To use the Reset Internet Explorer Settings feature from Control Panel, follow these steps:

1. Exit all programs, including Internet Explorer (if it is running).
    If you use Windows XP, click Start, and then click Run. Type the following command in the Open box, and then press ENTER:
    inetcpl.cpl

    If you use Windows Vista, click Start. Type the following command in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER:
    inetcpl.cpl

    The Internet Options dialog box appears.
3. Click the Advanced tab.
4. Under Reset Internet Explorer settings, click Reset. Then click Reset again.

5. When Internet Explorer finishes resetting the settings, click Close in the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box.
6. Start Internet Explorer again.

Initial Problem:

Over time the internet changes, and sometimes it is just good to go back to basics, often pop ups come up that you make selections on. These changes save, if you want to go back to the default here is how.

Solution:

First you need a computer and internet explorer as your default browser. This is the browser that comes with Microsoft.

Open up the internet window by clicking on the icon on your desktop, or by going to the Start Menu, All programs, Internet Explorer

Once the internet Explorer is opened, you will then want to go to the "Tools" Menu, in the internet window. If you are using internet explorer 7 the tools menu is on what is called the Menu bar, and this menu bar generally is in the upper left hand corner.

Once you click the Tools Menu, then select, internet options. Image below attached, then click on internet options to go into the internet options dialog box.

Once you have selected the internet options click on the advanced tab all the way to the right, picture attached. Once you have selected, advanced at the bottom right there is an option there to RESET, this will restore the default settings, of your internet explorer Browser. Reboot your PC after

To create a new partition or logical drive on a basic disk follow these steps:

1. In the Disk Management window, complete one of the following procedures, and then continue to step 2:

• To create a new partition, right-click unallocated space on the basic disk where you want to create the partition, and then click New Partition.

• To create a new logical drive in an extended partition, right-click free space on an extended partition where you want to create the logical drive, and then click New Logical Drive.

2. In the New Partition Wizard, click Next.
3. Click the type of partition that you want to create (either Primary partition, Extended partition, or Logical drive), and then click Next.

4. Specify the size of the partition in the Partition size in MB box, and then click Next.
5. Decide whether to manually assign a drive letter, let the system automatically enumerate the drive, or do not assign a drive letter to the new partition or logical drive, and then click Next.
6. Specify the formatting options you want to use by using one of the following procedures:

• If you do not want to format the partition, click Do not format this partition, and then click Next.

• If you want to format the partition, click Format this partition with the following settings, and then complete the following procedure in the Format dialog box:

a) Type a name for the volume in the Volume label box. This is an optional step. Click the file system that you want to use in the File system box.

b) You can change the disk allocation unit size, and then specify whether to perform a quick format, or enable file and folder compression on NTFS volumes.

Click Next.

7. Confirm that the options that selected are correct, and then click Finish.

To change your monitor’s resolution
1.    Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.

2.    In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab.

3.    Drag the Screen resolution slider to the left to decrease the resolution of your monitor, making text and pictures appear larger. Or drag the Screen resolution slider to the right to increase your monitor’s resolution, making text and pictures appear smaller.

4.    Click Apply to have the new resolution take effect.

5.    If the Monitor Settings dialog box appears, look at your display. If you like the new resolution, click Yes. If you do not like the resolution, click No, and return to step 3 to try a different resolution.

6.    Click OK.

Microsoft Windows XP changes the resolution to the settings you chose.

Initial Problem:

Lots of questions are asked about problems somehow connected to printer's sharing. The reason of why do they appear mostly is linked to the way printer has been shared. The correct procedure of how to share your printer is described below.

Solution:

Follow this step-by-step instructions to share printer in Windows XP.

1) Go to Start and click Control Panel. Control Panel Window will appear, then double click Printers and faxes.

2) Printers and Faxes window will appear. Right click the printer you want to share, then click Sharing…

Note: Make sure you've enabled File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks on network card's properties.

3) Select Sharing tab and tick Share this printer to share the printer. You can type in a new name in the Share name text box to change your printer name on the network, however this will not change the printer name on your computer. Click Apply.

Note: If the other users using different version of Windows to access your printer, they will need to install printer driver themselves. You can help by installing additional printer drivers on your Windows XP, so that the printer driver will be installed when other users access the shared printer with different version of Windows. Click Additional Drivers, tick additional driver you would like to install. You will be prompted to install those additional drivers after clicking OK.

4) Once you have shared the printer, you will see there is a hand supporting your printer.

There are a lot of programs that could be easily accessed from RUN prompt.

To access RUN prompt:

• In Windows XP:
  • Press "Start" button;
  • Choose "Run" from Start menu.

• In Windows Vista:
  • Press "Start" button;
  • Type "Run" in Search box and press enter.

• Also you can access RUN prompt pressing "WindowsKey"+"R" key combination from your keyboard.

Next you'll see the following window:

Type necessary command in the prompt and press Enter.

