Windows Enabling “Show Hidden Files” and “Show File Extensions”
KB ID 0000655 Problem Windows, by.default hides file extensions. Note: Only for files it understands. e.g. In the example below it does not know what a .doc extension is so it shows it (because Word has not been installed yet). Show File Extensions Also hidden files and folders are not shown. Show Hidden Files and Folders Solution I know these are two different things, but I usually set them both together, and they’re both set...
Windows – Disable the ‘Lock Screen’
Lock Screen KB ID 0000670 Problem Also See: Stop Windows Servers ‘Locking’ with Group Policy The Windows lock screen is all well and good if you have a slate/tablet, but I don’t see the point of it on a Desktop PC or Laptop, (it just adds to login time). Note: don’t get this confused with Stop Windows Asking For Password After Sleep / Standby Lock Screen: Solution 1. Bring up the Windows run command (Press Windows Key+R)....
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 – 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...
Windows – USB to Serial Port Converter Drivers
KB ID 0000211 Problem You don’t have a serial port on your laptop so to console into some network equipment you need a USB/Serial Adaptor, I did have some hassle getting drivers for my old Vista Laptop but thankfully I found these ones. {vista-prolific-chip-driver-for-serial-adapters 1.8Mb} But they wouldn’t load on Windows 7. Solution 1. Run the same drivers above, but in compatibility mode for Vista. Right Click the...
Windows – Search the Internet from the Start Menu
KB ID 0000394 Problem I think this is a feature that should be enabled by default, perhaps it will be in Windows 8. Essentially just a quick policy change and you can perform an internet search with your default browser and search provider, straight from Windows Search/Run box. Solution Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links NA
Hide/Remove Users from the Windows Welcome/Logon Screen
KB ID 0000541 Problem This was asked on EE the other day, and I’ve been asked it before, so I put it on my list of “Articles to write up”. Windows by default will display all “Enabled” accounts on the welcome screen. In most cases that’s fine, but the poster had installed SQL and all the service accounts were listed. Solution Option 1 Updated 09/08/12 Site visitor (Fehlmann Paolo ) Emailed in to...
Windows – Remove Saved / Cached Network Passwords
KB ID 0000556 Problem Windows 7 / 2008 R2 like previous versions of Windows, caches your user names and passwords entered for network shares, drives etc. That’s fine until there’s an incorrect password or username in the cache, and you want to remove it. With Windows XP you could do this by running “control userpasswords2” and deleting the offending entry. With Windows 7 we have Credential Manager to do this...