In response to a script request recently from one of our readers, here is a VBScript that I came up with, that displays last logon date/time details for each local user account in a computer.
[Download lastlogon.vbs] (more…)
Archive for the ‘Windows Vista’ Category
How to Run a Program Elevated via the Right-Click Menu in Windows 7/Vista?
In the Windows 7 Taskbar, you can start a program elevated by holding the CTRL & SHIFT keys and then clicking on a Pinned shortcut. Unfortunately there are no keyboard shortcuts available to start a program elevated via the context menu. To launch a program elevated from the right-click menu, you can add custom entries and launch it using a script or using the NirCmd utility. Earlier we wrote about the new "elevate" command-line argument in NirCmd, which you can implement in the context menu. (more…)
Reliability and Performance Monitor Not Detecting Anti-Virus Product in Windows 7/Vista
When you generate a System Diagnostics Report using Windows Performance Monitor, it may report that no anti-virus product is installed in the system. Whereas the Windows Security Center or Action Center (in Windows 7) detects the installed anti-virus product and reports its status correctly.
How to Run the System File Checker (Sfc.exe) Offline in Windows 7 and Vista
The System File Checker (sfc.exe) is an useful tool that lets you scan the integrity of Windows system files, and repair corrupt or missing system files. Numerous cases have been resolved thus far by running Sfc.exe with the "scannow" parameter. However, there are situations where in a corrupt or missing system file prevents Windows from booting normally, and running Sfc.exe from Windows isn’t possible. In such cases, Sfc.exe can be run offline using two additional parameters, via the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. (more…)
Fix Event Log Service Error 4201 the Instance Name Passed Was Not Recognized
One of our readers faced a problem where the Windows Event Log failed to start, and as a result, a couple of other services failed as well. Attempting to start the Windows Event Log service manually via the Services MMC resulted in error 4201. The complete error message is provided below:
Windows could not start the Windows Event Log service on Local Computer.
Error 4201: The instance name passed was not recognized as valid by a WMI data provider.
Using Default Programs Editor to Change File Type Icons in Windows 7 and Windows Vista
Changing the file type icons in Windows XP and earlier Operating Systems was a breeze, using the File Types tab in the Folder Options dialog. Unfortunately the File Types tab has been discontinued since Windows Vista and there is no alternate GUI provided to change a file type icon or to customize the right-click menu. Earlier we showed you how to change the file type icon manually using registry edits. In this article, we’ll see how to change a file type icon using the excellent Default Programs Editor utility, which we’ve covered before. (more…)
How to Fix Sidebar Crash “Windows Desktop Gadgets Has Stopped Working”
Is your Windows Sidebar (Windows Desktop Gadgets) crashing after adding a third-party gadget, with the error "Windows Desktop Gadgets has stopped working" or "Windows Sidebar has stopped working" (Windows Vista) at every start? You can stop the offending gadget from loading by editing the Windows Sidebar Gadgets settings file. Here are the instructions, which apply to Windows 7 and Windows Vista. (more…)
Install MSI Software Packages With Logging Using the Right-Click Menu
When a software installation which uses Windows Installer Package fails, you enable Windows Installer Logging and re-run setup to capture the output to a log file for troubleshooting. This can be done using three ways: using the Registry Editor, using the Group Policy Editor or by running the msiexec.exe command with required parameters.
The first two methods are documented in article How to Enable Windows Installer Logging. The third method uses the msiexec.exe command-line parameter. Here is an example:
msiexec /l*v d:\mylog.txt /i "C:\Users\Ramesh\Desktop\7z465-x64.msi"
This starts the 7-Zip .msi installation (7z465-x64.msi) and records all the results, including verbose output to a log file named mylog.txt located at D:\
Do you find it difficult to type the entire command-line everytime when you need to log application setups? No problem! You can implement this in the context menu for .msi files so that you can launch the installation with logging in a couple of mouse clicks. (more…)
Fix Hyperlinks in Mail Client and Help Center Open in a Different Application in Windows 7/Vista
When you click on a URL in Windows Mail/Windows Live Mail, or in the Help and Support Center in Windows 7/Vista PC, the hyperlink may open in different application (say, Microsoft Word) rather than your default web browser. For example, clicking on "What’s new in Windows 7" hyperlink in Windows 7 Help Center opens the Web address in Microsoft Word.
This happens due to incorrect association settings for the http protocol. Use these steps to resolve the problem.
Resetting the Default Web Browser Using Default Programs
Click Start, Default Programs
Click Set your default programs
Select your web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer)
Click Set this program as default
Click OK.
Fix My Computer Manage Context Menu Error “This File Does Not Have a Program Associated” In Windows 7/Vista
When you right-click the Computer icon and click Manage, the following error message appears and Computer Management window doesn’t appear.
This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel.
This happens if the IsShortcut registry value is deleted, in an attempt to hide the shortcut arrow overlay. This is one of the many side-effects caused by the removal of IsShortcut registry value. To resolve the problem, download and apply the .lnk file association fix from the following link:
File Association Fixes for Windows 7
File association fixes for Windows Vista
This restores the IsShortcut String value in the following registry key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile
Editor’s Note: For a proper way to remove the shortcut arrow in Windows Vista and Windows 7, see article How to remove or modify the Shortcut overlay in Windows 7 and Windows Vista.
