NWA-PCUG Newsletter Article, June 2004
Windows XP Help
by Dale Oliver, Past President
d_oliver@swbell.net
(click to email author)


Like it or not, Windows XP is here to stay. And there will inevitably be another version of the operating system to learn sooner than you’d like. And then another one after that, and so on. If you are anything like me, you greet the latest “new and improved” offering by Microsoft with a bit of uncertainty and trepidation. Each new version is technically more complex than the last, and therefore has a “new and improved” set of quirks, bugs, and security problems to contend with. This, my friends, is known as “progress” in the software retail industry.

Despite the potentially frustrating problems we face, modern operating systems make computers easier to use than ever before. Remember when you had to memorize dozens of commands and various options for each command in order to make anything at all useful happen on your personal computer? Now you use a pointing device to click on pictures or menu options to make most things happen. Technology has advanced to the point that you can talk to your computer to make it do almost anything you want it to when using programs such as Dragon Naturally Speaking. It’s amazing.

Luckily for us, the Internet continues to be an ever-expanding information resource that we can utilize to find answers to the problems caused by such rapidly changing technology. Hmmm… doesn’t this strike you as a bit ironic, perhaps? Utilizing technology to solve problems created by technology. Happily, much of the Internet content remains absolutely free. Seriously, can you imagine anything that you can’t find on the Internet? If so, you have a better imagination than I do!

There are many excellent Internet-based resources for learning about Windows XP. But one of the places I find myself frequenting when I have XP-related questions is a site known as Kelly’s Korner http://www.kellys-korner.com. The site has an impressive array of information that is competently organized and it’s presented with a bit of pizzaz, so it is not too difficult to find what you’re looking for.

The site is divided into two major areas, which include “Support and Fixes” and “Troubleshooting.” These two areas are further broken down into subsections that allow you to explore considerably further. For example, under the Support and Fixes section, the available topics include: FAQ Database, Message Board, Support by Email, Quick Fixes, XP Utilities, Donations, Tell-A-Friend, and Guest Book. The topics available under the Troubleshooting section include: XP from A to Z, Setup, Conflicts, Troubleshoot, Side Issues, XP Tweaks, Registry Edits, and XP Drivers.

Can you imagine anything else that you might need to know about Windows XP? For you power users out there who are going to dash straight for the XP Tweaks section, you will probably be impressed to know that there are no less than 325 tweaks listed. There is also an impressive listing of ways you can tweak your system by editing the registry in the Registry Edits section.

For less esoteric needs, many of the sections provide a user-friendly listing of topics in plain English that refer you to the appropriate Microsoft Knowledge Base article. This is a handy feature. If you have ever tried to find something by searching the Microsoft Knowledge Base itself, you know that it can be a bit like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack.

The FAQ section highlights most commonly asked questions, and is nice in that the content is broken down into major sections (Desktop, Internet Explorer, Start Menu, etc.). It also includes a search feature that lets you search the FAQs for a particular keyword.

All in all, it is a well-designed site with an immense amount of information about Windows XP. You might want to visit and poke around to become at least slightly familiar with it, so that then next time you have a question related to Windows XP, you will be able to find the solution with a minimum investment of time and pain.

Click here to return to top



==================================================================