Skip to content

Latest commit

 

History

History
115 lines (87 loc) · 4.87 KB

Windows.md

File metadata and controls

115 lines (87 loc) · 4.87 KB
Raw

Windows

This file will always be incomplete. Use free, libre, and open source operating systems if you value privacy.

Microsoft Windows was my first major experience with computers outside of ancient systems that were left around my schools growing up. Troubleshooting Windows systems for friends and family during high school started my career with technology. My note taking habit started with seeing recurring issues that various people had with Windows systems. My notes eventually filled the equivalence of a book which I intended to publish. As the years went by, I found myself playing catchup solving the same problems in different ways on different versions of Windows. I concluded that the book was not worth my time and I started publishing notes in this repository instead. The book about Windows is mostly unpublished at this point and I have moved on to focusing on GNU/Linux systems which can be configured how I wish without fighting each new version.

When installing a Windows system, it comes with terrible defaults that do not always have your best interests in mind. Be very careful when installing for the first time. As a rule of thumb, turn everything off unless you are sure that you need it.

Troubleshooting

Problem: Unwanted programs startup with the computer. Solution: Download autoruns from Microsoft. Extract the file. Run as Administrator. Uncheck unwanted or missing programs. If you do not know what something is, look it up.

Warning: You can break your systems with autoruns. If you broke your system with autoruns, you are to blame. Keep good backups.

Problem: The system is generally slow and may have malware installed. Solution: Backup your system, download Tron Script, extract, open a cmd prompt with Adminstator privaleges, navigate to the directory where you extracted tron.bat using cd, and run this command:

tron.bat -asm -x

The system will reboot into safe mode, if you were not in safe mode. If it reboots into safemode, start another command prompt with Administrator privilages, and run the command again. The scans will take several hours and it is best to run the scans before you go to sleep.

Warning: Tron Script is not a replacement for good security practices. Tron Script may make your system unusable. Use at your own risk. Keep good backups.

Problem: When dual-booting, motherboard is set to UTC time for GNU/Linux distributions. Windows 7 has the incorrect time. Solution: Add a Windows registry key to use UTC time.

  • Run regedit.exe as Administrator.
  • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation
  • Add a new DWORD entry titled: RealTimeIsUniversal
  • Set the value of RealTimeIsUniversal to 1.
  • Reboot

From http://crashmag.net/configuring-windows-7-support-for-utc-bios-time

Problem: MSN opens a browser when logging in. Solution: Change the registry. From http://www.troublefixing.in/solved-windows-launch-msn-or-bing-page-on-starup/345/ regedit Run As Administrator HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NlaSvc\Parameters\Internet
On right side pane you will find a EnableActiveProbing value, just double click on it and change its value from 1 to 0.

Problem: Users start multiple instances of a program causing nothing to work. Solution: Create a batch script in a text file using this line and save it as like KSPLaunch.bat in the directory with the process. Replace KSP.exe with your process name. Replace shortcuts with a shortcut to the batch script. Replace shortcut icons with the original icons.

tasklist /nh /fi "imagename eq KSP.exe" | find /i "KSP.exe" > nul || (start KSP.exe)

From http://superuser.com/questions/654088

Problem: Password expiration notice appears and the machine's password should not expire. Solution: Disable Password Expiration for a User in Windows 8.1/8/7

  • Run lusrmgr.msc as Administrator.
  • Click on Users in the left pane.
  • Right click on the username to be modified.
  • Click on Properties.
  • CHECK Password never expires.
  • Click OK.
  • Exit lusrmgr.

Based on https://www.windowspasswordsrecovery.com/articles/password/enable-or-disable-password-expiration-for-a-user-in-windows-8-7.html

How to search for literal strings in Explorer

From Kustardking on https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-files/how-do-i-search-for-parenthesis/ff8982f2-7a65-4569-a3f1-0373d0763ad8

name:~"(2)" (2) can be changed to other literal strings.

Booting to the boot menu of Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11

Problem: The usual ESC, F2, F10, and F12 do not work when booting the system as Windows never truely shuts down anymore.

Solution: Shut the system down and use the Novo button to the left of the power button. Use the arrow keys and enter to make a selection.

Reference: https://superuser.com/a/970389/1647920