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Microsoft to re-release problematic patch
The patch MS06-015 which validates shell extensions has caused quite a number of problems with HP, and NVidia software. A number of my friends that do IT support have told me about the large number of computers they have seen affected by this problem.
Microsoft has indicates that they will be releasing an update to this patch soon. But if you have had problems right clicking on the desktop (Windows freezes up). You may want to consider using this temp fix from MS:
(Please backup your registry and system before making any registry changes!! - Make a mistake and your machine wont boot again)
1. Log on to the computer by using an account that has administrative credentials.
2. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate and then right-click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Cached
4. Point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
5. For Microsoft Windows 2000-based computers, type the following:
{A4DF5659-0801-4A60-9607-1C48695EFDA9} {000214E6-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
For Microsoft Windows XP-based or Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based computers, type the following:
{A4DF5659-0801-4A60-9607-1C48695EFDA9} {000214E6-0000-0000-C000-000000000046} 0x401
6. Right-click the value that you just created, and then set the Value data to 1
7. Exit Registry Editor.
8. Use Task Manager to close the Verclsid.exe program or to restart the computer.
Posted By: Steve Wiseman on Friday, April 21, 2006
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Top 5 Free Anti-Virus products
It has been years since I have had a virus on my machine. I usually browse as a non-administrator and I am very careful about what websites I visit. My friends are not so lucky. I had to clean off some nasty viruii last week for a friend of mine. I decided to do my homework and find free anti-virus products.
Here are the top 5 that I found:
1. AVG 7.1 - My personal favorite. Finds viruses that big boys sometimes miss
2. AntiVir - Little known anti-virus product that includes anti-spyware
3. Avast! - Free antivirus - no frills
4. F-Prot - Nice free version for Linux users
5. BitDefender - Free antivirus for Windows and Linux.
Another program I like is the McAfee Stinger tool - It looks for list of the most common viruses on a system, and runs even on the most comprimised computers. In a future article I will release a freeware application I have developed that will let you run it remotely on your LAN - still needs to be cleaned up so it will remain private for now.
Posted By: Steve Wiseman on Tuesday, April 18, 2006
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Windows keyboard shortcuts you never knew existed!
When you get to hang out with other experienced computer professionals you start to realize how many things you do not know. I have been working with Windows since 3.0 came out, and I still find something new all of the time. For example, I was sitting behind one of my tech friends and he was using alt-esc to tab through windows in the order they were opened - I never even knew this existed. I set out to get a comprehensive list of all the shortcuts. Here is what I have found so far:
Update (5/02/06): A few more I missed:
Correction from Tyler: Windows Button + Pause, not Windows Button + Break brings up the system properties.
From Edward @ Intel - Shift+F10 brings up the context menu
From Aaron @ TNT Software - While in a display pane (such as when viewing an Event Log, or any MMC snap-in), Ctrl+ autosizes each column to the maximum width of data in each column.
From David Jameson: Ctrl + Shift + Esc - Brings up the task manager
Email me if I have missed any others!
CTRL and A Selects all the items in the active window.
CTRL and C Copies the item or items to the Clipboard and can be pasted using CTRL and V.
CTRL and F Displays the Find all files dialog box.
CTRL and G Displays the Go to folder dialog box.
CTRL and N Displays the New dialog box.
CTRL and O Displays the Open dialog box.
CTRL and P Displays the Print dialog box.
CTRL and S Displays the Save dialog box.
CTRL and V Pastes the copied item or items from the Clipboard.
CTRL and X Cuts the item or items selected to the Clipboard.
CTRL and Z Undoes the last action.
CTRL and F4 Closes the active document window.
CTRL while dragging an item Copy the selected item
CTRL+SHIFT with arrow keys Highlight a block of text
CTRL+F4 Close the active document
CTRL+ESC Display the Start menu
CTRL and F6 Opens the next document window in the active application.
ALT+ENTER View the properties for the selected item
ALT+F4 Close the active item, or quit the active program
ALT+SPACEBAR Open the shortcut menu for the active window
ALT+TAB Switch between the open items
ALT+ESC Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened
F1 key Gives help on the active window or selected item.
F2 key Rename the selected item
F3 key Search for a file or a folder
F4 key Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer
F5 key Update the active window
F6 key Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F10 key Activate the menu bar in the active program
Windows Logo Display or hide the Start menu
Windows Logo+PAUSE Display the System Properties dialog box
Windows Logo+D Display the desktop
Windows Logo+M Minimize all of the windows
Windows Logo+SHIFT+M Restore the minimized windows
Windows Logo+E Open My Computer
Windows Logo+F Search for a file or a folder
CTRL+Windows Logo+F Search for computers
Windows Logo+F1 Display Windows Help
Windows Logo+ L Lock the keyboard
Windows Logo+R Open the Run dialog box
Windows Logo+U Open Utility Manager
TAB Move forward through the options
SHIFT+TAB Move backward through the options
CTRL+TAB Move forward through the tabs
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB Move backward through the tabs
ALT+Underlined letter Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option
ENTER Perform the command for the active option or button
SPACEBAR Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box
F1 key Display Help
F4 key Display the items in the active list
Arrow keys Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons
BACKSPACE Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box
END Display the bottom of the active window
HOME Display the top of the active window
NUM LOCK+Asterisk sign (*) Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder
NUM LOCK+Plus sign (+) Display the contents of the selected folder
NUM LOCK+Minus sign (-) Collapse the selected folder
LEFT ARROW Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder
RIGHT ARROW Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder
Posted By: Steve Wiseman on Monday, April 17, 2006
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Windows Flash instead of open - the Registry fix
Microsoft tries its best to help us out. With all of the help balloons, and notifications to reboot our computer why would we ever complain?
Not sure when it happened, but they added a feature to windows that keeps applications from stealing the focus while another application is running.
Now I know this is a band-aid to keep spyware, and other programs from showing popups that steal the focus - but that problem should be fixed at its core, not in this way.
The problem is many times a user will click on a shortcut, or program on the desktop and it just flashes at the bottom. Quite a few of them are confused, and think that the program is "broken"
There is a simple registry fix to get programs to launch when you click on them:
Change this value
HKCU\Control Panel\ForgroundLockTimeout = 1
To turn it back on set it to
HKCU\Control Panel\ForgroundLockTimeout = 20000
The drawback of turning this feature off is that if your system is infected with spyware, then the popups they generate will be allowed to steal the system focus, and display popups right in your face.
For those of you that are not interested in playing in the registry we have written a quick program that will make the change for you:
Forground Lock Change (As always - No Spyware or adware)
Be sure to back up your system before making any registry changes
Posted By: Steve Wiseman on Sunday, April 16, 2006
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