52 windows problems and solutions

8/10/2019 52 Windows Problems and Solutions

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52 Windows problems and solutions

Quick fixes for problems in XP, Vista and Windows 7

By Nick Peers from PCAnswers Issue 215 October 11th 2010Comments

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of 2 #in$ows %rob&ems an$ so&utions

'i( %rob&ems sim%&y an$ )uick&y with our *ui$e

elated stories• #in$ows 7 an$ +ista ,more at risk, to -iruses than .P/ says icrosoft• No #in$ows 1 Start menu this year 3 check back in 2015

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• 4ow to reinsta&& #in$ows

It,s a sa$ fact of &ife that no #in$ows PC %erforms fau&t&ess&y o-er time any of these %rob&emsare outsi$e your contro&/ but others can be intro$uce$ throu*h user error

It $oesn,t matter how much sim%&er icrosoft makes #in$ows with each successi-e re&ease %rob&ems/ *&itches an$ bu*s wi&& a&ways be a %art of it

6ach month PC ma*a ine from 'uture Pub&ishin* answer $o ens of rea$er )uestions/ so we,-etraw&e$ our e(tensi-e archi-es an$ $u* out 52 of the most re&e-ant fi(es to #in$ows %rob&ems

#here %ossib&e we a-oi$ referrin* to software that %romises to fi( these8 these 9mirac&e9 curesoften intro$uce %rob&ems of their own Instea$ we try to concentrate on e(%&ainin* how to fi(-arious %rob&ems usin* on&y the too&s in #in$ows itse&f

!1" #issing $askbar icons

Version% XP, Vista, 7

If icons ha-e $isa%%eare$ from the !askbar,s notification area/ there are two thin*s to try first/ %ress the #in$ows key an$ :;</ ty%e 9re*e$it9 an$ %ress :6nter<

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/computing-components/how-to-reinstall-windows-905982

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/computing-components/how-to-reinstall-windows-905982



Browse to 4=6>?C@;;6N!?@S6; Software C&asses oca&Settin*s Software icrosoft #in$ows Current+ersion !rayNotify/ an$ $e&ete both IconStreams

an$ PastIconsStream -a&ues

;eboot/ or &o* off an$ back on a*ain If the %rob&em %ersists in .P/ an$ you can &i-e without it/o%en the A$$ or ;emo-e Pro*rams Contro& Pane&/ c&ick A$$ ;emo-e #in$ows Com%onents/e(%an$ Networkin* Ser-ices/ an$ untick 9@PnP @ser Interface9 !hen c&ick O= D Ne(t

!2" P& won't sleep


If your PC won,t stay as&ee% it,s often because a $e-ice is confi*ure$ to brin* it out of stan$by

when tri**ere$ I$entify the cu&%rit by %ressin* the #in$ows key an$ :;</ ty%e 9cm$9 an$ %ress:6nter<



!y%e the fo&&owin* &ine an$ %ress :6nter< %owercf* E$e-ice)uery wake?arme$

Now %ress the #in$ows key an$ :;< a*ain/ but this time ty%e 9$e-m*mt msc9 to o%en Fe-iceana*er 'in$ any $e-ices &iste$ ear&ier/ then $oub&e3c&ick them an$ &ook for an A$-ance$ orPower ana*ement tab

Check if the $e-ice is a&&owe$ to brin* the PC out of stan$by E if it is/ untick a&& the bo(es thatwake it C&ick O=/ c&ose Fe-ice ana*er an$ test it worke$8 re%eat the %rocess if necessary

!(" Quick fixes


icrosoft has $e-e&o%e$ the 'i( It Center too&/ which inc&u$es a&& of the automate$ fi(es for-arious #in$ows %rob&ems it has re&ease$ o-er the &ast few years Fown&oa$ an$ insta&& it fromhtt% fi(itcenter su%%ort microsoft com / then &aunch the too& from its $eskto% shortcut

