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Windows Watcher

XP tips and tricks ... by Tom S. Bair, Jr.

Some of you received new laptops or desktops for Christmas. Others have found Windows XP Home Edition under the Christmas tree this year. That means a lot of you are encountering Windows XP, since almost all new computers sold today come with it preinstalled.

This month I will be devoting the entire column to XP tips and tricks. Guess I'm trying to help you get a head start on using your new PC.

Pagefile.sys And Hiberfil.sys

[XP] Sherri Norton installed XP on a 6GB hard drive and wants to remove Pagefile.sys and Hiberfil.sys from that hard drive, since the files are 500MB and 400MB respectively. She wanted to know what these files are, whether she can safely remove them, and if she does, will they be rebuilt?

Let's look at Pagefile.sys first. The paging file is space reserved on the hard drive for Windows to use as virtual memory. This file is a hidden and protected operating system file, so if you try to delete it, Windows XP will prevent you from doing so by displaying an 'Error Deleting File or Folder' message box.

However, you can change to size and/or location of the paging file.

1. Click the 'Start button.'
2. Highlight 'Control Panel' and click on 'System.'
3. Click on the 'Advanced' tab.
4. Under the "Performance" section click on the 'Settings' button.
5. In the "Performance Options" window, click on the 'Advanced' tab.
6. At the bottom of the window, you will see a "Virtual memory" section. Click on the 'Change' button.
7. You can click on the hard drive you want to use for the paging file in the Drive List box. You can also set a custom size of the file, allow Windows to manage the file, or use no paging file at all. I strongly suggest that unless you are an expert power-user, you allow Windows to manage your page file size.
8. Click the 'OK' button on all open windows.
9. When you are back to your desktop, reboot your computer for the new settings to take place.

Hiberfil.sys is the hibernation file. By default, this file is stored on the same drive as the paging file, and it is roughly the same size as the amount of RAM your PC contains. This is due to Windows writing the contents of RAM to the hibernation file before entering hibernation mode. RAM does not store information when it's powered down.

To be rid of the hibernation file, all you need do is turn off Hibernation mode.

1. Right-click on any empty space on your desktop.
2. Click on 'Properties' in the pop-up window.
3. Click on the 'Screen Saver' tab.
4. At the bottom of the window under "Monitor power" section click on the 'Power' button.
5. At the bottom of this window, where it says "System hibernates:" click on the chevron (down-arrow) at the right of the listing box.
6. Select "Never" from the drop-down list.
7. Click on the 'Hibernate' tab at the top of the window.
8. Click on the checkbox next to "enable hibernation" to remove the checkmark.
9. Click the 'Apply' button.
10. Click the 'OK' button.
11. Click the 'OK' button again.

Compress Files and Folders

[XP] Are you running out of room on your hard drive? Or do you need some additional space to install a new application? Then try using XP's new zip compression utility. There are two ways to take advantage of this feature:

To compress:

1. Right-click on a file or folder.
2. Highlight "Send To."
3. Click on "Compressed (zipped) Folder."
4. A compressed folder will be created containing the same name as the file you compressed. It will be represented by a zipper icon.

Drag-n-drop to a compressed folder:

1. Right-click on any empty space on the desktop.
2. Highlight "New."
3. Click on "Compressed (zipped) Folder"
4. Type in a name for your compressed folder and press the Enter key.

While in Windows Explorer, you only need to click and drag a file to your newly created compressed folder to store that file.

Add Your Photo To Your User

[XP] If you have a digital image of yourself stored on your computer, you can display it as an icon next to your User Account. You can use photos from digital cameras, Web cams, even scanned photos. Just store the photo in 'My Pictures' folder as a JPG file.

Then follow these steps:

1. Click on the 'Start' button.
2. Highlight "Control Panel" and click on 'User Accounts.'
3. Click on "Change My Picture."
4. You may select an existing picture from the display window, or you can click on "Browse for More Pictures." You may even have the option to "Get a picture from a camera or scanner" if you have either device attached to your PC.
5. If you select the 'Browse for More Pictures' option, you will be shown the contents of the "My Pictures" folder. Locate the photo you wish to use and click on it.
6. Click the 'Open' button.

XP will reduce your photo to thumbnail size and place it next to your User Account. Pretty nifty, eh?

Disable StickyKeys

[XP] Have you been playing your favorite game, and in the course of conquering all, you had reason to hit the shift key five or more times rapidly? If so, you have seen the game crash and the 'StickyKeys' menu pop up.

StickyKeys is part of the Keyboard Accessibility Options in Windows XP. This feature lets you enter key combinations using the Shift, Ctrl, or Alt keys one key at a time. This cancels the need to hold down a modifier key while pressing subsequent keys.

You can turn off StickyKeys by:

1. Rapidly press the shift key 5 times.
2. Click on the 'Settings' button. This brings up the Accessibility Options Menu.
3. You will see the StickyKeys section at the top of the "Keyboard" tab. Click on the 'Settings' button.
4. Uncheck the box next to "Use shortcut."
5. Click the 'OK' button.
6. Click the 'Apply' button and then the 'OK' button on the same menu.

You have just disabled the key sequence that activates StickyKeys. You may now play your games without fear of interference from your operating system.

XP Easter Eggs

[XP] You won't see any. I have been informed by a source inside Microsoft that Easter eggs have been forbidden. It is due to government regulations that don't allow "undocumented code" in programs used by government offices. Appears the government must be a big customer of Microsoft...

Shut Off Error Reporting

[XP] Debbie Sandford asked if it is possible to turn off the error reporting routine. She finds it a bit annoying to have Windows XP ask if she would like to send an error report to Microsoft every time an error occurs.

You sure can, Debbie. It's easy to do. Just follow the steps below:

1. Click on the 'Start' button.
2. Highlight 'Control Panel.'
3. Click on 'System.'
4. Click on the 'Advanced' tab in the "System Properties" window.
5. Click on the 'Error Reporting' button located at the bottom right of this window.
6. Click on the radius button next to "Disable error reporting."
7. Click the 'OK' button.
8. Again, click the 'OK' button.

Disable XP AutoDial

[XP] By default, Windows XP AutoDial connects your PC to the Internet automatically when a site is accessed on the PC.

This is fine for most users, yet if you use the only phone line in the house, you may wish to have manual control over this feature.

1. Click on the 'Start' button.
2. Highlight 'Administrative Tools.' (If not visible, then try 'Control Panel,' and 'Performance and Maintenance'-then 'Administrative Tools').
3. Click on 'Services.'
4. In the window listing, click on "Remote Access Auto Connection Manager."
5. Click on 'Stop' in the upper left of the window to shut down this service.
6. Right-click on "Remote Access Auto Connection Manager" listing.
7. Click on 'Properties' in the pop-up menu.
8. Click on the chevron (down-arrow) to the right of the list box next to "Startup type:" and select 'Disabled.'
9. Click the 'OK' button.
10. Exit the 'Services' Window.

From now on your PC will never attempt to dial up an Internet connection unless you initiate the process.

About the Author

Please feel free to email the author with your comments about this article: Tom S. Bair Jr.