Administrator Account from Welcome Screen

Ever want to access the administrator account from the welcome window without having to boot to safe mode. When at the screen press CTRL-ALT-DEL twice. This will bring up the login screen were you can type a user name and password in.

Very nice for technicians working on customers systems.
Read Full Story at

Services You Can Disable

There are quite a few services you can disable from starting automatically.
This would be to speed up your boot time and free resources.
They are only suggestions so I suggestion you read the description of each one when you run Services
and that you turn them off one at a time.

Some possibilities are:
Alerter – Sends alert messages to specified users that are connected to the server computer.
Application Management – Allows software to tap directly into the Add/Remove Programs feature via the Windows Installer technology.
Background Intelligent Transfer Service – The Background Intelligent Transfer service is used by programs (such as Windows AutoUpdate) to download files by using spare bandwidth.
Clipbook – ClipBook permits you to cut and paste text and graphics over the network.
Error Reporting Service – Allows applications to send error reports to Microsoft in the event of an application fault.
Fast User Switching – Windows XP allows users to switch quickly between accounts, without requiring them to log off.
Help and Support – Allows the XP Built-in Help and Support Center to run.
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service – You don’t need this if you have other software to create CDs.
Indexing Service – Indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers; provides rapid access to files through flexible querying language.
IP SEC – Manages IP security policy and starts the ISAKMP/Oakley (IKE) and the IP security driver. If you are not on a domain, you likely don’t need this running.
Messenger – Transmits net send and Alerter service messages between clients and servers. This is how a lot of pop-up windows start appearing on your desktop.
Net Logon – Supports pass-through authentication of account logon events for computers in a domain. If you are not on a domain, you don’t need this running
Network DDE – Provides network transport and security for Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) for programs running on the same computer or on different computers.
NT LM Security Support Provider – Provides security to remote procedure call (RPC) programs that use transports other than named pipes.
Performance Logs and Alerts – Collects performance data from local or remote computers based on preconfigured schedule parameters, then writes the data to a log or triggers an alert. If you don’t need to monitor your performance logs, then you don’t need this service.
Portable Media Serial Number – Retrieves the serial number of any portable music player connected to your computer
QOS RSVP – Provides network signaling and local traffic control setup functionality for QoS-aware programs and control applets.
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager – Manages and controls Remote Assistance. If you are not using Remote Desktop you don’t need this service.
Remote Registry – Enables remote users to modify registry settings on this computer.
Routing & Remote Access – Offers routing services to businesses in local area and wide area network environments. Allows dial-in access.
Secondary Login – Enables starting processes under alternate credentials. This is what allows you to run an application as another user.
Smart Card – Manages access to smart cards read by this computer.
Smart Card Helper – Enables support for legacy non-plug and play smart-card readers used by this computer.
SSDP Discovery Service – Enables discovery of UPnP devices on your home network.
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper – Enables support for NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) service and NetBIOS name resolution. This should not be needed in today’s network environment.
Telnet – Enables a remote user to log on to this computer and run programs, and supports various TCP/IP Telnet clients.
Uninterruptible Power Supply Service – Manages an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to the computer.
Universal Plug and Play Device Host – Provides support to host Universal Plug and Play devices
Upload Manager – Manages synchronous and asynchronous file transfers between clients and servers on the network.
Volume Shadow Copy Service – Manages and implements Volume Shadow Copies used for backup and other purposes.
Web Client – Enables Windows-based programs to create, access, and modify non-local files across the Internet.
Wireless Zero Configuration – Provides automatic configuration for the 802.11 adapters
WMI Performance Adapter – Provides performance library information from WMI HiPerf providers.

Repair Install

If XP is corrupted to the point where none of the previous solutions get it to boot,
you can do a Repair Install that might work as well as keep the current settings.
Make sure you have your valid WindowsXP key.
The whole process takes about half an hour depending on your computer
If you are being prompted for the administrator’s password, you need to choose the 2nd repair option, not the first.
Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD
At the second R=Repair option, press the R key
This will start the repair
Press F8 for I Agree at the Licensing Agreement
Press R when the directory where WindowsXP is installed is shown. Typically this is C:\WINDOWS
It will then check the C: drive and start copying files
It will automatically reboot when needed. Keep the CD in the drive.
You will then see the graphic part of the repair that is like during a normal install of XP (Collecting Information, Dynamic Update, Preparing Installation, Installing Windows, Finalizing Installation)
When prompted, click on the Next button
When prompted, enter your XP key
Normally you will want to keep the same Workgroup or Domain name
The computer will reboot
Then you will have the same screens as a normal XP Install
Activate if you want (usually a good idea)
Register if you want (but not necessary)
Finish
At this point you should be able to log in with any existing accounts.

NTOSKRNL Missing or Corrupt

If you get an error that NTOSKRNL not found:
Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
Typically this will be #1
Change to the drive that has the CD ROM.
CD i386
expand ntkrnlmp.ex_ C:\Windows\System32\ntoskrnl.exe
If WindowsXP is installed in a different location, just make the necessary change to C:\Windows
Take out the CD ROM and type exit

No GUI Boot

If you don’t need to see the XP boot logo,
Run MSCONFIG
Click on the BOOT.INI tab
Check the box for /NOGUIBOOT