Problems & Solutions

I'm a soldier in the IDF. A fighter. For those of you who don't know, the highest salary for an obligated servant soldier is 710 NIS (first sergeant ranked fighter).
Highest salary, but not much, not much at all... :-I have to work for a living, in addition for being a soldier. Life is a bitch isn't
it?!
So in vacations and "afters" (day off) I fix computers :-)
I'd like to dedicate this post to summarize some of the worst\wiredest problems I've came across on costumers boxes running Microsoft Windows, and how to fix 'em.

First of all I'd like to say, users are the worst operating-system-destroyers \ hard-disc-fuckers \ software-corrupters \ hardware-annihilaters out there, cyber & real life...
Really, I've met users that if it was depend on me, I didn't let them get near a computer at all.

OK, lets start:

1. Corrupted Internet Explorer 6 or explorer.exe.

Method 1: reinstalling ie.inf
Navigate to the windows\inf folder (mostly c:\windows\inf).
Find ie.inf file.
Right click it and click Install on the context menu.
Wait for the process to complete and reboot.
Note: windows\inf folder is a Hidden folder. To view hidden folders & files click Tools on Windows Explorer and click Folder Options on the context menu. Click on the View tab, under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders.

Method 2: manually re-register IE and Shell related *.dll files using regsvr32

Create a batch file containing the following code and run it:

regsvr32 comcat.dll /s
regsvr32 CSSEQCHK.DLL /s
regsvr32 shdoc401.dll /s
regsvr32 shdoc401.dll /i /s
regsvr32 asctrls.ocx /s
regsvr32 oleaut32.dll /s
regsvr32 shdocvw.dll /I /s
regsvr32 shdocvw.dll /s
regsvr32 browseui.dll /s
regsvr32 browsewm.dll /s
regsvr32 browseui.dll /I /s
regsvr32 msrating.dll /s
regsvr32 mlang.dll /s
regsvr32 hlink.dll /s
regsvr32 mshtmled.dll /s
regsvr32 urlmon.dll /s
regsvr32 plugin.ocx /s
regsvr32 sendmail.dll /s
regsvr32 scrobj.dll /s
regsvr32 mmefxe.ocx /s
regsvr32 corpol.dll /s
regsvr32 jscript.dll /s
regsvr32 msxml.dll /s
regsvr32 imgutil.dll /s
regsvr32 thumbvw.dll /s
regsvr32 cryptext.dll /s
regsvr32 rsabase.dll /s
regsvr32 inseng.dll /s
regsvr32 iesetup.dll /i /s
regsvr32 cryptdlg.dll /s
regsvr32 actxprxy.dll /s
regsvr32 dispex.dll /s
regsvr32 occache.dll /s
regsvr32 occache.dll /i /s
regsvr32 iepeers.dll /s
regsvr32 urlmon.dll /i /s
regsvr32 cdfview.dll /s
regsvr32 webcheck.dll /s
regsvr32 mobsync.dll /s
regsvr32 pngfilt.dll /s
regsvr32 licmgr10.dll /s
regsvr32 icmfilter.dll /s
regsvr32 hhctrl.ocx /s
regsvr32 inetcfg.dll /s
regsvr32 tdc.ocx /s
regsvr32 MSR2C.DLL /s
regsvr32 msident.dll /s
regsvr32 msieftp.dll /s
regsvr32 xmsconf.ocx /s
regsvr32 ils.dll /s
regsvr32 msoeacct.dll /s
regsvr32 inetcomm.dll /s
regsvr32 msdxm.ocx /s
regsvr32 dxmasf.dll /s
regsvr32 l3codecx.ax /s
regsvr32 acelpdec.ax /s
regsvr32 mpg4ds32.ax /s
regsvr32 voxmsdec.ax /s
regsvr32 danim.dll /s
regsvr32 Daxctle.ocx /s
regsvr32 lmrt.dll /s
regsvr32 datime.dll /s
regsvr32 dxtrans.dll /s
regsvr32 dxtmsft.dll /s
regsvr32 WEBPOST.DLL /s
regsvr32 WPWIZDLL.DLL /s
regsvr32 POSTWPP.DLL /s
regsvr32 CRSWPP.DLL /s
regsvr32 FTPWPP.DLL /s
regsvr32 FPWPP.DLL /s
regsvr32 wshom.ocx /s
regsvr32 wshext.dll /s
regsvr32 vbscript.dll /s
regsvr32 scrrun.dll mstinit.exe /setup /s
regsvr32 msnsspc.dll /SspcCreateSspiReg /s
regsvr32 msapsspc.dll /SspcCreateSspiReg /s
regsvr32 licdll.dll /s
regsvr32 regwizc.dll /s
regsvr32 softpub.dll /s
regsvr32 IEDKCS32.DLL /s
regsvr32 MSTIME.DLL /s
regsvr32 WINTRUST.DLL /s
regsvr32 INITPKI.DLL /s
regsvr32 DSSENH.DLL /s
regsvr32 RSAENH.DLL /s
regsvr32 CRYPTDLG.DLL /s
regsvr32 Gpkcsp.dll /s
regsvr32 Sccbase.dll /s
regsvr32 Slbcsp.dll /s
exit


