How to: Win 7–Fix for printer share error 0x000006d9

I ran across an interesting error this week that I hadn’t seen before, on a Windows 7 pc as I attempted to share a printer. I would go into the printer properties –> sharing tab and label the printer and as soon as I clicked on either apply or ok I would see “Printer settings could not be saved. Operation could not be completed (error 0x000006d9). The issue turned out to be caused by the Windows Firewall being turned off.

The solution was actually very easy -

1 – Go to Control Panel –> Administrative Tools –> Services

Once you are in services – go to the bottom and make sure the Windows Firewall is turned on

If the Firewall isn’t turned on – Double click directly where it says Windows Firewall. You will get a pop up window where you can click on start.

Once you have started the Firewall service – > Click on OK. (You can close the Firewall –> Services –> and Control Panel Windows.

2 – Now try and SHARE the printer, it should share without any errors
3 – If you have a need or reason for running with the Firewall off, you can at this point go back in and stop the firewall in Control Panel – > Administrative Tools –> Services.

You can now attach to your shared printer from other pc’s…….

TechNet Video: How Do I: Migration From Windows XP to Windows 7 (Level 200)

From Microsoft:

TechNet Video: How Do I: Migration From Windows XP to Windows 7 (Level 200) (http://www NULL.microsoftbroadcaster NULL.com/en-us/Content/Link/11813?WT NULL.z_cType=VI&WT NULL.z_cSource=WWE)

(LINK) http://www.microsoftbroadcaster.com/en-us/Content/Link/11813?WT.z_cType=VI&WT.z_cSource=WWE (http://www NULL.microsoftbroadcaster NULL.com/en-us/Content/Link/11813?WT NULL.z_cType=VI&WT NULL.z_cSource=WWE) (http://www NULL.microsoftbroadcaster NULL.com/en-us/Content/Media/11813?WT NULL.z_cType=VI&WT NULL.z_cSource=WWE)

Find out what you need to know about the process of migrating your computers from Windows XP to Windows 7.

This video discusses:

Backup considerations and options
Preparing hard drives and partitions
Capturing Windows XP data and settings with the Windows Easy Transfer Tool
Installing Windows 7
Restoring captured data and settings with the Windows Easy Transfer Tool
Confirming settings

Software: Hidden and Additional Themes for Windows 7

One of the nice cosmetic features in Windows 7 is the great variety of themes that you can select from to change the appearance of your computer system. I had not written this post earlier because somehow I seriously though that most people were aware of all their options. However, after a recent road trip (with the W7 laptop) where I kept getting asked “where did you get those backgrounds for your computer”, I suddenly understood that their are a lot of people who just don’t know about the additional cosmetic changes you can make to your Windows 7 pc. So with that being said, here is a simple way that you can add or change the look of your Windows 7 pc.

For those who still aren’t sure here is a short video from Microsoft explaining “What is a theme” – (LINK)http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/what-is-a-theme (http://windows NULL.microsoft NULL.com/en-us/windows7/what-is-a-theme)

Microsoft has always offered what they refer to as themes for Windows, to all the user to change the appearance of their system. In Windows 7, Microsoft has a 3 different options for themes, 2 of which may not be well known. Everyone that has installed Windows 7 should be familiar with the personalization screen that you can find in Control Panel (Start Menu Button –> Control Panel)

When you click on Personalization, you get the following screen (This is the USA version, if you selected a different country during install of Windows 7 the pictures themselves may be a little different) where you can select the theme to use for your computer (Theme includes pictures –usually 5 or 6 in a group- plus color schemes and sounds). In addition, by selecting at the bottom you can select how often the background changes and if you want a specific color scheme or sound and what screen saver to go along with your theme.

Now this post could end right here but that wouldn’t cover the 2 other ways that you can add to your choices in the personalization screen.

Additional Themes Option #1 – The Hidden ones already on your pc

So lets start with the option that is already on your computer but is hidden because they are considered to be for other regions or locations. (NOTE: you will need to have hidden files and folders showing in Windows. You can change that setting in control panel –> folder options –> View tab –> put a bubble next to “Show hidden files, folders, and drives)

1) Click on Start and then in the search box type the following

- C:\Windows\Globalization\MCT and press the Enter key

- you will see the following window (below), just click on the folder called MCT

2) The window that opens will show you the additional themes for Windows 7 for other regions or locations (Depending on the version of Windows 7 your choices may be a little different than the ones shown below). In my copy of Windows I get themes additional themes from Australia, Canada, U.K, and South Africa (In addition to the US theme which is already showing).

