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"windows xp" Help and Information



How do I figure out what version of Windows I'm running?

How do I find out what version of Windows I'm running? Am I running Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate Edition, Windows 7 Professional, or what?...

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How do I restore the main menu bar in MS Internet Explorer?

How do I get back the menus across the top of the screen ("File", "Edit", "View", "Favorites", etc.) that used to be displayed in Microsoft Internet Explorer?...

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How do I create additional user accounts in Microsoft Windows?

I want other people to be able to use my computer without them being able to access my confidential files, and without them being able to infect my computer accidentally with a virus or change system settings that might screw things up. How can I do that by adding another user to the computer?...

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How do I use the Windows command prompt line?

Now I know how to open a command prompt in Microsoft Windows, how do I perform common tasks in a command prompt? Can you show me some command prompt basics and perhaps something cool I can do to impress my friends?...

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How do I add an app to the Windows Quick Launch bar?

I have installed Google Chrome and did not choose the quick launch. But now i find it nice and how do i set the quick launch (without reinstallation)?...

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How can I add a new user in Microsoft Windows Vista?

My husband really wants to use my new Dell Windows Vista laptop, but I am afraid he'll mess up all my work files with his gaming and Web surfing. His response is "don't worry about it", but I'd be in serious trouble at work if a problem arises. Instead, I'd like to just give him his own account on my system. Can you outline for me how I can set up a new account for...

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How do I encrypt / password protect files in Windows?

I read your explanation of how to password protect individual files or folders on a Mac (see How to encrypt folders on your Mac), but is there a way to do that easily in Windows? Thanks!...

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How do I install Ubuntu Linux on a Netbook?

I just bought a slick ASUS Eee PC netbook, model 1000HA, and want to configure it to work with both Microsoft Windows XP, which is already installed, and Ubuntu or some other flavor of Linux. How can I do that without having to reinstall WinXP?...

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How do I make "My Computer" appear in WinXP?

I don't know what my daughter did, but suddenly the "My Computer" icon isn't showing up on my Windows XP computer and I don't know how to make it reappear! Without it, I can't find my files, which is a huge problem. Help!...

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How to check - and fix - your date and time on your Windows PC?

Dear Dave, I was reading your article Security certificate expired problems? Maybe it's your PC's date and time. and I think that might be my problem. But here's my question: Could you please tell me how to find the date and time and change it?...

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How can I make my Windows XP desktop icons smaller?

I've been dreaming about a new computer monitor for a while, but the sad reality is that there's no way I can afford it for a while yet, so I have to make do with my smaller screen. Which means I really want to make my icons smaller under WinXP. How do I do that?...

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How do I change the background picture on my Windows XP PC?

I might be the last person to the party, but I can't figure out how to easily change the background picture on my WinXP ASUS EeePC Netbook. For that matter, how can I find new pictures online that I can use as a replacement desktop image?...

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VMWare Fusion won't run on my Macbook Air?

I have no idea what happened, but I had Microsoft Windows XP running just fine within the VMWare Fusion application, as you documented (see installing Vista in VMWare Fusion) and now it crashes without an error when I try to run it. Help! I need to get this working!...

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Why does Internet Explorer block all my pop-up windows?

I've gotten into blogging with Movable Type (thanks to you, Dave!) and it's going well, except for one annoying thing: I can't rebuild my site. Every time I click on the button instead of getting a little window letting me do that, I just hear a weird beep sound in Microsoft Internet Explorer. What the heck?...

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How do I change the sleep timer in Windows XP?

My son was playing around with my PC and now it goes to sleep after just a few minutes if I am not using it actively. It's driving me crazy! How do I reset it to a normal setting?...

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How can I make my cursor more visible in Windows XP?

I constantly lose track of where my cursor is on my new Windows laptop and it's driving me crazy. I know that there are apps I can download but I'm wondering if there's anything within Microsoft Windows XP that can help me with my vanishing cursor problem?...

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How can I attach a Windows file to a Mac email message?

Kind of a strange query, but I run Parallels extensively and often find that I need to email data files I've created therein -- within Windows XP -- to my colleagues. I don't want to have any mail program running in WinXP, however, I want to just use Apple Mail. Is there an EASY way to do this?...

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Does my PC have a DVD player?

My computer will not play dvd and I dont know if said computer has a dvd player or not....

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How do I add a folder to my Windows XP Start Menu?

Windows XP: I'd like to put a file folder in the start menu and then a number of utility program short cuts in it. I know how to add programs in the start menu but this I can't seem to figure out....

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How do I stop Windows Vista showing my last accessed files?

I've made the move to Microsoft Windows Vista and am digging the new interface, but I am a bit frustrated that anyone else who uses my computer can see the latest applications and files I've worked with right on the Start menu. Is there some easy solution?...

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