In Windows Vista shows in Disk Cleanup listed items below have huge GB file sizes, for the following Lists.
Per user archived Windows Error Reporting Files
Per user queued Windows Error Reporting Files
System archived Windows Error Reporting Files
System queued Windows Error Reporting Files
WARNING:
If you click Delete these listed items in Disk Cleanup without fixing this bug first will cause removal of working files in windows and you have to reinstall Vista.
Fix for Disk Cleanup Windows Error Reporting Windows Vista x86 (32bit)
Download Fix_DiskCleanup_Error_Reporting.reg file.
Click on Save, and save the file to the Desktop.
Right click on the file(on Desktop) and click Extract then run fix.reg file.
Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
When done, you can delete the files from Desktop
Relogin, or restart the computer to apply the changes.
NOTE: The Disk Cleanup shortcut is correct in the 32 bit Vista.
If you have the 64 bit Vista, then you will also need to fix the Disk Cleanup shortcut only.
Fix for Disk Cleanup Windows Error Reporting Windows Vista x64 (64bit)
Open the Start Menu.
Click on All Programs, Accessories, and then on System Tools.
Right click on Disk Cleanup and click on Properties.
NOTE: All other Disk Cleanup shortcuts are correct in(x64). Just this one has incorrect parameter.
In the Target: area, change it from:
%SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\cleanmgr.exe
TO:
%SystemRoot%\system32\cleanmgr.exe
Click on Apply for changes
Click on Continue in the Access Denied and for UAC prompt.
Click on OK.
Showing posts with label Windows Vista. Show all posts
Windows Tips - Enable or Disable Defrag of Boot Files at Windows Vista Startup
How to Enable Defrag of Boot Files at Windows Startup
Open the Start Menu
Open Run or in the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter
In regedit, go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
To Disable Defrag of Boot Files at Startup
In the right pane, right click on "Enable" and click Modify
[ In the image, Red marked is the Path to Enable/Disable Boot time Defrag ]
Type N and click OK
Done
How to Disable Defrag of Boot Files at Windows Startup
Open the Start Menu
Open Run or in the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter
In regedit, go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
To Disable Defrag of Boot Files at Startup
In the right pane, right click on "Enable" and click Modify
Type Y and click OK
Done
Download AutoEnabler/Disabler
Open the Start Menu
Open Run or in the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter
In regedit, go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
To Disable Defrag of Boot Files at Startup
In the right pane, right click on "Enable" and click Modify
[ In the image, Red marked is the Path to Enable/Disable Boot time Defrag ]
Type N and click OK
Done
How to Disable Defrag of Boot Files at Windows Startup
Open the Start Menu
Open Run or in the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter
In regedit, go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
To Disable Defrag of Boot Files at Startup
In the right pane, right click on "Enable" and click Modify
Type Y and click OK
Done
Download AutoEnabler/Disabler
Vista Tips - Enabling the outbound firewall
In Windows Vista, Microsoft decided it was best to disable the outbound connection filtering because it can cause headaches for many inexperienced computer users. This may have been the right choice but not filtering your outbound traffic can increase the possibility that an application can steal important personal information and send it to a remote computer. If this application is malicious, it can be used to steal personal information such as passwords and bank account numbers.
Turning on the outbound firewall filtering and enabling only the rules that grant your normal applications access to the Internet will greatly increase the security of your computer.
Turning on the outbound firewall filtering and enabling only the rules that grant your normal applications access to the Internet will greatly increase the security of your computer.
Enabling the outbound firewall rules on your computer is easy to do once you know where Microsoft hid the setting.
Follow these steps to turn the outbound firewall back on:
- If the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window is not already open, click the Start button, type wf.msc in the Search box, and then press Enter.
- When the firewall configuration tool is loaded, click Windows Firewall Properties right in the middle of the opening screen.
- When the settings window loads, you will see a tab for each of the different firewall profiles. Select the tab for the profile on which you would like to enable outbound filtering.
- Under the State section, locate the Outbound connections drop-down box and change it to Block.
- Click OK when you are finished to activate the outbound firewall on the profile you specified.
Vista Tips - Using BitLocker Drive Encryption with a USB Storage Device
If your computer does not have a compatible TPM chip, you can still use BitLocker Drive Encryption with a USB storage device.
However, Microsoft has recently decided to hide this option from users. A local group policy change must be made to turn this option back on.
However, Microsoft has recently decided to hide this option from users. A local group policy change must be made to turn this option back on.
- Click the Start button, type gpedit.msc in the run command or search box, and press Enter.
- When the Group Policy editor has loaded
- Navigate through Computer Configuration
- Administrative Templates
- Windows Components
- BitLocker Drive Encryption
- Right-click Control Panel Setup: Enable advanced startup options and select Properties.
- Select the Enabled option and click OK.
You can now use a USB storage device with BitLocker Drive encryption again
Vista Tips - Secure the Administrator account
The Administrator account is the most important account on the computer because it has the highest permissions and can do anything it wants to the configuration and settings of your computer.
Securing this valuable account is critical to the overall security of your computer.This can be accomplished by ensuring the account is disabled, setting a strong password, and renaming it so that it is harder for malicious scripts and viruses to try to use.
Doing this is very similar to securing the Guest account as you just did in the Assigning Password on Guest Account.
