Showing posts with label Control Panel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Control Panel. Show all posts

Sunday, January 03, 2016

Windows 10 - Adding / Creating Local User Instead of Microsoft User

Back in the days (not apologizing for reminiscing) of Windows XP (or maybe even Windows 7) or earlier, adding a user is a simple process of adding a user.

With Windows 8 (I hope not 7) onwards, there seems to be a deliberate attempt to coerce (force) people to open up Microsoft accounts and create such cloud users, even when people are just trying to use their Windows computers locally (not in the cloud). Then in Windows 8, you must read the fine print and try to choose to create or add a "Local User". So a "Local User" is actually what a normal user is, in the previous Windows version - but now we have to remember to use "Local Users" if we just want a normal user on  a computer.

In Windows 10, this is much more difficult, frustrating and annoying. So previous Windows just need: Go to Control Panel -> click Users -> Add user.
But now the problem is so complicated, bordering on deceiving, I just cannot stand it and have to share this process here so that people can get help.

Step 1: Use the normal process of going to Control Panel, or searching for User, to land on this dialog below. Or Control Panel -> User Accounts -> User Accounts (not typo) -> Manage Accounts -> click on "Add a new user in PC Settings"

Then click "Family and Other Users".
Why why why they can't just say "users"?

Then click on "Add someone else to this PC"
(What if this is my family member, but they don't have Microsoft account - sic)

Don't put email address, don't click next.
Instead click "I don't have this person's sign-in information"
(Why why why - well I have this person's sign in - but I refuse to use their Microsoft account. I just want to create them as a "Local User" - phethhhh  :p  )


Finally - almost there. Still don't fall into the trap of giving your details and email.
Click "Add a user without a Microsoft Account"

Home Run !!! (Exactly the fourth / home base)
Now this is more like the usual creation of a normal Windows user.
Go ahead and give it a funny user name - as all computer users have done since the dawn of computing - instead of giving your email account.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

How To Clean Up Windows

This article prevents some ideas of how to clean up your computer which has the Windows Operating System. The clean up here does to refer to any kind of virus or spyware removal. Instead, this article focuses on how to get rid of the junk that we or Windows itself accumulates on your computer throughout the years.

1. Scan using antivirus.
Although this article is not about removing virus but on the cleaning of junk files, one of the first step is to simply do a virus scan - just in case. Some useful articles are:
- using online virus scanners: http://xtechnotes.blogspot.com/2008/07/antivirus-online-scan.html
- discounted antivirus software http://xtechnotes.blogspot.com/2012/01/security-software-discounts-and-special.html
- news on security http://xtechnotes.blogspot.com/2011/08/news-security.html
- how to secure your computer: http://xtechnotes.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-to-secure-your-computer.html

2. Remove all unwanted programs.
Find a list of all your installed programs by going to Control Panel - Add or Remove Programs.
Decide which programs you do not need and uninstall them.
- some uninstaller software: http://xtechnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/links-to-free-software.html

3. Find what is running in the background
Windows services are programs that run in the background after starting up themselves when the computer is switched on. Many will not tell you they are running. To find a list of these "services", go to Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Services.
Find those services which you know is definitely not needed, whether they are from Windows or not. There is no clear way to identify which service you don't want - they will come from experience. Basically just look at the name of the services - a weird name does not mean it is not needed. Sometimes look for a service with a simple name which you definitely know is not required. Example: If your computer has no wireless connection, then look for service with the name wireless and Disable it.

4. Clean the Registry
WARNING: If anything goes wrong at this step, very often this will make your whole computer unable to start and you may lose everything.
This step should be done by experienced users only.
Some tools to check are: CCleaner and TweakNow RegCleaner. (see http://xtechnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/links-to-free-software.html )

5. Are all your files compressed?
Some computers may have come out of the box, configured to compress all your files by default. In Windows Explorer, if your files has filenames appearing in colour, then it may be compressed. To switch off this option, in Windows Explorer, right click on the folder and select Properties. Then uncheck any box for compression, for that file, folder or the entire drive.

6. Check updates
Ensure all updates including Windows Update and other antivirus updates are up to date.

7. Avoid re-installing Windows
Only reinstall Windows as a very last resort.

8. Cleaning Temporary Files
Ref: http://forum.wegotserved.com/index.php/tutorials/article/72-keeping-your-system-partition-cleaned-up-on-a-schedule/

C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temp\*.*
c:\temp\*.*
c:\windows\kb*.log
c:\windows\temp\*.*

- delete windows update uninstall files
dir c:\windows\$nt*

- delete Internet Explorer update uninstall files
dir c:\windows\ie8updates






..... any more ideas are appreciated ....

Saturday, November 14, 2009

NOTES IIS web server


IIS - Internet Information Services

Contents
=========
Install
Configuration
Start-Stop
Tutorials
Test IIS Working



Install
========
1. Installed as part of operating system. Go to:
Control Panel -> Add / Remove Programs -> Add Windows components -> IIS

2. Versions - IIS version is tied to the Operating System.
IIS 5 - is associated with Windows 2000 (all versions)
IIS 5.1 - is associated with Windows XP Professional
IIS 6 - is associated with Windows .NET Server
IIS versions 3 and 4 are designed for Windows NT 4.0,
(technical support for this is expected to be terminated by the end of 2002)[1].

3. Security Issues (Hardening)
Ref: http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles/Installing_Securing_IIS_Servers_Part1.html

4. On a Command Console:
- goto c:\Windows\Microsoft.Net\Framework\vx.xxxx
- type: aspnet_regiis -i


Configuration
==============
1. To open the configuration box:
i) Control Panel -> Administrative services -> Internet Information Services
ii) c:\windows\system32\inetsrv\iis.msc

2. For each ASP.NET web application, ensure folders have Read and Execute permissions

Start-Stop
===========
To control the start/stop/automatic-startup ->
Control panel -> administrative tools -> Component Services -> services -> IIS Admin


Tutorials
==========
IIS online getting started: http://localhost/iishelp/iis/misc/default.asp

Test IIS Working
=================
To test that IIS is working with asp pages:
1. Open browser.
2. Browse to URL: http://localhost/localstart.asp
3. If the Welcome to IIS page is not displayed, then check that IIS is working.
4. IIS control panel: system32\inetsrv\iis.msc
5. Under IIS -> ComputerName -> Websites: Check that "Default Website" is "running" state.