This tutorial gives instruction on how to:

FDISK and FORMAT a 12GB Hard Drive

Partition the hard drive into 4 equal partitions.
Reinstall the Windows 98 Operating System.

Using these instruction for other hard drives can be accomplished by changing the
number of partitions and the % of the hard drive used.

Disclaimer: We cannot be held responsible for any loss of data or damage to your
hardware while using these instructions. If you feel you are not at a skill level
to accomplish this task, please do not attempt it.

FDISK is an extremely powerful tool that will do severe damage to your data. Make
sure that you understand the questions that the program is asking you. Your actual
program configuration can be a little different and have additional or fewer steps
in it, so be careful to read each step carefully.

Now before we start, make sure that you have backed up any important data and you
have the necessary disks to reinstall the desired programs.

The first thing that you are going to need is a Startup Disk:

1] Insert a blank formatted diskette into the floppy drive. Insert the Win98 CD
into your cd rom drive.
2] Double click on "My Computer" located on the desktop.
3] Double click on "Add Remove Programs".
4] Click on "Startup Disk" (Win98 Cd is required).
5] Click on "create".

Once you have that disk created, ensure that it reads your CD-ROM. If it does not,
then you are going to be in serious trouble once you try to recover your operating
system. Lets see if it works ok? Boot to a DOS (A:\>) prompt, insert a CD into
your CD-ROM and type in DIR E: (or whatever your CD-ROM drive letter is, this
example uses "E") ensuring there is a space between "DIR" and "E" <enter>. If it
reads the CD, continue on. If not, retry creating a Startup Disk or download one
here: www.bootdisk.com

Once you have a functional Startup Disk, insert it into your floppy drive and your
Windows 98 CD into your CD-ROM drive then, reboot using your Startup Disk.
You will be asked to choose from 2 or 3 options. Select the option to boot without
CD-ROM support for now.
At the DOS (A:\) prompt, type in: FDISK <enter>. You will now see a long message
that states: Your computer has a disk larger than 512 MB, do you wish to enable
large disk support (or something to this affect). Large Disk Support means
"FAT32". Answer "Y" to enable large disk support.

You should now see the main "FDISK Options" menu and the "Enter choice:" prompt.
Here it will state "Current fixed disk drive:1". This indicates the first disk it
has found on the system. If you only have one hard drive, this will be your
choice.

If partition(s) exists, proceed to step "1a" below.

1. Select option "1" to create partition.

2. Select option "1" again to create primary DOS partition.
3. It will prompt you "Do you wish to use the maximum available size for a Primary
DOS partition and make the partition active (Y/N)?"
Answer "N" <enter>. Unless you want a single partition on your hard drive, then
you would answer "Y".
It will show you the total space on the drive, and prompt you "Enter size in
MBytes or percent of drive space (%):" You want this first partition to take up
one quarter of the drive space, so type in "25%" (make sure to include the percent
sign) <enter>.
It should tell you "Partition created; drive letters changed or added" (or
something like that).
4. It should now send you back to the main "FDISK Options" menu, if not, then just
press the <esc> key until you're back there.

1a. Select "Delete Partition on logical Dos Drive." (option 3) <enter>.

1b. Select "Delete Primary Dos Partition." (option 1) <enter>.
1c. Hit <enter> to delete the partition.
1d. If there is a volume label listed, type it in exactly as it appears <enter>.
If not, just hit <enter>.
1e. Answer yes to the last question and hit <enter>.
1f. Hit <esc> key and proceed to step 1 above to create partition.

Now let's fill up that extended partition you've just created by making three
logical partitions to fill it.
1. Again, choose option 1 "Create DOS partition or logical DOS drive" and <enter>.
2. This time, when it asks you what type of partition to create, choose option 3
"Create Logical DOS drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition" and <enter>.
3. It will prompt you to "Enter logical drive size in MBytes or percent of disk
space" once again. Type in "33%" with the percent sign <enter>.
4. It will create the first logical partition, and immediately prompt you to
"Enter logical drive size..." again.
5. Again, type in "33%", with the percent sign, <enter>.
6. It will create the second logical partition, and prompt you once again to
"Enter logical drive size..." This time, look above the prompt, to where it says
"Maximum space available for logical drives is (whatever number)14532 MBytes".
Type in the number of MBytes shown, without a percent sign, <enter>.
7. It will create the third logical partition, and tell you that "All available
space in the Extended DOS partition is assigned to logical drives" what this means
is you have filled up the entire hard drive space. Good job!
8. Press the <esc> key to continue. Press the <esc> key again to exit FDISK.