Securing this valuable account is critical to the overall security of your computer.This can be accomplished by ensuring the account is disabled, setting a strong password, and renaming it so that it is harder for malicious scripts and viruses to try to use.
Doing this is very similar to securing the Guest account as you just did in the Assigning Password on Guest Account.
Follow these steps to protect your Administrator account:
- Click the Start menu, right-click Computer, and select Manage.
- After Computer Manager loads, expand Local Users and Groups and select the Users folder.
- Right-click the Administrator account and select Properties.
- Check the Account is disabled option if it is not already selected. Then, click OK to save the changes.
- Right-click the Administrator account and select Set Password.
- A warning screen will appear, telling you about what might happen if you proceed. Disregard this message and click Proceed.
- When the Set Password window appears, type a completely random complex password that is at least 20 characters long in both boxes and click OK. The new password will now be set.
- Rename the account to confuse any malicious scripts that might be looking for it. Right-click the Administrator account again and select Rename.
- Type a new name for the account that has some random letters and numbers in it. I like to use AdminDisabled2341 as a new name.
- Press Enter and you are finished.
Now both of the built-in Windows Vista accounts are secured.
Vista Tips - Assigning a Password and Renaming the Guest Account
One of the default accounts set up in Windows Vista is the Guest account. This account can be useful if your computer is in a public place such as a library and a low rights account is needed.
However, for most of us, this account is just another possible security hole because it cannot be deleted. It is disabled by default but it could be enabled again by a virus or malware if your computer ever gets infected. The best way to neutralize this account is to give it a random password and rename it to eliminate the chances that some script will be able to use it.
However, for most of us, this account is just another possible security hole because it cannot be deleted. It is disabled by default but it could be enabled again by a virus or malware if your computer ever gets infected. The best way to neutralize this account is to give it a random password and rename it to eliminate the chances that some script will be able to use it.
Follow these steps to protect this account:
- Click the Start menu, right-click Computer, and then select Manage.
- After Computer Manager loads, expand Local Users and Groups and select the Users folder. All the local computer accounts will be listed.
- Right-click the Guest account on the list and select Set Password.
- A warning screen will appear, telling you about what may happen if you proceed. Disregard this message and click Proceed.
- When the Set Password window appears, type in a completely random password that is a complex password and is also at least 20 characters long in both boxes and click OK. The new password will now be set.
- Rename the account to confuse any malicious scripts that might be looking for it. Right-click the Guest account again and select Rename.
- Type a new name for this account that has some random letters and numbers in it. You just want to make it different from Guest.
- When you are done renaming it, click Enter and you are finished.
Your Guest account is now more secure than ever.
Ultimate Links PC Tips™
Ultimate Links PC Tips™
Vista Tips - Using Windows Search without an Index
The indexing service plays a key role in accelerating searches within Window Vista. Although this service provides a lot of value by allowing you to quickly search thousands of files, it is not a requirement of Windows Search. It is possible to completely disable the indexing service. However, searches with Windows Search will require much more time to complete and can cause your hard drive to do a lot of work while Windows Search iterates through folders and files instead of just accessing a search index.
Disabling the indexing service will save your computer extra memory and CPU time required to run the application in the background. Depending on how often you use the Windows Search feature, you can decide if it is worth sacrificing fast searches for a little extra performance from Windows Explorer.
Follow these steps if you decide to disable the indexing service:
Follow these steps if you decide to disable the indexing service:
-
Click the Start button, type services.msc in the Search box, and then press Enter (or in Run Command). This loads the Services utility. -
After Services has loaded, scroll through the list and locate the Windows Search service. This is the indexing service. Right-click this service and select Stop. -
When the service is stopped, make sure that it does not start again. Right-click the service again and select Properties. -
Locate the Startup type drop-down box. Change the Startup type from Automatic to Disabled. -
Press OK to close the window.
You have now successfully disabled the indexing service that is used by Windows Search. Although your searches are now slower, you have freed up processing power that can be used instead by other processes such as Windows Explorer.
Ultimate Links PC Tips™
Ultimate Links PC Tips™
Vista Tips - Disabling Aero Glass for Faster Performance
Now you want to make Windows Explorer even faster. Disabling the Aero Glass composition engine will allow you to have a much faster user interface experience on slower hardware. However, you will lose most of the cool visual effects, such as the windows transitions and the cool new Flip 3D window switcher
Disabling Aero Glass will turn off the Desktop Window Manager and Windows will use a visual style engine similar to what was in Windows XP. The older visual style engine works great on slower hardware that ran XP well. However, the look of the user interface is a little different.
If you are willing to compromise the Glass look for a big increase in performance, follow these steps to disable Aero Glass:
- Right-click the Desktop and select Personalize from the menu.
- Select Windows Color and Appearance from the top of the list in the Personalization window.
- On the bottom of the window, click Open classic appearance properties for more color options.
- When Appearance Settings loads, select Windows Aero Basic from the color scheme list.
- Press Apply, OK and you are finished.
Vista Tips - Using BitLocker Drive Encryption
Using BitLocker Drive Encryption is easy when you have your hard drive configured properly and have reinstalled Windows Vista.
Just follow these steps to get BitLocker up and running for you:
Just follow these steps to get BitLocker up and running for you:
- Click the Start menu and select Control Panel.
