[tips]

Hints I have gathered and tried for getting the most out of WindowsXP and the computer in general. These are not in any particuliar order. Just the way I happened across them. Many more are included in the resource links page of this site.

• Tip number one: Take the Intro to WindowsXP class at LVS Online!! Okay, I have to admit it hasn't started yet so I haven't started it either, but I know LVS and I know the instructors. So I can say with great confidence that I will learn more about WinXP in six weeks than I would floundering around on my own with books and tutorials and helpsites in 6 months or a year [smile]. It's all out there, but why go it alone when Val has already spent untold hours organizing information, staying on top of what is new and you can be in a forum of people who want to learn the same thing? Silly if you ask me, especially considering the extremely low price. It's a steal! [Note: More experienced users will be able to skip over some of the basics in the lessons, but the additional information is well worth your time.]
  
  
• Unless you are faced with a *sudden death* situation like I was, I would advise reading up on WinXP before you start working with it. Find some good online resources and print some getting started materials or buy a good book. You can find recommendations on both on the resource links page here.
  
  
• You must be logged in as administrator [user with full privileges] to install software, drivers, etc. onto your system. This stumped me when I first started to attempt to put together my new system. I had purchased it with WinXp previously loaded and had no idea. Win98 does not require this type of privileges authorization to make changes to your system. To check and make sure you are logged into the correct account:
  
  Start -> Log Off -> Switch Users
  You can then check to see if you are logged in under the proper account. [I was originally logged in as *guest* with no privilege, so could not make system changes so I swapped to administrator and all went well.]
  
  
• Go find and download your new drivers before you start re-adding your hardware and goodies. Will make your life a bit easier.
  
  
• Just using control/alt/delete to turn off anti-virus programs and other software and other running windows to install software does not seem to work the same way as it does in Win98. It is recommended that you do a clean boot before installing on WinXP. This is similar to safe mode but not exactly the same. Symantec has excellent instructions for a clean boot on their site, so rather than rewrite it here, simply click this clean boot instructions link.
  
  
• If you are moving from Windows98, you may find some of the default fonts you are used to seeing are no longer included in WindowsXP. If you haven't done so already, you may want to make sure to grab a copy of your fonts folder so you can re-add the missing fonts.
  
  
• Do you like to read the EXIF information from your digital photographs? I do so that I can tell what I did when a shot is really good....or really bad. WinXP offers a quick option in addition to any other software you may have.
  
  Right Click the Image -> Properties -> Summary -> Advanced
  and there it is!
  
  
• We all know it's a good idea to run some system maintenance like scan disk and defrag on a regular basis, but where in the heck did they go in XP?
  
  My Computer -> Right Click Drive Name -> Properties -> Tools
  
  Notes: Scan Disk is now called Error Checking. Also, it is a good idea to turn off programs in the background like antivirus protection before performing these functions.
  
  
• System Restore is your friend! Whenever you are installing new drivers or software or making changes of any sort, open System Restore and set a check point. Name it something you will remember. I have been calling things b4[insert program name]. I will need to go back and dispose of these later, but for now, space is not an issue so I like the assurance that, should something go haywire, I can revert to the way the system was prior to an install. I've already had to use this once and it worked exactly the way it should...as far as I can tell. [grin]
  
  
• Does WinXP include a fax? If it has not already been added to your system (check Accessories -> Communications -> Fax), you can find it on your XP disc. Here is an excellent article from the Microsoft Expert Zone on how to install, set-up & use the WindowsXP fax:
  
  Faxing in WindowsXP
  
  If you are like me, you rarely use a fax, so hopefully this version included with WinXP will serve your purposes.
  
  

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