Some users have noticed an issue in which various Microsoft applications, including Internet Explorer, Windows Update and others, suddenly can no longer connect to the Internet. Internet Explorer may display “cannot display this web page” when the problem occurs. This issue is sometimes caused by problematic policy files spawned by third-party programs.
It can generally be fixed via the following process, which deletes specific policies:
1. Click the Start button, then type REGEDIT in the search field and press enter.
2. In REGEDIT, delete the following items (first back them up by right-clicking each and clicking “Export” then saving them to any desired location):
- [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft]
- [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies]
- [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy]
- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft]
- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy]
- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
Filed under Internet Explorer 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Apr 2nd, 2009. Comment. 
A number of users have reported a problem in which Windows Media Player 11 continues to play after it has been closed. Specifically, users continue to hear audio after the window containing the previously played media file is closed. The most common fix for this issue is as follows:
Check for errant processes Some problematic processes can keep Windows Media files playing after they are closed. Download and install Process Monitor and look for processes that are inadvertently reactivating Windows Media Player. Some users have found that Mobile Sync utility, media sharing utilities or Web browsers can cause this issue. Filter the results in Process Monitor for those that mention C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe.
Other media playing software, such as Realtek, may be to blame. Try temporarily installing such software and checking for alleviation of the issue.
Try it and see for yourself, it worked for me,
Filed under Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Apr 1st, 2009. Comment.
April 1st is here, and early indications are that the much-ballyhooed Conficker worm is more bark than bite. Aside from a modest increase in junk mail that may be completely unrelated, users have yet to report any rise in infection or other adverse effects. Regardless, there is a drop-dead simple process you can use to protect against virtually any potential Conficker maladies, and the same process should be put in place under any circumstances to protect against other malware, viruses and other security threats. Here are the steps:
1. Make sure your Windows system has all pertinent updates Launch Internet Explorer and go to windowsupdate.microsoft.com. Install the ActiveX control if necessary, then use the “Express” option to download the latest and most important updates. That’s it–your system now has Microsoft’s latest Conficker protection mechanism installed. Microsoft may issue “zero-day” updates over the next few days, so check back regularly.
2. Install one (and only one) strong anti-virus package and make sure it’s up-to-date There a number of free, regularly updated anti-virus packages that do a fabulous job of protecting against worms like Conficker. Here’s a list:
Pick one and only one package and make sure it is updated frequently. Installation of multiple anti-virus packages can create conflicts that might actually weaken your system’s immunity and can create stability and performance issues.
As mentioned above, vendors may issue “zero-day” patches over the next few days to counteract any new variants of Conficker. Check the developer’s website or intra-application auto-update mechanisms regularly for the latest updates.
3. If you’re already infected, run this One of the nastiest elements of the Conficker worm is that it can disable antivirus and anti-malware tools, making it difficult to find and eliminate the worm after it’s been hatched. However, Microsoft offers a free OneCare system scan that is done over the Web, meaning it will be more likely to work if Conficker has crippled your software. Click here to access the scan.
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If you’re still paranoid, you can rework your password to make it stronger and disable AutoRun.
Filed under News, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Mar 31st, 2009. 1 Comment.
Determining whether or not malware is to blame for any given troubleshooting issue can be tricky. Some malware-caused issues manifest as simple application instability, slowness or seemingly random freezes. However, there are a few instances in which malware is a more-than-likely culprit. In this series of articles (“Signs That You Have Malware”), we’ll explore some of the tell-tale signs and reiterate the best methods for ridding your system of the infection.
Today’s sign: One or more flashing windows that suddenly pop up then disappear. Generally these windows are blank and cannot be closed, re-opened or otherwise manipulated.
Why it might be malware A constantly reappearing but non-functional window can be the result of an unwanted executable attempting to run.
How to get rid of it Start with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, a shareware malware and spyware removal tool that can eliminate many types of unwanted executables.
