Several users have experienced an issue in which Windows 7 hangs at shutdown, either with or without an error message.
Fixes
Uninstall drivers Try uninstalling any recently installed third-party drivers then restarting. To do this, click the Start button then navigate to Control Panel > System and Security > Device Manager. Right-click any recently installed third-party items and select “Uninstall” then restart.
End processes Processes spawned by some third-party drivers can also hang the shutdown process. Try opening the task manager (control-alt-delete) and ending any processes related to third-party devices or other hardware connected to your computer, then re-attempt the shutdown.
M-Audio audiophile Delta 249 conflict Joepsz, a poster to Microsoft’s TechNet forums, has discovered a fix that involves stopping the “Audiosrv” and “AudioEndpointBuilder” processes associated with the M-Audio audiophile Delta 249, which exhibits a conflict with Windows 7. The fix is as follows:
- Create a .bat file (create txt file and change extention to .bat)
- Right Click on file > “edit” and enter following info:
- net stop “Audiosrv”
- net stop “AudioEndpointBuilder”
- Save file as “Audio stop”(or whatever you want) to your main drive ie: C:\Audio stop
- Open “run” from start menu and enter “gpedit.msc” (without quotes) and hit “OK”
- Now navigate from right pain of window “User Configuration” > “Windows Settings” > “scripts (Logon/Logoff)” > “Logoff”
- From window that opens from clicking “Logoff” Click “Add” then browse to where you saved “Audio Stop.bat” earlier and double click on it.
- Hit “Apply” and close.
Filed under Windows 7 by on May 14th, 2009. 15 Comments. 
The Windows 7 RC1 roll-out, while smooth overall, hit a rough patch with some users. Problems run the gamut, from minor networking issues and gaming hiccups, to more serious boot failures and BSODs. Here’s a look at the top 7 annoyances plaguing early Windows 7 adopters, and the associated fixes.
1. Installation Fails
You won’t get much further on this list, or with Windows 7 in general, if the RC1 installation fails. Several users have experienced a problem in which the installer gives the error message “Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition. See the Setup log files for more information.” Generally this error occurs in situations in which multiple disks are connected to the system. In order to eliminate this issue, disconnect any disks that are formatted as “dynamic disks.”
Meanwhile, some users have encountered an issue in which Windows 7 installation fails at the very end of the process, with the system rebooting automatically as soon as the Windows 7 splash screen appears. The system then displays a message indicating that it was not shut down properly.
This issue is, in most cases, due to a graphics card driver issue. One potential remedy is as follows:
- Turn your system off
- Disconnect your monitor from the DVI port and instead connect it to the VGA port on your system (this will require a different cable)
- Turn your system back on and reinstall Windows 7–the process should complete properly
- Disable Windows Update automatic update (in control panel>System>Automatic updates)
- Go to your motherboard or graphics card manufacturer’s website and download the latest Windows Vista driver(s); install the driver(s).
- Turn your system off and connect your monitor via the DVI port again
2. BSODs
Yup, they still exist in Windows 7. The most common cause of blue screens of death (BSOD) at startup, under Windows 7 RC1, is an antivirus software conflict. In some cases, this problem may be caused by a conflict with the Kaspersky Antivirus package. Follow these steps to disable the software.
Some users are also experiencing crashes or blue screens of death (BSODs) under Windows 7 RC1 when attempting to wake systems from sleep (hibernation). The first response to this issue is generally to disable sleep mode, but there is another fix.
Enter your system’s BIOS mode. This is accomplished by pressing a specific key repeatedly as soon as your computer is turned on (or right after it is restarted). For many computers, the key is F8, but it may be F1, F2, F10, the Delete (del) key or the Escape (ESC) key. Consult your computer or motherboard’s manual or try different keys until you find the right one. Next check your HDD or storage settings. Turn off SATA and reboot normally.
Read more on The 7 Biggest Windows 7 RC1 Problems (and Fixes)…
Filed under Windows 7 by on May 7th, 2009. 8 Comments.
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing Windows 7 upgraders involves hardware incompatibility. Many devices will be rendered temporarily unusable by the new OS or exhibit compatibility problems that will make them not worth using.
Fortunately, there are a few tips you can use to increase your chances of getting that mouse, graphics card, monitor, hard drive or printer to play nicely with Windows 7. And here… we… go:
Temporarily turn off antivirus software The presence of antivirus software scanning can block proper installation of drivers that are necessary for device function. Try turning off any antivirus or anti-malware/spyware software temporarily while you install or update device drivers, then turn it back on. Remember to use one and only one solid antivirus package. The presence of multiple, overlapping packages can create system conflicts and actually leave your system more vulnerable.
Run Windows Update Click the Start button then type Windows Update and press enter. Run the automatic update mechanism and check updated drivers for any connected devices.
Check manufacturers’ websites Check the websites of manufacturers of devices connected to your system. Final or pre-release Windows 7 drivers may be available.
