Fix: Problem Installing HP OfficeJet 6500 on Windows 7

Problem: 
When trying to install the printer while connected to the network using wire to wireless connection, you get errors during installation process.
if you check your System Event Log  you notice some DCOM errors 10016 saying stuff like this (Hebrew):

‏‏הגדרות ההרשאה המהווה ברירת מחדל של המחשב אינן מעניקות הרשאת הפעלה מקומית עבור יישום COM Server עם CLSID‏ 

{10DA4F3C-CC99-4190-BE4D-58330754E882}

 ו- APPID‏ 

{7DDEFEA6-98EE-4F13-A25B-EC83D9BC5541}

 ל- SID של המשתמש NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE‏‏ (S-1-5-19) מהכתובת LocalHost (באמצעות LRPC). ניתן לשנות הרשאת אבטחה זו באמצעות כלי הניהול 'שירותי רכיבים'.

Another example (English):

The machine-default permission settings do not grant Local Activation permission for the COM Server application with CLSID
{10DA4F3C-CC99-4190-BE4D-58330754E882}
 and APPID
{7DDEFEA6-98EE-4F13-A25B-EC83D9BC5541}
 to the user NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE SID (S-1-5-19) from address LocalHost (Using LRPC). This security permission can be modified using the Component Services administrative tool.”

On the other hand, it you try to install using a USB connection, everything goes well.

Solution:

As HP recommends, make sure you have your Antivirus & Firewall disabled to avoid conflicts.

1. Uninstall the HP OfficeJet 6500 software, if already installed.  This will require a reboot, do so before proceeding
2. Launch the Component Services administrative tool
   You should be able to locate this tool from the Search bar of the Start menu
3. With the Component Services window open
   1. Expand the Component Services console listed on the left side
   2. Expand Computers under Component Services
   3. Right click My Computer and choose Properties
4. Select the COM Security tab
5. Under the section titled “Launch and Activition Permissions” click the Edit Default…button
6. Click the Add button
7. Enter “Local Service” in the field provided and click OK
8. With the Local Service account selected, place check marks next to Local Launch and Local Activition under the Allow column
   

   Launch and Activation Permissions
9. Click OK
10. Click OK again
11. A warning may appear alerting you that you are about to change DCOM settings, clickYes
12. Close the Component Services window
13. Install the HP OfficeJet 6500 software

HowTo: Disable warning "The Publisher Could Not Be Verified" When Running Network Programs

Disable the message from appearing warning you that “The Publisher Could Not Be Verified” when you run certain files from a network drive or network share:

Solution:
In Internet Explorer > Internet Options > Security > Local internet > Sites > Advanced
add file://systemname where systemname is equal the local server that runs the application and and file will now run off of that server.

Fix: Windows 7 Activation Error saying the Product Key you entered can be used only in certain countries or regions

Problem:
When you try to activate you geniune license you receive an error saying:

"the product key you entered can be used only in certain countries or regions. Either activate windows where you bought it or buy a new product"

Cause:
This behaviour is related to licenses sold in developing markets such as southeast asia, south America and more. Microsoft's activation server is geographically oriented and cannot verify your location correctly.

Solution:
Click on the Start menu, and type the following command:
SLUI 4
In the wizard- choose your country and click Next. Now complete the Phone Activation procedure as instructed.

Fix: Reset Permissions on File System & Registry in Win7/Vista

Use the following tool to reset the file-system and registry permissions back to default. it is very useful after some malware or virus attack that made a mess in your Windows.

Download Here. 

Read more over here.

more about it in Hebrew:

איפוס הרשאות לקבצים וערכי רג'יסטרי

מצרף אוסף כלים המיועדים לאפס את הרשאות המערכת על קבצים וערכי רג'יסטרי.

כידוע במערכות הפעלה חדישות ישנן הרשאות (או ACL = Access Control List) שקיימות על כל אובייקט במסד הנתונים של המערכת.

ניהול וגישה להרשאות הללו נעשה בעזרת לשונית אבטחה (Security) במאפיינים.

