Walker News » Vista SP1

How To Disable Or Enable User Switching In Windows Vista?

Walker — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:09:13 +0000

I can’t recall that I did disable or turn off Windows Vista Fast User Switching, but somehow the Switch User function is missing from my Dell Latitude.

Frankly speaking, the aging laptop scores only 1 in Windows Experience Index is not justified for two Windows user accounts log in concurrently. However, Switch User function could be useful during account lockout period which normally last for 30 minutes.

This happen to me in the morning meeting, where I failed to unlock the locked Windows Desktop after entering wrong password for 3 tries in a row :-(.

Without Fast User Switching enabled, I don’t think there is another simple way to reset the lockout Windows account. Thus, I had to wait for a 30-minutes lapse in order to log on and continue with the unsaved files and PowerPoint slides again.

Now, rather than find out why or “who” disabled the Switch User function, I find a way to re-enable (or disable it, for you case) the Fast User Switching in Windows Vista:

The following steps make changes to Windows Registry. If you’re not comfortable with Registry editing, stop here or be careful.

1) Open an elevated Command Prompt (i.e. a Command Prompt window with real Administrator privilege),

2) Copy and paste the following Reg.exe command in the elevated Command Prompt window, followed by pressing ENTER key to enable Switch User function in Windows Vista:

reg add HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v HideFastUserSwitching /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

To disable Fast User Switching in Windows Vista:

Similarly, open an elevated Command Prompt window and execute the following Reg.exe command:

reg add HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v HideFastUserSwitching /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Personally, I prefer to use Reg.exe to edit Windows Registry in Command Prompt window, provided the command is valid for the purpose.

Reg.exe is bundled with Windows Vista installation. For non-Vista users, you might need to separately download Reg.exe of Microsoft Platform Support Reporting Utility.

If you’ve doubt or prefer to manually update Windows Registry with Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe, just locate the HideFastUserSwitching key in this following Registry path:

HKey_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

The key value 0 means to enable while 1 to disable Switch User function.

How To Configure Windows Update Proxy Server Settings In Windows Vista SP1?

Walker — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:54:21 +0000

Windows Update requires two other clients to work, i.e. WinHTTP (Windows HTTP Service) and BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service) to scan and download the available updates from Microsoft servers.

Interestingly, none of these services is using Internet Explorer proxy setting. Indeed, Windows Update clients refers to WinHTTP proxy server setting that is either configured manually by user or automatically updated by Web Proxy Auto Detect (WPAD) feature of the connecting network.

Therefore, laptop users who access Internet via proxy server in corporate network with WPAD feature enabled are likely have problem to run Windows Update after switching to direct network (e.g. home broadband, public WIFI, etc) or other network that enforce proxy server for Internet access but disable Web Proxy Auto Detect setting.

WPAD setting is normally configured by network administrator in either DNS (Domain Name System) or DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) option.

In case WinHTTP proxy server setting is not updated, you have to do it manually.

The following guide to disable / enable WinHTTP proxy server is based on Windows Vista SP1. Anyway, it should be working on other Windows versions that support netsh command set.

To disable WinHTTP proxy server

Execute netsh winhttp show proxy to check if you have a proxy server configured for WinHTTP. To disable the WinHTTP proxy setting:

1) Open an elevated Command Prompt window (i.e. Command Prompt window with real Administrator privilege).

2) Execute netsh winhttp reset proxy to reset WinHTTP proxy setting to DIRECT (i.e. to connect to Internet directly without using any kind of proxy server).

Configure WinHTTP proxy setting

If the connecting network does not enable Web Proxy Auto Detect setting but requires proxy server (e.g. IP 188.8.6.7 and port number 80) to access Internet:

1) Open a Command Prompt window with real Administrator privilege.

2) Execute netsh set proxy 188.8.6.7:80.

To view netsh help and example on WinHTTP proxy configuration, execute this

netsh winhttp set proxy help

According to the netsh winhttp help, it’s possible to define different proxy server for http and/or https connection.

How To Fix Windows Update Error 80072EFD In Vista SP1?

Walker — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:12:38 +0000

At most of the time in office, my Dell Latitude connects to Internet via proxy server and the Vista Windows Update downloads the patches directly from Microsoft servers as usual.

However, the Windows Update was not working while I was abroad and had direct access to Internet via unsecured public WIFI.

