How to remotely read a Dell Optiplex Tag number (serial no) via command prompt

There are plenty of management tools that will gather the data for you, but if you're on a domain network and just need a quick way to gather some serial numbers for known computer names, try this method using the command prompt shell.

Dell support have a useful document telling you how to use the command
WMIC BIOS GET SERIALNUMBER to retrieve the Dell serial number, aka Tag Number.

Often that command is blocked by firewall and security settings if you try to run it remotely using the /Node option. Similarly for PowerShell commands using the Get-WmiObject command. I also couldn't find any useful info in the registry either via regedit, so no quick shortcut with Remote Registry service.

By far the quickest and simplest way was to take advantage of the Sysinternals PSExec command. This allows you to run a remote command shell from a local computer.


So on your server or PC logged into the domain as an admin, you'd start a command prompt and run the commands:

1)
PSEXEC \\ CMD
   to start a command shell running on the computer called but displaying locally

2)
WMIC BIOS GET SERIALNUMBER
   to retrieve the serial number of the connected computer

3)
EXIT
   to close the remote command prompt and return to your local prompt

Cheaper TomTom Maps for Mazda NB1 SatNav

Not the usual IT support problem - TomTom Home (v2.9) wouldn't connect to the shop using Windows 10, so I couldn't actually pay for the maps upgrade. This is for a Mazda NB1 satnav fitted to a Mazda CX-5. That started me looking at alternatives. The same version on Windows 7 was ok, connecting to the shop and quoting £59.95 for 12mo updates (ouch!)

I tried looking at the TomTom website to directly purchase maps. There was a Western Europe map for £44.95 on offer. Part way down the screen it says type the first two letters for your TomTom model - thats DP in the case of the Mazda NB1 - however its not compatible. Sigh!

In the end, I worked out that you need the full European map for this model. This was listed at £59.95 (reduced from £69.95) plus there was an offer for 18 months of updates, instead of 12mo. I looked on vouchercodes and there was also a new customer code of WELCOME15_UK giving another £8 discount.

Once purchased you could allocate the map against the NB1 registered on your TomTom account (assuming you've already plugged your Mazda SD card into the computer and logged in via TomTom Home)

Then click on Update My device and the new European map will appear on the list to download to the memory card. One last issue, its too big to fit, so I ended up selecting EU Zone 8 which seemed to include UK, France, Spain and Germany (that's this summer's road trip covered).

So £52 for full European map with 18mo updates seems a much better deal than the one offered on the automatic download via TomTom Home. Sounds like there are 30% codes available too, depending upon the time of the year.

Can't install Google Chrome - Installer was unable to start

There are several discussion threads on Google and other forums discussing difficulties when reinstalling Google Chrome. You get the standard online ActiveX installer or the standalone installer, but neither will start properly, reporting 'Installer was unable to start'

I tried manually deleting various Google folders from Program Files, Program Files (x86), Common Files and in the registry; HKLM\Software\Google and HKCU\Software\Google.

Still got the error about Google Update installation failing initialization.

Until ... I deleted the HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Google key as well. That cleared the fault up and the installer was able to run successfully.

AVG CloudCare keeps prompting to Restart after Update

Seems like AVG Cloudcare with the AVG 2015 component (CloudCare version currently showing as v3.3.1) sometimes gets stuck on an update. It may just be for non-admin domain users, I haven't been able to confirm that for certain.

The user gets prompted every day for a Restart, which then nags hourly if they click postpone. Restarting and logging in as admin doesn't clear the problem -  it repeats again the following day.

Couple of options - the simple one is to go into CloudCare > Options > Advanced Settings > Update > Manage, then click the Delete Temporary Update Files. Reboot and you shouldn't be prompted again.

The more tedious option, if that doesn't fix the warning, is to uninstall and reinstall. After using the Uninstall from Control Panel > Programs and Features, do a reboot if required. Then run the AVG 2015 Remover program, that can be downloaded from AVG's utilities website here: http://www.avg.com/gb-en/utilities
Reboot, check there are no AVG folders left in C:\USERS\username\APPDATA or in Program Files or Program Files (x86) - and then reinstall. That definitely clears the problem !

Offline Files error - 0x80070718 Not enough quota is available to process this command

I was copying files from an old PC to a Win7 64 bit laptop for a client with an SBS2011 server. The laptop was at home, offline, when it started warning about not being able to copy any more files - to be fair there were 20GB of photos involved.

