Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) Setup Error: Access is denied.

As we all know Microsoft has released the final version of Windows XP SP3 to public and its available via Automatic Updates, Windows Updates and Downloads Center. Earlier we posted about it at following link: Windows XP SP3 RTM Available on Windows Update, Automatic Update and Download Center You can download the SP3 from the above mentioned link. A few people are facing a problem while installing SP3. Whenever they try to install it, Windows shows following error message: Service Pack 3 setup error. Access is denied.ORService Pack 3 setup error....

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How to Enable / Disable New XP Style Welcome Screen, Log Off and Shutdown Dialog Box in Windows XP?

If you are a Windows XP user, you can see the new XP welcome screen at Windows startup. Also when you click on "Log Off" or "Shutdown" options in Startmenu, it shows new XP Style dialog boxes as shown in following screenshots: New XP Style Log Off Dialog Box: New XP Style Shutdown Dialog Box: There are also Classic dialog boxes available...

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Folder View: An Excellent Add-on for Windows Explorer

Folder View is a free (freeware) add-on for Windows that drastically enhances the way you browse the folders on your system. Files are often scattered around many different folders on the hard disk and locations on the network. Every time you want to copy, move, open or save a file, this situation leads you to a quest through levels of folders. With...

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How to Enable / Disable Changing Themes, Wallpapers, Screen Savers and Other Desktop Settings?

In Windows you can change desktop wallpaper, screen saver, themes and other appearance settings by right-click on Desktop and select "Properties". Sometimes you might want to disable all or a few options in Desktop Properties to restrict users or you might want to enable those options in case they are disabled by your system administrator or...

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Options to Change Hidden Files and Folders Settings are not Available in Folder Options

As we all know we can change the settings to show / hide hidden files and folders from "Folder Options" which can be found under Tools menu in Windows XP or in Organize menu under Windows Vista and 7. But sometimes you might find that the options to change the settings of hidden files and folders are not available in Folder Options. There may be...

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The Best and The Easiest Way to Slipstream Service Pack 3 (SP3) into Windows XP Setup

We all know Microsoft has released the third and last service pack for Windows XP. So here I'm posting a simple and detailed guide for slipstreaming this SP3 into your Windows XP Setup, so that whenever you do a fresh Windows installation, you'll not need to wait for hours to download and install Windows updates or to manually install SP3. If you are wondering why should I slipstream SP3 into my Windows setup, then following are a few points which will satisfy you: 1. By slipstreaming SP3 into Windows setup, you'll get an up-to-date Windows...

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Solution: Windows Explorer Folders Pane Grayed Out in Windows 2000, XP and 2003

Sometimes Windows XP, 2000 and 2003 users face a strange problem, the Folders Pane in Windows Explorer becomes grayed out e.g. disabled. It doesnt show the folder tree: To fix this problem, download following .ZIP file, extract it and then run the extracted .REG file. It'll ask for confirmation, accept it: folders_pane_grayed_out_in_windows_explorer_fix Now...

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Pitaschio: A Free Utility to Customize Windows and Desktop Experience

Pitaschio (yes, its the correct name not a spelling mistake) is a great, must have and absolutely free application for Microsoft Windows OS. It lets you customize how your icons appear on Desktop, how your opened Windows behave? You can customize lots of handy features which are not available in Windows settings by default. Following are a few interesting things which can be done using this small nifty utility: You can set Small Icons view on Desktop You can disable Minimize, Maximize, Close button in Windows titlebar You can disable Windows,...

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How to Hide / Show Specific Control Panel Applets / Icons in Windows?

This tutorial will guide you to hide or show any specific Control Panel applet in Windows. This tutorial will work for all Windows versions: NT, 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, Server 2008 and 7. METHOD A: For All Windows Versions except Windows 95, 98 & Me1. Open regedit and goto: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\ OR HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control...

