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  • Fix Windows Files & Folder problems Windows 7, Vista, XP

    Fix Windows Files & Folder problems Windows 7, Vista, XP

    After Reading this post you will be able to fix a number of small issues that you might be facing with your installation of Windows. This post includes solution for Windows 7, Vista & XP. Microsoft Fix It Solution link inside.

    Some of the issues that this guide helps you to fix are :

    • You cannot empty the Recycle Bin or delete a file or a folder inside the Recycle Bin.
    • When you try to rename or move a file, you receive the following error message: “The file or folder does not exist.”
    • When you copy, move, rename, or delete a file on a network share, you receive the following error message: “There is a network or file permission error. The network connection may be lost” or “The folder does not exist. The file may have been moved or deleted. Do you want to create it?”
    • Your View settings or customizations for one or more folders may be lost or incorrect.
    • You cannot use keyboard shortcuts to select more than one item in Windows Explorer, or you cannot select multiple items in a Windows Explorer window by holding the SHIFT key or the CTRL key while you click the items.
    • Some icons in My Computer, in Windows Explorer, on the desktop, or on the Quick Launch Bar change randomly.

    Windows XP

    • Insert The Windows XP Disc into the CD/DVD drive
    • Go to Run ( Start menu ) or ( Winkey + R )
    • type SFC /SCANNOW
    • This process will check your system files for problems and will fix them automatically.

    Windows Vista / 7

    • Go to Run ( Winkey + R )
    • Type SFC /SCANNOW
    • Wait for the process to complete
    • Restart your computer

    Microsoft FIX IT

    fix-it

    Click above to go to the Microsoft FIX it site and run the tool

  • Solve : USB Device not recognized problem in Windows 7 , XP, Vista

    Solve : USB Device not recognized problem in Windows 7 , XP, Vista

    After reading this post you will be able to solve / fix “ USB Device not recognized “ error message that is displayed on your Windows Computer system. Windows 7 & VISTA Hotfix link inside. Microsoft FIXIT for Windows XP ( Link Inside )

    There are quite a few causes for this problem to occur. Following are some of the resolutions that we have come across while troubleshooting Windows over time. These solutions are applicable on Windows 7, XP & Vista.

    Uninstall & Reinstall USB Root Hub

    • Go to device manager ( Control Panel ), Windows 7 users can type device manager in the start menu search box & open the proper program from the results displayed.

    device_usb

    • Expand Universal Serial Bus controller options
    • Right click on USB root hub ( one at a time ) & click uninstall.
    • Remember if you are using a USB keyboard/mouse or any devices that use USB interface might stop working.
    • Restart your computer.

    If the problem persists

    • Turn off Power Management in Windows
    • Click Start, click Run, type Devmgmt.msc, and then click OK. The Device Manager window opens.
    • Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
    • Right-click a USB Root Hub in the list, and then click Properties. The USB Root Hub Properties dialog box is displayed.
    • Click the Power Management tab.
    • Click to clear the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power check box, and then click OK.
    • Repeat steps with all USB Root hubs available.

    device_usb2

    If the problem persists

    • Go to, your computer/motherboard manufacturer’s support website & from there download and install latest chipset drivers from there.
    • Install these drivers & restart your computer

    If the problem persists

    • Go to, Windows Update ( Control Panel )
    • Update your Windows with all recommended updates & check if there are any hardware device drivers within optional updates, Install them as well.

    Windows 7 & Vista Users HOTFIX

    • http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976972

    FIXIT for Windows XP users

    • http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9740816

    The Last Step for Laptops ( All Portable Devices with removable battery/ Desktops

    Portables:

    • Turn off your Computer
    • Take the battery out carefully, refer the documentation that came with your computer.
    • Press & hold the power button for a few seconds.
    • Put the battery back into the compartment
    • Start the computer and check

    Desktops:

    • Turn off your computer
    • Pull out the power cord from the mains or backup unit ( UPS )
    • Maintain no power policy for 2 minutes
    • Restore power to the computer unit
    • Start your computer to check.
  • Fix :Flickering Lines across the Computer Screen within Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP , any OS

    Fix :Flickering Lines across the Computer Screen within Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP , any OS

    After reading this article you will be able to solve the problem where corruption occurs on your screen or you see lines across your computer display. This problem might occur due to a Display driver problem, a display hardware error, Display connection cable problem or even a faulty display. If it’s a laptop & lines occur when you move your screen ( hinges move ), it could very well be the display cable problem connecting your motherboard/display adapter to your screen.

