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Using Scheduled Tasks in Windows XP

With Scheduled Tasks, you can schedule any script, program, or document to run at a time that is most convenient for you. Scheduled Tasks starts each time you start Windows XP and runs in the background.

With Scheduled Tasks, you can also:

  • Schedule a task to run daily, weekly, monthly, or at certain times (such as system startup).
  • Change the schedule for a task.
  • Stop a scheduled task.
  • Customize how a task will run at a scheduled time.

Common tasks

Some of the tasks you may want to schedule are Disk Defragmenter or Backup.

Create a scheduled task

Before a task can be scheduled to run, one or more tasks must be created.

To schedule a new task

  1. Open Scheduled Tasks.
  2. Double-click Add Scheduled Task.
  3. Follow the instructions in the Scheduled Task Wizard.

Notes:

  • To open Scheduled Tasks, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Scheduled Tasks.
  • If you want to configure advanced settings for the task, select the Open advanced properties for this task when I click Finish check box on the wizard's final page.
  • Confirm that your computer's system date and time are accurate because Scheduled Tasks relies on this information to run scheduled tasks. To verify or change this information, double-click the time indicator on the taskbar.
  • If you leave the password blank and want the task to run when you log in, open the task. On the Task tab, select the Run only if logged on check box. The task will run at its scheduled time when the user who created the task is logged on to the computer.

Modify a scheduled task

Created scheduled tasks can be modified. You can change the program, the schedule, or the specifics of a particular task.

To modify a scheduled task

  1. Open Scheduled Tasks.
  2. Right-click the task you want to modify, and then click Properties.
  3. Do one or more of the following:
    • To change a program being run, in Run, type the path for the new program.
    • To change the schedule for the task, click the Schedule tab.
    • To customize the task settings, such as maximum run time, idle time requirements, and power management options, click the Settings tab.
    • To set security for the task, click the Security tab.

Notes:

  • To open Scheduled Tasks, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Scheduled Tasks.
  • If you change the user account or the program that is being run, you must supply the user account's password.
  • If the task program requires command-line options, type them in Run, after the task path.
  • If the path to the task program includes spaces, type double quotation marks ("") around the entire task path. For example:
    "C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\Mplayer2.exe"
  • Confirm that your computer's system date and time are accurate because Scheduled Tasks relies on this information to run scheduled tasks. To verify or change this information, double-click the time indicator on the taskbar.

Remove a scheduled task

For scheduled tasks that are no longer needed, you can remove them entirely.

To remove a scheduled task

  1. Open Scheduled Tasks
  2. Right-click the task that you want to remove, and then click Delete.

Notes:

  • To open Scheduled Tasks, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Scheduled Tasks.
  • Removing a scheduled task only removes the task from the schedule. The program file the task runs is not removed from the hard disk.
  • You can also remove a scheduled task by selecting it and then pressing DELETE.

Stop a scheduled task that is running

In the event that a task starts while you are using your computer, you can stop the task and then restart it later.

To stop a scheduled task that is running

  1. Open Scheduled Tasks.
  2. Right-click the task that you want to stop, and then click End Task.

Notes:

  • To open Scheduled Tasks, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Scheduled Tasks.
  • If a scheduled task is started and then stopped, End Task does not stop all other programs that the scheduled task might have started.
  • If you stop a scheduled task currently running, you might experience a delay (up to three minutes) before the task shuts down.
  • To restart a stopped task, right-click the task, and then click Run.

Temporarily turn off all scheduled tasks

You can temporarily turn off or pause all scheduled tasks from running and then turn on the tasks later.

To pause Scheduled Tasks

  1. Open Scheduled Tasks.
  2. On the Advanced menu, click Pause Task Scheduler.

Notes:

  • To open Scheduled Tasks, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Scheduled Tasks.
  • The Pause Task Scheduler command is useful if you do not want scheduled tasks to run at the same time as you are installing software or running another program (such as a game).
  • Tasks scheduled to run while Scheduled Tasks are paused are not run until their next scheduled time.
  • To resume the schedules for all tasks, on the Advanced menu, click Continue Task Scheduler.

