Manage persistent connections

The Persistent Connections subkey stores data about the most recent connections to network drives. Understanding how to configure persistent connections on Windows NT can help your system start faster and let you control which network connections NT makes at startup.
You can make changes to the way NT works with persistent connections via the registry. Open the Registry Editor, and navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network\Persistent Connections

In the Persistent Connections directory, you'll find values that you can alter to control network connections. The values with single letters show the Universal Naming Convention path of the 10 most recent drives that you've mapped to. You can set the order in which the Map Network Drive list displays those UNC paths with the Order value.

The SaveConnections value determines whether the connections will remain persistent after logon. (This is a yes/no value.) Of course, you can turn the SaveConnections option on or off in the Map Network Drive window, but this tweak allows you to change the value in a logon script.

If you want to prevent users from mapping persistent connections to network drives, you can accomplish this with a quick registry tweak. By applying the following registry change to your workstation and/or server, you can make sure that when mapping to an administrative share on a server, the share isn't accidentally left connected.

[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network\Persistent Connections]
"SaveConnections"="no"

Note: Editing the registry is risky, so make sure you have a verified backup before making any changes.

Disable the Log Off and Turn Off Computer buttons

1. Do you support users who, regardless of what you tell them, insist on logging off or shutting down public computers in common areas? If so, you'll be glad to know that you can disable the Log Off and Turn Off Computer buttons on the Start menu.
   Follow these steps:
   
2. Open the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
3. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
4. 
   Right-click the Explorer key, and select New DWORD value.
5. 
   Name the value StartMenuLogoff, and press [Enter] twice to access the Edit DWORD Value dialog box.
6. 
   Type 1 in the Value Data text box, and click OK.
7. 
   Right-click the Explorer key, and select New DWORD value.
8. 
   Name the value NoClose, and press [Enter] twice to access the Edit DWORD Value dialog box.
9. 
   Type 1 in the Value Data text box, and click OK.
10. 
    Close the Registry Editor.
11. 
    At this point, both the Log Off and Turn Off Computer buttons are still on the Start menu, so click the Log Off button and then log back on.
12. 
    When you need to shut down the computer, launch the Registry Editor, and change the values to 0.

Note: Editing the registry is risky, so be sure you have a verified backup before making any changes.

Learn About NTFS

The NT file system (NTFS) is the skeleton key to all data housed in Windows servers, so fine-tuning NTFS for maximum efficiency is no small issue for Windows administrators.
NTFS offers a sizable degree of control over data structure within Windows server hard drives. Tweaking the NTFS settings for optimal performance can extend the operational role of your existing servers and potentially save your organization money.
To optimize NTFS, you must minimize the amount of space that data occupies on server hard drives with techniques that go beyond data compression and defragmentation. Configuring NTFS to make the best use of your available assets is a precise undertaking, since everything from cluster size to naming conventions impacts data size.

Modify a local routing table

To use the ROUTE command to view a computer's routing table. The ability to view and change the routing table can help you troubleshoot network issues and potentially overcome network configuration problems.
But the ROUTE command doesn't restrict you to only viewing the local computer's routing table. In addition to viewing this table, you can also modify it by adding or removing routes.

Below is the syntax to add a new route:

ROUTE ADD MASK METRIC IF

Here's an example:
ROUTE ADD 192.168.1.0 MASK 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.9 METRIC 2 IF 2
In this example, 192.168.0.9 is the gateway for all traffic to the destination 192.168.1.0/24. The metric is 2, and the interface number is 2.
When you add a route using this syntax, the route doesn't persist across restarts of the computer. To make a route persist, add the -p switch to the command, as shown below:
ROUTE -p ADD 192.168.1.0 MASK 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.9 METRIC 2 IF 2
To delete a route, use the DELETE keyword and the destination address. Here's an example:
ROUTE DELETE 192.168.1.0

Q327101 error message

Error Message Details:
Windows has detected that one or more protected core system files (kernel) on your computer have been modified. The Service Pack contains updated versions of those files, which work to provide a stable environment for your programs. Due to this modification, the Service Pack will not be installed.

If you've created a custom boot screen then you'll see an error code Q327101 and you'll have to edit your boot.ini and get rid of your /KERNEL switch.


To resolve this problem, follow these steps:
1. Click OK to close the error message.
2. Click Start, click Run, and then type appwiz.cpl in the Open box.
3. Click the program that customizes the startup graphics, and then click Remove.
4. Restart your computer, and then try to install SP1 again. If the problem persists, go to step 5.
5. On the desktop, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
6. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
7. Under System Startup, click Edit.

The Boot.ini file opens in Notepad.
Locate and then delete the /KERNEL= switch.
Save and then close the Boot.ini file.
Restart your computer.
Try to install Windows XP SP1.

UNABLE TO CLICK BUTTONS IN ANY WEBPAGE...

User has since informed me that she cannot click on any buttons in any web page. This was cause by browser settings.
Changed them to default of Medium based on this logic.
1. Open IE.
2. Tools\Internet Options
3. Select security Tab, changed setting to Medium.

USERS DESKTOP HAS NO ICONS OR TASKBAR....HELP

Initially users desktop environment was blank. To address this problem the follow steps were used:
Pressed CTRL+ALT+DEL to access the task manager.
Clicked File\New Task, typed explorer in the preceding text box.
Explored to Documents & Settings\%username%\Desktop to verify users desktop environment.

After verifying environment, reviewed startup options using msconfig:
1. Pressed CTRL+ALT+DEL selected ‘Log Off’.
2. Logged on as PCAdmin
3. Start\Run, typed msconfig.
4. unchecked all non-standard applications.
5. Reviewed application log for errors. Errors were made for Quick browser
6. Uninstalled correlating applications, (gxqctf.exe, quickbrowser.exe)
7. Reboot

User has since informed me that she cannot click on any buttons in any web page. This was cause by browser settings. I have been informed of any security policies concerning changes to the IE security. Changed them to default of Medium based on this logic.
Open IE.
Tools\Internet OptionsSelect security Tab, changed setting to Medium.

Error Opening DOS based applications

Error recieved:
========================================================
The system file is not suitable for running MS DOS and Microsoft Windows applications.
========================================================

This applies to Windows XP & Win2K

To resolve this issue complete the following steps:

Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command: expand CD-ROM Drive Letter:\i386\config.nt_ c:\windows\system32\config.nt expand CD-ROM Drive Letter:\i386\autoexec.nt_ c:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt expand CD-ROM Drive Letter:\i386\command.co_ c:\windows\system32\command.com exit
Start or install the program. If the issue is resolved, do not complete the remaining steps. If the issue is not resolved, go to the next step.
Note: The Command.com file is not edited or created in this in the following process. Because of this, you may have to expand it from your Windows XP CD-ROM. Start Notepad.
In Notepad, type the following entries:
dos=high, umb
device=%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\himem.sys files=40
· On the File menu, click Save As.
· In the File Name box, type Config.nt, and then click Save.
· Close the Config.nt file.
· On the File menu, click New.
· In the new blank document, type the following entries: @echo off
lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\mscdexnt.exe
lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\redir
lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\dosx SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 P330 T3

On the File menu, click Save As.
In the File Name box, type Autoexec.nt, and then click Save.
Close the Autoexec.nt file.
Start Windows Explorer. Locate the Config.nt file, right-click the Config.nt file, and then click Copy.
Right-click the %SYSTEMROOT%\System32 folder, and then click Paste.
Locate the Autoexec.nt file, right-click the Autoexec.nt file, and then click Copy.
Right-click the %SYSTEMROOT%\System32 folder, and then click Paste.