Using ICS (Internet Connection Sharing)
In this articleHow does ICS work?
Enabling ICS
Configure TCP/IP
ICS and VPN connections
ICS and ad hoc networks
If you want to share one Internet connection among several computers, you have two options:
Use Internet Connection Sharing (ICS).
Use a router.
How does ICS work?
First, you'll need one computer, called the host computer, that's connected to the Internet and that has a separate connection to the other computers on your network. You'll enable ICS on the Internet connection. The other computers on your network then connect to the host computer, and from there to the Internet through the host computer's shared Internet connection.
A network using Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Enabling ICS
To enable ICS, on your host computer:
Click to open Network Connections.
Right-click the connection that you want to share, and then click Properties. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Click the Sharing tab, and then select the Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection check box.
Notes
The Sharing tab won't be available if you have only one network connection.
You can choose whether to select the Allow other network users to control or disable the shared Internet connection check box.
Optionally, to allow other network users to use services running on your network, click Settings, and then select the services you want to allow.
When you enable ICS, your local area network (LAN) connection gets a new static IP address and configuration, so you'll need to reestablish any TCP/IP connections between your host computer and the other network computers.
To test your network and Internet connection, see if you can share files between computers and make sure each computer can reach a website.
Configure TCP/IP
To use ICS, make sure the local area network (LAN) connection on each network computer is configured to get an IP address automatically. To do this:
Click to open Network Connections.
Right-click the LAN connection, and then click Properties. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), and then click Properties.
Click Obtain an IP address automatically or Obtain an IPv6 address automatically, and then click OK.
The Internet options on your network computers should also be configured for ICS. For more information, see Change Internet settings for ICS (Internet Connection Sharing).
Don't use ICS on a network with domain controllers, DNS servers, gateways, or DHCP servers. And don't use ICS on systems configured for static IP addresses.
ICS and VPN connections
If you create a virtual private network (VPN) connection on your host computer to a corporate network and then enable ICS on that connection, all Internet traffic is routed to the corporate network and all of the computers on your home network can access the corporate network. If you don't enable ICS on the VPN connection, other computers won't have access to the Internet or corporate network while the VPN connection is active on the host computer.
ICS and ad hoc networks
If you share your Internet connection on an ad hoc network, ICS will be disabled if:
You disconnect from the ad hoc network.
You create a new ad hoc network without disconnecting from the ad hoc network for which you enabled ICS.
You log off and then log back on (without disconnecting from the ad hoc network).
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Preventing low memory problems
When your computer doesn't have enough memory for all of the actions it's trying to perform, Windows and your programs can stop working. To help prevent information loss, Windows will notify you when your computer is low on memory. You can also learn to recognize the signs of low memory and take steps to prevent the problem.
Signs of low memory include poor performance, low-memory or out-of-memory notifications, and display problems. For example, if you try to open a menu in a program when your computer is low on memory, the program might respond slowly or appear to stop responding. If the menu appears, it might not respond when you try to click an item or it might not display all items. If you click a menu item, the menu might also disappear and leave a blank area on the screen instead of displaying the contents of the document or file you're working in.
Why do low memory problems occur?
Your computer has two types of memory, random access memory (RAM) and virtual memory. All programs use RAM, but when there isn't enough RAM for the program you're trying to run, Windows temporarily moves information that would normally be stored in RAM to a file on your hard disk called a paging file. The amount of information temporarily stored in a paging file is also referred to as virtual memory. Using virtual memory—in other words, moving information to and from the paging file—frees up enough RAM for programs to run correctly.
Low memory problems occur when your computer runs out of RAM and becomes low on virtual memory. This can happen when you run more programs than the RAM installed on the computer is designed to support. Low memory problems can also occur when a program doesn't free up memory that it no longer needs. This problem is called memory overuse or a memory leak.
How to prevent low memory problems
Running fewer programs at one time can help prevent low memory problems and information loss. It's a good idea to observe which programs show signs of low memory conditions and try not to run them at the same time.
However, it’s not always convenient or practical to run a limited number of programs. Signs of low memory can indicate that the computer needs more RAM to support the programs you use. Here are the recommended ways to solve or prevent low memory problems:
•Increase the paging file (virtual memory) size
Windows automatically attempts to increase the paging file size the first time your computer becomes low on memory, but you can also manually increase it up to a maximum size that is determined by the amount of RAM installed. Although increasing the paging file size can help prevent low memory problems, it can also make your programs run more slowly. Because your computer reads information from RAM much faster than from a hard disk (where the paging file is), making too much virtual memory available to programs will slow them down.