- When Control Panel loads, click the Security heading.
- Click BitLocker Drive Encryption.
- If your computer is configured properly, you should see a Turn it on link, next to your operating system drive.
- Click that link now.
- Select the type of device you will be using to protect your computer and follow the onscreen steps for your method of protection.
After you complete all the steps the wizard guides you through, your computer will begin encrypting the hard drive automatically.
Congratulations, your computer is now even more secure. Keep in mind that you will need to insert your USB drive every time you want to boot your computer if you choose the non-TPM option.
Failure to insert it will result in your computer not booting. Make sure that you keep your emergency recovery passcode stored in a safe place, as well as your USB drive, in the event you choose to use that option.
Congratulations, your computer is now even more secure. Keep in mind that you will need to insert your USB drive every time you want to boot your computer if you choose the non-TPM option.
Failure to insert it will result in your computer not booting. Make sure that you keep your emergency recovery passcode stored in a safe place, as well as your USB drive, in the event you choose to use that option.
Vista Tips - Multitab home pages in Internet Explorer 7
From older versions of Internet Explorer, you are familiar with the concept of having a home page, a Web site that is displayed when the web browser is loaded.
In Windows Vista, that classic browser feature has been mixed in with tabs. Now users can specify multiple Web sites to come up by default when they load Internet Explorer and can display them in different tabs.
Although this is not exactly a groundbreaking feature, it is a nice hidden feature that helps you customize your browser.
Ultimate Links PC Tips™
In Windows Vista, that classic browser feature has been mixed in with tabs. Now users can specify multiple Web sites to come up by default when they load Internet Explorer and can display them in different tabs.
Although this is not exactly a groundbreaking feature, it is a nice hidden feature that helps you customize your browser.
Using a multitab home page is easy when you know the secret.
Just follow these steps to set up your own multitab home page:
Just follow these steps to set up your own multitab home page:
- Start Internet Explorer.
- Click Tools, and then select Internet Options.
- When Internet Options loads, you will see the Home Page section at the top of the screen.
- To use multiple sites as your home pages, just enter each URL on a separate line.
- When you have finished, click OK to save your changes.
- Click the Home button to instantly see your changes.
Vista Tips - Enabling Aero Glass on Slower Hardware
Aero Glass can be resource intensive depending on your CPU, amount of RAM, and screen resolution. On top of the speed of your hardware, the DWM (Desktop Window Manager) has strict hardware requirements, such as a video card that supports DirectX 9 hardware acceleration and Pixel Shader 2.0 support. It also requires new Windows Vista WDDM (Windows display driver model) video drivers to function.
Failure to meet the hardware and driver requirements will result in no Glass for you. Back in the beta days, you could trick the DWM into running Glass in a software Direct3D emulation mode and bypassing the hardware checks. This made it possible to run Glass, but so poorly that the operating system was pretty much useless because the frame rate was less than one frame per second. In the final version of Windows Vista, that support was yanked, so you are left with the task of meeting the hardware and driver requirements to run Glass.
Failure to meet the hardware and driver requirements will result in no Glass for you. Back in the beta days, you could trick the DWM into running Glass in a software Direct3D emulation mode and bypassing the hardware checks. This made it possible to run Glass, but so poorly that the operating system was pretty much useless because the frame rate was less than one frame per second. In the final version of Windows Vista, that support was yanked, so you are left with the task of meeting the hardware and driver requirements to run Glass.
Say you have a computer that has a DirectX 9 accelerated graphics card with Pixel Shader 2.0 support and are running WDDM drivers for your card. Aero Glass is going to run, right? Not exactly. The first time that you boot your computer after Windows Vista is installed, Windows will benchmark your computer and all its hardware components during its initial hardware assessment.
Based on the results of this benchmark, it automatically fine-tunes Vista settings so that it performs the best on your hardware; atleast that's its goal. If hardware assessment finds any thresholds not met, such as not enough RAM, it disables Aero Glass from running on your computer even if your hardware can technically support it.
What are you to do?
With the help of a useful tweak I show you in this section, you can override the decision and re-enable Aero Glass. If you fall into this situation, I have good news for you. Many users have found that after they override the setting and re-enable Aero Glass, their system performance is just fine. It seems that the Windows hardware assessment might be a little too strict when it comes to deciding whether Aero Glass should be disabled.
Based on the results of this benchmark, it automatically fine-tunes Vista settings so that it performs the best on your hardware; atleast that's its goal. If hardware assessment finds any thresholds not met, such as not enough RAM, it disables Aero Glass from running on your computer even if your hardware can technically support it.
What are you to do?
With the help of a useful tweak I show you in this section, you can override the decision and re-enable Aero Glass. If you fall into this situation, I have good news for you. Many users have found that after they override the setting and re-enable Aero Glass, their system performance is just fine. It seems that the Windows hardware assessment might be a little too strict when it comes to deciding whether Aero Glass should be disabled.
Overriding the Windows decision to disable Aero Glass is easy via Registry Editor. Follow these steps to re-enable Aero Glass on your computer:
- Click the Start button, type regedit, and press Enter.
- When Registry Editor has opened, navigate to
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ Microsoft\Windows\DWM
Working with the Registry to enable Aero Glass
- Right-click on Composition and select Modify.