    Follow these steps to resolve the issue:

    • Go to, control panel & locate programs & features or simply type Uninstall a program.
    • From the list therein, locate the display driver with the help of the example screen shot given below:

    intel

    OR

    amd

    • Apart from the above examples, you can have a nVidia Display adapter as well. Select the appropriate program from the list following the screenshots above and click on uninstall.
    • Restart your computer
    • Now, Go to the Support website of either your computer manufacturer/Motherboard manufacturer or if you have a add-on Display adapter ( Graphics Card ), go to the Gfx Card Manufacturers support website.
      Example: http://support.intel.com or http://support.asus.com etc.
    • OR , to get latest drivers you can use WINDOWS UPDATE
    • To run Windows Update, Go to start menu & in the start menu search box, type Windows Update & press Enter.

    update

    • Refer the above screenshot, you can either press Check for updates on the Top left hand corner or directly click on optional updates to check if new hardware drivers are available for your computer system.

    If This does not solve your issue,

    For Desktop Computer Systems

    • If you have a Add-on Graphics Adapter Installed, try pulling it out and checking the display on your on-board display option. If you do not have a motherboard with a on-board display, get another card to check if that works or try reseating your present graphics adapter properly into the slot.
    • Check the Display Cable ( Any type ) for damage. Also check both ends of the cable to make sure they are properly plugged in.
    • Check your Display Monitor with another computer of laptop device to make sure you don’t have a problem with your Display.
    • You can alternatively try to plug another monitor into your computer to check if that works properly.

    For Laptop ( All portable Computers )

    • Take out your laptop battery, press & hold your power button for a few seconds.
    • Reinsert the battery into the compartment & check if the problem persists.
    • If your laptop shows lines across the screen when you move the display panel ( move the hinges to adjust the display ) then your cable connecting your display to motherboard/display adapter might be wearing out, in this case the only recommended solution is to take the computer to a authorized dealership or support outlet.

    POWER PROBLEMS

    • Your Computer monitor might display some lines across the screen if there is a power surge or when the power input is lower or higher than the recommended range your monitor supports (Most of the time LOWER ), Check the documentation that came with your monitor to confirm the recommended power input.
  • FIX : Documents stuck on print queue : Cannot delete Print Jobs Windows 7, Vista, XP

    FIX : Documents stuck on print queue : Cannot delete Print Jobs Windows 7, Vista, XP

    After reading this post you will be able to fix the problem where you give a print command & it gets stuck in the print queue & all the documents fail to print. When you try to cancel the print job or delete documents from the print queue, the documents/print job doesn’t get cancelled.

    Try the following to resolve the problem

    • Go to Control Panel ( Found in start menu )
    • Go to Devices and Printers
    • Double Click the Printer Name
    • Within the print queue press Cancel All or Right Click a particular document and click cancel/delete

    If this doesn’t solve it, try this:

    • Check if you printer has a Cancel or STOP button, Press it ( Refer your Printer documentation for using STOP/Cancel Button )
    • Turn your printer OFF, If it’s a USB device, try plugging your printer into another USB port. Then Turn it ON

    If this doesn’t solve it, try this:

    • Open Notepad & carefully select all the following text:
    • net stop spooler
      del %systemroot%\system32\spool\printers\*.shd
      del %systemroot%\system32\spool\printers\*.spl
      net start spooler
    • Right-click the text that you selected, and then click Copy.
    • In Notepad, right-click in the blank document, and then click Paste.
    • Carefully select (highlight) all the following text:C:\DeletePrintJobs.cmd
    • Right-click the text that you selected, and then click Copy.
    • In Notepad, click Save As on the File menu.
    • In the File Name box, right-click, and then click Paste.
    • Click Save.
    • Go to Start menu & in the start menu search box type CMD ( Right Click, Run as administrator )
    • type C:\DeletePrintJobs.cmd

    This will delete your printer spooler. Try this only if you are confident to do this opration. Use the comment section below to ask if anything is not clear enough.

