Ask the Tech Guy

Ask the Tech Guy:
Windows® Tips

In this weekly column, our resident "tech guy" answers reader's tech questions. This week's questions concern Windows®.

No Backup program in Windows XP Home Edition®

Dear Tech Guy,

At work I use Windows XP Professional, and I noticed that there is a built-in backup program available. I then realized that this might be a good idea for me to do at home, where I use Windows XP Home Edition. To my surprise, I couldn't find the program! Is that program not provided in my Home edition?

Submitted by: Melody Carlan

Answer: In Windows XP Professional®, the backup utility program is installed by default. However, in Windows XP Home Edition®, it is not. In fact, no mention is made of it during installation, and it is not found in "Add or Remove Programs" or the Start menu. To utilize this program, it has to be installed manually. To do that, just follow these steps:

Insert your Windows® CD-ROM into the CD drive and navigate to CD-ROM Drive:\VALUEADD\MSFT\NTBACKUP
To start the installation wizard, double-click the Ntbackup.msi file
When the installation is finished, click Finish

Open windows are hiding the recycle bin icon in Windows XP®

Dear Tech Guy,

Sometimes I have file shortcuts on my desktop, and when I’m finished working with them, I drag them over the recycle bin to delete them. The problem is, sometimes I have open windows covering the recycle bin icon, so I first have to minimize the open windows or move them around to see the recycle bin again. Is there an easier way to do this?

Submitted by: Nathan Rouse

Answer: Yes, Windows XP® does provide an easier method of displaying the hidden recycle bin icon, so that you can drag shortcuts over it for deletion. While dragging the desktop shortcuts, just hover over the taskbar for an instant, then all of the open windows will automatically minimize. This will clear your desktop, so that you can continue with dragging the files to your now visible recycle bin icon.

Unable to move the Windows® Taskbar

Dear Tech Guy,

At times I want to move my taskbar from the bottom of my screen to another location. However, no matter what I do, it doesn’t seem to let me click on it to drag it where I want it. Is there another way to do this, or am I doing something wrong?

Submitted by: Jennifer Freeman

Answer: You appear to be doing this correctly. However, it sounds like your taskbar may be locked. This prevents it from being moved or resized accidentally. To unlock the taskbar, right-click an empty spot on it and uncheck the "Lock The Taskbar" option. Now, simply click an empty spot on the taskbar and drag it to a new location at the top or either side of the desktop.

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Ask the Tech Guy: Windows® Tips

Ask the Tech Guy:
Windows® Tips