Fix: Error: Windows - Low On Registry Space : The system has reached the maximum size allowed for the system part of the registry. Additional storage requests will be ignored.

Symptoms:

On a Windows  XP or Windows  2003  Server you get a warning window giving you the following error message :

Window Title :      Windows – Low on Registry Space

The system has reached the maximum size allowed for the system part of the registry .  Additional storage requests will be ignored.

Problem: 

The main cause is that Windows page-file is corrupted. 

This problem seems to occur in the following circumstances :
– After the installation of Service Pack 2 on Windows 2003 servers.
– After a change of hardware
– And by far the most common occurrence that we have seen is when a change of antivirus software, or a major update to antivirus software, is performed. For example, upgrade from ESET NOD32 v4.2 to v5.0.

For anyone else experiencing this specific “Low on Registry Space” error who does not fall in either of the above two categories, the corruption may have occurred during a power surge or power cut (if your PC is not protected by a UPS), or during a freeze of your PC/server, or, lastly , your hard disk may be going bad and starting to corrupt files and the paging file (if you think it may be the latter, monitor the situation carefully – check, in particular, for NTFS errors in the System log of the Event Viewer).

Solution:

1. Go to the Control Panel.
2. Open the System icon.
3. Choose the Advanced tab.
4. Click  Settings in the  Performance  sub-section.
5. Choose the Advanced tab.
6. Click  CHANGE in the Virtual Memory section.
7. Choose the Advanced tab.
8. Click  CHANGE  in the  Virtual Memory section. You will now see that the paging file has a zero size (shown at the bottom under "Currently allocated")
9. Change the paging file setting to System managed size.
10. Click  SET.
11. Click  OK.
12. At this point you may be asked if you want to overwrite the old paging file  - Answer YES !
13. Click OK all the way out back to the Control Panel.
14. You may or may not be asked to reboot your computer.  Reboot anyway.

That’s it.

Fix: Volume Shadow Copy Errors When Running Backup Software

Symptoms:
Backup software uses a Microsoft service called Volume Shadow copy Service to enable disk images to be created and files to be backed up when in use.
When VSS fails it can sometimes mean that you are unable to create a disk image or backup open files.
The Bakup software will usually gives errors accessing the file or the VSS service.
The Application or System Event logs will list some error events related to VSS:
Events 12301:
Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Writer MSDEWriter did not respond to a GatherWriterStatus call.Event 12302:
Volume Shadow Copy Service error: An internal inconsistency was detected in trying to contact shadow copy service writers. Please check to see that the Event Service and Volume Shadow Copy Service are operating properly.


Solution:
1. Make sure you run all Windows updates for your system (especially for Server 2003 there are some updates packages for VSS)
2. Download and run the following fix-tools according to your system type 32/64 bit:
 
VSSfix for 32bit
VSSfix for 64bit
 
* the tools are provided by Macrium Reflect backup software company, as a fix for their customers. but it can be used by everyone because it fixes a failed system component of Windows.
 
Read more at source

Fix: IE 8 Toolbars Black Background

Problem:
Your IE8 toolbars suddenly appear like this:

Solution:
Change your display theme to back to XP instead of Classic.
Do it using> Control Panel > Display > Appearance > Choose Windows XP Style.

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: Network, Internet, Winsock, TCP/IP Connectivity issues in Windows XP & Vista

Network connectivity issues can be complex to troubleshoot.
I will try to list my troubleshoot guide for basic connectivity issues:

1. Physical Connectivity:


Although it is obvious, on most times people only check it last...
go through all your networking gear: from the jack on the wall to the Network RJ45 on your PC.
- Release & reconnect all the cables from the all to the network equipment and your computer.
- if connected to ADSL, make sure you have a Phone-Filter on all your phone-jacks using the same line.
- if you use a modem, check it is Sync'ed (ADSL/Cable Link LED is On & Steady)
- try restarting your Router, Hub/Switch. sometimes there's more then one device forming the network. for
   example, a router & a modem on one floor and another switch & Wireless AP on a second floor.
- check to see if you have LED lights on the Network-Card on your PC and on the Network device.
- make sure the network cables are firmly attached and have their safety-latch intact.