You should now be back at the DOS (A:\>) prompt. Press Ctrl>Alt>Delete to restart
your computer. Let it boot again from your Startup Disk. Choose the option without
CD-ROM support. When it returns to your DOS (A:\>) prompt, type in: FORMAT C:
(ensure there is a space between FORMAT and C:) <enter> This will now format your
drive "C". When that finishes, type in: FORMAT D:, then FORMAT E:, and lastly
FORMAT F: to format the remaining partitions.

You should now have a nice clean hard drive with four 4GB partitions. Now you can
install your Operating System of choice.

Reboot your system using the Startup Disk again. At the option screen, select the
option to "Boot using CD-ROM support". When you get to the DOS (A:\) prompt, type
"D:" <enter>
The prompt should now say D:\, at this prompt type: SETUP <enter>.
Scandisk will run and take you right into Windows setup. Follow the onscreen
instructions.

NOTE: If Windows prompts you for drivers for certain hardware, just select cancel
for now until Windows is fully installed, then proceed to the next steps After the
Windows installation.
1. Double click on "My Computer".
2. Double click on "Control Panel".
3. Double click on "Systems" (icon is located toward the bottom of the screen)
4. Click on the "Device Manager" tab on top.
5. Go to the category called "Other Devices" and double click on it.
6. You will see devices with a "!" mark. Highlight those devices and remove them
one by one.
7. After removing all those devices, Reboot your system.

The network card drive is commonly known as "Ethernet adapter".

The sound card is commonly detected as "multimedia device".
Fax modem is commonly detected as "communication device".
Install the appropriate drivers for each device.

This tutorial was created by Roger Lemon and Vince Underwood

In order to complete this task, you will need:

1) Category 5 (Cat 5) crossover cable (see fig#1). You can purchase these cables
in different lengths. Be sure to buy the one that fits your needs.

Fig#1

Note: A crossover cable is different from an Ethernet cable. If you're using a

Hub, Switch or Router to connect the two computers, an Ethernet cable is the way
to go..

2) Fully functional Ethernet Adapters (Network Cards) installed on both computers

systems.
Be sure that both computers are logged in to Windows.
Connect each end of the cat5 crossover cables in to the network cards of each
computer.
Bootup both computers and sign them both on to Windows.
In order for both PC's to be able to communicate together, the Ethernet adapters
will need to be configured with a static IP address and a common Subnet mask. As
an example, assign one PC an IP address of 192.198.0.1 and assign the second PC an
IP address of 192.198.0.2. Both machines should use the Subnet mask 255.255.255.0.
Here's how to configure your Network Card: Go to Start>> Control Panel>> Network
Connections>> Right click your Local Area Connection and select Properties. Scroll
the list for the entry titled: Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Click the entry and
select Properties. Under the General tab, tick the box titled: Use the following
IP address. Enter the IP address and Subnet mask that you would like to use.
Repeat the steps above for the second computer system.
Be sure that both PC's have a common workgroup name of 15 characters or less.
Here's how: Go to Start>> Control Panel>>System. Select the Computer Name tab.
Click the Change button. Change the Workgroup name. Repeat these instructions on
the second computer ensuring that both computers are named exactly the same.
Reboot both computer systems.
Next, open a command prompt on one of the computers by going to Start>>Run. Type
in: command [Enter] or click OK.
Type: ping 192.198.0.2 (if you are using the computer assigned with 192.198.0.01)
press Enter.
Five replies to your ping should be indicated.

Note: If you receive a "timed out" message when attempting to ping your selected
IP address. It is possible that the Internet Connection Firewall is interfering.
Try right clicking on "My Network Places", then select Properties. Right click
your Local Area Connection and select Properties once again. Click the Advanced
tab. Uncheck the box titled: "Protect my computer and network by limiting or
preventing access to this computer from the Internet". Click OK. Now, try pinging
the selected IP address again.
Once you get the two computers to communicate successfully together, you can now
enjoy the benefits of file sharing, printer sharing and Internet connection
sharing. Nice work!

What is Safe Mode?:

Safe Mode is a feature that came with Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP Operating
Systems. Typically, Safe Mode is used as a diagnostic tool. When the computer is
booted to Safe Mode, only the bare minimum of resources are loaded. This is
helpful in determining the cause of many problems.
<>Booting to Safe Mode:
Windows XP:
1. Start Windows XP
2. Once you hear the first beep during the startup process, begin tapping the F8
key on your keyboard repeatedly until you receive an onscreen menu.
3. Select option #1. This should be Safe Mode

Alternately, if you are having troubles getting to Safe Mode using the above
method, you can use the Microsoft Configuration Utility. Here's how:

1. Login as Administrator
2. Go to Start>> Run. Type in: msconfig [Enter] or click OK
3. Once in the Configuration Utility, select the BOOT.INI tab
4. Click the empty box next to the entry: /SAFEBOOT (a checkmark will now appear.
5. Click OK
6. Exit the Configuration Utility and restart your computer.