Those laptops are setup to use Offline Files, so the Documents folder is available away from the office. Sounds an easy one, the SBS2011 server has a 2GB file quota for users by default. I checked it was turned off ok, then connected via VPN, tried another copy, still no luck. Double-checked that setting, turned it on and off, again no luck. Had to be something else - not as obvious unfortunately.

Tracked it down to a local limit on the laptop - the offline files disk usage limit was too low. Look in Control Panel > Sync Center > Offline Files > Manage Offline Files > Disk Usage > Change Limits

A more useful error message would have saved a bit of time there.

Run as Administrator turned on, but greyed out - can't remove

Run this program as an administrator
is greyed out and can't be changed

On a Windows 7 Pro PC, in the program compatibility properties for a document management program we use (ie. right-click > Properties > Compatibility) there was a ticked 'Run as Administrator' option causing problems with the program failing to load. Issue was it was greyed out so couldn't be removed, even after clicking Change for All Users and entering the administrator password.

Answer was to start up Regedit and track this key down:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER

    Software

        Microsoft

            Windows NT

                CurrentVersion

                    AppCompatFlags

                        Layers

There was an entry for the exe, specifying RUNASADMIN WINXPSP3 - so we just deleted the RUNASADMIN term and all was fine again :-)

Sapphire R9 270X corrupts screen, but only at 1680x1050 on Digimate

Bit of a strange one - and the workaround is even stranger.

Got a Windows 7 PC built around an Asus P5Q Pro motherboard with Intel Q6600 quad core - nice bit of kit, bit dated. It ran an AMD Radeon 4570 X2 (single-handedly responsible for a huge energy bill !) on a Digimate L2262WD. Max resolution 1680x1050. Always worked fine. Anyway the Radeon 4570 finally died.

So we replaced with a good value Sapphire R9 270X 2GB GDDR5 model. Easy install, latest drivers (14.3 then 14.4). However we noticed the screen corrupts, more so when the mouse moves. You kind of get flashing blocks, mostly across the top third of the screen. It only does this at 1680x1050. Lower resolution is ok and higher is too, interestingly. Running at 1920x1080 looks a little fuzzy from the scaling but doesn't corrupt - which is strange because it almost looks like a bandwidth/timing issue - and you'd expect it to be worse at higher resolution.

• Same problem with all connector types (HDMI, DVI, VGA) and different cables.
• Clean install of Windows on a spare PC with the 270X and Digimate monitor - same problem.
• Plugged into a 42" LG TV and all fine.
• Borrowed a Dell 20" monitor which has max 1680x1050, worked fine.
• Plugged a Radeon 5450 instead of 270X, all fine

So its something to do with the monitor and graphics card combo. This was where I spotted something strange - connecting a second monitor clears the problem up. Doesn't matter which monitor is main or which combination of cables and connectors you use, as long as there is a second monitor present, then the Digimate works perfectly at 1680x1050 off the 270X.

Sapphire still haven't got back to me with any useful suggestions, although I suspect its in their firmware somewhere. Current version is 015.042.000.001

Dell 725 inkjet printer driver setup for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1, 64-bit

Just upgraded a Dell Vostro laptop to Windows 8.1 and the Dell 725 inkjet printer stopped working. At first there were no errors, nothing appeared to happen, no jobs appeared in the print queue. Then it turned into a communications error and a recommendation to enable bidirectional communications - which was already set. Just check that you're on the correct USB port (Printer > Properties > Ports), it appeared incorrectly as COM1 at one point. The correct USB port did show the printer greyed out when disconnected or turned off and then coloured in when online - but still wouldn't print.

I had a lot of trouble tracking down the correct driver. Dell's support website no longer lists Win 7 64-bit for that printer model. However if you look at their full Dell 725 ftp listing, it does show a download ... its just doesn't work with all the spaces in the link. Manually downloading R146546.exe based on that link turns out to be the Japanese version - sigh!

Fortunately Silicon Guide's Dell 725 printer listing has the correct 64 bit Windows 7 / Vista driver, labelled as version G8, A01.

Once run, that should unzip to the c:\dell\drivers\R146546 directory and open a window listing the files. Right-click on setup.exe, click Properties > Compatibility and set to Windows Vista and Run As Admin. Now run the setup and it should proceed normally.

