Switch to classic mode after installing /without/ using the GUI

[R.Wieser]

Hello all,

I'm trying to create a fast-and-easy method to configure a new install of
XPsp3 (meaning: without having to manually go thru a gazillion of
configuration windows), and have been trying to edit the registry instead.

For most stuff this works well enough, but there are a few changes/settings
I cannot seem to get a grip on, and I could use a bit of help with:

-- How do I:
1) change the /taskbar/ to classic mode
2) on the taskbar, enable and unlock the "quick launch" area.
3) in the file browser, change the file display mode (to "list")
4) on the desktop, set the "arrange icons by" to "auto arrange"

I've been able to find where some of those settings are stored (in the
registry), but a manual change of them has no effect and gets overwritten
when I shut down Windows.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <q6nk27$bci$1...@gioia.aioe.org>, R.Wieser
<add...@not.available> writes:
[]

>-- How do I:
>1) change the /taskbar/ to classic mode
>2) on the taskbar, enable and unlock the "quick launch" area.
>3) in the file browser, change the file display mode (to "list")
>4) on the desktop, set the "arrange icons by" to "auto arrange"
>
>I've been able to find where some of those settings are stored (in the
>registry), but a manual change of them has no effect and gets overwritten
>when I shut down Windows.
>
>Regards,
>Rudy Wieser
>

By "manual change", I take it you mean you _did_ use the GUI.
>
For your 3), I _think_ it can be made permanent, but it's certainly not
intuitive: IIRR (I'm not on XP now) it involves selecting list in one
place, and "make all folders like this one" in another place. I _think_
that sticks (though may still not affect "special" "folders", such as I
think "My ..." ones).
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's
money."

[R.Wieser]

John,

> By "manual change", I take it you mean you _did_ use the GUI.

My apologies. I shoud have mentioned that was by way of editing the registry
by hand. And yes, that means that, in a way, I did use the GUI there. :-p

I should probably have said "configuration dialogs" instead of "gui" there
...

> For your 3), I _think_ it can be made permanent, but it's certainly not
> intuitive:

:-) Thats the /next/ problem: First I need to know how to do it for a
single one.

> IIRR (I'm not on XP now) it involves selecting list in one place, and
> "make all folders like this one" in another place

Yep. Select, in the file browser, the "list" option from the "views"
(rightmost icon) and than tools -> folder options -> view -> apply to all
folders. Easy-peasy. Now I only have to convert that to registry
settings ... :-D

I've been googeling for that and others most of yesterday. With varying
success ...

> though may still not affect "special" "folders", such as I think "My ..."
> ones

It does. I always have to "switch them back" do something more to my
liking (mostly the "icon" style).

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[Paul]

There is a command line "reg" command for updating the registry.

This page illustrates how to do it, a bit.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-edit-registry-using-command-prompt-windows-10

On WinXP, there shouldn't be a problem with permissions,
as the registry doesn't have quite as many accounts
"floating around" in it. Vista+ would have some
entries protected by TrustedInstaller. And I've also
put some of those "reg" commands into a .bat and
used Scheduled Tasks to provide a stronger "owner"
to run the commands with. The SYSTEM account that
Scheduled Tasks uses, is a bit stronger.

Paul

[R.Wieser]

Paul,

> There is a command line "reg" command for updating the registry.

How to make those changes is not the problem. Its the what & where that
eludes me.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[Shadow]

On Mon, 18 Mar 2019 09:14:57 +0100, "R.Wieser" <add...@not.available>
wrote:

>Hello all,
>
>I'm trying to create a fast-and-easy method to configure a new install of
>XPsp3 (meaning: without having to manually go thru a gazillion of
>configuration windows), and have been trying to edit the registry instead.
>
>For most stuff this works well enough, but there are a few changes/settings
>I cannot seem to get a grip on, and I could use a bit of help with:
>
>-- How do I:
>1) change the /taskbar/ to classic mode
>2) on the taskbar, enable and unlock the "quick launch" area.