A &ist of a-ai&ab&e troub&eshooters for your -ersion of #in$ows wi&& be &iste$8 if one $escribes the %rob&em you,re ha-in* then c&ick the ;un button ne(t to it an$ see if it can reso&-e your %rob&em

!)" emo*e printer dri*ers

http://fixitcenter.support.microsoft.com/Portal

http://fixitcenter.support.microsoft.com/Portal



Version% XP, Vista

!o ensure a&& traces of an o&$ %rinter are remo-e$ from your PC/ o%en Printers or Printers an$'a(es ;i*ht3c&ick b&ank s%ace in the Printers Contro& Pane& an$ choose Ser-er Pro%erties Gin.PH or ;un as A$ministrator D Ser-er Pro%erties D Continue Gin +istaH

Switch to the Fri-er tab E if your $ri-er is sti&& %resent/ se&ect it an$ c&ick ;emo-e If you,reusin* +ista you shou&$ &ea-e 9;emo-e $ri-er on&y9 se&ecte$ on&y if the $ri-ers were %ro-i$e$ by#in$ows C&ick O= fo&&owe$ by >es D C&ose

!5" Verif+ s+stem files


!he System 'i&e Checker GS'CH too& enab&es you to scan for E an$ re%&ace E corru%t an$ missin*fi &es If you use .P you can use it to scan your entire $ri-e/ whi&e in +ista an$ #in$ows 7 it can

-erify in$i-i$ua& fi &es an$ fo&$ers too If you ha-e an insta&&ation CF/ kee% it han$y in case it,snee$e$

tep 1" -n Windows XP



C&ick Start D ;un/ ty%e 9sfc scannow9 an$ %ress :6nter< to check your entire $ri-e for errors4a-e your insta&&ation CF han$y in case you,re aske$ for it

tep 2" Vista and Windows 7

C&ick Start/ ty%e 9cm$9/ then ri*ht3c&ick cm$ e(e an$ choose ;un as A$ministrator D Continue!y%e 9sfc scannow9 an$ %ress :6nter< to check your entire $ri-e

tep (" can and replace



A&ternati-e&y/ ty%e 9sfc SCAN'I 6 %ath fi &ename9 an$ %ress :6nter</ re%&acin* %ath fi &enamewith your chosen fi &e E such as c win$ows system"2 riche$"2 $&&

!." Program compatibilit+ problems


If you ha-e issues with a %ro*ram check its website or Joo*&e the %ro*ram,s name/ -ersionnumber an$ your -ersion of #in$ows to see if there are any issues with it



!0" +stem estore not working


If you,re ha-in* %rob&ems restorin* your com%uter to an ear&ier state/ try bootin* into Safe o$e

Gta% :' < as your PC restartsH an$ runnin* System ;estore from there

In +ista an$ #in$ows 7 there,s a&so another o%tion you can a&so run the too& $irect&y from your#in$ows $isc Gsee ti% se-en/ abo-eH if you can,t access #in$ows

! " Windows #edia Pla+er missing songs


!racks missin* from #in$ows e$ia P&ayerK !ry c&ickin* Start D A&& Pro*rams D Accessories If you,re usin* .P you shou&$ se&ect the Comman$ Prom%t/ or in +ista or #in$ows 7 ri*ht3c&ick it

an$ choose ;un as A$ministrator

Switch to the fo&$er containin* your music usin* the c$ comman$ Gfor e(am%&e/ c$ music c$ my$ocuments my musicH/ then ty%e 9 attrib s 3"3 4d 4s 9 an$ %ress :6nter<

Once com%&ete/ o%en e$ia P&ayer an$ %ress :'"</ or choose !oo&s D A$-ance$ D ;estore e$iaibrary Gin #in$ows 7H to access a&& your music a*ain

1!" ction &enter



Version% 7

C&ick the f&a* icon in the !askbar,s notification area to access the Action Center 4ere you can*et an at3a3*&ance &ook at %rob&ems/ %&us &aunch a series of troub&eshooters to he&% )uick&y fi( the

