WinXP Newbie HELP!

[GJP]

I have a few questions about WinXP (Home) that I would really appreciate
some help with.(G)
1.I can not remove an item from startup in the system config...each time I
remove it and reboot the system tells me it's started in "selective or
Diagnostic mode".
I am logged on as admin as far as I know.(G)

2.At bootup I never see any option to either go to BIOS setup or the option
to bootup in safe mode, all I get is the Intel screen for a second or two
then the WinXP "loading" screen followed by a long Welcome screen and
finally my desktop. Is there something that needs to be set to at least
give me a second or two option to bootup in safe mode oe go to Bios setup?

3.In Win98SE when using Explorer at the bottom it shows the number if files
in a folder along with the size, I do not see this in WinXP, again is there
something I need to set.

Guess that is enough questions for now, I'm sure there will be more , so I
would really appreciate any help on these questions.

TIA

GJP

 

[zippy]

Answered inline..

I have a few questions about WinXP (Home) that I would really appreciate
some help with.(G)
1.I can not remove an item from startup in the system config...each time I
remove it and reboot the system tells me it's started in "selective or
Diagnostic mode".
I am logged on as admin as far as I know.(G)

XP has a tendency not to like MsConfig. But I have found most of the
products that are not MS related have options within the programs themselves
to not load up at start up. Check each program in their options. Also,
click start, and on the menu you should have a folder called Startup. What
I do with these items is create a new folder called deleted startup items
and drag and drop the items from startup into new folder. Whatever is
remaining that you cannot get rid of, you can go through msconfig, making
sure you don't delete something you really really need. When you reboot
it's going to give you that message again, there should be a little box that
says something to the point of "don't show message again" click that and
just exit out.

2.At bootup I never see any option to either go to BIOS setup or the option
to bootup in safe mode, all I get is the Intel screen for a second or two
then the WinXP "loading" screen followed by a long Welcome screen and
finally my desktop. Is there something that needs to be set to at least
give me a second or two option to bootup in safe mode oe go to Bios setup?

At splash screen you need to click F8 to enter safe mode, and delete to
enter Bios, but some machines are different. What I do is just keep tapping
the button till it does what I want it to do, cause if you don't get it at
that right second you have to reboot and try again.

3.In Win98SE when using Explorer at the bottom it shows the number if files
in a folder along with the size, I do not see this in WinXP, again is there
something I need to set.

This one I'm not sure of.

 

[*Vanguard*]

GJP said in news:[email protected]:

I have a few questions about WinXP (Home) that I would really
appreciate some help with.(G)

1.I can not remove an item from startup in the system config...each
time I remove it and reboot the system tells me it's started in
"selective or Diagnostic mode".
I am logged on as admin as far as I know.(G)

Disabling an item in the Startup tab in msconfig does NOT remove it. That just disables the item from loading on startup. This can be overriden, however, if you run the application that put the item in the startup list (Startup group or registry Run keys). When you run the program, some of them will check if they have an entry in the Run key to have them load on startup. If their run key is there, they don't bother adding it (so it will remain disabled). Some, however, merely write to the run key and overwrite an old entry even if it exists. So running the program will put the startup item back in. Because it is another instance of the same run key, the disable in msconfig is tracking the old one and won't disable the new one (although it is the same data item under the Run key). I've seen this before when I have disabled a startup item, reinstalled or ran a program, and then noticed 2 entries for that software, one as the previous disabled run key (which msconfig was tracking) and the new entry which is enabled.

The prompt you are seeing (*after* you login) from msconfig is simply a warning screen telling you that you disabled something in the startup list. Just check the box in that screen that says not to have msconfig warn you about this in the future. However, if you use msconfig again to make changes (and just clicking OK will think it made changes as opposed to closing its window), you'll get prompted again on the next reboots until you enable the option in that warning prompt to not prompt you again.

2.At bootup I never see any option to either go to BIOS setup or the
option to bootup in safe mode, all I get is the Intel screen for a
second or two then the WinXP "loading" screen followed by a long
Welcome screen and finally my desktop. Is there something that needs
to be set to at least give me a second or two option to bootup in
safe mode oe go to Bios setup?

The first screen usually shows the BIOS version (from the BIOS maker) at the top of the screen, the modified BIOS version in a string of numbers at the bottom, and the amount of memory you have and possibly the CPU speed. That may be the end of the POST but you might also then get an ESCD table (extended system configuration data) that shows you the drives that got detected following by a list of interrupts assigned by the BIOS to various devices (which may not be the same ones used within Windows). Right after this point and *before* the operating system starts to load, you must hit a trigger key to enter the BIOS screens. It may be F8, Enter, Esc, spacebar, or some other key. Usually you'll see a message telling you which key to hit. If it is F8, and if you hit it too late, Windows has already started loading and F8 brings up its boot menu. You will need to consult your manual for your computer to see what key triggers entry into the BIOS screens, or just boot and see if it tells you after the CPU/memory initial screen or after the ESCD table displays.

