Archive for March, 2008
Incorrect icon shown for a file type in Vista
Recently I received a query wherein the user had incorrectly associated .zip file type with Adobe Reader. Later they got the association problem straightened out by running the .zip association fix from the File association fixes for Windows Vista page. The problem is that the .zip file type is still showing the Adobe Reader [...]
31Mar2008 | Ramesh Srinivasan | 2 comments | ContinuedView Open Handles to a file or folder from the context menu
Have you come across file in use or similar errors when deleting a file or folder, or when clearing the contents of the %TEMP% folder at some time? Ever wondered which program has a particular file or folder open?
29Mar2008 | Ramesh Srinivasan | 1 comment | ContinuedList file extensions registered in the system
Q: Is there a simple way to list all the defined file types on a PC and have the output redirected to a text file? I’m using Windows XP with Service Pack 2.
Yes. There are two options that I think of (without using a third-party tool). If you’re using Windows XP Professional, you can use [...]
Adding the Run as Administrator option for .VBS and .JS files
By default, Windows Vista does not include the Run as Administrator option in the context menu for Vbscript (.vbs) and JScript (.JS) files. Here is how to add the Run as Administrator option to the context menu.
27Mar2008 | Ramesh Srinivasan | 0 comments | ContinuedAdd “Edit HOSTS file” option in the context menu
The HOSTS file, originally introduced to resolve host names to IP addresses, is also an effective tool to block Malware. To modify the HOSTS file in Windows Vista, you need to elevate Notepad.exe or any other text editor which you use. Otherwise you’ll see the following error when trying to save the HOSTS file:
Cannot create [...]
Register DLLs (elevated) using the context menu
There are tips available on the Web on how to add the Register and Unregister comands in the context menu for .DLL files. The option is quite handy, instead of us having to manually type the regsvr32.exe command line.
But what if you’re using Windows Vista?
Automation error in Program Compatibility Wizard
When you start the Program Compatibility Wizard in Windows Vista to test applications or run older applications under Windows Vista, the following error may occur:
25Mar2008 | Ramesh Srinivasan | 0 comments | ContinuedYet another serious Disk Cleanup issue
It was not so long ago when we saw a major problem with the Windows Vista Disk Cleanup tool, after a registry cleaner broke a vital handler information in the registry.
Here is another such case, but on this occasion the system is running Windows XP.
Question: I have used a registry cleaner in my DELL 8400 [...]
Fix Search association settings in Vista
After installing Windows Vista Service Pack 1, when you click Start, type a search string in the Instant Search box, and press ENTER, one of the following problems may occur:
23Mar2008 | Ramesh Srinivasan | 13 comments | ContinuedWindows Media Center - No pictures were found
Q: I opened Windows Media Center, clicked picture library and browse to a folder which contains my digital photos. To my surprise, none of the digital photos (mostly JPEG files) don’t show up, while the files are still on the hard disk. It used to show up the thumbnail images correctly, but now it shows [...]
22Mar2008 | Ramesh Srinivasan | 2 comments | Continued