- Set the value to 1 and press OK.
- Right-click CompositionPolicy and select Modify.
- Set the value to 2 and press OK.
- Close Registry Editor and restart your computer.
You can restart the service by typing net stop uxsms followed by net start uxsms at an administrative-level command prompt.
After you set the two Registry values and restart the service or your computer, you will immediately see Aero Glass running if your hardware truly supports it and you have WDDM drivers for your video card.
Speeding Up System Boot - What Hardware Devices should I Disable ?
Each user uses (or doesn't use) devices differently,depending on the system setup. Nonetheless, some classes of devices are more commonly disabled than others.Knowing which ones will help you make a decision as to what devices you should disable.The following classes of devices are frequently disabled:
To quickly determine the status of a device, check out the icon next to its name. All devices that are disabled have a red X over the icon. All devices that have a question mark or an explanation point on them are not set up correctly or are having problems. All devices with none of the above additions to the icon are runningññand doing so without any problems.
Network Adapters
Especially on Notebook computers,there are often more than one network device. Disabling the network devices that you do not use will definitely save you some booting time.
Fire wire
If you have 1394 connections,otherwise known as fire wire,you might consider disabling them. Unless you are using your fire wire port to connect your digital
video recorder to your computer,or have other external fire wire devices,you have no need to have this device enabled.
Especially on Notebook computers,there are often more than one network device. Disabling the network devices that you do not use will definitely save you some booting time.
Fire wire
If you have 1394 connections,otherwise known as fire wire,you might consider disabling them. Unless you are using your fire wire port to connect your digital
video recorder to your computer,or have other external fire wire devices,you have no need to have this device enabled.
Modems
Do you have a broadband connection? If so,then consider disabling your modem. If you rarely use it,disable it. If you ever need to use it again,just re-enable it.
Multimedia devices
Your computer has lots of multimedia devices. Take a look at the
ìSound,video,and game controllersîsection in Device Manager. You will find a lot of device drivers that are loaded during your boot.Some are used by all users,but others will find a few that they do not use.For example,I do not use my game port or my MIDI device,so I disabled both of those.
PCMCIA
If you are a laptop user,consider disabling your PCMCIA card controller, located under ìPCMCIA adapters."The PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association ) slot is a special expansion slot that is rarely used today on laptops except for wireless and wired network cards and card reader attachments for compact flash and other solid state memory cards.Most laptops now have built-in network adapters and some even have built-in wireless adapters.If you do not use your PCMCIA adapter, it is yet another device that can be safely disabled.
Caution
Do not disable any hardware devices that are located under the Disk Drives, Computer, Display Adapters, IDE Disk Controllers, and the System sections (except for the system speaker) because these hardware devices are critical to the operation of your computer.
Do not disable any hardware devices that are located under the Disk Drives, Computer, Display Adapters, IDE Disk Controllers, and the System sections (except for the system speaker) because these hardware devices are critical to the operation of your computer.
Vista Boot Options
This Tip is for the First Time Windows Vista Users
Click Start-Run then enter "msconfig" without quotes and press enter.
Alternate way to take Windows Run
Press Win key+R
The Boot tab lets you configure boot options, including timeout settings and advanced
settings, such as these:
■ Safe Boot: Minimal—Boots to the Windows GUI but only running critical services.
Networking functions are also disabled. If you find your system is working at this level
then you might want to try turning on services to see if they cause any further issues.
■ Safe Boot: Alternate Shell—Boots to a command prompt. Critical services are running,
but networking and the GUI are disabled. From here you can perform command-line
diagnostics.
■ Safe Boot: Active Directory Repair—Boots to the Windows GUI running critical services
and Active Directory.
■ Safe Boot: Network—Boots to the Windows GUI, running critical services and network-
ing. If you don’t think your problem is in the networking services then having the
network turned on for your system will allow you to access resources you might need
on the network or Internet for diagnosis.
■ No GUI Boot—Does not display the Windows Vista splash screen when you are booting.
Instead, as mentioned earlier, the Aurora screen appears.
■ Boot Log—Stores information from the boot process in a log located in %systemroot%
called ntbtlog.txt. These logs can be sent to other technicians for their opinion on
what might be causing your system to crash.
■ Base Video—Just like VGA mode in times past, this mode loads the system with standard VGA drivers instead of those that specifically relate to your hardware. This option is good for eliminating problems with video drivers.
■ OS Boot Information—Shows all the drivers during the boot process as they load up.
■ Make All Boot Settings Permanent—Usually when you make changes, you can undo
them simply by selecting the Normal boot process from the General tab (as mentioned
earlier). But if you select this option, those changes can still be undone; however, the
caveat is you have to manually go back and uncheck the options you’ve checked.
■ Timeout Settings—You can configure different countdowns for your multiboot systems.
You can try to type in what you like, but it will ask for a number between 3 seconds
and 999 seconds.
■ Advanced Settings—These advanced options enable you to configure such things as the
number of processors, the amount of memory, and Global Debug settings. Keep in mind
that these options are last-resort choices to diagnose your systems and are usually used
under the direction of Microsoft support services.
Click Start-Run then enter "msconfig" without quotes and press enter.
