Messages

51

Tweaking.com Support & Help / Re: tweak in Windows AIO Repair causes high pitched sound on device

« on: May 22, 2016, 06:58:08 pm »

Hey.  I wanted to give you an update.  So I downloaded the seatools utility (considering my drive is Seagate), and ran the long test, low and behold: failure.  Needs to be sent in for service.  Thanks for the advice

52

Tweaking.com Support & Help / Re: tweak in Windows AIO Repair causes high pitched sound on device

« on: May 22, 2016, 05:09:42 pm »

HDSentinel reports 199 bad transfers on my older laptop but the HDD is fine according to a chkdsk /f - I won't run a chkdsk /r as data can be lost if it finds bad sectors, but you could see what a chkdsk /f reports for you.

While I don't know why it gives those yellow Power alerts, I have similar.

You could contact the vendor to see if it warrants a warranty return because of those bad transfers - I wouldn't expect to see them on a machine still under warranty.

Agreed, and here is the strange part: I guess each "HD diagnostic" tool has its own way of measuring the device health, as I have tried HD scan, crystaldiskinfo, HGST drive fitness test, etc, and they all report my drives at different levels of health.  I have a 2 TB drive in my server which I thought was failing due to crystal disk info's flagging of the unreadable sector and current pending sector values which are non-0, but disk sentinel has it at the same level of health as this drive.  In all honesty, I don't know which product offers the most accurate results.  I don't trust any of them at this point.

53

Tweaking.com Support & Help / Improvement for technician toolbox

« on: May 22, 2016, 01:35:56 pm »

I have been using technician toolbox both personally and professionally (it is a great tool).  However, there is one feature that I would love to see added.  When accessing the "manage users and groups" portion of the tool, if the computer is a member of a domain, you get the option to select if you want to view the users/groups of the local computer or the domain, but the tool is limited in that respect.  Say I need to add a domain user to the administrator group on the local computer.  There is no way to do this in technician toolkit.  You can only interact with objects that are in the same "instance" (local or domain) you currently have selected, and I have to do it the manual way.  If this feature can be added, that would be sweet

54

Tweaking.com Support & Help / Re: tweak in Windows AIO Repair causes high pitched sound on device

« on: May 22, 2016, 12:53:45 pm »

Okay, but I'd still see what HDSentinel has to report.

Could the scraping noise have come from the fan ?

Ok.  Turns out there might be a cause for concern.  Attached are snapshots of the short test, since long test is only in registered version.  Let me know what you think

55

Tweaking.com Support & Help / Re: tweak in Windows AIO Repair causes high pitched sound on device

« on: May 22, 2016, 06:31:24 am »

The general advice is that you don't defrag hybrid HDs, but contact the SSHD's vendor for specific advice on yours

It's possible that WR is using parts of the disk that aren't normally accessed which could account for the scraping sound.

I don't know if a chkdsk /f would show up any defects but the trial version of HDSentinel could.

Hit the green button in http://www.hdsentinel.com/ then uninstall it when done to stop the clock on the 30 days trial period.

You can then reinstall its Application from your downloads folder as and when.

Is the HD still under warranty ?

Thank you for your reply and sorry for the delay in getting back to you.  A lot going on right now.  Any way, the whole device in question is still under warranty, but I am not concerned with its performance.  As I stated in my original post, the issue quickly stopped occurring when I restored the registry to the snapshot I took just prior to applying the tweaks, which is why I was 100% positive that one of them had caused the issue.  Everything works fine now: no noise, performing as usual, and no errors or issues since.  This post was just a friendly heads up to developer/others in the same boat.

56

Tweaking.com Support & Help / tweak in Windows AIO Repair causes high pitched sound on device

« on: May 17, 2016, 05:38:50 am »

So I am trying to think of the best way to describe the sound.  I am 95% sure that the sound is being produced by the hard drive for multiple reasons: 1) the sound kind of sounds like a very low volume "nail scraping across chalkboard" sound and 2) do to the way in which hard drives work (spindle moving along magnetized plate from which the spindle reads data).  I can completely imagine that this is the cause, and I am thinking that it is probably caused by (most likely) the tweak "Memory Tweaks - Cuts Down How Often Windows Accesses The Hard Drive" or (least likely) "Disable MFT Fragmentation".  The sound occurs about every 5-10 seconds, and persists for about 5 seconds before going away, and it does this until I restored the registry back to the backup I took just before I applied the tweaks.  One more key factor that should be considered here that will probably provide the "oh that's the problem right there."  My device doesn't use a standard hard drive, but a hybrid SSHD, basically "incorporate a significant amount of NAND flash memory into a hard disk drive (HDD), resulting in a single, integrated device." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_drive#Dual-drive_hybrid_systems).  Just wanted to make you aware of this issue, because the sound, as you can imagine, doesn't sound like its benefiting the hardware at all.  Quite the opposite.  Let me know what you think.  Also, since I do use a SSHD drive, I am constantly asking myself "should it be treated as a regular HD or an SSD?"  For example, defragmentation is needed and recommended for regular HDs, but is unnecessary and can damage SSDs.  How should I look at my drive in terms of its maintenance and upkeep?

