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Windows 2000 only provides compatibility support for ancient DOS programs. DOS programs know nothing of Windows, so you normally just copy the .EXE file to your computer. In Windows 2000, right-clicking on a DOS program shows two tabs: Memory and Program. The memory tab enables you to adjust the amount of memory used by the DOS program. Back in the year 2000, RAM was still precious and you could save a few kilobytes by some careful adjustments. More interesting was the Advanced button under the Program tab (Figure 17-64). This enabled you to let the DOS program load a custom AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS file.

Windows XP took the idea of compatibility a step further by adding another tab called Compatibility (Figure 17-65). This tab enabled you to configure older Windows programs to work in XP by introducing the concept of compatibility modes. You can also set specific video settings on the Compatibility tab.

Windows Vista takes the Compatibility tab one step further by adding two important features: Windows XP mode and Run this program as an administrator (Figure 17-66).

Figure 17-64 Windows 2000 Program tab for DOS program

Figure 17-65 XP compatibility mode

Figure 17-66 Vista compatibility mode

The secret to using compatibility mode isn’t much of a secret at all: if the program doesn’t run, try a compatibly mode! If you want to be really careful, do a Web search on your application before you try to run it. Compatibility mode is a handy tool to get older applications running.

One error common on older systems, but largely absent or invisible on modern systems, is a general protection fault (GPF). A GPF occurs when a program tries to do something not permitted, like writing to protected memory or something else Windows doesn’t like. This can cause an error message to appear or even crash the computer. You are very unlikely to encounter a GPF today.

Problems with Uninstalling

The single biggest problem with uninstalling is that people try to uninstall without administrator privileges. If you try to uninstall and get an error, log back in as an administrator and you should be fine. Don’t forget you can right-click on most uninstallation menu options on the Programs menu and select Run as administrator to switch to administrator privileges (Figure 17-67).

Figure 17-67 Selecting Run as administrator from the context menu

Beyond A+

The majority of the tools and utilities discussed in this chapter are in direct correlation with the 2009 CompTIA A+ exams. There are also many others you should check out for your personal use. With that said, these commands available at the Windows Vista command prompt deserve mention:

CHOICE A batch file command that allows users to select from a set of options.

CLIP Redirects the output of another command to the Windows Clipboard.

CMDKEY Creates, lists, and deletes stored user names, passwords, and other credentials.

FORFILES Selects files in a particular folder for batch processing.

ICACLS Displays, modifies, backs up, or restores ACLs for files and directories.

FSUTIL Increases the file system memory cache.

MKLINK Creates symbolic links and hard links.

TAKEOWN Allows an administrator to take ownership of a file.

TIMEOUT Pauses the command processor for the specified number of seconds.

VSP1CLN Cleans up after a Windows Vista SP1 installation.

VSSADMIN Volume Shadow Copy Service administration tool.

WHERE Displays the location of files that match a search pattern.

Chapter Review

Questions

1. How do you tell Windows Update to automatically download and install only high-priority security updates?

A. You can’t customize Windows Update.

B. Click the Express button on the Windows Update page.

C. Check the “High-priority updates only” checkbox.

D. Run the Microsoft Security Updater.

2. What tool enables you to modify what programs start when Windows starts?

A. MSSTARTUP

B. MSINFO32

C. MSCONFIG

D. IPCONFIG

3. What does System Information do?

A. Provides you with