Exceeded Max Server Round Trips: 0x80244010

April 26th, 2014 by Rossy Guide

What is this warning?

The error code 0x80244010 means “The maximum allowed number of round trips to the server was exceeded“.  New Windows Update clients fail to install/sync the software updates from WSUS server WindowsUpdate.log file gives many errors referring error code 0x80244010.  The error 0x80244010 means WU_E_PT_EXCEEDED_MAX_SERVER_TRIPS and it happens when a client has exceeded the number of trips allowed to a WSUS server. In this, we have defined the maximum number of trips as 200 within code and it cannot reconfigure.  And a “trip” to the server consists of the client going to the server and saying give me all updates within a certain scope.  So the server will give the client a certain number of updates within this trip based on the size of the update metadata and it can send 200k worth of update metadata in a single trip so it’s possible that 10 small updates will fit in that single trip. And other larger updates may require a single trip for each update if they exceed the 200k limit.

How it can be fixed?

The Error ‘0x80244010‘ can be dealt with as follows: either try again, or, if it occurs repeatedly, reset updates database. To reset the database, follow these steps:

From the command prompt:

o net stop bits

o net stop wuauserv

From windows explorer:

o Clear the contents of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

o Rename C:\Windows\WindowsUpdate.log to WindowsUpdate.log.old

From the registry delete the following keys:

o HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\AccountDomainSid

o HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\PingID

o HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\SusClientId

From the command prompt again:

o net start bits

o net start wuauserv

o wuauclt /detectnow /resetauthorization

Cannot Delete a Long File Name Issue

April 25th, 2014 by Rossy Guide

How it can be managed:

Cannot Delete a Long File Name issue, simply trying to delete a folder from my backup drive in Windows 7, but Windows shows the error,

“Destination Path Too Long:  The file name(s) would be too long for the destination folder.  You can shorten the file name and try again, or try a location that has a shorter path. ”

 

Then, after “Skip” this item, get another similar error, but this time it says,

“Source Path Too Long:  The source file name(s) are larger than is supported by the file system.  Try moving to a location which has a shorter path name, or try renaming to shorter name(s) before attempting this operation. ”

 

 

So, deleted all sub folders and files in an attempt to work around this problem.  There is one folder, that is actually completely empty, that refuses to be deleted. We moved this folder to the root of my drive, and even tried renaming it, but it never gets deleted.

Seriously, I just want to delete this folder.  I’ve tried third-party utilities, checked the disk for errors, and tried deleting the folder from the command line and nothing has been able to delete this folder.  It seems like a cutting-edge operating system should be able to handle a simple delete operation without so much trouble.

There are about 10 subfolders on the computer. None can be deleted, moved or renamed without that message appearing. I’ve already tried UNLOCKER ASSISTANT & DELINVFILE to get rid of this folder. Once again, none worked. Command prompt did not work as well. Please help me, this folder will not go away on my desktop.

Tutorial:

Cannot Delete a Long File Name issue:

1. Drill down into the folders to the folder that has the problem file in it.
2. Share the folder that contains the file.
3. Map a network drive to the folder with the problem file.
4. Open the mapped drive and delete the file I have a problem with.
5. Disconnect the map drive.
6. Remove the share.

Blue Screen Error in Windows 8 and 8.1

April 24th, 2014 by Rossy Guide

What is that error?

A blue error message screen, commonly called a “blue screen of death,” is a Windows stop error. It means the Windows operating system has encountered a problem it can’t solve on its own. Blue Screen errors can occur if a serious problem causes Windows to shut down or restart unexpectedly.  These errors can be caused by both hardware and software problems. If you added new hardware to your PC before the Blue Screen error, shut down your PC, remove the hardware, and try rebooting.

In Windows 8 and 8.1 Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) appears with a big smiley icon  : ( and a Text is showing to restart your computer. If this Blue Screen Error continues it results in loss of Application data.

 

Reasons for the occurrence of Blue Screen Error:

o Hardware Failure In the System
o Using Old Version of Drivers
o If the System is affected by Virus
o Failure of RAM and Power Supply Problems

Some tips to handle the error:

Anyone who has ever experienced the notorious Windows Blue Screen of Death knows that finding a solution to the problem can be tricky. Fortunately, there are some relatively simple things you can do to help diagnose the problem.

