Pictured above is similar to how your logon screen looks now. To hide user names, you’ll either need to use Group Policy or the Registry Editor. Group Policy is available only with Windows Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions. If you are using a Starter, Home, or Home Premium edition, please follow the Registry Editor method.

Disable User Name Display Using Windows Registry Editor

Note: If you are unfamiliar with making changes to the Windows Registry, please read this guide.

1. Click Start, type regedit, and press Enter to pen the Windows Registry Editor
2. Navigate to key HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
3. Modify (or add) DWORD DontDisplayLastUserName and set the value to 1
4. Log off to see changes

Disable User Name Display Using Group Policy

Note: If you are unfamiliar with making changes via Group Policy, please read this guide.

1. Click Start, type local, and click Local Security Policy
2. In the left-hand pane, click on Local Policies > Security Options
3. In the right-hand pane, double-click Interactive Logon: Do Not Display Last User Name (or right click and select Properties)
4. Select Enabled and click OK
5. Log off to see changes

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

If there’s a piece of equipment that works hard in your PC, it’s your hard disk drive (HDD.) HDDs operate at anywhere between 4200 and 15000 RPM (perhaps higher) while in use. In other words, these things spin anywhere between 70 and 250 times a second—sometimes for days on end! While the information in this guide mostly applies to both HDDs and Solid State Drives (SSD), SSDs have no moving parts so some of the information will not apply.

With high speeds and enormous data transfers on a daily basis hard drive file systems, used to store and access all your data, are prone to corruption and failure. Thankfully, all versions of Windows come with a nifty, free tool called “Check Disk” (chkdsk.) In this guide, we’ll show you how to use Check Disk and explain a little about common errors to which hard drives are prone.

How Do Hard Drives Get Corrupted?

All storage media is prone to corruption; however HDDs are a little more exposed as they have moving parts. Included in these moving parts are read/write heads that, when jolted mid read/write (i.e. when you put your laptop down on a table) can crash into the hard disk platters and ruin data. Technically, a jolted head can wipe out a whole HDD if it hits the right area and I’ve seen this happen with a coworker’s laptop. Presumably, that won’t happen to you if you’re careful; however, you may have already lost/scrambled data without realizing it.

Even you’re careful with your PC (or it’s a desktop and you don’t move it while it’s powered on), there are other ways to corrupt data. Common ways in which data is corrupted include: power surges, malware, turning your PC off without a clean shut down (Windows may label your drive as a “dirty” disk), and even flipped bits resulting from non-ECC protected memory. These corruption issues affect both HDD and SSD users. Often, HDDs will take care of bad sectors with self-detection mechanisms; however, corrupted file systems are dealt with using chkdsk.

What Does chkdsk Do?

chkdsk scans your hard drive, identifies problems, and attempts to fix these problems. Specifically, chkdsk:

• Searches for invalid file names and dates
• Identifies and attempts to fix bad compression structures, sectors, and invalid clusters
• Finds lost clusters (orphaned) and fixes cross-linked clusters
• Fixes file-system cycles (e.g. folders referring to themselves as their parent folder)
• Marks unrecoverable sectors as bad so they cannot be used again to store (and lose) data

What is a Sector? What is a Cluster?

Hard disks are made up of millions of tiny storage areas referred to as sectors; these sectors are a physical section of a hard disk platter in which data (usually up to 512 bytes) is stored. As hard drives increase in size, addressing so many sectors (a 1TB drive has up to approximately 2,147,483,648 sectors) becomes difficult. Thus, sectors are grouped, by Windows, into clusters. A cluster size is determined by the size of your hard disk partition.

What Happens to these Clusters?

Clusters can become orphaned (disassociated with their original data), incorrectly marked (unused put part of a cluster chain), invalid (incorrectly valued), or cross-linked (assigned to two files or twice for one file.) Another way to think of this is to take a look at your food pantry/storage/cupboard. Without regular upkeep, food expires; ingredients, purchased specifically for meals get forgotten; and labels may even fall off so you’re left guessing what spice concoction you have.

There are many reasons why this may happen and while you may be able to prevent much of this through proper hardware care, sometimes data just gets out of line without you realizing. Thankfully, chkdsk can often convert these broken clusters to files that you can copy somewhere safe.

How Do I Use chkdsk?

You can access chkdsk in two ways: through the graphical user interface (GUI) or through the command line interface (CLI.)

