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5 Ways to Stop or Start SQL Server Service

October 11th, 2016 by Admin

How to stop a local SQL Server instance from command line or PowerShell? In this tutorial we’ll show you 5 simple ways to stop or start SQL Server service in SQL Server 2016/2014/2012/2005.

Method 1: Stop / Start SQL Server Service from Microsoft Services Console

  1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run box. Type services.msc and press Enter.
  2. This will open the Microsoft Services console. Find the service called SQL Server (instant name) and then double-click on it.

    sql-server-service

  3. In the Properties dialog box, you can see that the service name of my SQL Server instance is MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS. From there you can click the Stop button if your SQL Server service is running, or click the Start button to get the service up and running.

    stop-sql-server-service

Method 2: Stop / Start SQL Server Service from Command Line

  1. Open an elevated Command Prompt.
  2. To stop a named SQL Server instance, type the following command. Replace SQLEXPRESS with the instance name.
    net stop MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS

    start-sql-server-command-line

    To start a named SQL Server instance, type:
    net start MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS

Method 3: Stop / Start SQL Server Service from SQL Server Configuration Manager

  1. To get started, you need to open SQL Server Configuration Manager. In Windows Server 2008 or 2003, you can click Start > Programs -> Microsoft SQL Server > Configuration Tools > SQL Server Configuration Manager.
  2. In the left pane of SQL Server Configuration Manager, click SQL Server Services. We can see all services in right pane. Right-click on SQL Server service and you can then select Stop or Start from the context menu.

    sql-server-configuration-manager

Method 4: Stop / Start SQL Server Service from PowerShell

  1. Open the PowerShell as administrator.
  2. You can use the Start-Service cmdlet to stop your SQL Server service. Replace SQLEXPRESS with the instance name.
    Start-Service -Name 'MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS'

    start-sql-server-powershell

    Or use the Stop-Service cmdlet to start your SQL Server service.
    Stop-Service -Name 'MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS'

Method 5: Stop / Start SQL Server Service from SQL server Management Studio

  1. Open SQL server Management Studio and connect to your SQL Server instance.
  2. Right-click on the server in Object Explorer, you’ll have options to Stop, Start, Pause, Resume and Restart your SQL Server service. If we are not already connected, we can’t start a stopped instance.

    stop-sql-server-via-ssms

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How to Add Missing Disk Cleanup in Windows Server 2012

October 8th, 2016 by Admin

With the release of Windows Server 2008, the disk cleanup utility is no longer installed by default for Windows Server OS. Microsoft placed disk cleanup within an optional feature called “Desktop Experience”. In this tutorial we’ll walk you through the steps to add missing disk cleanup in Windows Server 2012.

disk cleanup

How to Add Missing Disk Cleanup in Windows Server 2012?

  1. Launch Server Manager by clicking its icon on the taskbar. From the Server Manager Dashboard, select Add roles and features.

    add-roles-and-features

  2. Select Role-based or features-based installation from the Installation Type screen and click Next.

    select-installation-type

  3. The current server is selected by default. Click Next.

    select-destination-server

  4. Ignore the Server Roles page by clicking Next.

    select-server-roles

  5. From the Features page, expand the “User Interfaces and Infrastructure” feature and select the “Desktop Experience” component.

    desktop-experience

    A popup window will appear explaining additional roles services or features are also required to install Desktop Experience, click Add Features.

    add-required-features

  6. Review the installation and then click Install.

    confirm-installation

  7. After installing, reboot your computer. You can then open the disk cleanup utility from the Command Prompt or Control Panel.

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How to Enable USB Write Protection in Windows 10, 8 and 7

October 1st, 2016 by Admin

Worry about someone copying files off your PC via USB drive? The most common solution is to disable or restrict the usage of USB ports. In this tutorial we’ll show you another way to enable write protection of all USB drives that are connected to your Windows operating system.

How to Enable USB Write Protection in Windows 10, 8 and 7?

