INSTALLING AND CONFIGURING WINDOWS XP

[Chris]

Here's a useful tip forwarded to me recently by Judy O.


Want to prevent at least some activation headaches? Make a backup copy of Wpa.dbl, a tiny file stored in the %SystemRoot%\System 32 folder. This file contains the hardware “fingerprint” information used to determine whether activation is required. If you need to reinstall Windows XP on a system that has already been activated, you can restore this file and bypass the need for activation – if your hardware hasn’t changed appreciably since the original activation. Windows also creates a backup copy of this file, called Wpa.bak at startup. This backup copy can be a lifesaver if you encounter problems after a hardware upgrade. If Windows refuses to run because your new hardware has triggered the activation code you may be able to recover using this workaround: Restore your old hardware, start your computer in Networked Safe Mode, and rename Wpa.bak to Wpa.dbl. If all goes as it should, you’ll be reactivated and able to continue working.

Excerpt from Microsoft Windows Inside Out

[Vermanucci]

;D Look forward to SP1 with over 100 fixes 8) Including the claim that pirated installations wont accept the installation of SP1 oOCoughOo oOCoughOo bull oOCoughOo ;D
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/support/servicepacks/windows/xp/pre-sp1_hotfixes.asp
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/support/servicepacks/windows/xp/pre-sp1_hotfixes.asp)
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/vol/volkeys_winxpsp1.asp
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=5112

BTW winXP sp1 beta build 1089 leaked


Microsoft Unveils Windows XP Media Center Edition, Previously Code-Named "Freestyle"
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2002/Jul02/07-16MediaCenterPR.asp


Have fun :d - be afraid be very afraid :P

[Chris]

yeah, I heard about sp1 not supporting prated versions. I thought the new activation routine was to eliminate pirated copies ;). Anyway, I'm sure sp1 not supporting pirated copies shouldn't affect any of us ::) :-X

[Vermanucci]

i dont c how they r going to get around cracked versions being updated - their activation was cracked - what makes this protection so special? :o

[Collin]

Hey I saw a TechTV article where SP1 would not install on their "legit" copy of XP... so I wonder what microsoft uses to determine a priated copy!

Yeah they say they have a range of activation codes etc... but what happens in the TechTV case when you have the legit copy and it won't install?

[Chris]

Collin, to answer part of your question and for general information, the following article should be interested reading ;)

http://www.tweaktown.com/document.php?dType=guide&dId=350

[Collin]

Hey Chris,

That was some good reading. Thanks for the link!
I guess the old saying still applies... "where there's a will there's a way"

[Vermanucci]

For Educational purposes only: The tip given on the tweak site didn't mention anything about users who have used the popular tool - WINXP AntiSpy - which allows you to turn off Winxp Product Reg function - TIP: The function must be reset to default (Turned On) before SP1 installation is started. 8) - The activation screen to change your Product key & the SP1 installation will not continue if the funtion is turned off.


I think thats why SP1 failed on TECHTV - i remember them using WinXP antispy tool at one time. 8)

http://www.xp-antispy.de - home of XP antispy

[vicesquad]

Ok. Legal Registration and all the hooplah ;D. Installed a new hard drive and got the blue screen saying that hardware changes and corrupted my installation :'(.

How do I fix this? ::)

[CKnight]

Follow these steps:

Get a DOS bootdisk and bring up the command line.

Type the following command as is:
- "format c:"

Get a hold of mandrake 9.0 or redhat 8.0 (available from the Jamaica Linux User Group)

Boot from the first CD, set up your box....and BOOM, problem solved.


Seriously though, I have no idea. I'm used to having a drive auto mounted when I insert it, not getting a blue screen.

[Chris]

Did you try to make a backup copy of the Wpa.dbl file as suggested in an earlier post?

[vicesquad]

I read that after the blue screen :-[

[odsamuels]

Just go thru the usual motions. First try getting in thru Safe Mode if not, simply re-install WinXP, if you haven't already done so. Let me know if that works for you.

While we are on the subject, I have an annoying XP problem. Two totally different machines, different components and all one is a PIII and one is a PIV. Windows XP takes about 10-15minutes on a blank screen during boot. ??? What is up with that... I'm sure someone else gotta b having that problem... so please... HELP! ;D

[Chris]

I don't have that boot delay problem with my notebook. As a matter of fact, my notebook boots quickly. I would of course suggest that you check your startup apps/services. Also, were these installations fresh or upgrades?

[odsamuels]

They were fresh. I think that it could be something in startup as well because it didn't always do it. I don't know when exactly it started doing it. I was just hoping that someone else also had this problem and could give me a pointing finger.

Thanks tho.
L8r

[Chris]

odsamuels: have you installed Win XP SP1 on your machines? If you have, then I'll suggest that you uninstall and test. If you haven't, then try to install and test.

vicesquad: I'm not sure what to suggest, cause you can neither install nor uninstall anything. You may have to consider re-installing from scratch.

[vicesquad]

Chris - Thanks reinstalled already.

I need help with this problem though. Have two machines with XP SP1. One has two NICs, 1 goes to the cnet switch and second one goes to the ADSL. The second machine connects to the switch.

What I need to do is to share the ADSL and share files between the two machine. Using that ICS with WinXP and ZoneAlarm. Thought it was plum easy. However I either get Inet sharing or file sharing.

Also which NIC connection should I enable ICS on, the ADSL one or the Switch one?

[Collin]

Vicesquad,

Last question first.
you would need to enable ICS on the internal NIC (one to switch) as ICS will try to use a private IP address range (169.xxx.xxx.xxx)

I have a similar setup with Win2K machines, however I choose to go the proxy route... using AnalogX FREE proxy software... actually I have a few machines using this setup.

From other posts I have come not to want to use Cnet products ... had not too good experience with two Cnet NIC when I was setting up the above.

[vicesquad]

Collin, thanks for the advice. Got at it Saturday and with the following links I solved the problems.

Have a Cnet NIC and a CNet switch. Have to figure out why I'm not getting 100Mbps instead of the 10 Mbps. Have to figure out the autonegtiaton on the CNet.

Thanks again.

http://www.homenethelp.com/ics/ics-install-arch.asp
http://www.homenethelp.com/ics/ics-install-netxp.asp
http://www.homenethelp.com/web/howto/HomeNet-Win2kXP.asp

[Collin]

If you have set the NIC to Auto then it will connect at whatever speed it senses .. are you sure that the Switch is a 100Mbps switch or is it a 10Mbps?

There are certain ppl on this forum who would tell you to throw the Cnet stuff out ;D but if it works for you then all is well.