Section 75-0: Various Support articles from Dell-Karell
75-0-1: How to perform a Win2000
repair install:
1) Make sure CD-Rom is first Boot Device in your Bios
2) Insert your Windows 2000 CD
3) Once this is done boot up using CD-Rom Drive. ( When "Hit any Key to Boot From
CD-Rom" appears on screen, hit any key on keyboard to invoke CD-Rom boot)
4)You will get a Windows 2000 setup screen, Press "R" to begin repair process.
5)On the next screen, Press "F" to begin the "Fast Repair" option.
6)On the next screen, if you have created the Emergency Repair Disks hit enter or press
"L" if you do not have an ER-Disk.
7)Windows 2000 will now search for installs on your system
8)If you have only one install of Windows 2000 you will get different options. Press
"ENTER" on your keyboard to continue. Or if there's more than one 2000 install,
select the installation you wish to repair and then hit "ENTER"
9)Windows 2000 will now repair your system either from the Emergency Repair Disks (ERD) or
from the CD, once done your system will reboot and hopefully everything will be working
fine
Images of the 2000 repair install can be found on the following web page:
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/install/win2k/repairw2k/page1.htm
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75-0-2: How do I perform a Repair Reinstall of Microsoft Windows XP?
A: Warning* A repair install will wipe out all Microsoft updates and SP1. You need to have SP1 ready to reinstall after the repair install. You should also reinstall the Microsoft updates that you deem necessary.
Windows XP includes a new reinstall option, the Repair Reinstall. This option should be used when you have determined that the operating system files are corrupt, but you do not want to completely format the hard drive and reinstall the operating system.
What a Repair Reinstall Will Do
Delete all of the files normally installed by Windows XP.
Reinstall those files from the Windows XP CD.
What a Repair Reinstall Will Not Do
Completely rebuild the registry. A Repair Reinstall only writes to parts of the registry
used by Windows XP. It will not completely rebuild the registry.
Delete applications and user settings. A Repair Reinstall will generally leave
applications and user settings in the state they were before the Repair was attempted. All
applications should remain functional, and all user settings should remain the way they
were.
Fix issues caused by corrupt applications or user settings. Since the Repair Reinstall
does not affect user or application settings, it will not repair issue stemming from those
settings being corrupt.
Solution
Performing a Repair Reinstall
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75-0-3: Using System Restore Windows XP
Using System Restore.
1.Click on (Start,Programs, Accessories,System Tools, System Restore.)
2.Check the box for (Restore my computer to an earlier time)
3.Click Next.
4.Choose a (Restore Date.) before the problem started.
5.Click Next.
6.Click Next again.
7.The system should restore and reboot.
**System restore is enabled.**
1.Click on Start, Programs, Accesories, System Tools, System Restore.
2.Click on System Restore Settings, on the left hand side of the window.
3.Make sure the option for (Turn off System Restore) is not checked.
4.If checked, take the check out of the box next to it.
5.Under (Disk Space Usage) make sure the slider bar is set to *Max*
5.Click APPLY and OK, and then restart the system.
**Create a Restore point**
1.Click on Start, All Programs, Accesories, System Tools, System Restore.
2.Click on Create Restore Point, click Next.
3.Give the Restore Point a Name and click Create.
4.When done click closed.
**System restore disabled.**
1.Click on Start, Programs, Accesories, System Tools, System Restore.
2.Click on System Restore Settings, on the left hand side of the window.
3.Make sure the option for (Turn off System Restore) is checked.
4.Do this for any additional hard drives you have.
5.Click APPLY and OK, and then restart the system.
**Limit/Change restore space**
1.Click on Start, Programs, Accesories, System Tools, System Restore.
2.Click on System Restore Settings, on the left hand side of the window.
3.Click on the Settings Button.
4.Under the option for "Disk Space Usage" either increase or decrease the
amount of space system restore should be allowed.
5.To save hard drive space, decrease the value.
*Doing so will only keep a few restore points for use.
