Configuring Windows XP

Install Anti-Virus | Set Computer Identity | Adjust Display | Install FireFox Browser | Install Anti-Spyware | Turn Off Services | Explorer File View | Share Shared Docs Folder | Install Printer | Adjust Printer Settings | Install Good Apps | Swap File Partition

Suggested steps in initial setup of computers running Windows XP:

• Accept WindowsUpdate requests to install the latest software

back to top Install Virus Protection

• AVG or avast

back to top Customize Computer Identity

• Set computer name (e.g. a planet) and workgroup (KERRS). To do this, hold down Windows Key and press "pause" key, use Computer Name tab, click on Change button.

back to top Adjust Display and Operation Features

• Change Display theme to windows classic (right click anywhere on desktop; Properties; select "windows classic" from pull down menu, then click "Apply" button); Also, change desktop properties (select Desktop tab, click on "Customize Desktop" button), select icons "My Computer", "My Documents", "My Network Neighborhood", unselect "Internet Explorer"; click OK, then click OK again.
• right-click on bottom taskbar, click to uncheck "Lock the Taskbar", move cursor to Toolbars, click to enable Quick Launch. The quick launch toolbar should appear next to the Start button. Drag the short vertical bar to the right to increase the size of the quick lauch area.
• right-click on Start Button, select User, then Programs → Accessories. right-click drag Commands icon to Quick Launch bar, right-click drag Windows Explorer to Quick Lauch bar. Close Start Menu window. lock tool bar again.
• Cosmetic change for quick launch toolbar - make the icons large by right-clicking on the quick lauch tool bar, select view (top of the list), and then select Large Icons.

  back to top Install FireFox Browser

• download FireFox browser from Mozilla.org (to My Documents\My Downloads\FireFox). Install firefox browser, say yes to making firefox the default browser.

back to top Install Anti-Spyware programs

• Download and install SpyBot Search & Destroy from safer-networking.org. Say yes to teatime monitor too.
• Download and install Ad-Aware-SE Personal from lavasoftusa.com

back to top Change many services to Manual or Disabled

• First, establish baseline of services running on the computer: from DOS window, cd to My Documents, sc query > svc_list.txt
  also, Start → Control Panel → Performance and Maintenance → Administrative Tools → Services
  The Services window can be reached in one step by Start Button → Run... enter services.msc into the "Open:" window, or from entering services.msc in a DOS window.
  Action → Export List; filename "My Documents\services_list.txt"
• With Services window still open, stop these services and change their status:

  #	Display Name	What it does	Default Status	Suggested Status
  	Computer Browser	Computer Browser service maintains a listing of computers and resources located on the network. On a large network, one computer is designated the "master" browser and another one is the "backup" browser. All others just announce they are available every 12 minutes to "take over" duties if one of the other computers fail.	Automatic	Disable
  	Distributed Link Tracking Client	Maintains links with NTFS files within your computer or across a domain.	Automatic	Manual
  	DNS Client	Resolves and caches DNS names and Active Directory domain controller functions. This service is not required for DNS lookups. (However, DNS Client is required if using IPSEC)	Automatic	Manual
  	Error Reporting Service	Calls home to Microsoft when application errors occur.	Automatic	Disabled
  	Fax	Maintains the ability to send and receive FAX documents on your computer.	Automatic	Disabled
  	Help and Support	This service is required for Microsoft's online (or offline) help documents. If you ever "attempt" to use Help and Support, the service places itself back into "Automatic" and starts even if you already had this service on disabled.	Automatic	Manual
  	Indexing Service	This service always has been a major resource hog.	Manual	Disable
  	Logical Disk Manager	This service is vital to run the Disk Management MMC console for dynamic volumes. Plug & Play needs this...	Automatic	Manual
  	Net Logon	Used for logging onto a Domain Controller. This service is not required on a standalone system, or for a "home" network.	Manual	Disabled
  	NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing	Enables a user to access your computer using NetMeeting. This may create a big open door for the unwanted. If you are paranoid about security, disable this function.	Manual	Disabled
  	Network Location Awareness (NLA)	once was required for use with the Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing * service (server only). After the installation of Service Pack 2, it no longer is required	Manual	Disabled
  	Network Provisioning Service	This service is used in conjunction with a domain controller and XML configuration files. Home networks does not require this service.	Manual	Disabled
  	Performance Logs and Alerts	Collect performance data on a schedule and send the information to a log or trigger an alert.	Manual	Disabled
  	Portable Media Serial Number Service	Retrieves serial numbers from portable music players connected to your computer.	Manual	Disabled
  	Protected Storage	Allows for the saving of local passwords or even web sites information (AutoComplete). For security reasons, disable this feature to make things all that much more difficult to steal vital information if you do not "save" it.	Automatic	Disabled
  	QoS RSVP	Provides traffic control on a network using IPSEC and applications that support QoS, and have an adapter that supports it.	Manual	Disabled
  	Remote Access Auto Connection Manager	Creates a connection to a network when a program requests a remote address. If you use a hardware gateway or router, this service is not required.	Manual	Disabled
  	Remote Access Connection Manager	Creates a network connection. Note: This service is required if you use Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing. If you use a hardware gateway or router, this service is not required.	Manual	Disabled
  	Remote Desktop Help Session Manager	Manages and controls Remote Assistance.	Manual	Disabled
  	Remote Registry Service	Allows remote users to change your registry(!)	Automatic	Disabled
  	Secondary Logon	Used for managing removable media.	Automatic	Disabled
  	Shell Hardware Detection	Used for the auto play of devices like memory cards, CD drives, etc.	Automatic	Manual
  	Smart Card	Supports the use of a Smart Card for local or network computer authentication.	Manual	Disabled
  	SSDP Discovery Service	Used to locate UPnP devices on your home network. Used in conjunction with Universal Plug and Play Device Host, it detects and configures UPnP devices on your home network. (Note: Not the same as PnP) UPnP is for connectivity on networks via TCP/IP to devices, such as scanners or printers.	Manual	Disabled
  	System Restore Service	This service creates system snap shots or restores a point for returning to later. This is the OTHER service that is a massive resource hog. Indexing Service is number one. By default, System Restore Service uses a LARGE amount of disk space to store rollback points. On large hard drives, this could be well over 10 to 20 GB. NOTE: If you disable this service, your previous "restore points" will delete.	Automatic	Disabled
  	Telephony	Controls telephony devices on the local computer. This service is required for dial-up modem connectivity.	Manual	Disabled
  	Terminal Services	Allows remote login to the local computer. This service is required for Fast User Switching, Remote Desktop Server and Remote Assistance.	Manual	Disabled
  	Themes	Used to display all those new XP themes and colors on your desktop.	Automatic	Disabled
  	Uninterruptible Power Supply	Some UPS connected via serial port may require this service to be running.	Manual	Disabled
  	Universal Plug and Play Device Host	Used in conjunction with SSDP Discovery Service, it detects and configures UPnP devices on your home network. For security reasons and for the fact that doubt that you have any of these devices, disable this service. Take note: UPnP is NOT PnP. UPnP is for connectivity on networks via TCP/IP to devices, such as scanners or printers.	Manual	Disabled
  	Volume Shadow Copy	Used in conjunction with the MS Software Shadow Copy Provider service. Microsoft Backup also uses these services. You will receive, in the Event Log, an entry complaining about not having this service running if disabled.	Manual	Disabled
  	WebClient	It might be that this is going to be required for Microsoft's ".Net Software as a service."	Automatic	Disabled
  	Windows Audio	This service is required if you wish to hear any audio at all. If your computer does not have a sound card, disable this service.	Automatic	Disabled
  	Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)	Used for some scanners, web cams, and cameras. If, after disabling this service, your scanner or camera fails to function properly, enable this service by placing it into automatic.	Manual	Disabled
  	Windows Installer	This service is required for software applications that install using MSI files. If no applications that you have will install properly or you get an error that involves "RPC Service," place this service in to Automatic or Manual. Only disable this service after you have completed installation of your applications, mainly Office and such. NOTE: maybe disable this after all applications are installed!	Manual	Disabled
  	Windows Time	Automatically sets your clock by contacting a server (Microsoft's server by default) on the internet. Great idea if your network connects to the internet 24/7. The Event Log fills up with "cannot find server" messages on a non-dedicated setup, though.	Automatic	Disabled
  	Wireless Zero Configuration	Provides automatic configuration for wireless network devices and connection quality feedback.	Automatic	Disabled
  	WMI Performance Adapter	Provides performance library information from WMI HiPerf providers.	Manual	Disabled

