This section contains information on system configuration, maintenance and troubleshooting. It is not exhaustive, there are many other sources of vital maintenance and troubleshooting information on the web and in print. Links to several online sources can be found in the Related Links section.
Of course no computer lasts forever. When it's time to replace a system please consider a recycling program like those described in this PC World article.
Topics
- System Configuration
- Drive Letter Allocation — an allocation table for drive letter assignment standardization.
- Maintenance Log — a customizable list of routine system maintenance procedures.
- Management Scripts — DOS and visual basic scripts to perform basic system management and maintenance functions.
- System Policies — establish user property restrictions, e.g. removing the Find and Run commands from the Start Menu and disabling the Control Panel.
- Desktop Environment
- Patron Desktop Sidebar — an Active Desktop page that integrates the content of a hosted weblog into the desktop.
- Windows XP
- Installation — several guidelines for a successful XP installation.
- Setup — a detailed list of post-installation guidelines for a FHC environment.
- Tuneup Tips — XP tuneup tips that can increase performance and stability.
Utilities
- TightVNC
- A freeware client/server software package that enables remote network access to graphical desktops.
- Trend HouseCall
- A free online virus scanning and removal application.
- TweakUI
- A Windows XP PowerToy for user environment customization.
- X-ecutor
- A system maintenance utility that can automate startup and shutdown tasks.
- ZoneAlarm
- A free personal firewall that offers protection from most malware.
- AnyPassword
- A versitle freeware password manager.
- Autoruns
- Sysinternals utility that shows programs configured to run during system bootup and allows them to be disabled.
- BootDisk.com
- Bootdisks and other essential support utilities.
- Errorscan
- A well-written utility that can recover wasted drive space by deleting unnecessary files.
- HDD Health
- A full-featured hard drive failure-prediction agent.
- Partition Magic
- The best-selling commercial hard disk partitioning utility.
- Process Explorer
- Sysinternals process monitoring utility that shows running processes and their corresponding files and DLL's.
Related Links
- Upgrading & Repairing PCs
- A comprehensive, although somewhat dated, reference for PC hardware
- Annoyances.org
- An invaluable collection of tips and information assembled by Windows users.