What is Windows XP

• Windows XP is Microsoft's newest desktop operating system for both consumers and businesses. Over the past few years, Microsoft has been building and supporting two completely separate versions of Windows. Windows 95/98/Me was designed for consumers with an emphasis on ease of use, compatibility, and multimedia capabilities. At the same time, Microsoft created Windows NT for businesses who need security, and reliability (NT version 5.0 is now called Windows 2000.) Windows XP builds on the stability and strength of the Windows NT/2000 Operating System, while incorporating the usability of Windows 95/98. Although Microsoft has referred to Windows XP as a merging of the code base between Windows 95/98 and Windows NT/2000, it has a lot more in common with Windows 2000 (NT 5.0) and is sometimes referred to as NT 5.1 

Updating Symantec AntiVirus Client

• Go to Start/Programs/Symantec Client Security/ and select Symantec AntiVirus Client)
• Click on the LiveUpdate button
• Click Next
• After new virus definition files have been updated click Finish.

How to Run Symantec Virus Scan

1. Double click on the Symantec Icon (gold shield) usually located in the lower right-hand corner of the desktop or go to Start, Programs, Symantec Client Security, Symantec AntiVirus. You should get a dialog box that looks like this:

2. Click on "Scan Computer" and then, choose the drives you want to scan from the list in the right side of the dialog box and click on "Scan."

Enable/Disable Firewall

• Open the Control Panel (Start, Settings, Control Panel) and double click on Network Connections. In the new box that appears right-click on the Connection and click on the Advanced tab. Check or uncheck the box according to your desire.

Disable Error Reporting

• Open the Control Panel (Start, Settings, Control Panel), click on Performance and Maintenance and then click on System. Once you are in the System Properties window, go to the Advanced tab and click on the error-reporting button on the bottom of the windows. Select "Disable error reporting," click OK and then OK again.

General Keyboard shortcuts to use in Windows?

• These simple keyboard shortcuts can get you where you want to go faster than several clicks of a mouse. You'll work faster on spreadsheets and similar documents, because you won't lose your place switching back and forth between mouse and keys.

Shortcuts Using the Windows Key

• The Windows logo key, located in the bottom row of most computer keyboards is a little-used treasure. Don't' ignore it. It is the shortcut anchor for the following commands:

  Windows: Display the Start menu
  Windows + D: Minimize or restore all windows
  Windows + E: Display Windows Explorer
  Windows + F: Display Search for files
  Windows + Ctrl + F: Display Search for computer
  Windows + F1: Display Help and Support Center
  Windows + R: Display Run dialog box
  Windows + break: Display System Properties dialog box
  Windows + shift + M: Undo minimize all windows
  Windows + L: Lock the workstation
  Windows + U: Open Utility Manager

Mapping Network Drive

How can I re-map my H: drive?

Open the “My Computer” icon, click “Tools,” and then click “Map Network Drive.”
Select H for the Drive and in the folder box type “\\data\username” and then click “Finish.” 

 *Your username is the first initial for your first name and then your last name. Example: Mine would be cmorgan.

How can I re-map my L: drive?" (common drive)

Open the “My Computer” icon, click “Tools,” and then click “Map Network Drive.”
Select L for the Drive and in the folder box type “\\data\common” and then click “Finish.”

To remove a virtual drive that you've mapped onto My Computer, click Tools-->Disconnect Network Drive; next click the letter of the virtual drive in the Disconnect Network Drives dialog box and then click OK. Windows then displays an alert dialog box warning you that files and folders are currently open on the virtual drive and that you run the risk of losing data if files are open. If you're sure that you have no files open on that drive, click the Yes button to break the connection and remove the virtual drive from the My Computer window.

Burning CDs in XP/Limitations

• Windows XP's integrated CD burner is powered by the Roxio engine but lacks the familiar Easy CD Creator interface. There is no CD Burner icon on the desktop or in the start menu. So where is this promised CD burner? There are two answers, depending on if you want to burn audio or data CD's.

