How to disable the Caps Lock key?

Do you ever actually use the Caps Lock key? I can't remember the last time I did. But it hasn't been nearly that long since the last time I accidentally hit it and ended up with all caps that I didn't want. That can be a real problem with some laptops whose keys so small that you hit Caps Lock when you're trying for Shift or Tab. Want to disable it? Here's how:

1. Open your registry editor and navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Keyboard Layout
2. In the right pane, double click the value Scancode Map. If it doesn't exist, create a new Binary Value and name it "Scancode Map" (without the quotation marks).
3. Enter the following binary data in the value data field: 00000000 00000000 0200000000 00003A00 00000000
4. Close the registry editor.

This remaps the key to "nothing." You can also remap it to serve the function of another key, such as the SHIFT key. If you often hit Caps Lock when you really want SHIFT, you might want to do this. In that case, enter the following value in the value data field: 00000000 00000000 02000000 2A003A00 00000000

Disk Defragmenter does not work on a Windows XP-based computer

SYMPTOMS
When you try to use Disk Defragmenter on a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer, the following symptoms may occur:

• When you click Analyze or Defragment, nothing happens.
• When you try to use the Defrag.exe command-line tool, you receive the following error message:

Windows cannot connect to the Disk Defragmenter engine.

Additionally, when you open the Properties dialog box for the local hard disk and then click the Tools tab, one of the following symptoms may occur:

• The Defragment Now button is unavailable.
• When you click Defragment Now, you receive the following error message:

The Disk Defragmenter is not installed on your computer. To install it, double-click the Add or Remove Programs icon in Control Panel, click the Install/Uninstall tab, and then follow the instructions on your screen.

CAUSE

This issue occurs because Disk Defragmenter is not installed on the computer.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

• Click Start, click Run, type C:\Windows\Inf, and then click OK. Note Substitute C with the drive letter of the local hard disk.
• Right-click the dfrg.inf file, and then click Install.

How to make XP look and act like Windows 7

No, you can't turn XP into Win7; you can't even do a direct upgrade. However, if you like the sleek look of 7 but aren't ready to start over with a new OS, you can give your XP computer much the same look, and you can also download programs that will provide some of the same functionality as new Windows 7 features.

1. Install the Windows 7 Taskbar iconizer to make the taskbar icons look more like those in 7.
2. Install AeroPeek and Visual Task Tips to allow you to view thumbnails of open windows and highlight the active window while making all the other windows transparent (requires .NET Framework 3.5)
3. Install AeroSnap to make windows automatically resize to fill half the screen when dragged to the side of the monitor.
4. Download and run AeroShake to minimize all inactive windows by shaking with your mouse.
   

You can find links to download all of these programs, along with screenshots and more instructions, at make-windows-xp-vista-like-windows

“Your system is low on virtual memory” error message when you try to start an Office program

SYMPTOMS
When you start any of the Microsoft Office 2007 or Microsoft Office 2003 programs, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following error message:

Your system is low on virtual memory. To ensure that Windows runs properly, increase the size of your virtual memory paging file. For more information, see Help.

If you click OK, you may receive the following error message:

Your system is low on virtual memory. Windows is increasing the size of your virtual memory paging file. During this process, memory requests for some applications may be denied. For more information, see Help.

CAUSE
This behavior may occur if you try to start any of the programs included in Office on a computer where the paging file value setting is too low.

RESOLUTION
To resolve this behavior, increase the size of the paging file. To do so, follow these steps as appropriate for your operating system.Note Microsoft Office 2007 requires Windows XP or higher.

FOR WINDOWS XP

1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
3. In the Performance pane, click Settings.
4. In the Performance Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
5. In the Virtual memory pane, click Change.
6. Change the Initial size value and the Maximum size value to a higher value, click Set, and then click OK.
7. Click OK to close the Performance Options dialog box, and then click OK to close the System Properties dialog box.

NOTE:

With virtual memory, the computer can use hard disk space as random access memory (RAM). The computer uses virtual memory to augment the ordinary RAM that is installed on the computer. If you reduce the size of the paging file, the Office program may not start correctly or may not start at all. This behavior may occur even if the computer has a large RAM.