explorer folder list (XP)

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After my hard drive was reimaged, the folders in the Explorer folder list appear as links instead of having the appropriate folder icon or picture. How can I fix this? I prefer the folder icons. They do appear the correct way in the right display panel.

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Normally, you should be able to do this by right-clicking on the folder, select Properties, select the Customize tab, and click on “”Change Icon”.

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Doesn’t work. Because my C: drive does not exist (It shows as an F: drive), I learned from a website that you have to do a “subst c: f:” in the command field. Only thing I have not been able to find out is that when you restart your computer, you have to do it again, and the folder list displays a duplicate set of folders, one under the F: drive and one under the c: drive.

CAN ANYONE HELP?

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Is this the system that had a hard drive added and the system drive became the “F” drive?

If so I would rebuild the system and get it right, because this may be just the beginning of more problems.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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I haven’t installed any software yet, but I can’t take my system in again to have XP loaded. I have never done a fresh install before. Is there somewhere that has step by step instructions. I don’t want to mess up everything including existing drivers and such. I am not a rookie, but this is beyond me in many ways.

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Hi Kathy !!

For XP Home step-by-step take a look here.
For XP Pro look here.
Goold Luck !! HTH !!

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Hi Kathy !!

For XP Home step-by-step take a look here.
For XP Pro look here.
Goold Luck !! HTH !!

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I haven’t installed any software yet, but I can’t take my system in again to have XP loaded. I have never done a fresh install before. Is there somewhere that has step by step instructions. I don’t want to mess up everything including existing drivers and such. I am not a rookie, but this is beyond me in many ways.

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I want to be able to reload Win XP Pro without physically disabling the zip. Isn’t there a way in set up to make sure that the hard drive is selected as the c: drive?

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I want to be able to reload Win XP Pro without physically disabling the zip. Isn’t there a way in set up to make sure that the hard drive is selected as the c: drive?

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I’m not sure I know what you mean by “disabling the zip”?

Your best bet it do a clean reinstall. When this is done it will automatically designate the C drive as the boot drive. Since you said you didn’t have any other software installed, this is the ideal time to formatreinstall and get it right from the outset.

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Microsoft Knowledge Base Article – 304776-Windows Setup Detects an Installed Zip Drive as a Hard Disk-This is what happened when the tech reinstalled WXP.

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Kathy,

All the more reason to use the big eraser and do a clean re install.

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Kathy,

All the more reason to use the big eraser and do a clean re install.

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Kathy,

I agree with Bob. A clean install will re-establish the Zip Drive correctly and reinstall all the drivers. If it’s an Iomega and you want their tools, you’ll have to reinstall them, but otherwise there should be no problems in this area. If the Zip Drive is your only worry, I’d go for it and get things straight now, while there isn’t anything else on the system.

BTW – Bookmark Viper’s site. It’s one of the best resources on the internet for XP information.

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I am just concerned, because of the KB article and what happened this last time. If you don’t closely monitor the install, the setup sets the zip as the c: drive and f: as the system drive. However, in my case, the zip is showing as the g: drive and I have no C: drive at all. Wish me luck. If you guys don’t hear from me, it’s because I have blown up my system on my first attempt to do this myself.

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I fully expect the next post to be your’s !!

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Well, guys, I did it! I have installed the OS, installed all the of the critical updates, Office, and virus software. I am proceeding with all of my other software. I want to thank each and every one of you for your assistance and your patience with this rookie.

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Glad to hear that you had good luck in the rebuild. I assume that you now have the C drive as the boot drive and most of your problems have gone.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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So far. Haven’t hooked up any USB devices yet, so still have a ways to go, but so far so good. Keep your fingers crossed! Thanks again!

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Good news, Kathy.
Keep up the good work!

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Hi gang. Well, everything has been going OK with my reloaded system until I hooked up my printers again. I started getting the error again as described in post 357883. Well, after searching again, I found out from the Expert’s Exchange website (and then from the Black Viper website), that this is an error that happens because of Windows Image Acquistion and when disabled, the error goes away. Anyway, I did disable it, and now everything seems to be working fine, and I am not getting the svchost.exe error any longer. Printers and scanners work fine. Does anyone know why this is a problem……..? Is it a bug?