Your computer will now boot into Safe Mode each time that it is restarted. To
reverse the process, simply follow the above instructions and uncheck the
/SAFEBOOT entry.
Windows 98/ME:
1. Start Windows 98/ME
2. Once you hear the first beep during the startup process, begin tapping the F8
key on your keyboard repeatedly until you receive an onscreen menu.
3. Select option #1. This should be Safe Mode

Alternately, if you are having troubles getting to Safe Mode using the above
method, you can use the Microsoft Configuration Utility. Here's how:

1. Go to Start>> Run. Type in: msconfig [Enter] or click OK

2. Once in the Configuration Utility and while in the "General" settings area,
click the "Advanced" button.
3. Once in the Advanced Troubleshooting Settings window, place a checkmark in the
'Enable Startup Menu' box.
4. Click OK and then OK again once the Configuration Utility reappears.
5. Exit the Configuration Utility and restart your computer.
6. When your Operating System restarts, you will now see a Startup Menu appear.
Select Safe Mode from the menu and press Enter on your keyboard.
Windows 2000:
1. Start Windows 2000
2. Once you see a black and white Starting Windows bar at the lower portion of
your screen, begin tapping the F8 key repeatedly until the Advanced Options menu
appears.
3. Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, select the Safe Mode option and press
Enter.
[Windows XP]

Below, are a few performance tips that will help keep your Windows XP system
running smooth and error free.

<>Free Up Disk Space

By using the Disk Cleanup Tool you will increase the performance of your computer
by removing unnecessary clutter on your hard drive. This system tool compiles a
listing of all files that can be safely deleted from your system and gives you the
option of deleting them or not. Here's how to use the Disk Cleanup Tool:
Go to Start>> All Programs>> Accessories>> System Tools>> Disk Cleanup. In the
event that you have several drives available, you will be prompted to choose a
specific drive to be cleaned. Typically, the C:\ drive.

Disk Cleanup will now calculate the amount of space you will be able to free up.
Windows will now compile a listing of files that can be safely deleted. Once you
have reviewed this list, you can place a checkmark next to the item that you wish
to delete. Unchecking the item will leave these files on your system. Once you
have selected the files you wish to delete, click OK.

You will be prompted to confirm your selections. Click Yes.

Windows will now clear all of the selected files from your system, leaving it
cleaner and performing much better.

<>Speed Up Access to Data

When files are fragmented, the speed in which reading and writing of data on your
hard drive can be effected. By using the Disk Defragmenter, the fragmented files
and folders will be consolidated and placed neatly on your hard drive. Once the
files are called upon, Windows will be able to access them much more quickly and
efficiently. It is recommended that you run the Disk Defragmenter tool once a
month to keep your system running at peak performance. Here's how to use the
Defragmenter tool:
Go to Start>> All Programs>> Accessories>> System Tools>> Disk Defragmenter.

Click the drives that you would like to defragment from the Disk Defragmenter
dialog box, then click the Analyze button.

Once the disk is analyzed, a dialog box will appear and will prompt whether you
should defragment the analyzed drives.

Note: The analyzing process is to give you an idea of how long it will take to
defragment the selected drives. If you would like to skip the Analyzing process,
just click the Defragment button instead.
After the Analyzing process completes, click the Defragment button.
Windows will now start defragmenting your selected drives. Once this process
completes, it will display the results. You will be able to display a detailed
report about the defragmented drive or partition by clicking "View Report".

To close the View Report dialog box, click Close.

Close the Disk Defragmenter utility by clicking the Close button on the title bar
of the window.

<>Detect and Repair Disk Errors

The Error Checking utility checks the integrity of the files stored on your hard
disk. Over time, it is possible that your hard disk can develop bad sectors which
can lead to files being misplaced. By using this utility, Windows can find these
misplaced files and place them where they can be found when needed. In addition,
the Error Checking utility will repair hard disk errors whenever possible.

It is recommended by Windows that you run this utility weekly if you use your
computer on a daily basis. Here's how to run the Error Checking utility:

Important: Be sure that all files and folders are closed prior to using this
utility.
Go to Start>> My Computer.
Right click the hard disk that you would like to check.
Click Properties from the resulting menu.
Click the Tools tab.
Click the "Check Now" button.
Select the "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" check box, then click
Start.
In the event that Windows finds bad sectors, choose to fix them.