%rob&ems that %&a*ue you/ without *ettin* your han$s $irty

11" 6ow printer ink le*els


If you,-e Lust u%*ra$e$ to a new -ersion of #in$ows an$ can,t access your %rinter,s ink &e-e&s/the ba$ news is that #in$ows insta&&e$ a basic $ri-er without the function

Check the manufacturer,s site for a $e$icate$ $ri-er an$ E if it e(ists E insta&& that

12" ix Windows dri*er problems


ost har$ware %rob&ems can be trace$ to the $ri-ers/ the software that enab&es them to workwith #in$ows #hen it comes to trackin* $own %rob&ems/ the first %ort of ca&& shou&$ be#in$ows, own Fe-ice ana*er E here,s how to troub&eshoot %rob&ems usin* this usefu& too&



ook on the Jenera& tab for an error co$e an$ $escri%tion of the %rob&em E if a troub&eshoot button is %resent/ c&ick it to see if you can fi ( the %rob&em easi&y

tep (" earc6 online



If no fi( is forthcomin*/ use the error $etai&s as %art of your web search E try a *enera& searchfirst/ then a$$ your har$ware,s make an$ mo$e& if necessary

1(" esol*e ead+;oost conflict

Version% Vista, 7

>our PC can on&y use one ;ea$yBoost $e-ice at a time/ an$ some com%uters come with bui&t3inf&ash memory a&rea$y confi*ure$ for use with ;ea$yBoost

!o reso&-e this conf&ict c&ick Start/ ri*htc&ick Com%uter an$ se&ect ana*e/ then un$er Stora*echoose 9Fisk ana*ement9 to -erify the e(istence of such a $ri-e ook for a %ro*ram ca&&e$Inte& !urbo emory Conso&e Gty%e 9Inte&9 into the Start menu,s Search bo(H an$ o%en this to$isab&e the bui&t3in $ri-e in fa-our of your own

1)" older settings not remembered


If you fin$ you can no &on*er customise fo&$ers to &ook an$ beha-e how you want/ the so&utionin-o&-es some e$itin* of with two ;e*istry subkeys E Ba* ;@ an$ Ba*s E which are foun$ in



two se%arate &ocations She&& an$ She&&No;oam un$er 4=6>? C@;;6N!?@S6; Softwareicrosoft #in$ows

!hink this soun$s &ike too much hass&eK No %rob&em/ Lust o%en the icrosoft 'i( It Center too&Gsee ti% threeH an$ run the 9Fia*nose an$ re%air #in$ows 'i&es an$ 'o&$er Prob&ems9 wi ar$

!his wi&& $o the har$ work for you

15" P& keeps rebooting


If your PC restarts une(%ecte$&y after brief&y $is%&ayin* a b&ue screen/ then it,s encountere$ aS!OP error If this kee%s occurrin* you nee$ to i$entify it

In +ista an$ #in$ows 7 you can sto% #in$ows automatica&&y restartin* from the #in$ows bootmenu that shou&$ a%%ear8 if you use .P c&ick Start/ ri*ht3c&ick y Com%uter an$ se&ectPro%erties D A$-ance$ tab C&ick Settin*s un$er 9Startu% an$ ;eco-ery9 an$ untick9Automatica&&y restart9 before c&ickin* O= twice

Now when the S!OP error occurs you,&& see a b&ue screen with $etai&s of the error messa*e8 note$own the $escri%tion/ any fi&es it refers to/ an$ the S!OP error co$e !hen search the web forthese terms to ho%efu&&y fin$ a so&ution



1." ;locked startup programs


If you *et this messa*e after startin* #in$ows/ it means one of the %ro*rams set to start with it isattem%tin* to work with e&e-ate$ %ri-i&e*es !his is sym%tomatic of o&$er %ro*rams/ so eithersource an u%$ate or an a&ternati-e %ro*ram if you can

;i*ht3c&ick the messa*e/ choose 9;un b&ocke$ %ro*ram9 an$ se&ect the errant too& in )uestion!hen c&ick Continue when %rom%te$

