Sunday 28 April 2013

Quicker & easier way to access various features of Windows 8

Shortcut
Function
Windows Key + C
Displays Charms menu.
Windows Key + X
Brings up a menu of advanced system options, including Windows Control Panel, Command Prompt, Task Manager and File Explorer.
Windows Key + I
Displays the Settings menu for the current app. For example, if you’re in Internet Explorer 10, this key shows Internet options. If you’re on the Start menu, it shows general OS settings.
Windows Key + Q
Brings up the apps search menu that allows you to search your list of installed programs.
Windows Key + D
Activates desktop mode.
Windows Key + Tab
Brings up the Task Switcher and toggles between Windows 8-style apps.
Windows Key + H
Brings up Share menu for the current app. For example, hitting Windows Key + H in Bing Maps, lets you email or share map information on social networks.
Windows Key + M
Opens desktop mode and minimizes all windows.
Windows Key + W
Opens universal search menu and sets it to search settings.
Windows Key + F
Opens universal search menu and sets it to search files.
Windows Key + R
Opens Run menu where you can launch programs by typing in their executable file names.
Windows Key + E
Opens File Explorer to the “My Computer” view which shows all your drives.
Windows Key +Number Key (1-9)
Switch to desktop mode and make the Nth application on the task bar active where N is the number key you hit and 1 is the furthest taskbar icon to the left.
Windows Key + . (period key)
Docks the current Windows 8-style application to the right or left, depending on how many times you hit it.
Windows Key + Z
Brings up app menu, which shows contextual options for the active app.

Bypass Office 2013 streming installation


·        1   Navigate to http://www.office.com/myaccount and sign in.
·        2   Click on “Install from a disc” under Account Options
·        3   Select “I want to burn a disc, then click on the Download button.
   4   Once the download completes, mount the .img file and double click on the icon for         setup.exe

Fixing App Issues in Windows 8


In case if you get error messages while opening the apps. Please download the windows app troubleshooter from this link :

; and run it…!

Restart the computer and the app problem should be fixed.

Dell 966 Printer Installation on Windows 8


While working with a Dell 966 Printer installation with Windows 8 please try the following steps which have worked on many occasions. Though the printer is not compatible with windows 8, we can still attempt the following steps to make it work.


1.     Download the printer removal utility and run it to ensure the removal of any traces of previous installation on the system for the printer : http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails/Product/dell-966?driverId=R152277&osCode=WV64&fileId=2731117043&languageCode=EN

2.     Restart the system after the removal and remove the device from the devices and printer list in the control panel if it is there.

3.     Download the Vista (X86 or X64 as per the OS architecture) driver instead of Windows 7 driver on the system and extract it in compatibility mode with Vista.

4.     Attempt the installation also in compatibility mode with Vista.

There are good chances that the procedure will work and will allow the installation of the printer with windows 8.

NOTE: It is imperative to keep the customer aware of the printer being incompatible with windows 8 and that the you will attempt the installation on “Best Effort” basis



Unable to restart Post updating Windows update----Update 1


On Windows 7 :

Issue : You receive an Event ID 55 or a 0xc000021a Stop error in Windows 7 after you install security update 2823324





On Windows 8 :

In case you end up with No boot issue post installing the Windows update , please follow the below steps

Try crashing the system by powering off at the Dell Logo to invoke the recovery options ,

1    Click next when you get Language options
2    Choose repair below the Install Button
3    Click Advanced troubleshooting steps
4    Click Command Prompt
5    Use the below commands to remove KB2808735

       Dism /image:C:\ /get-packageinfo /PackageName:Package_for_KB2808735~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.3 (to list is package is present)
dism /image:C:\ /remove-package /PackageName:Package_for_KB2808735~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.3 (to remove the package)


If the system is booting up
Go to the control panel and remove the KB2808735

Reset Windows Update History.bat


Came across an issue I was not able to install windows updates and getting error (80070003).
Now you cannot run Microsoft fixit on windows 8 so I got this utility which you can run and fix this issue.

Download it from the link below.

Reset_Windows_Update_History.bat


2. Save the .bat file to your Desktop.

3. Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

4. If prompted by UAC click/tap on Run, then Yes/Continue (if administrator) or type in administrator's password (if standard user).

