14 DAY TRIAL // There comes a time when we believe that our computer knowledge stagnates by doing the same actions, using the same applications without gaining additional information. If not eager to progress, we tend to remain at a beginner's level or at a mid-level at maximum which is shameful after a long time of computer handling. To break out from the routine, I thought it would be instructive to take a glimpse at some advanced tools available in Windows XP.
I want to introduce to you the Windows Support Tools. What are these, you may ask. I am sure you haven't seen them under any menu in Windows XP. Well, you couldn't have seen them because they are not installed by default although they are provided along with the operation system.
The aim of these tools is to help experienced users diagnostic and solve computer related problems. Most of them run as commands lines similar with the normal commands that run in the command prompt console.
In order to install the Windows Support Tools on your computer, you need to have the Windows installation CD ready because the installation files are located at SupportTools on the CD. Hence, after you've inserted the CD into the drive, go to SupportTools and double click on setup.exe.
This will start the installation where you will be asked to select the installation version: typical or complete. I advise you to select the complete installation. Don't worry, the whole installed package eats up about 5 MB of disk space which is insignificant.
After the installation finishes, all the tools are placed inside the Support Tools folder found in Program Files. Additionally, you can go to Start > Programs > Windows System Tools and start the command prompt in order to use the new tools.
Here is the list of supported tools available in Service Pack 2:
acldiag.exe activate.exe addiag.exe adprop.dll adsiedit.msc apimon.exe apmstat.exe bindiff.exe bitsadmin.exe browstat.exe cabarc.exe clonepr.dll depends.exe dfsutil.exe dhcploc.exe diruse.exe dmdiag.exe dnscmd.exe dsacls.exe dsastat.exe dskprobe.exe dumpchk.exe dupfinder.exe efsinfo.exe exctrlst.exe extract.exe filever.exe ftonline.exe getsid.exe gflags.exe httpcfg.exe iadstools.dll ipseccmd.exe ksetup.exe ktpass.exe ldp.exe memsnap.exe movetree.exe msicuu.exe msizap.exe netcap.exe netdiag.exe netdom.exe netset.exe nltest.exe ntdetect.chk ntfrsapi.dll ntfrsutl.exe pfmon.exe pmon.exe poolmon.exe pptpclnt.exe pptpsrv.exe pstat.exe pviewer.exe rasdiag.exe remote.exe replmon.exe rsdiag.exe rsdir.exe sdcheck.exe search.vbs setspn.exe setx.exe showaccs.exe showperf.exe sidhist.vbs sidwalk.exe sidwalk.msc snmputilg.exe spcheck.exe timezone.exe tracefmt.exe tracelog.exe tracepdb.exe vfi.exe whoami.exe windiff.exe wsremote.exe xcacls.exe
The following support tools have been updated in Service Pack 2:
bitsadmin.exe extract.exe httpcfg.exe iadstools.dll ipseccmd.exe netdom.exe replmon.exe
If you are in the situation of not finding the genuine Windows installation CD, you can still install the tools by grabbing them from here. Please note that the installation procedure requires a validation check in order to permit installation of the tools. Therefore, your Windows must be genuine to pass the validation check.
Most of the tools have help attached. To get information about a tool that does not have GUI, you need to type the command followed by /?. For example, bitadmin. Open the command prompt inside the Support Tools folder in Program Files and type bitadmin /?. You will instantly get the command's specifications, version, parameters and examples.
Good luck and happy learning!