updates instead of sending requests to the eSupport site for BIOS upgrades after using
the BIOS Agent tool.

How to Tell Between a Fake and a Real Microsoft Security-Related Email Message:
Click here for information on how to tell whether an email message sent by MS about a security problem
is real or bogus.

Protect Yourself from Online Identity Theft:
Go to the OnGuard Online site on how to protect yourself from identity theft.

How to Tell the Difference Between Genuine and Counterfeit Microsoft Software:
See this Microsoft page on how to determine whether you are using genuine Microsoft software or not.
This applies to Microsoft software starting with Office XP, Windows XP and beyond.



Windows Media Player Tips:

Installing Windows Media Player 7.1 under Windows 95 & NT4:
Since the Media Player 7.1 setup file refuses to install WMP 7.1 under Win95 or NT4 if the program file
detects either of those versions here are steps on how to install Media Player 7.1 under those old versions
of Windows by using the Media Player 7.0 setup file:
1.  Download the Winzip archiving tool if you don't have it installed on your computer.
2.  Download the Windows Media Player 7.0 setup program file [setup_wm.exe] from the Rainbow
     Software web site packaged in a zip file  (click here to download).  This beats having to download the
     Windows Media Player 7.0 package which takes a while download if using dialup internet connection.
3.  Download the Windows Media Player 7.1 installation package (mp71.exe).  Then view the mp71.exe file
     in Winzip by dragging the file into the Winzip window.
4.  Extract the files from the mp71.exe file onto a temporary folder (ex. c:\temp\wmp71).
5.  Extract the setup_wm.exe file from the setup_wm.zip file onto the temporary folder where you store the
     WMP 7.1 installation files and overwrite the setup_wm.exe file with the one from the zip file which is
     version 7.0 instead of version 7.1.
6.  Now run the setup_wm.exe file to begin installation of Windows Media Player 7.1.
Note: When installation begins, uncheck the 'CD Burning' option when trying to install WMP 7.1 under NT4
as the CD burning feature of WMP 7.1 does NOT work properly under NT4 but works fine under Win95.  You
will be able to install updates for WMP 7.1 but that will prevent you from removing WMP 7.1 under Win95/NT4
as installing the WMP 7.1 patches overwrite the setup_wm.exe file with the 7.1 version.  To un-install WMP 7.1
under Win95/NT4, overwrite the setup_wm.exe file with the 7.0 version and run that file with the '/uninstall'
switch to remove WMP 7.1 (or you can un-install WMP 7.1 from the Add/Remove programs control panel app).
Do NOT try this with Media Player 9.0 as WMP9 requires Win98 SE, 2k, ME or XP and is NOT compatible
with Win95 & NT4.  However, I have found a way to install WMP9 under Win98 FE/Gold so use the tip below.
Caution: Win95 & NT4 users must install at least IE 4.01 and/or DCOM95 for the setup_wm.exe file to work.
If you keep on getting an error message that WMP7 requires IE 4.0 or DCOM95 to be installed after running
the setup_wm.exe file, re-install IE 4.x/5.x/6.x (under WinNT4) or re-install DCOM95 (under Win95) and then
re-run the setup_wm.exe file.

Installing Windows Media Player 9.0 under Windows 98 Gold-First Edition:
When running the MPSetup.exe file under Win98, it will tell you that WMP9 requires Win98 SE, 2000, ME
or XP and will refuse to install under Win98 FE.  Follow the instructions below to install WMP9 under Win98.
1.  Download the Winzip archiving tool if you don't have it installed on your computer.
2.  Download the Windows Media Player 9.0 installation package (MPsetup.exe).  Then view the MPsetup.exe
     file in Winzip by dragging the file into the Winzip window.
3.  Extract the files from the MPsetup.exe file onto a temporary folder (ex. c:\temp\wmp90).
4.  From the temporary folder, edit the control.xml file in Wordpad and select the Replace feature.  Change
     ALL instances of 4.10.2222 to 4.10.1998 (search for 4.10.2222 and replace it with 4.10.1998); best to
     use the Replace All feature to do that.  When finished, close Wordpad and Save changes.
5.  Run the setup_wm.exe file from the temporary folder and go through the installation as normal.  Now
     Win98 FE/Gold users can enjoy using WMP9 on their systems.
Note: You must have a Pentium 233Mhz computer [AMD-K6 300Mhz] or faster and 64 megabytes of RAM
or more in order to use Media Player 9 efficiently.  And this tip will NOT make Media Player 9 run nor install
under any version of Windows 95 & NT4 as I have confirmed this myself on some old Win95 & WinNT4
machines.

Un-installing Windows Media Player 9.0 Completely:  (do NOT use this tip with Media Player 10 & 11)
Click here to view my wmp9del.htm file on how to remove WMP9 completely under Win98, 2000, ME & XP.
The tip can also be used to uninstall WMP9 under WinME or WinXP without having to use System Restore
to revert back to the older version of WMP.  You can also use the tips there to uninstall Media Player 7.1
under WinME since WMP 7.1 will not show up in the Add/Remove Programs control panel app in WinME.
Warning: Do NOT try this under Win2003 or WinXP with SP2 or SP3 installed.  Because XP SP2 and
XP SP3 contain updated & "bug fixed" versions of WMP9, you cannot remove it without removing the whole
SP2 or SP3 pack.  To uninstall WMP9 under WinXP SP2/SP3, uninstall SP2 or SP3.  WinServ 2003 contains
an embedded version of WMP9 and can not be removed unless you have the LitePC applet installed.

