Troubleshoot Windows

Category: Windows 7

STOP error 0xFE Windows 7: BSOD after resuming from Sleep/ Hibernation
After reading this post you will be able to fix a STOP error or better called a BSOD error in your Windows 7 Computer. This error might occur when your have a USB streaming device connected to your computer & you put your computer to sleep or hibernation power state.

Error code:

STOP 0x000000FE (00000002, parameter2, parameter3, parameter4)
BUGCODE_USB_DRIVER

Cause

This problem occurs when using a USB Streaming device with a driver that uses the USBCAMD2 Streaming driver library. Such drivers are not supported for use on Windows 7. The stop message indicates that the USB streaming device driver using USBCAMD2 submitted two IRPs to initiate Isochronous data transfers, both of which referenced the same USB Request Block to describe the Isochronous data transfers. This problem occurs because the USBCAMD2 Streaming driver library does not properly synchronize resumption of Isoch streams upon resuming from a system sleep/hibernate power state.

Possible Resolution

Use of AVStream is recommended over the older type USBCAMD2 driver that is not supported under Windows 7.

The most simple step would be to head over the support website of your Device Manufacturer & Download and Install latest device drivers for your product.

Note: First uninstall the previous driver by going to :
- Control Panel
- Programs & Features
- Locate your device driver program
- Click uninstall
Now,
- Restart your computer
- Install the new device driver you downloaded of the support site.
You can also use Windows Update to Update the device drivers

OR

Use Action Center to resolve your computer problems. To use Action Center, go to start menu and type action center.
July 24, 2012
Solution: Cannot Convert Basic Disk to Dynamic Disk
After reading this post you will be able to fix the problems you might be having while converting a Basic Disk type to Dynamic Disk Type in Windows Disk Management.

Introduction

Basic Disk is an older disk format that is used by all version of Windows going back to windows 95, 98 etc. Even today the default disk type used in our computer system is Basic.

Whereas,

Dynamic Disk type is supported with Windows XP professional & above editions of Windows. Dynamic Disk supports stripped volume, spanned volume, mirror volumes, simple volumes and RAID 5. Dynamic Disk type also supports disk management without restarting your computer.

Error Message says
- Package Name is Invalid
Cause
- Computer Name Contains “ Double Byte Character”
Workaround
- Go to Start menu
- Right Click Computer
- Click Properties
- Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, click Change settings.
- On the Computer Name tab, click Change.
- Type a new name under Computer name, and then click OK.
- Type a Simple Computer name
- OK
- Restart your Computer
- Convert Basic Disk to Dynamic Disk
Workaround
July 24, 2012
FIX Windows Media Player unable to play certain type of media files
After reading this post you will be able play to almost all commonly found media files. There are a lot of media file extensions that requires certain codecs to open/play. Default Windows installation does not support all the formats due to certain limitations. Some people download and install VLC player to play their Media files. VLC player can be found here. Though to play your media files within Windows Media player you can follow the steps below:
- Head over to this website & download k-lite codec package
- Or go to www.bing.com and search for k lite codec package.
- Download the package
- Install the package using Default/typical settings.
- Open Windows Media Player and play your favourite file type.
- Enjoy
Note: Scan the Installation/Downloaded files with a good Antivirus Software before Installing.
July 24, 2012
Reinstall Windows 7 on your preloaded Windows Machine (even when you don’t have a Installation Disk)

Many times your Windows PC Desktop/laptop/notebook/netbook or ultra book comes preloaded with Windows & there is no Windows installation disk comes with your laptop but there is a COA label on your system containing your Windows Product key. Some people think that only option left is either to make a recovery DVD on the first day of your purchase or to keep running the Windows Installation that came preloaded with your machine, Not necessarily..

Your preloaded Windows system comes with a Windows Product key or commonly known as CD-key. Keep safe of that key.

Note down the Windows Edition that your using. The version are:

Windows 7 starter

Windows 7 Home Basic

Windows 7 Home Premium

Windows 7 Professional

Windows 7 Ultimate

Refer Screenshot:

Now note down your system type:

Refer screenshot below and make a note of what your system type is 64 bit or 32 bit.

Note: Your product can be used on both x64 (64 bit) & x86(32 bit ) Operating system type.

Note: You should use 64 bit operating system only when you have 4 Gigabytes (GB) or more RAM.

How to get a Windows Installation Disk:

You have your Windows Product key and you are a genuine Windows user:

Download ISO file for your Windows Edition & system type below:

Make your you download the right edition with right system type, x86 (32bit) if you have less than 4 Gb Ram and x64(64 bit) if you have more than 4 Gb Ram.

Windows 7 (English) with Service Pack 1

• Windows 7 Home Premium (x86) – X17-58996

• Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) – X17-58997

• Windows 7 Professional (x86) – X17-59183

• Windows 7 Professional (x64) – X17-59186

• Windows 7 Ultimate (x86)* – X17-59463

• Windows 7 Ultimate (x64)* – X17-59465

Burn the downloaded ISO file with either double clicking it and using Windows 7 Image burner or any third party CD/DVD burning software.