    Last Method:

    • Go to, Control Panel
    • Program & Features
    • Uninstall a Program
    • Locate your Printer Driver/Software
    • Click on Uninstall.
    • Restart your computer
    • Either Insert the disc that came with your printer or download and install the latest drivers from your printer manufacturers website.
    • Check if you problem is resolved.
  • FIX : STOP Error : BSOD : kernel_data_inpage_error

    FIX : STOP Error : BSOD : kernel_data_inpage_error

    This guide can be used for resolving the STOP error with the keywords “kernel_data_inpage_error”. Here we have listed a few ways to resolve these type of Blue screen errors. After troubleshooting kernel data inpage error a few times, it seems like the cause of this error resides in memory. In these cases memory refers to both RAM and Hard disk drive in your system. It’s not at all necessary that your hardware has a problem, though it’s a possibility. This error might also occur due to a faulty driver software. To get to a conclusion whether you have a software or hardware error, that is causing this BSOD, try the following:

    Below is an example of the error you might be getting:

    Stop 0x0000007a ( XXXX XXXX XXXX )
    filename.sys – Address XXXXX

    • Use Windows Update to update your computer & drivers ( install all recommended and optional updates) ( optional updates most of the time have your device drivers )
    • If you don’t find new drivers on Windows update, go to your motherboard / Computer Manufacturer’s support site, Select your model / version –> download the Chipset , Display & communications / networking drivers and Install them.
    • Restart & check
    • If the problem still persists,
    • Go to Start menu and type CMD
    • Right click the Command (CMD) program that appeared in your start menu search results and click on run as administrator
    • now, type CHKDSK /p  & press enter.
    • After the scan is complete,
    • type, CHKDSK C: /f /r    (This will repair corrupted sectors )
    • Restart the system and check if the problem is solved.

    If not,

    • Follow this guide to check for Memory ( RAM errors ) CLICK HERE

    If, problems are found, replace your RAM modules, if you have multiple modules try taking all of them out and then test with one module at a time and check for errors. repeat the step with all modules.

    Last Step

    System Restore : Click here for the Guide to using System Restore

  • Windows Memory Diagnostic : Test your computer RAM for errors

    Windows Memory Diagnostic : Test your computer RAM for errors

    After reading this you will be able to find problems associated with your system/computer RAM. System RAM ( Random Access Memory ) plays a very important role in the functioning of your computer system. A healthy working RAM is responsible for a better performing & stable computer system. If there are some errors in your RAM module/modules that will certainly result in an unstable system that increases the probability of Data Loss. Many STOP or Blue Screen errors in your computer can be caused by faulty RAM.

    Windows 7 has a built-in tool to search for these errors. If an error is found you can decide to change the RAM module/s.

    To Use Memory Testing Tool in Windows

    If you can boot into Windows

    • Go to, The start menu
    • In the start menu search, type Windows Memory Diagnostic
    • Press Enter

    OR

    • Go to, Start Menu
    • Top right corner. select select large icons/small icons
    • Locate Windows Memory Diagnostic

    memory_diag

    Advanced options for running the Memory Diagnostics Tool

     

    It is recommend that you let the Memory Diagnostics Tool run on default settings. However, advanced users might want to adjust the tool’s settings :

    • When the Memory Diagnostics Tool starts, press F1.
    • You can change these settings settings:
    • Test mix. Choose what type of test you want to run: Basic, Standard, or Extended. The choices are described in the tool.
    • Cache. Choose the cache setting you want for each test: Default, On, or Off.
    • Pass count. Type the number of times you want to repeat the test.
    • Press F10 to start the test.