6.To have more restore points, increase the value.
*Doing so will take up more of your hard drive space.
7.Once you are done, click Apply-OK, and reboot the system.
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75-0-4: How should I run CHKDSK or
what switches should I use?
Answer:
There are several ways to run CHKDSK.
*Option 1:
1.Open My Computer.
2.Right click on the Hard drive, click Properties.
3.Click on the Tools Tab.
4.Under Error Checking click on Check Now.
5.Click the Start button to run Check Disk.
Using choosing the options "Automaticaly fix files.... or Scan for and Attempt
recovery... " you will get the following message:
"The disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive could
not be obtained.
Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the
computer?"
Simply click on YES.
*Option 2:
1.Click on Start, Run.
2.Type in CHKDSK and press Enter.
3.Check Disk will run a very quick check of the drive.
*Option 3:
Complete Check:
1.Click on Start, Run.
2.Type in Command and click Ok.
3.Type in CHKDSK /F or /R and click Ok.
You will get a message:
"The disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive could
not be obtained.
Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the
computer?"
4.Press Y for yes.
5.Close the command prompt and reboot the system.
/F switch Fixes errors on the disk.
/R Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information, implies /F switch.
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75-0-5: How to Change a File Associations in Windows XP
HOW TO: Change File Associations in Windows XP
The information in this article applies to:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
How to Change File Associations
To See All File Extensions
To Change File Associations
How to Create File Association for Unassociated File Type
Summary:
You can specify that files with certain file name extensions are always opened in the same
program. You can also modify an existing file type to change its association with a
program. You can work with file associations in Windows Explorer or My Computer. This
article describes how to change file associations in Windows XP.
How to Change File Associations:
You may want to change the association of a file extension from one program to another.
For example, you may prefer to open text files (.txt) in you favorite word processor so
you can format the text. By default, text files are associated with Notepad. Note that
file extensions for known file types are hidden by default.
To See All File Extensions:
On the Tools menu in My Computer or Windows Explorer, click Folder Options.
Click the View tab.
Clear the Hide extensions for known file types check box.
To Change File Associations:
Right-click a file with the extension whose association you want to change, and then click
Open With.
In the Open With dialog box, click the program in which you want the file to open, or
click Browse to locate the program you want.
Select the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check box.
How to Create File Association for Unassociated File Type:
You may want to create a file association for a file type that is not associated with a
program in your computer. There are two common reasons for this action:
A program (often a database) produces file reports with extensions that are not registered
in Windows XP.
You receive e-mail message attachments that are created in a program that is not installed
on your computer, but there is an installed program that can read these files.
To create file association:
Right-click a file with the extension you want to change, and then click Open, or
double-click the file.
Windows XP displays a dialog box that indicates that no program is associated with this
file. The dialog box offers two choices for creating an association:
Use the Web service to find the appropriate program
Select the program from a list
Unless you want to find and download software that opens this file type, the best choice
is to select the program from a list.
Windows displays a dialog box that displays programs that are installed on the computer.
If the program you want to use for this file type is not listed, click Browse to locate
the appropriate software. Select the Always use the selected program to open this kind of
file check box.
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75-0-6: How to Clear the Windows XP Start-up Menu.
How to clear the Windows XP startup menu.
**Clearing the Startup Folder.**
Click on (Start,Programs,)
Find the (Startup) folder, and right click the mouse button over it.
You should get a small gray windows.
Go down to "Explore" and left click on "Explore"
You should get a "Startup" window that is split in two.
High light and delete all the icons on the right hand side of the Window.
**Using MSconfig to stop all background programs.**
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type msconfig, and then click OK.
The System Configuration Utility starts.
Click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup.
Under Selective Startup, click to clear the following check boxes:
Process SYSTEM.INI file
Process WIN.INI file
Load Startup Items
Then...
Click the Startup tab.
Uncheck every entry.
Left-click on "Apply" and then left-click on "OK."
