Dave's Technotes

MS SyncToy Scheduling problem

2009-06-02T01:34:00.002-06:00

Check out this web page for the solution.

Just in case it gets taken down or moved, here is the fix.

While validating the source of the error code "0x1", I stumbled upon the solution of the problem.

My computer is part of a computer network domain and I belong to the Network Administrators Group.

"SyncToy Help" states that you must have administrative privileges in order to install the application, specially if you don't have the Microsoft Sync Framework. Since I have administrator privileges I installed Synctoy with my user profile and on the scheduler task I had the "Run As" Field As the local Administrator.

It turns out that if you install SyncToy with a profile that is not Administrator:

1) You must use that same profile in the "Run As" Field on the Task Tab, as in "YourDomain\yourprofilename"

2) also, you have to mark the "Run only if logged on" checkbox.

3) Remember to set your password also.

The scheduler is now running the SyncToyCmd correctly.

For more information on scheduler issues see http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/308558

Vista anti-disk thrashing measures

2008-12-17T18:19:00.003-07:00

On many systems, Windows Vista has the annoying tendency to access the hard drive for very long periods, at times when XP would not normally be doing so. This behavior accounts for a large portion of Vista's legendary slugishness. Fortunately, there are some concrete steps you can take to prevent this behavior. Here are those steps, in my preferred order

- disable SuperFetch service
- disable automatic defrags
- disable indexing service
- disable shadow copy service
- disable system restore* (If possible, leave this service enabled, as it can definitely be useful.)

XP looses .EXE file association

2008-06-26T12:20:00.002-06:00

Recently I had a PC with a strange problem. After removing some spyware/virii, it would no longer allow any .exe files to execute. Simply renaming them to .com often fixed the problem, but that wasn't a real fix. I did some web searches, and despite not finding any reference to this problem on Microsoft's website, eventually found this web site, which contains registry files that fix file associations for a variety of file extensions.

PC Decrapifier

2008-06-16T16:50:00.001-06:00

No kidding - that's really the name of this nifty utility. It removes all the useless, bloated garbage that is typically preinstalled on many new PCs.

Download it here!

Office 2007 causes spell-checker problems for OE

2008-03-25T20:50:00.002-06:00

Apparently, a lot of people have found that following the install of MS Office 2007, they are left with a French version of the Outlook Express spellchecker. MS has no real fix, so it looks like the simplest thing to do is to download this free spellcheck ad-on.

How to search for files within date ranges in Vista

2008-02-29T10:40:00.001-07:00

Here is a helpful Vista tip.

Spyware Terminator

2007-11-16T00:14:00.000-07:00

I just tried this newer antispyware application. So far, it is perfect. I've used it once, and it was able to remove a fairly nasty, aggressive piece of spyware.

Best of all, it's free!

Spyware Terminator

Speedswitch XP

2007-10-12T11:28:00.001-06:00

On laptops using Intel CPUs, Windows XP uses Intel's SpeedStep technology to decrease the speed that the CPU runs. It is supposed to do this when the laptop is running on battery power, because it significantly increases the run-time of the laptop. When the laptop is running on utility power, it is supposed to increase the CPU speed back to the max - but it often leaves it stuck at the lower speed. Worst of all - there is no manual control within Windows to set the CPU speed back up to the max.

Fortunately, there is a utility that will allow you precise control over the speed of your CPU. It is called SpeedswitchXP, and it is available here.

RDP printers

2007-07-30T13:57:00.001-06:00

When connecting to servers, if the port name is something other than LPT, USB, or COM, the printer does not get created on the server.

A simple registry hack fixes this, as explained in MS Knowledgebase article 302361.

MS Shadow Copy Client

2007-07-10T23:36:00.000-06:00

Microsoft's new Shadow Copy feature is really cool, but if you want to be able to actually see the copies, you need to install the Shadow Copy Client. To save time searching, you can download it from Microsoft using this link.

Office 2007 compatibility

2007-06-13T17:38:00.000-06:00

For compatibility with Office 2007, you can download the MS Office compatibility pack for Office 20003, 2002 (aka XP) and 2000.

Also, you may want to read MS's warnings and prerequisites in KB article 924074.

Adobe Acrobat alternative

2007-04-18T01:28:00.000-06:00

Acrobat Reader just keeps getting bigger, slower, and more bloated with each new release.

If you are ready for a smaller, quicker, lightweight, free PDF reader, you can now use Foxit Reader from Foxit Software.

Apple Quicktime alternative

2007-04-18T01:21:00.000-06:00

It seems like with each and every new release of Quicktime, Apple has been trying to reach new heights in user annoyance. Things like - every time the Quicktime player pops up, it asks you if you want to buy some pay version of Quicktime - like anybody actually wants to do that. And it ask you EVERY single time.