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Hi gang. Well, everything has been going OK with my reloaded system until I hooked up my printers again. I started getting the error again as described in post 357883. Well, after searching again, I found out from the Expert’s Exchange website (and then from the Black Viper website), that this is an error that happens because of Windows Image Acquistion and when disabled, the error goes away. Anyway, I did disable it, and now everything seems to be working fine, and I am not getting the svchost.exe error any longer. Printers and scanners work fine. Does anyone know why this is a problem……..? Is it a bug?

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Good news, Kathy.
Keep up the good work!

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So far. Haven’t hooked up any USB devices yet, so still have a ways to go, but so far so good. Keep your fingers crossed! Thanks again!

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Glad to hear that you had good luck in the rebuild. I assume that you now have the C drive as the boot drive and most of your problems have gone.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Congratulations !!! There was never a doubt in my mind !!!

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Congratulations !!! There was never a doubt in my mind !!!

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Well, guys, I did it! I have installed the OS, installed all the of the critical updates, Office, and virus software. I am proceeding with all of my other software. I want to thank each and every one of you for your assistance and your patience with this rookie.

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I fully expect the next post to be your’s !!

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Kathy – If it is not too late and you haven’t already started the reload (which you need to do) – you should remove the zip drive before the install – if that is the only drive on that cable then that is all you have to do – if there is another drive, just make sure the remaining drive is a Master.

This way, XP will not see it and won’t attempt to add it. Adding extras SHOULD wait until the very end – when you do a fresh install, you are a couple Gigs behind in updates, patches, fixes and DRIVERS! Including Zip drive drivers.

Fresh installs in bare systems are a piece of cake – all you need is a C: drive (Master) attached to the end (drive1) connector of the cable and the other end to your IDE-1 motherboard connector. Install any additional hard drives and your CD/DVD drive – making sure the Master/Slave settings are correct.

Hopefully, you have broadband (cable/DSL/Sat) – if so, plug the network cable into the Network port (or install network card if no on-board LAN, and plug in the cable).

Plug in mouse, keyboard, monitor – recheck all connections one more time and turn on and go into SETUP (usually hold down del key at beginning of booting).

As soon as you are certain it is going into Setup – look inside the case and make sure all fans are turning – if not, shut down NOW and fix. Okay – back to the display.

Set boot up sequence to CD, HDD
(you should a hard drive listed somewhere there to – just verify connections)
Set clock.
Enable on-board LAN – might have to hunt through the menus – might be on by default
Insert Windows CD – have Code handy
Save and exit.

Watch screen – follow prompt to boot from CD – you have about 5 secs before it times-out and skips the CD (Since it will always prompt – you don’t have to change the boot sequence back if you don’t want).

This should do it – the initial install screens are carry-overs from early NT days – therefore the verbiage can be confusing – (not technically) read the options carefully. Make sure you select Fresh install and a complete (not quick) Format using NTFS – this ensures a clean disk – it will only reformat your C: drive (FAT32 for Win98).

Then it is hurry up and wait – when finished installing don’t start surfing – you may want to turn on other features of your motherboard, such as sound – then go out to Windows Update and get up-to-date. You will be prompted to set up your connection to your ISP so be ready for that – most are DHCP now so that’s easy too.

NOTE: At some point, you might be asked to reauthenticate with MS – you might have to call a toll-free MS number – just say you had to reinstalled windows because you got a new hard drive – you don’t have to tell them more (except the codes from the case and maybe the screen) – took less than 5 minutes each of the 3 times I had to it. I usually wait as long as I can to authenticate – just in case I have to reinstall again.

Then you shut down, attach your zip drive (making sure Slave/Master jumpers are right), reboot

XP will find the Zip drive set the drivers up.