Note: chkdsk requires admin privileges. If you are unable to run chkdsk, please check with your systems administrator. If you run chkdsk on a disk from which files are in use (i.e. your “C” drive), you will need to allow Windows to run chkdsk next time you boot your PC (using autochk settings stored in HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\BootExecute.)

To run the chkdsk GUI:

1. Click the Start button and click Computer
2. Right click on any drive and click Properties
3. Click the Tools tab and click Check Now
   Caution: Check Disk may run for many hours (a full check on a 1.5TB drive once took 28 hours) so please be patient and don’t schedule a disk check  when you require access to your PC
4. Select Automatically fix file system errors and click Start
   Note: I’d use “Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors” sparingly as many drives do this, for the most part, themselves

To run the chkdsk CLI:

• Bring up the command line and run chkdsk /F C: to fix file system errors only (on drive C)
• or run chkdsk /R G: to fix system errors and attempt recovery of bad sectors (on drive G)

How Often Should I Run chkdsk?

Your PC works better when there’s organization and data is both referenced and stored in the same place. Thus, I recommend you run chkdsk 4-12 times/year depending on your PC usage. Running it more often than once a month is probably a waste of time.

Note: If your computer is infected with a virus or if your hard drive is seriously damaged, chkdsk may fail mid operation. If you opted for a boot-time check, you may not be able to get into Windows to do much else with your PC (if it still boots into Windows.) Diagnosis and explanation of such an issue is out of the scope of this basic guide. If you’re stuck and need assistance, we can help at Windows Forums. 

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

There are a number of Windows Guides that ask you to start the computer in safe mode:

• Remove Viruses And Malware in Safe Mode [How To]
• 5 Easy Ways to Uninstall Toolbars In Internet Explorer 8
• Perform a System Restore in Windows Vista and 7 [How To]

In this guide, we’ll show you a couple of ways to get into Safe Mode in Windows XP, Vista, 7, and Windows 8.

There are two easy ways to boot into safe mode. I recommend the first method if you want to boot into Safe Mode one time; I recommend the second method if you plan to boot into safe mode each time your computer starts or if you have trouble with the first method.

1. Use the F8 Key when Windows boots to invoke Safe Mode
2. Modify the BOOT.INI file to boot into safe mode every time

Use the F8 Key when Windows Boots to Invoke Safe Mode

The quickest way to boot into Safe Mode is to hold and press the F8 key as you restart your computer:

1. Remove flash drives and any optical discs from your PC

2. Restart your computer; once your computer is shut down (the power will go off and on for a brief moment), hold the F8 key down until you see the following menu*:

Modify the BOOT.INI File to Boot into Safe Mode every Time

Vista/7/8 msconfig settings:

Next time you boot you will see something like this:

If you find you can’t access Safe Mode, please head over to Windows Forums where we can give you a hand.

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

You may want to disable some keys on the keyboard; for example, if you are a gamer, you might have wanted to disable the Windows key because accidentally clicking on it might pause your game and invoke the Start menu.

Here is a simple way to disable any key on the keyboard of your computer running Windows.

The registry in Windows can be edited to “map” one key to another key or disable a key. Manual registry editing for this might be a bit tough. Fortunately, here is software which does this – SharpKeys.

How to disable the Windows key:

1. Download SharpKeys here, extract the zip file, and install and run it and it shows a screen as below:

Note: SharpKeys works with all currently-supported versions of Windows

2. Click on the “Add” button on the bottom select the “From Key” (the key with function you want to change – Left Windows key in our case). To select it, you can scroll down or type the key

3. Now select the “To Key” – the new function which you want to assign to the From Key. (Here we select “Turn Key Off” option)

4. Click OK. Click on Write to Registry and that’s it you are done (log off and on to put the changes into effect before your next computer restart.)

If you want to restore the key (From Key – whose function is changed) to its original function, just select the entry in the main screen and click on Delete. Then click Yes and then click on “Write to registry” and once again your keys work as before.

MSP is a writer whose work can be seen at The Netizens. To find out more about his work or to contact him, please visit TheNetizens.net.

If you want to change the function of a key, do read this article on how to Change–Modify–Reassign keys or buttons of keyboard in Windows.