57

Tweaking.com Support & Help / Re: Registry backup will not start

« on: April 16, 2016, 07:39:26 pm »

The thing is, I made some alterations to the system that I want included in the backup, and I really don't have the time to wait a day for it to start working again

58

Tweaking.com Support & Help / Registry backup will not start

« on: April 15, 2016, 09:04:17 am »

I am trying to lauch the registry backup program on some tablet devices, and I was until a couple minutes ago able to successfully launch and use backup registry.  Now the process won't even appear in task manager when I launch it.  Any idea what could be causing this?  The loading mouse cursor will spin for a half a second then go back to normal

59

General Computer Support / Re: LOCAL policy editor issues after most recent Windows 10 cumulative update

« on: April 15, 2016, 03:33:56 am »

I just ended up posting it to the Windows feedback app.   hopefully that gets through

60

General Computer Support / Re: LOCAL policy editor issues after most recent Windows 10 cumulative update

« on: April 15, 2016, 02:42:05 am »

wow no joke I have it as well huh interesting!

You too huh?  Ok, so then it is a bug.  I wonder how one should go about reporting it to microsoft?

61

General Computer Support / LOCAL policy editor issues after most recent Windows 10 cumulative update

« on: April 15, 2016, 02:18:51 am »

Ever since I installed the cumulative update that was released earlier in the week, I am getting the attached messages whenever I run "gpedit.msc".  The thing is, the snapin still loads and appears to be fine, but as those who work with policies know, policies are enforced in the background with no visual indicator that they are even there.  I also have windows 10 RSAT installed, and the error does not occur when I run GROUP policy editor.  I also have the windows 10 1511 adminsitrative templates installed as well (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48257), but I was under the impression that was for group policy not local.  Anybody else run into this?  I would rather not uninstall the update, as I really don't have the time to deal with this, but will if I have to.

62

Everything Else / Re: Where do I go from here?

« on: April 11, 2016, 09:52:27 pm »

Seriously?!  I post my question over a week ago and absolutely no feedback?!  Why don't you guys kick me square in the jewels while you are at it?

63

Everything Else / Where do I go from here?

« on: April 03, 2016, 06:26:57 pm »

I currently work as a IT support engineer, but my true passion lies in the creation of software.  While I may not have anything major released, I have made  available my simple tools for those who would have a use for them: a form filler (https://github.com/DemonDante/FormFill/archive/master.zip) which I created as a means to expedite the process of filling out job applications back when I didn't have one.  Becoming frustrated with the inconsistency and unreliability of import tools to pull information from a document or site and put it in the right place (other form fillers which rely on HTML tag names have this same issue), I wrote this tool to allow for users to save their personal information to a file, the contents of which are encrypted with AES, so the only place which displays the user's confidential info is the GUI of the program, select which pieces of the information are relevant to the form they want filled, and insert that information into the form (either using a paste tool or when the user clicks the primary mouse button when the "I-beam" cursor is active) quickly and without needing to touch their keyboard.  Another tool, my updater program (https://github.com/DemonDante/UpdateUtility/archive/master.zip), which takes advantage of multiple powershell modules to perform both automated windows software installations and windows updates.  However, I would consider myself to be intermediate at best in regards to my knowledge and ability to write usable, production quality software, and I want to get better.  I took a few classes in college, but they never really got more advanced than how to create a GUI, and there are many things that I just don't know, like use of DLLs, COM/OLE Objects, creating Ser-defined functions, obtaining input from USB, Plug-and-play devices, and other advanced tools/topics. My question is, does anybody have any recommendations concerning reference material or maybe a tool which personally worked for you that could increase my knowledge and understanding of advanced programming concepts (eg DLLs for dummies or something).  And PLEASE do not say Microsoft development website.  I understand that it si a good tool as well, but I need to learn how to utilize the content posted there first, and their website is about as organized as an explosion.

64

General Computer Support / Re: My Laptop seems to be stuck repairing........

« on: April 03, 2016, 05:38:31 pm »

I believe it says somewhere in the forum rules to put "(Solved)" without the quotes in front of your topic title when your issue is resolved. 

65

General Computer Support / Re: My Laptop seems to be stuck repairing........

« on: April 03, 2016, 05:23:19 pm »

It really depends on which action has been selected for the boot time scan: If it is to simply repair the drive (/f), then you may have an issue.  However, if the option to fix and attempt recovery of bad sectors is selected (/r), then that would explain the long wait time.  For that process to finish on my laptop, it takes well over 5 hours!  It also seems to hang indefinitely at 10% then jumps right to 100%.  My suggestion would be to wait, depending on, if you did choose, the option you chose for the boot time scan.

66

Tweaking.com Support & Help / Re: System File Check is not successful

« on: March 21, 2016, 08:59:47 am »

Hey.  Not sure if you found a fix, but I had this issue too.  On some forum, somebody wrote a batch script which solved my issue.  The problem is that sfc is trying to pull whatever files are corrupt from Windows update but can't for some reason.  This tool allows, when you have mounted the install media, you to run the DISM operation again, but uses original OS install media for source of files.  Then run SFC and it will repair.  That solved it for me.