A message will appear stating that "For the changes to take place, the system must be
restarted." Left-click on the "OK" button, and the system will begin the
restart.
If the problem stops, you must then isolate the cause of it.
Using msconfig again, to back to the startup tab.
Recheck one entry click Apply, OK, and reboot the system.
Keep using this process until you find the entry that is causing the problem.
Once you have found that entry, leave it unchecked and recheck everything else.
Click Apply, Ok, and reboot the system for the last time.
"Process of elimination"...
If having problems with an application or driver, it is best to try and reload the application or driver. If reloading the application or driver does not fix the problem, then you may want to leave it unchecked under the startup tab. You may also want to check and see if there is an updated version of that application or driver.
Msconfig can be used to stop all programs from loading at startup to free up system resources. The true intention of MSconfig is to be used as a troubleshooting tool to isolate programs that may be causing problems.
**Delete old dos/legacy configuration files.**
Search the system for these files, delete them.
Autoexec.bat
Config.sys
Win.ini
-Delete "All" the files and folders in the ( C:\Windows\Temp ) and
( C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files ) folder.
Search the system for any ( *.TMP ) files, and delete them.
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XP Compatibility mode:
1.Right click on the file or icon that launches the program.
2.Click on properties.
3.Click on the Compatibility tab
4.Put a check mark in the box for "Run this program in compatibility mode for:"
5.Choose either Win95 or Win98/ME.
6.Click Apply and OK.
7.You can also choose the features for "Run in 256 colors" and "Run in
640X480 resolution."
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ZZTop
If you need to, you can restore your original factory downloaded software, this will
erase the hard drive -- your personal files will be lost if not backed up. Make sure and
remove any third-party hardware.
You should have a disk called "Dell storage diagnostics" or "Hard Drive
Diagnostics and Utilities". If so, place that in the drive and restart the system to
boot to it. On the menu, once again choose to exit to dos.
You can also use a Windows 98 boot disk, or just restart your system in
"MS Dos Mode". What your are trying to do is get to a "Dos" prompt.
Once you have made it to the C:\ dos prompt.
Type in the following line:
zz -zzload -sure
Your factory download will now be restored as it was when it was first shipped to you.
The program will check the ZZTOP image to make sure it is intact.
If the ZZTOP program "Fails the Image Integrety Check"
you will have to reload all the software manualy.
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How Do I Use the Dell Dimension Resource CD To Run ZZTOP If SnapRestore Has Been Erased
From the Hard Drive?
Problem:
You need to run ZZTOP, but the hard drive has been reformatted and ZZTOP will not run (to
launch SnapRestore) from the command line. Running ZZTOP would save time by avoiding a
manual installation of Windows and drivers.
Solution:
NOTE: For Dell Dimension ResourceCD v1.67, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Document
HO1026568.
If the ZZTOP image has not been corrupted, there is a way to access ZZTOP using the
Resource CD. Use the following procedure to create a ZZTOP diskette:
Set the boot sequence in the System Setup to boot from the Atapi CD-ROM drive.
For information on entering the System Setup, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Document
TT1012573.
Restart the system with the Dell Dimension Resource CD in the CD-ROM drive.
Insert a blank diskette into the floppy drive.
At the DOS prompt, type the following commands:
[Drive:]\HDDUTIL\ZZTOP [Enter]
ZZ-DOS B: [Enter]
B: [Enter]
ZZTOP [Enter]
where [Drive:] is the drive letter of CD-ROM drive and [Enter] is to press the Enter key
once.
NOTE: B: is the drive letter of the floppy drive when booting to the CD-ROM drive.
SnapRestore should launch.
For information on running SnapRestore, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Document FA1018875.
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ZZTOP Frequently Asked Questions.
What is the difference between FAT16 and FAT32?
The primary difference between FAT16 and FAT32 is the addressing of the drive space. A
FAT16 drive uses 16 bits to address the data. This limits the maximum partition size to
2.1Gigabytes (GB). A FAT32 drive can address up to 4 Terabytes (TB) in a single partition.
