If you have an Intel Mac and might be thinking about upgrading to OS 10.6, use caution. While most people will probably have no issues with the upgrade, my first installation halted about halfway through, with the OS in a completely unusable state. The only thing that saved me was a Time Machine backup. If you are planning on upgrading, please back up your data first, just in case.
Also note that OS 10.5 (Leopard) was able to run software that was written for non-Intel Macs. 10.6 has that ability also, but you have to choose a custom install, and select that Rosetta be installed as well. This will enable some older software that might exist on your Mac to continue working.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Reseeding missing or corrupt .dll files
Background Intelligent Transfer Service will not start
25
Nov
Nov
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) is a service built into Windows that transfers files in the background using idle network bandwidth. It basically acts as a download manager for Windows Update and other services by being able to resume from broken or partial downloads.
If you are having problems with downloading Windows updates because BITS will not start or is giving errors, there are a couple of ways you can try to fix the issue. If you are getting any of these errors, read on:
Background intelligent transfer service did not start properly
Background intelligent transfer service will not start
Background intelligent transfer service has stopped working
If BITS can’t be started for some reason, first make sure it is enabled in the Services control panel applet. Go to Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, and click on Services.
Make sure that Background Intelligent Transfer Service is set to Automatic or Manual as the startup type.
If it’s not set to Manual or Automatic, then double-click on it and change the startup type to either one of these. If the service is configured correctly, but BITS will still not start up properly, check to make sure none of the dependent services are disabled.
Again, go through the list of services and make sure all of the following are set to Automatic or Manual:
Terminal Services, Remote Procedure Call (RPC), System Event Notification, Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extensions, COM+ Event System, DCOM Server Process Launcher
If all of the services are correctly configured, you can try to delete and reset the download queue by deleting the following two files:
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr0.dat
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr1.dat
Now try to start the BITS service by going to the command prompt and typing in net start bits. This will reset the BITS transfer queue and hopefully allow the service to start properly. If not, then continue reading!
If you are running Windows Vista and you cannot start the Background Intelligent Transfer Service, you can download the BITS Repair Tool to fix any problems corrupted BITS files. This tool by Microsoft tries three different methods to reset BITS on Vista.
You can also check to make sure that a missing DLL file is not preventing BITS from starting properly. Go to Start, Run and type in the following command:
depends.exe %windir%\system32\qmgr.dll
The Windows Dependency Walker will pop up and you will get an error message if any of the required DLLs are missing. You also want to check the DLL dependencies for Windows Update:
depends.exe %windir%\system32\wuauserv.dll
If you simply get a window with a whole bunch of DLLs listed and no error messages that means all the appropriate DLL files for BITS and Windows Update are correctly installed on your system.
If you get an error about a DLL not being found or that is missing, then it is best to run System File Checker, which will copy back all of the original Windows DLL files. Go to Start, Run, and type in CMD. At the prompt, type in
sfc /scannow
reboot after it is done
Repairing registry permissions
› 
Note: Access denied errors can also be caused by third-party applications, especially anti-virus or anti-spyware applications. So, make sure that you close all the anti-virus and anti-spyware utilities temporarily and then install the Service Pack. This helps in most cases. You should reset the registry and the file permissions only if necessary.
Resetting the Registry and the File Permissions
Using SECEDIT.EXE in Windows XP Professional
In Windows XP Professional, you may use the following secedit command-line to reset the file and registry permissions to defaults.
secedit /configure /cfg %windir%\repair\secsetup.inf /db secsetup.sdb /verbose
For more information, see article How to reset security settings back to the defaults.
Using SubInACL
For Windows XP Home Edition (and Professional Edition), you may use the SubInACL tool to reset the registry and file permissions. Download and then install the Subinacl.exe (~370 KB) from Microsoft. SubInACL is a command-line tool that enables administrators to obtain security information about files, registry keys, etc.
Open Notepad, copy the commands below and save the file as reset.cmd. Double-click the file to run it. This script file may take a long time to run. Registry and file permissions in your system should be reset.
cd /d “%ProgramFiles%\Windows Resource Kits\Tools”
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /grant=administrators=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /grant=administrators=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /grant=administrators=f
subinacl /subdirectories %SystemDrive% /grant=administrators=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /grant=system=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /grant=system=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /grant=system=f
subinacl /subdirectories %SystemDrive% /grant=system=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /grant=administrators=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /grant=administrators=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /grant=administrators=f
subinacl /subdirectories %SystemDrive% /grant=administrators=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /grant=system=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /grant=system=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /grant=system=f
subinacl /subdirectories %SystemDrive% /grant=system=f
Note: If you’re seeing the error Service Pack 3 setup error. Access is denied when installing Windows XP Service Pack 3, to verify if the error is caused by incorrect registry permissions, open the file C:\Windows\Svcpack.log using Notepad and look for the text Access is denied or DoRegistryUpdates failed.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Slow typing in all windows
While the task manager shows no CPU hogging devices, typing in any window goes 1-2 characters per second.
msconfig:
PCMService.exe and ATIhotkey polling are the culprits.
msconfig:
PCMService.exe and ATIhotkey polling are the culprits.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Outlook .pst file backup procedure
To manually back up your Outlook:
1. In Outlook, Go to File > Import and Export > Export to a File.
2. Click Next.
3. Select Personal Folder File (.pst); click Next.
4. Highlight "Mailbox-Your Name".
5. Check "Include Subfolders".
6. Click Next.
7. In the "Save Exported File as:" field use the Browse button to select the location and file name of this .pst file
8. Select "Replace Duplicates with Items Exported".
This creates a nice, compacted version of your mail, calendar and address book in case the new software does something terrible to Outlook.
9. Click Finish.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
What internet provider do I choose?
Comcast is typically one generation ahead of Qwest, mostly because of the medium (coax is newer than copper). My default is to go for cable, but it depends on your neighborhood. There is a third option, Clear, that just became available in our market too.
When choosing your interwebs, there are multiple variables. Cost and speed duke it out for primacy. Reliability and convenience run a distant second. Check both Comcast and Qwest to see how fast you can get. In older Portland neighborhoods, Qwest often sucks. In Beaverton, it is significantly faster. Once you get their assurance of x speed for x location, check the price. Both have rotating specials that will save you a ton of money.
Do NOT ever use their built in email. If you ever switch providers, you get the ugly. This way, once your special for X internet provider ends, you switch to Y.
Clear is a dark horse in this race. They are a new 4G wireless provider in the area, at about 4MBps (comparable with low-end cable or high-end DSL). It works like wifi with a 7 mile range. Portland was the second US market to get it, so the hardware you buy will only work in the metro area and, I think, D.C. or Virginia somewhere. It's certainly growing, but it will take several years to cover the country. It is optimal for someone who needs to do their computer work on the road, but in PDX.
When choosing your interwebs, there are multiple variables. Cost and speed duke it out for primacy. Reliability and convenience run a distant second. Check both Comcast and Qwest to see how fast you can get. In older Portland neighborhoods, Qwest often sucks. In Beaverton, it is significantly faster. Once you get their assurance of x speed for x location, check the price. Both have rotating specials that will save you a ton of money.
Do NOT ever use their built in email. If you ever switch providers, you get the ugly. This way, once your special for X internet provider ends, you switch to Y.
Clear is a dark horse in this race. They are a new 4G wireless provider in the area, at about 4MBps (comparable with low-end cable or high-end DSL). It works like wifi with a 7 mile range. Portland was the second US market to get it, so the hardware you buy will only work in the metro area and, I think, D.C. or Virginia somewhere. It's certainly growing, but it will take several years to cover the country. It is optimal for someone who needs to do their computer work on the road, but in PDX.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Countdown for XP and the near future of computing
This email is targeted at people who may need to buy a new computer in the next year or so.
As many of you know, Windows has been attempting to phase out XP for Vista for over a year now. Though they've extended the cutoff date a couple of times, it looks like this last one is the end: July 31, 2009.
Now, Vista is not a terrible operating system, and will probably work just fine for most people. The major complaints about it are that they've moved some of the features around and made them hard to find (If you have started using Internet Explorer 7 or Office 2007 you have already got a taste of this) and that some older printers and other hardware devices may not have software written for Vista, rendering them useless. There are also rumors of older versions of software not running in Vista, forcing you to buy new updated copies. If your hardware devices are under two years old and you aren't planning on installing old copies of software you have laying around, Vista should work for you.
However, if you still want a new computer that has XP on it, you'll need to do so before the cutoff date. Otherwise, you'll be stuck with Vista. Even so, it's difficult to find XP today. Here are some tricks to finding XP that you may not know about.
If you are in the market for a computer and you go to just about any electronics store or website, you will only find Vista listed. Netbooks (those tiny laptops) are the exception, Vista is too much for most of them to run, so they still come with XP. To find XP, go online and look for computers that have Vista Ultimate Edition or Vista Business Edition. For a fee ($75-$150) the vendor will typically allow you to choose to "downgrade" from Vista to XP. When you get the computer, you will get two operating system install discs, and usually XP will be preinstalled. You'll have a copy of Vista included so that you can upgrade your XP later on if you need to.
I helped a client buy a laptop using this downgrade method yesterday, from dell.com. Lenovo (formerly IBM) is known to have the same sort of downgrade opportunities, as may others. The total cost, before shipping, was about $650. A comparable Vista version of that laptop would have been about $100 less.
What happens after XP goes away?
