Problem solve

Problem solve

Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.

• Roll call! Take full stock of your desktop inventory

  IT cannot manage what it doesn’t know is there. As a result, desktop inventory management and other tools are essential to keep track of and control desktops. Continue Reading

• Ten most useful Windows Sysinternals utilities

  Sysinternals utilities such as Autoruns and TCPView can target specific problem areas in a Microsoft Windows environment, including performance issues. Continue Reading

• What do I do if a user accidentally deletes the Recycle Bin?

  It used to be really easy for users to delete the Recycle Bin. Luckily, there are easy ways to restore it in most versions of Windows, and Microsoft has made it tougher to delete in newer OSes. Continue Reading

• Desktop management tools and best practices

  Desktop management tools are the key to making sure things in your fleet are running smoothly. Systems such as Desktop Central and Client Management Suite cover the big five of desktop management. Continue Reading

• Software deployment tools, patching critical to endpoint management

  The software deployment component of your endpoint management system plays an important role in desktop health. So too do monitoring, patching and security capabilities. Continue Reading

• The importance of desktop inventory management tools

  Desktop inventory management tools help keep track of how many endpoints are in use and who's using them. That basic information can help with sundry other management tasks, such as budgeting and responses to security breaches.Continue Reading

• Why do I see multiple svchost.exe processes running?

  You might notice multiple instances of Service Host running in your list of processes, and that's perfectly fine. It usually corresponds to a system service.Continue Reading

• What are some common Office 2013 problems?

  Office 2013 problems can stem from an incomplete install, or your particular version or settings. Luckily, there are simple fixes for most issues.Continue Reading

• How do I open an .xpx file in Office 2002 SP3?

  An .xpx file can cause problems for Office 2002 SP3 users, but Microsoft does provide help in Windows 7 and with a free XPS viewer.Continue Reading

• What are some of the biggest software patching myths?

  Desktop patch management is subject to its share of myths. Our expert penetrates the fog around waiting on software patching and Windows XP security.Continue Reading

• Troubleshoot Windows 10 updates with Technical Preview

  The Windows 10 Technical Preview gives users and admins a chance to check out Microsoft's next OS, but make sure that software is properly updated.Continue Reading

• Untangling the Gordian knot of the Windows boot process

  An infinite reboot loop is a common issue with the Windows boot process. Start up in Windows Safe Mode to diagnose device driver or hardware problems.Continue Reading

• How do I create a bootable Windows 7 USB drive?

  Windows To Go only works for Windows 8 bootable USB flash drives; to create a virtual hard drive for Windows 7 installation, try Boot to VHD.Continue Reading

• How come Microsoft Internet Explorer collects my data?

  Some users have noticed that Microsoft Internet Explorer collects personal information through its AutoComplete feature. There is a way to turn it off.Continue Reading

• How do I remove admin restrictions from Windows 7 laptops?

  To relax the usual restrictions on Windows 7 laptops, use the Windows administrator account, but remember to record your password.Continue Reading

• Don't pass the hash for Windows 8.1 security

  Single sign-on lets users skip multiple logins but also threatens Windows 8.1 security. Fix the vulnerability in that OS and Windows Server 2012 R2.Continue Reading

• Windows 8 disk cleanup is part of routine maintenance

  Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 include built-in utilities for improving and maintaining performance. Start with simple Windows 8 disk cleanup practices.Continue Reading

• What's the best way to remote wipe a user-owned laptop?

  Tools are now available to IT for a remote wipe of user-owned laptops. But set clear BYOD security policies and inform users.Continue Reading

• Windows 7 troubleshooting matures

  Windows 7 support is ending in 2015, but that doesn't mean troubleshooting is going with it -- in fact, Windows 7 troubleshooting is easier than ever.Continue Reading

• How to create PDFs since Windows Fax and Scan won't

  While Windows 8 does include Windows Fax and Scan, it doesn't create PDFs of scanned documents. Here are some Windows 8 PDF reader workarounds.Continue Reading

• Using tools to back up and restore bootable USB device images

  Do you have more install or diagnostic environment images to manage than physical UFDs? Learn how to back up and restore bootable USB device images.Continue Reading

• Finding and fixing Office 2013 installation problems

  Desktop administrators can streamline Office deployments by understanding fixes to important installation problems.Continue Reading

• For missing GPO settings, check the Winlogon component

  If a Windows system isn't applying certain Group Policy settings, you may need to check Winlogon and common client-side extensions.Continue Reading

• Older suites such as Microsoft Office 2007 can be run in Windows 8

  Windows 8 supports past versions of Microsoft Office, but installation problems may interfere with getting Office 2007 Ultimate to run in Windows 8.Continue Reading

• The Rufus USB tool may ease building bootable Windows flash drives

  Find out about a quick, free alternative to the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool -- the open source Reliable USB Formatting Utility.Continue Reading

