How to remove/uninstall windows easy transfer? WET

How to remove/uninstall windows easy transfer?

So, to remove WET completely and restore 'normal' HD icons and browsing do this:
1. open my computer, select Tolls>Folder Options to open the Folder Options window
2. In the View tab select Show Hidden Files and Folders
3. Right Click each of the hard drive icons (in my case - XP drive & W7 drive) and select Explore
4. Find Windows easy transfer.exe, windowseasytrasfer folder, and autorun.inf and delete them from the root of both drives
5. reboot...

www.elitebuyer.com 135 e. 9th st, long beach, ca 90813
562-366-4177

Read More

Creating a System Image in Windows 7 562-366-4177 Array Systems Computers Long Beach

Creating a System Image in Windows 7

• May 06, 2013
• How-To Guides, Windows

A System Image is an exact copy of everything that is on your hard drive (at that point in time) which can be used to recover it back to an operational state if your hard drive crashes or freezes up.
Procedure:
Navigate to Start – Control Panel – System and Security – Backup and Restore. Select on Create a System Image Disc.

The Create a System Image Disc dialog box opens where you can choose where you want to save your System Image Disc. You can save it on your hard drive, on a DVD or a network location. For our example, we choose to save the System Image on a DVD. Click Next to continue.

Note: If applicable, you can include other drives in your System Image backup but keep in mind that this will increase the size of the image.
The confirmation screen lists your settings for the System Image Disc. If you want to make some changes, click the back arrow button on the top left. If you are fine with the settings, click Start Backup.

The System Image Disc would then be created, the time it takes is dependent on the size of the backup. Once completed, you are asked if you want to Create a System Repair disc. A System Repair disc is essential as it is used to re-image your computer from a system image. Click Yes to continue.

Select a CD/DVD to create the System Repair disc on and click Create disc.

If you have to restore your System Image in the event of a hard drive failure, you would be able to use the System Recovery Options – System Image Recovery.
array systems computers long beach

Read More

Convert Windows XP into a Windows 7 Virtual Machine with Disk2vhd (hyper v)

Convert Windows XP into a Windows 7 Virtual Machine with Disk2vhd

how to use Disk2vhd to move your Windows XP installation into Windows 7 and then run it with Windows Virtual PC.

Would you like to be able to still run Microsoft Windows XP while you get familiar with Windows 7? Well, moving your existing Windows XP system to a virtual machine that you can run in Windows 7 is a relatively easy procedure with the Disk2vhd tool from Microsoft’s Windows Sysinternals team:
In this edition of the Windows Desktop Report, I’ll show you how to use Disk2vhd, which is a free tool, to move your Windows XP installation into Windows 7 and then run it with Windows Virtual PC.

What is Disk2vhd?

As its name implies, Disk2vhd is designed to create VHD versions of physical disks. This tool can be used to convert systems running Windows XP SP2 and up as well as Windows Server 2003 and up.
To perform this task, the Disk2vhd utility makes use of the Windows Volume Snapshot feature built in to the operating system. When you run Disk2vhd, it first creates a volume snapshot image of the hard disk. It then exports that image into a VHD that you can then add to Windows Virtual PC as well as to Hyper-V Manager.
If you’ll be using Windows Virtual PC, keep in mind that it supports a maximum virtual disk size of 127GB. If you create a VHD from a larger disk it will not be accessible from a Windows Virtual PC virtual machine. Another thing to keep in mind is that Windows Virtual PC doesn’t support the Multiprocessor Specification, and it will not be able to boot VHDs captured from multiprocessor systems.

Preparation

In order to ensure a successful virtual machine transition, there are several tasks that you’ll want to perform on your Windows XP system in preparation for the operation. Let’s take a closer look.

