Not a valid win32 application

If you receive the subject error message while trying to install a program from a CD, this may be due to corrupt installation media or corrupt installation files.
Possible Solution:
Clean the installation media (CD) and the drive. If after cleaning the problem still arises, consider replacing the CD.

Virtual memory minimum is too low

I keep getting this error message: "Virtual memory minimum is too low. Windows is increasing the size of the virtual memory paging file."
What does this mean?
Answer:

The virtual memory is the space your computer uses when it runs short of RAM memory. The paging file is the place where Windows handles your virtual memory settings. If your computer wants to change it, you should go ahead and let it because XP will adjust the setting to meet the current memory needs. I do not recommend changing these settings manually as Windows can manage the size much more efficiently than the user can. Making your virtual memory setting larger will increase the number of addresses and will make Windows lazy.
Adding more RAM may also be of benefit as this will reduce the need for virtual memory to be used in the first place. For running Windows XP, I suggest at least 384MB. In general, adding more RAM is the most cost effective means of boosting a computer's performance.

I recommend buying quality RAM from a reputable company. Some cheap (unbranded) RAM can on occasion be defective resulting in 'unexplained' crashes or freezes. Brands to look for are Mushkin, Crucial and Kingston. To determine the price and availability for a particular computer, select its manufacturer and then the model from the menus on Crucial's site:

Cannot access Add/Remove Window Components in Control Panel

Problem:
"I get an error message: Setup was unable to open information file netoc.inf.  Contact your system administrator." 
I am the sys admin. 
Possible Solution:

1. Insert the Windows XP CD 
2. Go to Start>> Run. Type in: Expand C:\i386\NETOC.IN_ -rC:\Windows\Inf   [Enter]

Note: C:\ is used if that is where Windows XP is installed.

My system shows I am missing some files, how can I replace them?

If you are missing files of a Windows component, then you can run the System File Checker. Windows File Protection only monitors and maintains XP system components. If it is a 3rd party application, you may need to reinstall that application to restore the missing files.
Method #1:
To run Windows System File Checker:
Go to Start>> Run, type in: sfc /scannow  [Enter]
Windows may require you to insert your XP CD. 
Method #2:
You can also use System Restore to recover your system back to date before the files were missing. To activate System Restore:
Go to Start>> All Programs>> Accessories>> System Tools>> System Restore.

A file that is required to run search companion cannot be found. You may need to run setup.

This is usually caused by connecting to your ISP while the Search Companion is open. This problem is found in the Windows XP English language versions only.
Possible Solution:

Reinstall the Search Companion Files:

1. Log on to the computer by using an account with administrator permissions. 
2. Click Start>> Run. Type in: %systemroot%\inf  [Enter]
3. Scroll the resulting list and locate the Srchasst.inf file. If it doesn't seem to be listed, try adjusting your folder options to view hidden files and folders in Windows Explorer:

• Open Explorer>>Tools>>Folder Options>> View tab. 
• Tick the "Show hidden files and folders" entry. 
• Apply the change and exit Explorer.

4. Right-click the Srchasst.inf file, and then click Install. Windows will now attempt to install the Search Companion files. 

Note: You may be prompted for the Windows XP CD to complete the installation so please have it ready.

If this continues to occur after disconnecting from the Internet, it may be caused by corrupted files that have been cached. I have the three possible files that may be causing this listed below. Open them in notepad so that you can determine the source of the corruption.

• Balloon.xsl 
• Bar.xsl 
• Lclsrch.xml 

RESTORE DELETED RECYCLE BIN

Below you will find three methods of restoring your Recycle Bin to your desktop:








Method #1:

1. Right-click an empty area of your desktop
2. Select Properties
3. Click the Desktop tab
4. Click the Customize button
5. Click Restore Default
6. Exit all windows and restart your computer

Method #2:
Note: Be sure to make a backup copy of your registry prior to making any changes.
Go to Start>> Run. Type in: regedit  [Enter]
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace
Hold the mouse on NameSpace and right-click once. From the resulting menu, select Edit>> New>> Key
Copy and Paste the following Key code (including the brackets):
{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
Press Enter on your keyboard, exit the registry editor and restart your system.

Corrupted or Missing \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG

Windows could not start because the following files is missing or corrupt\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM or \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE

1. Insert and boot from your Windows XP CD.
2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
3. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
   Typically this will be #1
4. Enter in the administrator password when requested
5. cd \windows\system32\config
6. Depending on which section was corrupted:
   ren software software.bad or ren system system.bad
7. Depending on which section was corrupted
   copy \windows\repair\system
   copy \windows\repair\software
8. Take out the CD ROM and type exit

HAL.DLL Missing or Corrupt

If you get an error regarding a missing or corrupt hal.dll file, it might simply be the BOOT.INI file on the root of the C: drive that is misconfigured

1. Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
3. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
   Typically this will be #1
4. Type bootcfg /list to show the current entries in the BOOT.INI file
5. Type bootcfg /rebuild to repair it
6. Take out the CD ROM and type exit

NTOSKRNL Missing or Corrupt

If you get an error that NTOSKRNL not found:

1. Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
3. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
   Typically this will be #1
4. Change to the drive that has the CD ROM.
5. CD i386
6. expand ntkrnlmp.ex_ C:\Windows\System32\ntoskrnl.exe
7. If WindowsXP is installed in a different location, just make the necessary change to C:\Windows
8. Take out the CD ROM and type exit

UNMOUNTABLE BOOT VOLUME

When booting up to Windows XP you may get an error that reads: Unmountable Boot Volume.

This is probably because your boot.ini file is messed up. Here is a possible remedy: 

1. Start Windows XP with the Windows XP CD in your CD/DVD drive.
2. Once you see the "Welcome to setup" message, press the letter 'R' on your keyboard to enter the Recovery Console.
3. Select the Windows installation to be repaired (you will need to know the administrator password.
4. You will then get a DOS prompt. from here, type: chkdsk /p  [Enter]
5. When that is done type: fixboot  [Enter]
6. Type: Y at the next prompt  [Enter] 
7. Then type: exit  [Enter]
8. The system will now reboot into Windows.

If for some reason that didn't work, you can boot to the recovery console (example above).

Type: "chkdsk /r"  [Enter]

When done type: exit  [Enter].

This takes a bit longer, but the system should boot back into Windows.

. NTLDR FILE IS MISSING :

         


If you have FAT32 partitions, it is much simpler than with NTFS. Just boot with a Win98 floppy and copy the NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM files from the i386 directory to the root of the C:\ drive.

For NTFS:

1. Insert and boot from your Windows XP CD. 
2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key 
3. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair. Typically this will be #1 
4. Enter in the administrator password when requested 
5. Enter in the following commands (X: is replaced by the actual drive letter that is assigned to the CD ROM drive)

• COPY X:\i386\NTLDR C\: 
• COPY X:\i386\NTDETECT.COM C:\ 

6. Take out the CD and type exit