5. You will now see an elevated command prompt open and run. When it's finished, it will close automatically.

6. Restart the computer afterwards and then re-download the updates.

Error installing Office 2013 from OEM link


When attempting to install Microsoft Office 2013, you may receive an error that says ”Windows cannot find C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 15\clientx64\integratedoffice.exe“(screenshot below). To fix this problem, follow these steps.
1. Select Start, type regedit, then pressEnter.
2. Navigate to the following location.
§  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
§  SOFTWARE
§  Microsoft
§  Office
3. Delete the 15.0 folder.
Now restart the computer and try to install Office 2013 again. You should be able to make it through without the error message interrupting your progress.


Another way to fix this, run the MS fix it with the link below.


Print Spooler issues



Issue: Print spooler missing in services.msc

1. Go to Programs and Features in Control panel > click Turn Windows features on or off
2. click + sign of Print services
3. Select LPD and LPR. You should remove Internet Printing Client. > restart your PC to ensure there is no error of spooler service.
4. Add your printer driver again.

If print Spooler still does not appear in Services, SFC /Scannow can be tried as well as there are advanced registry fixes that can be attempted like the one below:


PRINT SPOOLER

Issue: Print spooler missing in services.msc

Troubleshooting
If the print spooler entry in missing in service, Copy the file below and paste it into a notepad and name file spooler.reg on desktop and then double click on it.
It will create all the entries in registry and you will be able to find spooler entry in services.msc

Note: You need to restart the computer.


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler]
"DependOnService"=hex(7):52,00,50,00,43,00,53,00,53,00,00,00,00,00
"Description"="Loads files to memory for later printing."
"DisplayName"="Print Spooler Service"
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"FailureActions"=hex:80,51,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,e8,47,0c,\
  00,01,00,00,00,60,ea,00,00,01,00,00,00,60,ea,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"Group"="SpoolerGroup"
"ImagePath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
  74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,\
  00,70,00,6f,00,6f,00,6c,00,73,00,76,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,00,00
"ObjectName"="LocalSystem"
"Start"=dword:00000002
"Type"=dword:00000110

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler\Parameters]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler\Performance]
"Close"="PerfClose"
"Collect"="PerfCollect"
"Collect Timeout"=dword:000007d0
"Library"="winspool.drv"
"Object List"="1450"
"Open"="PerfOpen"
"Open Timeout"=dword:00000fa0
"WbemAdapFileSignature"=hex:ee,77,f6,e4,05,9a,12,60,ce,fa,84,c7,a3,a5,c1,a1
"WbemAdapFileTime"=hex:00,99,f6,d2,64,9a,c4,01
"WbemAdapFileSize"=dword:00023e00
"WbemAdapStatus"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler\Security]
"Security"=hex:01,00,14,80,90,00,00,00,9c,00,00,00,14,00,00,00,30,00,00,00,02,\
  00,1c,00,01,00,00,00,02,80,14,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,\
  00,00,02,00,60,00,04,00,00,00,00,00,14,00,8d,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,\
  05,0b,00,00,00,00,00,18,00,9d,01,02,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,\
  23,02,00,00,00,00,18,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,20,\
  02,00,00,00,00,14,00,fd,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00,01,01,\
  00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler\Enum]
"0"="Root\\LEGACY_SPOOLER00"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001

Device Manager has a bang on USB-IF xHCI USB Host Controller on Inspiron 7720, 7520


Problem:             DevMgr has a bang on USB-IF xHCI USB Host Controller on  Inspiron   7720, 7520


Resolution:Downloaded the ff.:iusb3hub.infiusb3xhc.inffrom http://plugable.com/2012/12/01/windows-8-and-intel-usb-3-0-host-controllers


And paste in on the Usb extracted folder location under Dell > Drivers > Usb 3.0 Extracted Folder[Intel(R)_USB_3.0_eXtensible_Host_Controller_Driver\Drivers\Win7\x64\]



No ODD option in BIOS


How to add UEFI boot option?



1.      Attach the bootable device you want to boot, and power on system to enter BIOS setup menu.

2.      Go to Boot section and choose “Add Boot Option”.


3.      Type the Boot option name you want, and select the boot device you attach on system. (Below example is USB ODD.)

4.      Switch to “File Name” section and select the EFI file you want to boot. Then enter.

5.      Click yes to save the profile.





6.      The boot option will appear in UEFI Boot list under boot manager now.

7.      Enter boot manager via press F12, you can find the UEFI boot option as well.