*You will need a BLANK DVD Media to burn this ISO file or follow this guide to Install Windows 7 using a USB Pen Drive

If you use a DVD, boot from it & when asked for product key, insert your product key located on the COA label on the bottom side of your laptop or sometime behind the battery pack.

Activate & enjoy.

For More Information : Microsoft Answers Forum

July 23, 2012
BSOD: Resolving Stop Error : BIOS not ACPI Compliant, Windows 7
This article explains the possible real world resolution to STOP error 0x000000A5 with a message “STOP: BIOS not fully ACPI compliant”

The error was seen in Windows XP & the resolution therein used to be somewhat different than in Windows 7. In Windows XP this error used to occur due to a power setting problem in Windows or incorrect BIOS settings. Though this error occurs in Windows 7 due to somewhat different reasons & similarity only being the BIOS.

Possible Symptoms, cause & resolution
- You have a old system and you upgraded from Windows XP or Vista to Windows 7
- Your system is new and you installed Windows 7 for the first time & bam, you have a BSOD ( Stop error )
- You have a running system, you updated your Windows installation and you get this error.
Resolution
- If you can still boot into Windows After restarting your system. Go to your Motherboard or system Manufacturer’s website and download the latest BIOS update for your system Model/make/version.
  Make sure you read the BIOS update caution guide available on the download/support page of your System/Motherboard manufacturer.
- If you cannot not boot into Windows you will have to download the new BIOS file and Dos based updater software from your Motherboard/System Manufacturer’s website, burn a bootable disc and update your BIOS.
Few other resolution that worked for a few people
- If you have a desktop system, change the motherboard battery & load setup defaults
- If you have a laptop/notebook/netbook/ultra book, & it has a removable battery, remove it & try pressing the power button without battery & charger plugged in, for a few seconds (10-15 seconds). Release the power button, plug the battery in and check.
- Another thing you can try is that you can Press DEL/F2/F10 to go into BIOS at the time of system start up & locate the option called ACPI mode/version & set it to the highest value. (example : ACPI 2.0 or ACPI 3.0)
- A few people have tried to set custom serial port resources/location in the BIOS to 2F8/IRQ3.
These are a few things you can try, if the problem persists, post your question on Microsoft Answers forum or down in comments section here on this page.

**Updating of BIOS or any above mentioned tips should be done on your own risk. This website will not be liable for any damage or loss of data. Though All of the above mentioned methods are safe to do, if done properly following instruction in your user manual or System/Motherboard Manufacturer’s website Support service.
July 23, 2012
How to Backup/Restore Windows Registry [Updated 2023 Guide]
This post will help you backup/restore Windows Registry in case a problem related to the registry arises.

Before taking you through the steps to backup/restore Windows registry files in 2023 and beyond, let us first explain to you what are registry files in Windows and why they’re important.

What Are Windows Registry Files?

Ever wondered how your Windows-powered desktop or laptop powers ON and functions perfectly each time?

Well, basically, they launch each time launching the required features, services, and applications with the help of Windows registry files.

So, simply put, you can think of Windows registry files as a collection of configuration files for the Windows OS installed on your computer.

When you power ON your machine, it collects all the information related to account access, applications/services to launch, device drivers, UI elements, your pre-configured device settings, and much more.

How to Create Windows Restore Point Before You Backup/Restore Windows Registry?

It is always recommended to create a “Windows Restore Point” before you attempt to back up/restore the Windows registry.

In case something goes wrong, then the restore point can help you restore your computer to an earlier working condition as it is currently.

Below are the steps to create Windows Restore Point:
1. Click on the “Start” menu.
2. Type “Create a restore point” in the search bar and select the option that appears with the same name.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to proceed with the creation of a Windows Restore Point backup.
How to Backup Windows Registry?

You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps. If you are not logged in as an administrator, you can only change settings that apply to your user account.
- Launch the “Run” window by pressing the “Windows” key + “R” key on your keyboard.
- Now, type “Regedit” into the search box, and then press “ENTER” on your keyboard. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. (For Windows XP –> start menu-> run-> Regedit)
- Click on My Computer or Computer ( depending on your OS type) Click the File menu, and then click Export.
- In the “Save In” box, select the location where you want to save the backup copy, and then type a name for the backup file in the File name box.
- Click Save.
And that’s it. You have now created a backup of Windows registry files on your computer.

How to Restore Windows Registry Files?