Then go into Disk Management (mentioned earlier) (dig into the Administrator Tools folders) and what I would do is change my CD drive letter to Q: and my DVD drive to V: and the zip to drive Z: – this makes it so much easier – the OS won’t bump the letters if you add a drive later on. This is important too as many programs access external data, expecting to find it at a specific location. As you start building your Desktop and adding all your applications, they will know the correct locations – a must for repairs! I have been doing that for years but XP made it easy (don’t mess with A: B: or C: – not a good idea).

Good Luck

-bill

Bill (AFE7Ret)
Freedom isn't free!

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Can’t I do it without opening up the system? I know absolutely NOTHING about reconnecting drives. I do not want to make any fatal errors.

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Kathy,
Sure you can do it without opening the covers, as long as the drive jumpers are set OK.
Bill is telling you the ultra safe way of doing it. Was there anyone else messing around inside the box who may have made any mechanical changes to drive settings, etc.?
If not, you should be able to do it without opening the hood.

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No, no one messed with the zip. I had my tech support mgr from work clean up my system after a bad bout at a computer shop. He was distracted that day, and didn’t select the hard drive, and the zip drive took over, and the hard drive got set as f:. Wish me luck………..hopefully you guys will hear from me later today………..

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No, no one messed with the zip. I had my tech support mgr from work clean up my system after a bad bout at a computer shop. He was distracted that day, and didn’t select the hard drive, and the zip drive took over, and the hard drive got set as f:. Wish me luck………..hopefully you guys will hear from me later today………..

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Kathy,
Sure you can do it without opening the covers, as long as the drive jumpers are set OK.
Bill is telling you the ultra safe way of doing it. Was there anyone else messing around inside the box who may have made any mechanical changes to drive settings, etc.?
If not, you should be able to do it without opening the hood.

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Here’s the problem. When you hit the power button, what you are really doing is telling a tiny program stored and running 24/7 in volatile memory called CMOS. It is “volatile” because it needs power 100% of the time to remember its programming. CMOS memory holds the configuration variables setup in the BIOS Setup screens – boot sequence, date and time, and devices that communicate on the Front Side Bus (FSB) – the main communications expressway for data – which include CPU type and speed, RAM size, video and the drive controllers. CD/DVD, Zip, and hard drives (except Serial and SCSI) are all IDE devices and connect to the IDE connectors on the motherboard. Data about each device is stored in CMOS. The CMOS is part of, and works together with the BIOS program burned into the BIOS chips. The BIOS prepares the computer to communicate with the world.

When the BIOS chips wake up, it reads the instructions from the CMOS (kept alive by the battery). The BIOS performs a POST (power on self test). The POST ensures the FSB devices are communicating and confirms what is attached is the same as what the BIOS remembers. If POST fails, the system may stop. If good, the BIOS instructs the disk controller(s) to fetch the boot sector data on the boot disk.

At this point, the computer already knows there are X number of drives attached to the controller and exactly where to look for a boot sector. If your Zip drive is attached, the BIOS would know that that drive controller connector has at least 1 IDE device attached and it would have already established some basic communications. The BIOS will provide that information to the Windows setup program during install, which will then configure the installation with that in mind.

The best way to ensure your Windows ends up on C: and your zip does not cause problems, is for the zip to NOT be there during install.

You really need to get inside – you can do it, we can help! If you have access to a 2nd computer, we can walk you through it. Most damage is caused by carelessness – a few precautions: 1) Unplug the PC. 2) Touch bare metal of the case before touching anything else (to discharge any static from your body). 3) One wire/connection at a time.

The only way to make sure your drives are set for Master/Slave is to physically look at the jumpers – and about the only way to do that is to slide them out. If you have a digital camera (or are willing to wait for prints) you can take a picture of the guts before you start. Most connectors are keyed – they can only be plugged in one way.

And besides, you need to get into the habit of popping the case to vacuum out the dust bunnies every so often. -bb

Bill (AFE7Ret)
Freedom isn't free!

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Bill,

It looks like she already has the C drive problem solved without going inside the Box.