- Once you are at the MCT folder open the theme for the country you like, and then you can either select the folder with the country name where you will see the pictures used in the theme or the theme folder itself to install the theme.

- If you select the folder with the pictures (below) you can right click on a picture you like and then select “Set as desktop background. (This will not make it into a changing theme, it will give you just that picture as your background. )

- If you choose to install the entire theme, once you have selected the Theme folder, double click on the file name.theme (in this example GB.theme). That will install the entire theme.

3) Once you have done that you can go back to your personalization folder in control panel and select the newly added themes. Once a theme is on your Personalization window, its just a matter of clicking on it to change between themes.

Additional Themes Option #2 –

Other than locating hidden Windows 7 themes in your computer, you can also download several windows 7 themes form the Microsoft Website.

Visit the Windows 7 Personalization page (LINK) http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/personalize (http://windows NULL.microsoft NULL.com/en-us/windows/downloads/personalize)

- Here you will find a large selection of themes you can add to your Windows 7 install. Its also very simple and best of all its FREE!!!!

All you need to do is scroll down the page until you find a theme that interests you, you will see a download button just under that them.

- Click on download, it will be followed by a screen that will ask you if you want to Open or Save. If you wish to save the themes for later just select save (and remember where you saved it to). If you just want to install select open and it will automatically install the theme on the computer for you. (NOTE: The theme will also become your default theme, so you will need to go back to the personalization folder to change it to something else.)

Themes take up a minimal space on a hard drive so don’t be afraid to download and try a few of these out.

And with that you have another simple way of changing the look of your Windows 7 pc. “I’m glad Windows 7 was my idea”. OK it wasn’t but I have always wanted to be in one of those commercials so that I could say that.

Software: Windows 7 – Problem Step Recorder for easier troubleshooting/support

From TechNet (LINK) http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd464813.aspx (http://technet NULL.microsoft NULL.com/en-us/magazine/dd464813 NULL.aspx)

Tip: Easier Troubleshooting Support with Problem Step Recorder

Troubleshooting errors for a remote user can be very difficult since you can’t actually see what’s happening on the remote system. Often it comes down to a user saying he didn’t click a button, open a program, close a program, or so on. The new Problem Steps Recorder (PSR.exe) allows you to see exactly what’s going on, documenting every action that takes place on the system experiencing problems.

The Problem Steps Recorder tool is a simple screen capture utility that grabs screenshots whenever a mouse move or click is made and documents all the data into a zipped MHTML report page that can be sent off directly to the help desk. Every step of the user’s actions is logged complete with a screenshot with the item highlighted, and it even allows the user to provide commentary on specific details.

To launch the Problem Steps Recorder, just go to START and type PSR.exe and your off and running.

Software: Showing hidden files, folders and extensions in Windows Vista and Windows 7.

My preference has always been to set up Windows to show the hidden files, hidden folders and the extensions to files and programs. I prefer to have control and see exactly what I have on the PC. Microsoft hides these on the basis that these are normally Windows operating system files and folders or that the extensions are just not needed to be seen.

I can see the point if you have a pc that is used by many people (like small kids) or a complete new pc user who wouldn’t know any better, since you cant see the file or folder then you cant delete it. The problem with that is, the many of the Virus and Malware writers use that same feature to hide the files that infect your pc.

Additionally, I guess it assumed that hiding the .exe or .jpg (etc) from files would be for the benefit of users who don’t know any better and would get confused by it. However because the extensions are hidden by default in Windows, the setting allows virus writers to distribute executable files (files that can be installed on your pc causing you to get infected) disguised as something non-executable (like a picture or . For example, an .EXE file might appear to be an innocuous text file.

So as a recommendation here is how to unhide files, folders, and extensions in Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.

Click on the Start button.
Click on the Control Panel menu option.
When the control panel opens you will be either in Category View or Large (or Small) Icon view:
*In either case change the setting to Large Icon View to make the following steps easier (See examples below – Where arrow Points)

Category View

Large Icon View

4. Click on Folder Options in the Window

5. Click on the View tab.

6. Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files and folders

7. Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide extensions for known file types.

8. Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files.

(After you have done the steps your window should look like the example below)

Windows Vista Folder Options

**With that you will now see all files on your pc and see the extension for all files and programs. Note that most of the hidden files are Windows files and are required for your computer to operate correctly, so as always NO DONT DELETE ANYTHING UNLESS YOUR ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS AND THAT YOU DONT NEED IT.

Software: The 1st Windows 7 Commercial

With Windows 7 Just over a month away, here is the 1st (of many I’m sure) commercials for Windows 7.