For more information, see Change the size of virtual memory.
•Install more RAM
If you see signs of low memory, or if Windows warns you about a low memory problem, check the information that came with your computer or contact the computer manufacturer to determine which type of RAM is compatible with your computer, and then install more RAM. To install RAM, check the information provided by the manufacturer.
For more information, see Find out how much RAM your computer has.
•Determine if a program overuses memory
If the computer becomes low on memory whenever you run certain programs, one or more of those programs might have a memory leak. To stop a memory leak, you need to close the program. To repair a memory leak, you need to check for updates for the program or contact the publisher of the software.
To determine which program is using the most memory, follow these steps:
1.Open Task Manager by right-clicking the taskbar, and then clicking Start Task Manager.
2.Click the Processes tab.
3.To sort programs by memory usage, click Memory (Private Working Set).
You can also check for program errors and troubleshooting information using Event Viewer.
1.Open Event Viewer by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Security, clicking Administrative Tools, and then double-clicking Event Viewer. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2.In the left pane, click Applications and Services Logs to view error events. To see a description of the problem, double-click the event. To see if troubleshooting information is available, look for a link to online Help.
What are the signs of low memory?
Signs of low memory include poor performance, low-memory or out-of-memory notifications, and display problems. For example, if you try to open a menu in a program when your computer is low on memory, the program might respond slowly or appear to stop responding. If the menu appears, it might not respond when you try to click an item or it might not display all items. If you click a menu item, the menu might also disappear and leave a blank area on the screen instead of displaying the contents of the document or file you're working in.
Why do low memory problems occur?
Your computer has two types of memory, random access memory (RAM) and virtual memory. All programs use RAM, but when there isn't enough RAM for the program you're trying to run, Windows temporarily moves information that would normally be stored in RAM to a file on your hard disk called a paging file. The amount of information temporarily stored in a paging file is also referred to as virtual memory. Using virtual memory—in other words, moving information to and from the paging file—frees up enough RAM for programs to run correctly.
Low memory problems occur when your computer runs out of RAM and becomes low on virtual memory. This can happen when you run more programs than the RAM installed on the computer is designed to support. Low memory problems can also occur when a program doesn't free up memory that it no longer needs. This problem is called memory overuse or a memory leak.
How to prevent low memory problems
Running fewer programs at one time can help prevent low memory problems and information loss. It's a good idea to observe which programs show signs of low memory conditions and try not to run them at the same time.
However, it’s not always convenient or practical to run a limited number of programs. Signs of low memory can indicate that the computer needs more RAM to support the programs you use. Here are the recommended ways to solve or prevent low memory problems:
•Increase the paging file (virtual memory) size
Windows automatically attempts to increase the paging file size the first time your computer becomes low on memory, but you can also manually increase it up to a maximum size that is determined by the amount of RAM installed. Although increasing the paging file size can help prevent low memory problems, it can also make your programs run more slowly. Because your computer reads information from RAM much faster than from a hard disk (where the paging file is), making too much virtual memory available to programs will slow them down.
For more information, see Change the size of virtual memory.
•Install more RAM
If you see signs of low memory, or if Windows warns you about a low memory problem, check the information that came with your computer or contact the computer manufacturer to determine which type of RAM is compatible with your computer, and then install more RAM. To install RAM, check the information provided by the manufacturer.
For more information, see Find out how much RAM your computer has.
•Determine if a program overuses memory
If the computer becomes low on memory whenever you run certain programs, one or more of those programs might have a memory leak. To stop a memory leak, you need to close the program. To repair a memory leak, you need to check for updates for the program or contact the publisher of the software.
To determine which program is using the most memory, follow these steps:
1.Open Task Manager by right-clicking the taskbar, and then clicking Start Task Manager.
2.Click the Processes tab.
3.To sort programs by memory usage, click Memory (Private Working Set).
You can also check for program errors and troubleshooting information using Event Viewer.
1.Open Event Viewer by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Security, clicking Administrative Tools, and then double-clicking Event Viewer. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2.In the left pane, click Applications and Services Logs to view error events. To see a description of the problem, double-click the event. To see if troubleshooting information is available, look for a link to online Help.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
How to use the Backup utility to back up files and folders in Windows XP Home Edition
Before you can back up important information on your computer, you must install the Backup utility. The Backup utility is included on the Windows XP Home Edition CD.
