SUMMARY: Upgrades sometimes can fail, leaving you temporarily with a nonworking computer and no access to files. Before upgrading to Windows XP, backup your important files first.

If you are planning>

SUMMARY: Clean up your machine before upgrading it to Windows XP.

If you plan>

SUMMARY: The Windows XP Upgrade Advisor can help make the upgrade to Windows XP as smooth as possible. Here’s how to download it.

Microsoft offers a free Upgrade Advisor that can help spot potential problems of upgrading from previously versions of Windows to Windows XP before you begin the process. It can detect software that may not run under XP and hardware that need new drivers, besides other things.

The Upgrade Advisor comes with the Windows XP CD, but if you are still debating about upgrading, you may want to download the Upgrade Advisor first to see what problems you would have if you decided to upgrade to Windows XP.

To read more information and download the upgrade advisor, access>

SUMMARY: Why you should visit your computer manufacturer’s website before upgrading to Windows XP.

When upgrading to Windows XP from an earlier operating system, you should first visit your computer manufacturer’s website for possible hints and information>

SUMMARY: If you have a Compaq 5800, 5900, 7900, or 7AP1 series computer, here are some problems you may encounter when upgrading to Windows XP.

When attempting to update a Compaq Presario to Windows XP, you may get through most of the update,>

SUMMARY: Some of your current software packages may not run under Windows XP.

When upgrading to Windows XP from Windows 98, NT 4.0, 2000, or ME, note that some of the software>

SUMMARY: Make the Windows XP Quick Launch icons in the Task Bar easier to see.

You may have seen other operating systems that have a docking area similar to the Windows XP taskbar, except that the icons>

SUMMARY: If the Windows XP Taskbar clock has disappeared and is disabled, the following Registry edit may redisplay the clock.

Normally the Windows XP Taskbar contains the system clock>Grayed out “Show the clock” option in Windows XP

This tip involves modifying the Windows Registry. Note that doing so may cause damage to your machine.

Standard disclaimers apply.

1. Open “regedit.exe” from the “Start” – “Run” dialog box.

2. Navigate to the following key: My Computer \ HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ policies \ Explorer.

3. You should see a REG_DWORD value named HideClock. Double-click this and change its value to 0.

4. Close the Registry Editor. You will need to logoff and back>

SUMMARY: Prevent the Windows XP Taskbar balloon help from notifying you of events or errors.

Occasionally the Windows XP Taskbar pops up help in the form of small balloons, such as when a network connection is established or disconnected or when the desktop cleanup wizard needs to run. If you find these balloon tips intrusive, you can disable them via a registry patch.

To disable the balloon tip notifications, access Microsoft Knowledge Base article 307729 at the following URL:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
scid=KB;en-us;307729

Note that while the balloons can be intrusive, if you have automatic updates turned>

SUMMARY: Keep Windows XP from featuring newly installed programs> 

Normally, Windows XP will highlight newly installed programs>