Annoyances in Windows XP

[Jim Cladingboel]

(1) How can I get rid of that box which asks "What do you want to do" every
time I insert a CD or flash drive? I've checked the box, but it still
comes back every time!
(2) Also "some pictures have been blocked...Click here to download pictures"
I would be very happy to bypass that one also.
(3) In my Notifications area is an icon (the 2-computers "connected" icon)
with a red X across it.
It tells me "Local Area Connection - a Network cable is unplugged".
and, on connecting to my ISP, I get the message "Registering your computer
on the network".
However, mine is a single remote desktop, not linked to any other. What is
happening here?
(4) Coming from Windows ME, the XP Windows Explorer "Search" is a
multi-click disaster, but I guess there's little to be done about that ....

Jim.

 

[dMn]

(1) How can I get rid of that box which asks "What do you want to do" every
time I insert a CD or flash drive? I've checked the box, but it still
comes back every time!

You can disable AutoPlay for removable drives. Using the registry edit
described:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/regentry/93502.mspx?mfr=true

or just get TweakUI:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Or you can set the specified action to "No Action" or "Open in Explorer"
in the properties for the drive. To do this, insert the flash drive,
open up My Computer and right click on the drive icon. Select
properties, under the AutoPlay tab you see a pull-down for different
media types. For each media type, set the specified action to whatever
makes sense for you.

(2) Also "some pictures have been blocked...Click here to download pictures"
I would be very happy to bypass that one also.

What's blocking them? Your e-mail client? If so, I would reconsider
this, since it is trying to protect you from someone exploiting a
potential vulnerability remotely by sending you e-mail.

(3) In my Notifications area is an icon (the 2-computers "connected" icon)
with a red X across it.
It tells me "Local Area Connection - a Network cable is unplugged".
and, on connecting to my ISP, I get the message "Registering your computer
on the network".
However, mine is a single remote desktop, not linked to any other. What is
happening here?

In Windows XP -

--> Start Button
--> My Computer
--> My Network Places (on the left menu)
--> View Network Connections (on the left menu)
--> Select & Double click "Local Area Connection"
--> Click on "General" tab
uncheck both boxes on the bottom, "Show icon in notification area when
connected" and "Notify me when this connection has limited or no
connectivity"

Do the same for any other network connection that is in the "Network
Connections" window.

(4) Coming from Windows ME, the XP Windows Explorer "Search" is a
multi-click disaster, but I guess there's little to be done about that ....

Jim.

Search? You use that? <g> ...You can always open search and disable the
animation and set the search behavior to advanced search. I think that
is what the original screen looked like. Look at google desktop as an
alternative.

dMn

 

[Jim Cladingboel]

You can disable AutoPlay for removable drives. Using the registry edit
described:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/regentry/93502.mspx?mfr=true

or just get TweakUI:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Or you can set the specified action to "No Action" or "Open in Explorer"
in the properties for the drive. To do this, insert the flash drive, open
up My Computer and right click on the drive icon. Select properties,
under the AutoPlay tab you see a pull-down for different media types. For
each media type, set the specified action to whatever makes sense for you.


What's blocking them? Your e-mail client? If so, I would reconsider
this, since it is trying to protect you from someone exploiting a
potential vulnerability remotely by sending you e-mail.


In Windows XP -

--> Start Button
--> My Computer
--> My Network Places (on the left menu)
--> View Network Connections (on the left menu)
--> Select & Double click "Local Area Connection"
--> Click on "General" tab
uncheck both boxes on the bottom, "Show icon in notification area when
connected" and "Notify me when this connection has limited or no
connectivity"

Do the same for any other network connection that is in the "Network
Connections" window.

Search? You use that? <g> ...You can always open search and disable the
animation and set the search behavior to advanced search. I think that is
what the original screen looked like. Look at google desktop as an
alternative.

dMn

dMn: Sincere thanks. I thought I was going to have to live with those
problems forever! If the email message isn't from XP, then I'll definitely
check with my ISP.

Thanks again for your most helpful reply.

Jim.