ZZTOP will restore both FAT16 and FAT32; however, when booting the system, a DOS 7.0 (Win
95 or Win 98) floppy should be used. DOS 7.0 recognizes both FAT16 and FAT32; DOS 6.22 and
lower only recognize FAT 16.
What if the system is using NTFS?
When most systems are shipped from the Dell factory with NTFS, they will have a 2.1GB
FAT16 partition at the beginning of the drive to accommodate our factory download process.
To restore the ZZTOP image, simply follow the steps outlined in the ZZTOP usage flowchart.
If the entire drive has been converted to NTFS, the ZZTOP image will not be restorable.
You may be able to dispatch an STM CD; refer to PP1022497 and PP1017265 for the proper STM
procedures.
What if the system has been upgraded from Win 95 to Win 98?
If the system was shipped with Windows 95 and then upgraded to Windows 98, running ZZTOP
will restore the Windows 95 download. If the system was upgraded to Windows 98 and the
drive converted to FAT32, ZZTOP may produce an error. If an error occurs, refer to
AL1009913. In most cases, the original FAT 16 partitions from the factory download will be
restored by the ZZTOP image.
Should I run a debug script to erase the hard disk?
The DOS partition removal debug script (TT1011054) should not damage an intact ZZTOP
image. The NON-DOS partition removal debug script (FA1013319) will destroy the ZZTOP
image. The CLEAN1K (TA1027380 or FA1026413) utility is preferable to the partition removal
debug script and should not damage an intact ZZTOP image.
How can I tell what version of MS-DOS is running?
Typing ver [Enter] at a command prompt will return the DOS version. For DOS 6.22 or lower,
the system will return the version of DOS installed. For Windows 95 and 98, the system
will return a version similar to the example below:
Windows 95 [version 4.00.1111]
Windows 98 [version 4.10.1998]
NOTE: Windows 95 and 98 are considered DOS 7.0 and support both FAT32 and FAT16.
What if the system is an Optiplex computer running FAT32?
Since the Optiplex line is not shipped with the Hard Drive Diagnostics and Utility
Diskette, it may be necessary to create a DOS 7.0 bootable diskette. Use one of the
following procedures to create a bootable diskette:
DOS Method
From the command prompt, type CD C:\windows\command [Enter].
Type sys a: [Enter].
Windows Method
Insert a blank formatted diskette in the floppy drive.
Double-click on My Computer.
Right-click on 3-½ floppy drive and choose Format from the menu.
Click the radio button next to Copy system files only.
Click on Start to begin.
After booting to the floppy diskette, type C: [Enter] to switch to the hard drive. ZZTOP
can then be run by typing ZZTOP.
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75-0-9: How to Reinstall or Repair
Outlook Express in Windows XP
How to Reinstall or Repair Outlook Express in Windows XP
Method 1:
Use System File Checker.
Method 2:
Edit the registry to allow the installation of OE from the IE installer package. Outlook
Express is integrated with IE and will be installed by the IE installer package.
For information about how o download and install Internet Explorer 6, visit Microsoft's Web site.
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75-0-10: How to reinstall Windows Media Player.
How to reinstall Windows Media Player
To remove Windows Media Player do the fallowing.1. If you have upgraded Windows Media player, you can remove it from: (Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add and Remove Programs.)
2. To remove the Windows Media Player that is installed by default.
Click on,(Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add and Remove Programs.)
Then click on the "Windows Setup" tab.
Now find the icon for "Multimedia," highlight the icon, and then click
the "Details" button. You should get more icons.
Find the icon for "Media Player" and take the checkmark out of the
box next to it. The click, OK, APPLY, OK, and Windows should update
some files. When it is done, restart the system.3. To reinstall Windows Media Player, simply repeat the steps above,
but this time put a check in the box next to Media Player.
Then click APPLY and OK. Windows will copy some file, and when it is done
reboot the system.Visit this Microsoft web page for help on using and working with Windows Media player.
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