Windows XP Tips

Windows XP Won't Save the Dial-Up Networking (DUN) Password

After several frustrating hours on the phone with Microsoft Technical Support, another search phrase variant turned up this solution on the Internet (you can see the original version at http://www.theeldergeek.com/save_password_in_dun.htm).

Please note that you should be comfortable editing the Windows Registry in order to implement this solution. You should, of course, create a system backup using the System Restore utility before you make changes to the registry:

1. Start the Windows Registry Editor
2. Find the Registry Key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\
   RasMan\Parameters
3. Look for the value name:
   DisableSavePassword
4. If you don't see the value, create it as a New DWORD Value
5. The settings for the value are:
   0 - Disabled (Passwords are saved)
   1 - Enabled (Passwords are NOT saved)
6. Once you've set the value, exit the Registry Editor
7. Re-Boot

"Not enough memory to complete transaction. Close some applications and retry." message when trying to connect to a network drive

In this case, the error is usually due to a problem on the computer you're trying to connect to, not the computer you're using to connect. In our case the error occurred after installing Norton Antivirus. Uninstalling Norton Antivirus didn't solve the problem, but this fix did. The original version appears at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q177078.

Please note that you should be comfortable editing the Windows Registry in order to implement this solution. You should, of course, create a system backup using the System Restore utility before you make changes to the registry:

1. Start the Windows Registry Editor.
2. Find the Registry Key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\
   LanmanServer\Parameters.
3. Look for the value name:
   IRPStackSize.
4. If you don't see the value, create it as a New DWORD Value, the name is case sensitive.
5. While you're editing the IRPStackSize value, change the Base to decimal.
6. Start with a setting of 15 (the default). If your value is already 15 or larger, add 3 to the current value*.
7. Once you've set the value, exit the Registry Editor.
8. Re-Boot.

If needed, you can try increasing the value until you can connect*.

*If the value starts getting beyond 30, then the IRPStackSize probably isn't the issue. The range for the value in Windows XP is 11-50.

Resetting the "Always ask before opening this type of file" function in Outlook Express

It's not safe to allow Outlook Express to simply open an attachment, such as a Word document, without confirmation. If you notice that attachments are being opening without asking first, you can reset the "attachment opening option" for that type of file. In order to reset the open attachment option, you'll need to know the file extension (the 3 or 4 characters after the ".") for the file type you want to change.

We'll use a Word DOC file as an example:

1. Open a file or My Computer window.
2. Choose Tools then Folder Options from the menu.
3. Choose the File Types tab on the Folder Options window.
4. Click on the word Extensions to sort the list by file extension.
5. Look for the extension for the file type that is opening without permission: DOC in our example.
6. Once you find the extension, click on line to select it.
7. Now click on the Advanced button.
8. Make sure that the Confirm open after download box is checked.
9. Press the OK button, then press the Close button.
10. Close any windows that you don't want open.

Links to Other Tip Sites

• Registry Edits for Windows XP - "Tweaks and Tips"
• XP Myths