Note If Windows XP Home Edition was preinstalled on your computer and you do not have the original Windows XP CD, contact the computer manufacturer or visit the manufacturer's Web site for more information. You can also use backup software that you purchase separately.
To install the Backup utility from the Windows XP CD:
Insert your Windows XP CD into the CD drive or DVD drive of the computer.
Click Exit.
Locate the CDDrive:\ValueAdd\Msft\Ntbackup folder on the CD.
Double-click Ntbackup.msi to install the Backup utility.
When the Backup or Restore Wizard prompts you, click Finish.
Remove the Windows XP CD.
Now that you have installed the Backup utility, you are ready to back up your important information.
How to back up files and foldersTo back up your files and folders, follow these steps: Note In order to back up...To back up your files and folders, follow these steps:
Note In order to back up files and folders, you must be logged on to the computer as an administrator or as a user who is part of the Administrators group. To verify that you are logged on to Windows with a user account that is a computer administrator, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/admin (http://support.microsoft.com/gp/admin)
Note The following steps explain how to use the Backup utility to back up your files and folders manually. You can also use the Backup and Restore Wizard to back up your files and folders. However, the steps will be slightly different from those that are listed in the following section.
Step 1: Start the Backup utility
Click Start, and then click Run.
Type ntbackup.exe in the Open box, and then click OK.
Note If you receive the following error message, make sure that you followed the steps in the "How to install the Backup utility" section correctly:
Windows cannot find 'ntbackup.exe'
Step 2: Select items to back up and select the location for the backup file
Click Advanced Mode.
Note If the Backup and Restore Wizard starts, the utility is running in Wizard mode. You can click to clear the Always start in wizard mode check box, and then restart the Backup utility. If you continue to use the Backup and Restore Wizard, the steps will be slightly different from those that are listed in the following section.
Click the Backup tab.
On the Job menu, click New.
Select the check boxes next to the drives that you want to back up. If you select specific files or folders, expand the drive where these files or folders are located. Then, select the check boxes for the files or for the folders that you want to back up.
Select the System State check box that is located under My Computer in the navigation pane.
Note If you want to back up system settings and data files, back up all the data on your computer and the System State data. The System State data includes the registry, the COM+ class registration database, files that are under Windows File Protection, boot files, and other system files.
If the Backup destination list is available, click the backup destination that you want to use.
Note If you selected File in this step, type the full path and file name for which you want to back up data in the Backup media or file name box.
You can specify a network share as a destination for the backup file. Typically, backup files have the .bkf file name extension. However, you can use any file name extension that you want.
Step 3: Start the backup
Click Start Backup to open the Backup Job Information dialog box.
Under If the media already contains backups, do either of the following:
If you want to append this backup file to previous backup files, click Append this backup to the media. This option adds the new backup to the existing backup file so that you can maintain all previous backups in one file. This option is useful if you ever want to restore a backup from a specific day. Be aware that the size of the backup file will grow with each new backup. You might want to monitor the file size to make sure that it does not fill up your hard disk over time. If the file becomes too large, you might consider saving the file to an external hard disk. Or, if you are concerned about the file using too much hard disk space, select Replace the data on the media with this backup instead.
If you want to overwrite previous backup files with this backup file, click Replace the data on the media with this backup. This option is useful if you only want to maintain the current backup and do not care about keeping the previous backups. Or, use this option if you are concerned about the file using too much hard disk space on your computer.
Click Advanced.
Select the Verify data after backup check box.
In the Backup Type box, click the kind of backup that you want to create. For a description of each backup type, click the backup type and the description appears under "Description." You can select any of the following backup types:
Normal
Copy
Incremental
Differential
Daily
Click OK, and then click Start Backup. A Backup Progress dialog box is displayed, and the backup starts.
Step 4: Exit the Backup utility
When the backup is complete, click Close.
On the Job menu, click Exit.
NEXT STEPS If these steps do not work or you have problems during the backup, you can use t...If these steps do not work or you have problems during the backup, you can use the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site to find solutions to your problem. You can also visit this Web site to learn more about how to back up your important information on your computer. Some services that the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site provides include the following:
Searchable Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1) : Search technical support information and self-help tools for Microsoft products.
Solution Centers (http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=hub) : View product-specific frequently asked questions and support highlights.
Microsoft Customer Support Newsgroups (http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx) : Contact counterparts, peers, and Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs).
Other Support Options (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=csshome) : Use the Web to ask a question, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services, or provide feedback.
