Windows 8 – Empty Explorer.EXE Window Opens on Boot
KB ID 0000893 Problem After cleaning an infected Windows 8 machine, I was faced with an empty Explorer.EXE window with just a warning triangle like this every time the PC booted. Solution It was being caused by a piece of junk that was left in the registry. 1. Press Windows Key+R > type regedit {Enter} > The registry editor will open. 2. Navigate to; HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWindows 3. Check the...
Windows 8 – Putting Shutdown / Log Off / Restart on the Start Menu
KB ID 0000902 Problem I’ve written before about How to shutdown Windows 8 (or 8.1). But if you actually want those options on your Start screen this is how to do it. Note: If you are feeling especially lazy, you can download the shortcuts and skip straight to the pinning shortcuts to the start screen section. Solution 1. On a free area of your desktop > Right click > New > Shortcut. 2. You will need to create a...
Windows – Cannot Manage Active Directory Certificate Services
KB ID 0001037 This article is from long time site supporter: Daniel Newton Problem On my laptop today I installed the RSAT Tools for Remote Management. I went to do some PKI Work in my Test Environment and Came with the Following Error: “Cannot Manage Active Directory Certificate Services. The specified service does not exist as an installed service. 0x424 (WIN32: 1060 ERROR_SERVICE_DOES_NOT_EXIST)” I thought it would automatically...
Windows 8/8.1 Stop The New User Animation
KB ID 0001078 Problem After spinning up quite a few Windows 8 virtual machines over the past few days, it struck me how annoying the new user account animation was. It’s only setting up a user profile, why on earth does it take so long? Solution To Disable New User Animation On A Stand Alone Machine 1. Press the Windows Key and launch gpedit.msc. 2. Navigate to;</p? Computer Configuration > Administrative Tools >...
Windows Crashes and Reboots when Unlocked
KB ID 0000145 Problem This is seen on Windows 7 Clients, when logged onto a domain, after unlocking the machine. If you inspect the Event Log you will see Event ID 1015 “A critical system process, C:Windowssystem32lsass.exe, failed with status code 255. The machine must now be restarted.” Solution I put up with this for a while, and did a lot of Internet searching, some people suggested power settings and a host of...
Windows – Minimised Windows Don’t Restore/Maximise
KB ID 0000155 Problem I’ve seen this a couple of times with various applications, I don’t know it ifs a Windows problem, or simply the code in the application that faults, anyway it affected mRemote which I use on a daily basis, so I needed to fix it (Note: I’ve seen this on Java based applications as well). At first I assumed it was a multiple monitor problem, I use dual monitors in the office and thought the...
Windows – Create ‘Multiple Version’ Install Media(x32 and x64 bit)
KB ID 0000164 Problem When Microsoft released Windows Vista and Server 2008 they had the brilliant Idea of putting all the versions you would require in the same install media. With Windows 7 they have changed their approach, and the install media is specific to the version that is going to be installed. Well actually that’s not true the version is decided by a file in the installation media called ei.cfg and all versions are...
Windows: How To Remove the ‘Shortcut Arrow’
KB ID 0000178 Problem Whenever I build a new machine, one of the first things I do, is open Regedit > Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT > lnkfile and remove the “IsShortcut” Value, and voila! the annoying shortcut arrows are gone. DONT DO THAT! If you do, you will notice that you can no longer add shortcuts to the “Windows Explorer Favorites” (well you can but you can’t see them), also it disables (Grays...
Windows Deployment Services (On Server 2008 R2) Deploying Windows 7
KB ID 0000180 Problem It’s been a while since I posted run through’s on WDS – they were on Server 2003, and were for deploying Windows XP. I’ve completely re-written this page and shot a series of videos to make the process a little easier to understand. Solution Step 1 Notes 1. If the WDS Server is NOT the DHCP server then do NOT tick both the DHCP options, (as stated in the video), on your DHCP scope...
You cannot upgrade this prerelease version of Windows 7
Performing an upgrade from Windows 7 Pre-Release KB ID 0000188 Problem If your running the “Pre Release” version of Windows 7 it going to stop working 28/02/10, and when you try and upgrade it you will see this error. There is no direct upgrade path, from the Pre-Release, however all its not lost, simply do the following. Note: This will only work if your upgrading to Windows 7 Ultimate (All the Pre-release versions are...