במערכת קבצים מסוג NTFS יש הרשאות לקבצים, תיקיות וכוננים שלמים. ברג'יסטרי יש הרשאות לערכים ומפתחות. בשרתים יש הרשאות על אובייקטים כמו חשבון משתמש, חשבון מחשב או קבוצת ניהול (OU).

במקרה של וירוסים ושלל זבלי-רשת הערכים הללו משובשים. זה גורם לשלל תופעות משונות כמו מניעת גישה לתיקיות/כוננים מסויימים. תהליכים שנכשלים בעלייה ומשאירים שגיאות רבות ביומנים האירועים וגם

המון תקלות הקשורות בהתקנות של תוכנות. לעיתים השגיאות בהתקנה לא קשורות לתקלה עצמה. למשל, שיבוש הרשאות על ערכים ברג'יסטרי שמונעים ממנגנון ההתקנה לכתוב לאזור מסויים. תוכנית ההתקנה תכשל

ותזרוק הודעות משונות ולא קשורות. הסרה מלאה והתקנה מחדש לא יסייעו ותרגישו שעשיתם הכל אבל עדיין תקועים... ייתכן מאד שיש בעיית הרשאות- בייחוד אם המחשב נגוע או היה נגוע במזיקים.

אוסף הכלים הללו מאפס את הגדרות ההרשאות לברירת המחדל כך שלמנהלים ולחשבון ה- SYSTEM (שבעזרתו המערכת מנהלת את עצמה) יהיה הרשאות מלאות.

להפעלה נוחה שיניתי את שמות הקבצים עם תחילית ממוספרת כדי לזכור את סדר ההפעלה:

1.      כלי שייצור נקודת שחזור ליתר ביטחון

2.      כלי עזר שיותקן ויסייע בתהליך איפוס ההרשאות.

3.      סקריפט שיאפס הרשאות בכל קבצי המערכת והרג'יסטרי.

4.      סקריפט שיאפס הגדרות אבטחה כלליות במערכת ההפעלה בחזרה להגדרות היצרן כמו לאחר התקנה מחדש.

הכלים הללו מתאימים לשימוש לחלונות ויסטה ו-7

להורדה מכאן

מומלץ בחום לשימוש. מי שמעוניין בחומר קריאה נוסף ניתן לגלוש לכאן.

בהצלחה!

ירון מאור

Guide: Recommended Steps for Fixing a PC

Following are the quickest ways to restore any PC running Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7:

Software-Related Methods

• Using F8 - Last Known Good Configuration
  
• From within Windows, System Restore
  
• From the OS Disc, System Restore (Windows Vista and Windows 7 Only)
  
• From the OS Disc, Repair Installation or StartUp Repair
  
• In Normal Mode or Safe Mode, Install Ccleaner. Run Ccleaner. Install Malwarebytes. Update Malwarebytes. Run Malwarebytes.
  
• Using Administrative Tools - Event Viewer, take note of any Events related to disk or memory-related issues. The Windows Kernel frequently records the exact event that is effecting the stability of the computer. You can then lookup the Event Codes using Microsoft Events and Error Message Center or EventID.net.

Hardware-Related Methods

With the Power Off and the Computer Unplugged:

• Check the temperature of the computer. It is possible that the CPU Fan and/or the Power Supply Fan may need to be replaced. If the computer does not include a Power Supply with a Fan, a new Power Supply with a Fan may need to be installed. You may also need to vacuum the computer case to clear any obstruction from the fans.
  
• Try moving the RAM to another RAM Slot. The RAM Slot may be bad.
  
• Try replacing the RAM with other RAM. The RAM may be bad. You can also confirm that the problem is bad RAM by usingMemTest86.
  
• Using Crucial.com, lookup the RAM Type to insure that it is in fact compatible with the motherboard.

With the Power On:

• Try resetting the BIOS to Factory Defaults. The RAM Timing Settings within the BIOS may have been set to an incorrect setting.

