Windows XP and 2000 Tips & Tricks UPDATE, September 16, 2002

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

Security Administrator Web Site
http://www.secadministrator.com

SPONSOR: SECURITY ADMINISTRATOR WEB SITE

WHERE TO BE PROACTIVE ABOUT SECURITY!
When you suspect a hack or virus attack, don't waste time surfing the Web. The Security Administrator Web site delivers news, articles, discussion forums, FAQs, and hotfixes (in one easy-to-navigate Web site!), so you can mitigate the effects of today's disaster and prevent tomorrow's. Go to:
http://www.secadministrator.com

While you're there, check out this article on Exchange Server Antivirus Software:
http://www.secadministrator.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=23564

September 16, 2002—In this issue:

1. COMMENTARY

2. FAQS

Q. Where can I download Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1)?
Q. When I use the Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows 2000 SP3 "Set Program Access and Defaults" feature to remove access to a program, why doesn't the OS remove the actual program?
Q. Why can't I start a Microsoft Office application after installing Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3)?
Q. Why did my FTP password stop working on my Windows 2000 system after I installed the Win2K Security Rollup Package 1 (SRP1)?
Q. Why does Windows 2000 prompt me to delete a folder when I delete a large file?

3. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Real-World Tips and Solutions Here for You
New! News, Tips, and More to Keep Your Network Humming

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 highlight some features and problems associated with the latest Windows XP and Windows 2000 service packs. I also explain why your passwords might stop working after you install the Win2K Security Rollup Package 1 (SRP1) and why you might receive a prompt to delete a folder when you delete a large file in Win2K.

Starting this week and each week hereafter, I'll begin to tell you about some of the recent industry happenings and available product updates that you won't want to miss. Microsoft has just released XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), which you can download from the URL at the end of the first FAQ below. Windows Media Player (WMP) 9 Series beta 1 is also available for download at http://www.windowsmedia.com/9series/download/download.asp . Symantec has released Norton Antivirus 2003 (and will ship Norton Personal Firewall 2003 and Norton Internet Security 2003 by the end of this month), and Microsoft has released details at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2002/sep02/09-03hardwarecollectionlaunchpr.asp about cool-looking new hardware available in time for holiday shoppers (I want the Wireless Optical Desktop Pro). Finally, Microsoft has released XP Media Center Edition to manufacturing. You can find more information about XP Media Center Edition at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2002/sep02/09-03enhancedentertainmentpr.asp .

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

Q. Where can I download Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1)?

A. As of September 9, 2002, you can download XP SP1 from the URL below. The final build number for the service pack is 1106, and the service pack contains the new "Set Program Access and Defaults" feature.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1

Q. When I use the Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows 2000 SP3 "Set Program Access and Defaults" feature to remove access to a program, why doesn't the OS remove the actual program?

A. Microsoft's agreement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) states that the company has to remove visibility of its components, not the actual application code. The "Set Program Access and Defaults" feature doesn't remove the application executables and resources—doing so would have caused additional problems because many Microsoft applications interoperate with other parts of the Windows OS.

Q. Why can't I start a Microsoft Office application after installing Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3)?

A. Some users have received the following error message when they attempt to start an Office application after installing Win2K SP3:

The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed.
This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode,
or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed.
Contact your support personnel for assistance.

The problem stems from a new version of Windows Installer (version 2) that ships with Win2K SP3. You might receive this error message for one of two reasons. Each reason has its own solution, which I detail below.

Distributed COM (DCOM) default impersonation level is set to anonymous: To resolve the problem for this reason, perform the following steps:

Start the DCOM configuration utility by typing

dcomcnfg

at the command prompt.

Select the Default Properties tab, then select Connect from the Default Authentication Level list.
Select Identify from the Default Impersonation Level list, then click OK.
Close the DCOM configuration utility.
Start Windows Explorer and navigate to the system32 folder (e.g., c:\windows\system32).
Right-click msisip.dll, select Rename from the context menu, change the filename to msisip.old, and click OK.
Reinstall Win2K SP3.

The SYSTEM account doesn't have permission to access a destination folder: To resolve the problem for this reason, perform the following steps:

Start Windows Explorer, right-click the boot partition drive (typically the C drive, where the Windows folder resides), and select Properties from the context menu.
Select the Security tab.
Click Add.
Select the System account, click Add, then click OK.
Select the Full Control option under Allow, and click OK.

Q. Why did my FTP password stop working on my Windows 2000 system after I installed the Win2K Security Rollup Package 1 (SRP1)?

A. After you install the Win2K SRP1, Win2K considers leading white-space characters (i.e., spaces) in the FTP password to be valid characters and no longer removes them. As a result, if a stored password contains spaces, you must include the spaces when you enter the password. Likewise, if the password doesn't contain spaces, you must ensure that the password you type has no leading spaces.

Q. Why does Windows 2000 prompt me to delete a folder when I delete a large file?

A. When you attempt to delete a large file that typically goes into the Recycle Bin first, you'll receive the following error:

Confirm Folder Delete
The folder <filename> is too big for the Recycle Bin.
Do you want to permanently delete it?

You receive this error because the file is too large to fit in the Recycle Bin. To report this error, Win2K uses a shared error message that the OS also displays when you attempt to delete a folder that's too large to fit into the Recycle Bin. If you decide to permanently delete the file, Win2K will delete only the file—the OS won't delete a folder that has the same name.

3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
(brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine and its partners)

REAL-WORLD TIPS AND SOLUTIONS HERE FOR YOU

Early-bird discount for Windows & .NET Magazine LIVE! expires September 21st! Register now, and you'll also receive access to sessions of concurrently run XML Web Services Connections. Choose from more than 70 sessions and save $1595. Discover why more than half of our attendees choose to only attend LIVE! Events, which are chock-full of "been there, done that" knowledge from people who use Microsoft products in the real world. Register now at
https://secure.win2000mag.com/events/windows_register.asp

NEW! NEWS, TIPS, AND MORE TO KEEP YOUR NETWORK HUMMING

Networking UPDATE brings you the how-to tips and news you need to implement and maintain a rock-solid networking infrastructure. We'll explore interoperability solutions, hardware (including servers, routers, and switches), network architecture, network management, network security, installation technology, network training, and WAN disaster recovery. Subscribe (at no cost!) at
http://www.winnetmag.com/email

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 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.

Comments

Plain text