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box. Type regedit and press Enter.

    regedit-via-run

  2. This will open the Registry Editor. Navigate to the following key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control
  3. Right-click on the Control key in the left pane, select New -> Key. Name it as StorageDevicePolicies.

    new-registry-key

  4. Select the StorageDevicePolicies key in the left pane, then right-click on any empty space in the right pane and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it WriteProtect.

    new-dword-value

  5. Double-click on WriteProtect and then change the value data from 0 to 1.

    usb-write-protect

  6. The new setting takes effect immediately. Every user who tries to copy / move data to USB devices or format USB drive will get the error message “The disk is write-protected“. We can only open the file in the USB drive for reading, but it’s not allowed to modify and save the changes back to USB drive.

    disk-is-write-protected

So this is how you can enable write protection to all connected USB drives. If you want to disable write protection at a later time, just open Registry Editor and set the WriteProtect value to 0.

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7 Ways to Open Disk Cleanup in Windows 10

September 30th, 2016 by Admin

Windows includes a disk-cleanup utility that’s helpful for freeing your computer from temporary and unnecessary files. In this tutorial we’ll show you 7 ways to open Disk Cleanup in Windows 10.

disk-cleanup

Method 1: Open Disk Cleanup in Windows 10 from Run

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box. Type cleanmgr and press Enter. This should be the quickest way to open Disk Cleanup utility in Windows 10, 8 and 7.

cleanmgr-via-run

Method 2: Open Disk Cleanup in Windows 10 Using Cortana Search

Just click the Cortana Search icon in the Windows 10 taskbar and type disk cleanup. Click the Disk Cleanup shortcut appeared at the top of the list.

disk-cleanup-via-cortana-search

Method 3: Open Disk Cleanup in Windows 10 from Control Panel

Open Control Panel in Large icons view in Windows 10. Click Administrative Tools.

administrative-tools

From there you can then see the Disk Cleanup shortcut.

disk-cleanup-in-control-panel

Method 4: Open Disk Cleanup in Windows 10 from Command Prompt

Open the Command Prompt in Windows 10. At the Command Prompt, type cleanmgr and press Enter to launch Disk Cleanup.

disk-cleanup-via-cmd

By default the cleanmgr command will clean your system drive only. If you want to run disk cleanup for your other partition, type:
cleanmgr.exe /d D:

Note: Replace D: with the drive you want to clean up.

Method 5: Open Disk Cleanup in Windows 10 from Drive Properties

Open File Explorer in Windows 10. Right-click on the drive (or partition) that you want to regain hard drive space, select Properties from the drop-down menu.

When the Drive Properties dialog opens, click the General tab. From there you can click the Disk Cleanup button to free up space on your drive.

drive properties

Method 6: Open Disk Cleanup in Windows 10 Using File Search

Open File Explorer and browse to the root directory of your Windows partition. Type cleanmgr in the search box at the top-right of the window.

search-cleanmgr-app

Double-click on the cleanmgr.exe program from the search result.

Method 7: Open Disk Cleanup in Windows 10 from PowerShell

Open the PowerShell in Windows 10. Type cleanmgr and press Enter.

cleanmgr-powershell

That’s it!

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5 Ways to Remove the Administrator Password in Windows 10

September 27th, 2016 by Admin

Do you want to clear the administrator password and let Windows boot directly into the desktop? How to remove Windows 10 password if you’ve forgotten it? In this tutorial we’ll show you 5 ways to remove the administrator password in Windows 10.

Option 1: Remove Windows 10 Administrator Password from Control Panel

  1. Open the Control Panel in Large icons view. Click on User Accounts.

    user-accounts

  2. Under the “Make changes to your user account” section, click Manage another account.

    manage-another-account

  3. You’ll see all the accounts on your computer. Click the account you’d like to remove the password for.

    choose-user-you-want-change

  4. Click the “Change the password” link.

    change-the-password

  5. Enter your original password and leave the new password boxes blank, click on Change password button. It will remove your administrator password immediately.

    remove-local-password

Option 2: Remove Windows 10 Administrator Password from Settings

  1. Open the Settings app by clicking its shortcut from the Start Menu, or pressing Windows key + I shortcut on your keyboard.
  2. Click on Accounts.