Next, move on to Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal tool. Microsoft releases an updated version of this tool on the second Tuesday of each month, and “as needed to respond to security incidents.” You can keep it up to date with Microsoft Update, Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center
Finally, run a scan with a good anti-virus package. AVG is free, and comes highly recommended by users and experts alike. Just remember, stick to one good anti-virus package. Installing multiple anti-virus programs can actually weaken your protection and introduce performance and stability issues. The following anti-virus apps are also recommended:
Filed under Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Mar 31st, 2009. Comment.
Google has released Chrome 1.0.154.53, the latest edition of its Web browser. The new version, though minor in number, includes some significant fixes for Windows Vista users, including:
- Fix for a problem setting Google Chrome as the default browser on Windows Vista
- Fix for a problem in which blank entries can appear in the address bar’s list of suggestions.
Several users have also reported a significant speed boost from the new version.
To download the new edition, visit this page or, within Google Chrome, select “About Google Chrome” from the Tools menu and proceed with an automatic update.
Feedback on the new release? Let us know.
Filed under News, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Mar 25th, 2009. Comment.
You may encounter the error message “USB Device Not Recognized” when connecting external devices to your system. There are a number of causes for this issue, and an equal number of fixes. If you receive this error message, try the following procedures one-by-one (the easiest and most common fixes are listed first) until you find a fix.
Disconnect and reconnect Although this fix is almost too obvious to mention, many users overlook it. Simply disconnect the USB device for a few seconds, then reconnect it, ensuring a secure, snug fit.
Uninstall third-party USB programs Go to the Control Panel and select “Add/Remove Programs.” Remove all third-party device drivers in the device manager, then restart your computer. Try reconnecting the problematic devices and check for resolution of the issue. If you need to re-add any third-party drivers, you can obtain them from the manufacturers’ websites.
Update drivers Make sure you have the latest drivers for each device. These can usually be obtained from the manufacturer website. As mentioned in the previous fix, you may want to try deleting all currently installed drivers before installing the fresh, new versions.
Delete the INFCACHE If you are running Windows Vista, you may want to try deleting the INFCACHE.1 file, which stores device-to-driver association information. To do this, open a Windows Explorer window and type c:\windows\inf then press return, and locate the file “INFCACHE.1,” then follow these steps:
- Right-click on INFCACHE.1 and select “Properties”
- Click on the “Security” tab, then click “Edit.”
- Click “Add,” then type the name you would like to give to the user group.
- Set the new group to “Full Control” then click OK.
- You can now delete the file INFCACHE.1
You should now restart your computer and check for proper operation of the device. You may need to re-download the device(s) driver from the manufacturer website.
Did any of these fixes work for you? Do you know of another fix? Let us know.
Filed under Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Mar 25th, 2009. 1 Comment.
Faulty RAM is one of the more pernicious and elusive causes of frequent system crashes, blue screens, inability to startup and other issues. Unfortunately, users may not realize that they have bad RAM, and may instead search out software conflicts or other potential causes for their problems.
If you are experiencing any of the aforementioned issues, especially in a repeated fashion or when running specific, memory intensive applications (a number of users have reported memory issue flare-ups when playing demanding games), your best bet is to test for faulty RAM with a utility such as Memtest86 or RAM Probe.
Both of the aforementioned tools must be run from a floppy disk, CD-ROM or external USB drive.
We’ll run through some basic instructions for installing and running Memtest86 from a burned CD (the most common method):
- Download the Memtest86 Windows ISO (disk image)
- Extract the resulting ZIP file, which will include an ISO file.
- Launch your CD burning application of choice (you can use a 15-day free trial of Nero if you don’t have one–if you use Nero, choose “Burn Image” and select the ISO file).
- Select the ISO file using your CD burning application and press burn (or record). Do not simply copy the ISO file to a disc–you need to burn it as an image. In most CD burning applications, you can select “Open” then choose the Memtest86 ISO file.
- Once the CD is finished recording, leave it in your drive then restart your computer. If the system does not automatically boot into the Memtest86 program, restart and again, and while the computer is booting, quickly tap the F2 key to enter setup (for most computers), and select the newly burned Memtest86 disc as your boot disc
Now you will be in the Memtest86 test center. The test will take some time to complete–let it run for at least one hour. After this period of time, you may see one or more of a series of errors.