    If you are unable to boot into Windows

    • Press F8 at the time of boot ( just after pressing the power button on your computer )
    • Press the Down Button to select Advanced Start-up options
    • Select Windows Memory Diagnostic
    • Follow the on-screen instructions
  • Fix : Printer not working, Printing problems in Windows

    Fix : Printer not working, Printing problems in Windows

    After reading this post you will be able to fix some the problems with your printer or many sorts of problems that are producing  errors when your try to print a document in Windows.

    Some of these problems involve :

    • You are unable to install a printer, connect to a printer, or print more than one job at a time
    • You receive an error indicating your Print Spooler service is experiencing problems
    • You receive an error indicating your <PRINTERNAME> is not the default printer
    • You receive an error indicating: <PRINTERNAME> cannot be contacted over the network
    • You receive an error stating that your Plug and Play printer %PRINTERNAME% has encountered a driver problem
    • You cannot Print in Internet Explorer (CLICK HERE)
    • Your printer shows as offline, even when it is turned on.

    A few things to check :

    • If your printer is connected locally ( directly to your computer & not on a network), try checking the connection between your Printer & computer and make sure it’s not loose.
    • Check the cable connecting your printer and computer. Change if necessary, always keep a spare, change just to make sure the cable isn’t bad.
    • Follow the Printer Manual to make sure any error signal lights indicating a problem with printer are not lit. If they are check for problem associated with that light in the documentation that came with your printer.
    • Check for paper Jam/low cartridge.
    • If your printer is connected over a network, make sure your network is up and running. ( check Router/Access Point )
    • If you are using a print server to connect to the printer over a network, make sure the print server is working fine.
    • If the printer is attached to another computer over the network and then shared for users on a network, make sure the printer is printing directly on the system it is attached locally to.
    • Refer your documentation & press the printer demo print button to make sure that the printer hardware is working fine.
    • Make sure there are no print command in print queue that might be hanging the print jobs. To check, go to start menu –> Devices and printers –> double click your printer and check the print queue.
    • If you cannot print from Internet Explorer follow this guide, Click Here

    Else,

    Microsoft Fix IT

    fix-it

  • FIX: Laptop Charger Plugged in, not charging : Windows

    FIX: Laptop Charger Plugged in, not charging : Windows

    After Reading this you will be able to fix the issue, when your laptop/netbook or portable Windows machine does not charge your battery even when your charger is plugged in. Your battery continues to discharge or goes to a neutral state ( nor charging, nor discharging ).

    Possible Causes

    • Faulty Battery
    • Faulty Charger
    • Problem with a driver within Windows.( Go to end of this page )

    Resolution

    The First Basic step

    Remove your battery by following the documentation that came with your computer. Make sure you properly know how to remove and reinsert the battery before proceeding ahead with this operation. Check if the problem gets solved. If not, try :

    Check your Charger

    Make sure that your charger is working fine. Check for symptoms like burning smell or overheating charger.

    Checking Battery Health

    The First thing you should try is make sure your battery is in a healthy state. Follow this guide here to check if your battery is in a healthy state(CLICK HERE).

    Alternatively, if you portable computer came with a power manager installed. You search for an option there to check if you battery is healthy.

    Resetting your battery

    This feature is available in most of the power manager software available with your laptop/netbook/ultra portable. I personally have tried the reset feature in Lenovo power manager & it works like a charm. You can check your power manager software for similar feature.

    Replacing your battery

    If you are sure after following the battery health report and after resetting the battery that you have a faulty battery. Take your Computer to either a Authorized Service Center of your system Manufacturer or order a replacement battery from your Computer manufacturer’s support site.