1: Try to reproduce the error:

The first thing I recommend doing is to try to reproduce the error. If the error happens consistently every time you try to perform a specific task, the problem is likely software related. If the error is inconsistent, the problem is likely to be hardware related.

2: Check your computer’s event logs:

It’s also a good idea to check your computer’s event logs. Review the System log and any application-specific logs to see if any strange errors or warnings occurred just prior to the blue screen error. If such errors or warnings exist, they can be useful in diagnosing the problem.

3: Research the error:

Every blue screen error contains an error message. Even though these messages are often cryptic, they can point you to the cause of the error. Searching the Web for the error message will help you determine some possible causes of the error.

4: Check the computer’s Reliability Monitor:

If the blue screen error is occurring on a computer whose history you are not completely familiar with try checking the Reliability Monitor. The Reliability Monitor is a tool that is included in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 that allows you to track a system’s stability over a period of time. The Reliability Monitor reports on things such as application installations, system updates, and hardware upgrades. Any of these factors could potentially contribute to a blue screen error.

5: Take the computer’s temperature:

I never cease to be amazed by all of the strange things that can happen when a computer overheats. If you suddenly start getting blue screen errors for no apparent reason, check to make sure that the computer is not overheating. While you’re at it, take the time to verify that all the fans are working and that none of the case vents are clogged or blocked.

6: Run a memory test:

The vast majority of the blue screen errors I have encountered over the years have been related to faulty memory, so it can be helpful to run a memory diagnostic. Windows 8 and 8.1 include a memory diagnostic utility, and there are free third-party tools you can use, such as Memtest X86.

7: Try running the software on another computer:

If you suspect that the blue screen errors you are receiving are related to a specific application, try running that application on another computer to see whether the blue screen occurs there as well. If the blue screen errors follow you from computer to computer, the application is either poorly written or the problem is related to software or a configuration setting that is present on both machines. If the problem does not follow you, the blue screen error is unique to a single computer.

8: Swap out the computer’s memory:

As I mentioned earlier, the vast majority of blue screen errors I have encountered have been related to faulty memory. Unfortunately, memory diagnostic tools do not always detect memory problems because such errors can be intermittent. That being the case, you might consider replacing the memory in a computer that is experiencing a stubborn blue screen error. Often times, this will correct the problem, even if there was no obvious indication of faulty memory.

9: Scan for malware:

Blue screen errors can sometimes be triggered by malware. About 10 years ago, I saw someone in Redmond demonstrate a proof-of-concept virus that caused a blue screen error by forcibly shutting down a critical system service. Since that time, the same concept has been used on a number of viruses in the wild.

10: Reseat hardware components:

One last trick worth trying is to power down and unplug the computer and then reseat hardware components such as memory and PCI cards. As strange as it may sound, I have run into several instances over the years in which components were slightly loose and reseating them resolved the blue screen error.

App Development Tips for Windows 8

April 23rd, 2014 by Rossy Guide

Some Tips:

Windows 8 launches a world of opportunity for student developers and it is Windows made faster, more fluid and responsive to touch. Also it puts apps and active live tiles at everyone’s fingertips. Windows apps are at the center of everything you do. Uniquely, they appear as a ‘tile’ on the Windows Start screen. To open a Windows app the content fills the entire computer screen. And the content is the focus, when UI controls and distractions are minimized.

To build your Windows 8 app, follow these steps.

 

1. Get your dev tools

2. Build and test your app

3. Publish your app

 

Get your development tools :

 

1. Start by getting Windows 8:

You must have Windows 8 installed on your computer and Windows 8 apps require the Windows 8 API for design and testing.

Ways to get Windows 8:

o Free subscription
o Free 90-day trial
o Special offers and upgrades

2. Get Visual Studio and all the tools :

Download Visual Studio 2012 Express for Windows 8, including:

o Windows 8 Software Development Kit
o Blend for Visual Studio to create and edit images
o The Windows App Certification Kit (WACK) to test your apps

After installing Visual Studio 2012 Express for Windows 8, install the developer license. Use the above collection of tools to create, code, debug, package, and publish your Windows 8 modern apps.

Build and test your app :

Before submitting your application, you must test it and find the Windows App Cert Kit in the Visual Studio 2012 Express software you downloaded and run the test from the Windows Start screen. Follow these steps:

o Get to your Windows 8 Start screen
o Run the ‘Windows App Cert Kit’ app
o Choose ‘Validate a Windows Store app’
o Select your custom app and select “next”

1. Choose a programming language :

To build a Windows 8 app, use a language you already know:

o HTML / JavaScript
o XAML / C#
o XAML / Visual Basic
o C++ / CX

2. Get hands-on help :

The lab is available in HTML / JavaScript or XAML / C#. Pick the one with which you feel most proficient.