Alternate way to take Windows Run
Press Win key+R
The Boot tab lets you configure boot options, including timeout settings and advanced
settings, such as these:
■ Safe Boot: Minimal—Boots to the Windows GUI but only running critical services.
Networking functions are also disabled. If you find your system is working at this level
then you might want to try turning on services to see if they cause any further issues.
■ Safe Boot: Alternate Shell—Boots to a command prompt. Critical services are running,
but networking and the GUI are disabled. From here you can perform command-line
diagnostics.
■ Safe Boot: Active Directory Repair—Boots to the Windows GUI running critical services
and Active Directory.
■ Safe Boot: Network—Boots to the Windows GUI, running critical services and network-
ing. If you don’t think your problem is in the networking services then having the
network turned on for your system will allow you to access resources you might need
on the network or Internet for diagnosis.
■ No GUI Boot—Does not display the Windows Vista splash screen when you are booting.
Instead, as mentioned earlier, the Aurora screen appears.
■ Boot Log—Stores information from the boot process in a log located in %systemroot%
called ntbtlog.txt. These logs can be sent to other technicians for their opinion on
what might be causing your system to crash.
■ Base Video—Just like VGA mode in times past, this mode loads the system with standard VGA drivers instead of those that specifically relate to your hardware. This option is good for eliminating problems with video drivers.
■ OS Boot Information—Shows all the drivers during the boot process as they load up.
■ Make All Boot Settings Permanent—Usually when you make changes, you can undo
them simply by selecting the Normal boot process from the General tab (as mentioned
earlier). But if you select this option, those changes can still be undone; however, the
caveat is you have to manually go back and uncheck the options you’ve checked.
■ Timeout Settings—You can configure different countdowns for your multiboot systems.
You can try to type in what you like, but it will ask for a number between 3 seconds
and 999 seconds.
■ Advanced Settings—These advanced options enable you to configure such things as the
number of processors, the amount of memory, and Global Debug settings. Keep in mind
that these options are last-resort choices to diagnose your systems and are usually used
under the direction of Microsoft support services.
Windows Freezes or Stops Responding All times
The problem could be caused by any of the below possibilities.
Software
Drivers
Operating System Error caused by viruses
Heat
Hardware Failure
Serious issue with Windows
If the computer frequently freezes or completely halts. An easy way to determine if your computer is in this situation is by pressing the Num Lock button on the keyboard and watching the Num Lock led to see if it turns off and/or on.
If you're able to get the light to turn off an on, press CTRL + ALT + DEL and attempt to end task the program.
Software Error
A computer locking up or freezing is often is caused by a software error. If you're encountering lockups when the computer is opening a particular program, make sure you have all the latest updates for that program. Find the latest updates for your software through the software developer or publisher or from their Websites.
Drivers Error
A computer lock up can also be caused by drivers. For example, if there is an error that exists with your video drivers a computer could lock up while playing a game or displaying any other type of video. Make sure you have the latest drivers for all major devices in your computer (video, sound, modem, and network). A listing of driver related pages as well as driver related help can be found on drivers homepage.
Operating System Errors
Make sure your operating system has all of the latest updates installed on it.
Heating Failure
If the computer processor is getting too hot it can cause the computer to freeze. If you have heard any abnormal noises coming from your computer recently such as a high squealing, this could indicate a fan may be failing in your computer.
You can first start by verifying the fan on the power supply is working by examining the back of the computer and seeing if the fan is moving and moving smoothly. For all other fans in the computer you will need to either open the computer and make sure the fan are working (processor fan and case fan) and/or if your BIOS monitors the RPM of the fans, enter BIOS and make sure the BIOS does not report any errors.
Users may also be able to determine how hot their computer is by onboard thermal sensors. If your computer comes equipped with these sensors, make sure your CPU is not running too hot.
Hardware Failure
In addition to software, hardware can also cause a pc to lock. If you have recently added any new hardware into the computer, try temporarily removing it to make sure it is not the cause of your issue.
Before attempting to remove any hardware, make sure you are not encountering this error because of hardware conflicts by viewing Device Manager for errors.
If you have not recently installed any new hardware into the computer, the next best solution to determining if this is a hardware failure would be remove any hardware on the computer that is not needed. For example, remove your modem, network card, sound card, and any other expansion cards that are not needed for the computer to operate. Run the computer without these cards to see if they are the cause of failure.
Note: When opening the computer, make sure you are aware of Electro Static Discharge and its potential dangers.
Serious Error with Windows
If you have tried all the above recommendations and the computer continues to frequently lock up, its possible that Windows may be seriously corrupted. Try running through the basic troubleshooting steps for your version of Windows by repair the windows. If this step do not resolve your error, I suggest you to backup all information that you need (from C:\ or from windows drive, ie windows installed drive, C:,D:)and erase and re-install Windows on your PC.
Hardware Failure
If after reinstalling your operating system, or during the installation of your operating system, your computer turns off abnormally, it is very likely that other hardware is failing in the computer. Often this is RAM, CPU, Motherboard, and/or Power Supply (in that order).
If you have extra available parts or have a friend or co-worker with a similar configuration that is willing to allow you to test their hardware in your computer, try swapping these parts to determine if they are at fault. Otherwise, you will need to have the computer serviced.
