Windows 8
Windows 7
- Fix psshutdown.exe tool in Windows 7 (Still cannot fix it)
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
create or modify 32-bit DWORD: LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy
set the value to: 1
- Wikipedia: Compare Windows 7 Editions
- Pushing the Limits of Windows: Physical Memory
- Windows 7 USB DRIVE This device cannot start. (Code 10) (Also valid for USB controller could not startup problem)
1. Backup the registry
3. run regedit
4. Locate the “UpperFilters” value under the following key in the registry:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}
5. On the “Edit” menu, click “Delete”, and then click “OK”.
6. Locate the “LowerFilters” value under the same key in the registry:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}
7. On the “Edit” menu, click “Delete”, and then click “OK”.
8. Quit Registry Editor and restart the computer.
- Troubleshooting whitebox displayed on top-left hand corner after Windows 7 resume from hibernate mode
Maybe related to MSI Notebook Utility: MGSysCtrl.exe, remove/stop/disable this program immediately remove the white box
Windows Vista
Resources vs Windows XP
Windows Vista Ultimate RTM:
- Base RAM after install: 260M-300M (minimum can be 168M-230M?)
Boot up require 224M RAM else 0x7b error
- Disk: 5.3G
- Swap: 1G (with 512M RAM)
- Resolution: 800x600
- Install Time: 50m (inside VMware, Celeron 1.2G, 512M RAM)
- Others:
CJK languages are installed by default
64bit will not support 16bit application, 32bit drivers
64bit even will need Vista compatible 64bit applications
All versions will include both 32bit and 64bit DVDs, except Starter
[32bit Vista]
- Support max. RAM: 4G
- max. Virtual Memory: 4G
[64bit Vista Home Basic]
- Support max. RAM: 8G
[64bit Vista Home Premium]
- Support max. RAM: 16G
[64bit Vista Business, Enterprise, Ultimate]
- Support max. RAM: 128G
Windows XP Pro:
- Base RAM after install: 100M-128M
- Disk: 1.8G
- Swap: 256M (with 128M RAM)
- Resolution: 800x600 (640x480 many menu inaccessible)
- Install Time: 30m-45m
- Support max. CPU: 2
- Support max. RAM: 4G / (128G for x64)
- max. Virtual Memory: 4G / (16TB for x64)
Windows Server 2003:
[Web]
- Support max. CPU: 2
- Support max. RAM: 2G
[Standard, Standard R2]
- Support max. CPU: 4
- Support max. RAM: 4G
[Enterprise, Enterprise R2]
- Support max. CPU: 8
- Support max. RAM: 64G
[Datacenter, Datacenter R2]
- Support max. CPU: 32 / 64
- Support max. RAM: 128G
[Standard x64, Standard x64 R2]
- Support max. CPU: 4
- Support max. RAM: ? / 32G
[Enterprise x64, Enterprise x64 R2]
- Support max. CPU: 8
- Support max. RAM: 1TB
[Datacenter x64, Datacenter x64 R2]
- Support max. CPU: 64
- Support max. RAM: 1TB
Windows XP Pro:
- Base RAM after install: 100M-128M
- Disk: 1.8G
- Swap: 256M (with 128M RAM)
- Resolution: 800x600 (640x480 many menu inaccessible)
- Install Time: 30m-45m
- Support max. CPU: 2
- Support max. RAM: 4G / (128G for x64)
Ref: Paul Thurrott's SuperSite
- Useful shortcuts (applies to Windows XP)
- Useful commands (share with Windows XP)
- Major differences with Windows XP
- .\username to logon locally, domain\username or username@domain.com to logon domain account
- Fast User Switching works in domain mode
- Start -> Run is hidden! Customize the Start button or use Window-R
- By default these start shortcuts are disappered: Favorites, Printers, Run
- By default, the shutdown button does not do shutdown but turn the computer in Sleep mode. (not Standby in XP) It will create a hibernate file and keep the computer in standby mode. In case the power is loss, the computer can still start from the hibernate file.
When in sleep mode, after 15min (?) the computer will auto enter hibernate mode and shutdown.
- Most files can have tags (keyword) attach to it
- Can save the search results and re-use later. Saved search is regular file.
- For disc burning. By default Windows Vista use Live File System (UDF?), XP use mastered format (ISO?)
- Vista support read/write UDF upto 2.5 (default use multi-session UDF 2.01), read upto 2.6. XP only support read upto 2.0x (Wikipedia)
- Window+Tab will use the Flip 3D feature, if Aero color scheme is used
- Connect to a Network Projector utility can see other computer’s projected screen
- Windows Meeting Space for peer-to-peer ad-hoc file sharing, replace NetMeeting in XP.