If errors are displayed, remove one or more RAM modules then run the test again. You can also try rotating modules to different slots and check for elimination of the errors. For a full list of error Memtest86 messages, see this page.
Filed under Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Mar 25th, 2009. 4 Comments.
Several users have reported significantly slower performance under Internet Explorer 8, particularly when the browser is first launched or when navigating to new pages. Delays of up to 30 seconds or more have been reported.
The problem, in most cases, is the presence of IE restricted sites and enhanced security configuration zones, which are generally created automatically by spyware removal software, such as Spybot and IESpyAd. Traditionally, the presence of these entries has been hugely beneficial, offering protection against malicious software. However, Internet Explorer 8 includes new security measures that may obviate the need for these entries, and the browser can suffer a tremendous speed hit in their presence.
The fastest and easiest way to remove these entries and dramatically increase Internet Explorer 8′s speed is to use the DelDomains package. Right click on this link and save the file to your desktop. Next, right-click on the downloaded file (DelDomains.inf) and select “Install.” The package will remove all Internet Explorer restricted sites, enhanced security configuration zones and trusted sites.
Alternatively, or in addition to the above fix, you can try registering actxprxy.dll, a process that has improved Internet Explorer 8′s performance for a handful of users.
Click the Start button then search for “CMD.” Right-click cmd.exe and select “Run as Administrator,” then type regsvr32 actxprxy.dll and press return. Quit then re-launch Internet Explorer 8 and check for improved performance.
Feedback? info@windowsfixup.com
Filed under Internet Explorer 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Mar 24th, 2009. 77 Comments.
If you find that Internet Explorer 8 crashes persistently, especially when navigating to different pages, try the following procedures.
Disable Add-ons Some Add-ons held over from Internet Explorer 6 or 7 are incompatible with Internet Explorer 8. Try removing all Add-ons (or sets of add-ons) then re-accessing the problematic site(s). If Internet Explorer 8 no longer crashes, put your Add-ons back one-by-one (or in sets) until the problem resurfaces. In this way, you can identify the problematic Add-on(s) and eliminate it.
Start by quitting Internet Explorer 8, then right-clicking its icon in the Explorer and selecting “Start Without Add-ons.” If the problem is gone, quit Internet Explorer again, then follow the process below to remove/disable individual add-ons.
You can remove Add-ons by clicking “Tools” in the Command bar and selecting “Manage Add-ons”. Highlight the Add-on and select Remove. Alternatively, you can choose Disable to deactivate the Add-on but leave it installed.
Reset Internet Explorer Next, you can try resetting Internet Explorer as described in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article. This will not only disable all Add-Ons, but also clear our other potentially problematic data, including toolbars, ActiveX controls and more. Beware, however, because resetting Internet Explorer will also delete browsing history, appearance settings and other customization you may wish to retain.
Downgrade to Internet Explorer 7 As a last resort, you can try downgrading to Internet Explorer 7, as described in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
Filed under Internet Explorer 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Mar 23rd, 2009. 9 Comments.
Internet Explorer 8 is, by virtually all accounts, more standards compliant than its predecessor. However, if you’re browsing a site that displays improperly rendered tables, misaligned text or other formatting issues, you can easily switch back to Internet Explorer 7′s page rendering mechanism.
In the IE 8 toolbar, click on the small icon that looks like a page broken in half, next to the refresh button (pictured below). This invokes “Compatibility View,” which can fix some page rendering issues.
Source: Microsoft
If the rendering problems affect too many sites and you’d like to downgrade to Internet Explorer 7, follow the instructions in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
If you are a Web developer whose page does not render properly under Internet Explorer 8, you may want to consider using the Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Image, which will test your site for compatibility with IE 6, IE 7 and IE 8.
Filed under Internet Explorer 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Mar 23rd, 2009. Comment.