• Five Windows Sysinternals utilities can aid in desktop troubleshooting

  There are many free tools in the Windows Sysinternals suite, but some might help admins more than others for viewing data and managing desktops.Continue Reading

• Windows 8.1 user interface improves on previous Windows 8 features

  Several small but significant changes in the Windows 8.1 user interface may placate those who were annoyed by Windows 8's limitations.Continue Reading

• The open source GIMP editor has lots of support and useful features

  The free GIMP editor is not only a potential Adobe Photoshop alternative, but it also has a host of useful features and an online support community.Continue Reading

• Consider GIMP as an Adobe Photoshop alternative for graphics editing

  Adobe Photoshop and other expensive graphics editors may suit power users, but there are good reasons to test the GNU Image Manipulation Program.Continue Reading

• Before a Microsoft Office 2013 install, beware of potential gotchas

  After you deal with a Microsoft Office 2013 install, know about both the problems and workarounds lurking in Office 2013 features.Continue Reading

• Process Monitor eases Windows troubleshooting of performance problems

  Microsoft's built-in tools may not be enough for Windows troubleshooting, so try Sysinternals Process Monitor to find desktop performance problems.Continue Reading

• More remote Group Policy Object settings and checking refresh status

  Admins can refresh Group Policy Object settings across multiple computers, but they must verify that Group Policy settings have successfully changed.Continue Reading

• IT can tackle Windows configuration with a well-planned desktop audit

  Enforcing Windows policies across the enterprise seems like a pain, but a few desktop audit practices can help IT reach its configuration goals.Continue Reading

• Use new Windows 8 Group Policy settings to control the Windows 8.1 UI

  Windows 8.1 administration includes new Windows 8 Group Policy settings. See how Windows 8.1 settings can affect the Start menu and Control Panel.Continue Reading

• Before you clone HDD to SSD, know the benefits and danger to data

  Which type of drive is better: hard disk drive or solid-state drive? HDD to SSD cloning can ease data access, but SSDs aren't without risks to data.Continue Reading

• Locking down Internet Explorer settings with Group Policy in IE 11

  New Internet Explorer settings can tighten enterprise security, but only if Group Policy is properly enabled in IE 11 and you have Windows 8.Continue Reading

• What you need to know about the Windows Security Accounts Manager

  These five capabilities of Security Accounts Manager, which is built into Windows, can help IT manage and enforce enterprise password management.Continue Reading

• Can I plug a USB drive into a phone with a micro-USB connector?

  This week, our expert answers a question on how to connect a phone or tablet to a USB drive with a micro-USB connector.Continue Reading

• Learn how to install Office 2013 with Group Policies or SCCM

  To successfully deploy Office 2013 across a network, you'll need Group Policies or tools such as Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager.Continue Reading

• What's old, what's new for the enterprise with the Windows 8.1 update

  Microsoft's Windows 8.1 update has stirred controversy among users who still hate its interface. Features such as BYOD support may change some minds.Continue Reading

• A Windows user profile can cause problems even if it's not corrupt

  Corrupt Windows user credentials can cause problems at login, but that's not the only thing that can interfere with a Windows user profile.Continue Reading

• Yes, you can make a Windows disk partition read-only

  This week, our expert answers a question on mounting a disk volume as a read-only Windows disk partition, as in Linux. Just don't do it by accident.Continue Reading

• Click-to-Run and MSI provide Office 2013 installation options

  The Microsoft Installer has competition for Office 2013 installation. See how Office Click-to-Run allows Office 2013 to run without a full download.Continue Reading

• No touchscreen, no problem -- using a keyboard for Windows 8 interface

  The Windows 8 interface may seem daunting to those without touchscreens. However, it's possible to work around gestures using some keyboard commands.Continue Reading

• Comparing Windows Defender in Windows 8 vs. third-party malware tools

  Microsoft has strengthened Windows Defender for Windows 8, but IT may find third-party anti-malware products more useful than Windows 8 Defender.Continue Reading

• Microsoft's revised Resource Kit can ease Office 2013 deployment

  Microsoft's free Office 2013 Resource Kit provides documentation for Office 2013 deployment, as well as for management after an Office deployment.Continue Reading

• Using Active Directory activation and other new Office 2013 tools

  Among the new Office 2013 tools for IT admins are a method for volume activation, administrative template files and files for custom installations.Continue Reading

• New Office 2013 features can help IT pros as much as end users

  New features in Microsoft Office 2013 make desktop management more efficient. See what Office Web Apps Server, Office Telemetry and more can do.Continue Reading

• UEFI vs. BIOs in Windows 8 for desktop startup

  The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface can speed and secure startup for today's computers, but systems that dual-boot into Linux spur controversy.Continue Reading

• Understanding the errors behind a temporary Windows profile

  A Windows user finds that he has been issued a temporary Windows profile. Our expert shows how that can happen and how to fix the underlying problem.Continue Reading

