File Sharing in
Windows XP
This tip is on sharing files and folders on a local network in
Windows XP. It has been tested on Windows XP Professional (with and
without SP2).
Many users of WinXP have experienced difficulty in sharing files and
folders over networks whether or not simple file sharing is enabled. The
approach that I have found to work consistently is:
1. Disable simple file sharing from My Computer --> Tools menu
--> Folder Options --> View tab --> Advanced Settings
2. Open Control Panel --> Administrative Tools --> Services.
Enable the Server service by making startup Automatic or Manual. This is
a standard service needed for sharing files and folders under WinXP.
3. Open Control Panel --> Administrative Tools --> Computer
Management. Scroll to System Tools --> Shared Folders --> Shares.
From Action menu, select 'Add share' and follow the instructions.
4. You may also want to add users to Administrator or other groups
for shared folder access. Under Computer Management, scroll to Local
Users and Groups. To add user to Administrator group, select the group
name and choose Add from Action menu. It can also be used to add domain
users as local admins.
Sharing files on computers directly connected to Internet is not
recommended. However, restrict access to specific users using above
procedure mitigates security risks.
Speed up your Network
A simple way to increase
your bandwidth by up to 20% is to disable the QoS Packet Scheduler.
You will find this in your network connection. Click on
Start, Connect to, Show all Connections. Next right click on your
network (Broadband) connection and select properties. Deselect QoS
Packet Scheduler and test.
This file is only needed if you operate within a server environment.
Windows Multimedia
It is very important
that you have the right files installed for music and video playback.
These files are called "Codecs", and believe it or not there
are many to choose from.
First download the following
file "Windows XP Decoder Checkup"
and run it. (Please note that you may need to install Microsoft's
Windows Authentication to download this file)
This
file will run and check the compatibility of the codecs installed in
your computer for Windows Media Player 10. It will also give an option
to update.
You can also download by click on the
following link: Windows Media Audio and Video Codecs,
further Codec packs can be found at www.download.com.
Video
Formats
In
this issue we will try and help explain to you what the available
different video formats are.
AVI - "Audio
Video Interleave"
There are basically 2
different formats, version 1.0 (Which has video and audio streams imbedded
in one file) and version 2.0 (Which uses separate files). AVI tends to
be very large in size, and will take up loads of room on your
harddrive.
MPEG-1 - "Moving
Picture Experts Group One"
MPEG-1 tends to
be the format used on video CD and the quality is usually quite poor.
MPEG-1 will show videos at the resolution of 352-by-240 at 30 frames per
second.
MPEG-2 - "Moving Picture
Experts Group Two"
MPEG-2 is a higher
quality form of video transmission which runs at 720x480 and 1280x720 at
60 frames per second. It is the standard used on DVD's and requires very
little computing power to run, although to covert a file to this format
from say AVI will take several hours on a home computer.
MPEG-3
- "Moving Picture Experts Group Three"
A lot of people don't realise that this format existed,
but it did and it was designed for HDTV, but later was abandoned.
MPEG-4 - "Moving Picture Experts Group
Four"
MPEG-4 is a form of compression used to send video files
over the internet. It is based on previous MPEG and Quicktime
technology. Only some modern DVD players support this format.
Speed up XP - Enable Prefetcher
This little tip/trick will allow programs you frequently
use to load quicker, but requires editing of the registry.
BACK UP REGISTRY: So to open the
registry editor click on "START", "RUN", then type
"REGEDIT" (No speech marks). The registry editor will now
open, click on "FILE" then "EXPORT". From the save
window that appear type in a file name (ie regback.reg), now click on
"SAVE". Your registry has now been backed up.
TO DELETE RECENT FILES: Now on the left hand panel
click on "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters
Next search in the right hand panel for :
EnablePrefetcher
and double click on it.
Set the value to 3.
Disclaimer: This information is provided as is and
we cannot guarantee that editing the registry will not cause serious
damage. You use this information at your own risk.
News - Seven
Pirates arrested in UK
Seven individuals have been arrested after Police and
Trading Standards officers with representatives from the game and film
industries targeted car boot sale counterfeiters in the Staffordshire
area on Sunday 16th October.
Operation Carter, which began in August 2005 and is part of a joint
venture between ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers
Association), Staffordshire Trading Standards and Police and FACT
(Federation Against Copyright Theft), came to a successful close at a
car boot sale at Wellington Drive, Cannock. Two women aged 40 years and
21 years from the West Bromwich area were arrested along with a
25-year-old man from Walsall for the production and distribution of
counterfeit goods and money laundering. Four other people were arrested
for money laundering and conspiracy to defraud. All are currently on
police bail.
The authorities searched the home addresses of several of those
arrested, revealing copied games and DVDs, over £18,000 cash and around
8000 cigarettes.
"This operation has dealt a severe blow to those trading in
counterfeit products and makes it clear that piracy will not be
tolerated" commented Michael Rawlinson, deputy director general of
ELSPA. "ELSPA thanks all those involved for their cooperation and
hard work in bringing this investigation to such a successful
close."
DS Garry Helsby of Staffordshire Police said: "These crimes are
taken very seriously and joint operations such as this one will continue
to target car boot sales across the county. Our multi-agency approach is
highly successful and anyone involved in this type of activity is warned
to expect a visit from the police very soon."
In two and a half months since Operation Carter commenced, seizures of
counterfeit goods have now reached £2 million.
ELSPA (The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association)
represents the interests of the UK games publishers. It has a dedicated
anti piracy unit with investigators based across the UK and often works
closely with the Police and Trading Standards to combat computer games
piracy.
Anyone with any information on computer games piracy should contact the
police, their local Trading Standards Office or call the ELSPA anti
piracy unit hotline on 08705 133405.