Note: Only make the selection to Automatically fix file system errors if you think
that your disk contains bad sectors.

That's it! If you use the above information at the recommended intervals, you will
keep your system running at its peak performance and enjoy faster, error free
computing for a very long time.
Introduction:

When your computer suddenly stops functioning and shows you a blue screen with an
error message this usually sends panic to most users. In this tutorial I will
attempt to explain why this has happened and what you can do to troubleshoot the
error.

<>The Kernel:

When working in a Windows operating system, there is a core piece of software that
is designed to control all of the hardware operation within the system called the
"Kernel". When the Kernel finds a problem in the system it will shut down the
operation of the hardware to a bare minimum and take a picture of the exact
location that it found to be the problem. It then displays this error information
on a pre-defined "Blue Screen". At this point, the system is not useable because
the Kernel has shut operations down to avoid further damage. Blue Screen Errors
also known as STOP errors can be caused from any of the following:
Bad memory module
Poorly written device drivers
Corrupt Windows Registry
Incompatible DLL File
When faced with a blue screen, many attempt to copy and paste the information and
become frustrated when they find that they are not able to do so. As I have stated
above, the Kernel handles all of your hardware operation, so your mouse, keyboard,
printer and so on, will not function. You will either need to write the
information down on a piece of paper or take a picture of the screen with a
digital camera. You will at least have the information to use for troubleshooting
or show to a capable technician so that they can fix the problem.
<>Troubleshooting The Error:

In most cases, a simple reboot of the operating system will allow users to gain
access to their operating system again. Until the error has been fixed, you will
be faced with another blue screen once the Kernel happens upon the unrecoverable
error. There are a few things that you can do to get help for this error:
Type the error message in to the search engine of your choice to see if there is a
fix available.
Sign-in to a newsgroup or computer help forum and post the error message in there
to see if you can get any feedback on the error.
Take the computer to a repair shop.

For those of you that are reading this tutorial and did not save the error message
in any way. There is a way to find the information in your operating system.
Here's how:

<>Windows Debugging Tools for Windows Vista, XP, 2000 and NT:

To gain access to the error message you will need to download a free Windows
Debugging Tool that can access the memory dump where the information resides. The
link below will take you to Microsoft's web site where you can download the tool
for your version and architecture (32 bit, 64 bit): Note: Vista users, please read
below before downloading the debugging tool.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/default.mspx

The debugging tool will automatically install to your system in the Program Files
folder. To use this tool follow the instructions outlined in the Microsoft
Knowledgebase Article below:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315263

If you are using Windows Vista, there is a much simpler method available to you:
Go to Start
Select Control Panel
Select System and Maintenance
Select Problem Reports and Solutions
From here, you will be able to see the error message that was displayed in your
blue screen and view possible solutions that Microsoft has already identified
regarding your particular error. <>CHKDSK Tool:

Depending on the cause of the error, a tool that can be helpful in resolving these
issues is the CHKDSK tool. CHKDSK has the ability to check your hard disk for
errors and automatically fix them. We have written a tips for using CHKDSK which
you can access by clicking the links below:

Check your hard disk for errors (Vista)

Detect and Repairing Disk Errors (XP)

If we can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail or

register at our Free Computer Help Forums.

So, you just bought a new PC, and now you just cant wait to connect this new
rocket to the Internet and see how it really performs. I know this is what you
really bought it for, but PLEASE WAIT!! Before you connect to the Internet for the
first time, there are a series of steps I strongly recommend you follow to ensure
your new computer remains safe and you have an enjoyable experience. My experience
and testing in this area shows that an improperly protected PC, especially if it
is running Windows XP (any version), can and probably will be attacked in under 10
minutes after being connected to the Internet. The first attacks usually occur
while you are connected to Microsoft�s web site to get your first round of updates
and patches. It usually happens in the background, and you are not even aware of
it until it is too late. Please don�t let this happen to you. You can avoid all
the problems if you will first follow the steps I have outlined for you below.
Then go ahead and have fun on the Internet.

You really don�t want to begin your new computer experience by having to re-
install Windows, so we well take the necessary steps to update, configure and
patch your new PC. No matter how new it is, it will surely need the latest
patches, and it will also need to be properly configured. That said, let�s get to
it.
Make a CD-ROM to start loading your new computer that contains all the files you
will need to use. (This step assumes you already have a computer and your new one
will be replacing it. If this is not the case, and this is your only computer, you
can skip this step). Burn a CD from your old computer that contains any and all
security program installs, files, drivers for peripherals, and any updated drivers
you might need. If you are not sure how new the drivers are, first go to the
appropriate web site and get the latest updates first. Be sure to include drivers
for video devices, game controllers, cameras, scanners, printers etc.