Software: Windows 7 XPM (XP Mode) Install Procedure

(Updated 8/11/09 @ 7:30p to add a missing step) One of the best features I have been using with Windows 7 is called XPM or “XP Mode”. XP Mode is an optional feature for Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions. The idea behind XP Mode is that it helps small businesses upgrade to Windows 7 by providing a virtual Windows XP environment capable of running many older (normally called legacy) Windows XP-compatible business and productivity applications, however, even home users would see a benefit if you run an application that is a couple of years old that you just cant live without, can’t afford to upgrade, if your moving to 64-bit Windows 7 but have an application that only works in a 32-bit environment

(That would be Cisco VPN software for me where Cisco lists on their site that the VPN software is only for 32-bit systems. With XPM I’m running it in Windows 7 – 64bit edition. You can Bing or Google your software and search will (name of software) work in a 64 bit operating system)

or software that the software maker has retired and isn’t making newer versions of.

Microsoft has had Virtual PC Software for a few years now, but in the past, it involved running the software inside of a VM window that you had to start manually and then you also could not read or connect any USB hardware as the VM could not recognize USB. Now with the XP Mode, you still have to use the VM window to install your programs that need XP to run, but once that is done, you will see a shortcut on your Windows 7 start menu and your program will run directly from Windows 7 just using the XP VM as support (the support XP gives to make the program run happens completely in the background). I am getting a little ahead of myself, so lets go thru the XP mode requirements and steps to install 1st

REQUIREMENTS:

Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate Editions.
PC with at least 2 gigs of memory (as XP Mode does use up additional resources to run)
PC with at least 15 GB (That’s gigabytes) of free hard drive space
PC that comes with a BIOS that includes either Intel – VT or AMD – V (The V stands for Virtualization, on some PC it may just say the word Virtualization) as the hardware virtualization is what is at the heart of XP Mode, without it you CAN NOT RUN XP Mode.
Download of the Microsoft Virtual PC and and Windows XP mode from the Microsoft website http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx (http://www NULL.microsoft NULL.com/windows/virtual-pc/download NULL.aspx) .

What you will need to check:

The 1st thing you will need to check is your bios to make sure you have the Virtualization option and that it is enabled. To access your bios, during the very 1st screen you see when you power your machine, look for a message that says “Press F1 to enter setup” or “Press delete (key) to enter set up” or something to that effect. Whatever that message says to press that’s the button you will press.

Once your in your bios, you need to look for the setting for “Virtualization” or Intel –VT or AMD – V. Once your find it, make sure its enabled. The press F10 (this is standard on almost all PC bios screens) to save your changes and restart your pc**.

**Note the bios also controls virtually all the settings in your pc, DO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO ANY OTHER PART OF YOUR BIOS UNLESS YOUR REALLY SURE OF WHAT THE CHANGE WILL DO. THE ONLY ONE I’M TELLING YOU IS OK TO CHANGE IS THE VIRTUALIZATION ONE.

Installation of software:

1. Install Windows Virtual PC RC:
Double-click Windows6.1-KB958559-x86.msu or Windows6.1-KB958559-x64.msu (depending on if your using 32bit or 64bit Windows 7). Just follow the prompts by selecting yes or next to install after the double click. You may be prompted at the end of the install to reboot, go ahead and reboot.

(http://www NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com/ct NULL.ashx?id=0a0a2ada-9322-436b-8710-39efd6184d38&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com%2fimages%2fposts%2fHowtoinstallXPMXPModeonWindows7_2F7E%2fkb958559EULA NULL.jpg)

5-1-2009 2-55-52 PM (http://www NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com/ct NULL.ashx?id=0a0a2ada-9322-436b-8710-39efd6184d38&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com%2fimages%2fposts%2fHowtoinstallXPMXPModeonWindows7_2F7E%2f51200925552PM NULL.jpg)

5-1-2009 2-56-34 PM (http://www NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com/ct NULL.ashx?id=0a0a2ada-9322-436b-8710-39efd6184d38&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com%2fimages%2fposts%2fHowtoinstallXPMXPModeonWindows7_2F7E%2f51200925634PM NULL.jpg)

5-1-2009 3-31-57 PM (http://www NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com/ct NULL.ashx?id=0a0a2ada-9322-436b-8710-39efd6184d38&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com%2fimages%2fposts%2fHowtoinstallXPMXPModeonWindows7_2F7E%2f51200933157PM NULL.jpg)

