Windows 7

http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/windows7/windows7_secpol.htm

http://www.lshift.net/blog/2013/03/25/programmatically-updating-local-policy-in-windows/comment-page-1

Printing problem
windows 7 unable to instal printer error 0x00000006

Google Search

HOWTO: To Release And Refresh Netbios Names
nbtstat -RR

Thanks - https://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/cc784285%28v=ws.10%29.aspx

HOWTO: SET: File Association
Control Panel - Default Programs

HOWTO: Add / Fix Remote Desktop (RDP)

 * Start
 * Right click on Computer
 * Click Properties
 * Top left select Remote Settings
 * Bottom pane click add users
 * Type user name and click OK
 * Type Administrator and click OK (disregard the fact it says Administrator already has access)
 * Click OK
 * Control Panel
 * FireWall
 * Top Left Allow Progarm through Firewall
 * Scroll down to Remote Desktop
 * Check tick box.
 * Click OK

HOWTO: SETUP: VPN Using L2TP/IPSec
To set it up: https://kb.iweb.com/entries/22375983-Configuring-new-VPN-L2TP-IPSec-connections-in-Windows-7

To then have it actually work: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926179/en-us

Reliability Monitor
Search for ‘reliability’ in the Start menu and open the ‘View reliability history’.

Power Efficiency Report
Command prompt: powercfg –energy

This results in the scanning of your system and after 60 seconds a file named energy-report.html will be created in \windows\system32 folder. You will have to copy it somewhere else before opening it and once opened, it will reveal which settings or devices are chunking away power or messing with power configurations.

Wipe Free Space
When you delete something in Windows, the space they had taken up is labeled as “available for use.” However, the deleted files are still restorable given that you use the right software until they are overwritten with more data. Open Command Prompt and type:

cipher /w:X

Replace X with the letter of the drive or partition you wish to wipe. It takes some time, so be patient.

Hotkey a window between monitors
Hold onto the Windows key and press left or right arrow and your active window will be anchored in the direction you pressed. This happens on every monitor that you have and if you use Windows + Shift + Right/Left Arrow key, the active window jumps to the second monitor. It’s quite an easy way to navigate through different windows and monitors without having to drag and double click every now and then.

http://www.gamengadgets.com/10-features-windows-7-95-users-dont-know/

HOWTO: REMOVE: Service
Here is how I did that:


 * 1) Run Regedit or Regedt32.
 * 2) Go to the registry entry "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Services"
 * 3) Look for the service that you want delete and delete it. You can look at the keys to know what files the service was using and delete them as well (if necessary).

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/how-to-delete-a-windows-service-in-vista-or-xp/

HOWTO: DOWNLOAD: Installation Media
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1-U ISO


 * English x86: X17-59463.iso (msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59463.iso)
 * English x64: X17-59465.iso (msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59465.iso)

Windows 7 Professional SP1-U ISO


 * English x86: X17-59183.iso (msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59183.iso)
 * English x64: X17-59186.iso (msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59186.iso)

Windows 7 Professional N SP1-U ISO (Note: N editions come without media components)


 * English x86: X17-59335.iso (msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59335.iso)
 * English x64: X17-59337.iso (msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59337.iso)

Windows 7 Home Premium SP1-U ISO


 * English x86: X17-58996.iso (msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-58996.iso)
 * English x64: X17-58997.iso (msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-58997.iso)

HOWTO: FIX: Could Not Find This Item
This error is experienced when creating or renaming folders.

http://www.techjawa.com/2010/05/01/guide-fix-windows-folder-renaming-could-not-find-this-item/

HOWTO: FIX: Remote Shutdown By Samba
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy (32 bit DWORD) = 1

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/enable-mapping-to-hostnamec-share-on-windows-vista/

AND

Turn off Windows Firewall.