3. Find hundreds of code samples.

Publish your app:

The certification process of Windows 8 app includes:

o Pre-processing
o Security tests
o Technical compliance
o Content compliance
o Release of your app
o Signing and publishing

1. Get the registration code

2. Submit your app

 

High CPU Usage: How to fix it?

April 19th, 2014 by Rossy Guide

What is this?

High CPU usage means that your computer processor is running at a high percentage, which is more than the required amount. This is usually caused by running too many programs and processes on the computer. High CPU usage can cause your computer to slow down or freeze altogether.

How to fix it?

A high CPU usage reading typically indicates that your systems processor is running at full capacity while the current applications are running. Random shutdowns, sluggish and intermittent performance are common symptoms of high CPU usage. The CPUs task is to process the data which initiates and runs your programs. The speed in which this data is processed is measured in cycles which are commonly referred to as hertz (Hz), with one gigahertz (GHz) being equivalent to 1,000 megahertz (MHz). All CPUs have a maximum rating; this is a measurement of the amount of cycles that it can handle per second. To put it simply, once the CPU reaches its limit, it’ll typically start to heat up, slow down and then shutdown in order to protect itself.

If you find that your system has started running very slowly, then your next cause of action should be to open Task manager, this can be done by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del at the same time. Once the applet loads up, you’ll find the CPU Usage indicator at the bottom.

If the CPU usage is at 100% for prolonged periods of time, then you have a serious problem. In most cases, your processor should never cross the 50% mark, unless you’re running a very large program, such as an animation suite or a computer game.

Troubleshooting Your Running Processes:

All processors have their limit and thus can only handle so many applications running simultaneously. If your CPU usage is at 100%, the first thing you should consider doing is closing certain running applications. If you close down all your applications but your CPU usage still remains at 100%, then you should examine your background processes. The first thing you’re going to want to do is load up Windows Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del. Once you have the applet up and running, click on Processes, then CPU.

This will give you a synopsis of all the programs running in the background, along with their CPU and Memory Usage. It’s very important you have some understanding of the various types of processes before you attempt to kill any.

The User Name column indicates which group the process belongs to. Processes within SYSTEMS, LOCAL SERVICE and NETWORK SERVICE belong to the operating system; you should NOT attempt to kill any of these, as it could render your system inoperable.

Processes grouped inside your <username> belong to third party applications, these can be killed. In order to end a process, simply highlight it and click on End Process. Your objective is to end the process that is consuming most of your CPU.

If there is no spyware, disable the amount of services running in the background. The following is how to do this:

1. Open your Start menu
2. Click Run or type run into the search bar and click the result
3. In the window that pops up, type msconfig.exe
4. In the system configuration utility, click either service or startup tab
5. Uncheck all the programs that you are no longer using.
6. Click OK.

Common Culprits:

The numerous elements that contribute to high CPU usage vary somewhat. The issue could be due to a software error or a hardware fault, or possibly the combination of both. Before you can properly diagnose this program you must first have some ground knowledge of the common causes, so that you can better identify the root cause. A CPU consistently running at 100% is an abnormality. If your computer runs at an unusually slow pace and displays a CPU usage around the 100% in task manager, then something is certainly wrong there. Some of the more common causes of this issue are:

o Drivers out-of-date – ensure that all your drivers are up-to-date, by manually updating them or by running DriverUpdate.
o Running too many programs at once – you can determine whether this is the cause by clicking on the Processes tab (once Task Manager is loaded up) and then clicking on CPU.
o Malware/Virus infection
o Poor CPU ventilation/CPU Overheating
o Svchost.exe

There are so many reasons why your CPU usage is consistently at 100%, but these causes are the most common.

How to Disable User Account Control in Windows 7 and 8?

April 18th, 2014 by Rossy Guide

What is User Account Control?

User Account Control is a security component that enables users to perform common tasks as non-administrators and as administrators without having to switch users, log off, or use Run As.