2. Install Windows XP Mode RC:
Double-click WindowsXPMode_nn-NN.exe (where nn-NN is the locale, for example: WindowsXPMode_en-us.exe) and follow the instructions in the wizard to extract and install Windows XP Mode RC.

virtual-windows-xp-vhd (http://www NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com/ct NULL.ashx?id=0a0a2ada-9322-436b-8710-39efd6184d38&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com%2fimages%2fposts%2fHowtoinstallXPMXPModeonWindows7_2F7E%2fvirtualwindowsxpvhd NULL.png)

5-1-2009 12-56-32 PM (http://www NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com/ct NULL.ashx?id=0a0a2ada-9322-436b-8710-39efd6184d38&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com%2fimages%2fposts%2fHowtoinstallXPMXPModeonWindows7_2F7E%2f512009125632PM NULL.jpg)

Virtual Windows XP Setup Complete (http://www NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com/ct NULL.ashx?id=0a0a2ada-9322-436b-8710-39efd6184d38&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com%2fimages%2fposts%2fHowtoinstallXPMXPModeonWindows7_2F7E%2fVirtualWindowsXPSetupComplete NULL.jpg)

3. Reboot Windows 7 to complete the installation.

4. To start Windows XP Mode RC Setup:
Click Start, click All Programs, click Windows Virtual PC, and then click Windows XP Mode.

***If your PC does not have Virtualization built into the bios or if you do not have it enabled you will see the following message. If your still not sure if you have virtualization, check with your Tech neighbor, your Tech child or other Tech family member, or Tech Friend for additional support

Virtual Windows XP fail to start (http://www NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com/ct NULL.ashx?id=0a0a2ada-9322-436b-8710-39efd6184d38&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com%2fimages%2fposts%2fHowtoinstallXPMXPModeonWindows7_2F7E%2fVirtualWindowsXPfailtostart NULL.jpg)

5. When the virtual machine starts for the first time, the Virtual Windows XP EULA appears. Accept it and click Next to continue.

6. On the next screen you will be asked where you want you XP mode files saved. The default is listed, however, if you have a more than one drive or a hard drive with multiple partitions (C:\ D:\ E:\ etc) you may want to consider changing that location to another drive. Also another trick, if you have more than 1 profile on your pc (we use 3 at home), then when you install XP mode under each profile (and yes you have to do the install for each person who is to use XP Mode) with an account (profile) on the pc that you plan to use XP mode on choose the same location for the install. That way you only have 1 install of XP mode and all users share the 1 XP Mode install. This also keeps you from having to install the same software multiple times.

7. On the next screen, Create a password for the User account. This is a required account with administrator privileges that the wizard creates automatically. It is the default account used to run Windows XP mode. **Its important that you remember the password you entered at this screen**

VXP Password Set (http://www NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com/ct NULL.ashx?id=0a0a2ada-9322-436b-8710-39efd6184d38&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com%2fimages%2fposts%2fHowtoinstallXPMXPModeonWindows7_2F7E%2fVXPPasswordSet NULL.jpg)

During the setup process you will be prompted how you want to handle window updates for XPM. Choose automatic update settings for Virtual Windows XP and proceed next.

vxp update (http://www NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com/ct NULL.ashx?id=0a0a2ada-9322-436b-8710-39efd6184d38&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com%2fimages%2fposts%2fHowtoinstallXPMXPModeonWindows7_2F7E%2fvxpupdate NULL.jpg)

Then you will see the following while XPM installs

(Took about 4 minutes on a dual core AMD 2.86 GHZ system)

Setting up VPC (http://www NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com/ct NULL.ashx?id=0a0a2ada-9322-436b-8710-39efd6184d38&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com%2fimages%2fposts%2fHowtoinstallXPMXPModeonWindows7_2F7E%2fSettingupVPC NULL.jpg)

Initializing virtual machine (http://www NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com/ct NULL.ashx?id=0a0a2ada-9322-436b-8710-39efd6184d38&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com%2fimages%2fposts%2fHowtoinstallXPMXPModeonWindows7_2F7E%2fInitializing
virtualmachine NULL.jpg)

Starting the operating system (http://www NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com/ct NULL.ashx?id=0a0a2ada-9322-436b-8710-39efd6184d38&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com%2fimages%2fposts%2fHowtoinstallXPMXPModeonWindows7_2F7E%2fStartingtheoperatingsystem NULL.jpg)

Enabling integration features (http://www NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com/ct NULL.ashx?id=0a0a2ada-9322-436b-8710-39efd6184d38&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww NULL.bostonpocketpc NULL.com%2fimages%2fposts%2fHowtoinstallXPMXPModeonWindows7_2F7E%2fEnablingintegrationfeatures NULL.jpg)

8. After completion of first time start wizard, Windows XP Mode is ready to use.

At this point simply use the Windows XP window and install your XP programs into that window. Once installed you can select start –> Log off XPM User

Select Log Off

Then from the top of the XPM window select Action and close

You will see “Hibernating he Virtual Machine”

and with that your out of XPM. and then you can look at your start menu and you will see the programs you installed

Then select the program you want under Windows XP Mode Applications and you can run your program in Windows 7.