17" ix file s6aring problems


+erify your PCs are on the same network E wire&ess or wire$ E an$ a&& on the same work*rou%Gc&ick Start/ ri*ht3c&ick Com%uter an$ se&ect Pro%erties8 in .P you nee$ the Com%uter Name tabHIs 'i&e an$ Printer Sharin* enab&e$K



Check from the Network an$ Sharin* Center in +ista #in$ows 7 E ensure your network is 4omeor #ork In #in$ows 7 c&ick Choose home*rou% an$ sharin* o%tions D Chan*e a$-ance$

sharin* settin*s8 in .P ri*ht3c&ick a fo&$er an$ choose Pro%erties D Sharin* tab

Fisab&e %asswor$ %rotecte$ fi&esharin* in +ista or #in$ows 7 if sharin* with PCs runnin* .P/an$ check your firewa&& has %&ace$ your network in a truste$ one

10" ccess denied error on s+stem files

Version% XP

Not &on* a*o $ea&in* with 9access $enie$9 errors re&atin* to system fi&es or the ;e*istry in-o&-e$$own&oa$in* a too& an$ ty%in* out a com%&e( scri%t

Now you can reso&-e this issue E sometimes foun$ when insta&&in* SP" E by $own&oa$in* a$e$icate$ fi(3it too& from htt% *o microsoft com K&inki$ 7"07 5

1 " <ow memor+ error


http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9730795

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9730795



'i( this %rob&em by makin* sure #in$ows is set to han$&e your -irtua& memory settin*s8 o%enthe System Contro& Pane& an$ either c&ick 9A$-ance$ system settin*s9 or switch to the A$-ance$tab

!hen un$er Performance c&ick Settin*s/ se&ect A$-ance$ an$ c&ick Chan*e >ou nee$ to -erify

that either 9Automatica&&y mana*e %a*in* fi&e for a&& $ri-es9 Gin +ista or #in$ows 7H or 9Systemmana*e$ si e9 Gin #in$ows .PH is se&ecte$/ then if necessary c&ick Set D O=/ rebootin* when %rom%te$

2!" =o sound in Windows




Before runnin* the icrosoft 'i( It Center too& Gsee ti% threeH/ o%en the 9Soun$9 or 9Soun$s an$Au$io Fe-ices9 Contro& Pane&

Se&ect the P&ayback or Au$io tab/ an$ -erify the $e-ice is set to be the $efau&t8 if not/ se&ect itfrom the &ist to fi( the %rob&em

21" &reate a repair disc

Version% 7



If your PC $i$n,t come with a #in$ows insta&&ation $isc/ c&ick Start/ ty%e 9backu%9 an$ c&ickBacku% an$ ;estore

Se&ect 9Create a system re%air $isc9 an$ %ut a b&ank CF or F+F in your writeab&e $ri-e to createa bootab&e $isc with the 9;e%air your com%uter9 o%tions on it

22" W6ere's :P>9-$?

Version% XP, Vista

If you,re runnin* one of the 4ome e$itions of #in$ows/ you,&& fin$ the *%e$it msc too& ismissin* If you,re instructe$ to fi( a %rob&em usin* this too& an$ you,re runnin* #in$ows .P/-isit here to fin$ the e)ui-a&ent settin* in the ;e*istry

A&ternati-e&y/ for the 4ome e$ition of +ista you can $own&oa$ an 6(ce& s%rea$sheet with the-arious settin*s from here

2(" +stem estore problems


;estore %oints are cumu&ati-e in re-erse E each new one on&y sa-es what,s chan*e$ E so o&$ %oints re&y on newer ones to work8 if one corru%ts then a&& o&$er ones are &ost !hat means theo&$er a ;estore %oint/ the &ess re&iab&e it is/ so a-oi$ usin* anythin* but the most recent one

http://www.j79zlr.com/gphome.php


http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=18c90c80-8b0a-4906-a4f5-ff24cc2030fb


http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=18c90c80-8b0a-4906-a4f5-ff24cc2030fb