  To burn data CDs:
  Select folder.  Right-click a file or folder and choose “Send To” and then either “DVD-RW” or “CD-RW.”  It does not copy the files immediately.  Now, place a blank CD into your CD drive or navigate to your CD drive in My Computer, and choose “Write these files to a CD.”

To burn music CDs
Select a song or collection in you My Music folder, which is found in your My Documents folder, and choose “Copy to Audio CD” from the folder options on the left. Windows Media Player will pop up and you will need to choose “Copy to CD” or “Start Burn.”

• Limitations of the incorporated CD burner

You cannot create bootable CDs with the Windows XP CD burner, nor can you create a CD from an image (like an .iso file). If you want this functionality, you need to install your favorite CD burning software. Don't try to install Easy CD Creator 5 just yet -- Windows XP won't let you.

Roxio will have XP patches available on their website soon, but only for their latest edition of CD creator. Roxio will not support Easy CD Creator 3.X and 4.X for Windows XP, and the user will be required to purchase the upgrade to Easy CD Creator 5 Platinum.

Windows XP does not have a CD burning interface, but it has CD burning artfully integrated into the operating system. However, third-party CD burning software is still necessary for those who want to burn more than the occasional audio CD.

Change Your Volume

1. Go to Start, then Settings, and then click on Control Panel.
2. Select “Sounds and Audio Devices” or select “Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices” then “Sounds and Audio Devices."
   • Adjust the volume (Low to High.)
• Mute or unmute the sound by checking or unchecking the mute box.

*If you do not have a mute button on this screen check the box "Place the volume icon in the taskbar." Double click the volume icon on the right hand side of the taskbar and then mute or unmute by checking or unchecking the mute box.

Change Your Screen Saver

1. Go to Start, then Settings, and then click on Control Panel.
2. Select “Display” or select “Appearance and Themes” then “Display”
3. Click on the “Screen Saver” Tab.
   • Change the Screen Saver by bringing down the drop menu and selecting an option.
   • Change the "Wait" time for when the Screen Saver will come on.
4. Click “OK.”

*Screen Savers will save your monitor from images being burned into it.

Change the Display Setting Properties

1. Go to Start, then Settings, and then click on Control Panel.
2. Select “Display” or select “Appearance and Themes” then “Display”
3. Click on the “Settings” Tab.
• Change the Screen resolution by dragging the arrow.
• Change the Color quality by bringing down the drop menu.
4. Click “OK.”

   

Setting and Locking the Taskbar

1. Right click on a blank area of your taskbar.
2. Select “Properties”
3. Click on the “Taskbar” Tab.
   • Check or uncheck the “Lock the taskbar” to lock the taskbar to the bottom of your screen.
   • Change settings for the taskbar for things such as – keeping the taskbar hidden, keeping the taskbar always on top, grouping all windows of a certain program when open, showing quick launch for certain programs, showing the clock, and to hiding the inactive icons.

Making a New Folder

1. Go to “My Computer”
2. Select the drive or select My Documents, depending on where you want the new folder.
3. Right click on a blank location, select “New,” and then select “Folder”

Moving/Copying Folders

1. Go to “My Computer”
2. Select the drive or select My Documents, depending on where you want the new folder.
3. Right click on the folder and select “Copy” or “Cut”
4. Go to the location where you want to move or copy the folder to.
5. Right click on a blank location and select “Paste”

1. Right click on the item that you want a shortcut of.
2. Click on “Create Shortcut”
3. Drag or Move the item to the location where you would like it.

1. Double click the Printer icon in the bottom right hand corner of your monitor
   • To cancel the print job, right click on the job and select “Cancel”

   OR

2. Go to “Start” then “Settings” and then “Printers and faxes.”
   • Double click the Printer you need to check (this will allow you to see the status of your job.)
   • To cancel the print job, right click on the job and select “Cancel”