Windows Update Tip

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Yesterday, I was told of a great tip regarding Windows updates. I have had trouble many a time when Windows inadvertently rebooted while I left something to run overnight.

Step-by-Step: Windows Update – Disabling Auto-Restart for Automatic Updates

Here is a quick summary just in case the link goes away:

Open the group policy editor: Start > Run, gpedit.msc

Computer Configuration –> Administrative Templates –> Windows Components –> Windows Update

Enable the setting: No auto-restart for scheduled Automatic Updates installations

HCM9.0: Automatic Windows Login for VMWare

You would never want to do this in the corporate world, but with a test VMWare instance, it makes sense. I am already logging into the host machine, and so, why should I log into the VMWare machine again each time that I boot it.

So. I used the link below to have the machine automatically login when it boots:

How to turn on automatic logon in Windows XP

It did work for Windows Server 2003. I used the registry method, but I opened the dialog with the Start > Run … control userpasswords2, and it looked like it would have worked as well.

Windows Tip: Determining File Locks

Ever been told that you can’t delete a file because a program has that file open or locked. Here is a tool that can help you determine what program is locking that file:
Process Explorer for Windows v10.21

Windows Tip: Windows Activation

One of the problems with using virtual computers is that the hardware is virtual and somewhat easy to change, but the Windows registration is based on the hardware. Sometimes copying the WPA.DBL file can fix the problem.

I didn’t keep good notes on this, but I think the problem was caused the updating the Vmware tools in an image. After those changes, the activation screen displayed and I could not login. So, I copied the wpa.dbl file from an old copy of the Vmware Image and overwrote the file in the new image. After that, I never saw the activation screen again.

I tried this same approach when I attempted to migrate a Windows image to a VMWare image. It did not work that time, and I ran out of time to figure out why.

File Location: c:\windows\system32\wpa.dbl

Resources

Windows Tip of the Day: Avoid Re-Activate Windows XP After a Reinstallation

Windows Product Activation (WPA) for Windows XP

Windows Product Activation (WPA) on Windows XP