At first, there was no error or warning displayed in the program window. After a few tries, it finally displayed a red stripe, telling me “Windows could not search for new updates”, together with an error code 80072EFD.

What the heck is this? I had disabled the proxy setting in IE8 and no problem to surf Internet (even the p o r n sites :-). Windows Live Messenger worked perfectly too.

Therefore, it was expected to work in no time, as I thought the Windows Update should be referring to proxy server setting of Internet Explorer.

Apparently, it’s not that case. Upon checking with Google, I learn that the Windows Update proxy server setting is independent of IE Internet Options.

Then, how to fix the error code 80072EFD, to get the Vista SP1 Windows Update works correctly, when I am connecting to Internet directly?

The answer is of course to disable proxy server of Windows Update:

1) Open an elevated Command Prompt window – click the Vista Orb (Start button), type command prompt, right click the Command Prompt shortcut in the Program list and select Run As Administrator.

2) To display the current proxy setting of Windows Update, execute this command:

netsh winhttp show proxy

3) If the proxy server is shown in the “show proxy” result, then execute this command to disable the Windows Update proxy setting:

netsh winhttp reset proxy

The “reset proxy” will effectively configure WinHTTP proxy server setting to DIRECT (meaning to direct access Internet and no relying on a proxy server).

After disable the WinHTTP proxy setting (in which my Vista SP1 Windows Update is referring to), it started to download the latest Windows Defender definition update and security update for Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 (KB957789). Happy now :-)

How To Disable Keyboard Power Button?

Walker — Sun, 03 May 2009 15:10:59 +0000

I was using the good old “mechanical” keyboard made in 90s. Although there is no Windows key to trigger Windows Flip 3D in Vista, I never thought to make a change as I like the feel of pressing those “hard” keys for so many years.

Now I have to replace this old buddy as my wrist getting pain just recently :-). I went to shop a replacement and finally took this A4Tech X-Slim Multimedia keyboard.

It’s not better than Wearnes keyboard made for MS-DOS, but I like its compact layout, where the size is almost matching my Dell Latitude D410.

Other than lacking of ergonomics features, I kinda dislike the power button that seated right above F1 key. Because of this terrible power button, I had accidentally shutdown Vista while there were tonnes of job running on the Desktop.

In order to avoid third “accident”, it must be disabled immediately before I have time to uncase and break the circuit!

Steps to disable the keyboard power button in Windows Vista

Click the Vista Orb (Start button), type power options in Start Search text box and hit ENTER key to open Power Options window.

Click the Change Plan Settings of the active power plan follow by Change Advanced Power Settings.

Locate the Power Buttons and Lid option and set the Power Button Action to Do Nothing.

Please take note that this option not only disables the keyboard power button. Indeed, it will disable all power buttons, including the one comes with CPU casing.

That is fine for me, as I never press the power button to shutdown Windows. However, I appreciate if you could share with me a better way to disable the power button on a keyboard only, preferable by tweaking existing Windows settings without relying on third party software (definitely not to break the key physically).

How To Remove Unwanted Microsoft Updates From Windows Update Program?

Walker — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 11:35:19 +0000

Windows Vista Ultimate users entitle to download additional software that known as Windows Ultimate Extras.

Although there are few tens of these “special” program (if by including 34 language packs where most users only need one out of all to enable Vista MUI feature), actually only few are really useful.

To me, I only interested in BitLocker and one Chinese language pack so as to “experience” the Windows Vista security and multilingual user interface functions.

No doubt, I like to play Microsoft Tinker sometime, especially when having lunch in office :-(

As these optional software do not affect Vista security or performance, the Windows Update program reports the system is up to date upon inspection.

However, all these uninstalled, optional software are still appearing in View Available Updates.

I find it a bit messy and want to remove them from the list, by guessing that I will not likely to use any one of them. So, if you share a same mind of me, do you know how to do it?

Well, it is simple – the Windows Update program inbuilt a “hidden” function to hide (not remove) Microsoft updates that you don’t want to install:

As shown in the screenshot, just select the unwanted Microsoft update and click Hide Update option from the pop-up menu.

Certainly, this function required administrator privilege to complete. Due to Vista UAC feature, even “administrator” is required to acknowledge the Consent UI window, unless you’re using the real, built-in Administrator account or has the UAC feature disabled.