O%en Fisk C&eanu% GStart D A&& Pro*rams D Accessories D System too&sH an$ E if %rom%te$ Echoose 9a&& users9 On the ore O%tions tab $e&ete a&& but the newest ;estore %oint If a&& e&sefai&s/ $isab&e System ;estore an$ &ose a&& ;estore %oints/ then re3enab&e it

'or .P use the too& here8 in +ista an$ #in$ows 7 o%en System Protection/ untick a&& the bo(es

an$ c&ick !urn off System ;estore D A%%&y !ick your system $ri-e a*ain an$ c&ick A%%&y toswitch it back on

If you,re %&a*ue$ with s%ecific error messa*es/ or System ;estore $oesn,t work we&&/ you,&& fin$usefu& so&utions here

2)" $ext too small


If you,re stru**&in* to rea$ the te(t on your screen sim%&y ri*ht3c&ick the $eskto% an$ choose

9Persona&i ation9 or 9Pro%erties9 In #in$ows 7 c&ick Fis%&ay/ or in +ista se&ect 9A$Lust font si eGFPIH98 in .P switch to the Settin*s tab an$ c&ick A$-ance$

Se&ect a &ar*er si e to suit you an$ c&ick O= twice fo&&owe$ by >es D C&ose/ rebootin* if %rom%te$ Certain %ro*rams wi&& throw u% warnin*s E in +ista an$ #in$ows 7 you can ri*ht3c&ick the %ro*ram shortcut an$ choose Pro%erties D Com%atibi&ity tab/ then tick 9Fisab&e $is%&aysca&in* on hi*h FPI settin*s9

25" Video displa+ problems


#hen %&ayin* back -i$eo on your PC/ $oes the screen a%%ear too &i*ht or $ark/ or is the co&our ba&ance a&& wron*K !hat,s because the -i$eo uses s%ecia& 9o-er&ay9 settin*s in %&ace of #in$ows,own

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405


http://bertk.mvps.org/






!o reso&-e this/ ri*ht3c&ick the $eskto% an$ &ook for an N-i$ia or A!I o%tion8 if it,s not there/choose 9Persona&i ation9 or 9Pro%erties9 instea$ Choose Settin*s or Fis%&ay Settin*s an$ &ookon the tabs for a -i$eo or a$-ance$ o%tion

Once &ocate$/ make sure the -i$eo settin*s are set to that of the %&ayer/ an$ not your *ra%hicsa$a%tor #hen this is $one/ sa-e your settin*s to reso&-e the %rob&em

2." /se >*ent Viewer

Version% Vista, 7

#in$ows recor$s a&& maLor e-ents/ inc&u$in* errors an$ warnin*s/ which can be accesse$ fortroub&eshootin* Press the #in$ows key an$ :;</ ty%e 9e-ent-wr msc9 an$ %ress :6nter< Nowe(%an$ #in$ows o*s an$ c&ick on a &o*



C&ick 'i&ter Current o*/ tick Critica&/ 6rror an$ #arnin* an$ c&ick O= C&ick an e-ent thatoccurre$ aroun$ the time of your %rob&em each e-ent wi&& %ro-i$e more information about your

%rob&em E if there,s a &ink to more he&% on&ine/ se&ect it

Some e-ents won,t %ro$uce any e(tra information/ but many wi&&8 you may e-en *et %ossib&eso&utions to try/ but if not/ make a note of any e(tra $etai& to use in a Joo*&e search

27" ix eliabilit+ #onitor not working

Version% Vista

If ;e&iabi&ity onitor sto%s u%$atin*/ o%en 6-ent +iewer Gsee ti% 2 H/ e(%an$ #in$ows o*s/ri*ht3c&ick System an$ choose C&ear o* D C&ear

aunch !ask Sche$u&er from the Start menu,s Search bo(/ se&ect +iew D Show 4i$$en !asks/then e(%an$ !ask Sche$u&er ibrary D icrosoft D #in$ows D ;AC