Here is the list of standard shortcuts supported in both Windows XP and Vista:

• Accessibility Controls  :  access.cpl  
  
• Add Hardware Wizard : hdwwiz.cpl
  
• Add/Remove Programs : appwiz.cpl
  
• Administrative Tools : control admintools
• Automatic Updates :  wuaucpl.cpl
• Bluetooth Transfer Wizard : fsquirt
• Calculator : calc
• Certificate Manager : certmgr.msc
• Character Map : charmap
• Check Disk Utility : chkdsk
• Clipboard Viewer : clipbrd
• Command Prompt : cmd
• Component Services : dcomcnfg
• Computer Management : compmgmt.msc
• Date and Time Properties : timedate.cpl
• DDE Shares : ddeshare
• Device Manager : devmgmt.msc
• Direct X Control Panel (If Installed)* : directx.cpl
• Direct X Troubleshooter : dxdiag
• Disk Cleanup Utility : cleanmgr
• Disk Defragment : dfrg.msc
• Disk Management : diskmgmt.msc
• Disk Partition Manager : diskpart
• Display Properties : control desktop
• Display Properties : desk.cpl
• Display Properties (w/Appearance Tab Preselected) : control color
• Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility : drwtsn32
• Driver Verifier Utility : verifier
• Event Viewer : eventvwr.msc
• File Signature Verification Tool : sigverif
• Findfast : findfast.cpl
• Folders Properties : control folders
• Fonts : control fonts
• Fonts Folder : fonts
• Free Cell Card Game : freecell
• Game Controllers : joy.cpl
• Group Policy Editor (XP Prof) : gpedit.msc
• Hearts Card Game : mshearts
• Iexpress Wizard : iexpress
• Indexing Service : ciadv.msc
• Internet Properties : inetcpl.cpl
• IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration) : ipconfig /all
• IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents) : ipconfig /displaydns
• IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents) : ipconfig /flushdns
• IP Configuration (Release All Connections) : ipconfig /release
• IP Configuration (Renew All Connections) : ipconfig /renew
• IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS) : ipconfig /registerdns
• IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID) : ipconfig /showclassid
• IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class ID) : ipconfig /setclassid
• Java Control Panel (If Installed) : jpicpl32.cpl
• Java Control Panel (If Installed) : javaws
• Keyboard Properties : control keyboard
• Local Security Settings : secpol.msc
• Local Users and Groups : lusrmgr.msc
• Logs You Out Of Windows : logoff
• Microsoft Chat : winchat
• Minesweeper Game : winmine
• Mouse Properties : control mouse
• Mouse Properties : main.cpl
• Network Connections : control netconnections
• Network Connections : ncpa.cpl
• Network Setup Wizard : netsetup.cpl
• Notepad : notepad
• Nview Desktop Manager (If Installed) : nvtuicpl.cpl
• Object Packager : packager
• ODBC Data Source Administrator : odbccp32.cpl
• On Screen Keyboard : osk
• Opens AC3 Filter (If Installed) : ac3filter.cpl
• Password Properties : pasword.cpl
• Performance Monitor : perfmon.msc
• Performance Monitor : perfmon
• Phone and Modem Options : telephon.cpl
• Power Configuration : powercfg.cpl
• Printers and Faxes : control printers
• Printers Folder : printers
• Private Character Editor : eudcedit
• Quicktime (If Installed) : QuickTime.cpl
• Regional Settings : intl.cpl
• Registry Editor : regedit
• Registry Editor : regedit32
• Remote Desktop : mstsc
• Removable Storage : ntmsmgr.msc
• Removable Storage Operator Requests : ntmsoprq.msc
• Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof) : rsop.msc
• Scanners and Cameras : sticpl.cpl
• Scheduled Tasks : control schedtasks
• Security Center : wscui.cpl
• Services : services.msc
• Shared Folders : fsmgmt.msc
• Shuts Down Windows : shutdown
• Sounds and Audio : mmsys.cpl
• Spider Solitare Card Game : spider
• SQL Client Configuration : cliconfg
• System Configuration Editor : sysedit
• System Configuration Utility : msconfig
• System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately) : sfc /scannow
• System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot) : sfc /scanonce
• System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot) : sfc /scanboot
• System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Setting) : sfc /revert
• System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache) : sfc /purgecache
• System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to size x) : sfc /cachesize=x
• System Properties : sysdm.cpl
• Task Manager : taskmgr
• Telnet Client : telnet
• User Account Management : nusrmgr.cpl
• Utility Manager : utilman
• Windows Firewall : firewall.cpl
• Windows Magnifier : magnify
• Windows Management Infrastructure : wmimgmt.msc
• Windows System Security Tool : syskey
• Windows Update Launches : wupdmgr
• Windows XP Tour Wizard : tourstart 
• Wordpad : write

1. Use the System Configuration Utility to safely turn off programs that start-up through the Windows Registry. Access this utility by going to the Start -> Run

2. Type msconfig and press Enter.

3. Under the Startup tab there is a list of all the programs that start in the Windows Registry. By unchecking many of the programs you can speed up the launch time of Windows.