As they are not removed, just hidden, therefore it is possible to restore them later by clicking Restore Hidden Updates on the left pane of Windows Update main program window.

In the Restore Hidden Updates window, review the list, select wanted update, click Restore button, and proceed to View Available Update window again for installation.

How To Completely Remove Or Uninstall Nokia PC Suite?

Walker — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:04:35 +0000

Except the novice, everyone knows that it is easy to uninstall or remove Windows program. Normally, this can be done via Control Panel Add/Remove Programs applet (in Windows Vista, it is known as Programs and Features).

Alternatively, just click the uninstall program shortcut created by the software, which is normally found in Start menu.

It’s that simple so even the geek take the uninstall function for granted. No doubt the default uninstaller seems to work right, it is not always the case.

For example, it took me quite some precious time to uninstall AVG Free Anti-virus version 8.0.

Now, I just stumble upon a “new” program called Nokia PC Suite Cleaner, which is a special tool to perform clean removal or un-installation of Nokia PC Suite.

Do I really need to separately download Nokia PC Suite Cleaner or just count on the “Uninstall Nokia PC Suite” shortcut in Start menu?

Well, as far as the Nokia PC Suite Cleaner download page that I’ve read, it seems to be necessary if I would like to completely uninstall or remove Nokia PC Suite for the sake of better performance.

Nokia PC Suite Cleaner helps you remove any unnecessary Nokia PC Suite-related files, registry data, as well as personal content left on your PC after uninstalling Nokia PC Suite. – quoted the download page as saying.

Take note on underlined words: the un-installation is not clean or complete after running the default uninstall program. But, this cleaner ensures the leftovers are cleaned too.

According to download page, Nokia PC Suite Cleaner is made to work with Nokia PC Suite version 6.83 or later.

Therefore, I strongly believe that this cleaner program is a must if I want to uninstall Nokia PC Suite version 7.1.18.0, at least until the cleaner program functions are built into the uninstaller of new release.

Download Nokia PC Suite Cleaner – supports Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista. In Windows 2000, the support is restricted to PC Suite versions 6.83 – 6.86

How To Fix Windows Vista System Tray Icons Disabled Or Greyed Out Problem?

Walker — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:23:03 +0000

After rebooting Windows Vista SP1, I found that Volume and Network icons disappeared from System Tray (a.k.a. Notification Area). At first, I thought that was caused by some unknown delay.

However, none of these system icons appeared in that Notification Area even after an hour or so! Looked like the options to show these icons had been disabled or turned off.
So, I proceed to Control Panel and opened Taskbar and Start Menu applet. But, the options to show Volume and Network icon in Notification Area tab were greyed out (disabled):

^{Windows Vista system icons, i.e. Volume, Network, etc, are greyed out or disabled.}

Although missing these icons do not affect system performance or reliability, except that I could not take a glance at notification area to tell there is a network failure.

Most importantly, I cannot adjust speaker volume with the mouse just next to keyboard. Instead, I have to move my hand further to turn the volume knob of Creative speaker :-(

So, How to fix this Windows Vista system icons greyed out or disabled problem?

Many forums said that this could be easily fixed by restarting explorer.exe process. I try that and confirm it works at no cost:

These steps are tested and verified OK on Windows Vista Ultimate SP1. The guide is only working in the case that these system icons are enabled but go missing after system reboot or account logout.

1) Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keyboard shortcut to open Windows Task Manager. Alternatively, press CTRL+ALT+DEL and select Start Task Manager, or right click the Taskbar and select Task Manager.

2) In Windows Task Manager window, go to Processes tab, click “Image Name” (the column title) to sort running processes appear in the list, locate the explorer.exe and click End Process button at the bottom-right corner of window:

Once the explorer.exe process killed, the Windows Taskbar, Vista Orb (Start button), as well as Desktop icons and wallpaper are disappear.

3) Now, it is time to restart or start a new explorer.exe process again. In Windows Task Manager window, click the File menu and select New Task (Run…). Alternatively, click the Applications tab follow by New Task button on the lower-right corner of window.

In the Create New Task dialog box, type explorer.exe in Open text box and click OK button.

As soon as the new explorer.exe process activated and running, the missing Taskbar, Desktop, Vista Orb, as well as the Volume and Network icons are all back to normal.