#ith ;AC se&ecte$/ ri*ht3c&ick ;ACA*ent in the mi$$&e %ane an$ se&ect ;un Its status shou&$then chan*e to ;unnin*/ in$icatin* that the ;e&iabi&ity onitor is workin* correct&y once a*ain

20" >*ent Viewer and XP

Version% XP



O%en 6-ent +iewer as out&ine$ in ti% 2 / then se&ect a &o* from the &eft3han$ &ist GSystem orA%%&ication are the best to tryH an$ choose +iew D 'i&ter

@ntick Information/ then c&ick O= to &ea-e a&& warnin*s an$ errors &iste$ Now re-iew the &o*san$ see what,s ha%%enin* behin$ the scenes

2 " &6ange afe #ode resolution


A &ot of troub&eshootin* tasks are %erforme$ in Safe o$e/ an$ you,&& %robab&y fin$ that the$efau&t reso&ution G 00 ( 00H can be a &itt&e cram%e$ to work in

!hankfu&&y you can force #in$ows to a&ways $is%&ay Safe o$e in a hi*her reso&ution with asim%&e tweak

tep 1" ;oot into afe #ode



;estart your PC an$ ta% :' < #hen %rom%te$/ choose Safe o$e/ then &o* into your useraccount when %rom%te$ Fon,t se&ect System ;estore if %rom%te$

tep 2" ccess 9ispla+ ettings

;i*ht3c&ick the $eskto% an$ choose Pro%erties G.PH or Persona&i e G+ista an$ #in$ows 7H Se&ectFis%&ay Settin*s/ then A$-ance$ D A$a%ter tab D ist A&& o$es

(" $r+ new resolution



!ry %ressin* :Ctr&< M :A&t< M :Fe&< at this %oint E if you,re &ucky/ you can &o* off an$ try to &o* ona*ain !his error can occur if you try to &o* on too )uick&y after the #in$ows #e&come screen8wait ten secon$s before enterin* your %asswor$ an$ hittin* :6nter<

(2" Windows won't start

Version% Vista, 7

If you fin$ #in$ows won,t &oa$/ %o% your #in$ows insta&&ation $isc into the $ri-e an$ restartyour com%uter !hen se&ect to boot from CF when %rom%te$ Pick your &an*ua*e/ c&ick Ne(t/an$ then choose 9;e%air your com%uter9

#in$ows wi&& attem%t to $etect your insta&&ation E if it,s successfu&/ c&ick 9Startu% ;e%air9 toenab&e #in$ows to try an$ fi( the %rob&em !he re%air isn,t a&ways successfu& the first time/ so if#in$ows sti&& won,t &oa$ try the %rocess a*ain to see if it can now reso&-e your issue

((" ort tart menu

Version% XP

Notice$ how #in$ows .P 9for*ets9 to kee% the Start menu in or$erK



!o fi( this/ c&ick Start D A&& Pro*rams/ then ri*ht3c&ick an$ choose 9Sort by Name9 one &ast time!hen o%en ;e*istry 6$itor an$ browse to4=6>?C@;;6N!?@S6; Software icrosoft #in$ows Current+ersion 6(%&orer enuOr$er

#ith enuOr$er se&ecte$/ choose 6$it D Permissions C&ick the A$-ance$ button an$ remo-e

the tick ne(t to 9Inherit from %arent the %ermission entries 9 #hen %rom%te$ c&ick Co%y D O=/to c&ose the A$-ance$ Security Settin*s win$ow

Now se&ect your username from the &ist an$ untick the 9A&&ow9 bo( ne(t to 'u&& Contro& G&ea-e9;ea$9 ticke$H an$ c&ick A%%&y Se&ect the A$ministrators *rou% an$ re%eat the ste%s 'ina&&y/c&ick O= an$ c&ose the ;e*istry 6$itor

