Computer & Web Solutions

System Requirements Home/Pro
Hardware Compatibility List
My Games don't work with Windows XP
How do I run my own FTP or Web Server
Updating Security and Windows Software
Where did my *.PWL Files go?
My CD Recording software stopped working when I upgraded to Windows XP
Security Audit Passwords NT/2000/XP
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Internet Connection Firewall (ICF)
Windows XP Home/Pro SP1
Print IP Configuration to a file
Print a directory to a file

System Requirements Home/Pro

• PC with 300 megahertz or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233 MHz minimum required (single or dual processor system);* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended
• 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)
• 1.5 gigabytes (GB) of available hard disk space*
• Super VGA (800 × 600) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor
• CD-ROM or DVD drive
• Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

Hardware Compatibility List

That HCL is a guideline that Microsoft uses to make sure that this hardware has been tested with the OS and is able to work with the drivers supplied from the manufacture or from Microsoft.  Please check this list to make sure that your hardware is compatible with this version of Windows.  This list cam be found at this web site http://www.microsoft.com/hcl

My Games don't work with Windows XP

Some of this is a simple fix.  Microsoft releases what are called compatibility updates to its software so that program will work with Windows XP.  All you have to do is go to the windows update page and Download the Critical Updates and there might be some updates in the Windows XP section of the windows update page.  If you game is having a problem with the video you may want to check the Device Driver section of the windows update page, or go to your computer manufacture's website for updated drivers.

If you are trying to run an old DOS game you might be out of luck in playing this game on Windows XP.  The only option I have seen is to setup your computer to dual boot Windows 95B or Higher with Fat32 and Windows 2000.  You can also dual boot with the two versions of Windows on different partitions.  Then you can run your older programs that are not compatible with Windows XP.

How do I run my own FTP or Web Server

Windows XP Pro come with Internet Information Server (IIS) as components of Windows.  It only have one limitation with the Pro and Home Versions.  Only 10 people can connect at one time to your site if it is hosted on a Professional or Home version of Windows.  With Windows NT 4.0 Server, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows .Net Server you can have unlimited users access your websites or FTP server at a time.  To Add IIS to your Computer follow these instructions:

1. Click Start, Control Panel
2. Double Click on Add/Remove Programs
3. Click on Add/Remove Windows Components
4. Place a checkmark in Internet Information Server (IIS) (or Details if you want to select options for IIS)
5. Click on Ok (or Ok Twice if you selected options)
6. Computer may need to be restarted click yes to restart your computer

If you are using a firewall please check to make sure that you have opened the right ports and direction for you server.  If you need to find these ports please check out our Antivirus, Utilities, and Server Products section for more information.

If your ISP doesn't assign you a static IP address for your server you may want to look into a service like http://www.no-ip.com where they have a DNS server that will give your computer an Domain Name and they have software that will check your computers IP address each time it connects to the internet.  It will update their DNS server with the new IP address so you don't have to go and change it your self.

Updating Security and Windows Software

To update all of your windows software to get the latest security fixes and software updates for windows go to this web address. http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

Where did my *.PWL Files go?

Windows XP is not based on the windows 9x kernel.  It is based on the NT kernel and NT handles security in a file called the Security Account Management (SAM) file.  This file can not be deleted to clear out a password problem like you could with the old versions of Windows.  You can however restore a previous version of the file using the ERD Disks, or the Backup software.  If you do not have administrator rights to the system you will need to boot to a command prompt and you can use a third party software to crack the password file.  For security auditing software to scan the SAM file there is a program that can be purchased to scan usernames and passwords.  The program is called LC4 and can be downloaded at http://www.atstake.com.

My CD Recording software stopped working when I upgraded Windows XP

If you are using Adaptec Easy CD Creator 4.x to burn CDs on your computer you will have to buy version 5.0 or higher and install the patches for your new version.  The patches can be downloaded from http://www.roxio.com

Security Audit Passwords NT/2000/XP

If you need to find the lost password to an x-employee or looking to migrate users to another system and need to know their passwords.  Here is a software tool you need.  LC4 (as of 7/19/2002) This program will look at the SAM file, Registry and can even sniff your network if you want it to, to get those missing passwords you need to have.  The Original program name was L0phtCrack from heavy industries.  Now you have get this program from @stake.  Here is the web address where you can get more info about this program. http://www.atstake.com/research/lc/index.html

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

Windows can share your Internet connection with other computer(s) on your network.  You can use ICS to share your dial-up Internet account or you high speed internet connection.  If you are looking to share your high speed internet connection with ICS you will need two network cards in your computer.  If you don't want to install two network cards in one of the computers you can also use a Router/Firewall to do the same thing.  To install ICS on your Windows XP computer follow these instructions:

1. Right Click on My Network Places
2. Select Properties
3. Right click on your Network connection that is connected to the Internet
4. Select Properties
5. Click on the Advanced Tab
6. Place a Check Mark in the Enable Internet Connection Sharing on this computer
7. Click on Ok.

If you want to supply Internet services through this computer connection you can click on the Setting button.  This will allow you to open port to the internet so that you can have an internal computer hosting internet requests.

With XP you can allow your internal computer control the connection to the internet.  If you want your users to control this connection place a checkmark in the Allow other network users to control or disable the shared Internet connection.

Internet Connection Firewall (ICF)

ICF blocks hack attack to your computer from the internet when you are using the internet.  This option makes your computer invisible to most computers on the internet.  If some tries to find weaknesses on your computer to attack this will certainly help block attacks to your computer.  To enable the ICF on your computer follow these instructions.

1. Click Start, Control Panel, Classic View, Double click on Network Connections
2. Right Click on your Internet Connection or Network that is connected to the internet.
3. Select Properties.
4. Click on the Advanced Tab
5. Place a Checkmark in Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet.

If you want to test your firewall connection you can visit this web site and follow the links for Spin Right.  Test your Ports, and Probe your Ports.  This will show you that the computer is almost invisible to the internet.  If you computer has many ports open when you run this website link you do not have the ICF installed.  http://www.grc.com

Windows XP Home/Pro SP1

You can download the Service Pack 1 from my downloads page, or you can go to Microsoft's Website.  My express setup comes right off of Microsoft's Windows Update site.

So far I have not run into any problems with SP1, yah!!!, which is great for a Service Pack that was a year in the making.  I did look at the Set Program Access and Defaults, just like Microsoft's SP3 for Windows 2000 Pro.  Nothing special there, allows you to remove icons to your IE, Windows Media Player, and Windows Messenger.  Since I am devoted to Netscape 7.0 I thing IE is a waste of time updating all of the time.  Check out Real Report for more information on Netscape 7.0 new features and ease of use.

Print IP Configuration to a file

May times you may want to document what the settings are on your servers as for IP configurations and more.  Here is a way to copy what is displayed on the screen to a text file.  Then you can save the file where ever you want to for disaster recovery info if you want to.

At a command prompt you normally run the ipconfig /all to get all of your IP information.  Type the following at the command prompt and you will get a text file at the root directory of the C: drive named IPInfo.txt.

ipconfig /all > C:\IPInfo.txt

Now you will have a txt file that can be opened with any program like Notepad, Word, WordPerfect

Print a directory to a file

Some times you just need to print a directory to a file or printer.  Here is an easy way to get that file to a text file.  Then just print the file out if you need a hard copy of it.  Do the following at the command prompt.

dir *.* > C:\DirInfo.txt

Now you will see a text file in the root directory of the C drive called DirInfo.txt.