• Backup: You’ll want to back up your system using Windows XP’s Backup Utility or a third-party disk imaging tool, such as EASEUS Todo Backup, which is a free package that I used for my test configuration. That way if anything goes awry, you can restore your Windows XP system and get right back to work. Just to be on the safe side, you may also want to back up all your data on CD/DVD or on an external hard disk. While it may sound like overkill, having an extra backup of your data will give you peace of mind.
• Optimization: You’ll want to make sure that your Windows XP system and hard disk are in tip-top shape by running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter. Doing so will help make the operation run quickly and smoothly. By running Disk Cleanup, all unnecessary files will be removed, such as trash in the Recycle Bin and Temporary Internet files. By running Disk Defragmenter, your hard disk will be ready for optimal performance.
• Windows Update: You’ll want to run Windows Update on your Windows XP system and make absolutely sure that all current updates are downloaded and installed.

My example configuration

In my example, I’ll be using two different computers: one computer running Windows XP SP3 and one computer running Windows 7. I’ll run Disk2vhd on the XP system and create the VHD on an external hard disk. The drive on this XP system is using about 40GB on an 80GB hard disk. I’ll then move the virtual machine over to Windows 7 and run it there using Windows Virtual PC.

Getting Disk2vhd

You can get and use Disk2vhd in one of two ways. You can download Disk2vhd from the Windows Sysinternals page on the Microsoft TechNet site. Or you can run immediately Disk2vhd from the Live.Sysinternals.com site. Either way, the utility does not require installation, which means that using it is as easy as launching the executable.

Converting the system

I decided to run Disk2vhd from the Live.Sysinternals.com site for this article. Once I clicked on the link, I immediately saw the Internet Explorer File Download - Security Warning dialog box, shown in Figure A.

Figure A

As soon as the download commences, Internet Explorer displays the File Download - Security Warning dialog box.

When you click the Run button, the download begins, as shown in Figure B.

Figure B

The actual download is really quick.

Once the download is complete, the executable begins to launch, which triggers the Internet Explorer - Security Warning, shown in Figure C.

Figure C

As soon as the executable begins to launch, Internet Explorer displays a Security Warning dialog box.

You’ll then need to accept the Sysinternals Software License Terms, as shown in Figure D.

Figure D

You are encouraged to read through the Software License Terms.

When you get to the main user interface, you’ll see that Disk2vhd automatically selects all the available volumes/drives, sets a default location, and chooses a name for the VHD file. You can choose a different location and name if you want. In fact, the procedure will go faster if you select a different hard disk besides the one on which you are creating a VHD. Then, select the Prepare for Use in Virtual PC check box. As you can see in Figure E, I chose only the main drive and selected an external hard disk. When you are ready, click the Create button.

Figure E

You can choose specific drives as well as a different location and name.

You’ll then have to sit back and wait. Depending on how large your hard disk is and the location of your destination folder, the process can take a while to complete. As the process chugs away, you’ll see the progress, as shown in Figure F.

Figure F

The progress gauge keeps you apprised of the conversion procedure.

For instance, my XP system with about 40GB on an 80GB drive took just a little over two hours to complete the conversion and transfer to an external USB hard disk. When the operation is complete, you’ll see the screen shown in Figure G.

Figure G

My example system took a little over two hours to convert to a virtual machine.

Running XP in Windows Virtual PC

Once you copy the virtual Windows XP system’s .vhd file over to the Windows 7 system, you’ll then open Windows Virtual PC and launch the Create a Virtual Machine wizard, as shown in Figure H.

Figure H

You’ll launch the Create Virtual Machine wizard.

In order to reduce the amount of initial tweaking, I configured my virtual machine to have the same amount of RAM as its physical counterpart, as shown in Figure I.

Figure I

You’ll specify the amount of RAM that you want your Windows XP virtual machine to have.

When prompted to add a virtual hard disk, select the Use an Existing Virtual Hard Disk option and then use the Browse button to locate your .vhd file, as shown in Figure J. When you’ve done so, just click the Create button.

Figure J

Select the Use an Existing Virtual Hard Disk option and then locate your vhd.

Once the Create a Virtual Machine wizard is complete, then just reopen Windows Virtual PC, locate the new virtual machine, and launch it. Of course, I had to do a bit of tweaking in order to get my XP system running, and because XP was now running on a new system, I had to reactivate Windows XP. However all that was relatively painless, and I was able to run my existing Windows XP installation in Window 7, as shown in Figure K.