2. Resetting your TCP/IP, WinSock & Network Card Settings
Windows uses protocols, drivers & software to operate the network magic. we need to make sure everything  is setup correctly and not broken.
- Reset the TCP/IP Protocol:  
     In Windows XP SP2 and above (Including Vista) we can use this command: netsh int ip reset log.txt
- Reset the WinSock:
     In Windows XP SP2 and above (Including Vista) we can use this command: netsh winsock reset
- Tools: On older versions of Windows we can use some tools to help us to the fix: WinsockFix , NetRepair

- Reset the Network Card:
  a. Make sure your TCP/IP settings are correct: 
      Control Panel>Network Connection>Local Area Connection>R-click and Properties>Internet
      Protocol TCP/IP Properties > make sure the IP address and DNS settings are set to Automatically or
      Manually according to your network setup. if you're not sure you can always write down the current
      setup, try the opposite and later undo the changes it's not working.

      While you're there, make sure you have all the networking component setup. for most Microsoft-Based
       Networks you should see (at least) 3 components:
       Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer Sharing Service, Internet Protocol TCP/IP

  b. Try repairing the connection by: Control Panel>Network Connection>Local Area Connection>r-click
      and choose Repair. the Repair process is equal to Releasing & Renewing the IP and clearing the DNS &
      ARP cache. you can also to it manually from the CMD is your wish to make it manually:
        CMD> ipconfig /release
        CMD> ipconfig /renew
        CMD> ipconfig /flushdns

  c. Try Uninstalling/Reinstalling the network device from Device Manager
       (r-click My Computer>Manage) the plug & play process makes it quick and easy and the result is a
       network card that resets to defaults settings.


If nothing works...
Try having another PC/Laptop connect to the same cable and see if it works
Try temporarily-disabling and Firewall, Antivirus, VPN/Proxy Software running.
Check your connectivity with different software (maybe the IE is broken but Skype works fine...)

Of course there are many more things to check but these are the most important basics you need to know.
I haven't even written about nothing regarding Ping, Tracert, localhost, host file and many other useful information, but these will probably come in a later post :)

Fix: "No Audio Device" Although Audio Driver is Installed Correctly in Windows XP

Symptoms:

1. Device Manager shows the Audio Device in installed correctly without any errors.

2. Still, in the Audio/Sound Settings in Control Panel you see an error saying "No Audio Device".

3. Even if you try to install an alternate Sound Card, it doesn't help.

4. In the Device Manager, in the Audio Device Properties > Settings > you see an error message saying:

"Status: Driver is enabled but has not been started"

Cause:

the system is missing one crutial component called: Plug and Play Software Enumerator

Solution:

Re-Install this component by following this procedure:

1. copy machine.inf from %windir%\inf to a temp dir
2. remove line 20: ExcludeFromSelect=*
3. add new hardware  > have disk (select the temp dir with the modified machine.inf) and
    install the "plug and play software enumerator"
4. swenum.sys is found in system32\drivers
5. streamci.dll is found in system32
    or they can be found on your windows disk

It's been a long trip getting this done, I hope I could help someone out-there with this information.

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.

Tool: Two Alternative User Account Manager for XP & Vista Home

Microsoft disabled the "Users And Groups" MMC snap-in in XP Home & Vista Home. The only interface left is the crippled "User Accounts" in Control Panel, that gives you much less functionality.

I offer you two cool alternatives...

1. Hidden User Account Manager UserPasswords2
Use this command in Start>Run: %windir%\system32\control.exe userpasswords2
it will show a hidden User Account Manager that will allow you to do more stuff such as  renaming your  
real user name (not the display-name) and change group membership.
To add this tool permanently to the Control Panel, use this tweak.

2. NT4 User Manager works in XP!

On Windows XP you can still use the old User Manager tool from NT4. Download and use this tool to have a complete control over User Accounts, Groups, Password Resets and more.

How to add Hibernate as a 4th option in XP’s Shut-Down Menu

You might have seen it before on someone else’s laptop, and wondered how you can get down with the hibernation game. Why doesn’t it show up by default on your shutdown screen?? Don’t have hibernation envy!

I’m referring to seeing 4 options to choose from on your Shut Down menu of Windows XP. After this hack the Hibernate option will stay there without the need to press the Shift key any more.

Well- let’s get to it:

The first thing to do is get a hold of Microsoft’s hotfix KB893056. You can use this link to request it immediately.

After we installed the hotfix, we need to make some small registry changes. Get it here

For those of you working in a Workgroup environment and using the friendly “Welcome Screen” you need to run the Reg-file called: “1 AddToShutdown”. If you use the classic logon screen you can also run the 2nd Reg-file to set Hibernate as the default action in the menu.

When you’re finished just restart the machine and check it out!

Needless to says that you must have the Hibernate feature on in your Control Panel’s Power Options. or else nothing would appear obviously.

Enjoy :-)