Right click "start" and click on "properties"

>3) in the file browser, change the file display mode (to "list")

Make it the way you want then in settings "apply to all
folders"

>4) on the desktop, set the "arrange icons by" to "auto arrange"

Right click anywhere on the Desktop.

>
>I've been able to find where some of those settings are stored (in the
>registry), but a manual change of them has no effect and gets overwritten
>when I shut down Windows.

Just run something like RegShot and it will log all the
registry changes. It's portable, so you can delete the folder after
you've saved the differential snapshot(s) to a USB.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/regshot/
>

However you do it, make an image and burn it to a DVD.

It took me 3 days to get my XP EXACTLY how I wanted it. No
third party drivers or programs installed.
Now when I install, I just copy that image back to the new
computer, install the drivers that come with the motherboard and
finally the programs I use most. I then make an image of that and use
it if I even run into trouble.
[]'s
--
Don't be evil - Google 2004
We have a new policy - Google 2012
Nineteen Eighty-Four was a work of FICTION !!!! - Orwell

[R.Wieser]

Shadow,

Thanks for your reply, but trying to put something together that /doesn't/
involve me to go thru configuration dialogs.

> Just run something like RegShot and it will log all the
> registry changes.

I know what you mean, and I've used it in the past. But as mentioned, some
of the found (using google)registry changes will not "stick", because the OS
shutting down overwrites them. But how/where to apply them instead ?

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[Shadow]

On Mon, 18 Mar 2019 18:57:07 +0100, "R.Wieser" <add...@not.available>
wrote:

Some changes are not written to the registry. Some are written
to files. You can configure RegShot to take a snapshot of //documents
and settings// . //appdata// and //windows// as well as the usual
registry changes.

The registry changes are easy to apply.

Just make a textfile, rename it to update.reg and write down
the changes RegShot records in it.

Just as an example, if you want to disable scripting host, AND
disable autoplay on all removable drives (both are important security
settings):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Script Host\Settings]
"UseWINSAFER"="1"
"Enabled"=dword:00000000
"Remote"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer]
"NoDriveAutoRun"=dword:03ffffff
"HonorAutorunSetting"=dword:00000001
"NoDriveTypeAutoRun"=dword:000000ff


------------------

You can add as many items as you need. Double-clicking or importing
the file into the registry (from the command line in safe mode) and
then rebooting will apply the changes.

[R.Wieser]

Shadow,

> Some changes are not written to the registry.

Remember, we are talking about the OS here. It stores /everything/ in the
registry.

> Just as an example, if you want to disable scripting host,
> AND disable autoplay on all removable drives (both are
> important security settings):

Thanks for those samples. I already have the latter (among several), but I
see the former could be interresting too. Will google it some more.

But its currently really about those 4 points I named. How do I apply
those without going thru a configuration dialog.

And again, its not about how I include those settings into the registry, its
about what and where.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[Shadow]

On Mon, 18 Mar 2019 21:59:23 +0100, "R.Wieser" <add...@not.available>
wrote:

>Shadow,
>
>> Some changes are not written to the registry.
>
>Remember, we are talking about the OS here. It stores /everything/ in the
>registry.

Not everything. It's why "Documents and Settings" and it's
various subfolders exist.

Anyway, most personal settings are kept in

<HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer>

and its sub-keys, like:

<HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced>

And remember, you will probably have to set them in safe mode
and reboot.
It would be much easier to do it through the GUI ...... and
the shell "reloads" the new settings. No need to reboot.
[]'s

<
>
>> Just as an example, if you want to disable scripting host,
>> AND disable autoplay on all removable drives (both are
>> important security settings):
>
>Thanks for those samples. I already have the latter (among several), but I
>see the former could be interresting too. Will google it some more.
>
>But its currently really about those 4 points I named. How do I apply
>those without going thru a configuration dialog.
>
>And again, its not about how I include those settings into the registry, its
>about what and where.
>
>Regards,
>Rudy Wieser
>

[JJ]

On Mon, 18 Mar 2019 09:14:57 +0100, R.Wieser wrote:
> 1) change the /taskbar/ to classic mode

Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
Value Name: ShellState
Data Offset: 0x20
Data Byte: 1 = Classic, 3 = New

> 2) on the taskbar, enable and unlock the "quick launch" area.

