Computer Repair Tips for everyday users

Before you attempt to do anything mentioned here or elsewhere, please remember to always back up your data.

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Thursday, April 23, 2009

USB mass Storage Device: Cannot Start. Code 10

USB mass Storage Device: Cannot Start. Code 10

This can be caused by a corrupted setup information (.INF) file.
To resolve this behavior, follow these steps and delete the C:\Windows\INF\INFCache.1 file:
1. Double-click the My Computer icon from the desktop or Start menu.
2. Click Tools on the Menu bar, and then click Folder Options.
3. Click the View tab.
4. Under Hidden Files And Folders click the button next to ´Show hidden files and folders´.
5. Click to clear the check boxes next to Hide extensions for known file types and Hide protected operating system files if necessary.
6. Double-click the My Computer icon from the desktop or Start menu.
7. Double-click the hard drive icon that Windows is installed in.
8. Double-click the inf folder icon.
9. Scroll up the list to find the file INFCACHE.1, then right-click it and choose Delete.10. Restart your system

NOTE: After you deleted the file, please be sure to return step 1-5 of these settings to their previous condition.

Test your device and removed and put it back in a few times. I found that the infcache.1 would corrupt if not removed properly so I created a batch file to delete it to make it easier.
cd c:\
del INFCACHE.1

Computer Repair Lakeland, FL
863-521-1079
      

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Enable the Hidden, Administrator Account in Windows Vista

Open a command prompt in administrator mode by right-clicking and choosing "Run as administrator"

Enable the hidden administrator account
net user administrator /active:yes

Disable the hidden administrator account
net user administrator /active:no

Adminstrator account has no password so you will have to go to user accounts in control panel and set on up if you want to.

For more details and pics visit the How to Geek:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/enable-the-hidden-administrator-account-on-windows-vista/

Computer Repair Lakeland, FL
863-521-1079
      

Thursday, April 09, 2009

USB Device Not Recognized or Malfunction

Recently I came across a computer that wouldn't recognize any of the USB drives and did some research and found this helpful.

Make sure you have all your latest motherboard drivers and/or latest BIOS.

I found that, in XP, after a USB port isn't used for a while the built in driver sets the OHCI controller to suspend. Sometimes when you plug a device back in, it can fail to 'wake up' properly. This problem was supposedly fixed in SP1 so make sure you have the latest XP service packs as well.

If updates don't fix your problem then try this:

Run regedt32.exe and navigate to; HKEY_LOCAL_Machine\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Usb Create the Usb key if it doesn't already exist. Under this key, create a new DWORD value called DisableSelectiveSuspend and give it a value of 1. Then restart the PC.

Alternatively, removing all entries relating to USB in Device Manager and all associated USB drivers will force XP into refreshing the USB driver stack.
Begin by unplugging all USB devices, then use Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel to uninstall any USB driver software.
Next, boot up into safe mode and go to Device Manager. Once in device manager make sure 'Show hidden devices' is checked under the View menu. Uninstall all device entries in this order;
  1. USB peripheral devices (printers,etc.)
  2. HID and/or Composite USB (Human Interface Devices) You're using PS/2 input devices so you may not have this entry.
  3. USB Root Hub(s)
  4. USB Host Controller(s) (Universal or Enhanced Host Controllers) Then boot back into Windows (not safe mode) and it should populate the Root Hubs & Host controllers again. Proceed to plug your USB devices back in, starting with your powered hub. Be aware that most USB printers and scanners need to have their drivers installed first before you plug them in.
Finally, boot back into Windows (not safe mode) and it should populate the Root Hubs & Host controllers again. Plug your USB devices back in, starting with your powered hub.
*USB printers and scanners need to have their drivers installed first before you plug them in.
If none of this works, try a fresh install of Windows XP. If that doesn't cure you, get used to it or by another PC.


Computer Repair Lakeland, FL
863-521-1079
      

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

QuickBooks Install Failed error 1304 & 25015

I recently had issues with a QuickBooks reinstall after some computer corruption and couldn't get it to reinstall for the life of me.

Exhausting all resources and finally fixing it I am going to let you know what I did for fix it.

I was getting error 1304 (Error 1304: "Error writing to file [file name]. Verify that you have access to that directory.") first and was saying my cd drive was bad but I wasn't installing from cd as it was the exe file downloaded from their site.

I found after numerous hours and trial and error that the .net was the culprit and I tried to uninstalled and reinstall and then got:
Error 25015 failed to install assembly system error 0x80131107 failed to install because of system error 0x80131107

I could not get it to reinstall. I had to rename the C:\windows\assembly folder and clean out all the .net files from the c:\windows\microsoft.net folder. I then reinstalled the .net 2.0 successfully this time, rebooted and then installed my QuickBooks successfully.

Check out QuickBooks support to search for your error:
http://support.quickbooks.intuit.com/support/Default.aspx

Computer Repair Lakeland, FL
863-521-1079
      






Conficker Worm, April 1st, or April Fools

April first, really now?

Conficker Worm to destroy the world, right after the Rapture and the Y2K. Usually this is something that happens then they talk. They have first hand knowledge of this worm and yet they can't stop it? I know they are not that dumb.

As always I tell everyone, backup and don't open anything you don't recognized and keep your AV up-to-date. Offsite is the best next to you sitting down and doing it the old fashioned way and burning to disk or use to external device. I like to set it and forget it and have a copy far away from me.

I use Mozy backup, they give you 2gb free and you can purchase more. Out of all the backup solutions I have used over the years this is the easiest and cleanest program I have ever had the pleasure of using. The recover is awesome as well. Give it a whirl.

Offsite Backup (Data Loss is a hard and costly lesson)Set it and forget it with Mozy, offsite backup 2GB Totally Free Online Backup! Compliments of Mozy

Microsoft is offering a PC Safety Scan
***note that some users have reported it crashed their machines

You can try some of these downloadable options as well:
Symantec's Conficker (aka Downadup) tool
Trend Micro's Cleanup Engine
Malwarebytes

Computer Repair Lakeland, FL
863-521-1079