Windows – Stop the Welcome to Internet Explorer from launching via GPO

KB ID 0000459

Problem

If your’e logging on as a new user and Internet Explorer has not yet been ran, then it wants to run the “Setup Windows Internet Explorer Wizard”.

On just one machine with one user that’s fine, but if you are logging in all over the place, with multiple credentials, this can get quite annoying. Also you might not want your domain users having to do this at all, for security reasons.

Solution

On a Single (stand alone) machine.

1. Click start and in the run/search box type gpedit.msc{enter}

2. Navigate to > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer > Prevent Running First Run wizard.

Note: In older versions of Windows its called, ‘Prevent Performance of First Run Customize settings

3. If you enable the policy you can set it to either:

a. Go directly to home page.
b. Go to the “Welcome to Internet Explorer” Web page.

4. Reboot the PC or Force a Group Policy Refresh.

In a Windows Domain Environment

1. On one of your domain controllers > Start > Administrative Tools > Group Policy Management Console > Either select and existing policy or create and link one to the COMPUTERS you want this policy to affect. Then edit the policy.

2. Navigate to > Computer Configuration Policies > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer > Prevent Running First Run wizard.

Note: On older Windows Platforms this is called ‘Prevent Performance of First Run Customize settings.

3. If you enable the policy you can set it to either:

a. Go directly to home page.
b. Go to the “Welcome to Internet Explorer” Web page.

4. Reboot the PC or Force a Group Policy Refresh.

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Group Policy Preferences and Client Side Extensions

Cannot Open a Console Session in the VMware VI Client on Windows 8

KB ID 0000677 

Problem

Mostly my conversion to Windows 8 has been pretty painless, the only thing that wont work is the VMware VI client cant open a console session to the VMs on my ESX server.

Error
The VMRC console has disconencted…attempting to reconnect

This happens because the IE10 that comes with Windows 8 does NOT LIKE the requests the VI client is sending to the Internet Explorer plug-in.

Update 08/03/13 – This problem has now been fixed! Download the latest 5.1 version of the VI client. (see screenshot).

Solution

Work-Around 1 Use VMware workstation (Note: scroll down for a permanent fix)

Until either Microsoft or VMware change something then we are stuck! however there is a work around. if you have VMware Workstation (download the trial it will keep you ticking over till the problem is fixed!).

1. Launch VMware workstation > File > Connect to Server > Enter your ESX/vCenter server details > Connect.

Note: You may need to accept the certificate warning if you are using self signed certificates.

2. Now you can open a console session to your virtual machines.

Work-Around 2 Use VMware Guest Console

Download and run VMware Guest Console > Connect to to a host or vCenter, and you can access the guest machines consoles from there.

Permanent Fix

Sorry, the only way to fix this (at time of writing) is to upgrade to vSphere 5.1 AND install the 5.1 version of the vSphere client. (You can’t point the 5.1 client at a 5.0 host, it automatically launches the 5.0 version of the VI client).

Note: You will need to update vCenter to 5.1 as well for that to work!

Problem Resolved

Update to the latest VI client, and the problem will cease.

 

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

NA

Windows – Explorer Has Stopped Working – Crashes Windows

KB ID 0000388 

Problem

Spend any time working in windows and sooner or later something will upset Windows Explorer, and when it crashes it has a habit of taking something with it (usually your desktop experience – or something you’ve been working on and have not saved!).

The underlying problem can be anything from some poorly coded software, a dodgy device driver, or a wayward Windows update. But you can offset the problem by running Windows Explorer in its own sandboxed process, then if it does fail, it wont break anything else.

Warning there is a slight performance overhead to doing this but if you have a reasonable machine – crack on!

 

Solution

1. Open Windows Explorer (Windows Key +E)

2. Click Tools > Folder Options > View > Place a tick next to “Launch folder windows in a separate process” > Apply.

Note: If you can’t see the Tools Menu Press F10.

 

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

NA

Windows – Compressed (zipped) Folders Error ‘File not found or no read permission’

KB ID 000077

Problem

Seen when attempting to compress a folder or file using Windows Explorer.

Compressing…
Compressed (zipped) Folders Error
File not found or no read permission.

Solution

This is not really a permissions error at all! The built in Windows Explorer compression tool does NOT LIKE large files and folders. Unfortunately that’s a limitation you are stuck with. But there is nothing to stop you using the free and much better compression software 7-Zip, and that will do what you want.

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

NA