Wednesday, May 18, 2011

How To Fix Your PC

This article provides a few tips in the form of a checklist on what to do to fix a computer when it is not behaving right.

- Check if there is firewall, antivirus and other security software.
- Run 'msconfig'
- Run web based virus scan, eg http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner or http://housecall.trendmicro.com
- Use the following tools:
   EasyCleaner - various tools like registry cleaning, removing programs, etc.
   PC Wizard - full info on PC
   Undelete Plus - recover deleted files
   Hijack This
- Windows Vista repair
       - Start - type Performance Information and Tools - click Advanced Tools - Generate System Health Report



Here are some links to other tips on fixing the PC

Common PC Problems Solved: The Ultimate FAQ
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/print/165794/common_pc_problems_solved_ultimate_faq/

Got XP Annoyances? Try These Four Smart Fixes for Windows Woes
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/199736/got_xp_annoyances_try_these_four_smart_fixes_windows_woes/

How Do I Get Malware Off My PC Once and for All?
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/199721/how_do_get_malware_off_my_pc_once_all_/

What Is the Best Way to Unstick My Frozen PC?
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/199798/what_best_way_unstick_my_frozen_pc_/

Protect Against Software Installation Nightmares
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/199810/answer_line_protect_against_software_installation_nightmares/

Make Windows start up faster
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/173412/make_windows_start_up_faster/?fp=2&fpid=2

Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Beta 
 a recovery tool that can help you start an infected PC and perform an offline scan to help identify and remove rootkits and other advanced malware. In addition, Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Beta can be used if you cannot install or start an antivirus solution on your PC, or if the installed solution can’t detect or remove malware on your PC.


Tools to fix PC

The Bootable Maintenance Flash Drive ( PDF ) - provides a small suite of tools very useful for troubleshooting.



Sunday, May 08, 2011

Notes Windows


NotesWindows  - Notes on Windows
=============

This includes NotesWinXP which is now made obsolete.
The content here is related to any version of Windows and will be specifically denoted.


Contents
=========
Roaming Profile - Encryption
Useful Registry Keys
Stop accidentally moving files or folders
Windows Update does not work anymore
Windows CMD commands
Application Location
MS Windows XP backup
Change Location of My Pictures, My Documents
Change Location of Libraries in Windows 7
Password Revealed on Windows
Known Folders can be Hidden - Windows 7
Boot Manager - Windows XP, Windows 7
How to Repair a Corrupt Windows 7 Installation
Windows Recovery Console Operations
Windows 7 Administrator account


Roaming Profile - Encryption - WinXP
=============================
Problem: When roaming profile cannot be saved - the reason could be due to some files are being encrypted.

Solution: Find and remove the encrypted file. Use the tool "cipher" provided by WinXP.

    cipher /S:directoryName
... to check encryption status of all subdirectories

Ref:
Roaming decrypt
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/c18621675.mspx

Search windows "roaming profile" decrypt
http://au.alpha.yahoo.com/search/web?p=windows+%22roaming+profile%22+decrypt
search http://au.alpha.yahoo.com/search/web?p=windows+%22roaming+profile%22+decrypt


 

Useful Registry Keys
================================
Append Path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
System Path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment
User path:   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment
Reserved Drives Letters: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MOUNTEDDevices

Stop accidentally moving files or folders  - WinXP
===========================================
It is very easy to accidentally move folders in Windows Explorer, simply by careless movement of the mouse and accidentally releasing buttons. This problem is also very easy to occur with trackpads on laptops. There is a way of preventing this accidental motion by making Windows pop up a dialog box to ask for confirmation.

"Do You Want To Move Or Copy Files From This Zone?"

To enable this feature,
1. Click Start -> Control Panel -> Internet Options.
2. Click “Security” tab, mark the zone “Local intranet”, and click the “Sites” button.
3. Un-tick “Automatically detect intranet network”
4. Tick “Include all local (intranet) sites not listed in other zones”
   Tick “Include all sites that bypass the proxy server”
   Untick “Include all network paths (UNCs)”  

Windows Update does not work anymore  - WinXP
=====================================
For some reason, Windows files may corrupt such that the Windows Update will not work anymore. To solve this:
1. Open a Command Prompt Terminal: Start - Run, type: cmd.
2. To stop the current windows update service, in the Command Prompt, type:
    net stop wuauserv
3. Re-register the windows update dll for WinXP 32bit
    regsvr32 %windir%\system32\wups2.dll
Re-register the windows update dll for WinXP 64bit
    regsvr32 %windir%\syswow64\wups2.dll


Windows CMD commands
=====================
Ref: http://ss64.com/nt/

When in a CMD terminal, to launch another CMD terminal and execute a script (test.bat)
- start cmd /k test.bat    - new window remains open
- start cmd /c test.bat    - closes the new window when script finishes

Some commands related to Volume Shadow Copy Service (Vista)
vssadmin List Shadows
vssadmin List ShadowStorage


Application Location
=====================
WinXP:
Netscape Bookmarks (Netscape v 8.1)
D:\Program Files\Netscape\Netscape Browser\defaults\profile\bookmarks.html


MS Windows XP backup
======================
Below describes the process to take when backing up Windows. Some folder directory sizes given here may give an indication of their relative or typical sizes, but they will obviously vary in different systems.