Windows 7 also includes a functionality called System Image which is a form of Ghosting. You can actually setup a backup that will image the PC on a scheduled basis. If there is a failure, you can then restore from the System Image that you made in your backup using the OS Repair Disc.

FIX: WinXP Setup Error "Setup cannot copy the file cmnicfg.xml"

The Problem:
During the first text-phase of setup, during the installation files copy, you recieve an error saying:
"Setup cannot copy the file cmnicfg.xml"
This error is related to wrong permissions set on the System32 folder.
What most likely happened:
- You had Vista/7 installed & you decided to re-install XP over it
- During setup you chose not to format the partition
Windows tried to delete the old Windows folder but left many files it couldn't delete due to changes in
NTFS permissions left by the former OS....

The solution:
You can choose one of the following options:
1. Format the partition.
2. On the destination partition, rename the Windows folder
3. During install, set the folder name for the installation to be different than the existing.

KB971033: How to Block Or Uninstall Windows 7 Activation Update

Microsoft has pushed their latest Windows 7 Activation Update checker which checks whether Windows 7 is activated legally through Microsoft or it has been cracked using several activation methods. Installing this update creates a process that checks for activation method of the Windows every now and then to see if the Windows is legal.

In some cases even legit licenses suffer from these genuine validation warnings.

Fortunately Microsoft has made it easy for the people who don’t want this update to uninstall it. If you haven’t downloaded and installed this update then you can disable it using the following method:

Block Windows 7 Activation Update KB971033 Installation

1. Go to Start Menu and write Windows Update in the Start Menu Search
2. Select Windows Update to go to Windows Update program
3. Select Optional Updates
4. Search for the update labeled “Update for Windows 7 (KB971033)”
5. Right click it and select Hide Update

This will disable this update from automatically installing into your system.

Uninstall Windows 7 Activation Update KB971033

If you have already installed this update. Follow these steps to uninstall this update the safer way.

1. Go to Control Panel –> Programs –> View installed Updates
2. Search for “Update for Windows 7 (KB971033)”
3. Right click it and select Uninstall.
4. It is now advised to block the updated as described above to prevent it from reinstalling itself.

Disable the Windows 7 Activation Update KB971033

If the update is already installed and you don't want to remove it completely, you can just prevent it from running using a "Software Restriction Policy". 

This procedure will work on Windows 7 Professional/Enterprise only, because Home versions don't include the Local Security Policy tool needed for the job.

Open Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Administrative Tools > Local Security policy
Right click on Software Restriction Policies and create new Policy
Go to Additional Rules and right-click for more options.
Create two New Hash Rules and on each rule browse and choose one of these files:

C:\Windows\System32\Wat\WatAdminSvc.exe
C:\Windows\System32\Wat\WatUX.exe

Apply, close & Restart Windows.
The update was installed but the operating system is now blocking it from ever running.

Windows 7 Upgrade Charts

The following charts shows the supported methods to upgrade your PC from your old version of Windows to the new Windows 7. the charts are available from Windows7center and from ZDNet.

Vista SP2 doesn't have the TCP/IP Half-Open Connection Limit!

After years of struggle with Tcp/Ip patches, Microsoft finally remove the half-open connection limit.
Since Windows XP SP2 Microsoft limited the maximum half-open connections to 10 only. this limitation have caused many file-sharing applications to slow-down their download rate, and Event-id 4226 has flooded the system event log.

In Vista SP2 this limitation is finally gone! you can read more about it in this KB969710 Article
If you still wish to keep the limitation running (for any reason I can't even think of..) then use this registry tweak:

1. Locate and then double-click the following registry key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\EnableConnectionRateLimiting
2. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
3. Exit Registry Editor.
4. Restart the computer.

Those of you who still works on older versions of Windows (Vista/SP1, XP-SP2/SP3) can use this Universal TCP/IP Patcher from Deepxw. Another fine patcher from Half-Open.com

UPDATE: The same as Vista SP2 update, so does Windows 7 not having the limit for the half-open connections.