Installing Windows Media Player 6.4 version 6.4.07.1121 (NOT build 1112) under Win95, 98, ME & NT4:
I now have two methods of installing Media Player 6.4 build 1121.  First method is for Windows 95, 98 or NT4 users that
have the IE 5.01 or 5.5 setup installer file (ie5setup.exe) and is NOT needed for those using IE 6 SP1.  Before trying
out the 1st method you need Winzip, the two iesetup.cif files from both IE 5.x & IE 6.0 SP1 AND your IE 5.x installation
files must be on the hard drive and not the CD drive.  If you don't have the IE 6 SP1 iesetup.cif file, download the
IE6 SP1 installer (ie6setup.exe), view that file in Winzip and extract the iesetup.cif file onto a temporary folder.  The
second method is to simply create a batch file that automatically installs WMP 6.4 build 1121 but requires that at
least IE 5.0 or higher is already installed. Follow the directions carefully.  If you are doing this under WinME, use
a third party tool such as CoolKill or WinKill to close the STMGR.EXE file and use the MSCONFIG (System Configuration)
tool to prevent 'Statemgr' from running at Startup.  You may have to restart the computer after installing WMP 6.4
with either method.  WinME users should use method 2 as it's the best way to install WMP 6.4 build 1121.  After
doing this with WinME, you can re-enable 'Statemgr' from the MSCONFIG tool.

Method 1 - Installing WMP 6.4 with the IE 5.01 or 5.5 setup program:
1. Place each iesetup.cif file onto separate directories.  For example, if using IE 5.5 SP2, open the ie5setup.exe file in
    Winzip and extract the iesetup.cif file inside to a temp folder like 'c:\temp\ie55sp2', then open the ie6setup.exe file in
    Winzip and extract its iesetup.cif file onto a different folder like 'c:\temp\ie60sp1'.
2. Launch two copies of the Notepad program.  Open the IE 5.x iesetup.cif file in one Notepad window and the IE 6 SP1
    iesetup.cif file in the other window.
3. Copy the entire [mediaplayer] section of IE6 SP1's iesetup.cif file and overwrite the [mediaplayer] section of the IE 5.x
    iesetup.cif file using the Copy & Paste method.  If you are trying this under Win95, change the Platform line that says
    'Platform=Win98,NT4' to 'Platform=Win95,Win98,NT4'.
4. Close both Notepad windows and save changes to the modified IE 5.x iesetup.cif file.
5. Run the IE 5.x setup program to view the License Agreement dialog box but do NOT proceed any further.  From this
    point, copy the modified iesetup.cif file onto the 'c:\windows\temp\ixp000.tmp' folder and click Yes to overwrite the file.
    (the ixp000.tmp folder is created when the IE setup program is run and deleted when the installer is done).
6. Perform a Custom install and select the Windows Media Player and cilck the Next button to install WMP 6.4 build 1121.

Method 2 - Using a batch file (*.bat) to install or upgrade WMP 6.4 to version 6.4.07.1121:
   1. Open the mplayer2.cab file in Winzip or any archiving utility and extract all the files inside onto a temporary folder
        (for example 'c:\temp\mplayer2').  For those using WinME, be sure to disable System File Protection by closing
        STMGR.EXE with a 3rd party tool such as CoolKill or Niresoft Task Manager and then run the System Configuration
        Utility [msconfig.exe] and prevent 'Statemgr' from running at Startup.  Don't reboot yet after closing Msconfig.
    2. Create a batch file in Notepad with the following lines:
        @echo off
        start /w RUNDLL32.EXE ADVPACK.DLL,LaunchINFSection amov4ie.inf,DefaultInstall
        start /w RUNDLL32.EXE ADVPACK.DLL,LaunchINFSection mplayer2.inf,DefaultInstall
        cls
    3. Save the file as an 'install.bat' file and place it onto the temporary folder where you store the Windows Media Player 6.4
        setup files.
    4. Double-click on the INSTALL.BAT file to install Windows Media Player build 1121 and you're all set.  If you are using
        WinME, restart the computer and delete the wininit.log file after WinME reloads.  Then you can use msconfig.exe to
        re-enable the 'Statemgr' startup entry and reboot for the change to take effect.

You may want to read Zach's Windows Media Player mini FAQ on how to setup and use any version of
Windows Media Player.



Windows and CD Burning Problem Tips:

Having problems accessing your CD burner or DVD burner in Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003 & Vista
after removing the CD burning program?  Does Device Manager show yellow exclamation marks next
to your CD/DVD drives or if Device Manager does not detect any CD/DVD drives in Win2000, XP,
Server 2003 & Vista?  See MS article 270008 if using Win2000, MS article 314060  for WinXP, Vista,
Server 2003 or higher on how to fix the problem.



Other sites to find Windows, MS Office & Internet Explorer tips:

[click here to go to part 1 of My Computer Tips for Windows page]

[click here to go to my Main page]

Copyright © 1999 - 2008 Noel Piring [aka. the ERPMan]
Warning: Do NOT copy part or the entire page without my permission.