Then, more recently, it has become difficult to download just Quicktime without also downloading iTunes. Well, now there is an alternative. The folks over at free-codecs.com have an alternative. It uses all the Quicktime codecs, plus an old version of the MS Media Player.

Get it here.

Application mobility program

2007-04-07T01:20:00.000-06:00

Mojopac.com has an inexpensive ($49.99) program that allows you to install nearly any program onto a USB storage device (flash memory drive, hard drive, iPod, etc) and then connect that device to any computer, and run the application on that PC! How cool is that? They've got a 30-day free trial, too, so you can see if it will work with your programs.

Free remote access / screen sharing

2007-04-07T01:16:00.000-06:00

Two free remote access / screen sharing apps I have recently become aware of:

Log Me In Free - similar to GoToMyPC
CroosLoop - supposedly similar to Webex, though I have yet to try it.

Cool hardware dept (water-cooling CPU kit)

2007-04-07T01:08:00.000-06:00

Cool IT Systems has an expensive ($199) system called the Eliminator CPU cooler that provides drop-in water cooling for your new system. Not cheap, but very cool, and quiet.

Spyware Warrior website tracks fake anti-spyware

2007-04-07T01:04:00.000-06:00

As you may know, there are loads of spyware applications out there masquerading as anti-spyware. I find it particularly distasteful when a**holes take advantage of clueless users by foisting this junky or malicious software on people.

If in doubt, check the list at www.spywarewarrior.com

DIsable annoying Vista User Account Control

2007-02-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

The Mac "Security" ad is accurate, the new User Account Control feature of Vista is poorly-conceived, and ultimately so annoying as to be completely useless.

Here's a link to the MS Technet site where they tell you how to disable it.

Incredibly useful network tool

2007-02-22T15:21:00.000-07:00

Try NetInfo, from Tsarfin Computing. It's got a network scanner, and shows all the network connections of the PC on which it is installed, as well as ping, traceroute, whois, nslookup, and other useful tools.

Create a Domain Management PC

2007-02-22T13:18:00.000-07:00

If you want to enable a designated user to manage Active Directory user objects, but don't want them to be logging onto a server, you need to download and install the Windows Server Administrative Tools Pack - which I thought was too damn hard to find. So here's a link to the Windows Server 2003 SP1 version of the ATP.

Streaming video from USB webcam

2007-02-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

The easiest way to make video available on the internet is by using a webcam with a built-in web server. At work, we sell Axis webcams, but for home users, or people who want to do this on the cheap, the best free solution I have found for getting video to stream accross the web from a USB-connected webcam is the VLC media player/server, available from VideoLan.org.

Daylight Saving Time Change and MS OSs

2007-01-12T00:16:00.000-07:00

This year, the dates for Daylight Saving Time have changed. Of course, the dates are hard-coded into Windows. Microsoft has been kind enough to update XP and Server 2003 to account for the new dates, but they have not patched 2000 (or older OSs) similarly.

Visit the MS Daylight Savings Time Support Center, and get a 3rd party patch for Windows 2K.

Thanks to Chad for the link.

Free online backup

2006-12-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

Recently reviewed in PC Magazine, which gave it an Editors Choice award.

Mozy Backup - free for up to 2 GB, $4.95 per month for up to 30 GB. Now that's a deal!

Network OS X Macs to Windows Servers

2006-12-08T19:35:00.000-07:00

Here's the link to the original article on Macrumors.com

But here's the key info:

*Windows Server 2003 Authentication

By default Windows Server 2003 will try to encrypt everything sent to and from it. With this enabled you will not be able to log in to the share from the Mac.

To fix this there are a couple of things you need to do.
First; open up regedit (Start > Run > "regedit" {return}), and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ LanManServer \ Parameter \ RequireSecuritySignature, and set its value to "0".

Second, if the server is also a Domain Controller; you need to open the DC's Security Policy (Administrative Tools > Domain Controller Security Policy). Navigate to Local Policies > Security Options, and disable "Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (always)" & "Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (if client agrees)".

Reboot the sever, and you should be good to go.

inbox.com

2006-12-07T20:42:00.000-07:00

I think these guys are new - because I've just started seeing ads for them.

They've got free 5 GB accounts, with email, calendars, tasks, notes, photo posting and sharing, and file storage. And it's free!

The interface is pretty nice, though perhaps a bit bland. And the email domain name even sounds fairly businesslike, so it'd be a good free service for businesspeople who don't have their own domain name.