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Solution: Windows Desktop Does Not Save User Customized Settings

Sometimes people face a problem in Windows when Windows doesnt remember their customization settings on Desktop and taskbar, like icons positions, toolbars positions, taskbar position, etc. Recently I got a similar mail from a visitor "Onie Ward": I downloaded something called Vista Customization Pack. I've tried to uninstall this program (I'm on Windows XP) and it seems to have worked, EXCEPT that every time I login, my icons all line up on the left hand side of the page. I move them back to where I want them, but every login...moved. It...

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How to Fix / Troubleshoot Various Taskbar Problems in Windows?

Here you can find solutions for a few frequently asked problems which are related to Windows Taskbar like: Taskbar context menu is disabled. No menu appears when you right-click on taskbar. "Lock the Taskbar" option is disabled. Can't add toolbars using "Toolbars" option in Taskbar context menu. Can't open Taskbar Properties. An error message appears. Can't...

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How to Install and Apply Styler Toolbar Skin in Windows XP Explorer?

In this tutorial, we'll tell you how to install a Styler toolbar skin in Windows XP explorer? Many times we download a styler skin but can't find a way to install and use it. As you all know about "VistaVG Ultimate" theme for Windows XP which can make Windows XP look-a-like Vista: Download VistaVG Ultimate Theme for Windows XP In this theme pack,...

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How to Fix “Windows NT Setup Files Detected” Error Message While Running UXTheme Patcher in Windows XP

As you all know that Windows by default doesnt allow 3rd party themes to be used. But you can patch system files to use them without any problem. In Windows XP, you need to patch "UXTheme.dll" file to be able to use 3rd party themes. As you might be aware of my "VistaVG" and "SevenVG" theme series: Theme for Windows XP Although I have included all...

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How to Restore Missing “Desktop (create shortcut)” Item in Send To Menu in Windows XP, Vista and 7

A few people asked solution of this frequently occurring problem, so today I decided to post a simple and detailed solution of this problem. As we all know about "Send To" menu which appears when we right-click on a file or folder in Windows Explorer. It contains some useful items like "Desktop (create shortcut)" which can create a shortcut of the selected file/folder on Desktop within a few seconds. Its really a useful option. But sometimes this item gets deleted from "Send To" menu accidentally or intentionally. Following tutorial will help...

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How to Restore Missing “Compressed (zipped) Folder” Item in Send To Menu in Windows XP, Vista and 7

Here is another frequently occurring problem regarding to "Send To" menu. As we all know about "Send To" menu which appears when we right-click on a file or folder in Windows Explorer. It contains some useful items including "Compressed (zipped) Folder" which can create a ZIP file of the selected files/folders within a few seconds without using any 3rd party compression utility. Its really a useful option. But sometimes this item gets deleted from "Send To" menu accidentally or intentionally. Following tutorial will help you in restoring this...

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How to Modify or Disable ScanDisk Timeout Value on Windows Startup?

When Windows is not shutdown properly, an automatic scandisk is performed on next system startup. Actually Windows runs "Autochk.exe" file to perform scandisk operation. Windows shows 10 seconds timeout so that we can bypass the automatic scandisk. This tutorial will help you in modifying this timeout value. 1. Open regedit and goto: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session...

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Set Explorer View as Default for My Computer and Other Folder Windows in Windows XP

When you open My Computer or any other folder in Windows XP, it shows the Common Tasks in left side as default view. When you open Windows Explorer, it shows Folder list in left side as default view. Many people like me find Explorer view more convenient and useful rather than the common tasks pane. So here is a small trick which can be used to...

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Create a Virtual Drive for Your Desired Folder in My Computer Using Subst Command

Today we are going to tell you about a secret DOS command "subst" which can be used to create a virtual drive in Windows Explorer for any of your desired folder. For example, if you frequently use a folder "E:\Wallpapers", then you can create a virtual drive in Explorer which will directly go to this folder whenever you double click on it or access...

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How to Enable / Disable New -> Shortcut Menu in Windows XP, Vista and 7

Many system administrators or home users want to restrict a few things from other users for security purposes. Creation of "New Shortcut" is one of them. Many times we restrict drive access but sometimes it might be accessible using "New -> Shortcut" menu. So here I'll tell you a simple method to disable "New -> Shortcut" menu, so that no one...

