Easy Download of Windows 10 builds
article #1518, updated 785 days ago

Try URLs like this, for an ISO of Windows 10 build 1909:

https://archive.org/details/windows-1909

Unfortunately, archive.org lacks the bandwidth for rapid downloads of monsters like those. Here’s a source which can set you up to do it in 10 minutes if your side is fast enough:

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-and-office-iso-download-tool

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New Windows performance tool: Wise Care 365
article #1517, updated 790 days ago

This one has a lot of very nice performance tweaks, and a defrag within that seems to do a good job, though one cannot defrag an SSD, only TRIM.

www.wisecleaner.com/wise-care-365.html

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Transferring Domains into Network Solutions
article #1516, updated 797 days ago

This has become fraught with peril lately, even after initiation it can be far from easy to figure out what to do next. What to do next, after the transfer has initiated, is, we browse here:

www.networksolutions.com/manage-it/transfer-status.jsp

and we put the transfer authorization code, from the outgoing registrar, after finding the appropriate Network Solutions account number for the order, and scrolling in the above page (if there are more than one; if you do a lot of this, there will be a pile, if not, just one) to find that account number. Then open the account and enter the code.

If you have trouble finding that account number, browse here:

www.networksolutions.com/my-account/order-history

and the account number will be listed with the order for the transfer.

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Devices and Printers in some Windows 11 circumstances
article #1515, updated 804 days ago

Sometimes, the legacy/traditional Devices and Printers window does not come up in Windows 11. If you see this, browse to this in File Explorer:

shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}

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CLEANMGR Advanced Mode
article #1444, updated 812 days ago

Run it like this from administrative CMD, in two steps. In the first step just check everything off. The second step runs it all. Cleans a whole lot more than any other way, and after you do the first step, the second step stays put, the number is actually the maximum index of sets of cleanup that you can keep around for future semi/automatic use.

Cleanmgr /sageset:65535 
Cleanmgr /sagerun:65535

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Improvements on an NIU KQ3i e-Scooter
article #1514, updated 818 days ago

I have an Evercross H5 and an NIU KQ3i. I like the careful design and self-control of the NIU, but I have had to do a few things. Here’s a reference pic of my NIU:

First of all, on every single screw of the stem, I’ve added Blue Permatex Gel. This has kept them all from loosening.

Secondly, concerning the two silver screws on each opposite side near the bottom of the stem. These loosened often for me, even with B.P.G. I thought about trying Red Permatex, but there’s common advice to avoid this because you’re not going to get the screw out without serious heat, and we’re screwing into aluminum here. So I looked far and wide, and found some thin countersink washers that fit:




from McMaster-Carr (a great source for lots of things, click on the image for detail)

and used one of those on each silver screw. By the time I got that far, I had stripped the head of one of the silver screws, and I replaced it using McMaster:



You’ll notice that my replacement is Torx, not hex; this is deliberate, Torx is more resistant to stripping. Also, that screw is made of a very durable alloy. Have had zero trouble with either silver screw since.

I also tightened the larger hex bolts further down, you can see one of the two in the first pic above.

Lubrication has been helpful also, around bearings and really all over, though you don’t want it on your brake disks. The best so far has probably been CRC Electrical Silicone Lubricant. The “Electrical” part is very important because this is a very electrical device, and we don’t want anything sneaking in and either damaging or shorting anything out!

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Restart All Failed VSS Writers
article #1513, updated 825 days ago

Found by the profound Brigg Bush:

$writers = vssadmin list writers | 
    Select-String -Context 0,4 'Writer name:' | 
    ? {$_.Context.PostContext[2].Trim() -ne "Last error: No error"} | 
    Select Line | 
    % {$_.Line.tostring().Split("'")[1]}



 $ServiceNames = $writers | 
    ForEach-Object {
        switch ($_) {
            'ASR Writer' { $Result = 'VSS' }
            'Bits Writer' { $Result = 'BITS'}
             'Certificate Authority' { $Result = 'EventSystem'}
            'COM+ REGDB Writer' { $Result = 'VSS'}
            'DFS Replication service writer' { $Result = 'DFSR'}
            'Dhcp Jet Writer' { $Result = 'DHCPServer'}
            'FRS Writer' { $Result = 'NtFrs' }
            'IIS Config Writer' { $Result = 'AppHostSvc'}
            'IIS Metabase Writer' { $Result = 'IISADMIN'}
            'Microsoft Exchange Writer' { $Result = 'MSExchangeIS'}
            'Microsoft Hyper-V VSS Writer' { $Result = 'vmms'}
            'MS Search Service Writer' { $Result = 'EventSystem'}
            'NPS VSS Writer' { $Result = 'EventSystem'}
            'NTDS' { 'EventSystem'}
            'OSearch VSS Writer' { $Result = 'OSearch'}
            'OSearch14 VSS Writer' { $Result = 'OSearch14'}
            'Registry Writer' { $Result = 'VSS'}
            'Shadow Copy Optimization Writer' { $Result = 'VSS'}
            'Sharepoint Services Writer' { $Result = 'SPWriter'}
            'SPSearch VSS Writer' { $Result = 'SPSearch'}
            'SPSearch4 VSS Writer' { $Result = 'SPSearch4'}
            'SqlServerWriter' { $Result = 'SQLWriter'}
            'System Writer' { $Result = 'CryptSvc'}
            'WMI Writer' { $Result = 'Winmgmt'}
            'TermServLicensing' { $Result = 'TermServLicensing'}
        }
        $result
    }

If ($ServiceNames) { Restart-Service -Name ($ServiceNames | Select-Object -Unique) -WhatIf }

If ($Result) { Restart-Service -Name ($ServiceNames | Select-Object -Unique) -WhatIf }

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Schedule files to be removed during next reboot
article #1511, updated 840 days ago

This is a great way to get things removed where nothing else works.

learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/pendmoves

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QuickBooks will not accept serial number at install (fields too short, don't fit)
article #1510, updated 840 days ago

Often, the QuickBooks desktop installer will not accept the serial number and/or product number, the fields are too short. QB support pages advise changing font scaling, but often this does not help. The best workaround so far, has been to copy the serial and product numbers to Notepad, then paste them in all at once, rather than trying to type them in directly.

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Scheduling a Reboot via Script
article #1484, updated 859 days ago

The most reliable way I had for a long time, was using a scheduled task. But Powershell for this changes from Windows version to Windows version. Here’s a new method, it uses the time specification in the ‘shutdown’ command, to reboot the machine tomorrow at 3AM:

$tomorrow3AM = (Get-Date).AddHours(24)
$tomorrow3AM = $tomorrow3AM.AddHours( ($tomorrow3AM.Hour * -1) + 3 )
$tomorrow3AM = $tomorrow3AM.AddMinutes( $tomorrow3AM.Minute * -1 )
$tomorrow3AM = $tomorrow3AM.AddSeconds( $tomorrow3AM.Second * -1 )
$tomorrow3AM = $tomorrow3AM.AddMilliseconds( $tomorrow3AM.Millisecond * -1 )
$SecondsFromNow = ($tomorrow3AM - (Get-Date)).TotalSeconds
shutdown -f -r -t ([int] $SecondsFromNow)

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