Category: Microsoft Windows

  • Disconnect non-mapped drive

    From time to time, I have been unable to connect to the UNC path of a network share. The error message I get is: This usually happens when I am remotely connected to another user’s computer. The message is straight-forward enough; so, too, is the solution. You simply need to disconnect from the share. Here’s how: Open a command…

  • Internet Explorer: Search in the address bar does not work

    A while back, a user called in, complaining that he was unable to use the address bar to search, in Internet Explorer 10. He further reported that he had just upgraded from Internet Explorer 9. I originally thought it was due to problems with a plugin, so that was where I started out. After looking at all…

  • Security database trust relationship revisited

    A little over a year ago, I showed you how to fix a broken trust relationship between the client computer and Active Directory. That post has since received a number of comments, and I will address some of them below: @Uncle Reggie: Yeah right, and lose your entire profile and everything you have ever installed. Oh, sure, there are…

  • Force uninstall when installer is unavailable

    Imagine the scene; you are having a problem with a program, and the manufacturer tells you that the solution is a complete uninstall followed by a reinstall. You go to uninstall, and Windows tells you that it can’t find the installer. Looking around, nor can you. So, now you’re up a certain waterway without a certain…

  • Deleting protected EFI disk partitions

    A while back, one of my laptops kicked the bucket. The cost to repair it was too high, and I opted to get the laptop back to scavenge the parts. In particular, I wanted to get my hands on the hard drive, a solid state wonder with a capacity of 240 GB. I invested in…

  • Fixing “The security database on the server does not have a computer account for this workstation trust relationship”

    When working in a corporate environment with Active Directory, you may, from time to time, encounter computers that users cannot log on to, as they receive an error message saying:   The security database on the server does not have a computer account for this workstation trust relationship.   Though there can be several reasons…

  • Showing 32-bit registry entries on 64-bit versions of Windows

    As 64-bit processors become increasingly prolific, so do 64-bit installations of the operating system. However, most software is still written in 32-bit, which shouldn’t cause any significant problems for most end-users. However, if you need to modify or remove the registry entries for a 32-bit program, you won’t find it where you expect to.  …

  • Using MSTSC to connect to a console mode session.

    One of the most important tools in any sysadmin’s tool kit is the ability to remote control servers and client computers. Being able to quickly connect to Terminal Services is a great way to do so. If you’re like me, you leave a few windows open whenever you leave a machine, and a neat trick…

  • Deleting a service using the registry

    In last week’s post, I showed you how to remove a service using the command prompt. However, there is another way, by using the registry. In this case, too, we need to do a little research, to find the name of the service. For simplicity, I’ll repeat it here:   Open the services control panel…

  • Deleting a service from the command prompt

    Sometimes, as an administrator, you will need to remove a service from Windows. This can be because it is malfunctioning, and reinstalling the software it came with does not solve the issue, or because an uninstall of the software it came with does not solve the actual problem. Whatever the cause, removing a service takes…

  • Welcome to the party, Microsoft

    Like many, many others, I have been urging people to stop using Microsoft Internet Explorer for years. Finally, Microsoft is starting to come around to part of our argument, and has launched a website called IE6 Countdown. Welcome to the party, Microsoft. My biggest problem with IE is still the fact that it is an…