User Account Control is a feature that was designed to prevent unauthorized changes to your computer. When functions that could potentially affect your computer’s operation are made, UAC will prompt for permission or an administrator’s password before continuing with the task. There are four different alert messages associated with User Account Control:

o Windows needs your permission to continue
o A program needs your permission to continue
o An unidentified program wants access to your computer
o This program has been blocked

How to disable it:

Disabling UAC on Windows 7:

1. Go to Start Menu -> Control Panel -> System and Security -> Action Center.
2. Click on the “Change User Account Control Settings” link.

3. Slide the slider bar to the lowest value (towards Never Notify), with description showing Never notify me.

4. Click OK to make the change effective.
5. Restart the computer to turn off User Access Control.

Disabling UAC on Windows 8:

1. Open the Control Panel and click/tap on the User Accounts icon.
2. Click/tap on the Change User Account Control settings link.

3. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on OK.
4. Move the slider up or down to the setting for how you want to be notified by UAC, and click/tap on OK.

5. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on OK.
6. When finished, you can close the User Accounts window.

 

How to Format an External Hard Drive

April 17th, 2014 by Rossy Guide

Tutorial:

Formatting a hard drive or flash drive will erase the contents and set up a file structure so that it can be accessed on your computer. You might need to format if you get a drive that isn’t compatible with your computer. Follow these steps to format your external for any operating system.

Method 1: Windows:

1. Open Computer Management.

o Click on the Start button and right-click on Computer or My Computer.
o Select Manage from the right-click menu.

 

Windows 8 Users can skip directly to the Disk Management utility by pressing the Windows and X keys on the keyboard. This will open the Power Users menu. Select Disk Management from this menu.

2. Select Disk Management.

o This is located in the left frame, listed underneath Storage.
o When you click Disk Management, your connected drives will be displayed in the center frame.

 

3. Right-click the drive you want to format.

o From the right-click menu, select Format.
o Enter a name for the drive.

4. Select the File System.

o From NTFS is the standard for Windows computers, and if you are only using the drive with Windows, you should pick this. If you are planning on using the drive on both Windows and Mac, select exFAT.
o Do not select “Perform a quick format” as it will not efficiently erase all the previous data.

5. Click OK.

o You will be asked to confirm. After confirmation, your drive will begin formatting. The length of time required depends on the size.

 

Method 2: Mac OS X

1. Connect your external hard drive. You can connect your drive through USB, Firewire, or Thunderbolt. Depending on whether or not it is formatted already, your drive may appear on the desktop. You can ignore it for the moment.
2. Open Disk Utility. You can get to the Disk Utility in the Utilities folder under Applications.
3. Select the external drive. You can see a list of your connected drives in the left frame of Disk Utility. Click the drive.
4. Click the Erase tab. From the Format menu, select “Mac OS Extended”. Enter a name for the drive. You can change this name at any time.
5. Click Erase. A window will open asking you to confirm. After confirmation, the format process will begin. The time it will take is dependent on the size of your drive. Larger drives take longer to format.

Method 3: Linux

1. Install GParted. This is a free utility available on all Linux distributions. You can install it by opening the Terminal and typing “sudo apt-get install gparted ntfsprogs”.
2. Connect your disk drive. Linux should mount the drive automatically. You will need to unmount it before you can format. Right click on the disk icon on your desktop and click “Unmount volume.”
3. Open the Partition Editor. This can be found in System/Administration. Click the drive selection box in the top-right of the window and select the external drive from the list.
4. Format the drive. Right-click the drive in the main window.  Select “Format to” and then select the format that you want to make the drive. NTFS can be read in Windows, Fat32 can be read in any operating system, and ext3 is Linux only.

How to Skip the Login Screen on Windows 8 or 8.1

April 16th, 2014 by Rossy Guide

Basic instructions

1. From the desktop, open the Run box by pressing Windows Logo+R keys together.

2. Type in netplwiz and click OK button to highlight your account.

Type “netplwiz” and click OK

3. On the Users tab from the opened Advanced User Accounts program, uncheck the box next to Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.

4. Click Apply and OK button at the bottom of the window.

Uncheck the checkbox and click Apply

5. From the automatically sign in box, enter your User Name and then your Password twice you wish to automatically login to Windows 8 or 8.1 with.

         

Enter your Username and Password and click OK

6. Finally click OK button [The Automatically sign in window, as well as the User Accounts window, will now close].

7. Restart your computer. And you have successfully enabled automatic sign-in and from now on, you won’t see the login screen but redirected to the Start Screen instead.