- Login as each user and i) Empty Recycle Bin, ii) Clear all Cache, Cookies
- Login in as Administrator (so that can backup Registry and other System State)
- Goto Control Panel - Performance and Maintenance - "Free up space in your hard disk"
- c:\windows\system32 = 1GB
- c:\windows\ folders except system32 = 790MB
- c:\windows\system32\dllcache = 467MB
- c:\windows\$NTUninstall* = 245MB
- c:\windows\Driver Cache = 87MB
- c:\windows\fonts = 89MB
- c:\windows\help = 46MB
- c:\windows\ime = 86MB
- To backup Registry - go to the GUI windows Backup Utility and check the "System State"
- Do Normal and then Incremental backup.


Change Location of My Documents
=================================
WinXP:
Change My Documents.
- Right click My Documents - Properties - change the Target Location
- by default My Documents is in C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\My Documents

My Pictures, My Music.
- It appears that these folders are not changeable and are set under My Documents.
- When My Documents location is changed, then these folders should follow too.


Change Location of Libraries in Windows 7
===========================================
Libraries in Windows 7 can be assigned to various locations. Libraries will source the physial location of target directories and present the contents as if they all belong to the library. To change the location of Libraries in Windows 7:
- open Explorer
- in the left hand pane, right click on the library icons
- select Properties
- a list of location is presented, which can then be modified


Password Revealed on Windows
==============================
Windows 7:
- Passwords apparently can be revealed by System Information for Windows.
- the System Information (Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - System Information) on Windows XP do not seem to reveal passwords.
- to remove the passwords in Windows 7, do:
    Control Panel - User Accounts and Family Safety - Windows Credential Manager.



Known Folders can be Hidden - Windows 7
==========================================
Windows default folders like Music, Pictures, Videos, Searches are part of the operating system and is not easy to remove. They may be hidden in a number of different ways.
1. Move them to another location by:
- Right click and select properties of the Known Folder
- Go to Location tab
- use the button Move to specify new location.
2. Merge them into Documents folder.
- Select the Known Folder to move.
- For the target to move to, select Documents.
3. Remove Known Folders
- Go to Start button and type, GPEDIT.MSC
- Under User Configuration, click Administrative Templates, double click Windows Components, then Windows Explorer.
- In the Disable Known Folders setting, double click and select Enabled.
- Click Show and enter names of any folders to be disabled.
- Go back to main Windows Explorer and delete any of the Known Folders, and it will be permanenet.

For a list of Known Folders, http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb882665.aspx


Boot Manager - Windows XP, Windows 7
======================================
Boot Loader for Windows XP: NTLDR
Sits on the Primary Partition of the Hard Disk
Configuration file: boot.ini
To edit, use Notepad

Boot Loader for Windows 7 / Vista : Windows Boot Manager (BOOTMGR)
Sits on the Primary Partition of the Hard Disk
Configuration file: BCD (Boot Configuration Data)
To edit, use BCDEDIT


How to Repair a Corrupt Windows 7 Installation
================================================
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9221540/How_to_Repair_a_Corrupt_Windows_7_Installation?taxonomyId=89&pageNumber=3


Windows Recovery Console Operations
====================================
Firstly to enter into recovery console, by booting from Windows CD/DVD. When 'Welcome to Setup' appears, then press 'R'. Here is a list of commands that may be helpful for repairing or trouble shooting in Recovery Console mode.

listsvc        - list the services running. Example display drivers agp440.sys is listed
disable agp440 - to disable a service that is running and listed under listsvc.


Windows 7 Administrator account
==================================
This section is specifically for Windows 7. In previous versions of Windows, there may appear the Administrator user on the login page. The Administrator account does not appear on Windows 7 by default.

By default, the Windows 7 installation usually
- allow you to create a new user, say FirstUser, during install and will set it up with Administrator password.
- there is a hidden Administrator user, but it is not active and has no password.

To manage the Administrator account, eg to activate it or give it a password, etc:
- click Start
- right click Computer - Manage
- Go to System Tools - Local User and Groups - User
- perform any task including Administrator account.

Alternative way to make Administrator appear on login screen.
- click Start and in the Search box, type CMD
- right click on the CMD icon that appears, choose Run As Administrator
- in the Command Prompt type:
  net user administrator /active:yes
      or
  net user administrator /active:no