Restore Default Icon For My Computer and others

Has the icon for one of the following desktop items changed and you want to revert it back to the default?

• My Computer
• My Documents
• My Network Places
• Recycle Bin (full)
• Recycle Bin (empty)

1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop and choose Properties.
2. When the Display Properties multi-tabbed dialog box appears, click the Desktop tab.
3. Click the Customize Desktop button.
4. A Desktop Items dialog box will appear. Make sure the General tab is selected.
5. Choose an icon to change back.
6. Click Restore Default.
7. Click OK on the dialog boxes to close them.

How to restore the operating system to a previous state in Windows XP

If Windows XP starts
1. Log on to Windows as Administrator.
2. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. System Restore starts.
3. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time (if it is not already selected), and then click Next.
4. On the Select a Restore Point page, click the most recent system checkpoint in the On this list, click a restore point list, and then click Next. A System Restore message may appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make. Click OK.
5. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration, and then restarts the computer.
6. Log on to the computer as Administrator. The System Restore Restoration Complete page appears.
7. Click OK.

Troubleshooting
You may inadvertently restore Windows XP to a previous configuration that you do not want. To undo the restoration:
1. Log on to Windows as Administrator.
2. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. System Restore starts.
3. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Undo my last restoration, and then click Next. A System Restore message may appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make. Click OK.
4. On the Confirm Restoration Undo page, click Next. System Restore restores the original Windows XP configuration, and then restarts the computer.
5. Log on to the computer as Administrator. The System Restore Undo Complete page appears.
6. Click OK.

How to restore iPod

How to restore iPod

1. Ensure that you have an active Internet connection as new versions of iTunes and iPod Software may need to be downloaded to your computer.
2. Download and install iTunes 7.0 or later if you do not already have it installed.
3. Open iTunes, and then connect your iPod to your computer using the USB or FireWire cable that came with your iPod.
4. After a few moments, your iPod will appear in the Source panel in iTunes.
5. Select your iPod in the Source panel and you will see information about your iPod appear in the Summary tab of the main iTunes windows.
6. Click the Restore button. You will be prompted with one or more restore options that may prompt iTunes to automatically download the latest iPod Software. The 4 possible restore options are:
7. • Restore Option 1: Restore - Restores with same iPod Software version already on iPod.
   • Restore Option 2: Use Same Version - Restores with same iPod Software version already on iPod even though a newer version is available.
   • Restore Option 3: Use Newest Version - Restores with the latest iPod Software available.
   • Restore Option 4: Restore and Update - Restores with the latest iPod Software available.
8. If you are using a Mac, a message will appear prompting you to enter an administrator’s name and password.
9. A progress bar will appear on the computer screen indicating that the first stage of the restore process has started. When this stage is completed, iTunes will present one of two messages on screen with instructions specific to the iPod model you are restoring.
10. • Restore Instruction 1: Disconnect iPod and connect it to iPod Power Adapter (typically applies to older iPod models).
    • Restore Instruction 2: Leave iPod connected to computer to complete restore (typically applies newer iPod models).
11. During the stage 2 of the restore process, the iPod will show an Apple logo as well as a progress bar at the bottom of the display. It is critical that the iPod remains connected to the computer or iPod Power adapter during this stage. Note: The progress bar may be difficult to see since the backlight on the iPod display may be off.
12. After stage 2 of the restore process is complete and the iPod is connected to the computer, the iTunes Setup Assistant window will appear asking you to name your iPod and choose your syncing preferences similar to when you connected your iPod for the first time.

HOWTO: iPod - restore and maximize battery life

This HOWTO assumes your iPod space is less than your iTunes music collection. If this is not true you only need to make the "Empty" playlist, use the iPod Updater and the optional Disk Utility.

Caution: Read all warnings you get, if something goes wrong, you are on your own. There are no guaranties attached to this HOWTO. Something in your setup, hardware or in your iPod hardware might render your iPod useless. But if you are close to 1 hour playing time it is nearly useless anyway so you might as well try?

Preparation:

1. You should charge your iPod first.

Use Software Update in System preferences to download the latest iPod Updater (Or use link in sidebar).



2. Make one or more playlist that contains music that will fill your iPod 85 - 90%. Make one playlist with no music that you name "Empty".

Action:

3. Connect your iPod

4. Quit iTunes



5. Launch the iPod Updater from your Utilities folder.



Read the warning in the iPod Updater summary window and choose Restore. Read the warnings again and choose Restore once more (Or cancel if you are about to lose unique data. Are you using your iPod to store other data than music from iTunes?).

Then you will have to enter your password. The updater starts. Be patient on every step! Follow the instructions. When you are asked to unplug: do it and wait for the symbol on the iPod to tell you to replug. Wait some more for the summary window to reappear.

Then quit.

6. Start iTunes. iTunes kicks up iPod setup assistant.



iTunes asks you to give your iPod a name.
Deselect "Automatically update". Choose Next and Done.



7. In iTunes: Select the iPod and go into the iPod options.

Choose "Automatically update selected playlists only:"
Read the warning and choose Ok
Select the playlists you made and Ok. Fill up to max 85 - 90%. (There is no lower limit.)

The next time you want to remove and add some other music you first choose to sync with playlist "Empty" and then you choose your new playlist, while keeping minimum 10 - 15 % free space. ( This recommendation might be very conservative. You are free to try other limits. 5 % might be sufficient. )

This writes the music files in a contiguous way on the hard disk.

If you erase and add files in a normal manner you will get fragmentation. The iPod hard disk will have to work more to read your music and your battery will suffer.





8. (Optional) Quit iTunes. Start up your favorite "Disk Utility" and do a repair or as in my favorite disk utility DiskWarrior choose Rebuild.



Now you have to recharge the battery. That's it. If you are as lucky as me you can enjoy your iPod again for many hours.