Download SharpKeys

Download SharpKeys

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

Even after emptying the Recycle Bin, files can be retrieved from your hard disk until they are physically overwritten. If you want your files deleted, permanently, use TuneUp Shredder to completely remove traces of your files. Doing this is both useful and strongly recommended if:

• You sell your PC
• You sell your hard drive
• You are returning a drive for warranty repair, replacement, or refund
• You loan your PC to a friend and you’re not sure what you’ve deleted recently
• Your PC is borrowed (school loaner, corporate laptop etc.)

To shred a file:

1. Install TuneUp Utilities 2012 (trial) (aff)

Either

2a. Right click a file you want to delete and click TuneUp Shredder

3a. Click Yes

Or 

2b. Open TuneUp Utilities, click Gain disk space, and click Securely delete data

3b.  Choose whether you want to shred files, folders, or your recycle bin and click Next. Then add the files or folders you want to delete, and click Next

4b. Choose your deletion method, click Next, and click Yes to confirm deletion

Now give yourself a pat on the back (watch your tin foil hat… you don’t want to damage it :)

*If you chose a custom installation of TuneUp Utilities 2012, you will need to leave TuneUp Shredder checked:

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

Launching Sysinternals tools from the command line/Run dialog is easy. First, you’ll need the list of names of the Sysinternals tools, which can be found here: live.sysinternals.com

Once you have the name of the tool,  launch the Run dialog (Winkey+R) and type the following:

 \\live.sysinternals.com\tools\toolname.exe

Replace toolname.exe with the name of the tool you want to run. For example, if you want to run Process Explorer, enter the following command:

 \\live.sysinternals.com\tools\procexp.exe

Give it a few moments and you’ll be prompted to run the tool for which you executed the command:

For most tools, you are asked to accept the terms of the software and then you’ll be up and running:

That’s it. Now you can access Sysinternals tools from any Windows PC  with an internet connection—anywhere in the world. If you’d like to carry the most important tools with you in a suite, check out the Sysinternals Suite here. If you want to learn more about Sysinternals tools such as Process Explorer, head here.

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

We like using Sysinternals tools here at Windows Guides; these tools bring core Windows functions together and help you administer to your systems more easily.

In this guide, we’ll cover the basics:

1. What are the Sysinternals tools?
2. How to download and run these tools on your PC
3. Where can I learn more about these tools?

We’ll then take a look at two of my favorite tools: Bginfo and Process Explorer.

Here are some other tools that we’ve covered in the past on Windows Guides:

• AutoRuns – What is really going on inside your Windows?
• SDelete Deletes Your Files Permanently
• Microsoft Desktops Gives You Multiple Desktops to Work With

What are the Sysinternals tools?

Sysinternals utilities help you manage, troubleshoot, and diagnose Windows and applications. These tools are created by the Microsoft community and are kept up to date to work with the latest versions of Windows. I’ve used some of these tools for as long as I can remember using modern versions of Windows (Windows 2000 and beyond) and you might just find one or two useful–even if you don’t consider yourself a PC geek.

How to Download and Run these Tools on Your PC

You have a few choices when using the Sysinternals tools:

1. Download individual tools from the Sysinternals website
2. Run Sysinternals tools from the command line (requires internet connection)
3. Download the Sysinternals Suite (all troubleshooting tools in one)

Where can I Learn More about these Tools?

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

If you’d like a simple but powerful calculator to perform simple sums, PowerShell may be the tool you are looking for. In this guide, we provide tips for first-time PowerShell users, show you how to perform simple arithmetic using Windows PowerShell, and how to use command history for multi-step calculations and note taking.

Simple Arithmetic with Windows PowerShell

Tip: Open PowerShell by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard, typing power, and pressing the Enter key

PowerShell comes pre-installed on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. If you’re using XP, Vista, or Windows Server 2008/3, download PowerShell here.

At the PowerShell command line, type in arithmetic (as you would while using Windows Calculator with the keyboard.) Here are the key symbols:

• / Divide
• + Add
• - Subtract
• * Multiply

You can start now by working out the answers to simple calculations:

That’s nice but… not very helpful. Windows calculator does that and it’s prettier :) PowerShell’s power lies in its command/output display history.

