MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-270): Installing ...

How Windows XP Professional Sets Environment Variables
Windows XP Professional sets environment variables in the following order:
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1. By default, Windows XP Professional searches the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, if it exists,
and sets any environment variables.
2. Next, the system environment variables are set. If any system environment variables
conflict with environment variables set from the search of the
AUTOEXEC.BAT file, the system environment variables override them.
3. Finally, the user environment variables are set. If any user environment variables
conflict with environment variables set from the search of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file
or from the system environment variables, the user environment variables override
them.
For example, if you add the line SET TMP=C:\ in AUTOEXEC.BAT, and a
TMP=X:\TEMP user variable is set, the user environment variable setting (X:\TEMP)
overrides the prior setting C:\.
Note You can prevent Windows XP Professional from searching the AUTOEXEC.BAT file by
editing the registry and setting the value of the ParseAutoexec entry to 0. The ParseAutoexec
entry is located in the registry under the following subkey:
\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\Winlogon. See
Chapter 4, “Modifying and Troubleshooting the Startup Process,” for more information on the
Windows Registry.
How to Configure Error Reporting
Lesson 3 Configuring System Settings
Error reporting helps Microsoft improve future products and resolve any difficulties
you might encounter with Windows XP Professional. To configure error reporting, in
the Advanced tab of the System Properties dialog box, click Error Reporting. This displays
the Error Reporting dialog box. Notice that Enable Error Reporting is selected by
default. To turn off error reporting, click Disable Error Reporting.
If you do not want to turn off error checking, you can configure reporting to indicate
which errors to report. Under Enable Error Reporting there are two check boxes
selected by default. Clear the Windows Operating System check box if you do not want
errors in the operating system to be reported. Clear the Programs check box if you do
not want errors in any of the programs running on your system to be reported. If you
want to specify the programs for which Windows XP Professional reports errors, click
Select Programs.