how to format using recovery console

there is some commands you should know before format, these are

format for initialised format command
/q for quick format
/fs specify file system (FAT, FAT32, or NTFS)

So before using command select format drive, select quick format or full format, and file system.

For example if you put FORMAT C: /Q /FS:NTFS will quick formats C partition as NTFS

If you put FORMAT C: /FS:FAT32 will full format of C as FAT32

Note - If a file system is not specified, then the existing file system format is retained.

how to repair master boot record (MBR) in xp

a problem with the master boot record in a system may prevent the system from booting.MBR can be corrupted in several ways, it can corrupted by malicious code, by disk errors, or be overwritten by other boot loaders.but you can easily repair MBR using recovery console.go to the recovery console by either following ways from windows xp installation disk or Windows XP Recovery Console at startup (first have to install) for this example we get start from windows installation cd,

• Start your pc in with CD-ROM support and windows installation cd on it.
• When prompted, press R to repair a Windows XP installation.
• If you repairing multiple operating systems, select the appropriate one (XP) from the menu. If you have only one operating system, enter 1 to select it.
• Enter the administrator password if prompted
• To fix the MBR, use the following command
• fixmbr
• Type y and ENTER to fix the MBR
• Type exit and press enter to leave the recovery console and reboot system.

for additional info
to install recovery console in windows xp read this post

disable " compress old files " option in windows xp

have trouble when every time you clean-up your hard disk, wasting more time with compressing old files? want to know how to disable compressing old files, here's how

• go to registry editor (click start- run- type regedit - press enter)

• navigate to the following registry key

• H_K_L_M \ \SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \Explorer\ VolumeCaches \ CompressOldFiles

• delete the complete key of CompressOldFiles

• exit the registry and run disk cleanup again
  

• you will see that there is no more compressing old files, your problem is fixed.

also you can disable office setup files from the disk cleanup

just go to the registry key of

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches\Office Setup Files

and delete the key office setup files, that's it.

customise default view in word 2003

in some cases when you open a two-page-or-more Word document that is attached in Outlook e-mail, it shows up as two pages side by side instead of one page under the other one. how do you go back to the old way it used to display ?

here is the answer, follow these steps

• open word 2003
• click tools menu and select option
• when option tabbed dialog box appears click general
• uncheck the " allow starting in reading layout "
• click ok and you are done.
  

create message rule in outlook 2003

Outlook 2003 allows you to create many different types of rules to help automate and organize your email. Once set, these rules enable Outlook to automatically perform such actions as the following

• Flag messages from a specific person
• Move messages from certain person to a special folder
• Redirect messages based on subject
• Display an alert message when an important message arrives
• Assign a category based on the content of a message
• Open or start a program after receiving a certain message
• Filter unwanted or junk messages to specified folder
• print messages containing specific words or phrases

For example we create message rule for Move messages from certain people to a special folder

• Open outlook 2003
• Now click rules and alert in tools menu
  
• Click new rule button
  
• Select move messages from someone to a folder in a step 1
  
• In step 2 click people or distribution list
  
• Type the name of certain person or select from list ( after type the name and click from button to select person or double click name from list)
  
• Click Ok to select person.
  
• Again in step 2 click “move it to specified folder”
• Now click new button to add new folder, rename as you like and click ok.
• Select the newly created folder and click ok
  
• Click next
  
• Be sure to select first two rules in select condition list, click next
  
• Be sure to select first rule in select action list
  
• In next area leave it as default and click next
  
• Now click finish

You are successfully created new message rule,after now on the messages received from the person you selected are automatically moved to the folder you specified.

address list could not be displayed in outlook 2003

some time if you restore backup PST file outlook 2003 or attempt to address a new message from your Contacts you might have following error.

"The address list could not be displayed. The Contacts folder associated with this address list could not be opened; it may have been moved or deleted, or you do not have permissions. For information on how to remove this folder from the Outlook Address Book, see Microsoft Outlook Help"

as a result of this error you cannot enter email address while you composing new message.so how do you fix this error ?, to fix this error you must remove and reinstall the Outlook Address Book.to do this please follow these steps.

• Start Outlook 2003
• On the Tools menu, click E-mail Accounts
• Click View or change existing directories or address books, and then click Next
• Click Outlook Address Book, and then click Remove
• Click Yes when you receive the prompt to confirm the removal action
• Now Click Add
• Click Additional Address Books, and then click Next
• Click Outlook Address Book, and then click Next
• Click OK when you receive the message to restart Outlook 2003
• Click Finish
• Now exit from Outlook 2003
• Restart Outlook
• In the Folder list, right-click the folder that you want to use with the Address Book, and then click Properties
• Click the Outlook Address Book tab
• Click to select the Show this folder as an e-mail Address Book check box (if it is not already selected), and then click OK

you are done and your problem will be fixed.

use command to see if windows activated or not

you can run a command to verify that the your windows is activated or not, to see your windows status, follow these steps.

• click start
• then click run
• in the box enter below command
• %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a (you can copy this command and paste directly to run command)
• hit enter, and after few seconds the window will came up and shows your windows status.

this command is applicable for windows 2003 and windows xp.