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 – What is the Hotkey to Extend my Desktop to Dual Monitor?
{More Shortcuts Here} KB ID 0000162 Problem If (Like me) you dock your laptop with various monitor configurations, there is a tendency for the Laptop to assume you want “Cloned Monitors” when what you actually want is an “Extended Desktop.” Solution Annoyingly simple – Press the “Windows Key” and P. Windows 7 Extend Monitor Then select as appropriate. Windows 8 Extend Monitor Then select as...
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...
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...
Windows – “GodMode”
KB ID 0000189 Dtd 01/03/10 Problem Sadly this mode does not enable you to turn water into vodka, the term was more coined by bloggers than the developers at Microsoft. Most posts quote creating a folder simply called. GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} But you can call the folder anything you want.. Solution 1. Right Click Your desktop > New > Folder. 2. Rename the folder. 3. Call the Folder...
Windows – Quicklaunch Toolbar
KB ID 0000202 Problem Got a new work laptop yesterday, and while I was in the process of copying my stuff over from the old one, I remembered I’d have to setup Quicklaunch again, so I though this time I’d take a bit of time to document the process. Quicklaunch was a nice feature in Windows XP,but Microsoft hid it in Vista and have continued this trend with Windows 7,8,10. As it’s a feature I rely on all the time,...
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 7 – Using the Windows Mobile Emulator
KB ID 0000241 Problem I first saw the Windows Mobile Emulator after Exchange 2003 service pack 2 came out, and we had a deluge of jobs to install “Push Email” to Windows Mobile Devices. I even used it on the Exchange 2007 course, this was when Microsoft changed the name of the service to “ActiveSync” to confuse the hell out of everyone with a mobile device, who used ActiveSync to sync the device with Windows. A...
Windows 7 – VNC Wont Work
KB ID 0000243 Problem You have VNC and have suddenly realised that its stopped working for your Windows 7 clients. It’s been a while since I’ve used VNC, but I had a client call this morning to ask what he should use. As he is one of the good guys I fired up the test bench and did some testing. Solution Use Tight VNC, at time of writing version 2.0 Beta 3 works on, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server Windows...
Windows 7 – How Do I Delete Old Networks?
KB ID 0000244 Problem If you move around a lot from client site to client site, your Windows 7 network list can get huge. Solution 1. Right click the network link on your taskbar. 2. Select “Open Network and Sharing Center”. 3. Left click your current connection. Click for larger image 4. At the bottom of the screen select “Merge or Delete network Locations”. 5. Select the unwanted ones > Delete > Close....