Technology – How to Find Out About the Windows Lock Screen Image or Spotlight Image

I had a certain image two days in a row on windows spotlight lock screen that looked like a half crescent moon like sand dune structure and wondered where it was, for reference, here is the image I was talking about:

Windows spotlight lock screen image
Windows spotlight lock screen image

Now after a bit of googling for things like “what is the big sand half crescent on the windows spotlight” and “what is the big desert structure/sculpture on the windows spotlight” with no luck I pressed CTRL+L to get back to the lock screen and investigate further. When you look at the top right of the lock screen there is an icon “like what you see?”, if you hover over it it tells you where this is:

Icon "like what you see?
Icon “like what you see?

Even better than that, if you click on the middle icon “What do we have here?” it will take you to a bing search for the building or location in question:

Icon "What do we have here?"
Icon “What do we have here?”

For those that are interested, it turns out this is actually not a “half crescent moon like sand dune structure” but in fact its the Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa Cruz, Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). An auditorium, who’d have thought it?

Windows Vista Hangs While Downloading Updates

I found a solution to my problem when Windows would search for updates, but then when it started downloading it would stay at 0% forever. I started by stopping the Windows Update service (in my case the service proved to be frozen so I restarted my computer and disabled the service before it starts) and the Application Experience service. After that I went to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and pressed ctrl+a and shift+delete to empty its contents. Mine contained more than 70,000 files so it took a while. I started Application Experience and enabled Windows Update. I let it check for updates and try to download them. It worked perfectly.
Do not worry about deleting important windows files in this case. The contents of SoftwareDistribution is used as a cache and data for Windows Update. When Windows Update starts again it rebuilds the cache repopulating it with up-to-date versions of the files and chewing up a ton of harddisk space again.

WHS Mediasmart Server Add Hardrive Problems

Windows Home Server – How to Troubleshoot Mediasmart Server Add Hardrive Problems

PROBLEM:
Plugged in a 500GB esata hard drive to use a backup for my WHS data.

When I click “Add” and then “Use this hard drive to back up files that are stored on your home server”

I get the message:

“Drive partitioning and restart required. The drive does not seem to have a partition created. Please create a partition and then restart home server before trying to add the drive.”

TO SOLVE IT THE EASY WAY:
Add it as a data drive first using the WHS connector, it will format then add. As soon as this completes then remove it again using the connector.

I had to do this a couple of times as it would not let me add as a backup drive the first time I added and removed as data!

TO SOLVE IT THE HARD WAY
Remote desktop onto the server and go to “all programs”->”administrative tools”->”computer management”->”disk management”
Create a primary partition

Update Your PC NOW!

Right you have all seen it, the little icon that appears in the right saying new updates are available. Do yourself a favour and download/install them as soon as you can, specially today:

Microsoft has released a fix for a hole in Internet Explorer that was the weak link in a “sophisticated and targeted” cyber attack on Google.

Microsoft recommends that customers install the update as soon as possible or update to the latest version of the web browser for “improved security”.

Microsoft normally issues patches monthly but the high-profile nature of the attacks led it to act more quickly.

I know a few people suffering a virus due to the fact they hate updating their pc. Trust me, a few minutes of downloading and a restart is nothing compared to dealing with a virus so make sure you all keep up to date. If you need more info or help then please give me a shout.

Technology – XP Pro Installation Guide


This installation guide uses a cracked copy of Windows XP Pro. This is only for training and guiding purposes and I am not advising anyone to use illegally obtained software.

This copy does not include a Serial Key, when you reach the stage when you are prompted for a serial you must input the key given when purchasing the software.

I am providing a step by step installation of Windows XP Pro, All other versions of XP installations are very similar to this and any average user can easily install XP after reading this guide. I am including screen prints of the installation whilst using Virtual PC to install XP.

1. Place the windows XP disc into your CD/DVD Drive.

2. Restart you’re computer and await for the stage which says “Boot from Disc press any key” hit any key.

3. After hitting a key a blue screen will appear looking similar to this, this screen will change whilst the software analysis you’re computers hardware.

XP Installation

Allow this process to continue until you arrive at step 4.

4. You will now be at the stage in which you are prompted to select from either the following partitions or to create a partition.

As i am using a virtual drive i only have one small partition in which I will be installing XP. If you wish to delete a partition follow the on screen instructions, if you wish to create a partition then follow the instructions give, i will be simply just

installing i have no need to create. Creating a partition usually is used for duel booting OS’s or backups.

XP Installation

Press Enter to install and then continue onto step 5.

5. This stage is now about choosing which format you wish for the partition you have created to be in, bearing in mind that Fat32 is an out dated system format I would recommend NTFS, choose the quick option if you have no previous installations if you have had another OS or even the same OS on the drive before but are just reinstalling due to error’s etc then use the NTFS file system highlighted in the installation image (This installation can vary in time from 20 Mins to 2 Hours depending on System specs i.e. RAM, CPU speed and of course the size of the drive matters)

XP Installation

6. This step will format the partition/s you selected to NTFS format so that files can be copied over and the OS can begin to be built.