Related: How to Repair Windows Xp? An 5 minute easy way
Software
Drivers
Operating System Error caused by viruses
Heat
Hardware Failure
Serious issue with Windows
If the computer frequently freezes or completely halts. An easy way to determine if your computer is in this situation is by pressing the Num Lock button on the keyboard and watching the Num Lock led to see if it turns off and/or on.
If you're able to get the light to turn off an on, press CTRL + ALT + DEL and attempt to end task the program.
Software Error
A computer locking up or freezing is often is caused by a software error. If you're encountering lockups when the computer is opening a particular program, make sure you have all the latest updates for that program. Find the latest updates for your software through the software developer or publisher or from their Websites.
Drivers Error
A computer lock up can also be caused by drivers. For example, if there is an error that exists with your video drivers a computer could lock up while playing a game or displaying any other type of video. Make sure you have the latest drivers for all major devices in your computer (video, sound, modem, and network). A listing of driver related pages as well as driver related help can be found on drivers homepage.
Operating System Errors
Make sure your operating system has all of the latest updates installed on it.
Heating Failure
If the computer processor is getting too hot it can cause the computer to freeze. If you have heard any abnormal noises coming from your computer recently such as a high squealing, this could indicate a fan may be failing in your computer.
You can first start by verifying the fan on the power supply is working by examining the back of the computer and seeing if the fan is moving and moving smoothly. For all other fans in the computer you will need to either open the computer and make sure the fan are working (processor fan and case fan) and/or if your BIOS monitors the RPM of the fans, enter BIOS and make sure the BIOS does not report any errors.
Users may also be able to determine how hot their computer is by onboard thermal sensors. If your computer comes equipped with these sensors, make sure your CPU is not running too hot.
Hardware Failure
In addition to software, hardware can also cause a pc to lock. If you have recently added any new hardware into the computer, try temporarily removing it to make sure it is not the cause of your issue.
Before attempting to remove any hardware, make sure you are not encountering this error because of hardware conflicts by viewing Device Manager for errors.
If you have not recently installed any new hardware into the computer, the next best solution to determining if this is a hardware failure would be remove any hardware on the computer that is not needed. For example, remove your modem, network card, sound card, and any other expansion cards that are not needed for the computer to operate. Run the computer without these cards to see if they are the cause of failure.
Note: When opening the computer, make sure you are aware of Electro Static Discharge and its potential dangers.
Serious Error with Windows
If you have tried all the above recommendations and the computer continues to frequently lock up, its possible that Windows may be seriously corrupted. Try running through the basic troubleshooting steps for your version of Windows by repair the windows. If this step do not resolve your error, I suggest you to backup all information that you need (from C:\ or from windows drive, ie windows installed drive, C:,D:)and erase and re-install Windows on your PC.
Hardware Failure
If after reinstalling your operating system, or during the installation of your operating system, your computer turns off abnormally, it is very likely that other hardware is failing in the computer. Often this is RAM, CPU, Motherboard, and/or Power Supply (in that order).
If you have extra available parts or have a friend or co-worker with a similar configuration that is willing to allow you to test their hardware in your computer, try swapping these parts to determine if they are at fault. Otherwise, you will need to have the computer serviced.
Related: How to Repair Windows Xp? An 5 minute easy way
Remove Hidden Devices, Drivers, using Device Manager
How to display the hidden devices in system Device Manger?
Normally windows device manager displays the information about the hardware that ever been recognized by windows, whether it is currently present in the computer or not connected to the computer (for example USB or any other removable devices). The "Show hidden devices" option on View menu would not display the all hidden information, so you can force your system to display the detail of all hidden drives.First you should log onto your computer with administrative rights.
Then Click Start button and type CMD in Run option then press Enter for next.
At the command prompt, type the following command and press Enter button.
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
Then again type the following command at command prompt and then press Enter button.
start devmgmt.msc
Now in the Device Manager Console go to View menu and select the "Show hidden devices" option.
Then You are able to view the hidden Devices..
Now expand the different devices and drivers option in devices manger and you will find the devices which have been loaded in the past.
When you finish troubleshooting, close Device Manager and also exit from command prompt to clear the opened sessions.
Hopes This will help Some Body..
Windows Boot Defragment
A very important new feature in Microsoft Windows XP is the ability to do a boot defragment. This basically means that all boot files are placed next to each other on the disk drive to allow for faster booting. By default this option is enabled but some upgrade users have reported that it isn't on their setup.
1. Start Regedit.
Click start->Run, type regedit, enter or win+r , type regedit, enter
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
3. Select Enable from the list on the right.
4. Right on it and select Modify.
5. Change the value to Y to enable and N to disable.
6. Reboot your computer.
1. Start Regedit.
Click start->Run, type regedit, enter or win+r , type regedit, enter
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
3. Select Enable from the list on the right.
4. Right on it and select Modify.
5. Change the value to Y to enable and N to disable.
6. Reboot your computer.
Remove Optional and Probably Unnecessary Windows Vista Components
This Tip will help you to remove Windows Vista Extra/Components, for that Open up Control Panel and go to the Programs and Features section. Find the link for "Turn Windows features on or off" (or you could just search for it)
uncheck the things you don't want, and hit the OK button. Depending on the version of Vista you are running you might not see everything in the list.
