Windows 7 starting with a temporary profile

Follow these steps to fix a corrupt Windows 7 profile.

1.Restart PC and Login as a Local Admin or another Domain User.

2. Rename: c:\users\%username%

3. Export (just as a backup in case you need it) and then delete registry key:

“HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList”

(Look through each Profile key under this reg key and view the “ProfileImagePath” to find which key is related to which user)

4. Logout and login as the original user and it will create a new profile for them. 

If you do not delete the registry key it will continually give a “temporary” profile to that user infinitely or until you rename their c:\users\%username% folder back.

Cheers.

"An unknown error occurred" may occur when backing up to tape on a server with the HP Server Management Agents Software installed.

Problem

"An unknown error occurred" may occur when backing up to tape on a server with the HP Server Management Agents Software and/or HP StorageWorks Managements Software installed.

Error

0xe00084f4 - An unknown error has occurred
 

Completed status: Failed
Final error: 0xe00084f4 - An unknown error has occurred.
Final error category: System Errors

For additional information regarding this error refer to link V-79-57344-34036

UMI code :V-79-57344-34029

Cause

The SCSISTAT_QUEUE_FULL error is often caused by a conflict with the HP Insight Server Management Agent software or the HP StorageWorks VDS Hardware Providers for MSA Disk Arrays software.  This condition can be confirmed by running TRACER.EXE and performing a SCSI trace on the failing hardware.  See related documents for more information on how to use TRACER.EXE.

The following SCSISTAT_QUEUE_FULL error will be seen on a WRITE6 command (Figure 1):
 

Figure 1
 

 

The STATUS_DEVICE_NOT_CONNECTED error may also be caused as the Driver Result (Figure 2):

Figure 2

When getting the STATUS_DEVICE_NOT_CONNECTED error, the Device error 1167 is reported in the adamm.log.

Note: The SCSI trace in the adamm.log does not report the Driver Result.

[7832] 11/12/12 00:18:44.225 DeviceIo: 04:07:00:00 - Device error 1167 on "\\.\Tape0", SCSI cmd 4d, 1 total errors
[3312] 11/12/12 00:19:50.400 PvlDrive::DisableAccess() - ReserveDevice failed, offline device
       Drive = 1023 "TapeDRV1"
       ERROR = 0x0000001F (ERROR_GEN_FAILURE)

[3312] 11/12/12 00:19:50.400 PvlDrive::UpdateOnlineState()
       Drive = 1023 "TapeDRV1"
       ERROR = The device is offline!
 ...

SCSI: ==========================================================================
SCSI: CDB 04:07:00:00 Start 00:18:44.225 End 00:18:44.225 Duration 0.000000
SCSI: Function                                SRB_FUNCTION_EXECUTE_SCSI
SCSI: 
SCSI: Raw CDB
SCSI: 4D 00 71 00 00 00 00 00 24 00                   M.q.....$.
SCSI: 
SCSI: CDB Operation                           LOG_SENSE
SCSI:  LUN                                    0
SCSI:  PPC                                    False
SCSI:  SP                                     False
SCSI:  Parameter pointer                      0
SCSI:  Alloc length                           36
SCSI:  Control                                0x00
SCSI: Data
SCSI: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
SCSI: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
SCSI: 
SCSI: 
SCSI: Capture dropped 2838409 events
SCSI: Capture dropped 6059 events
SCSI: Capture dropped 3314492 events
[3312] 11/12/12 00:19:50.697 End dump of device SCSI history
 

Solution

1.  Install the latest version of HP Insight Agents and test another backup.

 

2.  If the server is Windows 2003, upgrade to the latest StorPort driver. 
 

Link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932755. Try the backup again. 
 

3.  Run the StorageWorks Library and Tape Tools (L&TT) and run a 100GB backup test. 
 

A. Download and install the latest version of L&TT -  http://www.hp.com/support/tapetools 
 

B. Stop the Backup Exec services. 
 

C. Insert a scratch tape into the drive.  ****Important! This needs to be a scratch tape as the HP L&TT test will overwrite the data on the tape.
 