Follow the steps below to restore previously existing Windows registry backup files.
1. Press the “Windows” key and the “R” key on your keyboard to launch the “Run” window.
2. Within the Run window, type “regedit.exe” and click on the “Ok” button within the Run window or press the “Enter” key on your keyboard.
3. The “Registry Editor” window will now launch.
4. Click on the “File” option located on the top menu bar of the Registry Editor window and then click on the “Import” button.
5. Within the window that appears, select the pre-existing Windows registry backup file on your computer and click on the “Open” button.
The Windows registry backup that you selected in step 5 above will now be restored on your computer.
July 14, 2012
How to Fix: Windows Live Photo gallery or stuck pictures screensaver in Windows 7
After reading this post you will be able to fix the problems associated with Windows Live photo gallery in Windows 7, Vista, XP. These problems include:
- Windows live photo Gallery Freezes
- Windows Photo gallery screensaver says “ no pictures found”
- Other Photo Gallery related issues.
There are two methods to fix this:

Before starting let’s backup your Windows Registry, as this method includes registry editing. Click here

Method 1:

To fix this problem, you have to regenerate the database for Windows Live Photo Gallery. To do this, follow the appropriate steps for your operating system:

Windows XP

Close Windows Live Photo Gallery.
- Click Start, click Run, type %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Photo Gallery, and then click OK.
- Delete any existing instance of “OLD_Pictures.pd4” and “OLD_Pictures.pd5.”
- Locate and then right-click “Pictures.pd4” or “Pictures.pd5.”
- Rename “Pictures.pd4” to “OLD_Pictures.pd4” or rename “Pictures.pd5” to “OLD_Pictures.pd5.”
Windows Vista

Close Windows Live Photo Gallery.
- Click Start, click Run, type %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Photo Gallery, and then click OK.
- Delete any existing instance of “OLD_Pictures.pd4” and “OLD_Pictures.pd5.”
- Locate and then right-click “Pictures.pd4” or “Pictures.pd5.”
- Rename “Pictures.pd4” to “OLD_Pictures.pd4” or rename “Pictures.pd5” to “OLD_Pictures.pd5.”
Windows 7

Close Windows Live Photo Gallery.
- Click Start, click Run, type%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Photo Gallery, and then click OK.
- Delete any existing instance of “OLD_Pictures.pd4” and “OLD_Pictures.pd5.”
- Locate and then right-click “Pictures.pd4” or “Pictures.pd5.”
- Rename “Pictures.pd4” to “OLD_Pictures.pd4” or rename “Pictures.pd5” to “OLD_Pictures.pd5.”
Make Sure Windows Live Photo Gallery is closed when you perform this repair operation. When you restart Windows Live Photo Gallery, the database will be rebuilt.

Method 2:

Automatic Method:
July 14, 2012
Check your Laptop/Netbook/notebook/Ultra portable Computer’s battery healthy easily
After reading this guide, you will be able to check how healthy your computer battery is. When the computer is new it gives you good battery backup. But, as it gets old the backup goes considerably less than it used to be.

To Check the current status of your battery now, you can use a built-in utility in Windows 7 to check the health of your battery.
- Make Sure your charger is plugged in
- Go to Start Menu
- In the Start Search box type CMD
- Right Click CMD and click Run as Administrator
- Type powercfg –energy in the opened windows ( Command Prompt )
- Windows will run a trace on your battery for 60 second and then save a report in your root drive Example: C:\energy-report.html
- You can then double click the HTML file to open it with your web browser and read the report.
- This report explains Errors, warnings etc.
- To know the current charge capacity and health status, scroll down to the section that reads battery information
- Here, see Design Capacity
- Now, see the Last Full Charge Capacity
- If, Both the numbers in Design Capacity & Last Full Charge differ a lot, let’s say for example the Design Capacity was 6500 & Last full charge is 2500. Your battery is not in a healthy state and is not holding most of the charge capacity it was designed for.
- This would be the proper time to order a replacement battery.
July 11, 2012
Set a Video as Windows Desktop Background

After reading this you will be able to set your desired video clip as Windows Desktop background. Windows Vista had the Dream-Scene content that gave a lot people something new to play with. The people who might be missing that or the users who want to try something new will enjoy this little tip.

For this trick to work you must have VLC player, you can Download VLC player here.

Step 1

Open VLC player and go to tools –> preferences

Step 2

Go to Video –> Output-> select DirectX video from dropdown list. Also check the Enable Wallpaper mode –> click save.

Step 3

Now open any video file in VLC & click on video & click DirectX wallpaper.

Your Theme will be changed to Windows basic in Windows 7 and your video will start to play on your desktop background.

July 10, 2012
How to Install Windows 7, Windows 8 from USB pen drive
After following this post you will be able to easily Install Windows 7 and Windows 8 via a USB pen drive. Now-a-days small computers namely netbooks & ultra-books lack CD/DVD drive. In this situation you either buy an external CD/DVD drive or use this guide to Install Windows from a USB pen drive.

Microsoft has released a tool to do this job very simply. You can use this tool to install Windows 8 or Windows 7 according to your need.

Download & Install this tool: click here

or use this alternate link

Requirements
- USB Pen drive with 4gb or more capacity (8 Gb preferred)
- Windows 7 or 8 ISO image ( if you have a disc and want to make ISO check out this guide)
- DVD-USB tool
- A computer to work on
Now Follow these steps:
- Insert your pen drive into a USB port
- Run the USB-DVD tool you downloaded before
- Select the ISO image by browsing for it and then click next
- Choose USB Device option
- Select your desired USB device and click on Begin copying.
- If there is less free space, you will be asked to erase USB device.
- Tool will format your drive and then start copying files.
- All done. Remove and USB pen drive, boot from it and Install Windows
July 7, 2012