3.In Win98SE when using Explorer at the bottom it shows the number if
files in a folder along with the size, I do not see this in WinXP,
again is there something I need to set.

If you actually select the files then Explorer's focus changes and you will see the aggregate size for all the selected files. Otherwise, you just see the stats on the currently selected object. Files under 1500 bytes might not even exist outside the MFT (master file table) so trying to pre-compute a value of file sizes under a folder may not be accurate. Right-click on the folder and select Properties to see its size (actually the aggregate size of files underneath this directory).

 

[GJP]

Thank you, much appreciated, guess I'll just have to practice to get a
faster trigger finger.(G)

GJP

 

[GJP]

Welcome to the world of XP. I hope you enjoy it. Once you remove an
entry from the msconfig\startup.ini you will then need to go into the
registry to remove it from the list. Usually a program starts at boot
because you have set it's configuration to "start when windows
starts". Take a look at the programs configuration to stop this. If
you want the reg route to remove it from the list e:mail me. As far as
getting into the BIOS that usually requires that you hit or tab delete
during boot to get into "advanced system configuration" also you
usually have to tab F8 during boot to get at the recovery options.
This does vary from machine to machine and is usually displayed at the
bottom of one of your screens during the boot. It's only there for a
very very brief second or two. As far as the folder size and how it's
displayed there is a folder options in the control panel that will
assist you in configuring how folders are displayed. You should also
take a look at the help and support center under the start button for
this sort of info. It's all there and in fact contains thousands of
"how to's" and "where" articles. {:~)

Thanks for the suggestions, I have tried to research most available
venues for answers prior to my request here...seems like some searches
give a million answers but never for what you really want.(G)
Thanks again...much appreciated.
GJP

 

[GJP]

GJP said in news:[email protected]:


Disabling an item in the Startup tab in msconfig does NOT remove it.
That just disables the item from loading on startup. This can be
overriden, however, if you run the application that put the item in
the startup list (Startup group or registry Run keys). When you run
the program, some of them will check if they have an entry in the Run
key to have them load on startup. If their run key is there, they
don't bother adding it (so it will remain disabled). Some, however,
merely write to the run key and overwrite an old entry even if it
exists. So running the program will put the startup item back in.
Because it is another instance of the same run key, the disable in
msconfig is tracking the old one and won't disable the new one
(although it is the same data item under the Run key). I've seen this
before when I have disabled a startup item, reinstalled or ran a
program, and then noticed 2 entries for that software, one as the
previous disabled run key (which msconfig was tracking) and the new
entry which is enabled.

The prompt you are seeing (*after* you login) from msconfig is simply
a warning screen telling you that you disabled something in the
startup list. Just check the box in that screen that says not to have
msconfig warn you about this in the future. However, if you use
msconfig again to make changes (and just clicking OK will think it
made changes as opposed to closing its window), you'll get prompted
again on the next reboots until you enable the option in that warning
prompt to not prompt you again.


The first screen usually shows the BIOS version (from the BIOS maker)
at the top of the screen, the modified BIOS version in a string of
numbers at the bottom, and the amount of memory you have and possibly
the CPU speed. That may be the end of the POST but you might also
then get an ESCD table (extended system configuration data) that shows
you the drives that got detected following by a list of interrupts
assigned by the BIOS to various devices (which may not be the same
ones used within Windows). Right after this point and *before* the
operating system starts to load, you must hit a trigger key to enter
the BIOS screens. It may be F8, Enter, Esc, spacebar, or some other
key. Usually you'll see a message telling you which key to hit. If
it is F8, and if you hit it too late, Windows has already started
loading and F8 brings up its boot menu. You will need to consult your
manual for your computer to see what key triggers entry into the BIOS
screens, or just boot and see if it tells you after the CPU/memory
initial screen or after the ESCD table displays.


If you actually select the files then Explorer's focus changes and you
will see the aggregate size for all the selected files. Otherwise,
you just see the stats on the currently selected object. Files under
1500 bytes might not even exist outside the MFT (master file table) so
trying to pre-compute a value of file sizes under a folder may not be
accurate. Right-click on the folder and select Properties to see its
size (actually the aggregate size of files underneath this directory).

Thank you...will try these suggestions...looks like I need a faster
trigger finger to see the info I want.(G)

Thanks again...much appreciated.

GJP

 

[Guest]

Answer to #3
In explorer It sounds like you want the status bar turned on...
In explorer goto <VIEW> and check <STATUS BAR> ..

That should do it.