HOWTO: Hide Usernames From Displaying On The Log On Screen

 * Windows-key + R
 * In the 'Open' box type “secpol.msc” (without the quotes) press the 'OK' button
 * The “Local Security Policy” window will open.
 * In the left hand pane expand “Local Policies” then underneath it click on “Security Options”
 * In the right hand pane locate “Interactive logon: Do not display last user name”
 * Double-click on it, and switch the status from "Disabled" to “Enabled” on the resulting window
 * Click “OK” to close the window.

HOWTO: Set Sync Time and Date
If on a Domain...

C:> net time /set /yes

If not on a Domain...

C:> net time \\SERVER /set /yes

http://www.pretentiousname.com/timesync/

HOWTO: Disable or customize Windows Internet Connection test to improve privacy
http://www.ghacks.net/2014/02/07/disable-customize-windows-internet-connection-test-improve-privacy/

http://blog.superuser.com/2011/05/16/windows-7-network-awareness/

HOWTO: Apply Column Layout To Specific Folders In Windows Explorer
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11356-folder-view-apply-folders.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/41198-folder-view-set-default-all-folders.html

HOWTO: Shut Down Or Reboot Via Command Prompt
To shut down...

shutdown /f /t 00

To reboot...

shutdown /r /f /t 00

HOWTO: ENABLE: Administrator (Super User) Account
This tweak will enable the Administrator (super user) account to be shown on the Welcome Screen.

Windows 7 has built-in administrator account that is by default disabled and hidden. In Windows 7 the administrator account is true super user account (equivalent to root in Unix/Linux), while all other accounts designated as administrators are not 'super users'. The advantage of using the super user administrator account is that it is not subjected to UAC (User Access Control) restriction. The following instructions detail how to enable the super user administrator account:

Click on the Orb/Start button and type 'cmd' (without the speech marks)

Right click on the result 'cmd' then click on the option "Run as administrator"

Windows Command Prompt: net user administrator /active:yes

Press enter, then exit the command prompt

To reverse:

Windows Command Prompt: net user administrator /active:no

Remove AMD/ATi

 * Open Regedit
 * Navigate to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\ACE


 * Double click on the 'Default' entry and rename the value, add a couple of dashes will do and allows easy restoration.

INTEL

 * Open Regedit
 * Navigate to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

Under ContextMenuHandlers, locate, export (to backup) and delete the key named igfxcui.

Possibly you may need to remove other entries: igfxDTCM and or ifgxOSP.

NVIDIA
Open 'Regedit' and locate the following key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\

Under the above key locate, export (to backup) and delete the following key:

NvCplDesktopContext

Gadgets and Screen Resolution:

 * Open Regedit
 * Navigate to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell

To be able to alter the items listed under this key you will need to alter the permissions:


 * 1) Right click on 'DesktopBackground' and select 'Permissions'.
 * 2) click on the 'Advanced' button then the 'Owner' tab, higlight 'Administrators' tick the 'Replace owner on subcontainers and objects', then click 'Apply'.
 * 3) Click on the 'Permissions' tab and select 'Administrators' from the list then tick the 'Replace all child object permissions with inheritable permissions from this object', ensure you click 'Apply'
 * 4) Accept the Windows Security warning by clicking the 'Yes' button.

You should now be able to right click on a key under shell and alter or delete it.

HOWTO: SET: Control Panel To Display All Icons (Classic View) (Professional & Ultimate)

 * RUN gpedit.msc
 * In the left hand pane click through:

'User Configuration' --> 'Administrative Templates' --> 'Control Panel'


 * In the right hand pane double click on:

'Always open All Control Panel Items when opening the Control Panel'


 * Select:

'Enabled'

HOWTO: ENABLE: Ctrl+Alt+Del (Secure Logon)
Professional Edition

Start menu

Type netplwiz then press enter

On the resulting window click on the 'Advanced' tab

Check the box next to 'Require users to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete

Click 'OK'

Document Folder: How To Redirect
In Windows Explorer locate the 'Document' folder within the users profile (usually C:\Users\username), not in Libraries.

Right click on 'Documents', select the 'Location' tab then click the 'Move' button and browse to the desired folder then click 'Select Folder', click 'OK' to finish.

