Windows ‘Where’s the Startup Folder?’
Windows 8 Shell Commands for ‘Special Folders’ KB ID 0000709 Problem With Windows 7 (and earlier versions) you could simply find the startup folder from the start menu, now you don’t have one, (and its NOT on the Windows Key+X replacement menu either). Solution The simple answer to the question is, Your user Startup folder is located at; %appdata%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsStartup The All users Startup folder...
Windows 8 – Stopping ‘Sign in to your PC’ On Imaged Machines
KB ID 0000736 Problem When you have deployed Windows 8, you are presented with the option to sign in with a MICROSOFT ACCOUNT. That’s a good thing (generally), but that might be a leap to far for most IT departments at the minute! So you may want t stop your imaged machines asking in the first place. You may also want to stop the machine asking for a LOCAL ACCOUNT also. Solution 1. If you are using the System Image Manager to...
Windows 8 – Add Shutdown to the Start/Metro Menu
KB ID 0000744 Problem I wrote an article ages ago about ‘How to shut down Windows 8’ but what if you simply want a shortcut to save you the hassle, and have that on your start menu? Solution 1. Press Windows Key+R > In the run box type the following; %appdata%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuPrograms 2. In the window that opens > Right click > New > Shortcut. 3. Enter the following shutdown /t 00 /s 4. Call the...
Windows Key Has Stopped Working (Logitech G15)
KB ID 0000749 Problem I jumped on my main PC at home to do something the other day, being Windows 8 I tend to use the Windows key a LOT (Windows Key+R and +E, and +X for example). Windows 8 Shortcut Keys But the windows key did nothing? I tried CTRL+Esc, and that worked? I was starting to think that I had a faulty keyboard. Solution Turns out there’s nothing wrong with my keyboard at all, as its primarily designed for the gaming...
Stop Windows Rebooting Due To Updates
KB ID 0000773 Problem I realise that updates are important, and Microsoft made updating easier by only releasing them once a month. But my laptop always wants to reboot at the point where I’m doing something critical! and Windows 8 unilaterally decides that its updates are far more important than my work. OK this will only happen once a month, (normally) and it will only happen a maximum of 72 hours after the update. It affects...
Windows 8 – RSAT Tools Will Not Install?
KB ID 0000827 Problem For newer versions of Windows see, Install RSAT (Remote Server Administration Tools) I wanted the RSAT tools installing on a Windows 8 machine today, I downloaded the RSAT update and ran it, but the tools did not appear? Also they were not available under ‘Turn Windows features on or off’. Solution As it turns out, even though it says ‘Installation complete’ that’s not the same as...
Windows 8 – Boot Straight to Desktop
KB ID 0000829 Problem Since its release it’s long been a gripe that you cannot boot Windows 8 straight to the desktop. Some people just don’t like the ‘Metro’ (or Modern UI) interface. I must admit I STILL use quicklaunch so I never really open it anyway. But with the release of Windows 8.1 Microsoft have finally done a ‘U turn’ and have given you the option to bypass it completely as the computer boots....
Windows 8 – ‘Network Connectivity Assistant service is stopped or not responding’
KB ID 0000841 Problem When attempting to check Direct Access connection status on a Windows 8 client machine with a Get-DaConnectionStatus command you see the following error; Get-DaConnectionStatus : Network Connectivity Assistant service is stopped or not responding. OK, so lets go and check the status of that service, if it starts great, but mine did not as you can see. And it logged an Event ID 7024 The Network Connectivity...
Windows – Images no longer shown as ‘Thumbnails’
KB ID 0000872 Problem While trying to locate some photos, I noticed my laptop was no longer showing images, (or videos) as thumbnails. Note: The icons on my machine look like this simply because I have Adobe Photoshop installed, and these files are associated with it. Solution 1. Normally this is because the ‘Thumbnail Cache’ gets corrupted. You can remove the cache and let it rebuild by removing the file(s) that make up...
Windows – Monitor Display ‘Turned Sideways’
KB ID 0000884 Problem I bit the bullet and said ‘Yes’ when prompted to upgrade to Windows 8.1 the other day. Post upgrade, I was beavering away working on the site when the display rotated ninety degrees; I’ve seen this happen with client in the past and pressing CTRL+Shift+Up Arrow (or the left or right arrows) usually fixes the problem, (but not in this case). I guessed Windows 8.1 was detecting movement on my laptop and...