PC Resource Guide, Windows2000 Tips

 Share Folders and Drives

You can let other users access files, folders, or even entire drives on your computer. Open Windows Explorer, locate the folder or drive you want to share, right-click the folder or drive, and then click Sharing. On the Sharing tab, click "Share this folder". To change the name of the shared folder   or drive, type a new name in "Share name" (the new name is what users will see when they connect to this shared folder or drive; the actual name of the folder or drive does not change). To add a comment about the shared folder or drive, type the text in Comment. To limit the number of users who can   connect to the shared folder or drive at one time, click Allow (under User limit), then enter a number of users. To set shared folder permissions on the shared folder or drive, click Permissions. To set up this shared folder to be used off-line, click Caching.

See the Status of Your Connection

To display a pop-up window that provides data on the current status of your connection--including speed and packets sent and received--place the cursor over the Network Monitor icon. To display a full status window or to disconnect the network connection, double-click the icon.

Windows 2000 Critical Update

If you're a Windows 2000 user, drop everything and and go to http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10106-108-59687.html Download this update. This patch fixes a vulnerability that could allow a malicious Web surfer to view your files if your machine is running Web and file indexing services. This  patch also resolves a VBScripting problem that reports the year incorrectly when using the Wareki or Taiwan date calendar. Finally, the update fixes a potential data corruption problem that can occur when saving files in HTM format to an HTTP server from Office 2000 programs, including Word and Excel.

Create Strong Passwords

Good computer security includes the use of strong passwords for your network logon and the Administrator account on your computer. For a password to be strong and hard to break, it should be at least seven characters long and contain a combination of letters, numerals, and symbols (make sure to have at least one symbol character in the second through sixth positions). Your new password should be significantly different from prior passwords; it also should not contain your name, user name, or any common word or name.

To synchronize off-line items:

1. Open Synchronization Manager.

2. Select the check boxes beside the off-line items that you want to synchronize, such as a mapped network drive or an Internet Explorer off-line Web page.

3. Click Synchronize.