Remove applications. After your new computer is running and you have gone through
the initial setup process, Windows identifies the devices connected and asks you
to register or activate the devices and register your copy of the Windows
operating system. Wait on that and do it later. Instead you now want to remove any
promotional and trial software included with your new machine that you will not be
using. This includes items like AOL or Earthlink if you won�t need them. This is
easiest done from the control panel under add & remove programs. Just scroll down
the list and uninstall anything you won�t be using.

Install a firewall. Yes, I said install. If you have Windows XP, it comes with a
built in firewall that your computer urges you to turn on. I much prefer you
install a very good third party firewall such as Zone Alarm from Zonelab. If you
made your CD properly in step one, you already have it ready to go. Install it and
turn it on.

Install antivirus software. Now you will install the antivirus software from your
CD that you burned in step one. We will update the antivirus program later. Just
get it installed for now. You might want to start a list at this point of
everything installed that will need registration &/or updating later on when you
connect to the Internet.

Install anti-spyware program(s). This should also be ready to go from the CD you
burned in step 1.

Install printers and other peripheral devices. By installing your printer(s) now,
you will be ready to print any important update or registration information after
you connect to the Internet and begin registering and updating everything. By also
connecting any other peripheral devices now, when you go to Windows Update, or
Microsoft Update, Windows will see the devices and suggest any Microsoft tested
updates if they are available for these devices.

Set administrator password. Now is a good time to set a strong password for the
administrator account. You might also think about renaming the account to disguise
its real purpose and privileges. For more information on this, I recommend you
read the tutorial on Hardening Windows elsewhere on the 5 Star Support site. If
you intend to harden your operating system, now is the best possible time.

Create new user account(s). Now you need to create the user accounts for yourself
and any other users who will be operating the computer for general use. You will
only be using the administrator account from now on to install or update programs.
Be sure to password protect each account you create.

Establish a restore point. In Windows XP, you can manually establish a system
restore point that will take you back to this point should something catastrophic
occur. To start this system utility, click Start | All Programs | Accessories |
System Tools | System restore and follow the steps in the System Restore Wizard.

Install a router. This will probably sound like an unnecessary step to many users,
especially if they are only using one computer. This is not the case. I am not
trying to get you to spend more money for a toy. Even if you only have one
computer, installing a router, especially one with a built in firewall, between
your computer and your high speed modem. It provides an extra security layer
between your computer and the Internet, and does not slow things down at all. It
is even more beneficial if you are keeping your old computer as you will now be
able to both network the two machines easily, and connect both to the Internet
easily. You will need information from your IP as to the type of connection you
will be using in order to properly configure the router. A good router with
firewall can be had for as little as $80.00 if you are willing to shop a bit. The
extra layer of security it provides is well worth several times that expenditure.

Connect to the Internet. Now you are ready to connect to the Internet and begin
registering and updating everything. This is easily done from the list you made in
step 4. I recommend you update all security programs first, followed by Windows,
and then any other software programs. Remember to also get the latest versions of
Adobe Reader (http://www.adobe.com/), Flash Player, and Shockwave
(www.macromedia.com).

Turn off unnecessary services. I recommend a few for sure. Go to www.grc.com and
get the �Three Musketeers� to turn off Windows Messenger, DCOM, and Plug & Play.
You might also want to disable scripting in Windows Media Player
(http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/wmpscriptingfix.html).

That should take care of setting up your new computer. If, for some reason, you
decided not to harden your system from the Hardening Windows tutorial, I beg you
to reconsider and do it, even if it means you will need to get some help. Trust
me, you won�t be sorry. It is well worth the time and effort.

Enjoy your new computer! Until next time here on 5 Star Support.

Laptop Tips

Below are a list of tips that will help increase the life of your laptop and
hopefully save you some money too!
Make sure that you always use a surge protector. An electrical surge may not
affect your laptop the fist time it happens, but over time it will destroy it!

Don't get into a habit of leaving your laptop on the floor. Things that are left
on the floor are free game for pets, small children and big feet.

Never leave your laptop in a cold environment. Once it gets cold, then you bring
it into a warm environment, it will build up condensation on the circuitry and
cause the laptop to short itself out.
Never keep your paperwork between the screen and keypad. Paper is very sharp and
will eventually cut into your screen.

