{"id":230,"date":"2020-03-04T19:29:08","date_gmt":"2020-03-04T06:29:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/?page_id=230"},"modified":"2021-10-04T12:44:11","modified_gmt":"2021-10-03T23:44:11","slug":"windows-xp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/computing\/windows-xp\/","title":{"rendered":"WINDOWS XP"},"content":{"rendered":"

WINDOWS XP<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

XP was a workhorse. Everything ran OK on it, and it did the job. Because I used it for a decade everything was where I expected it, which saved time. With a few changes it looked OK – all the default ugly green graphics could easily be eradicated. When I wanted to get things done, I found XP fast enough because it all worked as expected. And despite being a bit slow XP was actually fairly stable which also saved time.<\/p>\n

Where it really shone is that pretty much every programme ever released was widely and freely available as a crack and they generally all worked well. XP was built for piracy – it was sort of like open source Microsoft. If there was dodgyness to be done, XP was king. But cracked programme availability for 7 is fully sorted these days and a quick visit to a torrent site will sort all software needs.<\/p>\n

The main drawbacks were that it’s slower than both 2000 and 7, and like 2000 it’s hopeless for big file transfers, and searches. It was an OK operating system, but it was a bit plain and sluggish compared to 7. The default settings were rubbish and just about everything needed to be changed. (They were not as bad as the default settings on 7 though)<\/p>\n

Having said that, the truth is, when setting up computers for friends and family, Windows 7 was not always been appreciated. I guess in some cases I installed it more for my convenience, for people who would have probably preferred XP. Nothing good has come of pushing non-tech people towards 7 over XP.<\/p>\n

All the bollocks Microsoft and some clueless journalists said about “the death of XP”<\/a> because Microsoft stopped support in April 2014, was just a desperate attempt to sell some software. Microsoft support for operating systems is irrelevant, and third party support for XP is still widely available. It’s even still available from third parties for Windows 98!<\/p>\n

In many workplaces, and many countries outside of America, (including China where XP still has a huge share of the market) XP remains popular. Even in America where consumers rush out and buy whatever is the latest thing, XP is still going. It was gestimated (by Steve Balmer) that outside of America, 90% of all copies of XP were pirated.<\/p>\n

For a free copy of XP go here<\/a> – or if you prefer 7, here.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This operating system usage pie chart from February 2014 is fairly typical, but it contains the same inbuilt inaccuracies that nearly all the charts like this do:<\/p>\n

Firstly, it mainly reflects what American and English speaking consumers are web surfing on (rather than workplace use, where many workers are predominantly using XP with no internet connection).<\/p>\n

Secondly it doesn’t reflect what non English speaking computer users in countries such as China are using, where XP is popular, most XP copies are pirated, and internet connections are thin on the ground.<\/p>\n

Thirdly, these charts are all based on either web surfing stats (which don’t reflect work use) or the new sales of “legitimate” operating systems (which don’t reflect second hand computer sales, or piracy, or downloads of Linux).<\/p>\n

And it’s pretty safe to say nobody is doing anything productive with Windows 8<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Setting up Windows XP<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Install from disc<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Start computer up with “Windows XP” disc in DVD drive, and no internet connection.<\/p>\n

When it’s finished installing, first change to classic view<\/p>\n

Start (green button in left bottom corner) \u2013 right click and switch to classic view<\/p>\n

Go to Control Panel<\/p>\n

Start \/ settings \/ control panel \/<\/p>\n

Display<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Desktop \u2013 start with the Stonehenge one to get rid of the green default Microsoft one \u2013 (replace it later with something better)<\/p>\n

Screensaver \u2013 3D pipes \u2013 settings \u2013 mixed, textured, multiple, fast (gets rid of xp logo screensaver)<\/p>\n

Appearance \u2013 windows classic style, (a timeless theme that gets rid of the green start button) & then set font to large<\/p>\n

Settings – 1280×768 for 3×4 monitors or 1600 x 900 for 16×9 widescreen monitors, and colour quality highest (32 bit)<\/p>\n

Security Centre<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Start \/ settings \/ control panel \/ security centre<\/p>\n

(To turn off Microsoft Security and Updates)<\/p>\n

Click on \u201cchange the way security centre alerts me\u201d (in the box on left side)<\/p>\n

Untick the three alert settings<\/p>\n

Go to manage security settings option at the bottom \u2013 turn off anything that\u2019s on, such as firewall (make sure that Microsoft has nothing to do with the security and is not doing any updates)<\/p>\n

Desktop Icons<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

First Add Windows Explorer Desktop Icon<\/p>\n

(It\u2019s in Start \/ Programmes \/ Accessories)<\/p>\n

Windows Explorer \u2013 right click \u2013 send to desktop (create shortcut)<\/p>\n