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Windows SteadyState 2.5: Easily Manage Your Shared Computers

Windows® SteadyState™ 2.5 is now available on Windows XP and Windows Vista. Whether you manage computers in a school computer lab or an Internet cafe, a library, or even in your home, Windows SteadyState helps make it easy for you to keep your computers running the way you want them to, no matter who uses them. SteadyState Helps Make it Easier to Manage Your Shared Computers: Shared computers are commonly found in schools, Internet and gaming cafes, libraries, and community centers. It is increasingly common for owners, teachers, or non-technical...

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How to Disable / Restrict Use of USB Storage Devices in Windows?

Many times we want to restrict users from using USB drives in our systems. Suppose you have some important data and a friend comes and takes the data in his USB drive. This tutorial will help you in completely disable the use of USB drives in system. After applying this tutorial, users will not be able to use USB drives. Windows will not detect...

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How to Fix Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) Stuck at Annoying First Run Welcome Page http://runonce.msn.com/runonce2.aspx

When you run Internet Explorer 7 for first time, it shows a first run welcome page "http://runonce.msn.com/runonce2.aspx" and you need to select your customization settings and then click on "Save your settings" button. This page will be displayed each time you open IE7 until you complete the customization wizard and save your settings. Sometimes people...

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TeraCopy: Copy Your Files Faster and Easier

TeraCopy is a compact program designed to copy and move files at the maximum possible speed, providing the user a lot of features: Copy files faster: TeraCopy uses dynamically adjusted buffers to reduce seek times. Asynchronous copy speeds up file transfer between two physical hard drives. Pause and resume file transfers: Pause copy process at...

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How to Access Linux Partitions (ext2, ext3) From Windows in Dual-Boot System?

If you have a dual-boot system with Windows and Linux, you probably know that Windows and Linux both use different file systems. Windows uses FAT32 and NTFS file systems where as Linux uses ext2 and ext3 file systems. You can access Windows partitions from Linux but on the other hand Windows doesnt allow access to Linux partitions. Many times we might need to access files stored in Linux partitions and we realize that we can't access them from Windows. In this situation we have to reboot our system in Linux to access those files. Would not it...

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How to Remove Linux Boot Loader From Startup After Deleting Linux Partition on a Dual-Boot System?

If you have a dual-boot system with Linux and Windows, then you probably know that when you start your system first Linux boot loader appears showing Linux as well as Windows boot entries and if you select Windows from the list, it starts Windows. Suppose a situation when you want to remove Linux from your system and want to use only Windows, then how will you do it? Many times people delete the partitions having Linux installed from "Disk Manager" but it doesnt remove Linux completely. The Linux boot loader still appears at startup but since...

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Hidden Trick to Exit Windows Explorer Using Shutdown Dialog Box in Windows XP

Many times we install a software, shell extension which requires a restart. Sometimes logging off or end task of Explorer does the job and we don't need to restart the whole system. We usually End task of Explorer using Task Manager but Windows XP provides a lot easier way to Exit Explorer which is better than using Task Manager to forcefully...

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Get Windows Vista Explorer Breadcrumbs in Windows XP

Windows Vista Explorer has an enhanced addressbar which contains breadcurmbs for better and easier navigation. There are a few tools available for Windows XP which provide the similar functionality in XP. I blogged about "QT Addressbar" in past which adds the same breadcrumbs in Windows XP Explorer addressbar. Today I'm going to post about another...

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ViStart: A Windows Vista and 7 Start Menu Clone for Windows XP

Many people don't like Windows Vista or 7 but they do like the new Start menu which is easy to use, full of new features like instant search and looks great. Now if you don't want to upgrade to Vista or 7 but want the same Start menu functionality in XP, then "ViStart" is a boon for you. ViStart is an excellent Vista and 7 Start menu clone for...

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