XP Installation

7. Step 7 is the time when the software has now completed the format of the space allocated for the system to use, now it will begin to copy over the files in which it needs to run the computer formally known as "System32 and System"

XP Installation

8. Once the screen changes to the following, Xp has finished copying over files and folders and will start to initialize the actually installation of simple drivers, time and date settings, language and keyboard settings etc.

XP Installation

9. You’re computer will reboot after step 8 and you should see the following screen.

XP Installation

Allow this to load without fault and hesitation i.e. do not turn off you’re computer.

10. This screen is the start of the configuration process allow this to work through until it displays "Setup will complete approximately: 33 Minutes" At this stage you should follow from step 11.

XP Installation

11. This step is the start of the language configuration. If you live in the US skip this step.

XP Installation

From here you need to click "Customize" this will bring up another windowing prompting you to select the regional language you wish to use. Choose you’re desired language from the drop down menu then choose the same location from the drop down menu below and press "Accept or Apply"

XP Installation

XP Installation

Now you will need to press "Details" this section is for the keyboard layout, if you do not select the right one you will start typing in the incorrect language I.e. if you are English and want to press the @ key you will find you are actually typing " instead.

XP Installation

From here you need to change the language of the keyboard to english from the drop down menu.

XP Installation

12. Step 12 is the stage in which you need to select a name for the installation i chose my name of course.

XP Installation

Enter the details into the corresponding fields i left "Organization" blank as this is a home installation and not for a company.

XP Installation

After you have entered you’re details click "Next" and you will be prompted with a new window containing the drop down menu for the timezone in which you live in.

XP Installation

I chose GMT London etc as i am based within the GMT +- area. After clicking "Next" again you will see the following screen

XP Installation

13. This step is where you are asked if the computer is connected to a network i always leave mine set as the already default selected option and then type in HOMEGROUP displayed in the following picture. Click next when you have done this

XP Installation

14. Once you receive this image, XP has finished preparing the installation and configuration and is now applying the settings and actually installing. Await the next stages.

XP Installation

15. When you receive this image, the XP installation is completed and is now finalizing the installation. Be patient and wait a little more for it to complete. You’re computer will restart after the installation is finalised.

XP Installation

16. Now that Xp has finished installing it will attempt to auto adjust the screen resolution to fit you’re monitor and graphics card. Just click OK.

XP Installation

17. If this resolution is good and is not to large or to small then click ok when you see this screen as well

XP Installation

18. Congratulations and welcome to Windows Xp you are almost finished.

XP Installation

19. On this stage I recommend selecting the green shield option, this will automatically update from the windows server whenever there are new updates. Click "Next"

XP Installation

20. This step is where XP will attempt to identify if you are using a wired connection to a network or Internet connection.

XP Installation

21. For this stage keep the default selection "Yes it will connect through network etc"

XP Installation

22. On this stage i am using no to registering with Microsoft as I am using a cracked copy of windows. I do advise you to register with Microsoft if you are using a legal version it will benefit you.

XP Installation

23. This stage is where you will be creating the account names for the people who will be using the computer, i used my name as its my installation you can use whatever you like.

XP Installation

24. Well done the process is now over, officially welcome to XP hope you enjoy you’re stay and never upgrade to Vista!

XP Installation

25. UPDATES!

Go to "Start > All Programs > Windows Update"

XP Installation

26. Click Accept to install Microsoft Update on the following prompt

XP Installation

Click accept to install Windows Update on the following Prompt

XP Installation

27. Click "Update Windows" on the next screen

XP Installation

28. Click "Express" This will initiate a search of the windows servers for any updates that you’re computer may need, this also only works with Internet Explorer as IE has a inbuilt feature to search you’re systems hardware and then locates any drivers it may need.

XP Installation

29. Allow the green bar to continue to go across and don’t exit the web page this is now searching for those updates.

XP Installation

30. Once it locates the updates you need to click "install updates" this will then bring up another box which will download/install the updates to you’re computer

XP Installation

(Installation Box)

XP Installation

31. Once the installation has been completed you may be asked to restart you’re computer if you are not you have two choices you can either redo the entire update process just exit the window and follow from stage 25. Stage 26 & 27 will not reappear as you have already installed them. Again do "Express installation" once you have repeated this step if nothing appears to installm restart you’re computer and then try again, after two or three times of this restart you’re computer again and then repeat the process using "Custom" this will enable you to find any that windows do not think are necessary but you may want/need them for you’re own personal use.

Congratulations – XP is now fully functional with Service Pack 3 and all necessary updates installed.

Installation and guide created by Frogz

Back To Top