Figure K

Windows XP is running inside of Windows Virtual PC in Windows 7.

What’s your take?

Will you use this Disk2vhd to virtualize your Windows XP system? Have you used Disk2vhd before? If so, what has been your experience? As always, if you have comments or information to share about this topic, please take a moment to drop by the elitebuyer and let us hear from you.

How to fix the “Cannot attach the virtual hard disk …”

… to the virtual machine.  Check the values provided and try again.” error

It sucks as an error message.  Would it take too much programming effort to make it more meaningful Virtual PC team?
What does it mean?
It means you have a Virtual Hard Disk file larger than 127.5GB.  Which Virtual PC does not support.
You might have created this with the Microsoft Disk2VHD tool.
To confirm the “disk is too big” problem, open the Settings on an existing Virtual PC, and try to attach the drive:

In other words, we’ve captured a 160GB hard disk, and Virtual PC won’t let us use it.
But we can fix it, it’s a two step process
First we use DiskPart, and then we use VHD Resizer.

1.DiskPart
DISKPART> select vdisk file=c:\users\dale\desktop\worktest.vhd
DiskPart successfully selected the virtual disk file.
DISKPART> attach vdisk
100 percent completed
DiskPart successfully attached the virtual disk file.
DISKPART> list volume
Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
Volume 0     E                       DVD-ROM         0 B  No Media
Volume 1                      NTFS   Partition    100 MB  Healthy    System
Volume 2     D                NTFS   Partition    199 GB  Healthy
Volume 3     C                NTFS   Partition    265 GB  Healthy    Boot
Volume 4     F                NTFS   Partition    149 GB  Healthy
DISKPART> select volume 4
Volume 4 is the selected volume.
DISKPART> list volume
Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
Volume 0     E                       DVD-ROM         0 B  No Media
...
* Volume 4     F                NTFS   Partition    149 GB  Healthy
DISKPART> shrink querymax
The maximum number of reclaimable bytes is:  106 GB (108636 MB)
DISKPART> shrink desired=40960 (Note: desired is the amount we want to prune of the image)
DiskPart successfully shrunk the volume by:   40 GB
DISKPART> list volume
Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
Volume 0     E                       DVD-ROM         0 B  No Media
...
* Volume 4     F                NTFS   Partition    109 GB  Healthy
DISKPART> detach vdisk
DiskPart successfully detached the virtual disk file.
DISKPART> exit
What we now have is a VHD file still sized at 149GB, but with a 109GB partition in it.  What we need to do next is resize the VHD to 109GB.
2. VHDResizer.
Use VHDResizer to resize your newly shrunk VHD file, in this example WorkTest.VHD

(yes, I picked a New Size larger than 109GB, I went for 120GB instead).
And finally…
Success!  It boots!

This article might be useful as well:
Mount base and differencing VHD disks using Windows Virtual PC on Windows 7 x64.
To recap, the tools used were:
DiskPart (included in Windows)
Disk2VHD
VHDResizer

135 e. 9th st, Long Beach, CA 90813 562-366-4177

Read More

Best Start Menu replacements for Windows 8 elitebuyer 562-366-4177

6 Start Menu Replacements for Windows 8

Want a Start menu on your Windows 8 desktop? While Microsoft no longer includes the Start button, opting instead for a click in a hidden corner and a new Start screen, there are quite a few Start menu replacements you can choose from.
You can try living without the Start button and customizing your Start screen – it’s very possible to get by without the Start button and some people seem to prefer the new interface – but you have a choice.
Many of these tools also allow you to boot directly to the desktop and hide the charms and app switcher that appear when you move your cursor to the corners of the screen, giving you a more traditional desktop experience.

Classic Shell

Classic Shell is a free, open-source Start menu replacement. It includes skins that can mimic the Windows 7/Vista, Windows XP, or Windows 2000/98 start menus and is extremely configurable. If you’re using Ninite to set up your new computer with the software you like, you’ll find that Ninite can now install Classic Start.

