Windows General

HOWTO: FIX:

Error: "Windows Update Cannot Check For Updates"

Open a command prompt as an administrator:

net stop wuauserv 
ren c:\windows\SoftwareDistribution softwaredistribution.old

Reboot the system and run Windows Update again.

Unable To Install Or Remove Programmes

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17588/fix-problems-that-block-programs-from-being-installed-or-removed

HOWTO: BITS - Limiting Bandwidth

BITS = Background Intelligent Transfer Service

After much tarting around we found that the simplest solution to this issue it to purchase a modem/router that can instigate limiting the bandwidth.

HOWTO: LOCATE:

Licence Codes

http://www.howtogeek.com/206329/how-to-find-your-lost-windows-or-office-product-keys/

https://discuss.howtogeek.com/t/see-system-product-key-fast/12931

HOWTO: PERFORM: Clean Boot

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

HOWTO: CHECK: Active Ports

On the system you wish to check:

Command Prompt:

netstat -a -n

This will give a full list of all ports and their state.

HOWTO: SHELL MENU:

Add "Take Ownership" to Explorer Right-Click Menu in Win 7, 8 or Vista

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/add-take-ownership-to-explorer-right-click-menu-in-vista/

Generate File Listing On Shell Menu

Note: The following creates when you right click on a folder an entry in the shell menu called 'Create File Listing'. This creates a text document listing of all the files with in a folder, with the resulting text file saved in the folder itself. The listing is a plain list of all the files, if you want to have listed in the document details of the files themselves i.e. dates, then drop the /b switch.

Open Notepad and paste in the following text:

dir /a /b /-p /o:gen >filelisting.txt

Save the file in to the Windows directory calling it file_listing with a .bat file extension not .txt

Open Windows Explorer, click 'Tools' --> 'Folder Options' click on the 'Files Type' tab, find and highlight 'Folder' then click the 'Advanced' button.

Click the 'New' button, in the 'Action' box paste the following:

Create File Listing

Then browse to and highlight the .bat file created above.

Click all the 'OK' buttons as required.

HOWTO: REMOVE:

Temporary Files With A Batch File

https://youprogrammer.com/how-to-delete-temporary-files-windows-10-8-7/

Old Shellbag Entries In Windows For Privacy

http://www.ghacks.net/2014/06/09/remove-old-shellbag-entries-windows-privacy/

Windows Service

Run services.msc
Locate the service you want to delete
Ensure it is not running
Right click on service entry and select 'Properties', on the corresponding windows that opens the actual name of the service as it appears in the registry will be highlighted in blue
Right click on the highlighted name and select 'Copy'
Run Regedit or Regedt32.
Go to the registry entry "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Services"
Look for the service that you want delete and delete it, or run a search ensuring that the entry is in the location details above
Backup the entry and then delete it

HOWTO: COMMAND LINE:

Resync Clock

Run a command prompt as Administraor
net stop w32time
w32tm /unregister
w32tm /register
net start w32time
w32tm /resync

Linux Equivalent Commands

https://www.lemoda.net/windows/windows2unix/windows2unix.html

Clear DNS Cache

Even with a web browser's private mode enabled Windows still (inadvertently as this system was in place long before private mode browsing) tracks the websites visited by the machine via the DNS cache.

Output the contents of the DNS cache to a text file (the complete cache may well be too large to display in the terminal):

ipconfig /displaydns > dns.txt

Sample output:

Windows IP Configuration

   mozilla.org
   ----------------------------------------
   Record Name . . . . . : mozilla.org
   Record Type . . . . . : 1
   Time To Live  . . . . : 2
   Data Length . . . . . : 4
   Section . . . . . . . : Answer
   A (Host) Record . . . : 63.245.215.20

   mozilla.org
   ----------------------------------------
   No records of type AAAA

To clear the DNS cache:

ipconfig /flushdns

Thanks to Ghacks.

MAC Address

Command Prompt:

getmac

Shutdown, Restart etc

shutdown -r	restarts
shutdown -s	shutdown
shutdown -l	logoff
shutdown -t xx	number of seconds to wait till shutdown/restart/logoff
shutdown -i	invokes the dialogue box to fill in what function you want to use
shutdown -a	aborts a shutdown command
shutdown -t 0 -r -f	forces a reboot when logged in remotely

systeminfo Command

systeminfo is designed to display detailed configuration information about local or remote computers, providing details on operating system, operating system configuration, security information, product ID, as well as hardware properties, such as RAM, disk space, and network cards.

Useage:

systeminfo /s A_Computer

systeminfo /s A_Computer | find "System Boot Time:"

Uninstall Windows Updates

wusa /uninstall /kb:xxxxxxx /quiet

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/

How To Extend A Data Volume Disk Partition

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325590

HOWTO: ALTER:

Windows Password

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/change-your-forgotten-windows-password-with-the-linux-system-rescue-cd/

DLL File Registration

The tool to register DLL files is located in the following places:

The 64-bit version is %systemroot%\System32\regsvr32.exe
The 32-bit version is %systemroot%\SysWoW64\regsvr32.exe

NOTE: 64bit Windows operating system have both versions of the Regsv32.exe file.

