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Parent Category: Microsoft
Category: Windows 8 - 8.1
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  1. Create a local user account with administrative privileges if you don't have one already.

  2. Reboot.

  3. Login with local account with administrative privileges.

  4. Win+X, G (Computer Management) → System Tools → Local Users and Groups →Users, right-click user, Rename.

  5. Win+X, A (Command Prompt (Admin))

    ren C:\Users\dzinx_000 dzinx

  6. Win+X, R (Run)

    regedit

  7. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\ and find the SID for your user account. You can simply open each folder and check the ProfileImagePath for the correct one.

    Rename the ProfileImagePath value to your desired name, like C:\Users\dzinx

  8. Log in with your Microsoft account. Everything should work fine:

 

Details
Parent Category: Microsoft
Category: Windows 8 - 8.1
Hits: 3651

Source: 

The original articles states that:

  • Sometimes, after upgrading to Windows 8.1, the Store App may not start.
  • It might still show the number of available updates on the Live Tile.
  • Starting the app may show a progress ring but it may not finish loading.

 I had the 2nd and 3rd issue. App Store showed 15 updates on each restart and when I tried to open it I was welcomed with a message saying that it was impossible to connect to the store right now and "retry". By hitting retry, the store opened but no updates were waiting for me. And I was running Windows 8 so it applies to 8 instead of 8.1. Running the first fix (right below) fixed this issue.

  • To fix this, run the following in a Command Window (CMD) to re-register the Store App:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\WinStore\AppxManifest.XML

 

  • If you get error 0x8007064A after executing this, it means that the registry key "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\Repository\Packages" does not haveSYSTEM as the owner.
  • Change the owner back to SYSTEM as explained here and try again.

 

  • To fix three other system apps such as PC Settings, run the following:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\camera\AppxManifest.xml
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\FileManager\AppxManifest.xml
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\ImmersiveControlPanel\AppxManifest.xml

Details
Parent Category: Microsoft
Category: Windows 8 - 8.1
Hits: 4586

While on Windows 8 Pro, I created 2 users both in the Administrator Group but changed permissions on one user's folders for privacy. Somehow things got mixed up and I couldn't install some applications from this user (maybe all applications but I'm not sure). For example I was trying to install the software "AirParrot" and always got the error message was:

Error reading from C:\Users\user2\Downloads\AirParrot32.msi. Verify that the file exists and that you can access it. 

As you can see this is an MSI (Microsoft Installer) file and I always got this error message on MSI files (not sure about the .exe ones). I tried searching all over the internet but for solutions on how to mass reset permissions to the user's folders but no solution seemed solid. Well what I finally found is that "System" user must be able to access the file that you need to install. And guess what ... my folders where missing the "System" user completely. So here's what I did:

  1. Right click the User's folder (user2 in my case) and select Properties
  2. Select the "Security" tab
  3. Click "Edit"
  4. Click "Add"
  5. Type "System" (without quotes), then search and if the name is shown correctly click "OK"
  6. From what I understood, the System user must have Read&Execute permissions so at least check these and select OK (Windows will automatically select List, Read and Write permissions to satisfy the Read & Execute demand)
  7. Finally, select "Apply" on the last dialog and wait for the Permissions to apply to all subfolders. This might and WILL take some time depending on the number of folders and files on your User Directory.

If the installations still give you trouble you might have to give Full Control in the permissions tab. But I have my worries on whether this poses a security threat? Dunno. Try it out.

Details
Parent Category: Microsoft
Category: Windows 8 - 8.1
Hits: 4148

Source:  and 

Using an Upgrade Product Key on Clean Windows 8 installation

If you do a clean install using the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant, you should be fine—but if you've already formatted your drive or you're moving to a new drive, you can't do a "clean install" without installing an old version of Windows first. It'll let you install Windows 8 cleanly, but when you go to activate, you get an error 0x8007007B, saying your product key can only be used for upgrading.

If you get that error, here's how to fix it:P

  1. Press the Windows key and type regedit. Press enter to open the Registry Editor.
  2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/and double-click on the MediabootInstall key in the right pane.
  3. Change the key's value from 1 to 0.
  4. Exit the Registry Editor, press the Windows key again, and type cmd. Right-click on the Command Prompt icon and run it as an administrator.
  5. Type slmgr /rearm and press Enter.
  6. Reboot Windows.

When you get back into Windows, you should be able to run the Activation utility and activate Windows as normal, without getting an error.

Upgrading to Windows 8.1

Getting the Windows 8.1 ISO is quite easy using this very simple method.

In a web browser, navigate to Microsoft's Upgrade Windows with only a product key page. Then, click the light blue Install Windows 8 button. Windows 8 Setup will run. Input your Windows 8 product key when prompted and Setup will start downloading. After the download begins, close Setup.

Now, return to that Upgrade Windows with only a product key. This time, click the light blue Install Windows 8.1 button. Windows Setup will run, as before, but you won't be prompted for your product key. Instead, the Setup ISO will download automatically!

After the download completes, Setup will say that it is "getting files ready" (uncompressing the installer) and then present you with the Install Windows 8.1 phase of the wizard. Choose Install by creating media and then click Next. In this next step, choose USB flash drive or ISO file.

Once you've downloaded that ISO, you still can't use your Windows 8 product key to perform a clean install of Windows 8.1. You can, of course, use it to perform an upgrade from Windows 8.