 NOTE:  This can also be done for Pictures, Videos, Favorites etc

HOWTO: ENABLE: God Mode
'God Mode' is a 'hack' created by Microsoft that brings all of Windows 7's controls in to a single place, collecting all of the Control Panel functions, interface customization, accessibility options, etc

To enable 'God Mode' create a new folder in a convenient location, in the root of the 'C' drive for instance

Rename the folder by pasting the line below:

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

The icon for the folder will change and this is correct, to run 'God Mode' just double click on the folder. For ease create a shortcut to the folder either on the desktop or start menu.

HOWTO: FIX: Icon Cache
WARNING: The last command below will immediately reboot the computer.

Windows Command Prompt: taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F DEL "%localappdata%\IconCache.db" /A shutdown /r /f /t 00

IPv6: How To Disable
To disable certain IPv6 components in Windows 7 follow these steps:

Click the Start Orb, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then click regedit.exe in the Programs list.

In the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.

In Registry Editor, locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip6\Parameters\

Double-click DisabledComponents to modify the DisabledComponents entry.

 Note:  If the DisabledComponents entry is unavailable, you must create it. To do this, follow these steps:

In the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.

 Note:  Even if you are using a 64-bit version of Windows 7 you will need to create a 32-bit key

Type

DisabledComponents

Then press ENTER.

There are several available settings to change them double-click DisabledComponents and enter one of the following values

Type any one of the following values to configure the IPv6 protocol, and then click OK:

To enable all IPv6 components

0

 Note:  '0' is the default option

To disable all IPv6 components, except the IPv6 loopback interface. This value also configures Windows to use Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) instead of IPv6 in prefix policies

0xffffffff

To use IPv4 instead of IPv6 in prefix policies

0x20

To disable native IPv6 interfaces

0x10

To disable all tunnel IPv6 interfaces

0x01

To disable all IPv6 interfaces except for the IPv6 loopback interface

0x11

 Note:  You must restart the computer for these changes to take affect

HOWTO: DISABLE: Windows Explorer - Libraries
http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/windows7/windows7_libraries.htm

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/forums/28/windows-7-help/4098569/removal-of-w7-libraries/

http://www.askvg.com/how-to-disable-libraries-feature-in-windows-7/

http://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/85-windows-7-tips-tricks-and-secrets-643861/4

MS Technet Article

http://www.askvg.com/

HOWTO: CHANGE: Windows Licence Key
Open a command prompt, this must be done as an administrative super user.

CMD:~$  slmgr.vbs -ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

Note: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX should be your product/licence key found on the sticker attached to your computer.

Wait for a Windows message to appear:



Check that the number on screen matches your product/licence key, if not click 'OK' and repeat the step above.

Next activate Windows 7:

CMD:~$  slmgr.vbs -ato

Wait for a Windows message to appear:



Close the command prompt.

HOWTO: ACCESS: Mobility Center
The 'Windows Mobility Center' is useful tool for laptop users, it can be accessed using the following key combination:

Windows+X

HOWTO: EDIT: Printer Servers

 * Control Panel
 * Administrative Tools
 * Print Management
 * Printer Servers
 * Forms
 * Click on Action menu > Manage Forms
 * Click on Action menu > Manage Forms

HOWTO: USE: Problem Steps Recorder (PSR)
This is a simple tool that allows a user to record the problems they are experiencing with their system. Each step they make is recorded as a screen capture and text description.

From the start menu search 'psr.exe'.

File location: C:\Windows\System32\psr.exe

Recordings are saved as a zip file containing a .mht file that can be opened in Internet Explorer or Opera (sadly not Firefox or Chrome).

HOWTO: ADD: Quick Launch Toolbar
For a full tutorial with pictures on adding the Quick Launch Toolbar to Windows 7 follow this link.

Right click on the taskbar and select 'Lock the taskbar'

Right click on the taskbar and select 'Toolbars' --> 'New toolbar'

In the address bar of the resulting window paste the following:

%appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

Then click the 'Select Folder' button

The new Quick Launch toolbar will now appear on the right hand side of the taskbar which as it is unlocked will allow you to move it about.

