LAN & Desktops queries
- From: tedoniman <tedoniman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2006 22:31:01 -0700
22-Jul-06 / WIN XP NET & WEB / LAN & Desktops queries
------------------------------------------------------------------
Have just completed install Win XP Pro / SP2 on friend's
new 40 GB HDD (3 FAT32 partitions). My comp: same OS;
Celeron 2.66 GHz, 256 MB RAM; his, 750 Mhz, 128 MB RAM.
There are some oddities I'm seeing in regard to both the
'connection'and the 'DeskTop' at both my & his comp.
1. LAN CONNECTION:
------------------
Used the Wizard to make the connection via direct LAN
crossover cable between my comp (#1) and his (#2) -
both w/ Win XP Pro. Now get following messages:
Local Area Connection
"This connection has limited or no connectivity..."
balloon keeps popping up on notification area at
both comps.
and at my comp, in ADDITION to above balloon,
Local Area Connection
"A network cable is unplugged." (possibly because
I had to remove the LAN cable going to the hub
downstairs, from my comp and plug the short cable
between the 2 network cards).
At my comp, now, these 2 balloons keep frantically
popping up in competition with each other, non-stop.
Not know why, nor how to stop this madness or how
correct for it.
No problems viewing / accessing share-enabled folders
at/from either comp - so far. So why the non-stop
messages?
(His comp OK when on Net via long LAN cable. Possible
funny connector on short crossover cable - but always
OK before).
I think there's a setting somewhere where could dis-
able the balloon messages - but that wouldn't be the
point. I'd like to find the 'cause' of the messages
and/or the 'reason for' them.
2. DESKTOPS:
----------------
Note: Don't have any LogIn windows or Passwords set
up - and don't want any either. Also, normally, I only
put *shortcuts* on DeskTops - no folders or files.
PLEASE NOTE:
Initially, I'd created 24 shortcuts on HIS DeskTop and
temp stored a few 'files' there for moving, later. There
are also 7 icons on 'QuickLaunch bar' and 8 in the
'Notification Area'. All these I see on his DeskTop
"screen" after boot up of (#2) - except for the files,
which I'd already moved out by this time.
Enabled 'share' for HIS Administrator DeskTop 'folder' but
did not see some of the shortcuts on his comp when looking
at HIS "Administrator\DeskTop" 'folder' from either MY or
at HIS comp.
Enabled "share" at HIS "Documents & Settings" so could
view *ALL* HIS files & folders in there FROM my comp (#1).
Went into *HIS* "Documents and Settings" (first at HIS
and later via MY comp) and noted up to 6 'DeskTop'
folders, one in each of following parent folders:
1-\Administrator \DeskTop - 13 shortcuts & 6 text files
2-\Administrator.HOME...\DeskTop - 15 shortcuts
3-\All Users \DeskTop - 2 shortcuts
4-\All Users.WINDOWS \DeskTop - 3 shortcuts
5-\Default User \DeskTop - 0 blank screen
6-\Default User.WINDOWS \DeskTop - 0 blank screen
I enabled 'share' at 1 and 2 - tho' I shouldn't have had
to, really, since share for Docs & Settings is enabled.
This is where the confusion arises for me. I would
have thought that I would be able to see ALL those
24 items in HIS Admin DeskTop folder - plus possibly the
7 and 8 on QuickLaunch and Notification, respectively -
but I don't.
Instead, I see 13 shortcuts and 6 files (files which
I'd long since moved off his DeskTop). How odd!
I realize that there have to be (presumably)
some Win pre-configurations for possible User
Account DeskTop setups and views in future - but
6 DeskTops? Why this many?
More queries:
****************************************
Can anyone enlighten me as to what exactly each of
the 6 above DeskTops are for? and which one I'm
actually supposed to see AT HIS COMP SCREEN when I
boot his comp? I mean, which of the 6 folders (if
any) represent his ACTUAL, screened DeskTop? If
NONE of the 6 are supposed to do this, then what's
the point of it all?
So, how do I view HIS *complete* DeskTop from MY
comp? (keeping in mind that there are no PW-protected
[nor ANY, really, set up by HIM] accounts
currently set up at his NEW installation).
Also, WHY am I still seeing files in HIS Admin
DeskTop folder (when viewed from either HIS or MY
comp) which have long since been deleted or moved?
Also, WHO or WHAT determines what I actually see
in all those 6 DeskTop folders when looking into
them at (1) HIS comp and (2) from MY comp? As
Users of our OWN computers, do we have any control
over this?
Would it be OK/practical/useful to delete some of
those DeskTop folders? Would Windows re-create them?
*****************************************
I assumed (logically, I thought) that if Windows
gives me the option to 'share' and view another comp's
DeskTop, then I'd expect to see ALL of what's on the
latter - as he sees it after boot. Note that NO LogIn
or Passwords are in use - anywhere and no accounts
were created by any of *US*, *ANYWHERE*.
So how does one in fact enable the complete DeskTop
view, as one expects and is led to expect?
===================================
3. CONNECTION LOSS:
--------------------------
While typing this in Notepad at my comp (#1), I had
a window open to view HIS (#2) "Documents & Settings"
folder so that I could record to here the contents
of all his 6 DeskTops, as I've done, above.
When closed that window, was later unable to get it
back up. His comp went missing from my MS Home Tree.
Only see mine in there now and no amount of fiddling
and "repairing" connections did any good. Yet I can
still access MY comp from HIS comp no problem. No joy
trying to set up new connect via 'Set up a Home &
Small Office...' at my own computer, either.
Wonder if this had anything to do with all those LAN
messages noted earlier, above.
4. NOTIFICATION AREA ICON LOSS:
------------------------------------------
I might also add that, of late, most icons have been
disappearing from my 'Notification Area' (it seems,
not long after installed the recently installed Google
Panel unilaterally usurped a good chunk of space to
left of Notification Area. Like to move that thing).
Sometimes there, sometimes not. I think they're mostly
all there after boot; but then, later, some disappear.
Have got a lot of Folders and Files on this comp (tho'
plenty free disk space). Google shows memory usage
usually 80-90%. Sounds bit high.
Following some research at 3 websites (one devoted to
this issue, primarily), I found it to be an outstanding,
not yet fully-addressed nor resolved Windows issue.
Between them these Websites offered around a dozen
different potential solutions, none of which were
guaranteed to work in all cases nor to cover all causes
of the icon loss problem at once (not yet had the
opportunity to try any of their solutions).
Did note that after an ap or function hangs up (a
regular occurrence) and I end the process (which
refreshes the DeskTop), all icons re-appear OK.
--------------------------------------------------
Greatly appreciate any comments on any of above.
Thank you in advance for your valuable knowledge and time,
---
Ted...
.
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