Taskbar lock state:

Key: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Value Name: TaskbarSizeMove
Data: 0 = locked, 1 = unlocked

Taskbar additional toolbars (e.g. Quick Launch):

Key: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Desktop
Value Name: TaskbarWinXP
Data: ???

> 3) in the file browser, change the file display mode (to "list")

Current file views:
Keys: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags\<number>\Shell
Value Name: Mode
Data: 1 = icons, 3 = list, 4 = details, 5 = thumbnails, 6 = tiles
_____

Namespace default file view:
Key: KCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults
Value Name: <GUID of shell namespace>

Global default file view:
Key: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams
Value Name: Settings

Data Offset: 0x04
Data Byte: 1 = icons, 3 = list, 4 = details, 5 = tiles, 6 = thumbnails

> 4) on the desktop, set the "arrange icons by" to "auto arrange"

Key: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop
Value Name: FFlags
Data Bit 0: 0 = auto arrange disabled, 1 = auto arrange enabled

> I've been able to find where some of those settings are stored (in the
> registry), but a manual change of them has no effect and gets overwritten
> when I shut down Windows.

That's because some settings when changed, are not immediately written into
the registry. They're only written into the registry when the desktop
process is gracefully closed.

Gracefully closing the desktop process can be done by opening the
Logoff/Shutdown dialog (not the Switch User screen), then press the Cancel
button while holding CTRL+ALT+SHIFT keys. There may be a way to automate
this, but I don't know it (yet).

You can apply the registry settings by forcefully closing the desktop
process, but if you also need those lazy-written settings to be apllied into
the registry, you'll need to gracefully close the desktop process.

[R.Wieser]

Shadow,

> Not everything. It's why "Documents and Settings" and it's
> various subfolders exist.

True. But no /OS settings/ there.

> Anyway, most personal settings are kept in
>
> <HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer>
>
> and its sub-keys, like:
>
> <HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced>

I know. I've got a number of them in my single-click configuration. Show
extensions. Do not hide system files & folders. etc.

> And remember, you will probably have to set them in safe
> mode and reboot.

Specify "them" please. I know of very few which need a reboot. The
"classic desktop" setting is one of them. Disabeling certain services is
another.

And as for the four I'm still looking for ? The "safe mode" desktop does
have a taskbar too, and will most likely thus also, on shutdown, overwrite
changes to the registry ...

> It would be much easier to do it through the GUI ......

I disagree. Me going thru my list takes me the better part of an hour.
Letting the 'puter "execute" that list takes less than 5 seconds - with
/way/ less chance of missing a step or fucking things up.

> and the shell "reloads" the new settings. No need to
> reboot. []'s

I could see if I could send a "stuff changed!" app broadcast as the last
step. Than again, (automatic) rebooting would probably as easy. Besides,
installing drivers mostly needs one-or-more too.


But, if I cannot apply those settings by changing the registry (or other)
and /have/ to go thru configuration dialogs I will probably use AutoIt for
it.

Grumble ... Stupid Windows. You cannot even export/import your
preferences. :-( :-)

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[R.Wieser]

JJ,

> Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
> Value Name: ShellState
> Data Offset: 0x20
> Data Byte: 1 = Classic, 3 = New

Alas, that one only changes the start menu. Also, the value I used is 0x20
(from 0x00).

