Tag Archives: Windows How to

Windows 8 Shortcut Key Combination

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Here is a list of new shortcuts specific to Windows 8. You might it useful when you are in Windows 8 new Metro style UI. For me I found WinKey + C and WInKey + I really helps a LOT

Key Functionality
WinKey + spacebar Switch input language and Keyboard layout
WinKey + O Disable screen orientation
WinKey + Y Temporarily view the desktop
WinKey + Enter Launches Narrator Dialog
WinKey + PageUp Snap Metro style apps to left
WinKey + PageDown Snap Metro style apps to right
WinKey + C Opens Charms bar
WinKey + I Opens Settings charm
WinKey + K Opens Connect charm
WinKey + H Opens Share charm
WinKey + Q Opens Search pane
WinKey + W Opens Settings Search app
WinKey + F Opens File Search app
WinKey + Tab Cycles through Metro style apps
WinKey + Z Opens App Bar

Exceed Windows Server 2008 R2 Trial Period

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Windows Server 2008 R2 does not ask for a CD key in setup, and it can be run for 30 days for free before needing to be active. You can continue to use it after 30 days trial but the system will reboot every 2 hours and run with reduced functionalities.

If you really want to evaluate or run testing on a server with Windows Server 2008 R2 installed. There are two workarounds.

Re-arm windows

Type in the following from an elevated command prompt:

slmgr.vbs –rearm

This will reset the activation expiration and the machine is good for another 30 days. You can do this up to 3 times and get 120 days free trial in total.

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Remove Earlier Version of Windows boot option

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After I upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7, I see two options at boot up, one is to logon to Earlier Version of Windows, the other is Windows 7. The default option is boot into Windows 7.

There is a workaround to remove the Earlier Version of Windows option from the boot up screen so that it will boot straight into Windows 7 instead of asking users to choose which OS or waiting for 30 seconds and boot into Windows 7.

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Windows could not connect to the System Event Notification Service

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If you see Windows could not connect to the System Event Notification Service error on VISTA, Windows server 2008, or Windows 7, you can try follow these steps to get it resolved.

  1. Click Start, click All Programs, and then click Accessories.
  2. Right-click on the Command Prompt and then select Run as Administrator.
  3. Once the Command Prompt has opened, type following command and then press ENTER.

    netsh winsock reset

  4. Close the Command Prompt and restart the machine.

Manage Hyper-V remotely from windows 7

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Once Hyper-V role is enabled on windows server 2008/R2, Hyper-V manager will be installed automatically. However, you don’t need to log on to Hyper-V host server to use Hyper-V manager. Instead, you can manage Hyper-V machines remotely from you Win7 desktop.

To manage Hyper-V machines remotely from Win 7, following these steps:

  1. Install Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7, download here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=7d2f6ad7-656b-4313-a005-4e344e43997d&displaylang=en
  2. Go to Start > Control panel Under Programs, click on Get programs
  3. On the left panel, click on Turn Windows feature on or off
  4. On the feature list, expand Remote Server Administration roles > Role Administration Tools, mark Hyper-V Tools, then click OK
  5. Go to Administrative tools > Hyper-V Manager, launch it
  6. Now you can manage Hyper-V virtual machines from your windows 7 box. Continue reading →

Install Local WordPress Environment on Windows

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WordPress is one of most popular blog applications. This application is very easy to use however setup a local environment for theme or plugin development on windows system is not that easy for bloggers. In this post, I will walk thru you how to setup local WordPress environment using Microsoft Web Platform Installer 2.0 with just a few clicks. (I am using 64bit Windows 7 in this tutorial but same steps work windows server 2008 as well)

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Uncompress MSI File

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Sometimes I need to unzip MSI file to view its content without actual installing it. I used to use a 3rd party tool named 7zip to extract MSI. Today I discover there is much easier way to do this with windows build in tool msiexec.exe

The use msiexec to uncompress MSI file, you need to open a command line and run type following:

msiexec /a <YourPackageFullPath> TARGETDIR=<ExtractedMSIFullPath>

Replace <YourPackageFullPath> with full path of MSI file, <ExtractedMSIFullPath> with the target folder you want MSI files to be extracted to.

For example, to extract c:\setup.msi, run following command:

msiexec /a c:\setup.msi TARGETDIR=c:\ExtractedMSI

The uncompressed setup.msi and all files along with fold structures will be extracted into  c:\ExtractedMSI

Note: For Vista/Win7 with UAC turn on, the above command needs to be run from elevated command prompt.

Enabling Virtualization in Your BIOS

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For Dell Systems

  1. Restart your machine, and press F2 at boot (or whichever key is necessary) to enter BIOS setup
  2. Under Performance > set Virtualization to ON
  3. Under Performance > set VT for Direct I/O Access to ON
  4. Save & Exit BIOS
  5. Restart computer

For HP Systems

  1. Restart your machine, and press F2 at boot (or whichever key is necessary) to enter BIOS setup
  2. Under OS Security > set Intel Virtualization Technology (VTx) to ON
  3. Under OS Security > set IO Virtualization to ON
  4. Save & Exit BIOS
  5. Restart computer

Find Computer Owner

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At times people want to find out who owns a certain machine.

My Network places -> Search Active Directory -> Find: Computers, Enter Computer name: “FOOBAR”, Click “Find Now”, Select Result, Right Click “Manage” -> Local Users and Groups -> Groups -> Administrators -> (Find who is an admin on the box).

Another method is to open dsa.msc in MMC and Select “Advanced” View, then lookup computers and look at the Security tab.

The tool, srvinfo.exe, is also useful for learning info about a machine.