D. Select the drive that you want to test under the "By Product" tab. 
 

E. Click on the TEST icon at the top of the window.
 

F. Drill down to READ/WRITE test in the TEST GROUP FIELD.
 

G. Click on the Options button.
 

H. The Options window will open. You can double click on the "Amount of data written/read in each phase" and change the amount of data to the 100 GB.
 

The L&TT test will now write 100GB of test data to the drive. If this test fails, then contact HP Technical Support for further troubleshooting. 

4. Increase BusyRetryCount and test another backup.

Please refer to TECH163202 to increase BusyRetryCount.

5. Disable the HP Management Agents.

 

Go to Control Panel > HP Management Agents, select the Services tab, then move SCSI Information to the Inactive Agents column.  Retry the backup job. 
 

If it still fails, try moving the performance monitor agent to the disabled column and try the backup again. 

6. Disable the following HP services, and reboot the server and test another backup.  

   -  HP Insight Server Agents
   -  HP Insight Storage Agents
   -  HP Insight Foundation Agents

   -  HP WMI Storage Providers service

NOTE: Not all Four services may be present. Only disable what is listed above as these services conflict with the symantec drivers which are updated for tape drives.

7.  Uninstall the HP StorageWorks VDS Hardware Providers for MSA Disk Arrays software and test another backup. 

This software is installed on HP Storage Servers by default. This software may not be listed in Control Panel > Uninstall a program. Please contact HP Technical Support to uninstall this program.

8.  Uninstall the HP Insight Manager software and test another backup. 

9. If there is any third party backup software which is not in use may block the tape device and may cause conflict. Uninstall and test another backup.

Microsoft to replace Messenger with Skype in March

Microsoft on Wednesday sent out word that it will "retire" its Messenger online chat feature on March 15 and replace it with the Skype internet telephony service it bought last year.

Microsoft sent an email message advising Messenger users to update to Skype using their same account information in advance of the deadline.

"You'll be able to instant message and video chat... just like before, and also discover new ways of staying in touch with Skype on your mobile and tablet," Microsoft said in the message.

The Redmond, Washington-based technology giant announced in November that it was shutting down Messenger in favour of merging users into Skype.

The transition began late last year with the release of Skype 6.0 software that lets people sign in to the online communication service using Microsoft accounts. Messenger will be shut off in every country but China.

Skype features include video calls and being able to call mobile phones from computers, as well as being able to connect with friends at leading social network Facebook.

A Skype feature on Facebook, a social network in which Microsoft owns a small stake, allows for multi-person conversations and instant one-on-one video calls with friends.

Skype users can make low-cost or free phone calls over the Internet using their computers or smartphones. Skype bypasses the standard telephone network by channeling voice and video calls over the Web.

Microsoft bought Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011.

Microsoft on Wednesday sent out word that it will "retire" its Messenger online chat feature on March 15 and replace it with the Skype Internet telephony service it bought last year.

Microsoft sent an email message advising Messenger users to update to Skype using their same account information in advance of the deadline.

"You'll be able to instant message and video chat...just like before, and also discover new ways of staying in touch with Skype on your mobile and tablet," Microsoft said in the message.

The Redmond, Washington-based technology giant announced in November that it was shutting down Messenger in favor of merging users into Skype.

The transition began late last year with the release of Skype 6.0 software that lets people sign in to the online communication service using Microsoft accounts. Messenger will be shut off in every country but China.

Skype features include video calls and being able to call mobile phones from computers, as well as being able to connect with friends at leading social network Facebook.

A Skype feature on Facebook, a social network in which Microsoft owns a small stake, allows for multi-person conversations and instant one-on-one video calls with friends.

Skype users can make low-cost or free phone calls over the Internet using their computers or smartphones. Skype bypasses the standard telephone network by channeling voice and video calls over the Web.

Samsung unveils bendable, unbreakable display Youm

Korean electronic giant Samsung seems to be inching closer to smartphones with flexible screens. At the ongoing trade fair Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2013, the company showcased Youm, a flexible and unbreakable display concept. The display technology was initially showcased by the South Korean manufacturer in 2011 and has been improved over the years. 

Youm displays are made using OLED and will be impervious to cracks even when dropped from a height, according to a Samsung executive. A technology of the future, Youm was shown on a screen measuring 5-inch (diagonally), having close to 720p resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio. The prototype had a wraparound screen that covered the right side of the device and could be used to view stock tickr and such information, thus providing more screen space to users. 

