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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Friday, November 05, 2010

Change Windows 7 autoplay handlers, file types and default programs

Customize File Types, AutoPlay & Default Programs Settings with Default Programs Editor


I recently had a client insist on using the Microsoft Picture Manager for use with his digital media card. Although all his pictures were defaulting to the program to open the autoplay was not displaying the handle in the list of actions. I did a search looking for a registry hack but found this great little program instead. Was easy and worked great.


DON'T FORGET TO DONATE A LITTLE SOMETHING.


Downlod the Default Programs Editor

Computer Repair Lakeland, FL
863-521-1079
      

Thursday, November 04, 2010

Retrieves your Product Key (cd key)

My new best friend...Magic Jelly Bean Finder.


Lost a product key? Run this little tool on the pc you had the product or have the product installed on and poof, just like magic you will have it again. You can save it to a text after you recover it.


The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is a freeware utility that retrieves your Product Key (cd key) used to install windows from your registry. It also has a community-updated configuration file that retrieves product keys for many other applications. Another feature is the ability to retrieve product keys from unbootable Windows installations.



Computer Repair Lakeland, FL
863-521-1079
      

Command Line Switches for Microsoft Outlook

To use switches, at the Start menu, Run command type:


Outlook /switch


Occasionally you'll need to use the full path to Outlook, so the command line looks like:


Taken from: Outlook-Tips


"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe " /switch


Notes:


Before using a command line switch, you need to close Outlook and verify it's closed in Task Manager's Processes tab.


Paths that include spaces between words must be enclosed in quotation marks (") and are case sensitive. You'll need the full path if you create desktop shortcuts.


If you use Vista, you can type the command line in the Start Search field on the Start menu or type Run to open the Run dialog. The Windows key+R will also open the Run dialog in both Windows XP and Vista.




/a


Creates an item with the specified file as an attachment.


Usage:


Outlook /a "C:\My Documents\labels.doc"


If no item type is specified, IPM.Note form is assumed. This switch cannot be used with message classes that aren't based on Outlook.


/altvba otmfilename


Opens the VBA program specified in otmfilename, rather than %appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook\VbaProject.OTM. Use this switch when you need to run macros not in your VBAProject file.


/autorun macroname


Opens Outlook and immediately runs the macro specified in macroname.


/c messageclass


Creates a new item of the specified message class, works for any valid MAPI form.


Examples:


/c ipm.activity creates a Journal entry
/c ipm.appointment creates an appointment
/c ipm.contact creates a contact
/c ipm.note creates an e-mail message
/c ipm.stickynote creates a note
/c ipm.task creates a task
/checkclient


Prompts for the default manager of e-mail, news, and contacts.


/cleanclientrules


Starts Outlook and deletes client-based rules. Used by non-Exchange account users.


/cleandmrecords


Deletes the logging records saved when a manager or a delegate declines a meeting. Used by Exchange Server accounts.


/cleanfinders


Removes Search Folders from the Microsoft Exchange server store.


/cleanfreebusy


Clears and regenerates free/busy information. This switch can only be used when you are able to connect to your Microsoft Exchange server.


/cleanprofile


Removes invalid profile keys and recreates default registry keys where applicable.


/cleanpst


Launches Outlook with a clean Personal Folders file (.pst)


/cleanreminders


Clears and regenerates reminders.


/cleanrules


Starts Outlook and deletes client- and server-based rules.


/cleanschedplus


Deletes all Schedule+ data (free/busy, permissions, and .cal file) from the server and enables the free/busy information from the Outlook Calendar to be used and viewed by all Schedule+ 1.0 users.


/cleanserverrules


Starts Outlook and deletes server-based rules. Used only with Exchange server accounts.


/cleansniff


Overrides the programmatic lockout that determines which of your computers (when running Outlook simultaneously) processes meeting items. The lockout process helps prevent duplicate reminder messages. This switch clears the lockout on the computer it is used, enabling Outlook to process meeting items.


/cleansubscriptions


Deletes the subscription messages and properties for subscription features. Used with SharePoint alerts.


/cleanviews


Restores default views. Use with care as all custom views you created are lost.


/designer


Starts Outlook without figuring out if Outlook should be the default client in the first run.


/embedding


Opens the specified message file (.msg) as an OLE embedding. Also used without command-line parameters for standard OLE co-create.


