Windows tips

Having problems deleting a file due to a processing locking it?

Being able to create a DOS prompt at the directory you are currently browsing in a Windows Explorer session can save you some time.

I got an "Access is Denied" message when try to open the "My Documents" when my notebook died and I moved the hard disk onto my PC using a 2.5' hard disk enclosure.

Download the Windows PHP binary package from
http://www.php.net/downloads.php

Extract to a temporary directory

Copy the following files to the directory you want PHP to live (paths with spaces are not recommended, ie c:\program files)

php.ini-recommended (rename to php.ini) - php.ini-dist can be used depending on your requirements
php4apache2.dll or php5apache2.dll
php4ts.dll or php5ts.dll

Modify php.ini to have the following
doc_root = c:\apache2\htdocs (or wherever your document root for PHP happens to be)

Add your PHP home directory to the Windows PATH (eg, c:\php)

Add the following to [apache directory]/conf/httpd.conf (modify as required)

Useful DOS commands that I use infrequently and sometimes sit pondering what the correct executable name is:

msconfig - You can change ini files, what loads on your system (services and programs).
msinfo32 - Show details about your hardware and software.
regedit - GUI for modifying the Windows Registry settings.

Network Related:

ipconfig - Shows your TCP/IP address and associated information.
netstat - Displays network statistics and current TCP/IP settings. netstat -a to show all connections and listening ports

"Low Disk Space". Finally got annoyed with Windows XP and the warning balloon window produced when ANY partition reaches less than 200Mb of room remaining? It then gets progressively more annoying, the less space you have remaining.

NOTE: THIS MODIFICATION INVOLVES CHANGING THE WINDOWS REGISTRY.

WHILST WE KNOW OF NO ISSUES INVOLVED WITH THIS CHANGE, THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR YOU TO CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS TO YOUR COMPUTER. WE TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH PROBLEMS. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN USING THE REGISTRY EDITOR.

The warning message might be okay on your root drive, as Windows is probably using this drive to store tempory information and needs some spare room allocated to work properly. However, if you are like me and have a lot of partitions, it means leaving a lot of disk space empty just to keep your sanity. I only know how to turn the warning message off for all your drives and it involves breaking out the Windows Registry Editor.