During the keynote, Samsung also showed a video detailing the possibilities for this display technology. The video showed that the display could be folded like a wallet or a book as well as rolled up. 

However, according to technology news website The Verge, the prototype showcased at CES 2013 lacked some of the key features of phones, such as radios, operating system, camera etc. Without these essential features, the display - in its current form - can only be used to display images, but performs no functions. 

The conference also had Microsoft chief technology officer Eric Rudder who showed a Windows Phone 8-powered device having the flexible display panel. This prototype could be bent into wavy patterns according to the whims and fancies of users.

Speculation is rife that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S IV will have an unbreakable and maybe even flexible display and this demo gives some credence to these rumours.

Future Samsung Cameras Will Come With Dropbox and 50GB of Free Storage

Samsung camera lovers received some good news via Dropbox today. According to Dropbox’s head of mobile business development Lars Fjeldsoe-Nielsen, future Samsung smart cameras are going to come packing Dropbox and 50GB of free storage for 2 years.

The news is nothing new for Samsung Galaxy Camera owners, who already had the service and 50GB built in. But the fact that they’re putting Dropbox on all cameras means you won’t have to pony up $500 to get the automated cloud storage benefits.

The cameras will be able to use the newly integrated cloud storage to automatically back up photos as they take them. For those using Samsung smartphones (or the Galaxy Camera), there’ll also be an option to only send the photos you select by clicking on the thumbnail, so as not to use up all of your data automatically.

Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 Outlook Integration Error

When you try to log on to Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 or Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2 you receive the following error message:

Outlook Integration Error

Please follow the below solution to fix the issue.

Solution

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then press ENTER.

3. Locate and then right-click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Communicator

4. Point to New, and then click DWORD Value.

5. Type DisableEmailComparisonCheck as the name of new registry entry, and then press ENTER.

6. Double-click DisableEmailComparisonCheck, type 1 in the Value data box, and then click OK.

7. Exit Registry Editor.

How to Alleviate Disk Space Pressure Caused By a Large Windows Component Store (WinSxS) Directory

In Windows 7 and Windows 8, there is a new folder under C:\Windows called WinSxS, which basically stores dll and component files. It also stores older versions of all dll and component files and can grow to be quite large. In addition to that, a lot of space is taken up by the backup folder, which gets really big after you install a Service Pack, like SP 1 for Windows 7

The Windows component store (C:\Windows\winsxs) directory is used during servicing operations within Windows installations.  Servicing operations include, but are not limited to, Windows Update, Service Pack and hotfix installations. 

The component store contains all of the files needed for a Windows installation and any updates to those files are also held within the component store as they are installed.  This will cause the component store to grow over time as more updates, features or roles are added to the installation.  The component store utilizes NTFS hard links between itself and other Windows directories to increase the robustness of the Windows platform.

The component store cannot reside on another volume other than the system volume due to the use of NTFS hard links.  Attempting to move the component store will result in the inability to properly install Windows updates, Service Packs, roles or features.  Additionally, it is not recommended that files be manually removed or deleted from the component store.

To reduce the size of the component store directory on a Windows installation you can choose to make the service pack installation permanent and reclaim used space from the Service Pack files.  Doing this will make the Service Pack permanent and it will not be removable

This can be done by running the following command (Start, type CMD):

Note: Run CMD as administrator

dism /online /cleanup-image /spsuperseded /hidesp

If any service pack backup files were found, it will automatically clean them up. In my case, I didn’t install SP1, so there was nothing to remove and hence I didn’t save any space. You can do that on Windows 7 with SP1 and on Windows Vista SP1, you can do the same thing using a different tool. Basically, it removes all the older files, but makes the service pack unremovable.

In Windows 8, there are some nice new features added to the DISM command. You can now remove packages that you no longer want need or want. This is the command:

DISM.exe /Online /Disable-Feature /Featurename:<name> /Remove

So how do you know what features you can disable? Well, you can run the following command to see all the available features:

DISM.exe /Online /English /Get-Features /Format:Table

Now that you have the list, you can disable a feature like SimpleTCP shown below:

DISM.exe /Online /Disable-Feature /Featurename:SimpleTCP /Remove

Cheers,

Vikas Bhat