> Taskbar lock state:

Thanks. I already encountered it, but was too focussed on the Quick Launch
it seems. :-\

> Key:
> HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Desktop
> Value Name: TaskbarWinXP
> Data: ???

Yep, found that one too. No info on what to change where though.

> Current file views:
> Keys: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags\<number>\Shell
> Value Name: Mode
> Data: 1 = icons, 3 = list, 4 = details, 5 = thumbnails, 6 = tiles

Alas, thats the one which gets overwritten when you try to make manual
changes ...

> Global default file view:
> Key: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams
> Value Name: Settings
>
> Data Offset: 0x04
> Data Byte: 1 = icons, 3 = list, 4 = details, 5 = tiles, 6 = thumbnails

Can you tell me when this setting is used (by the OS I mean) ? I've
changed the value, but when opening folders it still shows the contents in
the old mode (also after rebooting).

> Key: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop
> Value Name: FFlags
> Data Bit 0: 0 = auto arrange disabled, 1 = auto arrange enabled

Yep, found that one too. But its another of those values which gets
overwritten when you shut down Windows. :-\

> You can apply the registry settings by forcefully closing the
> desktop process, but if you also need those lazy-written settings
> to be apllied into the registry, you'll need to gracefully close the
> desktop process.

Quite a catch22. To get it to work I would need to apply the "normal"
settings first (and reboot), after which I apply the "abnormal" ones and
make the desktop "crash" (close forcefully). Hmmm ...

Thanks for the detailed help. :-)

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <q6q4ih$1rmd$1...@gioia.aioe.org>, R.Wieser
<add...@not.available> writes:
[]

>Grumble ... Stupid Windows. You cannot even export/import your
>preferences. :-( :-)
>
>Regards,
>Rudy Wieser
>
>

I was irritated by that years ago - I think it might even have been in
'9x, but certainly XP (and almost certainly later) - when I set up a
sound scheme (what sounds go with what events), and "saved" it: it
doesn't ask you where, and of course in practice it doesn't save it as a
file, but in the registry _only_. (Fair enough, has to be in memory
_while running_, but. If nothing else you can't - easily, at least -
copy them from one machine to another.

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

(Incidentally, it was made in Spain so shouldn't it be a "paella western"?) -
Barry Norman [on "A Fistful of Dollars"], RT 2014/10/4-10

[Bill in Co]

I admit it's a bit of a pain configuring it just right, but one hour sure
doesn't sound bad to me! It will be interesting to hear if you ever get it
down to one simple registry patch, and decide to share it.

I was curious if you're doing this because you have several XP computers you
want to set up quickly?

[Bill in Co]

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
> In message <q6q4ih$1rmd$1...@gioia.aioe.org>, R.Wieser
> <add...@not.available> writes:
> []
>> Grumble ... Stupid Windows. You cannot even export/import your
>> preferences. :-( :-)
>>
>> Regards,
>> Rudy Wieser
>>
>>
> I was irritated by that years ago - I think it might even have been in
> '9x, but certainly XP (and almost certainly later) - when I set up a
> sound scheme (what sounds go with what events), and "saved" it: it
> doesn't ask you where, and of course in practice it doesn't save it as a
> file, but in the registry _only_. (Fair enough, has to be in memory
> _while running_, but. If nothing else you can't - easily, at least -
> copy them from one machine to another.

The trick is to set up the two computers side by side, and then do each one
individually, by looking at the first one and modifying the second one, one
by one. :-) Granted, it still takes a bit of time, however.

[James Davis]

What you are trying to do is very dangerous!

But, if you have already done it all on one XP, then you should be able to export all your registry changes (into a *.reg file); edit it to remove (with the minus operator)--(* this is the dangerous part) the keys you are changing--(e.g., "[-HK....]" or '"<Value-Name>"=-' each followed immediately by the NEW Registry HKey or Value-Name); transfer it to the new XP; then merge it into that XP's Windows-Registry. (* The danger is that you might remove too much: something that isn't in your changes, but needs to be there in the new XP.--For this reason, using the Value-Name method is safer than using the Registry HKey method.)

