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My computers are always set up with a static IP address. This is the only way to tweak your router to control computers as needed. An example would be; bedroom desktop needs a port opened for P2P. This is done with Port Forwarding in your router, and the bedroom desktop has to have the same IP address every time it boots. Or your 15 year old is hogging all your bandwidth with videos and music downloads (you’re stuck with DSL). Your router can limit the bandwidth your teen monster uses. But only if you know his IP address. IE; it has to be a static IP. If these are not issues, than let Windows handle the IP addresses for you. That’s the way windows comes, out of the box with default settings, and for the average user, it’s fine.

I update XP every month. A simple registry hack makes your computer available for updates, that apply to your system, for another 5 years.
Open notepad

Copy and paste the folowing:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMWPAPosReady]

“Installed”=dword:00000001

Save in any convenient location.
Change extension of notepad file from .txt to .reg
Icon will change into a registry entry.
Double click file, or merge.
Run Microsoft Update and you it will install “pos”
restart and update.

Disable un used drives in bios (or cmos as us old timers say). Changes made in Windows most often just make the changes in the motherboard bios for you. Sometimes booting into bios and doing it there yourself is just easier.

I believe new versions rely on files from the previous versions as a foundation. And as emkay_01 mentioned, old programs could have file dependencies on older framework. Concerning PC’s, I learned a long time ago……If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Anzak is wise. In the past few weeks, I’ve had a few issues with computers that were simply an issue of the date and /or time being wrong. The wrong date will screw everything up. From Microsoft telling you your software is not genuine, to AV not working, or getting your POP mail a day late. For a lot of issues , like this one, the first thing I do is check the Windows date/time. As most of you already know, if your date or time get screwed up after turning off your system, you need a new battery on the Motherboard. The battery is cheap to buy, and easy to change.

Virus.
I have seen it and fixed it several times. It changes the attribites of all you folders to “hidden”. It makes life difficult. Try installing Malewarebytes and scanning from safe mode. If you Google the problem, you’ll find a registry fix. It IS fixable without a re install.
When in doubt, Google!
Good Luck

Dr Mike
30859-Dr-Mike-Logo_thumbnail

I get house calls for this virus on a regular basis. It changes names but it always does the same thing. I’ve seen the “Privacy Protection” about 10 times in the last week on XP machines. There was a similar virus about a year ago that really locked up the OS. Out of all the times I’ve dealt with these, I’ve only had to reinstall XP once. You have to boot into safe mode and then run Malewarebytes. Also check your start up in “msconfig” and un-check the program. I also run asearch in the registry, “regedit, edit, find” and search for and delete any instance of the software. Only do this if your familiar with the registry.- Most techs don’t want to take the time to clean a drive. They wipe out and re install. I tell people that the best anti virus is safe surfing. And BACK UP – BACK UP – BACK UP. But somehow people still seem to manage to get infected no matter what kind of protection they install. And they don’t even know IF they have a back up. I have never been infected, and I use a free AV and scan once a week with Spybot and Malewarebytes.

I agree with nigel. Jet Audio is a great player. I discovered it a long time ago when I refused to install Real Player.
Cowen Media Jet Audio plays all formats and has a ton of great features.[/size][/size]