If the problem isn't solved yet add the following code to the batch file above and run it again (add before the exit command).

rundll32.exe advpack.dll /DelNodeRunDLL32 C:\WINNT\System32\dacui.dll
rundll32.exe advpack.dll /DelNodeRunDLL32 C:\WINNT\Catroot\icatalog.mdb
regsvr32 setupwbv.dll /s
regsvr32 wininet.dll /s
regsvr32 mshtml.dll /s
regsvr32 comctl32.dll /i /s
regsvr32 inetcpl.cpl /i /s
regsvr32 mshtml.dll /i /s
regsvr32 proctexe.ocx mshta.exe /register /s
regsvr32 triedit.dll /s
regsvr32 dhtmled.ocx /s
regsvr32 hmmapi.dll /s
regsvr32 wininet.dll /i /s
regsvr32 digest.dll /i /s
regsvr32 trialoc.dll /s
regsvr32 wab32.dll /s
regsvr32 wabimp.dll /s
regsvr32 wabfind.dll /s
regsvr32 oemiglib.dll /s
regsvr32 directdb.dll /s
regsvr32 msoe.dll /s
regsvr32 oeimport.dll /s
regsvr32 laprxy.dll /s
regsvr32 vgx.dll /s
regsvr32 FLUPL.OCX /s


Method 3: running the Windows File Protection tool to help repair the system
Open command prompt and run sfc /scannow.
sfc = System File Checker. Now let it scan your system.
You can use chkdsk /f command to check and fix errors on your hard-drive.
You can also add this command to the batch file above.


2. NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM Not Found.
For FAT32 partitions:
Boot the system with a Win98 floppy or WinXP CD and copy the NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM files from the i386 directory to your C: drive.

For NTFS partitions:
Insert and boot from your WinXP CD.
At the first R=Repair option, press the R key.
Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair. Typically this will be the first one.
Enter in the administrator password when required.
Enter in the following commands:
COPY [CD-drive]:i386\NTLDR C:
COPY [CD-drive]:i386\NTDETECT.COM C:
Take out the CD and type exit.


3. Enable back the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer.
I've saw a lot of systems with a disabled Windows Picture and Fax Viewer, probably because WinXP/2003 Picture and Fax Viewer Metafile Overflow Vulnerability.
To enable it click Start > Run > regsvr32 /I shimgvw.dll
To disable it click Start > Run > regsvr32 -u shimgvw.dll


4. Use Anti-virus\adware\spyware\malware software.
I strongly recommend Eset NOD32 anti-virus, Lavasoft Ad-Aware and ewido anti-malware.
Oh, and use Mozilla Firefox of course, M$ Internet Explorer is too fucked up...
Here's two commands that'll help you with stubborn virii:
tskill [process_name] - will force kill running processes.
del /f [file_name] - will force delete a file.



Hardware maintenance.

People buy computers and won't touch them for years. I don't know what's on their heads but most of them don't know that they have to maintain their computers.
A computer is like every other electronic device, even worse... It's not a big deal to keep your hardware in a good shape, your computer will run better, won't overheat and live longer. Here's a few simple steps that will help you maintain your PC easily:

A. Learn how the computer's built. I mean learn the basics - how to disconnect cards, drives and cables.

B. Disconnect all of the cards, drives and cables and CLEAN IT INSIDE. I saw computers that had so much dust in it that it looks like a pharaoh's tomb or something :-\ . Be careful not to destroy anything.
Don't vacuum the computer! use a small paintbrush and "flanelit" or something alike.
Now about the Power supply unit, if your new at this don't touch it. I recommend only to experienced users to mess with it.. open it and clean it inside, especially the fan (don't forget the CPU fan too, and the graphics adapter).
You can also use air pressure spray or compressors, it' very good for the cards and cable connections.

C. Contact spray. Spray contact on all the cards, cable and drives connections. Don't spray too much and don't spray on dirty connections, clean them before.

Finally, re-check everything is in place, close the box and connect the cables.
Turn the PC on. I promise it'll run better then before.

This is the very basic of computer maintenance, every user should do it at least once every two months.
I also suggests cleaning the screen, oiling the computer fans with WD-40 and etc'.
Advanced users should consider modding the system, cooling it and overclock the CPU and other parts but that's a different subject :-)


I hope you've learned something and these tips will help you some day ;-)