Solution for the error "the requested look up key was not found in any activation context"

This is a common error in IE 7. Due to this error it also blocks the activation of Windows XP.

I had to do these steps to resolve the error.

1) Uninstall IE 6 through Add/Remove Window Components
2) Delete IE7 folder from C:\Windows (This folder is hidden)
3) Use firefox to install and download IE8
4) Navigate to C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer and create the shortcut key for
iexplore.exe on the dekstop
5) When you double click IE8 shortcut, it will give you the options to open the
internet explorer with and without Add-ons. Choose the option to open the
internet explorer without Add-ons and set it as default.

Hope this works for you guys.

Steps to password protect files and folders in Windows XP

Example: to password protect a folder called "Test"
1) Create the folder "Test"
2) Copy your contents in the "Test" folder
3) Create a batch file as "loc.bat" in the same location where the "Test" folder is
created (not inside the Test folder)
4) Add the following content to "loc.bat" file
ren Test Test.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
5) Double click the "loc.bat" file and the "Test" folder is hidden and password
protected
6) To view and access the "Test" folder and its contents, you have to create
another batch file as "key.bat"
7) Create a batch file as "key.bat" in the same location where the "Test" folder and
the "loc.bat" file (not inside the Test folder)
8) Add the following line to the "Key.bat" file
ren test.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} test
9) Double click the "Key.bat" file and then you will be able to view and access the
"Test" folder
10) You can copy "loc.bat" and "key.bat" to some other location once the "loc.bat"
is used.

Change the user name in Comment box in Excel

1. Choose Tools|Options
2. Select the General tab
3. Delete the existing User Name, and type a new entry
4. Click OK

Ways to Fasten up Windows XP

(1) Do disk Clean up of C:\ Drive
(2) Increase virtual memory
(3) Defrag your machine
Right click C: Drive > Properties > Tools > Defragment Now > Click on C Drive and
then Defragment tab
(4) Clean the data from the hidden folders like "System Volume Information",
"Recyclers" (You have to take the ownership of the above folders before deleting
its contents)
(5) Delete files from C:\Windows\Prefetch
(6) Stop unnecessary programs from loading at the startup
Type msconfig in RUN and in 'Start up' tab Uncheck all the ones that you don't use
too often, click ok and restart the machine.
(7) Do not save folders/ files on the desktop.
(8) Get rid of themes and skins
(9) Finally, keep your machine virus free

Solution for slow opening of Excel and Word files

- Open My Computer.
- Go to Tools -> Folder Options, and click on File Types.
- Find the extension of the file in question (XLS, DOC, etc.)
- Highlight the extension, and click on the "Advanced" tab
- Select Open in the list and click button "Edit"
- Click into the "Application used..." field, and scroll to the end of the command.
- Put a space at the end, and type in "%1\" (With the quotes)
- Uncheck "Use DDE" if it is present
- Click on "OK"

Network Connection Wizard | VPN option greyed out

This issue may occur if the following services are disabled:

1) Telephony
2) Remote Access Connection Manager
3) Remote Access Auto Connection Manager

Go to RUN and type services.msc
Once you get the list of services, enable the above 3 services.

Enable Routing on Windows XP

To enable TCP/IP forwarding, follow these steps:

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
2. In Registry Editor, locate the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters
3. Set the following registry value:
Value Name: IPEnableRouter
Value type: REG_DWORD
Value Data: 1
A value of 1 enables TCP/IP forwarding for all network connections that are installed and used by this computer.
4. Quit Registry Editor.
5. Restart the machine