Use PowerShell Command History for Multi-step Calculations

If you want to keep track of numbers to use them in future steps, PowerShell can help. For example:

While comparing new TVs you see that LED backlit LCDs run at lower power than Plasmas. You want to factor this in to your purchase decision as a cost savings for LED:

• Electricity cost: $0.09/kWh
• Plasma average running power draw: ~220W
• LED LCD: ~160W
• Hours/day: 3
• Years: 5

You can then work out how much both the Plasma and LCD will cost to run and find the difference. This is, of course, done without writing a single number down or committing anything to memory:

Now, PowerShell is starting to look useful. Wouldn’t it be nice to take notes and copy the output?

Add Notes and Save Input with PowerShell

If you’d like to keep track of your calculations, you can open a free-form text entry. One way to do this is to enter ‘ (single quote) at the command line. Then you can type notes; pressing enter will go to the next line; pressing CTRL+C will quit the editor.

Here’s an example:

Lines that start with PS are commands; lines that start with ‘>>’ are my notes

PS C:\Users\Rich> ' Notes:
>> $0.09/kWh
>> Plasma: ~220W
>> LED LCD: ~160W
>> Hours/day: 3
>> Years: 5
>>
>> Now, press CTRL+C to cancel out of this text but keep it on your screen for reference
PS C:\Users\Rich> '
>> Let's work out how many hours/year our TV will be on and work out the cost of running the TV for five years
PS C:\Users\Rich> 3*365*5*.09*.22
108.405
PS C:\Users\Rich> '
>> So that's 108.405 to run the plasma for five years. Now, you can recall the previous command by pressing the Up Arrow
 key, modify it (.16 kW instead on .22 kW)
PS C:\Users\Rich> 3*365*5*.09*.16
78.84
PS C:\Users\Rich> 108.405-78.84
29.565
PS C:\Users\Rich> '
>> There we have it. The energy cost (assuming 9c / kWh) difference is $29.57 over five years.
>>
>> Now, you can copy any of this text by highlighting it with the mouse and pressing the Enter key.

Now, highlight the text and press the Enter Key. You can then paste the test elsewhere (like I did for this post.) To paste text into PowerShell, copy it to your clipboard and then right-click at the PS command line.

Now, go impress your friends with your new “toy”

Bonus Tip

How many floppy discs will I need to store my 25GB Bluray rip? I bet you were wondering the same thing!

Answer: 17,778. So that’s $5,908.96 from Amazon and I’ll have two floppy discs left for half of my favorite song!

Blu-ray discs are pretty inexpensive in comparison!

–

What else do you do with PowerShell? Are you interested in learning more about this tool? Let us know in the comments.

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

Note: Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 come bundled with PowerShell so you don’t need to do anything.

If your PC is in a domain or workgroup where its use is prohibited, speak with your IT administrative staff.

Download PowerShell 2.0 (Vista, Server 2008/3)

	Download PowerShell 2.0 for Windows Vista
	Download PowerShell 2.0 for Windows Vista (64-bit)
	Download PowerShell 2.0 for Windows Server 2008
	Download PowerShell 2.0 for Windows Server 2008 (64-bit)
	Download PowerShell 2.0 for Windows Server 2003
	Download PowerShell 2.0 for Windows Server 2003 (64-bit)

Download PowerShell 1.0 (XP, Windows Embedded)

Download PowerShell 1.0 for Windows XP and Windows Embedded

Now you’ve downloaded PowerShell, why not use it as a calculator?

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

1. Open a Command Prompt (Click Start, type cmd, and click cmd.exe.)
2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter

What Does the sfc /scannow Command Do?

System File Checker (SFC) verifies all protected system files are current and complete. If they’re not, it replaces them to bring them into currency.

Here’s what Microsoft say (applies to Windows XP):

System File Checker gives an administrator the ability to scan all protected files to verify their versions. If System File Checker discovers that a protected file has been overwritten, it retrieves the correct version of the file from the cache folder* (%Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache) or the Windows installation source files, and then replaces the incorrect file. System File Checker also checks and repopulates the cache folder. You must be logged on as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group to run System File Checker. [1]

*The DLL cache folder is replaced in Windows Vista and 7 with Windows File Protection (files are kept in C:\Windows\winsxs\Backup.) Thank you Marc Liron, Microsoft MVP, for this information.

This is a good thing. If something doesn’t seem right on your PC, run this command to give you peace of mind and a good start.

More information:

• SFC Usage Windows 7/Vista
• SFC Usage Windows XP

1 Description of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 System File Checker (Sfc.exe)

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.