Start8

Stardock’s Start8 offers a Windows 8-style Start menu in addition to a Windows 7-style Start menu. Unlike Classic Shell, Start8 isn’t free – while there’s a 30-day free trial, you’ll have to pay $5 if you want to use Start8 long-term.
Start8′s Windows 7-style Start menu is a more accurate reproduction of Windows 7’s Start menu than Classic Shell’s.

Start8′s Windows 8-style Start menu isn’t too shabby, either – it feels similar to the new Start screen, but you can use it without going full-screen.

IOBit StartMenu8

Try IObit StartMenu8 if you’re disappointed by Classic Shell and don’t want to shell out $5 for Start8. IObit StartMenu8 is completely free and works more similarly to the Windows 7 Start menu than Classic Shell does.

Right-click the StartMenu8 icon and you’ll find many of the more useful options for using your computer as a traditional desktop, including the ability to skip the Start screen at login, hide the charms sidebar, and disable the other hot corners.

Make Your Own Start Menu

Using the Windows taskbar’s support for “toolbars” that can display the contents of a folder, you can create your own Start menu replacement without installing any third-party software.
For instructions, check out How to Get the Classic Start Menu Back in Windows 8.

Pokki

Pokki is primarily an “app store” for Windows, but it also offers a Start menu for Windows 8. Unlike the other Start menus here, Pokki doesn’t try to copy Microsoft’s Start menus exactly. It has a different design, which you may or may not prefer. There are separate categories for your applications and settings and you can also pin your most-used programs to the Favorites section.

ViStart

There’s also ViStart, which was one of the most talked-about Start menus when the first preview releases of Windows 8 were released with no traditional Start menu. Unfortunately, ViStart’s installer is now full of useless toolbars and other junkware – we can’t recommend ViStart when the other Start menus here work so well.

---

The third-party Start menu ecosystem is flourishing. Samsung and Toshiba are even writing their own Start menus – Samsung Quick Starter and Toshiba Desktop Assist – and including them with their Windows 8 computers. It’s very possible other PC manufacturers will follow.

Read More

How to Access open Control Panel in Windows 8

How to Access the Control Panel in Windows 8

With the old Windows Start menu, you could add the Control Panel as a menu or a drop-down list. With Windows 8, you can pin the Control Panel to the Start Screen and taskbar but first you need to know where it is.
One of the chief complaints about Windows 8 (or any new version of Microsoft’s operating system) is “where did such-and-such go?” With Windows 8, when MS removed the Start button and Start Menu, it threw a lot of people for a loop. Because the Start Menu was like an old familiar hang out; one of those places that no matter how it changed over the years, it was a fairly reliable place to find stuff whether it was your Documents folder, Devices, Printers, the ability to search your programs and files, and of course, the Control Panel.
There are about four ways (so far) to access the Control Panel in Windows 8 Preview Release.

Method 1: The Old Stand-By – Search for it …

Windows 8 introduces a “Charms” bar accessible from the top or bottom right “hot corner”. Simply drag the mouse pointer to either corner until the five Charms appear along the right edge of the screen. Drag the mouse pointer and click on Search (you can access the Search charm through the keyboard shortcut Windows logo + Q).

The search pane will pop out and from there you can type Control Panel and select it from the results to the left. Alternatively, you can simply begin typing from the Start Screen.

Method 2: The Ribbon aka Windows Explorer

In Windows 7, you can open Windows Explorer click on Computer and then Open Control Panel on the toolbar.

In Windows 8, you can also click on Open Control Panel but the toolbar has been replaced by the Ribbon as found in Office 2010.

Method 3: More Charms – Settings

Access the Charms bar once more. Drag the mouse pointer to and click on Settings. The Settings pane will pop out and you can then choose Control Panel.
Note: To this settings option is only available from the desktop Charms setting.

Method 4: The Easiest Way – Right-click the Start “Button”

Last and perhaps the easiest way, right-click on what was formerly known as the Start button in the bottom left corner (now a hot corner), which allows you to switch between the Desktop and Start Screen. Right clicking brings up a context menu with wide array of options. The Control Panel is the fifth from the bottom.