Track free space on your computer with SpaceMonger

One of the software tools I use quite often client systems is SpaceMonger. SpaceMonger is a tool for keeping track of the free space on your computer. It shows graphically the size of each folder and file on your computer.

SpaceMonger

Each file or folder on a given drive is displayed in a box in the main window whose size is a relative comparison to all the other files in your system. So, for example, if the "Windows" box takes up 90% of the screen, the "C:\Windows" folder and all its sub-folders and files are taking up 90% of your "C:" drive.

SpaceMonger runs on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

Click here to download the latest version

Using Backup in Windows XP

Using Backup in Windows XP

The Backup utility helps you create a copy of the information on a tape or storage device. Suppose the original data on your hard disk is accidentally erased or overwritten or becomes inaccessible because of a hard disk malfunction. In that case, you can use the copy to restore your lost or damaged data.

Notes:

  • To start Backup, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.
  • The Removable Storage service must be started for Backup to work correctly.
  • You can also use the Automated System Recovery Wizard in the Backup utility to help you repair your system.
  • For information about using Backup, click the Help menu in Backup.

Backing up files and folders

Backup lets you back up data to a file or a tape. When you back up data to a file, you have to designate a file name and a location for the saved file. Backup files usually have the extension .bkf, but you can change it to any extension. A backup file can be saved to a hard disk, a floppy disk, or any removable or non-removable media on which you can save a file.

When you back up data to a tape, you must have a tape device connected to your computer. Tapes are managed by Removable Storage. Although Backup works together with Removable Storage, you might have to use Removable Storage to perform specific maintenance tasks, such as preparing and ejecting tapes.

The following four steps describe a simple backup operation:

Select files, folders, and drives for backup

Backup provides you with a tree view of the drives, files, and folders on your computer, which you can use to select the files and folders you want to back up. You can use this tree view the same way you use Windows Explorer to open drives and folders and select files.

Select storage media or file location for backed-up data

Backup provides two options for selecting storage media:

You can back up your data to a file on a storage device. A storage device can be a hard disk, a USB drive, or any removable or non-removable media to which you can save a file. This option is always available.

You can back up your data to a tape device. This option is available only if you have a tape device installed on your computer or connected to it. If you back up data to a tape device, the media will be managed by Removable Storage.

Set backup options

Backup provides an Options dialog box, which you can use to customize your backup operations. Using the Options dialog box, you can:

Select the type of backup that you want to do. Backup types include copy, daily, differential, incremental, and normal.

Select whether you want a log file to record your backup actions. If you select this option, you can also choose whether you want a complete log file or summary log file.

Select whether you want to back up data that is stored on mounted drives.

Designate file types that you want to exclude from a backup operation.

Select whether you want to verify that the data was backed up correctly.

Start the backup

When you start a backup operation, Backup will prompt you for information about the backup job and allow you to set advanced backup options. After you have provided the information or changed your backup options, Backup will start backing up the files and folders you selected.

If you have scheduled the backup to run unattended, you will still be prompted for information about the backup job. However, after you have provided the information, Backup will not start backing up files; instead, it will add the scheduled backup to the Task Scheduler.

Notes:

  • You must be an administrator or a backup operator to back up all files and folders. Suppose you are a member of the Users or Power Users group. In that case, you must be the owner of the files and folders you want to back up, or you must have one or more of the following permissions for the files and folders you want to back up: Read, Read and Execute, Modify, or Full Control.
  • The registry, the directory service, and other key system components are contained in the System State data. You must back up the System State data if you want to back up these components.
  • You can only back up the System State data on a local computer. You cannot back up the System State data on a remote computer.
  • You can schedule a backup so that it will run unattended at a specific time or frequency. You can schedule a backup after you click Start Backup.
  • If you have Windows Media Services running on your computer, and you want to back up the files associated with these services, see "Running Backup with Windows Media Services" in the Windows Media Services online documentation. You must follow the procedures outlined in the Windows Media Services online documentation before you can back up or restore files associated with Windows Media Services.
  • If you are using Removable Storage to manage media, or you are using Remote Storage to store data, you should regularly back up the files that are in the following folders:
    Systemroot\System32\Ntmsdata
    Systemroot\System32\Remotestorage
    This will ensure that all of your Remote Storage and Removable Storage data can be restored.