• Stripping a Microsoft Office password from a document with DocRecrypt

  DocRecrypt, an Office 2013 tool, allows an admins to get into an otherwise inaccessible file by stripping it of its Microsoft Office password.Continue Reading

• How to delete a file or folder when the Windows path is too long

  Our expert answers a question on how to delete a file or folder when its Windows file name is beyond the Windows path length limit.Continue Reading

• Ways to detect and delete duplicate files in Windows systems

  Our enterprise desktop expert answers a question about some third-party tools for eliminating duplicate files in Windows desktops.Continue Reading

• Copying Windows Explorer files without slowing down a system

  Our expert explains how to avoid overtaxing processors when copying Windows Explorer files. Process priority and a command should do the trick.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Office 2013 crackable, so look to Office password recovery

  Microsoft Office 2013 may have improved protection, but third-party tools have already cracked passwords. See how to use Office password recovery.Continue Reading

• Java malware, fileless malware pose threats to desktop security

  Conventional antivirus software can't detect fileless malware, and recent attacks highlighted Java vulnerabilities on Windows and Mac OS machines.Continue Reading

• How to connect a Windows XP client to a Microsoft SQL Server one

  Incompatibilities can crop up when IT admins try to connect a Microsoft SQL Server instance to a Windows XP client. Here are ways to overcome them.Continue Reading

• How to resolve Windows file-sharing problems

  Windows file sharing isn't as easy as it sounds. Our expert explains how to deal with different OS versions, classic problems and Windows HomeGroup.Continue Reading

• Don't ignore Windows 8 security when reviewing desktop vulnerabilities

  Microsoft Windows 8 security may not be at the top of IT admins' to-do lists, but they should pay attention to the OS's features and flaws.Continue Reading

• How to get a preloaded Microsoft Office version to work

  This week, our expert answers the question of what to do when a preloaded Microsoft Office version stops working on a computer.Continue Reading

• Examining alternatives to Windows 8

  As enterprise IT gets ready for Windows 8, some are opting out and looking at alternative operating systems. Let's explore some Windows alternatives.Continue Reading

• Running multiple versions of Microsoft Office on one machine

  Our Ask the Experts feature returns, starting with an answer about whether it's a good idea to run multiple versions of Office on one machine.Continue Reading

• How to install Windows 8 on your laptop in just 45 minutes

  The process of installing the Windows 8 Consumer Preview isn't difficult. Follow these steps and get to testing Microsoft's new OS in under an hour.Continue Reading

• What type of Windows user profile should you use?

  Windows user profiles come in a few flavors: local, roaming and mandatory. Each one offers different availability and performance to IT and users.Continue Reading

• Full-disk encryption can save IT grief from lost laptops

  Full-disk encryption can help enterprises comply with data security regulations, but it can hurt performance. See if the pros outweigh the cons for this laptop protection measure.Continue Reading

• Group Policy settings FAQ: Why they matter

  Group Policy settings in Microsoft's Active Directory are useful not only for managing user access and applications, but IT admins can also apply them to desktop and server security.Continue Reading

• How Microsoft OneNote 2010 can improve productivity, organization

  If organization isn't your strong suit, you can get help from Microsoft OneNote 2010. This powerful tool can save important emails, documents and more in easy-to-find locations.Continue Reading

• Microsoft OneNote 2010: Office's best-kept productivity secret

  Microsoft OneNote lives in the shadows of other Office programs, but it can be one of the most useful. OneNote 2010 helps organize data, emails, notes and more all in one place.Continue Reading

• How application whitelisting can help prevent advanced malware attacks

  Advanced malware can be tricky, but application whitelisting on desktops can provide an additional layer of protection against malware attacks.Continue Reading

• Using Windows 7 Task Manager features for Windows memory management

  To fix your Windows memory management problems, you must first diagnose how memory is allocated. Certain Windows 7 Task Manager features can cure what ails your desktops.Continue Reading

• Using Group Policy settings to lock down enterprise desktop security

  Enterprise desktop security involves many moving parts, but Group Policy settings can help. Use them to manage IE and Outlook, as well as Windows 7's Control Panel and UAC.Continue Reading

• Desktop audit checklist: Five steps to a successful desktop audit

  Now that 2012 has begun, consider doing a desktop audit to get your IT house in order. A strong desktop audit checklist can help you manage hardware, software and applications better.Continue Reading

• Need more memory? Getting started with Windows memory management

  Do you need more memory? Our expert explains how to manage Windows memory, both physical and virtual, and how to diagnose memory-related performance issues.Continue Reading

• Tablet licensing rules with Microsoft Office

  As tablets make their way into the enterprise, it might be time to brush up on licensing rules for mobilizing Microsoft Office. We also provide some solutions for reducing costs.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Windows 7 Task Manager troubleshooting tips