Avoid placing your laptop on soft surfaces. This will block the air vents and
overheat your system.

Be sure to purchase a good quality carrying case for your laptop's protection.
Dropping and bumping a laptop is common. If it is in a quality case, it usually is
not a problem. Also, make sure that the case has plenty of additional storage
compartments to avoid scratching your laptop.

Never drink liquids when working with your laptop. If you must, then make sure
that the cup or glass has a wide bottom that will not be easily overturned. Be
very careful, spilling liquid into your laptop will mean almost certain
replacement. That's a costly cup of coffee!

Never work on your own laptop unless you are a qualified professional. Laptops are
much different from desktop computers. They have very small parts that are stuffed
into tight areas.

Laptop travel tips

Make sure that you are familiar with your laptop before you depart on a trip.
Ensure that you are able to connect to the Internet and that you have all of the
necessary software to conduct your work.

Carry your laptop in a bag designed for laptop computers. If you accidentally drop
your laptop while it is in a good carrying case, you have a good chance that it
will not be damaged.

In hotel rooms, many of the devices (alarm clock, hair drier, television etc.)
contain magnets that can damage your data. Do not store floppies or zip disks near
these devices for extended periods.

Use extra caution when drinking anything near your laptop computer. Avoid using
small base glasses that can easily tip over. Spilling liquid into a laptop can
ruin it.

Never check your laptop computer as luggage on an airline, bus, etc. Always carry-
on your laptop computer to avoid damage and theft. Keep your laptop in hand at all
times when in public areas. Be extra careful in busy locations like airports,
where many laptop computers are stolen.

The x-ray machines at the airports will not damage your computer or your media.
However, many people have had their computers stolen as it comes out of the
conveyer belt. Be sure not to leave your computer unattended.

On long trans-Pacific flights, ask to be seated at an emergency exit. Not only do

you get more leg room, there is, believe it or not, a hot 110 Volt/AC outlet right
in front of each exit door in the outside wall of Boeing 747s where you can plug
in your notebook's A/C adapter and work/play the hours away without worrying about
batteries.

If you use a PC card modem, (1) always carry one as a spare even if your laptop
has an internal modem, and (2) either use one with an X-jack connector or bring an
extra dongle. I have heard from people who have unplugged their modems and left
the dongle connected to the phone cord, either at home or in a hotel. It's near-
impossible to find a dongle in a computer shop while you are on the road.
Take your purchase receipt along if you're traveling to a foreign country. This
way you can avoid paying import tax if a customs agent challenges you.

Make sure you know the power type and the plug type requirements for the country
you are traveling to. You will need to get the necessary adapters if you are going
to be using your computer while plugged into a power source (other than battery
power).

Charge all your batteries before you leave on a trip. You never know when they'll
get the next charge.

Below we have listed 2 links that will help you locate Cybercafe locations
worldwide.

Cybercafe Search Engine : Comprehensive listing of Cybercafes worldwide.

1. System Requirements:

Check to insure that your system meets the minimum requirements for Windows XP:
Windows XP Home Edition System Requirements
Windows XP Professional Edition System Requirements

2. Compatibility:

Check to insure that your hardware and software are compatible with the XP
Operating System:

If you have not yet purchased the XP operating system, it may be a good idea to
run the Windows XP Upgrade Advisor to check your software and hardware
compatibility. It is a free download and could save you a lot of money in the
event your software and hardware are not compatible. This is the same utility that
comes bundled with the Windows XP Operating System CD and runs before it is
installed.

Note: If you are on a dialup connection, this will not be a good idea as this
utility is a large download.

Windows XP Upgrade Advisor

You will also find lots of hardware and software compatibility information along
with driver updates at:
Windows Hardware and Driver Central.

If you do not have your hardware specification, you can download the Belarc
Advisor. This is a small utility available for free download right here at 5 Star
Support. The Belarc Advisor builds a detailed profile of your installed software
and hardware, including Microsoft Hotfixes, and displays the results in your Web
browser. All of your PC profile information is kept private on your PC and is not
sent to any web server. Author:
Belarc License:
Freeware Version:
6.1f Size:
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3. Booting Options:

The Windows XP installation CD is bootable. If you are not able to configure your
computer to boot from the CD-ROM, then it is possible that your system is not
compatible.

4. Start the Installation:

Insert your Windows XP Installation CD.

If Windows automatically detects the Installation CD, you will soon be prompted
with a "Press any key to boot from CD" message. You will have 5 seconds to hit any
key. If you've delayed too long, your computer will continue to start from the
hard disk.

