Find Windows Version and Architecture

Explains how to find out Windows operating system version and architecture easily.

You can run the Winver.exe command-line tool to determine the version of Windows Server 2003 / Windows Vista or XP that is installed on your computer:

  1. Click Start, and then Select Run.
  2. In the Open box, type winver, and then press [ENTER] key.

Find Windows Version
(Fig.01: Viewing Windows Version [Click to enlarge])

Getting Windows Version and Architecture Information

Simply find out My Computer on desktop > Select My Computer > Right click > Properties :
Basic windows version architecture information
(Fig.02: Viewing Windows Version and Other Basic Information [Click to enlarge])

Configure Internet Explorer For Proxy Server

Explains how to configure Internet explorer proxy server settings to browser internet via LAN / WAN web proxy server.

So how do you configure Internet Explorer proxy server settings under Microsoft Windows XP or Vista operating systems? We use squid web proxy server to accelerate user experince. All versions of Microsoft Internet Explore can use a proxy server to connect to the Internet. Proxy server will not just speed up browsing but it will provide additional level of security between your computer and the internet.

Let us see how to configure MS-Internet Explorer to use a proxy server over a Local Area Network (LAN) connection. You need following information before configuring proxy server:

  1. Proxy Server IP address
  2. Proxy Server Port number
  3. Proxy server username and password (optional, but some organization use authentication to secure their server)

Internet Explorer proxy server settings

  1. Fire a web browser i.e. Open IE
  2. Click on the Tools menu
  3. Select Internet Options > Select Connections tab
    Click LAN Settings
  4. Select “Use a proxy server for your LAN” check box
  5. Type the IP address of the proxy server (such as 192.168.1.254).
  6. Type the port number that is used by the proxy server for client connections (by default, 8080 or 3128).
  7. Select the Bypass proxy server for local addresses check box
  8. Click OK > OK to Close the Internet options

Now you can browser the Internet using proxy server.

Windows XP SP3

Windows XP SP3 has been released and avilable for download from Microsoft web site for the following operating systems:

  • Windows XP Home Edition
  • Windows XP Professional Edition
  • Windows XP Service Pack 1
  • Windows XP Service Pack 2
windows-xp-sp3-service-pack

Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) is now available for download and install via Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center. Windows XP SP3 includes all previously released updates for the operating system, in addition to a small number of new updates. Windows XP SP3 will not significantly change the Windows XP experience.

Download Windows XP SP3

Download XP SP3

Windows Disable USB / Floppy / CD Autoplay Feature

Describes how to use the Group Policy Editor to change policy settings in Windows Operating system to disable all drives autoplay feature.


Group Policy is used to define user and computer configurations for groups of users and computer. There is a file called gpedit.msc to configure autoplay. This is useful to avoid viruses and malwares.

Step #1: So click on Start, and then click Run

Step #2: In the Open box, type gpedit.msc, and then click OK.

Step #3: Expand Computer Configuration > System > Turn of Autoplay (make sure you enable on all drives)

Step #4: Quit the group policy editor

See also:

Windows XP Home Gets An Extension to Year 2010

Most people are not switching to Windows Vista so Microsoft is setting up deadline for Windows XP support. From the press release:

Today Microsoft announced the worldwide extension of the availability of Windows XP Home for an emerging, new class of mobile personal computers commonly known as ultra-low-cost PCs, or ULCPCs. Windows XP Home for ULCPCs will be available until the later of June 30, 2010, or one year after general availability of the next version of Windows.

This is not extension for normal XP or XP business version. This is for computer such as Asus EEE Pc.

Recover a Non-Booting Windows System After Loading Device Drivers or Software

Explains how to recover a non-booting Windows System after loading device drivers or software.

This may happen and and Windows may not boot after installing a device driver or new software. However, you can easily recover a non-booting Windows system after you have changed the device drivers or new software

Each Windows has boot option called “Last Known Good Configuration”, which is available during reboot. So all you have to do is follow these steps:

  • Reboot your computer.
    During the boot process, hit F8 function key until you see the boot menu
  • Select the “Last Known Good” menu option item.
  • Press [Enter] key to boot into system

Please remember that using this option will remove any changes to your device drivers and may cause problems with software installation. Now, simply remove driver or software that was causing this issue and reboot the system again.

Windows XP SP3 will bring a 10 % Speed Boost

Who needs Windows Vista? According to Yahoo news, Windows Service Pack 3 will offer substantial performance gains:

Running an Office productivity test suite on a preview version of Service Pack 3 for Windows XP, Devil Mountain discovered a 10 percent performance boost over the current version of Windows XP, the company reported on its blog. So Vista’s biggest competition isn’t Apple or Novell or Red Hat; it’s Microsoft itself, it’s XP.

=> Read more: Windows XP Speed Boost Coming with SP3

Download ZoneAlarm Anti-Spyware for FREE

From the ZoneAlarm web site:

The security experts behind ZoneAlarm urge you to always patch your operating systems and browsers whenever an update is available. More importantly, take extra precautions to protect your PC for those times when a patch may not be available. That’s why we are offering you ZoneAlarm Anti-Spyware for FREE today (Nov 14, 2007), Patch Tuesday, only. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to protect your PC and stay safe online!

=> Download here

How to Improve Wireless Card, Router and Network performance for better experience

Microsoft has published list of 10 tips for improving wireless network performance:

If Windows ever notifies you about a weak signal, it probably means your connection isn’t as fast or as reliable as it could be. Worse, you might lose your connection entirely in some parts of your home. If you’re looking to improve the signal for your wireless network, try some of these tips for extending your wireless range and improving your wireless network performance.

Read more