8. The login screen is not skipped successful that is if the wrong user name is entered in Step 5 above. Double check that what you enter here is actually your user name and not just the name associated with your account.

 

List of Common Network Problems

April 15th, 2014 by Rossy Guide

Many problems of your system may be network-related. Some of the most common network problems are as follows:

Cable Problem:

Cables that connect different parts of a network can be cut or shorted. A short can happen when the wire conductor comes in contact with another conductive surface, changing the path of the signal. Cable testers can be used to test for many types of cable problems such as:

o Cut cable
o Incorrect cable connections
o Cable shorts
o Interference level
o Connector Problem

Connectivity Problem:

A connectivity problem with one or more devices in a network can occur after a change is made in configuration or by a malfunction of a connectivity component, such as:

o Hub
o A router or a Switch

Excessive Network Collisions:

These often lead to slow connectivity. The problem can occur one of the following reasons:

o Bad network setup/plan
o A user transferring a lot of information or jabbering network card

Note: A jabbering Network card is a network card that is stuck in a transmit mode. This will be evident because the transmit light will remain on constantly, indicating that the Network card is always transmitting.

Software Problem:

Network problems can often be traced to software configuration such as:

o DNS configuration
o WINS configuration
o The Registry, etc.

Duplicate IP Addressing:

A common problem in many networking environments occurs when two machines try to use the same IP address. This can result in intermittent communications.

NIC Problem:

Network problem of another one is NIC settings mismatch. On large networks this problem can exist on 20% to 30% the network nodes, and with a concerted effort can be brought under control. Taken into context, the impact is much larger than expected because many of the systems are distributed and require the collaboration of multiple nodes and servers to function correctly.

Even a small system has a minimum reliance of 10 network nodes and if 2 or 3 of them are not functioning correctly it influences the whole system. Left unchecked and unmanagement the NIC problem could influence and undermine all your systems.

How to Delete a File in Use in Windows?

April 14th, 2014 by Rossy Guide

Introduction

When a file is classified as “in use” by Windows, it is typically still opened by another process that is or could be making changes to it. Typically though this doesn’t tend to be the case. . If the file is displayed as “in use” but there’s no indication of a program whatsoever, you have two options to proceed: You can either use the handy tool Unlocker, which integrates itself into the Windows UI seamlessly, or delete or rename files over the command prompt without any third party software.

Delete a File in Use in Windows:

There are two methods:

1. Using Unlocker in Windows
2. Using Command Prompt in windows

 

Using Unlocker in Windows:

When using a computer is when you want to delete or rename a file or folder in Windows, but gets an error stating that it is open, shared, in use, or locked by a program currently using it. You start to shut down every program running on the computer hoping that you will be lucky and are able to delete the file, but it still won’t delete. This method provides that will allow you to delete or remove practically any file in Windows.

The most comfortable method of finding out which program is using particular files is offered by the freeware Unlocker. Download the tool and install it. This will give you an additional entry in the context menu called “Unlocker” that allows you to get an overview of all the processes that are currently trying to access this file. Choose an operation from the drop-down menu and click on “Unlock all” to close all so-called “Handles” that are blocking access to the file and to apply your operation of choice.

When attempting to delete or rename a file or folder you should follow these steps in the following order:

Ø  Shut down any programs that may be currently using that file.

When a program is using a file it tends to exclusively lock that file so it can’t be modified or renamed while it’s in use. By shutting down the program using it, you unlock that file or folder so that you can work with it.

Ø  Reboot your computer.

When you reboot your computer, this will shut down any open programs and hopefully on reboot allow you to work with the file in question.

Ø  Reboot into safe mode and try to rename or delete the folder.

When you are in safe mode a limited number of programs start up automatically. This provides a greater chance of being able to rename or delete a stubborn file or folder.

Ø  Download a file unlocking utility.

File unlocking programs will find the processes that are using the file and attempt to close them or disconnect their connection to the file or folder so they can be deleted, renamed, or otherwise manipulated.

Using Command Prompt in Windows:

1. Open Folder Options, then uncheck the Hide extensions for known file types box, and click on OK button.

2. Open a command prompt in Windows.

3. In the command prompt, type the command, press Enter.

Code

DEL /F /S /Q /A “C:\Users\UserName\Desktop\File.txt”

4. The file(s) should now be deleted.

5. Close the command prompt.