Guidelines, Not Set In Stone
ActiveX Installer Service - -No- - Do you really want anything to do with ActiveX?
Games - -Why Not - -Your productivity can only increase with Spider Solitaire on your computer.
Indexing Service - -No - -This is the old indexing service that is no longer needed in Vista.
Internet Information Service - -No - -Used for hosting websites on your computer.
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 - -No - -Used for the new .NET 3.0 components, but only really needed for programmers.
Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ) Server - -No - -Used by programmers as a way to reliably queue messages.
Print Services - -No - -You only need this if you use internet printers and like to kill trees. Our rainforests are depending on you disabling this service.
Remote Differential Compression - -Maybe - -This is likely required for utilities that use the network to download files. If it is enabled, don't mess with it.
Removable Storage Management - -No - -The only reason you'd need this is if you are restoring from old NTBACKUP files.
RIP Listener - -No - -You won't need this, it's a routing protocol.
Services for NFS - -No - -This can be used to map a drive to a linux NFS server. Unlikely you'd need it since Samba works so well.
SNMP Feature - -No - -This is used for management systems in workplace networks. You don't need it.
Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications - -No - -This is used for compatibility with certain applications based on UNIX… you don't need it.
Tablet PC Optional Components - -Maybe - -If you have a Tablet PC, you should enable this. If you don't, you may still want to because this includes the Snipping Tool.
Telnet Client - -AVOID - -You should never use telnet. Ever.
Telnet Server - -AVOID - -You should never use telnet. Ever.
TFTP Client - -AVOID - -TFTP was used by many of the early internet worms… there's a reason it's disabled by default.
Windows DFS Replication Service - -No - -This is only really used in work environments. Don't bother with this if you are a home user.
Windows Fan and Scan - -No - -Why anybody still faxes anything is beyond me.
Windows Meeting Space - -No - -If you don't use Windows Meeting Space or the "People Near Me" feature, don't bother with this.
Windows PowerShell - -No - -PowerShell is a more advanced command line geared towards programmers and system administrators.
Windows Process Activation Service - -Probably - -This is likely required to support some .NET applications, so I wouldn't change whatever it's currently set to.
Windows Ultimate Extras - -Maybe - -If you like the extras, then enable them. (Ultimate Only)
Hopes this will help anybody!!
How to Make Free Space in Windows Vista and Xp from Hibernation
Free disk space, by deleting Hibernation file in Windows Vista and Xp
2. You would be prompted to choose the drive you want to clean up. Then select the drive in which Windows Vista is installed and press OK.
3. Disk Cleanup will start scanning the hard drive and present you with a list of options.
4. Check "Hibernation File Cleaner", and then press OK.
5. When asked "Are you sure you want to permanently delete these files?" click on the Delete Files button.
You will end up with some more free disk space.
Disable Hibernation in Windows Vista and Xp
If you do not use hibernation mode or your system does not support it, you may want to disable the same. Follow below steps:
Method 1
1. Log on as Administrator.
2. Start the Command Prompt and then type: powercfg -h off
3. Press Enter.
Method 2
1. Click Start > All Programs > and then right click on ‘Command Prompt’.
2. In the context menu choose ‘Run as administrator’.
3. If ‘User Account Control(UAC)’ prompts you to allow the action, click on Continue.
4. Follow Steps 2 and 3 given above.
Related:
Every time you put your Windows Vista loaded computer, into hibernation, it creates a file called ‘hiberfil.sys’. This file uses your entire physical memory and grows its size, every time you hibernate your system. Hence you may want to delete it to free up some hard drive space.
Follow this procedure to delete this file.
2. You would be prompted to choose the drive you want to clean up. Then select the drive in which Windows Vista is installed and press OK.
3. Disk Cleanup will start scanning the hard drive and present you with a list of options.
4. Check "Hibernation File Cleaner", and then press OK.
5. When asked "Are you sure you want to permanently delete these files?" click on the Delete Files button.
You will end up with some more free disk space.
Disable Hibernation in Windows Vista and Xp
If you do not use hibernation mode or your system does not support it, you may want to disable the same. Follow below steps:
Method 1
1. Log on as Administrator.
2. Start the Command Prompt and then type: powercfg -h off
3. Press Enter.
Method 2
1. Click Start > All Programs > and then right click on ‘Command Prompt’.
2. In the context menu choose ‘Run as administrator’.
3. If ‘User Account Control(UAC)’ prompts you to allow the action, click on Continue.
4. Follow Steps 2 and 3 given above.
Related:
List of rundll32.dll shortcut commands for Windows Vista
Here is a list of RUNDLL32 shortcuts that can be used in Windows Vista.
I use them all the time to create shortcut icons for my users or when creating batch files.
Add/Remove Programs
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL appwiz.cpl,,0
Content Advisor
RunDll32.exe msrating.dll,RatingSetupUI
Control Panel
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL
Delete Temporary Internet Files:
RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 8
Delete Cookies:
RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 2
Delete History:
RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 1
Delete Form Data:
RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 16
Delete Passwords:
RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 32
Delete All:
RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 255
Delete All + files and settings stored by Add-ons:
RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 4351
Date and Time Properties
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL timedate.cpl
Display Settings
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL access.cpl,,3
Device Manager
RunDll32.exe devmgr.dll DeviceManager_Execute
Folder Options - General
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 0
Folder Options - File Types
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_Options 2
Folder Options - Search
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 2
Folder Options - View
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 7
Forgotten Password Wizard
RunDll32.exe keymgr.dll,PRShowSaveWizardExW
Hibernate
RunDll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState
Internet Explorer’s Internet Properties dialog box.