Try Vista drivers Many Windows Vista-compatible drivers offered on device manufacturer websites work well with Windows 7. Check for any Vista drivers and install them on your Windows 7 system. This procedure is especially useful for users who were running Windows XP or another version of Windows other than Vista before installing Windows 7.
Install drivers in compatibility mode Try installing your device drivers in compatibility mode. To do this, right-click the driver installation .exe file (e.g. setup.exe) and click on Properties, then click on the Compatibility tab. Next, enable Compatibility Mode and select “Windows Vista RTM” from the drop-down then click OK. Double-click the .exe file and proceed with installation.
Install drivers in admin mode Try installing your device drivers in admin mode. To do this, right-click the driver installation .exe file (e.g. setup.exe) then select “Run as Admin.” Proceed with installation.
Check the Microsoft hardware support page If you are using a Microsoft-made hardware device, check the company’s Windows 7 hardware support page for drivers, workarounds and other helpful information for getting the devices up and running.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Apr 20th, 2009. 2 Comments.
Several users have encountered an issue in which Windows 7 installation fails at the very end of the process, with the system rebooting automatically as soon as the Windows 7 splash screen appears. The system then displays a message indicating that it was not shut down properly.
Fix
This issue is, in most cases, due to a graphics card driver issue. One potential remedy is as follows:
- Turn your system off
- Disconnect your monitor from the DVI port and instead connect it to the VGA port on your system (this will require a different cable)
- Turn your system back on and reinstall Windows 7–the process should complete properly
- Disable Windows Update automatic update (in control panel>System>Automatic updates)
- Go to your motherboard or graphics card manufacturer’s website and download the latest Windows Vista driver(s); install the driver(s).
- Turn your system off and connect your monitor via the DVI port again
Filed under Windows 7 by on Apr 20th, 2009. 1 Comment.
Several users have reported an issue in which Windows Mobile Devices (HTC, HP, etc.) are not recognized by computers running Windows 7. In many cases, a driver installation error will occur.
Fix
This issue can generally be solved via the following process:
- Disconnect the device if it is connected
- Uninstall the Windows Mobile device driver (if it exists) by opening the Control Panel then selecting the Device Manager. Find the proper driver, then right-click it and select “Uninstall.”
- On the Windows Mobile device itself, go to Start>Settings>Connections>USB to PC and deselect “Enable advanced network functionality.”
- Reconnect the Windows Mobile device and allow Windows 7 to automatically setup the device
You may also need to download and install the Windows Mobile Device Center after performing the above process.
Filed under Windows 7, Windows Mobile by on Apr 20th, 2009. 3 Comments.
Several users have reported poor disk performance after updating to Windows 7. Specifically, the Windows Experience Index (WEI) disk score is much lower under Windows 7 than it was under Windows XP or Vista on the same system. There are a few procedures that can dramatically boost disk read and write speeds under the beta OS.
Fixes
Install Intel Storage (or other) drivers Download and install the Intel Storage Manager Drivers (you can use the files marked for Windows Vista).
The generic drivers included with the Windows 7 Beta may deliver dismal performance for your drive’s chipset. If the Intel drivers don’t work, seek updated drivers from your manufacturer’s website.
Change BIOS settings First, boot into BIOS. This is accomplished by pressing a specific key repeatedly as soon as your computer is turned on (or right after it is restarted). For many computers, the key is F8, but it may be F1, F2, F10, the Delete (del) key or the Escape (ESC) key. Consult your computer or motherboard’s manual or try different keys until you find the right one.
Next check your HDD or storage settings–it may be set to “legacy device.” Change it to “performance” or another setting and restart.
Disable write caching Open the control panel then navigate to Hardware & Sound > Device Manager. Find your main drive then right-click it and select properties. Under the policies tab, uncheck “enable write caching on this device”
Feedback? info@windowsfixup.com.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Apr 3rd, 2009. Comment.
A number of users have reported inordinately slow file copying between folders, across networks, or across local drives. There are a few very simple, very effective fixes for this issue, as follows:
Update your system board drivers The drivers included with some boards may be prone to slow and or corrupt data transfers. Updating your motherboard’s and or various chipsets’ drivers/firmware can sometimes result in a massive speed boost.
If you don’t know what type of motherboard your computer has, try running either EVEREST or Belarc. Then navigate to the manufacturer’s website and look for any driver updates.
Some chipsets from VIA have been known to cause slow data transfer; you can find updated drivers for them here.
If you are using an Intel-based chipset, download and run the Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility.
Turn off thumbnail previews In some cases, turning off thumbnail previews can speed copy times considerably. To do this, open a window in Windows Explorer and click the Organize button, then choose “Folder and Search Options.” Click the View tab, then select “Always show icons, never thumbnails,” then click OK.
Turn off Remote Differential Compression Click the Start button then open the Control Panel and select “Programs and Features.” Next, select “Turn windows features on or off” on the left side, and uncheck “Remote Differential Compression,” then click OK.
This feature is designed to allow data to be synchronized with a remote source using compression, but may cause inadvertent slowdowns in some cases.
Filed under Windows Vista by on Mar 30th, 2009. 2 Comments.
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.