[R.Wieser]

James,

> What you are trying to do is very dangerous!

It is ? Why do you think so ? Do you think its more or less
dangerous than randomly changing stuff in configuration dialogs ? :-)

> you should be able to export all your registry changes

Not really. Some of the changes are one byte (or even a bit) outof a
series of them (meaning: I do not want to change/overwrite any other setting
in there). Like enableing 'Quick Launch'. Or setting the display-mode
(list, icons, etc) of the filebrowser.

> (with the minus operator)

:-) Yep, found out about that a number of years ago.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[JJ]

On Tue, 19 Mar 2019 10:41:42 +0100, R.Wieser wrote:
> JJ,
>
>> Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
>> Value Name: ShellState
>> Data Offset: 0x20
>> Data Byte: 1 = Classic, 3 = New
>
> Alas, that one only changes the start menu. Also, the value I used is 0x20
> (from 0x00).

The classic and new mode is only for the Start Menu. The taskbar doesn't
have this mode.

And that 0x20 is the offset to the data, not the value of the data.

>> Global default file view:
>> Key: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams
>> Value Name: Settings
>>
>> Data Offset: 0x04
>> Data Byte: 1 = icons, 3 = list, 4 = details, 5 = tiles, 6 = thumbnails
>
> Can you tell me when this setting is used (by the OS I mean) ? I've
> changed the value, but when opening folders it still shows the contents in
> the old mode (also after rebooting).

Correction: that should be user's default instead of global default.

It's used when a namespace doesn't have any default file view yet.
Basically, if there's no file view setting for the current folder, get it
from the namespace's default file view setting. If the namespace's default
is also absent, get it from the user's default. If the user's default is
also absent, get it from the system's default (i.e. from the SHELL32.DLL).

>> You can apply the registry settings by forcefully closing the
>> desktop process, but if you also need those lazy-written settings
>> to be apllied into the registry, you'll need to gracefully close the
>> desktop process.
>
> Quite a catch22. To get it to work I would need to apply the "normal"
> settings first (and reboot), after which I apply the "abnormal" ones and
> make the desktop "crash" (close forcefully). Hmmm ...

It might be wise to forcefully close the desktop process before applying
your settings because the process might have some data in disk write cache.
So, closing it first will make sure that there are no more data queued into
the disk write cache.

[R.Wieser]

JJ,

> The classic and new mode is only for the Start Menu. The taskbar
> doesn't have this mode.

You're confusing me there. The taskbar certainly does have a classic mode.
But I agree with you that particular change only gouverns the start menu
(alas...).

> And that 0x20 is the offset to the data, not the value of the data.

Its both. And yes, I also marveled at the coincidence of it. :-)

>> Can you tell me when this setting is used (by the OS I mean) ?

...

> It's used when a namespace doesn't have any default file view yet.

Ah. Thats why some tweaks remove all those other "bags" entries from the
registry. Worth a try.

> It might be wise to forcefully close the desktop process before
> applying your settings

??? I though that doing that would automatically reboot the 'puter ...
(which means that applying changes after doing that would not be a ...
problematic thing to do (reboot during applying changes and all that) ).

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

P.s.
I've mentioned that I would probably try to have AutoIt have a go at it.
Alas, its wrought with its own problems. :-( :-)

[James Davis]

Why don't you ask woody?

<https://www.askwoody.com/>
<https://www.computerworld.com/blog/woody-on-windows/>

[R.Wieser]

James ,

> Why don't you ask woody?

Do you think Google will have indexed Woody's articles ? My searches on
Google did not turn up anything in that regard.