Follow same steps for other desktop icons as the programmes are installed<\/p>\n

eg. Start \/ Programmes \/ Microsoft Office \/ Microsoft Office Word 2003<\/p>\n

Right click \u2013 send to desktop (create shortcut)<\/p>\n

Once the icon is on the desktop \u2013 right click the icon \u2013 rename – eg \u201cword\u201d<\/p>\n

right click on the icon \u2013 properties \u2013 maximised (opens each programme straight into a full window)<\/p>\n

Disable the Automatic Desktop Wizard<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

To stop the wizard from automatically running every 60 days:<\/p>\n

Right-click a blank spot on the desktop, and then click Properties to open the Display Properties dialogue box.<\/p>\n

Click the Desktop tab.<\/p>\n

Click Customize desktop to open the Desktop Items dialogue box.<\/p>\n

Click to clear the Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days check box.<\/p>\n

Click OK to close the dialogue boxes.<\/p>\n

Fix Windows Explorer Settings<\/p>\n

Open Windows Explorer<\/p>\n

Tools \/ Folder Options \/ General \/ Use Windows classic folders<\/p>\n

Now change the view of whichever folder you are looking at to Details view – then go to<\/p>\n

Tools \/ Folder Options \/ View \u2013 folder view \u2013 apply to all folders (no more icon view)<\/p>\n

Tools \/ Folder Options \/ View \/ Advanced Settings<\/p>\n

Tick:<\/p>\n

Show hidden files and folders<\/p>\n

Untick:<\/p>\n

Hide extensions for known file types<\/p>\n

“Explorer preview pane” – Alt+P to enable\/disable<\/p>\n

Improve Performance<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In Windows Explorer go to My Computer and right click on it:<\/p>\n

Properties<\/p>\n

Advanced<\/p>\n

Performance<\/p>\n

Settings<\/p>\n

First select \u201cadjust for best performance\u201d (this unticks everything)<\/p>\n

Then select \u201ccustom\u201d<\/p>\n

Tick \u201cuse drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop\u201d (2nd to last option)<\/p>\n

OR – Same change can be done from:<\/p>\n

Start\/Settings\/Control panel\/System\/Advanced\/Performance\/Settings<\/p>\n

Disable autoplay<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Start\/Run<\/p>\n

Paste in: gpedit.msc<\/p>\n

(Left Pane) Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System
\n(Right Pane) Set “Turn off autoplay” to “Enabled”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"frot.header.1\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WINDOWS XP XP was a workhorse. Everything ran OK on it, and it did the job. Because I used it for a decade everything was where I expected it, which saved time. With a few changes it looked OK – all the default ugly green graphics could easily be eradicated. When I wanted to get […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20122,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Untitled-1.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1563,"url":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/computing\/linux\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":0},"title":"LINUX","date":"January 3, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"LINUX A n00b goes for a test drive This is a bunch of stuff I originally wrote in 2010, and Linux has moved on a bit, but many of the the points below are still current. Here is a great up to date summary Information wants to be free Sometimes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "COMPUTING"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.frot.co.nz\/sift\/images_linux\/Max-Penguin.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":180,"url":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/computing\/windows-2000\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":1},"title":"WINDOWS 2000","date":"March 3, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"WINDOWS 2000 2000 was well designed, stylish, and worked well with old computers. It wasn't as full of annoying security and pop ups as 7, and the default install was mostly OK so you didn't have to spend much time setting it up. Contrary to popular myth most recent programmes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "COMPUTING"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/2000_1b.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3598,"url":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/computing\/windows\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":2},"title":"WINDOWS","date":"March 8, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Why did I post a bunch of pages about windows? In 2010 I was asked to find and copy some files from an old computer that had just been replaced. It had an old operating system I hadn't used before, and the computer was a relic that barely ran. But\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "COMPUTING"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Blimp.b.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":19859,"url":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/computing\/windows-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":3},"title":"WINDOWS 2","date":"June 20, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Why did I do a bunch of posts about windows? In 2010 I was asked to find and copy some files from an old computer that had just been replaced. It had an old operating system I hadn't used before, and the computer was a relic that barely ran. But\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "COMPUTING"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Blimp.b.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":978,"url":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/computing\/computing\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":4},"title":"COMPUTING","date":"June 9, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"MENU FACEBOOK LINUX LINUX MINT WINDOWS WINDOWS 2000 WINDOWS XP WINDOWS 7 WINDOWS 8 WINDOWS 10 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "COMPUTING"","img":{"alt_text":"11144440_847836118635248_8513331090453631734_n","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/11144440_847836118635248_8513331090453631734_n-600x387.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":237,"url":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/computing\/windows-7\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":5},"title":"WINDOWS 7","date":"March 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"WINDOWS 7 Seven is going to go down in history as the last decent Microsoft operating system. It's as fast as 2000, so it seems quick compared with XP, and it has some improved graphics. The taskbar at the bottom of the screen is handy. Windows Explorer is much improved\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "COMPUTING"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/win7-girl.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=230"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frot.co.nz\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}