Once you have pressed any key, files will begin to load from the installation CD.
You will soon be asked what type of installation you wish to perform:
New Installation
Repair an existing installation

Since this tutorial teaches a clean installation, choose "New Installation".

You will then be prompted to agree to the End User License Agreement (EULA). You
cannot continue without accepting. Press F8 to continue. Feel free to read the
EULA if you want, but make sure you take breaks every hour or so.

The next screen will show the available partitions where you can install XP. Here
you have the ability to create/delete partitions or just allocate the available
space to one partition. If you choose to create multiple partition for whatever
purpose, be sure to create them with sufficient size. I recommend partitions
between 4-10 GB of size depending on what your plans are. If you plan to install a
second Operating System, then an 8 to 10 GB partition would be best, but if your
plans are merely to use a partition for backup purposes, then 4 to 6 GB may work
fine.

Once your have chosen the partition you wish to install XP on, you will now need
to format it to a file system. The choices are:
Fat32:

A new version of the file allocation table (FAT) available in Windows 95 OSR 2 and
Windows 98. FAT32 increases the number of bits used to address clusters and also
reduces the size of each cluster. The result is that it can support larger disks
(up to 2 terabytes) and better storage efficiency (less slack space).
NTFS:

Short for New Technology File System, one of the file system for the Windows NT
operating system (Windows NT also supports the FAT file system). NTFS has features
to improve reliability, such as transaction logs to help recover from disk
failures. To control access to files, you can set permissions for directories
and/or individual files. NTFS files are not accessible from other operating such
as DOS.

The most common file system for a single operating system installation is NTFS.

You will need to make a choice of the different formatting options. I recommend
that you perform a FULL format of whichever file system that you've chosen. Once
the format is complete, the installation will continue.

You will now see all of the files loading to your hard drive from the installation
CD. Once the files are loaded, Windows will automatically reboot your system. When
you are given the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, do not hit any key.
Just let your system continue loading to your hard drive.

You will be prompted from time to time to enter in specific setup information such
as:
Region and Language
Name and Organization
Product License Key
Date and Time
User Name and Password

Note: Be sure to write down and save your user name and password. Create a
Password Reset Disk just in case you forget your password.

Eventually, Windows will reboot your system again. It will take you directly to
the Windows Activation screen. You will be given the option to activate now or
within a 30 day period. I recommend you take the time to activate your copy now.
If you don't, you will be bothered by on-screen reminders.

Caution: Be sure to activate a firewall application or install SP2 from a disk

prior to connecting to the Internet. Connecting a fresh XP installation that does
not have any updates will be attacked by Spyware and Worms.

Congratulations! Your Windows XP Installation is complete! Enjoy.

Clean files:
First off you need to delete all your trash, temp files, and files you no longer
need. While in an ideal situation these temp files are deleted when the
applications close but they aren�t. With poorly written programs, computer
crashes, hanging programs and improper shutdowns always leave unneeded temporary
files on your hard drive. These files pile up and start eating up hard disk space
and start impairing computer performance. If your computer is moving at a snail
pace then deleting the accumulated temp files may help to speed it up. You can
fix some shutdown and download problems by cleaning up your temp files. Do the
following:
Start > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup
Select the drive you want to clean. When it has finished, select the items that
you no longer want.
Recommend: Clean 'Downloaded Program Files', 'Temporary Internet Files', 'Recycle
Bin' and 'Temporary Files'.
Remove unwanted startup items:
You might notice one day unrecognized items in your task tray. If you have
unwanted items starting with windows it can and will slow down the boot process
and they will take up memory. Do the following:
Start Menu > Programs > Startup. You will find programs in this folder, just
delete the ones you do not want to start with windows. Then move on to the
following:
Start Menu > Run > Type in: msconfig.exe [Enter] Click the Startup tab and
uncheck any items you don�t want to startup.
Recommend: If you are not sure what it is leave it and do a Google search on it.
Remove unwanted applications:
You will have programs that you installed that will install other programs that
you might not know about. Remove unwanted applications as they can overtime slow
your system down. You cannot uninstall an application by just deleting files. Do
the following to remove them:
Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs. Here you can remove all programs
that you do not need or want anymore. Select the application and click the remove
button. This will uninstall the selected application.
Recommend: If you�re not sure then leave it and do a Google search on it.
Clean and Defrag your registry:
With time your registry becomes fragmented and bloated with obsolete and invalid
data that causes errors slowdowns and freezing of your system. Windows will try to
load things that do not exist any more because of invalid registry entries so it
then slows down your system leads to errors. Use Advanced Registry Optimizer.
Select all 3 of the programs options and run them. Be sure to make a backup, just
in case of a problem.
Scan for adware and spyware:
In general, you do not want anything that relates to these topics on your
computer. Adware is basically ads that can be found in programs or on websites.
This adware selectively installs tracking software which is called spyware. This
software runs behind the scenes and sends information to home. It is constantly
using your memory, hard drive space and even your internet connection! Spyware has
been known to stop browsers from working and even rendering a computer useless.
Application: Spybot
Directions: Update this program, immunize, and run it. When it has completed,
remove everything it has detected.
Application: Ad-Aware
Directions: Update this program and run it. When it has completed, remove
everything it has detected.
Scan for viruses:
For those who do not know by now viruses can render your files useless on your
computer and can corrupting your complete system. I do not think I need to go too
deep about this. Use your anti-virus to check your system regularly. Recommend:
That you use one of the online scanner to check your system every other month. No
one anti-virus program will find all viruses but some do a better job then others.

