Several users have reported an issue in which Windows 7 Internet (network) connections die or drop out randomly during routine use. This can cause Web browsers to suddenly stop loading pages; network drives to disappear; and other network-enabled applications to lose functionality. The problem may be especially prominent with the Atheros L1 Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T Controller used on Asus p5k motherboards. There are two potential fixes for this issue:
Fixes
Install a new driver This driver (FTP Link), intended for Windows Vista, has been reported to solve this issue under Windows 7 in a variety of cases.
Use a new network card Unfortunately, if the aforementioned fix does not work, you may need to use a different network card (NIC). The Dynex DX-PCIGB, available for roughly $30 from Best Buy, has been reported to work well under Windows 7.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Aug 19th, 2009. 3 Comments. 
A number of users have experienced an issue in which various USB devices do not work properly or at all after systems that have been upgraded to Windows Vista SP2 wake up from sleep or hibernation. In some cases, USB devices do not respond for 30 seconds or more after the system has awoken; in other cases, functionality is missing or the devices do not respond at all.
Potential fixes
While many users still experience these issues after applying this fix, Microsoft has released a downloadable hotfix that may resolve the problem in some cases.
You may also want to try deleting the INFCACHE file then restarting. Instructions for this process are as follows:
Filed under Windows Vista by on Jun 15th, 2009. 1 Comment.
If you are experiencing slow Windows 7 shutdowns, there is an easy way to identify the potential culprit (an antivirus program, driver, or other process).
Navigate to: Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Performance Information and Tools > Advanced Tools. In some cases, this screen will display the problem files.
Failing that, open the “View Performance Details” option in the Event Log (Event Viewer). As described by BurrWalnut of the WindowsBBS forums, events in the 100 series are boot events and items in the 200 series are shutdown events. You will see an indicator of performance-slowing problems here.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Jun 9th, 2009. 4 Comments.
Windows 7 may exhibit a variety of issues when waking from sleep. One of the more recently reported issues involves the disappearance of mounted internal or external hard disks when the system is put to sleep (hibernation)–usually hybrid sleep–then woken up.
This issue will likely be resolved by a future update to Windows 7 or new Windows 7-compatible disk driver updates. In the meantime, there are two potential workarounds:
Disable hybrid sleep First, you can simply disable hybrid sleep by going to Power > Advanced > Sleep and turning off “Allow hybrid sleep.”
Turn off SATA 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.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Jun 8th, 2009. Comment.
Update: A new fix for this issue has been discovered. Try removing third-party items from the system tray, then restarting. One user found that removing the OpenOffice 3.1 Quickstarter from the system tray resolved the issue.
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Some users are unable to put their systems to sleep after updating to Windows Vista SP2, despite proper power management settings. There are a number of potential fixes for this issue.
Check media settings Sharing of certain files, specifically media files, can sometimes prevent proper sleep.
First, in Windows Media Player, check for options to share (in Tools > Options > Library). Eliminate these, then re-try sleep.
In the Network and Sharing Center, click ‘media sharing’ and turn off any options listed there.
Also, in power options, navigate to advanced settings, then check the settings in ‘multimedia settings.’
Update your drivers Check manufacturers’ websites for the latest driver editions for any third-party devices that are connected to your system. Many manufacturers have updated their drivers for basic compatibility with Vista SP2.
Graphics card drivers are notorious for causing sleep issues, so run Windows Update or check the manufacturer’s Web site for any of these updates.
Disconnect external (USB, etc.) devices Aside from your keyboard, mouse, monitor and network connectivity, try disconnecting any external USB, FireWire or other peripherals then re-trying sleep. You can reconnect the devices one by one and check for compatibility issues.
Filed under Windows Vista by on Jun 5th, 2009. 1 Comment.
Windows 7 Build 7021 is the latest build of the new OS, due in final form on October 22nd, to leak to file sharing networks. Users report that the new release provides yet another significant speed boost, along with the following enhancements:
- Smaller installer
- Better automatic driver installation (if you had third-party device issues with previous releases, this one may solve some issues)
- Better graphic performance (perhaps due to new drivers). Several users report a boosted WEI (Windows Experience Index) for various graphics cards and better frame rates in various games.
- Internet TV Beta 2.0 has been added to Windows Media Center
Filed under News, Windows 7 by on Jun 4th, 2009. Comment.
A number of Windows Vista SP2 problems can be resolved by uninstalling the service pack, running the Microsoft System Readiness Tool to eliminate inconsistencies and corrupt files, then reinstalling the service pack. If you are experiencing inexplicable issues for which you cannot find a suitable solution after the update, try these steps:
- Uninstall Windows Vista SP2, per Microsoft’s instructions.
- Download and run the Microsoft System Readiness Tool.
- Reinstall the Windows Vista SP2 update via the standalone installer.
Filed under Windows Vista by on Jun 3rd, 2009. 7 Comments.
Several users have reported that the Remote Desktop Client (RDC, mstc.exe) will not launch after the update to Windows Vista SP2. In some cases, mstc.exe will appear in the task manager, but the application will not appear in the task bar or be otherwise accessible.
Potential fix
This issue can sometimes be resolved by running mstc.exe from the command line, as follows:
- Click Start then type cmd in the search box. Right-click on the cmd and click “Run as Administrator”
- Type mstsc -v:(IP address of host) -console e.g.: mstsc -v:192.168.1.2 -console
Filed under Windows Vista by on May 29th, 2009. 1 Comment.
The latest pre-release edition of Windows 7, build 7137, has been distributed to testers and subsequently leaked to various file-sharing services. Users of the new build report yet another speed speed boost relative to prior build,s particularly with regard to graphic performance.
Users also report the installation of new ATI graphics card drivers after the update.
If you are having problems installing Windows 7, see our previous coverage for a fix.
We’ve also published fixes for the following Windows 7 issues:
Filed under News, Windows 7 by on May 28th, 2009. Comment.
Some users who had problems installing Windows Vista SP2 are not sure if the update completed successfully due to error encountered during the installation process. These include error “800706BE” and others.
To check whether or not the update was successfully applied, follow these steps.
- Click the Start button
- Type Winver in the search field and press enter
- Inspect the build number
Build number 6000 is the original release of Vista. Build number 6001 indicates that SP1 is installed, and build number 6002 indicates that Vista SP2 has been installed.
Filed under Windows Vista by on May 27th, 2009. Comment.