Tag: Windows
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Disable Autoplay through a registry hack
Autoplay is one of the most wildly annoying features I know. I just dislike inserting, let’s say, a TechNet CD, and have Windows open Internet Explorer and display a lot of useless information that I don’t care about.I would much rather browse through the file system of the disc, and go directly to what I…
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Oh no, they didn’t – or the many versions of Windows 7
I have long been of the opinion that where Microsoft have gone very, very badly wrong indeed when it comes to Windows is that they release multiple versions. The argument could be made that this is how it has been since NT4.0/98, but that argument doesn’t hold, because they ditched the Windows 98 line of…
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Quickly and simply troubleshoot networks from the command line
I love using command line tools, especially for troubleshooting networking. There are two simple commands you need to know; ipconfig and ping. Here’s a simple guide to finding where the problem : Open the command line by opening the “run” dialog box, entering cmd and clicking OK Ensure that the TCP/IP service is running…
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Find the DiskCleanup utility easily
I’m sure you know the problem: you’ve used someone elses computer, and want to remove your traces. One of the easiest ways of doing that is to use the DiskCleanup utility, however locating it isn’t exactly the easiest thing. Luckily, it’s pretty simple to initiate the utility from the Run dialog; simply enter the…
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Update your computer now!
I rarely write posts off the cuff, but this warrants it. Microsoft has released Security Bulletin MS08-059, along with a hotfix for the problem detailed. There are already exploits in the wild to take advantage of the hotfix. What I ask is simply this: Update your computer. Run Windows Update, and update your computer.…
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Resolving COM port conflicts in Mobile broadband cards
I was called out to help with a problem that had stumped a few of our more experienced techs. The problem was that a user was unable to use her Mobile Broadband USB device. The specific device we use is supplied by one of the major norwegian telecoms, Telenor. It is a Globetrotter HSDPA…
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Finding the name of a service
In my last post, I showed you how to use a batch script to start a service from a desktop shortcut. The command we used was the net start command. In order to use it, you need to find the name of the service you want to start. Here’s how: In the startmenu, click run…
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Creating a shortcut to start a service.
I’ve finally got my HTPC up and running with Team Mediaportal‘s lovely Media Center replacement Media Portal. One of the issues I faced while getting it up and running, was getting it to work with my MCE Remote. The solution to this was a third-party app called IR Server Suite. Once installed, every function in…
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Renaming your wireless network connection
Being one to muck about quite a bit with my computers, my wireless network connection is now called “Wireless Network Connection 5”, like so: Annoying though it may be, it is, however, really easy to remedy. Here’s how: Right-click the Wireless Network Connection, and select “Rename” Call it whatever you’d like, and…
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A better Task Manager
Windows Task Manager is a decent enough tool, but it doesn’t really give you all that much information, nor is it always able to do what you need it to, such as end certain processes. By default, the Processes view looks something like this: While this is enough for most users, it isn’t always…