Free Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP

PowerToys add fun and functionality to the Windows experience. What are they? PowerToys are additional programs that developers work on after a product has been released.

Color Control Panel Applet
Professional-level photographers and designers know that getting consistent, accurate color from file to screen to print and beyond is a requirement for great results. This new tool helps you manage Windows color settings in one place. Download or learn more.

SyncToy
With new sources of files coming from every direction (such as digital cameras, e-mail, cell phones, portable media players, camcorders, PDAs, and laptops), SyncToy can help you copy, move, and synchronize different directories. Download or learn more.

RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer
Are you a serious photographer? Now you can organize and work with digital RAW files in Windows Explorer (much as you can with JPEG images). This tool provides thumbnails, previews, printing, and metadata display for RAW images. Download or learn more.

ClearType Tuner
This PowerToy lets you use ClearType technology to make it easier to read text on your screen and installs in the Control Panel for easy access.

HTML Slide Show Wizard
This wizard helps you create an HTML slide show of your digital pictures, ready to place on your Web site.

Open Command Window Here
This PowerToy adds an "Open Command Window Here" context menu option on file system folders, giving you a quick way to open a command window (cmd.exe) pointing at the selected folder.

Alt-Tab Replacement
With this PowerToy, in addition to seeing the icon of the application window you are switching to, you will also see a preview of the page. This helps immensely when multiple sessions of an application are open.

Tweak UI
This PowerToy gives you access to system settings that are not exposed in the Windows XP default user interface, including mouse settings, Explorer settings, taskbar settings, and more.

Version 2.10 requires Windows XP Service Pack 1 or Windows Server 2003.

Power Calculator
With this PowerToy, you can graph and evaluate functions and perform many different types of conversions.

Image Resizer
This PowerToy enables you to resize one or many image files with a right-click.

CD Slide Show Generator
With this PowerToy, you can view images burned to a CD as a slide show. The Generator works downlevel on Windows 9x machines as well.

Virtual Desktop Manager
Manage up to four desktops from the Windows taskbar with this PowerToy.

Taskbar Magnifier
Use this PowerToy to magnify part of the screen from the taskbar.

Webcam Timershot
This PowerToy lets you take pictures at specified time intervals from a Webcam connected to your computer and save them to a location that you designate.

Since Windows XP has reached its end-of-life, Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP is no longer available for download.

Windows explorer keyboard shortcuts

Windows File Explorer keyboard shortcuts


Press To
END Display the bottom of the active window.
HOME Display the top of the active window.
NUM LOCK + ASTERISK on numeric keypad (*) Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
NUM LOCK + PLUS SIGN on numeric keypad (+) Display the contents of the selected folder.
NUM LOCK + MINUS SIGN on numeric keypad (-) Collapse the selected folder.
LEFT ARROW Collapse the current selection if it's expanded, or select the parent folder.
RIGHT ARROW Display current selection if it's collapsed or select the first subfolder.

Free computer diagnostics

Repairing a PC can sometimes be expensive, and that is why we offer free basic in-shop diagnostics. Give one of our professional and experienced technicians a call at (602) 795-1111, and let's see what we can do for you.

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If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at (602) 795-1111  and talk with one of our Geeks. Or you can send us a message from our contact page contact page , and one of our Geeks will get back to you as soon as possible. Or you can stop by and see us. Here are our hours and location.

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