Only problem I came across was one PC where there were still some earlier drivers installed, causing a conflict with this version. Remove the Dell 725 printer from the Devices and Printers Control Panel. You also need to go into Print Server properties too, into Drivers. Click the Change Driver Settings to get admin access. Then remove the Dell 725 driver and package. Look in Control Panel > Programs and uninstall Dell 725 printer. Reboot and look in C:\Windows. Do a search for files starting DLC* and delete the ones you can. That should clear all the old stuff ok, follow the above instructions to install the correct driver. Good luck!

Windows 7 Devices and Printers icons take forever / missing

Had this on a Win 7 Pro desktop PC in an SBS 2011 network. Couldn't print from Outlook or Excel reliably. Then spotted Devices and Printers appearing to hang.

Starting BlueTooth and disabling AV made no difference. Cleared temp files and ran chkdsk, no luck. Same problem when logging in as a different user with admin rights.

Finally tracked it down to corrupt System Restore. In Control Panel > System > System Protection there were two entries for C: drive, one listed as off and one listed as missing. Click Configure for the missing one and turn it off. Then click Configure for the remaining C: drive and turn System Restore back on, allocate 5% disk space (or similar).

Did a reboot to be sure and the Devices and Printers was working ok again.

Some more info at TechArena about corrupt system restore and error 0x8007007b 

Lenovo Z370 laptop Atheros AR9285 wireless not connecting to networks

Strange problem with two identical Lenovo Z370's (well one pink, one black). The pink one always connects, the black one sometimes fails to connect - it just reports a generic connection failed error. Tried reinstalling drivers, deleting wireless settings, removing anti-virus/security.

It also fails on other wireless networks, so its not down to the router. Both laptops had dentical drivers - the AR9285 v9.1.0.314 dated 12 Aug 2010 (Windows 7 64 bit) which is the latest that Lenovo list for that model. I also tried imaging the laptop from pink to black - but same problem, which started me thinking it was a hardware fault.

However before I went down that route I spotted an updated HP driver for the AR9285, which seemed to go as high as 9.2.0.444 for the EliteBook 6930p. Having a good search around the Lenovo site uncovered a 9.2.0.115 dated 24 Nov 2010 for a Lenovo G470 (also available for the IdeaPad Z570)
http://consumersupport.lenovo.com/uk/en/DriversDownloads/drivers_show_4134.html
I had to run the installer twice (first time uninstalls) and then the laptop connected immediately.

Wireless connects reliably now.

Symantec 12.1 LiveUpdate incorrectly reports low disk space

I've got 23GB free on this laptop and Symantec EndPoint Protection Small Business 12.1 keeps insisting I need to run disk cleanup to free some disk space.

I found this recent Symantec post that talked about proxies causing that problem
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH157197
but I don't think that applied on this site

I then found this old (!) 2008 post talking about the same problem with Symantec EndPoint 11.02 and how to fix it by removing the check from the registry
http://www.symantec.com/connect/forums/live-update-low-disk-space
except I couldn't find that value in my registry.

I did work it out in the end, I'm on 64 bit Windows 7. The equivalent location to check in the registry is
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
where I found the entry for ALUAlert and deleted it :-)

I did also note that in the Control Panel under Symantec LiveUpdate Settings > Update Cache, the max cache size was only 10MB so I bumped that up to 100MB.

Only thing is I don't know which fixed it now :-(

Win 7 meet Office Accounting - have you met before??

Been running Windows 7 (64 bit) release version for past week or so. Works a treat, runs well, doesn't have the occasional freeze that was plaguing my Vista install.

Just went to install Office Accounting 2009 before the bookkeeper arrives tomorrow and it went away with the fairies during the SQL install. Wouldn't end task for quite a while and took several prompts before restarting. Retried using the standalone SQL Express 2005 installer, but same problem - it went to scan the computer for something and didn't come back.

Had to uninstall the SQL components from the programs list in Control Panel. Then did a reboot for good measure. When it came back I did a manual install of SQL Express 2005 (64 bit). This worked straight off. Then I reran the Office Accounting 2009 installer and it worked :-)

Also tried running MSOA 2009 installer as Administrator.

Don't forget to add MSOA 2009 SP1. There are spearate US and UK versions, see here
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4E8AA62E-07CA-41FC-B8E4-3FB2D338775B&displaylang=en