Clean install Windows 8.1 using a Windows 8 Key

When clean installing Windows 8.1, your Windows 8 key will not be accepted at the setup screen. To bypass this use on of the following generic keys:

 

  • 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT for Core/Home
  • XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB for Professional

When you are finished installing, open up the Explorer and select System Properties. Select change product key and enter your actual Windows 8 product key, You should now be able to activate Windows and have a clean install of Windows 8.1 using official media.

installation of Windows 8.1 with a Windows 8.0 OEM Product Key (Untested)

The only difference with the above method is that you have to remove all the installed Product Keys used. To do that right click on the bottom left corner (start button) and select "Command Prompt (Admin)". Type slmgr.vbr /upk in the command prompt and hit enter. Restart and enter your new Key.

 

Details
Parent Category: Microsoft
Category: Windows 8 - 8.1
Hits: 52620

Source: tomshardware.com

Author: Adam Overa

The new version of Windows is now available on store shelves, and we have the complete lowdown on Microsoft's latest operating system. Join us as we thoroughly dissect the Windows 8 UI (Metro), Apps, Desktop, Gestures, IE10, SkyDrive, and Windows Store.

During the past year, all corners of the technology community were abuzz with news, rumors, and opinions regarding Windows 8. The vast majority of that chatter involved the operating system's completely new tile-based user interface. Up until the end of this summer, the new UI was referred to as Metro. But Microsoft's marketing department decided to change the interface's name to Windows 8 UI.

 

Read more: Windows 8 Review

Details
Parent Category: Microsoft
Category: Windows 8 - 8.1
Hits: 3660

Notes

  • You must log on to the computer as an administrator to be able to perform a clean boot.
  • Your computer may temporarily lose some functionality when you perform a clean boot. When you start the computer normally, the functionality returns. However, you may receive the original error message, or experience the original behavior if the problem still exists.
  • If the computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may prevent you from following these steps. We strongly recommend that you do not use the System Configuration utility to change the advanced boot options on the computer unless a Microsoft support engineer directs you to do this. Doing this may make the computer unusable.
Follow the following steps to perform a clean boot:

Windows 8.1 and Windows 8

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. Or, if you are using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, and then click Search.
  2. Type msconfig in the search box, and then tap or click msconfig.
    Expand this image
    A screenshot for this step.
  3. On the Services tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box, and then tap or click Disable all.
     
     
    A screenshot for this step.
  4. On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click Open Task Manager. 
     
     
    A screenshot for this step.
  5. On the Startup tab in Task Manager, for each startup item, select the item and then click Disable. 
     
     
    A screenshot for this step.
  6. Close Task Manager.
  7. On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click OK, and then restart the computer. 
     
     
    A screenshot for this step.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista

  1. Log on to the computer by using an account that has administrator rights.
  2. Click Start, type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press Enter to start the System Configuration utility.
    Note If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, you should type the password or provide confirmation. 
     
     
    A screenshot for this step.
  3. On the General tab, click the Selective startup option, and then click to clear the Load startup items check box. (The Use Original Boot.ini check box is unavailable.)
     
     
    A screenshot for this step.
  4. On the Services tab, click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box, and then click Disable all.
     
     
    A screenshot for this step.

    Note This step lets Microsoft services continue to run. These services include Networking, Plug and Play, Event Logging, Error Reporting, and other services. If you disable these services, you may permanently delete all restore points. Do not do this if you want to use the System Restore utility together with existing restore points.
  5. Click OK, and then click Restart.
For more information about how to perform a clean boot in Windows 7 and Windows Vista, reference the Video: How to do a clean boot in Windows.
 

What is next when I have a clean boot environment?

After the computer is restarted, you will have a clean boot environment. Then, do one of the following, as appropriate for your situation:
  • If you could not install or uninstall a program or an update before you performed the clean boot, try to install or uninstall the program or update again.

    Note If you receive the "The Windows Installer service could not be accessed" error during the installation or uninstallation, follow How to start the Windows Installer service when system services are not loaded, and then install or uninstall the program or update again.
    • If the installation or uninstallation is successful, you have resolved your issue. Follow How to reset the computer to start as usual to reset your computer to the normal startup.
    • If the installation or uninstallation still fails, that means this issue is not caused by application or service interference. You may have to go to Microsoft Support for more specific support.
  • If you could not run a program before you performed the clean boot, try to run the program again.

How to reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting

After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps to reset the computer to start normally.

Windows 8.1 and Windows 8

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. Or, if you are using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, and then click Search.
  2. Type msconfig in the search box, and then tap or click msconfig.
  3. On the General tab, tap or click the Normal Startup option.
  4. Tap or click the Services tab, clear the check box beside Hide all Microsoft services, and then tap or click Enable all.
  5. ap or click the Startup tab, and then tap or click Open Task Manager.
  6. In task manager, enable all of your startup programs, and then tap or click OK.
  7. When you are prompted to restart the computer, tap or click Restart.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista

  1. Click Start, type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press Enter.
    Note If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, you should type the password or clickContinue.
  2. On the General tab, click the Normal Startup option, and then click OK.
  3. When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Restart.

Details
Parent Category: Microsoft
Category: Windows 8 - 8.1
Hits: 3636

Source: 

I did not have to do this IF Windows 7 was installed on any connected HDD.
But, with only one clean (factory new or equivalent) drive attached, Windows 8 Pro Upgrade would not activate after a clean install.

  1. Open regedit. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/
  2. Change MediaBootInstall from 1 to 0
  3. Open Command Prompt (cmd - run as administrator).
  4. Type
    slmgr /rearm
    hit enter.
  5. Reboot Windows.
  6. Run the activation utility afterwards, enter your product key to activate Windows.
    Not always required - check status first. I had all UAC features disabled and this may have eliminated the need.
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