This error message has had me running around for a while now. Some of my users are part of the salesforce, running SAP Mobile Sales on Windows XP computers with Microsoft SQL Server. It’s a big and complicated setup, but it has been running stably for years now. The problem only occurred with users running recently set up computers, and only on a specific model.
Naturally, this had me thinking the problem was hardware. I even went so far as to upgrade a user from a lower spec model computer to a higher spec model. That actually solved the problem, though it wasn’t the solution. Seeing more users report the same error, I concluded that the problem was unlikely to be a problem with a specific model, as most of them had different model computers.
Using most support tech’s best friend, Google, I browsed for the error message (easier said than done, as the computers are set up with a Norwegian edition of Windows XP), and finally found the solution I was after. It was contained in an official Windows XP knowledgebase article; number 909095.
Like most enigma, once a solution has been found, the story rather fizzles out. So, luckily, too with this one. The knowledge base article referred me to a specific update, and having installed that update, the problem disappeared.
Blog
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Resolving “Insufficient System Resources Exist to Complete the API” errors
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How to survive on-site support
Having worked on-site support for most of my career, I’ve seen a lot of things that can bug you. There are a few things we can do to make it a little more survivable, such as:
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Toolkit essentials – Software tools part two – Executables
Like their physical counterparts, software tools are absolutely necessary for successful IT support. I usually divide them up into two categories; CD images and executables. In my last post, I covered CD images, now to the executables I bring with me: (more…) -
Toolkit essentials – Software tools part one – ISO files
Like their physical counterparts, software tools are absolutely necessary for successful IT support. I usually divide them up into two categories; CD images and executables. The first are usually distributed in the form of iso-files. I usually carry the following with me, along with blank CDs, so that I can make the tools I need to:
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Toolkit essentials – Physical tools
Any and all jobs have a few tools of the trade that are essential to the successful completion of your tasks. So, too, with IT support. Whether in the office or out working with a client, I usually have a few tools with me, such as:
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Resolving “File in use” when moving or deleting a file
A while back, I opened a file to see what it was, then decided to move it, at which point I got a “File in use”-error, preventing me from moving, deleting or renaming the file. Luckily, there is a fairly simple solution to this problem:
I’ve written about Process Explorer before, and I still love it. It does the job, simply and effectively. The solution, then, is as follows:
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Turn any website into a desktop widget
AIR (Adobe Integrated Runtime) looks like one of the contenders for the way things are going in terms of simple programming interfaces. One example of this is Adobe Digital Editions, which runs on AIR, and I have recently discovered a second, called Snippage. Simply put, Snippage allows you to track a specific portion of a website as a desktop widget.
It’s all as simple as installing the program, and then selecting what you want to follow. The possibilities for this are varied, such as following an auction, a poll or just about anything else you might want to follow off the web. In addition to selecting a specific selection, you can also set the update interval, or leave the widget static.
Caveat lector: Snippage is currently in Beta stage, and the developer specifically says that it might behave “oddly” -
The Asus Eee 1101H reviewed
I recently decided to get a new laptop. My old laptop was looking like it was going to kick the bucket soon, and I wanted to exchange it sooner, rather than later. I was originally planning to get a high-end Dell, but looking closer at the contents of my wallet, I decided to forego the high-end one for now, and rather go for a cheaper netbook-style computer. In the end, I decided on the Asus Eee 1101H, opting for a large screen and decent specs.
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Manually Removing Personal Security
In a post a while back, I wrote about how to remove Personal Security, a rather nasty piece of spyware. I recently had a computer in that was badly infected.
I tried removing it with MBAM, but it kept on returning. Annoyed, and not wanting to do a reinstall, I found a list of files, folders and registry entries to remove, after which the problem was solved.
Files:
c:\Program Files\PSecurity\
c:\Program Files\PSecurity\psecurity.exe
C:\Program Files\PersonalSec\
C:\Program Files\PersonalSec\psecurity.exe
C:\program files\PersSecurity\
C:\program files\PersSecurity\psecurity.exe
C:\program files\PersSecurity\system.dat
C:\Program Files\PersonSecurity\
C:\Program Files\PersonSecurity\psecurity.exe
c:\Program Files\Common Files\PSecurityUninstall\
c:\Program Files\Common Files\PSecurityUninstall\Uninstall.lnk
c:\WINDOWS\system32\win32extension.dll
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\PSecurity
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\PSecurity\Computer Scan.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\PSecurity\Help.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\PSecurity\Personal Security.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\PSecurity\Registration.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\PSecurity\Security Center.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\PSecurity\Settings.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\PSecurity\Update.lnk
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\PSecurity.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Personal Security.lnk
Registry entries
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{35A5B43B-CB8A-49CA-A9F4-D3B308D2E3CC}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\5FFB10D58FFCF482208906E6A889FD56
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "PSecurity"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "PersonalSec"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "PersSecurity"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "PersonSecurity"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\User Agent\post platform "WinTSI 01.12.2009"
Keep in mind that not all of the entries show up, and even after removing them, you might still see Personal Security on the computer. At any rate, I’d recommend running a scan with MBAM after removing these entries. -
Three free tools to restore and recover files
I’ve been there, and I’m sure you have too. You’ve spent hours on a document, you go to bed, and the next morning, it’s gone! Oh crud! Now what? Here are three free Windows utilities that have worked charms for me:
The first thing I’d try is an utility called Free File Recovery by AVN Media Technologies. This does basic file recovery, and does not scan sector by sector. Still, it has on occasion done the trick for me.
The second tool I’d recommend is called simply Restoration, and does not require installation. It goes deeper than Free File Recovery, and actually scans sectors separately. While less intuitive than Free File Recovery, this, too, has saved me on occasion.
The third and last tool I’m going to recommend is called PC Inspector File Recovery, and comes from a German company called Convar.
The most important tip I can give you when it comes to recovering lost files is to use the storage media in question as little as possible until you can actually try to restore the lost data, as any use will increase the likelyhood that the file will be lost forever. -
Adding a personal message for commenters
If you have left a comment, you might have noticed that there is a message for you before the comment field, that looks like this:
It’s pretty simple to implement, though you do need to muck about a very little bit in php. Here’s how: (more…)