I agree that eventually each user should know how and not be afraid to open up the covers for some basic things, this wasn’t the case here.
I also think that your explanation, while valid, was WAY over an average users head.

What may be clear to me, is totally confusing to a lot of people. I’m NOT being critical of your post here, please understand that.

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I was on a roll – hopefully it might help someone.

Bill (AFE7Ret)
Freedom isn't free!

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I was on a roll – hopefully it might help someone.

Bill (AFE7Ret)
Freedom isn't free!

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Bill,

It looks like she already has the C drive problem solved without going inside the Box.

I agree that eventually each user should know how and not be afraid to open up the covers for some basic things, this wasn’t the case here.
I also think that your explanation, while valid, was WAY over an average users head.

What may be clear to me, is totally confusing to a lot of people. I’m NOT being critical of your post here, please understand that.

Reply | Quote

Here’s the problem. When you hit the power button, what you are really doing is telling a tiny program stored and running 24/7 in volatile memory called CMOS. It is “volatile” because it needs power 100% of the time to remember its programming. CMOS memory holds the configuration variables setup in the BIOS Setup screens – boot sequence, date and time, and devices that communicate on the Front Side Bus (FSB) – the main communications expressway for data – which include CPU type and speed, RAM size, video and the drive controllers. CD/DVD, Zip, and hard drives (except Serial and SCSI) are all IDE devices and connect to the IDE connectors on the motherboard. Data about each device is stored in CMOS. The CMOS is part of, and works together with the BIOS program burned into the BIOS chips. The BIOS prepares the computer to communicate with the world.

When the BIOS chips wake up, it reads the instructions from the CMOS (kept alive by the battery). The BIOS performs a POST (power on self test). The POST ensures the FSB devices are communicating and confirms what is attached is the same as what the BIOS remembers. If POST fails, the system may stop. If good, the BIOS instructs the disk controller(s) to fetch the boot sector data on the boot disk.

At this point, the computer already knows there are X number of drives attached to the controller and exactly where to look for a boot sector. If your Zip drive is attached, the BIOS would know that that drive controller connector has at least 1 IDE device attached and it would have already established some basic communications. The BIOS will provide that information to the Windows setup program during install, which will then configure the installation with that in mind.

The best way to ensure your Windows ends up on C: and your zip does not cause problems, is for the zip to NOT be there during install.

You really need to get inside – you can do it, we can help! If you have access to a 2nd computer, we can walk you through it. Most damage is caused by carelessness – a few precautions: 1) Unplug the PC. 2) Touch bare metal of the case before touching anything else (to discharge any static from your body). 3) One wire/connection at a time.

The only way to make sure your drives are set for Master/Slave is to physically look at the jumpers – and about the only way to do that is to slide them out. If you have a digital camera (or are willing to wait for prints) you can take a picture of the guts before you start. Most connectors are keyed – they can only be plugged in one way.

And besides, you need to get into the habit of popping the case to vacuum out the dust bunnies every so often. -bb

Bill (AFE7Ret)
Freedom isn't free!

Reply | Quote

Can’t I do it without opening up the system? I know absolutely NOTHING about reconnecting drives. I do not want to make any fatal errors.

Reply | Quote

Kathy – If it is not too late and you haven’t already started the reload (which you need to do) – you should remove the zip drive before the install – if that is the only drive on that cable then that is all you have to do – if there is another drive, just make sure the remaining drive is a Master.

This way, XP will not see it and won’t attempt to add it. Adding extras SHOULD wait until the very end – when you do a fresh install, you are a couple Gigs behind in updates, patches, fixes and DRIVERS! Including Zip drive drivers.

Fresh installs in bare systems are a piece of cake – all you need is a C: drive (Master) attached to the end (drive1) connector of the cable and the other end to your IDE-1 motherboard connector. Install any additional hard drives and your CD/DVD drive – making sure the Master/Slave settings are correct.

Hopefully, you have broadband (cable/DSL/Sat) – if so, plug the network cable into the Network port (or install network card if no on-board LAN, and plug in the cable).

