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Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options - The redesigned Windows XP Control Panel now contains a section called Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, the eighth of the nine categories under Category View in Control Panel.

DCOM Server Process Launcher Service

Debugging Tools

Defrag - To open Disk Defragmenter; Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Disk Defragmenter

• Automatic Boot Disk Optimization [Defrag] - Locates and consolidates fragmented boot files, data files, and folders on local volumes.

• Defrag As A Context Menu Item

• Defragmenting A Page File

Delete

• Cannot Delete a File or a Folder

• Delete A File That Is Seemingly "Undeletable"

• Delete Picture and Fax Viewer - If you find the default Picture and Fax Viewer more of an annoyance than a help, it can be removed.

• Delete Shared Documents Folder

• Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions in Windows XP - When you receive an error message stating that permissions are denying the ability to delete a file or folder, this knowledge base article can be of help.

Description of the FAT32 File System in Windows XP (Q310525)

Description of the Windows XP Upgrade Advisor (Q307726)

Desktop

• Change the Font, Size, and Colors of Desktop Items [KB]

• Desktop and Taskbar Settings

• Disable Save Desktop Configuration on Exit - Default behavior for XP is to save the desktop configuration on exiting the operating system. To prevent saving the desktop configuration, implement this registry edit.

• Problems After You Create a Folder That Is Named "Desktop" on the Desktop in Windows XP - If you create a folder that is named "Desktop" on the desktop, you may experience one or more problematic symptoms in the tree view in Windows Explorer.

Desktop Cleanup

• Desktop Cleanup Wizard

• Desktop Cleanup Wizard Run Frequency - If you use the Desktop Cleanup Wizard but find the 60 day default cleanup frequency unacceptable, the frequency can be increased or decreased.

• Desktop Tab Missing from Display Properties - If Display Properties appears without the Desktop tab it's likely due to a Group Policy setting.

• Enable/Disable Desktop Cleanup Wizard

Desktop Context Menu - By default, when a user right clicks on the desktop in Windows XP a context menu is displayed. Implementing the Enable/Disable Desktop Context Menu edit will remove the ability to display a context menu by right clicking the desktop, items on the desktop, and items in Windows Explorer. It does not disable context menus in Internet Explorer. This registry edit can be set either on a user or machine basis.

Desktop.ini File Does Not Work Correctly When You Create a Custom Default Profile

Desktop Patterns from Previous Windows Versions - If you've been around previous Windows versions you more than likely remember some of the hideous desktop patterns that were available. They're still here in XP waiting to be resurrected. Hey, they can't be any worse than the default XP scheme, can they? On second thought, maybe they can.

Device Manager

• Configure Device Manager to Display Detailed Information [KB]
• Device Manager Does Not Display Devices That Are Not Connected to the Windows XP-Based Computer [KB]
• Device Manager Error Codes - If you experience problems with a device, you can use Device Manager to troubleshoot the problem. Device Manager displays a device tree that includes all devices configured for your system. If there is a problem with a device, it is marked with a yellow exclamation point. If a device is disabled, it is marked with a red "X" Device Manager error codes are provided to aid in troubleshooting problems with devices.
• Manage Devices in Windows XP
• No Items Appear in the Device Manager List When You Open It [KB]
• Print Device Manager Contents to a Text File [KB]
• Print a Device Manager Report in Windows XP [KB]
• Shortcut to Device Manager - If you use it often, create a shortcut and place it on desktop or in the Quick Launch area. The path is C:\WINDOWS\system32\devmgmt.msc
• Troubleshooting Device Conflicts with Device Manager [KB]
• Unable to Change Resource Settings in Windows XP Device Manager [KB]

DEVLDR Not Responding - Error Message When You Shut Down Computer: DEVLDR Not Responding [KB]

DHCP Client Service

Disable 8.3 Name Creation in NTFS
Disable Automatic Windows Update
Disable the NTFS File System Tracking of Broken Shortcut Links
Disable the Windows XP Startup Screen - If you've ever wondered what goes on behind the Windows Startup Screen when your computer boots, this will disable the screen and allow you to see what's really happening.

Disk Cleanup Tool

• Automating Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows

Display

• Display - Add Screen Real Estate

• Display Properties - The [Appearance] Tab

• Display Properties - The [Desktop] Tab

• Display Properties - The [Screensaver] Tab
• Display Properties - The [Settings] Tab
• Display Properties - The [Themes] Tab

Display The Quick Launch Toolbar

Distribute Custom Themes

Distributed Link Tracking Client Service

Distributed Transaction Coordinator Service

DNS Client Service

Domain Password Reset Disk

Drive Letter Assignment - Change the default letter assignment for hard drives.

Drivers

• Information About Hardware Device Drivers for Windows XP [KB]

• Use Driver Verifier to Troubleshoot Device Drivers in Windows 2000 [KB]

• Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP [KB]

Dual/Multibooting with Windows XP

• Multibooting with Windows XP

• HOW TO: Create a Multiple-Boot System with Windows XP (Q306559)

• Multibooting with Windows 2000 and Windows XP

• How to Multiple Boot Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, and MS-DOS (Q217210)

DVD Player - Enable/Disable an installed DVD player in Windows XP