()" ile opens wit6 wrong program


If a %articu&ar ty%e of fi&e no &on*er o%ens in the correct %ro*ram/ ri*ht3c&ick the fi&e in )uestionan$ then sim%&y se&ect O%en with D Choose Pro*ram

Se&ect your chosen %ro*ram from the &ist Gc&ick Browse if it,s missin*H/ an$ make sure 9A&waysuse the se&ecte$ %ro*ram 9 is ticke$ !hen c&ick O=8 this wi&& sa-e your %reference whene-eryou o%en fi&es of that ty%e

(5" &an't see mouse cursor in #edia &enter

Version% Vista, 7

If the mouse cursor $oesn,t a%%ear in #in$ows e$ia Center in fu&&3screen mo$e/ you sim%&ynee$ to $isab&e mouse trai&s to *et it back a*ain

O%en the ouse Contro& Pane&/ switch to the Pointer O%tions tab/ then untick the o%tion of9Fis%&ay %ointer trai&s9 an$ c&ick O= to sa-e it

(." /ser account corrupted

Version% XP

If your user account corru%ts E if you,re unab&e to &o* on to it/ or #in$ows a&ways creates a

tem%orary user %rofi&e E then you,&& nee$ to fo&&ow a $ifferent techni)ue to that $escribe$ in thene(t ti% to reso&-e the %rob&em +isit htt% su%%ort microsoft com kb 11151 for a *ui$e to $oin*so

(7" $ransfer user account






!o transfer fi&es an$ settin*s to a new user account / restart your PC an$ ta% :' < for the bootmenu/ %ick Safe o$e an$ %ress :6nter< twice

o* on as the master A$ministrator account Gc&ick >es if %rom%te$H then o%en the @ser AccountsContro& Pane& an$ create a new user account with a$ministrator %ri-i&e*es C&ick Start/ &o* off/an$ &o* on to your new account to set it u%8 once com%&ete/ &o* off a*ain an$ &o* back on as theA$ministrator

C&ick Start/ ri*ht3c&ick Com%uter/ an$ either c&ick Pro%erties D A$-ance$ system settin*sG+ista #in$ows 7H or se&ect Pro%erties D A$-ance$ tab C&ick Settin*s un$er @ser Profi&es/ %ickyour e(istin* user %rofi&e an$ c&ick Co%y !o

C&ick Browse to se&ect your new user fo&$er un$er C @sers or C Focuments an$ Settin*s C&ick O= twice/ rea$ the warnin* an$ c&ick >es >our o&$ user %rofi&e,s settin*s an$ fi&es wi&& be co%ie$to your new one/ then reboot in norma& mo$e an$ &o* on as your new %rofi&e

(0" afel+ emo*e @ardware glitc6




+ista wi&& u%&oa$ a&& of the %rob&ems &iste$ E if %rom%te$/ sen$ more information/ which mayhe&% %ro-i$e a so&ution If you,re &ucky/ you,&& be to&$ so&utions ha-e been foun$8 c&ick one tore-iew its fin$in*s E you may be to&$ to $own&oa$ an u%$ate/ take a s%ecific course of action/ or*o to another site for more he&%

)!" &lear print Aueue


!o c&ear the %rint )ueue try $oub&e3c&ickin* your %rinter un$er Printers an$ 'a(es GFe-ices an$Printers in #in$ows 7H an$ choosin* Printer D Cance& a&& Focuments Gor Pur*e a&& FocumentsH8if that $oesn,t work/ an$ neither $oes switchin* the %rinter off for a few minutes/ try thefo&&owin*

Press the #in$ows key an$ :;</ ty%e 9ser-ices msc9 an$ %ress :6nter< ;i*ht3c&ick Print S%oo&er/an$ se&ect Sto% O%en C #in$ows System"2 s%oo& P;IN!6;S an$ $e&ete its contents

;i*ht3c&ick Print S%oo&er a*ain/ an$ choose Start

)1" @elp and upport won't open



Version% XP

'irst try c&ickin* Start D ;un/ ty%e 9he&%ctr Ere*ser-er9 an$ %ress :6nter< If this fai&s/ $own&oa$an$ run a +BS scri%t from here to reset the 4e&% an$ Su%%ort,s ;e*istry fi&es