67

Tweaking.com Support & Help / Technician toolkit run as system

« on: March 21, 2016, 08:55:13 am »

So I tried to run a command utility from Microsoft's Sysinternals suite, pskill, to terminate a virus scan process which was not responding.  Since the process was an antivirus though, I, even as the Admin, did not have access to terminate it.  So I tried running pskill from the RunAsSystem tool in technician toolbox, but technician toolbox, for whatever reason, kept telling me it could not find the file.  I even used the "copy path" feature in explorer to place full file path in clipboard and pasted it into the prompt.  Still couldn't find it.  Tried even copying it to windows directory: still couldn't find it.  Am I misunderstanding something here?

68

General Computer Support / Re: Issue with Volume shadow service

« on: February 25, 2016, 12:48:51 pm »

Figured it out.  Another "derp" moment on my part.  Since my server is a file server, needed to install the optional "file server shadow copy agent service" feature and it started working. 

69

General Computer Support / Re: Getting no updates

« on: February 24, 2016, 04:28:34 pm »

Another alternative, this script will reset your windows update service completely back to default.  Try if all else fails.

70

General Computer Support / Re: Issue with Volume shadow service

« on: February 24, 2016, 04:22:03 pm »

Ok.  Just ran the windows server backup service again and still the same thing!!  On a os that was installed from the orginal media, so I guess it wasn't the install image.  Just to give you a better picture of what I am dealing with, here is the frozen screen.

71

General Computer Support / Re: Issue with Volume shadow service

« on: February 24, 2016, 04:11:58 pm »

Hey.  Thanks for the effort, but I found that script as well and already tried it.  Sorry for not including it in the list of steps I already tried.  Testing out theory now: the server operating system that is having the issue is a custom "wim" that I captured to speed up deployment/have windows updates pre-installed.  The hard drive on which the custom wim is stored has, I just found out, been reporting several S.M.A.R.T. errors involving "uncorrectable sectors".  So the HD is toast, and it may have taken my custom image with it .  I have installed the os from the original install disc and will update how that turns out

72

General Computer Support / Re: Issue with Volume shadow service

« on: February 23, 2016, 04:44:25 pm »

So an update.  I performed a backup again this morning and left it.  I just checked it again, and now windows server backup service screen is showing an error message "the creation of a shadow copy has timed out.  Please try again."

73

General Computer Support / [solved]Issue with Volume shadow service

« on: February 23, 2016, 03:00:30 pm »

Hello all,
I have a windows 2012 R2 server that I have configured, and I am running into a very time consuming and annoying issue whenever I try to create an image backup using windows server backup services or any other image backup software (tried macrium server, Imperium, etc.).  When the process gets to the part where it starts using the Volume Shadow service (for windows server backup services it says "creating volume shadow copy of the disks" ) and then hangs.  I access this server using RDP over my LAN, and the server will remain somewhat responsive (as long as nothing is clicked, like you can still see tooltips and the like), but after a long period of time, I completely lose connection to the server and cannot reconnect.  I then am left with no choice but to force power off the server, at which point it won't get past the "loading" pre-boot screen, and I am forced to reapply the image I have for it.  I have done all sorts of research, but most of what I have found is related to server 2003 and not applicable to my product.  I believe it has something to do with the way Volume shadow services is configured for my drives (it is not, "vssadmin" command displays no information for VSS), but I am unable to find a guide or tutorial on how to configure VSS FOR WINDOWS BACKUPS SPECIFICALLY.  This problem is driving me nuts and has consumed hours of time reinstalling server os.  Any help would be awesome.

74

Tweaking.com Support & Help / First pre-scan finds issue every time

« on: February 13, 2016, 08:02:50 am »

Whenever I install windows 10 on a computer, when I run the pre-scan, it always finds the exact same issue concerning an environment variable.  Here is the text from the scan:
 Checking Environment Variables.
│ Started at (2/13/2016 10:56:46 AM)
│
│ This folder in the 'PSModulePath' variable doesn't exist: C:\Program Files (x86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86)86X
│
│ Missing default folder in 'PSModulePath' variable: %SystemRoot%\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules\
│
│ Problems were found with the Environment Variables.
│ You can use the Repair Environment Variables Tool at the bottom of this Window to try and fix these problems.
│
│ Done Checking Environment Variables. (2/13/2016 10:56:46 AM)

However, when I go into the actual repair environment variable page, It lists the environment variable under current, but with the valid path with only a single "x86".  This is more of a informative post than actual issue, unless it could potentially cause an issue, in which case let me know.

75

Tweaking.com Support & Help / Re: Windows AIO repair reparse and registry issues on Windows 10 Pro x64 domain comp

« on: January 10, 2016, 05:41:04 am »

Thank you for the clarification shane.  I am running a couple of tests to see the issue replicates on a non-domain joined computer, because a lot of the issues go away if not a member of domain: the process that was killing me I think to processing of group policy after the "remove policies set by infection" repair was run.  I'll get back with result