Once positioned right click on the Quick Launch toolbar and remove text from icons and the bar itself.

Samba Share Issues
This goes hand in hand with being unable to see XP clients on the same network.

Try this first:

Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Local Security Policy

Local Policies - Security Options

Network security: LAN Manager authentication level

Set to: Send LM & NTLM responses

Network security: Minimum session security for NTLM SSP

Set to: Disable Require 128-bit encryption

In Windows Explorer enter the path for the share you are trying to access, i.e.:

\\server1\shared

http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/30539-samba-shares-home-premium.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/3737-samba-network-share-issue-windows-7-a-2.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/75-63-windows-samba-issue

http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/30539-samba-shares-home-premium.html

Show Desktop Icon: How To Recreate The One From XP
Windows 7 does have a type of 'Show Desktop' button over in the bottom right hand corner between the clock and the edge of the screen. Many users do not realise it is there and those who do find it to be an inconvenient position. The following is instructions on creating a toolbar that looks like the 'Show Desktop' icon users are more familiar with.

But if you still want to get the old "Show Desktop" shortcut back in Windows 7, then here is how to do it:

Unlock the taskbar.

Create a new folder to house the file you will create in the following steps:

Open Notepad.

Copy and then paste the following text into Notepad:

[Shell] Command=2 IconFile=explorer.exe,3 [Taskbar] Command=ToggleDesktop

Click File --> Save As, and then name the file as "Show desktop.scf", and save to the Windows folder.

Right click on taskbar and select Toolbars --> New Toolbar.

The Browse dialogue box will open, select the folder created earlier and click on "Select folder" button.

Right click on taskbar and select "Lock the taskbar" to unlock it.

A placeholder will be created to drag the new toolbar.

Right click on the toolbar placeholder and uncheck "Show Title" and "Show Text" options.

To increase the icon size, right-click on the toolbar placeholder and enable "View -> Large Icons" option.

Drag the new toolbar to the left of taskbar.

Lock the taskbar.

HOWTO: EDIT: Start Menu
Some of the program shortcuts are available to all users of the computer.

%systemdrive%\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

Other program shortcut groups are available only to the user who is currently logged on.

%UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

Where%systemdrive% is the drive letter where the Windows Vista operating system exists, and %UserProfile% is the path to the user's unique set of environment folders.

Both folders just mentioned are hidden folders. To display them, you have to change the Windows Explorer Folder options by choosing Organize -> Folder and Search Options, and then selecting "Show hidden files and folders" on the View tab of the ensuing dialog box.

At startup, Windows 7 merges the contents of these two Start menu folders and presents the user with a single Start menu, of course. For each folder stored in one of the Programs folders Vista builds a Program Start Menu group and associated shortcuts.

HOWTO: FIX: Start Menu - Recently Opened Programmes Fail To Populate Menu
Locate the following Registry entry:

 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{EF87B4CB-F2CE-4785-8658-4CA6C63E38C6}\TopViews\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

Backup the entry then delete it.

Open Task Manager and under Processes tab find Explorer.exe highlight it then click the 'End Process' button. This will end Windows Explorer.

Click on the Applications tab, click the 'New Task...' button, type 'explorer.exe' (minus the speech marks) in the 'Open' box and click 'OK'. Windows Explorer should now restart.

Open some programmes and see if they now populate the Start Menu.

HOWTO: FIX: Start Menu - 'Search programs and files' Not Working
Open Regedit and locate the following key:

 HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{EF87B4CB-F2CE-4785-8658-4CA6C63E38C6}\TopViews\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

The problem is the GroupBy value key in the registry. It is set to System.Null, when it should be System.StartMenu.Group. When it is set to System.Null, all that you end up seeing in the list is the set of categories that items were found in, not the actual items found in the search. I don't know what changed that value for me (or how I did it inadvertently), but setting the value back to System.StartMenu.Group does seem to correct the issue. The fix does require a kill/restart of explorer.exe, or you can just logout and log back in after making the registry change.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-files/when-searching-in-windows-7-i-only-get-a-list-of/cc378149-8765-498a-9480-b1b494e1a1a9

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproui/thread/cc594db0-dbe8-4255-a259-5c1914318c3d

HOWTO: DISABLE: Sync Center
Open the Control Panel from the Start menu.