If this a&so fai&s/ c&ick Start D ;un a*ain/ ty%e 9re*s-r"2 uhhctr& oc(9 an$ %ress :6nter<

!he ne(t ste% is to reinsta&& 4e&% an$ Su%%ort c&ick Start D ;un/ ty%e 9Rwin$irR inf9 an$ %ress:6nter</ then ri*ht3c&ick %chea&th inf an$ choose Insta&&8 you may nee$ your #in$ows CF

If after a&& of this you sti&& can,t *et the 4e&% an$ Su%%ort Ser-ice to work/ -isitwww ke&&ys3korner3(% com to%10fa)s2 htm It has e-en more techni)ues to try/ $e%en$in* on the kin$ oferror you,re *ettin*

)2" 9ouble click opens earc6


Can,t o%en a $ri-e by $oub&ec&ickin* itK ;i*ht3c&ick the C $ri-e an$ check that the Search o%tionis in bo&$/ which in$icates it,s the $efau&t choice

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/fixwinxphelp.htm

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs2.htm


http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/fixwinxphelp.htm





!he fi( is mercifu&&y sim%&e c&ick Start D ;un/ ty%e 9re*s-r"2 i she&&"2 $&&9 an$ %ress :6nter<

)(" &949V9 dri*e problems


any $isc %rob&ems can be trace$ to thir$3%arty $isc3burnin* software If you,-e recent&yinsta&&e$ a new %ro*ram/ try remo-in* it an$ see if the issue is reso&-e$ Con-erse&y/ if you,-erecent&y remo-e$ a %ro*ram/ check the %ro*ram,s website to see if a c&ean3u% too& mi*ht be ab&eto he&%

'or e(am%&e/ the Nero Jenera& C&ean !oo& mi*ht so&-e thin*s If a&& e&se fai&s/ Lust run theicrosoft 'i( It Center too&/ se&ect 9P&ayin* an$ burnin* CFs/ F+Fs/ an$ B&u3ray Fiscs9 an$c&ick ;un !his shou&$ reso&-e most outstan$in* burnin* issues

))" econd monitor is blank


If you attach a secon$ $is%&ay to your PC but it a%%ears to be b&ank/ try mo-in* your mouse on toit If it then a%%ears/ o%en your $is%&ay %ro%erties Gsee ti% 25H an$ &ook for the mu&ti%&e $is%&ayssection8 make sure your $is%&ays are set to $u%&icate each other/ not e(ten$

http://www.nero.com/enu/tools-utilities.html

http://www.nero.com/enu/tools-utilities.html



)5" tick+ ke+s


If certain keys such as :Shift< start beha-in* stran*e&y/ you may ha-e ina$-ertent&y switche$ on

one of #in$ows, accessibi&ity o%tions such as Sticky =eys !y%e 9accessibi&ity9 into the Search bo( or o%en Accessibi&ity O%tions to switch it off an$ re*ain contro&

)." /nmountable boot *olume

Version% XP

!his error can s%e&& the $eath of your current #in$ows insta&&ation/ but you mi*ht be ab&e to fi(it if you ha-e a #in$ows .P insta&&ation $isc If you $o ha-e this $isc/ boot from it an$ choosethe ;eco-ery Conso&e o%tion when %rom%te$

If aske$/ %ress :1< to &o* on to the current #in$ows insta&&ation an$ %ress :6nter</ then %ress:6nter< a*ain when %rom%te$ for a %asswor$

Once the comman$ %rom%t a%%ears/ ty%e 9chk$sk r9 an$ %ress :6nter< to &et #in$ows check forerrors an$ see if it can fi( them If it fin$s an$ fi(es errors/ you shou&$ be ab&e to boot into#in$ows once a*ain

)7" emo*e restrictions

52 windows problems and solutions

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