Error “Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file” When Playing DVD Movies

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When you insert a DVD media in the drive, right-click on the drive and choose Play from the context menu, the following error may occur. Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item. However, you may be able to play DVD movies via … Read more

How to Run System File Checker (SFC) Offline in Windows 10/11 & Earlier

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The System File Checker (sfc.exe) is a useful tool that lets you scan the integrity of Windows system files and repair corrupt or missing system files. Numerous cases have been resolved by running the sfc.exe /scannow command.

However, there are situations wherein a corrupt or missing system file prevents Windows from booting normally or prevents Command Prompt and console programs like Sfc.exe from being launched. In such cases, Sfc.exe can be run offline via the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) in all versions of Windows, including Windows 11.Read more

How to Use Resource Monitor to Find Which Process Has Locked a File

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openfiles

Many folks use Process Explorer from Windows Sysinternals to gather information about running processes and their open handles. In addition, there is an excellent but less familiar utility in-built with Windows 7 and higher (including Windows 10/11).

The built-in utility is Resource Monitor, which provides complete details of running processes, their associated handles, and associated modules (for example, DLL files).Read more

[Fix] Currency, Stock or Weather Gadgets Not Updating in Windows 7

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Did the Currency, Stock, or the Weather Gadget got stuck and stopped updating in your Windows 7/Vista computer all of a sudden? Clearing the Sidebar Gadgets cache using the following steps might help. Clear the Windows Sidebar Cache Folder Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to bring up the Task Manager. Exit Sidebar.exe process via Task Manager. Instructions for … Read more

Fix Event Log Service Error 4201 The Instance Name Passed Was Not Recognized

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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.

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Fix Libraries are Hidden and Showing Up Empty in Windows 7

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When you open Windows Explorer on your Windows 7 computer, the Libraries folder may be completely empty. Also, nothing may happen when you right-click the “Libraries” link in the navigation pane, and choose Restore default libraries. This can happen if the library files are hidden inadvertently by the user. To restore/unhide the libraries, you need … Read more

How to Restore a DriveImage XML Image Offline using PE Boot Media

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DriveImage XML is a freeware drive image program that lets you backup, restore, and copy hard disk partitions easily. However, restoring a DriveImage XML image from a previous backup to the system drive isn’t possible when Windows is running. Attempting to do so causes the error “Target partition must not be the system drive,” and the restore operation doesn’t start.

In this situation, you can connect the hard disk as a slave to another PC. Install DriveImage XML and restore the drive image from a previous backup. Alternatively, you can use one of the following tools to restore the image offline:

  • Using WinPE boot media. Instructions at https://www.runtime.org/peb.htm(or)
  • Using Runtime Live Knoppix boot media. Instructions at https://www.runtime.org/data-recovery-live-cd.htm

The Runtime Live Knoppix disk didn’t work out on my computer for some reason. So, I used the WinPE boot media and have included the screenshots below.Read more

Scan USB Drives Using Microsoft Security Essentials via the AutoPlay Dialog

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We’d like to share with you an interesting registry hack that adds a Microsoft Security Essentials AutoPlay handler so that you can thoroughly scan a CD/DVD media or USB flash drive for viruses, via the AutoPlay dialog. See article Scan Your Thumb Drive for Viruses from the AutoPlay Dialog at the How-To Geek website. Thanks … Read more

How to Disable the Zoom Level Option in Internet Explorer?

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One of our readers wrote asking me how to disable the zoom feature in Internet Explorer, as the zoom level in Internet Explorer changes when the CTRL key is accidentally pressed when scrolling a webpage using mouse. Sometimes this does happen to me as well, and the only workaround that I know is to disable the zoom level feature altogether. This also prevents you from changing the zoom level via the View menu in Internet Explorer. If you don’t use the zoom feature in IE, go ahead with this registry edit.Read more