Helpdesk #10: Formatting

As we all know, the steps of formatting a pc are relatively simple:

- Back up all data you don't want to loose
- Make sure you know which software you'll need to reinstall
- Take note of all your logins etc
- Check again if you have backed everything you need up.

I am writing this from a local unprotected wireless network at the moment. I was asked to come to a local coffeeshop and install a legitimate windows for the owner on his accounting pc.

I took the neccesary backups, and quickly familiarised myself with his accountancy programme. Then the problems started.

During the winxp setup preparations, the PC bluescreened with these errors (ao):

0x000 000 7B
0xF78 D25 24

Which are harddrive errors. I tried running a checkdisk (/f) but that didn't work.

I proceeded to check the BIOS, after googling the bluescreen errors, and oh yes. The person who previously fixed this pc left a HDD setting in which was incompliant with the winxp setup.

In this particular BIOS I had to follow these steps:
Enter Bios
> Integrated Peripherals
> On-Chip ATA devices
> RAID mode
> It was set to AHCI, which according to my google skills was causing the error. I set it to IDE and off we were with the installation.

The pc came pre-installed with windows vista, but the 'client' insisted on Windows XP, something the previous person to help him failed at, since he was stuck with a pirated version of the OS.


It's a medion pc, so I downloaded the drivers from the medion wesite - Unfortunately it seems winxp drivers weren't available. Oh joy.

This is when the fun begins. Open up the computer and try to identify the brand, make and type of the unrecognised hardware. Luckily, I succeeded.

Random Point of Interest #02: Photosynth (ct'd)

Okay, so at the start of the blog, I mentioned Photosynth and how amazing it was. I gave a link where you could try it, without actually having tried it, since I couldn't install Silverlight at that time.

I have it now though, and I'm _amazed_ at photosynth!

Go to their website and feel the awesomeness.

Helpdesk #09: Taskbar in Windows 7

A few people have asked me how they can change their Windows 7 taskbar to resemble the 'old' one from WinXP for example.

Although you won't completely succeed, since the 'quicklaunch' function was remodeled and done away with, here's a short explanation how to get as close as you can:

Step 1: Right-click your taskbar and select 'Properties'.

Step 2: In the dropdown (see screenshot) choose "Combine when taskbar is full".



(apologies for the Dutch W7, it's legit so I'm not complaining ;) )

Step 3: Click Apply/OK and enjoy your oldskool taskbar.



Personally, I'd advise anyone to get used to the new functionality, it's actually pretty awesome, and I think we'll see more of it in the future.

Helpdesk #08: Printer Issue

A good friend of mine had a printer issue using Windows Vista.

She removed the printer from her printer list to get it working again, she then plugged it out & in again, but other than the "new hardware found" sound, nothing happened.

The driver comes packaged with windows vista, and as such, there is no download for it.

The solution is rather easy though; simply reboot while the printer is not physically connected, and then plug it back in.

Aaaaand done.

Helpdesk #07: Missing HDDs in Win7

I nearly forgot to mention this, but after installing Windows 7, and formatting both HDDs in my computer during the installation, my Operating System only found one of the HDDs (the one on which it was installed).

Now that I think about it that's pretty normal, since the new user interface during the installation doesn't require you to set a drive letter nor filesystem when you format a hard drive.

Anyway, here's the fix:

Start -> Right-click on computer -> Manage -> Disk management -> select correct drive -> format to NTFS (or FAT32, but why would you :x) -> Right-click and choose 'assign drive letter'


It'd probably be a good idea to do this as soon as you boot for the first time, else you'll end up with your main hdd being C:\ and your other one being M:\ (like mine is) which is a bit silly.