- Meeting can be visible or hidden on the network
- Meeting can set a password
- Require Vista in a private network setup
- Document sharing only keep the latest version, there is no conflict management!
- May affected by firewall
- Default XPS printer driver for printing XPS document (PDF competing format)
- Windows Photo Gallery replace XP’s Picture and Fax Viewer
- Windows Defender is build-in
- Note that Windows Defender can have an Allowed Programs List
- Parental Controls in Home & Ultimate editions
- Windows Mail replaced Outlook Express (or just rename)
- SmartScreen technology JunkMail Filtering
- WARNING: Single identity only, no more multiple identities!
- Windows Contacts replace personal address book in Outlook Express
- Contacts keep at user profile’s Contacts folder as individual file
- Windows Calendar
- Sync Center to do file syncing for laptop
- Windows Mobility Center to adjust laptop related settings
- ReadyBoost function to use Flash drive to speed up machine boot up time
- USB 2.0
- at least 64M free
- 3.5M/s minimum random read for 4kB data
- 2.5M/s minimum random write for 512kB data
- SuperFetch (share with ReadyBoost?) to preload programs / data to speed up things
- Complete PC Backup possible to make a complete system image backup (Business/Enterprise/Ultimate only)
- Create clone of disk into VirtualPC vhd image
- Can only backup to disk/removable disk in NTFS partition
- Restore can be done at the Vista DVD (the Windows PE enviornment)
- New Policy for UAC at: Security Settings/Local Policies/Security Options
- Redirect function to redirect protected writes to user profile: AppData\Local\VirtualStore (replace C:)
- BitLocker Drive Encryption
- At least 2 partitions, 1.5G for bootup unencrypt and the rest for C:
- TPM 1.2 BIOS is needed, or
- USB key with BIOS support use of USB key at bootup, with
- Use Group Policy to enable use BitLocker in a non-TPM computer
- Troubleshooting / Problem Reporting: Control Panel -> [System and Maintenance] -> Problem Reports and Solutions
- sfc.exe now can specify the location of offline windows/boot directory
- Snipping Tool allow capture part of the screen and do annotation
- clip command which can pipe (|) stdout data to Windows Clipboard
- where command similar to Unix is available
- whoami command similar to Unix is available
- timeout command, similar to Unix sleep, is available
- User profiles keep in C:\Users, not C:\Documents and Settings (XP)
- Documents folder in profile replace “My Docuemnts" (XP)
- Aero user interface, which will be used when computer rating is at least 3.0
- In Windows Explorer, can use checkbox next to icon to select files instead of Ctl click multiple files
(Organize -> Folder and Search Options, turn on Use Checkbox to select files
- The build-in defragmenter now can have schedules!
- Automatic Backups replace ntbackup, however it does not allow you to choose folder to backup!
- Shadow copy (used in Windows Server 2003) can keep file version, Business/Enterprise/Ultimate only
- Created with System Restore point
- When dual boot Windows XP, all Shadow Copies and Restore point will get erased!
- Driver Signature Enforcement: Vista now seems only use signed drivers? (Need to clarify)
- The build-in Administrator account can by-pass the UAC, but is disabled by default
- References
- Windows Vista Home
Windows XP
Vista System Restore
- Works for NTFS partition only
- 15% space will be used for System Restore
- Shrink System Restore point will remove backup
- vssadmin CLI tool to manage shadow copy
- Resize Storage usage for C drive: vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=2GB
- Vista System Restore Management
- Schedule Vista System Restore
Change in Control Panel > Admin Tools > Task Scheduler
Vista UAC
Vista BitLocker Encryption
Vista Windows Aero
- Requires
- WDDM driver
- 64M display
- 32bit color
- Windows Aero Theme & Color Scheme
- Pass WGA check
Vista Bluetooth
Vista Windows Mail
- Replace Outlook Express in XP
- Only support IMAP and POP3, no longer support Hotmail’s HTTP
- Can export messages to Outlook/Exchange (need MAPI client e.g. Outlook installed)
Vista Windows Calendar
- Not support to sync with PDA Windows Mobile Device Center
WMDC only support Outlook and does not support Windows Mail, Windows Address Book or Windows Calendar
- Subscribed Windows Calendar cannot be re-published, only local Calendar data can publish to a share/website. Alternative is to export/import the Calendar and then publish it.
Deployment
Workstation Troubleshooting
Windows PE
Plugins
- Windows XPE
The Windows XPE plugin is Gianluigi Tiesi attempt to make BartPE closer to Windows XP (XP + PE = XPE)
- HWPnP
Plugin For Hardware Detection, use it with Windows XPE plugin
- Acronis True Image
- BTS Driver Pack
One package for all the drivers (NIC, SATA/RAID/SCSI)
Common Network Drivers
PE Troubleshooting
- Error starting DHCP Service