  Here are some troubleshooting tips for Microsoft Windows 7's improved Task Manager -- from identifying processes and services to using the Resource Monitor.Continue Reading

• Enterprise password protection checklist

  Everyone should know by now that passwords are often the weakest link in enterprise security. Here's a password protection checklist for both end users and IT managers.Continue Reading

• The limitations of restoring files in Windows using Previous Versions

  Microsoft's Previous Versions function can retrieve files, but only copies made during a system checkpoint or snapshot. Our expert found a third-party backup tool to span the gap.Continue Reading

• What to do when USB flash drives refuse to mount in Windows

  If you're having trouble figuring out why a USB flash drive won't mount in your PC, this expert tip will help by providing advice on how to fix such a problem.Continue Reading

• Who should know about Microsoft licensing? And why should you care?

  Microsoft software licensing is complicated, but our licensing expert breaks it down and gives the basics of what you need to know, including budgeting and volume purchasing.Continue Reading

• Why Microsoft wants you to make the move to Office 365

  Here are some of Microsoft's motivations to get enterprises onto Office 365. Make sure your own motivations are in alignment.Continue Reading

• How to build a WIM file in Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010

  WIM files let admins consolidate desktop images onto a single disk to simplify OS deployments, such as Windows 7.Continue Reading

• Turn a Windows 7 desktop into a wireless hotspot

  Faulty Internet connections are a nightmare for on-the-go admins, but wireless hotspot software can eliminate network headaches.Continue Reading

• Reasons for Windows 7 backup adding non-system drives to a system image

  Is your Windows 7 backup system adding non-system drives to a system image? Don't fret. There are several solutions for this common -- yet frustrating -- problem.Continue Reading

• Managing Windows desktops with PowerShell

  PowerShell isn't just for Windows servers -- Microsoft made the scripting language the core management platform in Windows 7.Continue Reading

• Licensing options for accessing Microsoft Office remotely

  There are plenty of choices for licensing virtual applications, but understanding when to use which ones can be a challenge.Continue Reading

• Using P2V Migration for Software Assurance for Windows 7 upgrades

  P2V Migration for Software Assurance automates the Windows 7 migration process and preserves XP applications and data. Yet its limitations may be a deal breaker.Continue Reading

• Resetting passwords in the enterprise without the help desk

  While there are several self-service password-reset options on the market, many organizations are hesitant to implement them -- even though the payoffs are significant.Continue Reading

• How Office 365 is changing the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement

  The release of Office 365 will bring many changes to Microsoft's premiere volume licensing agreement, including a more diverse application selection and Office subscriptions.Continue Reading

• Remotely wiping down multiple systems

  No one wants to manually wipe down hundreds of machines. Save yourself a lot of time with one of these tools.Continue Reading

• Network tracing 101: collecting client data for troubleshooting

  As desktop users increasingly rely on virtualized applications, they become more sensitive to network performance problems. Network trace tools can help troubleshoot client data.Continue Reading

• The pros and cons of PS/2 to USB adapters and converters

  Now that most PCs and laptops ship with only USB ports, you'll need an adapter for older PS/2 devices. Here are some things to look out for when picking an adapter or converter.Continue Reading

• Controlling desktops with AppLocker and software restriction policies

  Many IT admins rely on User Account Control, but AppLocker or software restriction policies can also prevent unauthorized installation of desktop apps.Continue Reading

• How do Group Policy settings differ between versions of Windows?

  Group Policy Objects vary from one version of Windows to another. Determine which ones to apply in your environment.Continue Reading

• The Windows Remote Assistance feature: Friend or foe?

  The Remote Assistance feature in Windows makes desktop support easier, but it can be a nuisance and weaken enterprise security. Restrict access with these Group Policy settings.Continue Reading

• Where does Windows store its temporary files?

  The temporary files generated by Windows can pile up and become a security hazard. Learn how to track them down and tidy up your systems.Continue Reading

• How to make legacy applications run on Windows 7

  Windows 7 was designed to avoid the application-compatibility problems of Vista, but some legacy apps still require extra effort to work properly.Continue Reading

• How to crack a password

  Expert Brien Posey describes some techniques used to crack Windows passwords and offers several defenses against attack.Continue Reading

• How to run the chkdsk utility in Windows 7

  Hard drives and file systems have undergone major changes in the past few years. But the tool that keeps these file systems consistent when things go wrong remains the same.Continue Reading

• Sysinternals tools can help clean your Windows systems

  PC cleanup is no one's favorite task. Process Monitor and Process Explorer are two Sysinternals tools that can help make your systems tidy again.Continue Reading

• Using Group Policy to lock down the Control Panel

  Preventing unauthorized changes to Windows systems is a basic security precaution. Group Policy settings can keep users from messing with the Control Panel.Continue Reading