Windows XP Media Center Edition was designed with the home user in mind and is more focused on entertainment uses of the PC. One thing distinguishing the system from the other Windows versions is the built-in "Media Center" application. Through Media Center users can watch TV, share media files and

Computers that have multiple installed operating systems use a program called a "boot loader" or "Dual Boot Screen" to select which operating system you would like to run when you turn on the computer. This program can be turned off to speed up computer boot times. You may no longer use the other op

OverviewThinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty ImagesLike any computer, a server may not perform as well when it is running several process simultaneously, especially if those processes are complex. Database stress-testing tools allow the user, such as a server administrator, to monitor how...

The SanDisk ImageMate 12-in-1 lets you transfer photos and files from a variety of memory cards including CompactFlash Card Type I and Type II, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, SD Memory Card and even miniSD cards. And you don't have to connect your digital camera or other device containing a memory

A Group Policy Editor is a Windows utility that is pre-installed in all versions of XP and Vista but is enabled only in Windows XP. It can quickly set parameters for a computer's security settings. An administrator can allow certain clients to access areas of the PC's database and use other utilitie

The AutoPlay feature of Microsoft Windows XP allows a CD or other type of media to perform a specific action when it is inserted into a port or drive on the system. Some users find this feature annoying, and may disable it. If you want to use the AutoPlay features of your Windows XP-based computer a

Microsoft has may different software titles to serve many different needs. All of these titles require a product key or, serial number. Sometimes it may be necessary to update your Windows operating system product key. Microsoft allows you to update the product key by using its product key update to

Nero is one of the most widely-used video editing and burning suites for computer users, but the nag screen can seriously hinder performance. Since third-party encoders are licensed by Nero for compatibility, the nag screen will come up until you participate in the patent activation. The first time

A random collection of unique integers is a requirement for most card games and for many other applications as well. This program shows you how to create the collection using a Lamda expression. It also shows how this method performs with graphical results using the StopWatch object. Another method

Microsoft has included a tool known as the task manager in its operating system since Windows XP. Along with allowing the users the ability to run new programs and monitor memory usage, the task manager allows user to stop processes and programs. This is especially useful if the process has stopped

Windows Media Center 2005 is a media player application included with the Windows operating system. With Windows Media Center, you can play videos that are stored on your local computer, network devices or online streams. In some situations, you may experience a problem where Windows Media Center 20

BigFix is security and system maintenance software from BigFix, Inc. BigFix comes pre-loaded on eMachine and Gateway computers and is available for download from the BigFix website. BigFix is geared toward large business networks and may be a bit over-kill on personal PCs. If your computer has Windo

To re-install Windows XP to a hard drive or what Microsoft also calls a partition, you can use the recovery disc that came with the system. This will wipe all of the data off your hard drive or partition and cleanly re-install Windows XP back to its factory settings. This is ideal for Windows XP com

A MIDI tutorial can assist you in learning how to record your own music in Windows Vista. You can set up and create MIDI sounds and songs directly from your computer. When you download the tutorial, you can view the information in online or offline mode. This is important if you do not have an "Alwa

Yahoo! Messenger is a free program that allows you to chat with friends and family over the Internet by sending instant text messages on the computer. If your system has the required capabilities, you can also enjoy voice and video chats. Yahoo! Messenger is compatible with the Windows XP operating

If you need to find a series of important files but all you know about them is that they are in a folder named "ISS," you can locate them using the Search tool in Windows. This tool allows you to search for specific files and folders by using various characteristics of those particular files or fold

In the game Spider Monkey, players control a monkey in the jungle who can swing from tree to tree using his long arms. Players must rescue other monkeys who have been captured. To swing, players have to aim with their mouse and left click to send the monkey swinging. Gold rings serve as checkpoints

Snow in the basement window wells can cause a host of problems, mainly when the snow melts. Preventing the snow from getting into the window well is the best recourse, but removing the snow before it melts is also an effective remedy to preventing water problems. In addition to closing off the windo

Change the background on Windows security screen in NT to view the settings page with a new color scheme. The Windows NT operating system is set up with blue title bars over screen fields with slate gray backgrounds, yet the colors can change to a variety of available selections that blend and contr

Windows Media Center is a Microsoft application that allows you to play and view live TV, music, films and even photos. You can watch, pause and record digital and HD TV stations and even share video and photos. It shows more details and allows for features such as quick skimming and thumbnail viewi