- What is the difference between Windows XP Professional Edition and Windows XP Home Edition?
- With Windows XP, the system doesn't display the Security dialog box when I press Ctrl+Alt+Del. Where did the dialog box go?
- With Windows XP, how do I set a password hint?
- What is Windows 2002?
- How can I determine which product key I used to activate Windows XP?
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
3.10 What is Windows 2002?
Windows 2002 is the brand name for the Windows 2000 follow-on server and desktop line of OSs. The beta name for the server line was Whistler; however, the final name scheme is Windows .Net server, and for the desktop, Windows XP.
Within Windows XP, you will still see the Windows 2002 name used if you keep your eyes peeled!
3.11 How do I enable Windows 2000-like file sharing and security in Windows XP workgroups?
In FAQ 3.9, we saw that to bring up the Security dialog box for files/folders/shares, you had to hold down the Ctrl key. To eliminate this requirement, perform the following steps:
Start the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Local Security Policy snap-in (Start > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Local Security Policy).
Expand the Local Policies branch.
Select Security Options.
Double-click Network access: Sharing and security model for local accounts.
Select Classic and click OK (see Figure 3-8).
Figure 3-8 Guest-only local accessClose the snap-in.
Reboot the system for the change to take effect.
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Figure 3-8Another method is do this is via Windows Explorer: Tools > Folder Options > View and then uncheck Use simple file sharing (Recommended).
Now you have share permissions and file security on NTFS volumes. On FAT volumes, the Security menu will remain unavailable.
3.12 How do I activate Windows XP from the command line?
Windows XP will typically remind you to activate the product (most users will have 30 days to activate XP after installation). To activate XP manually, you can use the Start menu shortcut in the System Tools Accessories folder. At the command prompt, type oobe/msoobe /a
In case you're wondering, "msoobe" stands for "Microsoft Out of Box Experience."
3.13 What is the Windows XP task switcher?
Microsoft is releasing XP with a host of new PowerToys (extra utilities that are great add-ons, although Microsoft doesn't support them). One PowerToy is an improved task switcher (i.e., the screen that's displayed when you press Alt+Tab to cycle through open programs).
The new task switcher shows an image of the application window so that you can see what each application is doing before you switch to a different application (see Figure 3-9).
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Figure 3-9 The enhanced Alt+Tab PowerToy
To install the task switcher, you will need to download TASKINSTALL.EXE from Microsoft's Web site. Run the downloaded TASKINSTALL.EXE. After you complete the installation, you must log off and log on again for the change to take effect.
Be warned: When using this utility, I have seen severe performance degradation on certain types of machines. If you encounter problems, simply uninstall task switcher using the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel applet.
3.14 Why can't I upgrade to the final version of Windows XP from an interim build?
Although you can technically upgrade from an interim build of XP to the final version, Microsoft has restricted the upgrade path for certain builds. However, I know of two methods for circumventing these restrictions.
Method 1
This method is the more complicated of the two. It involves modifying a file in your boot partition before you reboot.
Run Setup from the final XP image. If you receive a message stating that you can't upgrade this version of Windows, you need to perform a fresh install by selecting Fresh Install.
Continue with the installation and choose the same Windows directory for the installation that you want to upgrade.
When Setup prompts you to reboot, press Escape to manually reboot later, and Setup will return you to the Windows shell.
The directory $win_nt$.bt in the root of your boot partition (which is typically C) should contain a file named WINNT.SIF. Open this file in Notepad.
Look for the line that reads winntupgrade=no and change the winntupgrade value to yes.
Save the file and reboot your system.
Method 2
XP contains a Program Compatibility Wizard that you typically use to set up a virtual environment that mimics another version of Windows for programs that won't run under XP. Using this wizard, you can fool the final installation into thinking that you're running Windows 2000.
Start the Program Compatibility Wizard (go to Start > Programs > Accessories and click Program Compatibility Wizard).
Select I want to use the program in the CD-ROM drive and click Next.
Select Microsoft Windows 2000 and click Next.
Continue to click Next as appropriate to complete the wizard.