Besides, a quick look shows a "popular windows" kind of magazine. Not the
kind of environment I expect yesteryears (make that yester
/decade/-and-a-half + ) info to pop up. :-)

But just to humor myself I threw an "xp preferences registry" into Woody's
"lounge" searchbox. Four results, and none even near to XP. :-| Heck,
just throwing "XP" or "XPsp3" in there doesn't give results anything near to
it back (but again, four results). :-)

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[JJ]

On Fri, 22 Mar 2019 09:26:15 +0100, R.Wieser wrote:
> JJ,
>
>> The classic and new mode is only for the Start Menu. The taskbar
>> doesn't have this mode.
>
> You're confusing me there. The taskbar certainly does have a classic mode.

Prehaps you're referring to the Windows visual style which is changeable via
Display control panel. i.e. Classic and XP. AFAIK, that's the only thing
which make the taskbar looks different (functionalities are still the same,
though).

>> It might be wise to forcefully close the desktop process before
>> applying your settings
>
> ??? I though that doing that would automatically reboot the 'puter ...
> (which means that applying changes after doing that would not be a ...
> problematic thing to do (reboot during applying changes and all that) ).

I remember that too, but that doesn't apply to Windows XP and newer
versions. It's probably Win9x that may cause the system to reboot/shutdown
if the desktop process is forcefully terminated.

In XP +, you can actually terminate the desktop process, apply your
settings, then run EXPLORER.EXE to start the desktop process again.

> P.s.
> I've mentioned that I would probably try to have AutoIt have a go at it.
> Alas, its wrought with its own problems. :-( :-)

What kind of problems? AutoIt is a pretty good scripting software in
overall, IMO.

[R.Wieser]

JJ,

> Prehaps you're referring to the Windows visual style

:-) You may call it what you want, for me it fits under the header
"switching to classic mode" (together with changing the start menu).

> Prehaps you're referring to the Windows visual style which is
> changeable via Display control panel. i.e. Classic and XP.

Yep, that one. Funny that the desktop and the taskbar are gouverned by
different registry settings though.

> I remember that too, but that doesn't apply to Windows XP and
> newer versions.

Ah.

> It's probably Win9x that may cause the system to reboot/
> shutdown if the desktop process is forcefully terminated.

That is probably what I'm remembering (have been using 98se until just a
couple of years ago).

> In XP +, you can actually terminate the desktop process, apply
> your settings, then run EXPLORER.EXE to start the desktop
> process again.

Shucks. Now you say it I remember having done that before (can't remember
what I was busy with at the time though).

> What kind of problems? AutoIt is a pretty good scripting software
> in overall, IMO.

It is. Years ago I've even made a multi-group IRC client with it (not that
I really needed it, but just to see if it could be done :-) )

The thing is that I tried to to automate "Folder Options" -> "View", and
could not read or alter the checkboxes in the TreeView there. It turns out
what /looks/ like checkboxes (and radio buttons) where in fact not, but
instead re-purposed "filetype" item images.

But before I discovered that I tried to get the mouse to the correct spot
and just MouseClick() the item - which was where I found out that there is
no easy way to get the actual (absolute) position of a TreeView item. When I
than tried to combine the locations of the dialog, the treeview and its item
the resulting (absolute) coordinate did not cause the mouse to move ontop of
the item itself (the combined locations of the dialog and the TreeView
pointed to somewhere quite a bit above the TreeView itself). Not funny.

In short, I've been going thru quite a bit of testing-and-trying before
discovering another, the easier way to do it.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[James Davis]

I meant that you put your question in one of his forums, too, for all the experts there to help answer it.

[R.Wieser]

James,

> I meant that you put your question in one of his forums,
> too, for all the experts there to help answer it.

I'll think about it. But I'm not really inclined to register on fora just
to post a single question.

Also, whats the chance that on a "popular windows" site like that there are
still people that still know about XP ? No, I think that the chance that I
will get bombarded with rethorical "why are you still using an obsolete OS
like that ?" replies is much larger. :-(

Thanks for thre suggestion though.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser