MUST READ: Frequently Asked Problems with Their Solutions

[Vishal Gupta]

Guys!

I'm posting this thread because I have seen lots of members starting new threads for already discussed problems in almost every forum. We always ask them to search in forum before posting those problem.

I have tried my best to cover all frequently asked problems with their solutions. :)

I request all members to go through this thread before posting their problems.

All problems covered in this thread:

1. Task Manager/Registry Editor/Tools -> Folder Options disabled.

2. Search window opens while double-clicking on drives.

3. "Cannot find copy.exe" Error while double-clicking on drives.

4. Folder opens in a new window?

5. A sub-folder with the same name is created under parent folder.

6. My Documents/My Computer opens automatically at windows startup.

7. "NTLDR missing" Error at system startup.

8. "Hal.dll is corrupt or missing" Error at system startup.

9. "Windows\System32\config\system file missing or corrupt" Error at system startup.

10. Not able to boot into Windows 2000/XP/2003 after installing Windows 98.

11. Windows XP Boot loader related problems, like adding/removing entries.

12. ScanDisk starts running at windows startup.

13. "CMOS checksum error. Defaults loaded." Error at system startup.

14. How to reset system BIOS password?

15. "Stand By" option is greyed out in shutdown dialog box and I can't use it.

16. Windows Login Screen has changed to "Classic Logon Box" automatically.

17. A strange process "ctfmon.exe" running in background.

18. How to recover lost Firefox bookmarks?

19. How to reset the corrupted windows icons?

20. How to make Desktop icons text background transparent?

21. How to get Windows XP Common tasks (Left-side pane in explorer) back?

22. "Copy To"/"Move To" dialog box opens automatically while right-clicking on Start -> Open.

23. Can't set "Show Hidden files/folders" option in "Tools -> Folder Options".

24. Accidentally deleted "mspaint.exe"/"notepad.exe"/etc. file, how to get it back?

25. Taskbar is showing only icons in opened application buttons not showing text.

26. Orkut.com, Youtube.com and Firefox is blocked in the system.

27. I have forgotten my Windows Administrator password. How can I reset / recover it?

28. I can't see any message in chat window of Yahoo! Messenger?

29. All User folders are showing default yellow icon instead of Glass icons in Windows Vista.

30. How can I change Power button in Windows Vista to Shutdown Windows instead of Sleep?

31. Hibernate option suddenly disappeared from Startmenu in Windows Vista.

32. Why menus appear on lest side of cursor in my Windows Vista?

So here we start:

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1. In my windows Task Manager/Registry Editor/Tools -> Folder Options has been disabled. I'm getting warning message that "It has been disabled by Administrator". How can I enable it again?

Sol: Pls visit following threads:

All Kinds of Restrictions for Windows 2000, XP, 2003 and Vista

How to Enable Tools -> Folder Options and Registry Editor in Windows

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2. Whenever I double-click on any drive/folder in My Computer, a Search window opens.

Sol: Open regedit and goto following keys one by one:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell

In right-side pane, delete the "Default" key. If it doesnt work then delete the key "find" under both.

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3. Whenever I double-click on any drive in My Computer, I get following error message:

Cannot find copy.exe. Make sure you have typed the name correctly and then try again.

Sol: Enable "Show hidden files" option in "Tools -> Folder Options" and then search for "Autorun.inf" file in all drivers and if you get them in root of any drive (e.g. in C:\, D:\ and so on), delete them.

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4. Whenever I double-click on any folder in My Computer, it opens in a new window even I have selected the option "Always open folders in same window" in "Tools -> Folder Options".

Sol: Copy following code and paste it in Notepad then save the file with name "vishal.reg" (including quotes). After it run the file and confirm the action:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore]
"BrowserFlags"=dword:00000022
"ExplorerFlags"=dword:00000021

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
  00,5c,00,45,00,78,00,70,00,6c,00,6f,00,72,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,\
  65,00,20,00,2f,00,65,00,2c,00,2f,00,69,00,64,00,6c,00,69,00,73,00,74,00,2c,\
  00,25,00,49,00,2c,00,25,00,4c,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec]
@="[ExploreFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"
"NoActivateHandler"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\application]
@="Folders"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\ifexec]
@="[]"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\topic]
@="AppProperties"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open]
"BrowserFlags"=dword:00000010
"ExplorerFlags"=dword:00000012

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
  00,5c,00,45,00,78,00,70,00,6c,00,6f,00,72,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,\
  65,00,20,00,2f,00,69,00,64,00,6c,00,69,00,73,00,74,00,2c,00,25,00,49,00,2c,\
  00,25,00,4c,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec]
@="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"
"NoActivateHandler"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\application]
@="Folders"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\ifexec]
@="[]"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\topic]
@="AppProperties"

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\explore]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\open]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell]
@="none"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell]
@="none"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell]
@=-

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5. Whenever I open a folder, another folder with the same name is created under it.

Sol: Your system is infected by a variant of Indonesian virus called Brontok/Rontokbro. It creates a sub-folder in a folder with same name. Most of the times it comes from mobile memory cards. Scan with a good anti-virus and remove the virus. Also download HijackThis and scan your system with it in Safe Mode, then fix following entries:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\SSVICHOSST.exe
F2 - REG:system.ini: Shell=Explorer.exe SSVICHOSST.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Yahoo Messengger] C:\WINDOWS\system32\SSVICHOSST.exe
O7 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\System, DisableRegedit=1

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6. Whenever I start my computer, My Documents/My Computer opens automatically at windows startup.

Sol: Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

In right-side pane, change value of "Userinit" to:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

NOTE: If you have windows installed in other drives, then change C:\ to that drive label.

Now goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

In right-side pane, change value of "PersistBrowsers" to

Now log off windows and it should solve the problem.

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7. When I start my computer, I get error message:

NTLDR is missing

or

Boot: Couldn't find NTLDR

Sol: Boot using Windows Setup CD and enter into "Recovery Console" by pressing "R". Now Log into windows installation and enter admin password. Now give following commands at prompt:

copy x:\i386\ntldr c:\

copy x:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\

Where "x" is your CD drive, change it acc. to your system.

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8. When I start my computer, I get error message:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.

Please re-install a copy of the above file.

Sol: Boot using Windows Setup CD and enter into "Recovery Console" by pressing "R". Now Log into windows installation and enter admin password. Now give following commands at prompt:

Attrib -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini

Del C:\Boot.ini

BootCfg /Rebuild

Fixboot

-------------------------

9. When I start my computer, I get error message:

"Windows\System32\config\system" file missing or corrupt

Sol: Boot using Windows Setup CD and enter into "Recovery Console" by pressing "R". Now Log into windows installation and enter admin password. Now give following commands at prompt:

copy %windir%\Repair\system %windir%\System32\Config

If it doesnt work, then again boot into "Recovery Console" and give following commands:

fixmbr

bootcfg /scan

bootcfg /rebuild

fixboot

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10. I have Windows 2000/XP/2003 installed in my system and yesterday I installed Windows 98 over it, after that I'm not able to boot into Windows 2000/XP.2003. I'm not getting option to select the OS.

Sol: Windows 98 has overwritten the boot loader. Boot using Windows Setup CD and enter into "Recovery Console" by pressing "R". Now Log into windows installation and enter admin password. Now give following commands at prompt:

fixmbr

bootcfg /scan

bootcfg /rebuild

fixboot

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11. When I start my system, I'm getting 2 entries for windows XP in the boot loader. How can I remove the duplicate entry?

OR

How can I change the default OS in windows boot loader?

OR

How can I change the entry labels in windows boot loader?

OR

How can I change the boot loader time? Its set to 30 seconds and I want to change it.

Sol: There are several way. You can follow any of following:

A. Type "sysdm.cpl" in RUN dialog box and press <Enter>. Now goto "Advanced" tab and click on "Settings" button in "Startup & Recovery" section. Now click on "Edit" button and then you can edit the boot loader time, labels, etc.

B. Type "msconfig" in RUN dialog box and goto "Boot.ini" tab and then you can change the desired thing. If you want to remove the corrupt/non-working entries, then click on "Check all boot paths" button.

C. Enable "Show hidden files/folders" and disable "Hide protected system files" options in "Tools -> Folder Options". Now open C:\ drive and remove the READ-ONLY attribute of "BOOT.INI" file from its Properties. Now open this file and then you can make your desired changes.

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12. Whenever I start my computer, Scandisk starts running even I proper shut down the PC last time.

Sol: Do as following:

A. Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager

In right-side pane, change the value of BootExecute to:

autocheck autochk *

B. If the above trick doesnt help then give following commands in Command Prompt:

chkntfs /x drive_name

for e.g., if ScanDisk runs automatically for C: and D: drives, then give following commands one by one:

chkntfs /x C:

chkntfs /x D:

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13. When I start my computer, I get following error message:

CMOS checksum error, defaults loaded.

Sol: Open the cabinet and look for a coin-sized battery in motherboard. Remove it and attach a new one. The new battery will cost approx. 15-20 Rs.

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14. I forgot my system BIOS password. How can I reset it?

Sol: Open the cabinet and look for a coin-sized battery in motherboard. Remove it and attach it again after a few minutes. All BIOS settings will set to default and the password will also reset.

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15. I re-installed my windows and now "Stand By" option is greyed out in shutdown dialog box and I can't use it.

Sol: Install VGA drivers from your motherboard CD and the option will be enabled. If you don't have the motherboard CD, then goto the manufacturer site and downlaod the required drivers.

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16. My Windows Login Screen has changed to "Classic Logon Box". I want the new Welcome Screen back.

Sol: Type "control userpasswords" in RUN dialog box or Open "User Accounts" in Control Panel. Then click on "Change the way Users log on and off". Now check the option "Use Welcome Screen". If you get following error:

Uninstall client services for netware.

Then Open "Network Connections" and open Properties of your Internet Connection. Now goto "Networking" tab and select "Client services on Netware" option and click on the"Uninstall" button.

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17. A strange process "ctfmon.exe" always runs in background and if I click on "End Process" button, it restarts automatically.

Sol: Open Control Panel and goto Add/Remove Programs list. Now click on the Microsoft Office entry and then click on "Change" button. Now select "Add/Remove Features" and click on "Next". Now expand "Office Shared Features" and click on "Alternative User Input" and then select "Not Available" and finally click on Update. It'll permanently remove that ctfmon.exe and your problem will be solved.

You can also use 3rd party utility "CTFMON-Remover" to get rid of ctfmon.exe easily and quickly:

CTFMON-Remover

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18. I just noticed that all my Firefox Bookmarks have gone. The bookmarks list is empty. How can I get them back?

Sol: Type "%appdata%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles" in RUN dialog box and then open the "xxxx.default" folder (where xxxx will be random numbers and characters). Now open "bookmarkbackups" folder and you'll get your bookmarks there. Now you can import them in Firefox again.

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19. My Windows is showing some wrong icons of files. How can I reset the corrupted icons?

Sol: You can use any of following methods:

A. Download TweakUI from here and then click on "Repair Icons" in "Repair" section.

B. Open My Computer and goto:

C:\Documents and Settings\User_Name\Local Settings\Application Data

Replace C:\ with your system drive and "user_Name" with your username.

Now there'll be a HIDDEN file "iconcache.db", delete it and restart your system.

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20. I'm using Windows XP and the desktop icons suddenly started showing an ugly background rectangle behind the text. How can I make the text transparent?

Sol: Type "sysdm.cpl" in RUN dialog box and press <Enter>. Now goto "Advanced" tab, click on "Setting" button in "Performance" section and enable the option "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop".

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21. I'm using Windows XP and suddenly the Common tasks stopped showing in left-side pane.

Sol: Open "Tools -> Folder Options" and enable the option "Show Common Tasks in folders".

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22. Whenever I right-click on Start button and select "Open", a "Copy To"/"Move To" dialog box opens automatically.

Sol: Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\

Now under this key, delete following 2 keys:

Copy To

Move To

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23. I can't see Hidden files/folders in my computer. Even I enable the option "Show hidden files/folders" in "Tools -> Folder Options", its automtically disabled again.

Sol: Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

In right-side pane, change value of "Hidden" to as following:

1 - To show hidden files

2 - To not show hidden files

If it doesnt work, then scan your computer with an anti-virus software.

-------------------------

24. I accidentally deleted my "mspaint.exe"/"notepad.exe"/etc. file, how can I get it back?

Sol: You can use any of following methods:

A. Goto "%windir%\System32\DLLCache" folder and look for the file, if its there then copy it to "%windir%\System32\" folder.

B. Insert your Windows Setup CD and goto "I386" folder. Now look for the same file, it'll present there but the last letter of extension will be "_". e.g., u'll get "mspaint.ex_"/"notepad.ex_"/etc. Now open Command Prompt and goto "I386" folder and give following command:

expand mspaint.ex_ mspaint.exe

expand notepad.ex_ notepad.exe

etc.

Now u can copy the file to "%windir%\System32" folder.

C. Give following command in Command Prompt:

sfc /SCANNOW

It'll automatically restore the files.

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25. Suddenly my taskbar is showing only icons in all opened application buttons. I can't see any text. How can I get back the full taskbar buttons?

Sol: Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics

In right-side pane, change the value of "MinWidth" to -2300

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26. Whenever I open "www.orkut.com" or any folder with the name "orkut", I get following error with a scary laugh:

Orkut IS BANNED, orkut is banned you fool The administrators didnt write this program guess who did?? r r MUHAHAHA!!

Sol: Pls visit following thread:

[solution] Orkut.com, Youtube.com and Firefox is Banned in System

????????-

27. I have forgotten my Windows Administrator password. How can I reset / recover it?

Sol: Pls visit following link:

How to Reset / Recover Forgotten Windows NT / 2000 / XP / 2003 Administrator Password?

????????-

28. In Yahoo! Messenger, whenever I send a message or get a message I can't see the contents in chat window. All I can see is a blank window.

Sol: Pls download Windows Script from the following link and install it:

Download Windows Script

????????-

29. Why all User folders in my Windows Vista show default yellow icon instead of the new glass icons?

Sol: Please follow the steps mentioned in following tutorial:

How to Fix User Folders Showing Simple Folder Icon in Windows Vista?

????????-

30. Whenever I click on power button in Vista startmenu, it put my system in Sleep state. How can I change it to shut down the system?

Sol: In Windows Vista the default action of power button is set to Sleep. But you can change it to shut down like previous Windows versions. Please follow the instructions given in this tutorial:

How to Change Power Button in Windows Vista to Shut Down the System instead of Sleep?

????????-

31. Suddenly Hibernate option is missing in my Windows Vista. How can I enable it again?

Sol: You must have run "Disk Cleanup". Its a known issue in Vista. There is a solution to re-enable Hibernate option:

How to Re-enable Missing Hibernate Option in Windows Vista?

????????-

32. Why in Windows Vista menus appear on left side of mouse cursor? In previous Windows versions, menus used to show on right-side. How can I change it in Vista?

Sol: Its a problem which many Vista users are facing. Don't worry, follow the following link:

How to Change Menu Position from Left to Right in Windows Vista?

A few more problems with their solutions have been covered here.

Edited May 24, 2011 by Vishal Gupta

[Berserk87]

nice list, but theres probly a better place for it.

the guides section? or pinned in a windows help section or something.

[Wilhelmus]

6. Whenever I start my computer, My Documents/My Computer opens automatically at windows startup.

Sol: Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

In right-side pane, change value of "Userinit" to:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe

That should read:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

(Note the comma in the end; My Documents directory loads on startup after upgrading to Windows XP Service Pack 2)

[Vishal Gupta]

^^ You are right buddy. Fixed in first post. Thanks. :)

@Berserk87

Sorry buddy but I found this section suitable for this thread. I request mods to move this topic to the right section if required. :)

[TaiCrunch]

20. I'm using Windows XP and the desktop icons suddenly started showing an ugly background rectangle behind the text. How can I make the text transparent?

Sol: Type "sysdm.cpl" in RUN dialog box and press <Enter>. Now goto "Advanced" tab, click on "Setting" button in "Performance" section and enable the option "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop".

Had this problem myself the other day. This didn't work in my case, so I wanted to add a couple things to this.

1) Right click the desktop, mouse-over Arrange Icons by... and make sure that Lock Web Items on Desktop is unchecked.

2) Open the Control Panel and open Display. Click the Desktop Tab and click on the Customize Desktop button. Click on the Web tab and make sure everything is unchecked.

[APK]

Good post:

This will help folks that work in tech support, by ALL means, especially when dealing in virus/trojan/spyware/malware in general etc. et al, & their removal!

(... as many of those DO disable these areas (&, lol, from the viewpoint of a maker of these "heinous machinations" (badware), they're protecting their infector (because the tools that get disabled are ones often used, native tools to the OS involved, in removing them))).

:)

* Good job!

APK

P.S.=> I gave you a "5 star rating", because of what I wrote above... apk

[Vishal Gupta]

^^ Thanks. Much appreciated. :)

[Vishal Gupta]

First post updated with Q. 28...

[Hani]

Thanks!

[Lewism]

For #17, if you use Office 2007, you have to do this

To remove ctfmon.exe if your using Windows XP and Office 2007 follow these steps:

- Open "Regional and Language Options" in the control panel

- Click the "Languages" tab

- Click the "Details" button under "Text services and input languages" heading

- Click the "Advanced" tab

- Place a check mark in "Turn off advanced text services" under the "System Configuration" heading

[Vishal Gupta]

Thread updated with a few Vista problems with their solutions...

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

Good job Vishal Gupta. I suggest creating a separate list for Vista problems.

This thread will definitely come in handy for me. :)

[Phantom Limb]

Very good job!

Guide is very well written and answers a lot of the common questions I see around the board, this should be added to the Slimy's Unofficial FAQ.