/explorer


Opens the new window in "explorer" mode (link bar on).


/f msgfilename


Opens the specified message file (.msg) or Microsoft Office saved search (.oss).


/firstrun


Starts Outlook as if it were run for the first time.


/folder


Opens a new window in "folder" mode (Navigation Pane off).


/hol holfilename


Opens the specified .hol file.


/ical icsfilename


Opens the specified .ics file.


/importprf prffilename


Launches Outlook and opens/imports the defined MAPI profile (*.prf). If Outlook is already open, queues the profile to be imported on the next clean launch.


/l olkfilename


Opens the specified .olk file.


/launchtraininghelp assetid


Opens a Help window with the Help topic specified in assetid.


/m emailname


Provides a way for the user to add an e-mail name to the item. Use either the full address or let alias resolve. Only works in conjunction with the /c command-line parameter.


Usage:


Outlook.exe /c ipm.note /m test@poremsky.com
Outlook.exe /c ipm.note /m dianep


/nocustomize


Starts Outlook without loading outcmd.dat (customized toolbars). With older versions of Outlook the *.fav file doesn't load.


/noextensions


Starts Outlook with extensions turned off, but listed in the Add-In Manager.


/nopollmail


Starts Outlook without checking mail at startup.


/nopreview


Starts Outlook with the Reading Pane off and removes the option from the View menu.


/p msgfilename


Prints the specified message (.msg). Does not work with HTML.


/profile profilename


Loads the specified profile. If your profile name contains a space, enclose the profile name in quotation marks.


/profiles


Opens the Choose Profile dialog box regardless of the Options setting on the Tools menu.


/recycle


Starts Outlook using an existing Outlook window, if one exists. Can be used in combination with /explorer or /folder. The Outlook shortcut in the Quick Launch bar uses the /recycle switch.


/resetfoldernames


Resets default folder names (such as Inbox or Sent Items) to default names in the current Office user interface language.


For example, if you first connect to your mailbox Outlook using a Russian user interface, the Russian default folder names cannot be renamed. To change the default folder names to another language such as Japanese or English, you can use this switch to reset the default folder names after changing the user interface language or installing a different language version of Outlook.


/resetfolders


Restores missing folders for the default delivery location.


/resetnavpane


Clears and regenerates the Navigation Pane for the current profile. Removes all Shortcuts and Favorite Folders. Has the same effect as deleting profilename.xml in your user directory.


/rpcdiag


Opens Outlook and displays the remote procedure call (RPC) connection status dialog.


/s filename


Loads the specified shortcuts file (.fav). Use to load *.fav files created in older versions of Outlook.


/safe


Starts Outlook without extensions, Reading Pane, or toolbar customization.


/safe:1


Starts Outlook with the Reading Pane off. New to Outlook 2003.


/safe:2


Starts Outlook without checking mail at startup. New to Outlook 2003.


/safe:3


Starts Outlook with extensions turned off, but listed in the Add-In Manager.


/safe:4


Starts Outlook without loading Outcmd.dat (customized toolbars) and *.fav file.


/select foldername


Starts Outlook and opens the specified folder in a new window.


Usage:


"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe" /select outlook:calendar


outlook /select "outlook:Inbox\Old Messages"


/sniff


Starts Outlook and forces a detection of new meeting requests in the Inbox, and then adds them to the calendar.


/t oftfilename


Opens the specified .oft file.


/v vcffilename


Opens the specified .vcf file.


/vcal vcsfilename


Opens the specified .vcs file.


/x xnkfilename


Opens the specified .xnk file.



Computer Repair Lakeland, FL
863-521-1079
      

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Change/Remove button in my Add/Remove programs window is gone

To fix it (manual method -safe method-):
Open you registry editor (Start > Run > REGEDIT)
In the registry editor, navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\software name
In the right window, remove the key value NoRemove and NoModify.NoRemove set to 1 means that the remove button will not be shown.NoModify set to 1 means that change button will not be shown.
Do the above two steps (2 and 3) for each and every software listed under ...\Uninstall\.(this can take a while indeed)

After finishing, navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\software nameand repeat the whole process.
When both those registry keys are done, restart (or update by pressing F5) your "add/remove programs" panel.


Computer Repair Lakeland, FL
863-521-1079