Software: TechNet Download – Windows 7 you can get all versions on 1 download

I have been asked by a few others who also have TechNet that they were expecting a single download for all the Windows 7 versions. The question as asked “ If Microsoft is selling the Retail DVD of all versions on 1 DVD, why is it split up on TechNet to a download per version? Is it possible to make it an All-In-One again?”

well here is the answer:

If you Open the ISO and browse to the Sources folder and remove ei.cfg and then burn the ISO. That will allow you to choose the version you want installed.

Software/How to :Windows 7 – How to give it look and act like XP

With the release of every new version of any software, it is common for changes to occur as to how the software looks on the screen and where everything is located. That is of course the case with Windows 7, and if your like me your more comfortable with the previous layout of Windows XP (Yes I know I could learn to like the new lay out, but for now I rather give Windows 7 that XP feel).

Windows 7 looks like this once installed.

Note: Look at the lower left, and see the difference in the start menu. In the picture next to the new start bubble, I have Internet Explorer, Windows Live Writer and Paint open as well as Windows Explorer and Windows Media Player which are pinned to the task bar.

I prefer the XP style since I normally have to many windows open at once that I like to see what is there without having to put my mouse over each icon to see what is open. So to get the changes in appearance you need to do that following.

1 – Right click on the task bar (The bar going across the bottom) and select properties. You will see the following window.

Now change the box that says “Taskbar buttons” to say Never Combine. Followed by clicking the box that says Customize in the notifications area.

2 – In the notifications window that pops up, put a check in the “Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar”. Then click ok.

3 – Now click on the Taskbar and Start Menu Window again and this time go to the start menu tab, then click on the customize button on the top right.

4 – Now you will see the customize start menu window.

Here are the changes I’ve made to my system (you may experiment wit this one to find what you like).

Computer – Display as a menu
Control Panel – Display as a menu
Default Programs – Uncheck
Documents – Display as a menu
Favorites menu – check (because I’m used to it being on the start menu)
Games – Display as a menu
Help – Uncheck
Run command – Check (Again I’m just used to it being there)

**All other items listed in the customize start menu window, I left as is. No changes.

5 – Now on the taskbar (This is because I’m not a fan of the quick launch bar in XP) you will find IE, Windows Explorer and Windows Media player “pinned”.

Right click on each one and select “Unpin this program from taskbar”

6 – Lastly, if you want the start menu to actually say start and not be the bubble go to start –> Control Panel –> System

On the top left corner click on Advanced System Settings. This will open the System Properties window.

Here click on the settings button on the top in the Performance window.

Uncheck the last box that says “Use visual styles on windows and buttons.

And with that You Windows 7 version will look and respond as close to XP as possible.

Software: It’s Official – Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 have now reach RTM status.

During the Microsoft Global Exchange (MGX) conference (which is an internal Microsoft conference for Microsoft’s global sales teams and evangelists), Microsoft made it official that Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 have both made it to RTM or “Release to Manufacturing” level. This means that OEM’s (Dell, HP, IBM to name a few of the) companies will receive their copies in the next couple of days from which they will start getting their hardware ready for sale to the general public in the coming weeks.

The Windows Blog has its Windows 7 RTM posting at http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2009/07/22/windows-7-has-been-released-to-manufacturing.aspx (http://windowsteamblog NULL.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2009/07/22/windows-7-has-been-released-to-manufacturing NULL.aspx) and the Windows 2008 RTM posting at http://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/archive/2009/07/22/windows-server-2008-r2-rtm.aspx (http://blogs NULL.technet NULL.com/windowsserver/archive/2009/07/22/windows-server-2008-r2-rtm NULL.aspx) .

From the Windows 7 posting –

“As I mentioned previously, RTM officially happens only after sign-off occurs. What happens is a build gets designated as a RTM contender after going through significant testing and meeting our quality bar for RTM. Then, it goes though all the validation checks required for RTM including having all languages of that build completed. If all the validation checks have passed – sign-off for RTM can occur. Today after all the validation checks were met, we signed off and declared build 7600 as RTM.”

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