    accounts

  3. Select Sign-in options tab in the left pane, and then click the Change button under the “Password” section.

    sign-in-options

  4. Next, enter your current password and click Next.

    confirm-current-password

  5. To remove your password, leave the password boxes blank and click Next.

    change-windows-password

Option 3: Remove Windows 10 Administrator Password from Command Prompt

  1. Open up an elevated Command Prompt.
  2. At the Command Prompt, type the below command and press Enter.
    net user Administrator *
  3. When you’re prompted to type new password, just press Enter twice and it will remove your Windows administrator password.

    remove-windows-password-via-cmd

Option 4: Remove Windows 10 Administrator Password Using Local Users and Groups snap-in

  1. Press Windows key + R to launch Run, type lusrmgr.msc and click OK.

    lusrmgr

  2. When the Local Users and Groups snap-in opens, click Users from the left pane, then right-click the Administrator in the center pane. Select Set Password.

    set-password

  3. Now click Proceed in the following window.

    proceed-to-change-password

  4. Leave the New password and Confirm password boxes empty and click OK. This will remove your Windows user password instantly.

    clear-windows-password

Option 5: Remove Windows 10 Administrator Password Using PCUnlocker

PCUnlocker is a handy Windows password removal tool that runs from a boot disk. It allows you to remove forgotten Administrator password for any Windows-based PC you can get physical access to.

  1. Start by burning the PCUnlocker ISO file onto a CD (or USB flash drive) using the freeware ISO2Disc.

  2. Boot your locked computer from the CD.
  3. Once booted to the PCUnlocker program, select the Administrator account and click on “Reset Password” button.

  4. This will remove your forgotten Windows administrator password quickly. Reboot your computer without CD, you can then log into your Windows 10 administrator account without a password.

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How to Reset Installed Apps to Default in Windows 10

September 26th, 2016 by Admin

If an app crashes repeatedly, freezes or doesn’t work properly on your PC, Windows 10 allows you to reset the app to the default settings. Although you’ll lose your preferences and sign-in details from the app that causes problem, resetting it can be helpful in certain situation. In this tutorial we’ll show you to reset your installed or built-in apps to default in Windows 10.

How to Reset Installed Apps to Default in Windows 10?

  1. Open the Settings app by clicking its shortcut from the Start Menu, or pressing Windows key + I shortcut on your keyboard.

  2. Click on System.

    system

  3. On the left side of the window, click on Apps & features. You’ll see all the apps and programs you’ve installed on your computer. Find an app you want to reset, and click on it. Then click the “Advanced options” link under the app’s name.

    app-and-features

  4. Click the Reset button to reset an app’s settings.

    reset-windows-10-app

  5. You’ll have to click the Reset button to confirm you want to clear the app’s data and sign-in details. After a while you’ll be told that the app has been reset.

    confirm-app-reset

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3 Ways to Remove / Disable Action Center in Windows 10

September 24th, 2016 by Admin

In Windows 10, Action Center can be accessed by clicking the square speech bubble icon located on the right-hand side of the taskbar. Action Center shows you your latest notifications, emails, updates and app messages all appear in a drawer that pulls out from the right hand side of the screen.

action-center-icon

If you hate having to clear annoying notifications all the time, or you feel like the Action Center is useless, you can get rid of it. In this tutorial we’ll show you 3 ways to remove / disable Action Center from the taskbar in Windows 10.

Method 1: Disable Windows 10 Action Center Using the Settings app

  1. Open the Settings app either by clicking its icon in the Start Menu or pressing Windows + I keyboard shortcut.

    open-settings-app

  2. Click on Personalization.

    personalization

  3. Select Taskbar from the left-hand navigation, and then click the link titled “Turn system icons on or off“.

    turn-system-icons-on-off

  4. Toggle the switch against Action Center to the Off position. This will remove & disable the Action Center icon right away.

    turn-off-action-center

If you’re running an old build of Windows 10, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Click on System.
  3. Click the “Notifications & actions” category on the left. On the right, click the “Turn system icons on or off” link.
  4. To remove Action Center icon from taskbar, toggle Action Center to Off.