4. It is recommended that you keep the lines that say ScanRegistry and SystemTray.

Very often, after installing some kind of disk writing software, or, for no reason whatsoever, your CD/DVD drive stops recognizing any media inserted. The problem often lies in so-called Upper and Lower filters.
Wikipedia defines filter driver as follows:

A filter driver is a Microsoft Windows driver that adds value to peripheral devices or supports a specialized device in the personal computer. It is a driver/program/module that is inserted into the existing driver stack to perform some specific function. A filter driver should not affect the normal working of the existing driver stack in any major way. Written either by Microsoft or the vendor of the hardware, any number of filter drivers can be added to Windows. Upper level filter drivers sit above the primary driver for the device (the function driver), while lower level filter drivers sit below the function driver and above the bus driver.

Microsoft is aware about the problem with filter driver conflicts, and there is even a small "Fix-it" wizard, created specifically for this problem.

If you want to fix the problem by myself without downloading anything, here is what should be done:

• Open Registry Editor. Click Start, select Run and type "regedit".

• In the navigation pane, locate and then click the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
  
  You can use Search function to find the mentioned subkey quickly.

• Note: before perfowming the next step, you may want to back up your registry data to be able to restore it in future.

• In the right pane, select UpperFilters and delete it. Do the same with LowerFilters.

Initial Problem:

Every time you download or install a new game, application, or software update, you make changes to your computer. Sometimes that change may make your system unstable. Have you ever wanted to go back to the way it was? With System Restore, you can.

System Restore works a lot like the Undo command in Microsoft Word. You can use System Restore to remove any system changes that were made since the last time you remember your computer working correctly. System Restore does not affect your personal data files (such as Microsoft Word documents, browsing history, drawings, favorites, or e-mail) so you won't lose changes made to these files.

To restore Windows Vista click here

Solution:

If Windows XP will start:

• Log on to Windows as an Administrator.
• Click Start, point to All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - System Restore.
• On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time, and click Next.
• Or type or paste the following command in the Start - Run box then press Enter.

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

This command can be used at the Safe Mode Command Prompt also.

On the Select a Restore Point page, click on a bold date on the calendar pryer to the day of the problem stated. There may also be a restore point for an earlier time on the same day. Try to use a restore point as close as possible to a time just before the problem started. If the problem persists, an earlier restore point can be used.

On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration, and then restarts the computer.

If Windows will not start in normal mode

System Restore can be run form Safe Mode or Safe Mode Command Prompt.

Warning: When restoring a system from Safe Mode or from the Command Prompt an Undo restore point will NOT be created!

Initial Problem:

In some special cases you may need to boot the system in safe mode. This article discusses the several Safe Boot options that Windows XP supports. These options load a minimal set of drivers. You can use these options to start Windows so that you can modify the registry or load or remove drivers.

Solution:

If Windows XP is the only operating system installed on your computer, booting into Safe Mode with these instructions.

• If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power

• Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.

• Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.

• Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected.

• Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.

• When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

To use the System Configuration Utility method

• Close all open programs.

• Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the box and click OK

• The System Configuration Utility appears, On the BOOT.INI tab, Check the "/SAFEBOOT" option, and then click OK and Restart your computer when prompted.

• The computer restarts in Safe mode.

• Perform the troubleshooting steps for which you are using Safe Mode.
  When you are finished with troubleshooting in Safe mode, open MSCONFIG again, on the BOOT.INI tab,  uncheck "/SAFEBOOT" and click OK to restart your computer

Windows as part of a multiboot system

Use this method ONLY if you have multiple operating systems installed on your computer.

• If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power

• Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.
  

• When the Boot loader menu (list of the available operating systems) appears, use the arrow keys on the keyboard to select the version Windows what you want

• Press Enter, and then immediately begin tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options menu appears.

• Scroll to and select the Safe mode menu item, and then press Enter.

Description of Safe Boot options

• Safe Mode (SAFEBOOT_OPTION=Minimal): This option uses a minimal set of device drivers and services to start Windows.

• Safe Mode with Networking (SAFEBOOT_OPTION=Network): This option uses a minimal set of device drivers and services to start Windows together with the drivers that you must have to load networking.

• Safe Mode with Command Prompt (SAFEBOOT_OPTION=Minimal(AlternateShell)): This option is the same as Safe mode, except that Cmd.exe starts instead of Windows Explorer.

• Enable VGA Mode: This option starts Windows in 640 x 480 mode by using the current video driver (not Vga.sys). This mode is useful if the display is configured for a setting that the monitor cannot display.

  
  Note Safe mode and Safe mode with Networking load the Vga.sys driver instead.

• Last Known Good Configuration: This option starts Windows by using the previous good configuration.

• Directory Service Restore Mode: This mode is valid only for Windows-based domain controllers. This mode performs a directory service repair.

• Debugging Mode: This option turns on debug mode in Windows. Debugging information can be sent across a serial cable to another computer that is running a debugger. This mode is configured to use COM2.

• Enable Boot Logging: This option turns on logging when the computer is started with any of the Safe Boot options except Last Known Good Configuration. The Boot Logging text is recorded in the Ntbtlog.txt file in the %SystemRoot% folder.

• Starts Windows Normally: This option starts Windows in its normal mode.

• Reboot: This option restarts the computer.

• Return to OS Choices Menu: On a computer that is configured to starting to more than one operating system, this option returns to the Boot menu.