Syntax:

REGSVR32 [/U] [/S] [/C] [/I:[Command_Line]] DLL_Name

REGSVR32 [/U] [/S] [/C] /N /I:[Command_Line] DLL_Name

Switches:

/u  Unregister Server.
/s  Silent - no dialogue boxes.
/c  Console output.
/n  Don't call DllRegisterServer
/i  Call DllInstall (or DllUninstall if /u is specified)

Command_Line An optional command line for DllInstall

Examples:

Unregister (disable) XP Zip folders

REGSVR32 /u C:\Windows\System32\zipfldr.dll

Unregister (Disable) CAB file viewer:

REGSVR32 /u C:\Windows\System32\cabview.dll

Register (enable) XP Zip folders

REGSVR32 zipfldr.dll

Register (enable) CAB file viewer:

REGSVR32 cabview.dll

Thanks to Microsoft Support.

OEM Infomation

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/helpdesk/change-the-oem-information-in-the-windows-system-properties-panel-to-your-own/866

SendTo Menu

Start > Run > type sendto, and add items in the right window pane.

HOWTO: OFFLINE FILES

Clear Offline Files

If you have decided not to retain offline files and wish to clear any already stored undertake the following:

With offline files enabled change the percentage required for retention, in this case zero.

Press CTRL+SHIFT on your keyboard and then click the 'Delete Files...' button.
Once cleared un-tick the 'Enable Offline Files' check box.
Click 'Apply' then 'OK'.

Location

Applies to: XP, 7, Vista and 8(?)

C:\Windows\CSC

Synchronization: Ensuring It Is Disabled

Windows Explorer

Tools --> Folder Options --> Offline Files (Tab), ensure all options are un-ticked.

INFO: KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS:

Moving & Resizing open Windows or Applications

Aero Desktop Peek	Win + Spacebar
Dock active Window to left/right	Win + Left/Right arrow
Minimize all open Windows or Applications	Win + M
Maximize vertical size of active Window	Win + Shift + Up arrow
Maximize/Minimize active Window	Win + Up/Down arrow
Minimize/maximize all inactive windows	Win + Home
Move active Window between Dual Monitors	Win + Shift + Left or Right Arrow
Moving & resizing active window	Win + Up/Down/Left/Right arrows
Restore vertical size of active Window	Win + Shift + Down arrow
Toggle Desktop display	Win + D
Undo all window minimization	Win + Shift + M
Toggle Desktop display	Win + D

Taskbar

Cycle through all open taskbar Windows	Alt + Esc
3D view of all open windows	Win + Tab (hold Win and tap Tab to cycle)
Cycle through grouped taskbar items	Hold Ctrl + tap Left Click
Get to taskbar items	Win + T or Win + Shift + T for reverse order
Open a new instance of a taskbar Application	Shift + Left mouse click
Open a new instance of a taskbar Application as Administrator	Ctrl + Shift + Click
Open Taskbar Programs (pinned or open)	Win + 1/2/3 s and so on
Persistent 3D view	Ctrl + Win + Tab
Show Restore/Minimize/Move menu Of open application/window (grouped or ungrouped)	Shift + Right click on taskbar icon

General, System Functions and Search

Create a new folder (where applicable)	Ctrl + Shift + N
Delete without moving to Recycle bin	Shift + Del
Full screen Command Prompt	Alt + Enter Up to XP
Lock the computer:	Win + L
Open a Program as Administrator	Ctrl + Shift + Left mouse click
Open Command Prompt path to folder	Shift + Right Click on/within a folder
Open Magnifier	Win + =
Open Mobility Center	Win + X
Open Windows Task Manager	Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Move focus to the System Tray	Win + B
Search for a file or folder	Win + F
Search for computers:	Ctrl + Win + F (domain PCs only)
Show advanced 'Send to...' menu	Shift + Right mouse click
Show desktop gadgets	Win + G
Switching between Laptop or Projector display	Win + P
System Properties	Win + Pause/Break
Utility Manager	Win + U

Run Commands

NOTE: Win + R to open the Run dialogue box.

clipbrd	your clipboard viewer Up to XP
control	Current user's control panel
control userpasswords	User Accounts Administration
excel	Microsoft Excel
infopath	Microsoft InfoPath
msaccess	Microsoft Access
msmsgs	Windows Messenger
msnmsgr	MSN Messenger
mspub	Microsoft Publisher
notepad	Notepad (text editor)
ois	Microsoft Office Picture Manager versions 2003 through 2010
outlook	Microsoft Outlook
powerpnt	Microsoft PowerPoint
services.msc	Services
shrpubw.exe	Shared Folder Wizard
sysedit	System Configuration Editor
winword	Microsoft Word
wordpad	Word pad (text editor)

Advanced Users Run Commands