If you cannot find the help you are looking for through the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site, you might want to contact Support:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus
Note If Windows XP Home Edition was preinstalled on your computer and you do not have the original Windows XP CD, contact the computer manufacturer or visit the manufacturer's Web site for more information. You can also use backup software that you purchase separately.
To install the Backup utility from the Windows XP CD:
Insert your Windows XP CD into the CD drive or DVD drive of the computer.
Click Exit.
Locate the CDDrive:\ValueAdd\Msft\Ntbackup folder on the CD.
Double-click Ntbackup.msi to install the Backup utility.
When the Backup or Restore Wizard prompts you, click Finish.
Remove the Windows XP CD.
Now that you have installed the Backup utility, you are ready to back up your important information.
How to back up files and foldersTo back up your files and folders, follow these steps: Note In order to back up...To back up your files and folders, follow these steps:
Note In order to back up files and folders, you must be logged on to the computer as an administrator or as a user who is part of the Administrators group. To verify that you are logged on to Windows with a user account that is a computer administrator, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/admin (http://support.microsoft.com/gp/admin)
Note The following steps explain how to use the Backup utility to back up your files and folders manually. You can also use the Backup and Restore Wizard to back up your files and folders. However, the steps will be slightly different from those that are listed in the following section.
Step 1: Start the Backup utility
Click Start, and then click Run.
Type ntbackup.exe in the Open box, and then click OK.
Note If you receive the following error message, make sure that you followed the steps in the "How to install the Backup utility" section correctly:
Windows cannot find 'ntbackup.exe'
Step 2: Select items to back up and select the location for the backup file
Click Advanced Mode.
Note If the Backup and Restore Wizard starts, the utility is running in Wizard mode. You can click to clear the Always start in wizard mode check box, and then restart the Backup utility. If you continue to use the Backup and Restore Wizard, the steps will be slightly different from those that are listed in the following section.
Click the Backup tab.
On the Job menu, click New.
Select the check boxes next to the drives that you want to back up. If you select specific files or folders, expand the drive where these files or folders are located. Then, select the check boxes for the files or for the folders that you want to back up.
Select the System State check box that is located under My Computer in the navigation pane.
Note If you want to back up system settings and data files, back up all the data on your computer and the System State data. The System State data includes the registry, the COM+ class registration database, files that are under Windows File Protection, boot files, and other system files.
If the Backup destination list is available, click the backup destination that you want to use.
Note If you selected File in this step, type the full path and file name for which you want to back up data in the Backup media or file name box.
You can specify a network share as a destination for the backup file. Typically, backup files have the .bkf file name extension. However, you can use any file name extension that you want.
Step 3: Start the backup
Click Start Backup to open the Backup Job Information dialog box.
Under If the media already contains backups, do either of the following:
If you want to append this backup file to previous backup files, click Append this backup to the media. This option adds the new backup to the existing backup file so that you can maintain all previous backups in one file. This option is useful if you ever want to restore a backup from a specific day. Be aware that the size of the backup file will grow with each new backup. You might want to monitor the file size to make sure that it does not fill up your hard disk over time. If the file becomes too large, you might consider saving the file to an external hard disk. Or, if you are concerned about the file using too much hard disk space, select Replace the data on the media with this backup instead.
If you want to overwrite previous backup files with this backup file, click Replace the data on the media with this backup. This option is useful if you only want to maintain the current backup and do not care about keeping the previous backups. Or, use this option if you are concerned about the file using too much hard disk space on your computer.
Click Advanced.
Select the Verify data after backup check box.
In the Backup Type box, click the kind of backup that you want to create. For a description of each backup type, click the backup type and the description appears under "Description." You can select any of the following backup types:
Normal
Copy
Incremental
Differential
Daily
Click OK, and then click Start Backup. A Backup Progress dialog box is displayed, and the backup starts.
Step 4: Exit the Backup utility
When the backup is complete, click Close.
On the Job menu, click Exit.
NEXT STEPS If these steps do not work or you have problems during the backup, you can use t...If these steps do not work or you have problems during the backup, you can use the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site to find solutions to your problem. You can also visit this Web site to learn more about how to back up your important information on your computer. Some services that the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site provides include the following:
Searchable Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1) : Search technical support information and self-help tools for Microsoft products.
Solution Centers (http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=hub) : View product-specific frequently asked questions and support highlights.
Microsoft Customer Support Newsgroups (http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx) : Contact counterparts, peers, and Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs).
Other Support Options (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=csshome) : Use the Web to ask a question, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services, or provide feedback.
If you cannot find the help you are looking for through the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site, you might want to contact Support:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus
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