  back to top Change Windows Explorer Files View

• Open My Documents. Tools → Folder Options → View
  select "Show hidden files and folders", unselect "Hide extensions for known file types" and "Hide protected operating systems files"
  click on button "Apply to All Folders",
  click on "Apply", "OK"

back to top Share the "Shared Documents" folder

• Double click on My Computer
  right-click on "Shared Documents" → Sharing and Security
  select "Share this folder on the network" and "allow network users to change my files"

back to top Speed Up User Interface

• Go to the Display control panel, click the Appearance tab and hit the Effects button. Uncheck the first two options, as well as "Show shadows under menus." Use minimal graphics and go faster.

back to top Add Printer (HP LaserJet 1300)

• Open Network Neighborhood. Copy folder "HP laserjet 1300 Drivers Win XP" from ASUS to the Shared Documents on the computer.
• Click Start button, Printers and Faxes. Under Printer tasks, click on "Add a printer". Click Next; then, leaving the selection on Local Printer, click Next again.
  In the Select a Printer Port, select "Create a new port" and then under "Type of port" pull-down window, select Standard TCP/IP Port. Click Next.
  A new wizard, "Add Standard TCP/IP Printer Port" appears; click Next. Enter 192.168.1.253 into the window labeled "Printer Name of IP Address", click Next.
  In the next window, leave the Device Type as Standard, click Next and then click Finish, leaving the "Add Standard TCP/IP Printer Port" wizard.
  In the Install Printer Software, click Have Disk. Click Browse in the "Install From Disk" window. Navigate to Shared Documents, HP laserjet etc folder, and the File name window should display "hp1300m6.inf". Click Open, then click OK. Select HP laserjet 1300 from the Printers list, click Next. Accept printer name, click Next. In the printer sharing window, don't change the selection Do not share this printer, click Next. Do you want to print a test page? Yes; click Next, then Finish. Confirm that the test page was printed.
• copy C:\windows\system32\oobe\images\title.wma to My Music folder in My Documents

back to top Add Useful Applications

• Download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0 from Adobe.com (Have to turn on Windows Installer from Services window).
• Download and install Notepad++ from notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/
• Download and install Irfanview from irfanview.com
• Download and install HTML-Kit from chami.com
• Download and install cygwin from cygwin.com Installation hint: cygwin_setup asks for two directory locations which should be different; one is often called "C:\cygwin", the other one is a Local Package Directory and can be anything, anywhere, but best not in C:\cygwin...
• Download and install jdiskreport from jgoodies.com (requires Java)
• Download and install ethereal from ethereal.com

back to top Speed Up Computer: put swap file in it's own partition

• per John J. Fried, Philadelphia Inquirer: put Windows swap file in a seperate partition. Use Partition Magic (above) to create a new small partition, maybe about 2GB, formated as NTFS. (This new volume should be visible when you click on My Computer on the Desktop, and have it's own drive letter.)
  Then set Virtual Memory to use this partition:
  • In Windows XP, Start → Control Panel → System; click on Advanced Tab.
  • In Performance section at the top, click the Settings button.
  • Pick the Advanced Tab, click the Change button in the "Virtual Memory" section.
  • Select the volume just created, optionally select "Custom size" and set the min and max size for the swapping file in megabytes, 2000 if you made a 2GB partition.
  • Click  OK, OK, OK.