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,ConBring up trol_RunDLL Inetcpl.cpl,,6
Keyboard Properties
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL main.cpl @1
Lock Screen
RunDll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation
Mouse Button - Swap left button to function as right
Rundll32 User32.dll,SwapMouseButton
Mouse Properties Dialog Box
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL main.cpl @0,0
Map Network Drive Wizard
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL Connect
Network Connections
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL ncpa.cpl
Organize IE Favourites
Rundll32.exe shdocvw.dll,DoOrganizeFavDlg
Open With Dialog Box
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL Any_File-name.ext
Printer User Interface
Rundll32 Printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /?
Printer Management Folder.
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL PrintersFolder
Power Options
RunDll32.exe Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL powercfg.cpl
Process Idle Tasks
rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks
Regional and Language Options
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL Intl.cpl,,0
Stored Usernames and Passwords
RunDll32.exe keymgr.dll,KRShowKeyMgr
Safely Remove Hardware Dialog Box
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL HotPlug.dll
Sound Properties Dialog Box
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL Mmsys.cpl,,0
System Properties Box
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL Sysdm.cpl,,3
System Properties - Advanced
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL sysdm.cpl,,4
System Properties: Automatic Updates
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL sysdm.cpl,,5
Taskbar Properties
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 1
User Accounts
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL nusrmgr.cpl
Unplug/Eject Hardware
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll
Windows Security Center
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL wscui.cpl
Windows - About
RunDll32.exe SHELL32.DLL,ShellAboutW
Windows Fonts Installation Folder
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL FontsFolder
Windows Firewall
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL firewall.cpl
Wireless Network Setup
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL NetSetup.cpl,@0,WNSW
Related:
I use them all the time to create shortcut icons for my users or when creating batch files.
Add/Remove Programs
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL appwiz.cpl,,0
Content Advisor
RunDll32.exe msrating.dll,RatingSetupUI
Control Panel
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL
Delete Temporary Internet Files:
RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 8
Delete Cookies:
RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 2
Delete History:
RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 1
Delete Form Data:
RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 16
Delete Passwords:
RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 32
Delete All:
RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 255
Delete All + files and settings stored by Add-ons:
RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 4351
Date and Time Properties
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL timedate.cpl
Display Settings
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL access.cpl,,3
Device Manager
RunDll32.exe devmgr.dll DeviceManager_Execute
Folder Options - General
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 0
Folder Options - File Types
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_Options 2
Folder Options - Search
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 2
Folder Options - View
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 7
Forgotten Password Wizard
RunDll32.exe keymgr.dll,PRShowSaveWizardExW
Hibernate
RunDll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState
Internet Explorer’s Internet Properties dialog box.
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,ConBring up trol_RunDLL Inetcpl.cpl,,6
Keyboard Properties
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL main.cpl @1
Lock Screen
RunDll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation
Mouse Button - Swap left button to function as right
Rundll32 User32.dll,SwapMouseButton
Mouse Properties Dialog Box
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL main.cpl @0,0
Map Network Drive Wizard
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL Connect
Network Connections
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL ncpa.cpl
Organize IE Favourites
Rundll32.exe shdocvw.dll,DoOrganizeFavDlg
Open With Dialog Box
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL Any_File-name.ext
Printer User Interface
Rundll32 Printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /?
Printer Management Folder.
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL PrintersFolder
Power Options
RunDll32.exe Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL powercfg.cpl
Process Idle Tasks
rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks
Regional and Language Options
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL Intl.cpl,,0
Stored Usernames and Passwords
RunDll32.exe keymgr.dll,KRShowKeyMgr
Safely Remove Hardware Dialog Box
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL HotPlug.dll
Sound Properties Dialog Box
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL Mmsys.cpl,,0
System Properties Box
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL Sysdm.cpl,,3
System Properties - Advanced
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL sysdm.cpl,,4
System Properties: Automatic Updates
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL sysdm.cpl,,5
Taskbar Properties
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 1
User Accounts
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL nusrmgr.cpl
Unplug/Eject Hardware
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll
Windows Security Center
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL wscui.cpl
Windows - About
RunDll32.exe SHELL32.DLL,ShellAboutW
Windows Fonts Installation Folder
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL FontsFolder
Windows Firewall
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL firewall.cpl
Wireless Network Setup
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL NetSetup.cpl,@0,WNSW
Related:
How To Change the Windows Vista Product Key Code
Here's the Simple Way for changing the Microsoft Windows Vista's Product Key.
Right Click on My Computer Icon then Select Properties..and a new window appears inthat window there is link to Change Product Key Click on the Link..
Then you need to click next to change the Product Key..
Done!!
Related: Change Product Key
Related: Change Vista Key
Right Click on My Computer Icon then Select Properties..and a new window appears inthat window there is link to Change Product Key Click on the Link..
Then you need to click next to change the Product Key..
Done!!
Related: Change Product Key
Related: Change Vista Key