Defrag your hard drive or hard drives as the case maybe:

Your computer writes to the first available area on your hard drive. Then over
time your files start to be rearranged on your hard disk or fragmented as most
will say. When your hard drive is fragmented and you try to load a program it may
have to get 1 file from the inside of the hard drive, 1 file from the middle, then
maybe 1 from the outside. This will cause a slower running system. When defrag
your hard drive it tries to put the files back in order by organizing them in
similar groups. That way the hard drive is hunting all over looking for them and
that speeds up your system. Do the following:
Start Menu > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter/Check Now.
Select the drive you want to defrag. When it is done you can close the window or
select another drive to defrag.
Recommend you defrag at least once a month
Clean your computer case:
Dust is a problem that affects everyone no matter where you live and even more if
you live in a area where the dust is bad. If you have not cleaned the inside of
your computer case in 6 months or longer than you need to get right on it. Dust
build up is the number 1 computer killer/ problem causer in my humble opinion. Buy
yourself a can of compressed air. Buy a 1 inch paintbrush for brushing off things.

Recommend: Start by unplugging your system from it�s power source. Then start from
the top and brush all the dust off that you can with the paintbrush and work your
way down to the bottom of the case. Brush all the dust into a pile and use a
piece of paper as a dust pan and remove the dust. Then take the can of compressed
air and blow out your cd drive and floppy drive then start from the top again and
blow the system down to the bottom of the case. Stop every 10 seconds or so and
take a damp cloth and wipe the dust up on the bottom of the case Keep it up until
you have all the dust cleaned up. Use a Q-tip or pencil to block the fan blades so
they do not turn while you blow them off.

This article applies to Windows XP/2000

<>Introduction:

Over time, your hard drive could develop errors for a variety of reasons. The most
common reasons are:
Improper Shutdowns
Power Outages
Power Surges
Age of Drive

In this article I will explain a method that can repair a damaged hard drive. It
is also possible to be able to tell if the hard drive is nearing its end by using
this method.

Warning: Depending on the extent of the damage to your hard drive, this test can
cause the hard drive to actually fail. So, prior to running this test, be sure to
backup all data.

<>Start Repair Method:

Insert your Windows XP/2000 installation CD and restart your computer to launch
the CD. If you receive a prompt asking what boot method you would like to use.
Select the option that allows you to boot from the installation CD.

The next prompt will ask what you would like to do? Select the letter "R" to enter
the Windows Recovery Console.

When asked what partition you would like to boot to, select the partition that has
your Windows operating system installed on it. You may be asked for an
administrator password at this point. If you use one, then enter it now. If not,
simply press enter to continue.

A command prompt should now appear. Type in the following command and then press
enter on your keyboard: chkdsk /p

Your system will begin testing for errors on your drive. If you receive a message
that states; "One or more errors detected on the volume", then it is possible to
use CHKDSK to repair these errors. If no errors were found, CHKDSK will not be
able to repair your drive.

If one or more errors were found, type in the following command at the command
prompt and then press enter on your keyboard: chkdsk /r

Once you press enter, the CHKDSK utility will begin checking every sector on your
hard drive for errors and automatically repair them. This test could take some
time depending on the size of your hard drive.

Once your system stops scanning and returns you to the command prompt, type the
following command again, then press enter: chkdsk /p

If after the scan completes and it has found no errors, this means that you have
successfully repaired your drive. If errors are again reported, this means that
the CHKDSK utility was unable to repair these errors and it could also indicate
that the drive is on its last leg.

Exit the Recovery Console and remove your Windows XP/2000 installation CD. Be sure
to (if you haven't already) backup all data on your drive.

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