Missing Send to DVD or CD when you right click – while you’re fixing this, add SkyDrive to right click

Recently my doc lost the right click send to  CD/DVD option.  Here’s my fix.    Open Computer right-click on your CD/DVD and create shortcut.

This will put a shortcut icon on your desktop.

Click the Windows Orb and type %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo

This will bring up the SendTo folder.

Right click on the shortcut you created on the desktop and select ‘Cut’.   Paste the shortcut into the SendTo folder and rename it if necessary.

Send other items to the right click SendTo menu

We recently featured Microsoft’s SkyDrive in an article giving Microsoft credit for both giving end-users cloud storage and for their slick application.   The app adds a SkyDrive shortcut in Windows Explorer to your computer.  You can copy the SkyDrive ‘shortcut’ and paste it into your SendTo folder, giving you the option to right click and send ‘whatever’ up to your SkyDrive.

SkyDrive pasted into the SendTo folder

Malware removal with OldTimer’s List-It (OTL)

Often you will have to use ComboFix, SmitFraud, Superantispyware Portable or Microsoft Safety Scanner to remove malware.  Another great tool often overlooked is OTL.  OTL removes stubborn viruses and cleans your computer thoroughly.

Error when running NetSH command to fix Winsock

Restart the computer.
Press F8 during the startup prior to the logo splash scrren.
Select Directory Services Restore Mode, and press ENTER.
Click Start, and click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
Locate the following registry subkeys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2
Right-click each key, and then click Delete.
Click Yes to confirm the deletion of each key.
Close Regedit.
Locate the Nettcpip.inf file in %winroot%\inf, and then open the file in Notepad or another text editor.
Locate the [MS_TCPIP.PrimaryInstall] section.
Edit the Characteristics = 0xa0 entry and replace with 0×80.
Save the file, and exit your program
In Control Panel, double-click Network Connections, right-click Local Area Connection, and then select Properties.
On the General tab, click Install, select Protocol, and click Add.
In the Select Network Protocols window, click Have Disk.
In the Copy manufacturer’s files from: text box, type c:\windows\inf, and then click OK.
Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click OK.
(Note This step will return you to the Local Area Connection) Properties screen, but now the Uninstall button is available.)
Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), click Uninstall, and click Yes.
Restart your computer, and select Directory Services Restore Mode as mentioned above.
In Control Panel, double-click Network Connections, right-click Local Area Connection, and select Properties.
On the General tab, click Install, select Protocol, and click Add.
In the Select Network Protocols window, click Have Disk.
In the Copy Manufacturer’s files from text box, type c:\windows\inf, and click OK.
Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and click OK.
Restart your computer.

All in One System Configuration Tool

D7- All in One System Configuration Tool for PC Technicians is a great all in one tool that can be used to repair your computer or to tune it up.   Of course I found it by visiting Rick at Whats On My PC where Rick found an excellent review at WorthyTips.

Nashiruddin Molla has a good review over at WothyTips – go check it out.

Repair Windows Firewall

Need to repair or reset Windows’ Firewall?  Here’s a great utility to reset your firewall.  Repair WMI and Windows Firewall (by PCWinTech an excellent site).

PCWinTech WMI and Windows’ Firewall Repair


System Spec 2.88 – The best freeware system information utility

System Spec 2.88 is the best freeware system information utility that provides graphical information along with hundreds of utilities and options you can see and set.   This software provides information for anyone wanting to know the hardware and software information on their computer.   A portable utility, this software is one of the most powerful utilities available for download.  Excellent!

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Find out what is in your startup

Want to know what that program is that is in your startup?  As many Windows enthusiast know, you can start msconfig and see programs in the startup group or you can use the task manager to look at your processes to see programs that are running.  If you are confused at what they are, use  Sysinfo.org to lookup the program that is running.

Free Portable Software – Lupo PenSuite

Free Portable Software – Lupo PenSuite   -

A collection of over 200 software titles that are freeware. Browsers, utilities, add-ons, networking and tons of other apps.  This freeware software is an excellent (200 mb of software) you can download for free!  Excellent collection.   A hefty 200mb version is available and a lite version can be downloaded and ran from your portable drive.

Link

Lupo PenSuite

Computer Repair with ToolBox

It’s hard to beat Rick over at Whats On My PC.   He is always finding some of the best tools you can use to keep your computer running like new.  With IOBit’s Portable Free PC Repair ToolBox, this all in wonder tool can help you perform many tasks that usually takes many tools working together to thoroughly analyze and clean your computer.  In its beta stage, this tool is worth looking at.

Some of the features -

More than 20 tools in a portable app that allows you

  • Process viewer
  • Disk viewer
  • Disk Cleaner
  • Registry Cleaner
  • Windows Analyzer that allows you to repair minor problems
  • Undelete
  • Security Analyzer
  • Optimizes Memory
  • and more..

Rick’s excellent review shows how this Toolbox can be used with your computer.   At 14 mb (29 mb unzipped), this tool easily fits on your flash drive.

Fix Windows Problems

Microsoft’s Fix-it Center in Beta can be downloaded and can repair most common problems with Windows.   This automatic tool is in its infancy but uses common problems uploaded to Microsoft including Microsoft’s Knowledge Base.