Windows is working on the next version of the operating system, named Windows 7. From the rumors around the tech sites, it is slated to be released in the first quarter of 2010. It appears to be a reworked and fine tuned version of Vista, so it will probably have the same sorts of problems. However, Microsoft is actually listening to the beta testers, so it may be better. Regardless, XP will be out of date, new software will only be being written for Windows 7 or Vista, so you'll be having to buy it eventually. Or going Mac.
...and should you even buy a computer now? Are faster ones on the horizon?
Sort of. Intel just released a new processor type that is faster, and uses faster memory chips. It is designed for high end corporate computers and servers, but it is likely that it will make it into desktop machines within a year, and perhaps laptops a little later than that. It is not radically different, just faster. Additionally, both Intel and AMD are working on smaller CPUs, which translates to lower power and therefore longer laptop battery life. The Intel version of this will take at least a year to hit the market (they are currently building the fab plant in Hillsboro). The AMD version doesn't matter, as AMD is running at least a year behind Intel in laptop chip breakthroughs (their desktop chips are cheaper and just as fast though). The Intel Core 2 Duo is currently the cutting edge, and looks to stay that way for about a year.
If you wait a year to buy, you're going to get an upgrade to your computing power. However, it does not look like a dramatic difference. Computers have come to the point that they are so fast, the typical upgrades do not make a huge difference in the perceived speed of the computer. It isn't like in the past, where you *had* to upgrade your computer. Now older computers are humming along just fine with newer versions of software. Max out the memory, and keep running with it until it breaks.
You are backing up your data, right?
As many of you know, Windows has been attempting to phase out XP for Vista for over a year now. Though they've extended the cutoff date a couple of times, it looks like this last one is the end: July 31, 2009.
Now, Vista is not a terrible operating system, and will probably work just fine for most people. The major complaints about it are that they've moved some of the features around and made them hard to find (If you have started using Internet Explorer 7 or Office 2007 you have already got a taste of this) and that some older printers and other hardware devices may not have software written for Vista, rendering them useless. There are also rumors of older versions of software not running in Vista, forcing you to buy new updated copies. If your hardware devices are under two years old and you aren't planning on installing old copies of software you have laying around, Vista should work for you.
However, if you still want a new computer that has XP on it, you'll need to do so before the cutoff date. Otherwise, you'll be stuck with Vista. Even so, it's difficult to find XP today. Here are some tricks to finding XP that you may not know about.
If you are in the market for a computer and you go to just about any electronics store or website, you will only find Vista listed. Netbooks (those tiny laptops) are the exception, Vista is too much for most of them to run, so they still come with XP. To find XP, go online and look for computers that have Vista Ultimate Edition or Vista Business Edition. For a fee ($75-$150) the vendor will typically allow you to choose to "downgrade" from Vista to XP. When you get the computer, you will get two operating system install discs, and usually XP will be preinstalled. You'll have a copy of Vista included so that you can upgrade your XP later on if you need to.
I helped a client buy a laptop using this downgrade method yesterday, from dell.com. Lenovo (formerly IBM) is known to have the same sort of downgrade opportunities, as may others. The total cost, before shipping, was about $650. A comparable Vista version of that laptop would have been about $100 less.
What happens after XP goes away?
Windows is working on the next version of the operating system, named Windows 7. From the rumors around the tech sites, it is slated to be released in the first quarter of 2010. It appears to be a reworked and fine tuned version of Vista, so it will probably have the same sorts of problems. However, Microsoft is actually listening to the beta testers, so it may be better. Regardless, XP will be out of date, new software will only be being written for Windows 7 or Vista, so you'll be having to buy it eventually. Or going Mac.
...and should you even buy a computer now? Are faster ones on the horizon?
Sort of. Intel just released a new processor type that is faster, and uses faster memory chips. It is designed for high end corporate computers and servers, but it is likely that it will make it into desktop machines within a year, and perhaps laptops a little later than that. It is not radically different, just faster. Additionally, both Intel and AMD are working on smaller CPUs, which translates to lower power and therefore longer laptop battery life. The Intel version of this will take at least a year to hit the market (they are currently building the fab plant in Hillsboro). The AMD version doesn't matter, as AMD is running at least a year behind Intel in laptop chip breakthroughs (their desktop chips are cheaper and just as fast though). The Intel Core 2 Duo is currently the cutting edge, and looks to stay that way for about a year.
If you wait a year to buy, you're going to get an upgrade to your computing power. However, it does not look like a dramatic difference. Computers have come to the point that they are so fast, the typical upgrades do not make a huge difference in the perceived speed of the computer. It isn't like in the past, where you *had* to upgrade your computer. Now older computers are humming along just fine with newer versions of software. Max out the memory, and keep running with it until it breaks.
You are backing up your data, right?
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Intro
I use many IT tools when fixing computers, and sometimes I forget which one fixed a particular problem. This blog is a memo to myself, helping me choose the right tool for the right job.
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