    The Final Step

    • Go to Device Manager by typing Device manager in the start menu search box & open it from the list that appears in result window
    • deviceacpi.
    • Within Device Manager
    • expand the battery section
    • Right click Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery
    • Click on Uninstall
    • Restart your computer
    • Windows Will reinstall the driver automatically
    • Done.
  • FIX : Script Error in Internet Explorer error while printing

    FIX : Script Error in Internet Explorer error while printing

    After reading this post you should be able to fix an error generated in Internet Explorer while printing a page opened in Internet Explorer.

    The error might look like this, some lines may as well differ.

    An error has occurred in the script on this page.
    Line : XXXX
    Char: 1
    Error : Invalid procedure call or argument.
    Code: 0
    URL: res/ieframe.dll/preview.js.

    Note: Line no. could be anything.

    • Disconnect your printer from the PC & re-connect it.
    • Unplug the printer’s USB cable from your PC.
      If you have a wireless printer just turn the printer off.
    • Open Devices and Printers ( start menu –> devices and printers)
    • Right-click your printers icon and select Remove device.
    • Reconnect your printer to your PC using the USB cable or if you have a wireless printer turn the printer back on.
    • Click on Add a printer and follow the Wizard to Add the printer. ( Select Local printer and let Windows find the printer automatically)

    If the above steps don’t help:

    • Go to Start Menu
    • within the search box type Internet Explorer
    • Right Click the Internet Explorer Icon and click Run as Administrator

    If the above steps don’t help:

    • Go to Windows update by typing Windows update in Start menu search box and clicking the Windows update button.
    • There in the left pane click on check for updates
    • Go to Optional Updates –> check if a updated driver for your printer is listed there.

    Alternatively you can,

    • Go to your Printer Manufacturer’s support website
    • Download and Install updated drivers from there.
  • FIX : Windows Update stuck at an old date, not updating, updating but not reflecting as updated

    FIX : Windows Update stuck at an old date, not updating, updating but not reflecting as updated

    After reading this article you will be able to fix some problems that you might be having with Windows Update.

    Following are the type of problems that this article helps to solve:

    • Windows Update doesn’t seem to be working
    • Windows Updates itself but recent update is stuck at an old date
    • Windows update shows some unknown error after checking for updates

    Solutions

    Method 1

    • The first thing to check is your system time. Make sure the time zone you have selected within system date and time is correct and the date and time are set accurately.
      To change/check date and time:
      Go to control panel & click on Date & time –> Now click on change date and time or change time zone if you have selected the wrong time zone. Follow screenshots below:

    dnt

    To set date and time

    time

     

    To change Time zone

    timezone

     

    Method 2:

    Run Microsoft Fix it
    fix-it

    Click on the above logo to download Microsoft Fix it

     

    Method 3

    Empty the software distribution folder

    • Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
    • Right-click Windows Update, and then click Stop.
    • Go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder. & select all everything inside and delete it
    • Make sure that the Windows distribution folder is empty.
    • Restart Windows update service in Services.msc
    • Restart the computer, and then run Windows Update again.

    In case method 3 fails:

    Method 4:

    Rename the Catroot2 folder

    To rename the Catroot2 folder, follow these steps:

    • Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
    • At the command prompt, type the following commands, and then press ENTER after each line:
      net stop cryptsvc
      ren %systemroot%\System32\Catroot2 oldcatroot2
      net start cryptsvc
      exit
    • Remove all tmp*.cat files from the following folder:
      %systemroot%\system32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}
      copy the bold line above and paste it into run ( Winkey+R) to open the location.

    Note: do not rename the Catroot folder.

    Method 5:

    Set Cryptographic Services to automatic

    Set Cryptographic Services to Automatic, and then try to install the program again. To set Cryptographic Services to Automatic, follow these steps:

    • Start the Administrative Tools utility in Control Panel.
    • Double-click Services.
    • Right-click Cryptographic Services, and then click Properties.
    • Click Automatic for Startup type, and then click Start.

    Note Windows 2000 does not list Cryptographic Services in the SERVICES Administrative Utility.