Windows XP and 2000 Tips & Tricks UPDATE—brought to you by the Windows & .NET Magazine Network and the Windows 2000 FAQ site
http://www.windows2000faq.com
THIS ISSUE SPONSORED BY
Windows & .NET Magazine/Transcender Sweepstakes
http://www.winnetmag.com/sub.cfm?code=swei202fus
SPONSOR: WINDOWS & .NET MAGAZINE/TRANSCENDER SWEEPSTAKES
ENTER THE WINDOWS & .NET MAGAZINE/TRANSCENDER SWEEPSTAKES!
Nothing can help you prepare for certification like Transcender products, and no one can help you master your job like Windows & .NET Magazine. Enter our combined sweepstakes contest, and you could win a Transcender Deluxe MCSE Core Pak (a $569 value) or one of several other great prizes. Sign up today!
http://www.winnetmag.com/sub.cfm?code=swei202fus
July 22, 2002—In this issue:
1. COMMENTARY
2. FAQS
- Q. How can I add and remove programs on the Windows XP Start menu?
- Q. How can I remove the link between Microsoft Outlook 2002 and MSN Messenger?
- Q. What's Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)?
- Q. What's the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC)?
- Q. Why do 16-bit programs no longer run on a Windows 2000 system after I install Service Pack 2 (SP2)?
3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Energize Your Enterprise at MEC 2002, October 8 through 11, Anaheim, CA
- Real-World Tips and Solutions Here for You
4. CONTACT US
- See this section for a list of ways to contact us.
1. COMMENTARY
(contributed by John Savill, FAQ Editor, [email protected])
This week, I tell you how to add and remove programs on the Windows XP Start menu and how to separate the ties that bind Microsoft Outlook 2002 to MSN Messenger. I also examine the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) module, which provides access to many behind-the-scenes environment settings, and describe the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) tool. Finally, I explain why 16-bit programs might not run correctly after you install Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 (SP2).
My new book, "The Windows XP/2000 Answer Book: A Complete Resource from the Desktop to the Enterprise" (Addison-Wesley), is now available for preorder on Amazon.com at the URL below. The book will be available at the end of September.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0321113578/windowsntfaq
2. FAQS
A. If you use the new style (as opposed to the classic style) XP Start menu, the most commonly used programs automatically appear in a list at the top of the Start menu. If you want to remove a program from this list, simply right-click the program name and select "Remove from this list" from the context menu. XP will remove the program and replace it with another program. If you continue to repeatedly use the program you've removed, XP will eventually add the program name back to the Start menu list.
To prevent a program from reappearing on the list, perform the following steps:
- Start a registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe).
- Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileAssociation subkey.
- Double-click AddRemoveApps.
- At the end of the "Value data" field, add the name of one or more executables that you want XP to stop adding to the Start menu list, separating each name with a semicolon (;), then click OK. For example, if the current value is
- Close the registry editor.
- Log off and log on for the change to take effect.
SETUP.EXE;INSTALL.EXE;ISUNINST.EXE;UNWISE.EXE
and you want to add Microsoft Word to the list, the new value would be
SETUP.EXE;INSTALL.EXE;ISUNINST.EXE;UNWISE.EXE;WINWORD.EXE
A. By default, Outlook 2002 and MSN Messenger are linked. If both applications are running and you attempt to close MSN Messenger, the following error will appear on screen:
"There are other applications currently using features provided by Windows Messenger. You must close these other applications before you can exit Windows Messenger. These applications may include Outlook, Outlook Express, MSN Explorer, and Internet Explorer."
To remove the link between Outlook 2002 and MSN Messenger, perform the following steps:
- Start Outlook.
- From the Tools menu, select Options.
- Select the Other tab.
- Clear the "Enable Instant Messaging in Microsoft Outlook" check box in the Instant Messaging section, then click OK.
- Close and restart Outlook for the change to take effect.
A. Microsoft introduced WMI as a Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 (SP4) component. WMI is now a core component of Windows 2000 and later OSs. WMI lets you access most elements of your operating environment and configure and manage hidden settings for many tools you use every day.
WMI is especially beneficial to administrators. Before WMI, you had to use Win32 API calls to access the information and facilities that WMI offers, and those API calls weren't available to scripting languages. WMI supports scripting languages (e.g., Windows Script Host—WSH—VBScript) that provide COM automation to manipulate and query any aspect of a system that WMI exposes. Other languages, such as C++, can also reference WMI within their source code. For more information about WMI, visit the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site at the URL below.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnclinic/html/scripting06112002.asp
A. The Microsoft .NET family of OSs and Windows XP include WMIC, which provides a command-line interface directly into WMI. WMIC installs by default, but the OS doesn't configure the environment until you call the application for the first time. After the OS configures the WMIC environment, you'll see a WMIC prompt where you can enter commands. For example, to check CPU information, you can type the following command (depending on your Windows version, some commands might not be available):
wmic:root\cli>cpu get addresswidth, caption, datawidth
On a 32-bit system, this command returned the following information:
AddressWidth Caption DataWidth 32 x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 3 32
On a 64-bit system, this command returned the following information:
AddressWidth Caption DataWidth 64 ia64 Family 31 Model 1 Stepping 6 64
To exit WMIC, just type "exit" or "quit" (without the quotation marks). You can find more information about WMIC by searching the "Help and Support" link on the Start menu.
A. Win2K SP2 introduced a program compatibility feature in the Windows NT Virtual DOS Machine (VDM) that can prevent some 16-bit applications from running. If you receive the following error message, your program is experiencing this known problem:
<Program> caused a General Protection Fault in module KRNL386.EXE at 0001:6382
Choose close. <Program> will close.
To resolve the problem, perform the following steps:
- Start a registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe).
- Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SessionManager\AppCompatibility\NTVDM.EXE subkey, then press Delete.
- Click Yes to the confirmation.
- Restart the computer.
3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
(brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine and its partners)
Don't miss the essential Microsoft infrastructure conference where you'll connect with a world of expert information, technical training sessions, best practices, and hands-on labs. Be among the first 1000 to register and receive a free MEC 2002 DVD valued at $695—plus save $300!
http://www.microsoft.com/corpevents/mec2002
Windows & .NET Magazine LIVE!'s full-conference schedule is now online. Don't miss this chance to network with the finest gathering of Windows gurus on the planet. This conference is chock full of "been there, done that" knowledge from people who use Microsoft products in the real world. Register now and access concurrently run XML Web Services Connections for FREE.
http://events.pentontech.com/windows/register.asp
4. CONTACT US
Here's how to reach us with your comments and questions:
- ABOUT THE FAQS — [email protected]
- ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER IN GENERAL — [email protected]
(please mention the newsletter name in the subject line)
- TECHNICAL QUESTIONS — http://www.winnetmag.net/forums
- PRODUCT NEWS — [email protected]
- QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR WINDOWS XP AND 2000 TIPS & TRICKS UPDATE SUBSCRIPTION?
Customer Support — [email protected]
- WANT TO SPONSOR WINDOWS XP AND 2000 TIPS & TRICKS UPDATE?
[email protected]
This email newsletter is brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine, the leading publication for Windows profession
http://www.winnetmag.com/sub.cfm?code=wswi201x1z
This weekly email newsletter is brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine, the leading publication for Windows professionals who want to learn more and perform better. Subscribe today.
http://www.winnetmag.com/sub.cfm?code=wswi201x1z
Receive the latest information about the Windows and .NET topics of your choice. Subscribe to our other FREE email newsletters.
http://www.winnetmag.net/email
Thank you for reading Windows XP and 2000 Tips & Tricks UPDATE.