Plug in mouse, keyboard, monitor – recheck all connections one more time and turn on and go into SETUP (usually hold down del key at beginning of booting).

As soon as you are certain it is going into Setup – look inside the case and make sure all fans are turning – if not, shut down NOW and fix. Okay – back to the display.

Set boot up sequence to CD, HDD
(you should a hard drive listed somewhere there to – just verify connections)
Set clock.
Enable on-board LAN – might have to hunt through the menus – might be on by default
Insert Windows CD – have Code handy
Save and exit.

Watch screen – follow prompt to boot from CD – you have about 5 secs before it times-out and skips the CD (Since it will always prompt – you don’t have to change the boot sequence back if you don’t want).

This should do it – the initial install screens are carry-overs from early NT days – therefore the verbiage can be confusing – (not technically) read the options carefully. Make sure you select Fresh install and a complete (not quick) Format using NTFS – this ensures a clean disk – it will only reformat your C: drive (FAT32 for Win98).

Then it is hurry up and wait – when finished installing don’t start surfing – you may want to turn on other features of your motherboard, such as sound – then go out to Windows Update and get up-to-date. You will be prompted to set up your connection to your ISP so be ready for that – most are DHCP now so that’s easy too.

NOTE: At some point, you might be asked to reauthenticate with MS – you might have to call a toll-free MS number – just say you had to reinstalled windows because you got a new hard drive – you don’t have to tell them more (except the codes from the case and maybe the screen) – took less than 5 minutes each of the 3 times I had to it. I usually wait as long as I can to authenticate – just in case I have to reinstall again.

Then you shut down, attach your zip drive (making sure Slave/Master jumpers are right), reboot

XP will find the Zip drive set the drivers up.

Then go into Disk Management (mentioned earlier) (dig into the Administrator Tools folders) and what I would do is change my CD drive letter to Q: and my DVD drive to V: and the zip to drive Z: – this makes it so much easier – the OS won’t bump the letters if you add a drive later on. This is important too as many programs access external data, expecting to find it at a specific location. As you start building your Desktop and adding all your applications, they will know the correct locations – a must for repairs! I have been doing that for years but XP made it easy (don’t mess with A: B: or C: – not a good idea).

Good Luck

-bill

Bill (AFE7Ret)
Freedom isn't free!

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I am just concerned, because of the KB article and what happened this last time. If you don’t closely monitor the install, the setup sets the zip as the c: drive and f: as the system drive. However, in my case, the zip is showing as the g: drive and I have no C: drive at all. Wish me luck. If you guys don’t hear from me, it’s because I have blown up my system on my first attempt to do this myself.

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Kathy,

I agree with Bob. A clean install will re-establish the Zip Drive correctly and reinstall all the drivers. If it’s an Iomega and you want their tools, you’ll have to reinstall them, but otherwise there should be no problems in this area. If the Zip Drive is your only worry, I’d go for it and get things straight now, while there isn’t anything else on the system.

BTW – Bookmark Viper’s site. It’s one of the best resources on the internet for XP information.

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Microsoft Knowledge Base Article – 304776-Windows Setup Detects an Installed Zip Drive as a Hard Disk-This is what happened when the tech reinstalled WXP.

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I’m not sure I know what you mean by “disabling the zip”?

Your best bet it do a clean reinstall. When this is done it will automatically designate the C drive as the boot drive. Since you said you didn’t have any other software installed, this is the ideal time to formatreinstall and get it right from the outset.

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Is this the system that had a hard drive added and the system drive became the “F” drive?

If so I would rebuild the system and get it right, because this may be just the beginning of more problems.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Doesn’t work. Because my C: drive does not exist (It shows as an F: drive), I learned from a website that you have to do a “subst c: f:” in the command field. Only thing I have not been able to find out is that when you restart your computer, you have to do it again, and the folder list displays a duplicate set of folders, one under the F: drive and one under the c: drive.

CAN ANYONE HELP?

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Normally, you should be able to do this by right-clicking on the folder, select Properties, select the Customize tab, and click on “”Change Icon”.

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