And there you have it, four sure ways to access the Control Panel in Windows 8 Preview Release. Of course, some of these could change before it is released to manufacturers. We’ll be sure to keep you apprised of any of these changes if or when they happen.
Do you have an another way of opening the Windows 8 Control Panel? What is your preferred method? Let us know in the comments.

Long Beach Torrance Computer Service Repair 562-366-4177

Read More

File Sharing in Windows 7 Windows 8 Step By Step

Windows 7 provides an easiest way to establish a network connection for mutual file and folders sharing. If you have been using Microsoft OS platform and are acquaint with the procedure of sharing files and folders on previous Microsoft operating systems, then it would be very easy for you to share files and folders in Windows 7. For novices it would still be a challenge to pull off. In this post we will guiding you through the step-by-step procedure of establishing network connection with others PCs, which eventually lets you share files and folders instantly.

We have divided the post into two sections

• Connecting via WiFi Router
• Connecting without WiFi Router(Ad-Hoc Connection)

Connecting with WiFi Router

To start off with, all computers need to be connected with the same WiFi router. Once connected from system tray, click the Network Icon and click Open Networking and Sharing Center.

Be certain that every one in your vicinity with whom you need to share files are connected to the same wireless network connection. Under wireless connection name, click Unidentified or Public Network.

It will bring up Set Network Location dialog, select Home Network HomeGroup.

If you want to configure advance sharing settings, click View or change HomeGroup Settings. It will lead you to HomeGroup setting dialog, form here you can configure numerous sharing options. Click Save Changes.

Now your computer will be discoverable under the hood of HomeGroup. All the computers who have joined this Home Network HomeGroup can view & share your computer’s public files and folders.
When any HomeGroup user will try to view or share files with you, he will be prompted for username and password credentials.

Apparently they are not authorized to access your public files and folders yet. To get it over with and allow HomeGroup users to freely access your public folders, go to Network and Sharing Center and from left sidebar, click Change advance Sharing Settings.

It will lead you to Advance Sharing settings, now scroll-down to find Password protected sharing section, enable Turn Off password protected sharing option and click Save Changes.

Now on opening your public folder from other end would not prompt that user for any account credentials. In layman’s term, your public folder will become accessible to anyone who has joined the Home Network Homegroup.

In Network and Sharing Center, click WiFi network name to view the computers connected to the same HomeGroup. For viewing others’ public files and folders, just double-click the desired computer name.

Without Router (Ad-Hoc Connection)

Windows 7, with Adhoc connection, brings the easiest way around to connect with other computers when there is no wireless router around. It provides seamless connectivity with other computers having Wifi support. In this procedure we will be connecting our two notebooks (PC1 and PC2) with each other (both having WiFi capability).
To start off with, first turn On your WiFi and from Network system tray button, click open Network and Sharing Center.

Network and Sharing Center window will appear, click Setup up a new connection network. It will bring up a new dialog, scroll down and click Set up a wireless ad hoc network and click Next.


In this step enter an appropriate name of an ad-hoc network. If you want to create security-enabled network with password protection, then choose desired option from Security type and enter security key. Click Save this network to save this ad-hoc connection. Click Next to continue

The ad-hoc connection is now successfully created.

To connect it with second notebook, first turn on it’s wifi and from system tray network menu, under specified network name, click Connect.

Upon click, both notebooks (PC1 and PC2) will be connected. From Network and Sharing center of both PCs, change the network group to HomeGroup. If file sharing needs username/password credentials, then turn-off the Password protected sharing (as mentioned above).
Open Network and Sharing Center, double-click network connection, it will open Network window showing the connected computers. Now the connection is established and you can freely access files and folders from each other.

Apart from sharing public files and folders, you can also enable sharing of personal folders by going to their respective Properties and clicking Share under the Sharing tab. That’s it, now wasn’t that easy? Enjoy!
for more help call 562-366-4177
elitebuyer.com 135 e. 9th st. long beach, ca 90813

Read More