Open Sync Center in the Control Panel.

 Note:  If Sync Center is not available, change View by to Large icons at the top right of the Control Panel.

Click Manage offline files in the left column of the Sync Center window.

Click Disable Offline Files in the Offline Files window.

Click OK in the Offline Files window.

Click Yes when asked if you want to restart the computer so that all Offline Files services and settings can be disabled.

HOWTO: DISABLE: Windows File Compression
NOTE: This must be done as an administrator, so either log in to 'Administrator' or right click on 'CMD' in the start menu and select 'Run as administrator'.

Windows Command Prompt: fsutil behavior set disablecompression 1

Windows Folder: Make It Smaller
Have a look at this page: http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/80511-guide-making-your-windows-folder-smaller/

WinSXS Folder - Reduce Its Size
Have a look at this page: http://www.techygeekshome.co.uk/2013/10/clear-winsxs-folder-on-windows-7-sp1.html

Windows Updates: Disable "Who can install updates" Setting - How To
There are several ways to achieve this:


 * Registry alteration


 * Control Panel alteration

Ensure that the check box for "Who can install updates" is cleared.




 * Group Policy alteration

Windows Update: Disable Start Button Being Hijacked For All Users - Registry Edit
Open Regedit and locate the following entry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

If the entries for 'WindowsUpdate' and 'AU' do not exist they need to be created, right click and select New --> Key.

Next create an new DWORD entry under the 'AU' key:

NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption

Double click on the new DWORD entry and change the Value data: from 0 to 1.

Credit for this tip goes to Alan Hart

Windows Update: Disable Start Button Being Hijacked For All Users - Group Policy Edit
Start -> Run -> gpedit.msc -> User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update.

There, you will find an option called “Do not adjust default option to ‘Install Updates And Shut Down’ in Shut Down Windows dialog box”. If you enable this, then clicking “Shut Down” will just shut down your computer without installing updates. However, the “Install Updates And Shut Down” option is still available in the little menu, in case you need it

Windows Updates: Disable Automatic Rebooting When Users Are Logged In
Open Regedit and locate the following entry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

If the entries for 'WindowsUpdate' and 'AU' do not exist they need to be created, right click and select New --> Key.

Next create an new DWORD entry under the 'AU' key:

NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers

Set the value of the above a '1'.

Credit for this tip goes to Alan Hart

Windows Update Fails: Things To Try
(1)

For this error: code 80072f78 WindowsUpdate_dt000, try:

Go to Start / All Programs / Accessories. Right Click the 'Command Prompt' item and click the 'Run As Administrator' option.

In the Command Prompt window, Paste the following command.

REGSVR32 %SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\WUAUENG.DLL

Press ENTER.

You should see a popup that says the command succeeded.

Exit the command prompt and try Windows Update again.

(2)

1. Click Start. Choose Run.

2. In the Run box, type: regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll

3. Click OK.

HOWTO: Hide The Recycle Bin On Desktop
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-vista/show-or-hide-the-recycle-bin

HOWTO: Remove Internet Explorer 10
First of all, click on the “Start” button (because you do have one unlike Windows 8 users!) and type “Programs and Features” in the search box. Click on the “View installed updates” in the left pane of the menu.

Go over to the “Uninstall an update” screen and scroll down to the “Microsoft Windows” section. Simply select Internet Explorer 10 and click “Uninstall.”

It usually takes a while until the process comes to an end, so you’re strongly recommended to avoid stopping or cancelling it. A reboot is necessary to complete the removal and restore IE9.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-to-Remove-IE10-and-Get-Back-to-IE9-on-Windows-7-308998.shtml

HOWTO: Stop Installation of IE 10
http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=36512