All Categories » Windows » Windows Oddities

"A Cabinet file cannot be trusted" - Why?
There are many things that can lead to the error "A Cabinet file cannot be trusted". I'll review the steps I'd take to track down the problem. (Continue reading...)

Can I delete these randomly named folders?
Folders with random and unreadable names will occasionally appear on your machine. They're typically the side effect of an update that didn't clean up. (Continue reading...)

Can a website cause my computer to get a "blue screen of death"?
The blue screen of death can happen for many reasons, usually hardware failure of software bugs. Issues with web sites, however, is not one of them. (Continue reading...)

Can the same file have two different names?
It's possible to have two different names for the exact same file on disk. The tools, like the concept, are a little obscure but can be very useful. (Continue reading...)

Chkdsk said my system was "dirty" - what does dirty mean?
Windows tracks unfinished business on your hard drive with a "dirty" flag. Turning off your computer improperly can leave the dirty flag set. (Continue reading...)

GRi.exe

Help! My Shift key is stuck!
Windows has an accessibility feature that's very easy to turn on by mistake that changes the behaviour of your shift key and others. (Continue reading...)

How can I find out who is using a "file in use"?
Windows will often report that a file is in use without telling you what program is using it. Process Explorer can tell you. (Continue reading...)

How can I get Windows Explorer to default to open on a directory of my choosing?
You can create a shortcut to open Windows Explorer on the directory of your choice. (Continue reading...)

How can I tell from where an EXE file is being run?
Malware authors often attempt to hide their work by giving them the same name as system process. The difference comes down to location. (Continue reading...)

How do I install an msi file that requires administrative privileges in Windows Vista?
Installation packages that use msi files may require administrative rights in Windows Vista, but it might not be obvious how to grant those rights. (Continue reading...)

How do I print or capture the information from a "blue screen" error?
Blue screens are bad enough, but they're further complicated by the fact that capturing the information presented is nearly impossible without a trick. (Continue reading...)

How do I turn off the unread message count on the Windows XP login screen?
Running more than one email program in Windows XP may result in an incorrect unread message count, but fixing this issue requires some skill. (Continue reading...)

How do all these "Documents" folders relate to each other?
My Documents, Username's Documents and the My Documents folder in the Documents and Settings folder all relate ... intimately. (Continue reading...)

I can't format my hard drive - it keep telling me "volume is in use by another process" -- why?
"Volume in use" when trying to format most commonly means you're trying to format and erase the entire disk that has Windows on it. (Continue reading...)

Is it safe to use hibernate all the time?
Hibernate is a convenient way to turn off a machine without shutting down all applications for a quick restart later. (Continue reading...)

Is there a way to save my 'Favorites' in case of a system crash?
Since your Favorites are stored in a folder on your machine, backing them up in case of a system crash is a quick and painless process. (Continue reading...)

My "Search Companion" window comes up empty and I can't search. How do I fix it?
The Search Companion window sometimes disappears or comes up empty, making searching difficult or impossible. There are a couple of possible solutions. (Continue reading...)

My desktop PC shuts off after a period of inactivity. Why?
Computers can be configured to shut down after periods of inactivity. But if it happens without having configured it, reasons aren't as clear. (Continue reading...)

What are alternate data streams, and are they a security risk?
Alternate data streams are a little known and little understood feature of NTFS that allows information to be effectively hidden within other files. (Continue reading...)

What are the $NtUnstallKB* folders in my Windows folder, and can I delete them?.
Windows Updates saves uninstall information into hidden folders that, with a little planning, can be deleted to free up disk space. (Continue reading...)

What is '\Program Files\XEROX\NWWIA', and how do I get rid of it?
\Program Files\XEROX\NWWIA appears to be a harmless "ghost" file, and there is no need to delete it. (Continue reading...)

What is Error 8000FFFF when I try to install a Windows Vista Update?
Error 8000FFFF results on Windows Vista machines with 4gig of RAM. As of this writing there's no resolution to error 8000FFFF on a Windows Update. (Continue reading...)

What is the System Idle Process and why is it using most of the CPU?
Can a computer really do nothing? Yes and no. When it's doing nothing it has to do something, and that something is the System Idle Process. (Continue reading...)

What is the prefetch folder, and why are there copies of system files there?
Windows uses several techniques to try to run as fast as it can for you. The prefetch folder is an aspect of one such technique. (Continue reading...)

Where's the Recycle Bin on my USB Drive?
Relying on a Recycle Bin could be a costly mistake. Particularly when USB and other removable drives may, or may not, even have a recycle bin. (Continue reading...)

Why are there duplicate entries in Task Manager, and how do I clean it out?
Many programs are designed such that they will appear more than once in Task Manager. We'll look at why that is, and when you should care. (Continue reading...)

Why can't I access the Documents and Settings or Local Settings folders in Windows Vista?
Two previously standard folders, "Documents and Settings" and "Local Settings", appear to be locked in Windows Vista. The reason: they've been moved. (Continue reading...)

Why can't I change user-specific folder and variable names?
When you rename a user account in Windows you might expect that the user specific folders would be renamed. Sadly, you'd be wrong. (Continue reading...)

Why can't I create a folder named CON? (And other "Crazy Facts")
Unexplained behavior can often seem mysterious and even magical, until the real, more mundane reasons are understood. And so it is with Windows. (Continue reading...)

Why can't I delete this file?
Sometimes a file cannot be deleted because it has invalid characters in its filename. There are techniques and tools to force the delete anyway. (Continue reading...)

Why do I get "Window Installer, Preparing to install" each time I boot Windows?
If you get the "Window Installer, Preparing to install" each time you boot Windows, there are a couple of resources to check out. (Continue reading...)

Why does my System32 folder open when I log in?
If the SYSTEM32 folder opens on log in it's normally the result of a broken start-up entry or a virus. There are steps you can take to correct it. (Continue reading...)

Why does my computer shout at me?
Windows has many sounds all of which are tied to specific events. Random sounds, including the computer shouting your name at you, is a mystery. (Continue reading...)

Why does the space used by files on my hard drive show different numbers depending on how I look?
Depending on how you look at your disk, the amount of space used can appear quite different. We'll look at some of the possible reasons. (Continue reading...)

Why doesn't the "Help & Support" Service stay disabled?
The Help and Support service will restart itself and stay running after you ask for help and support. Apparently that's just how it works. (Continue reading...)

Why, when I'm doing nothing at all, will my hard disk suddenly start thrashing?
There are several reasons you might see hard disk activity when you're not doing something yourself. It's not hard to see what's causing it. (Continue reading...)