Method 2: Disable Windows 10 Action Center Using Group Policy

  1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor. Navigate to: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.
  2. On the right-hand pane, find the “Remove Notifications and Action Center” policy and double-click it.

    remove-action-center-gpo

  3. Select the Enabled radio button, and click OK to disable the Action Center.

    remove-notification-action-center

    Just restart your system to make the changes take effect.

Method 3: Disable Windows 10 Action Center Using Registry Editor

  1. Open the Registry Editor. Navigate to the following key:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
  2. Right-click any empty space on the right pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it DisableNotificationCenter. Next double-click on it and give it a value of 1.

    disable-notification-center

  3. Exit Registry Editor and restart your computer. The Action Center icon has completely disappeared from the taskbar. If you want to bring it back in future, follow the same instructions but set the DisableNotificationCenter value to 0.

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How to Remove Shortcut Arrow from Desktop Icons in Windows 10 / 8 /7

September 23rd, 2016 by Admin

By default, Windows places a small arrow in the bottom left corner of the desktop shortcut icon. The arrow can help you distinguish a shortcut from an application or file. If you are not happy to see the shortcut overlay icon, you can get rid of it completely. In this tutorial we’ll show you how to hide / remove shortcut arrow from desktop icons in Windows 10/8/7.

desktop-shortcut-arrow

How to Remove Shortcut Arrow from Desktop Icons in Windows 10 / 8 /7?

  1. Open the Registry Editor. When prompted Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your PC? Choose Yes.

    regedit-via-run

  2. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons

    If the Shell Icons key does not exist you’ll need to create it. To do so right-click the Explorer key in the left pane, then select New > Key and name it Shell Icons.

    create-shell-icons-key

  3. In the right pane of the Shell Icons key, right-click on any empty area, and select New > String Value. Name it 29.

    add-string-value

  4. Double-click the 29 entry to modify it. In the Value Data box, copy and paste the following:
    %windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-50

    remove-shortcut-arrow

  5. Click OK and exit Registry Editor. Reboot your computer and you should no longer see the little arrow in your desktop shortcuts. That’s it!

Problem of Black Square:

Everything worked just fine but after a second shut down, all shortcut icons have a blank square superimposed over the lower left side.

shortcut-black square

To fix this issue, just open the Registry Editor and navigate to KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons. Double-click the 29 entry in the right pane, leave Value Data empty and click OK.

shell-icons-shortcut

Reboot your computer and it should work now!

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How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10 / 8 / 7

September 21st, 2016 by Admin

Every time you reinstall Windows, you have to download and install drivers again. But what to do if you don’t remember where you downloaded all your individual drivers from, or you lost the disc provided by your computer vendor? Luckily Windows comes with a built-in command line tool – DISM, which can make a backup of all installed drivers from a working PC.

In this tutorial we’ll show you how to use the DISM command to backup your device drivers and then restore them in Windows 10, 8 and 7, no need to use any third-party software.

Part 1: Backup Third Party Device Drivers

  1. Open the Command Prompt as administrator.
  2. Type the following command at the Command Prompt and press Enter.

    dism /online /export-driver /destination:C:\drivers-backup

    backup-driver-with-dism

    Replace the destination path (“C:\drivers-backup“) with the actual folder where you will store the drivers. It can be a folder on a separate partition or USB thumb drive. Make sure that folder is created before you run the above command.

  3. It begins to grab the drivers from your system drive and store them in your destination location. When it’s done, your destination folder will be filled with the driver files (.inf, .cat, .sys).

Part 2: Restore & Install Device Drivers

Once you’ve reinstalled Windows, you can manually restore and install the driver from your previous backup. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Device Manager. Due to lack of driver installation, some devices have a little yellow question mark over its icon, and they should have more descriptive names.
  2. Select a device from the device tree, right-click on it and select “Update Driver Software” from the drop-down menu.

    update-driver-software

  3. In the pop-up window, you will see two options. Click Browse my computer for driver software.

    search-for-device-driver

  4. Click on Browse to find the location of the driver files you backed up previously and click Next. Make sure the “Include subfolders” option is checked.

    browse-driver-backup

  5. After a while you’ll see the message saying “Windows has successfully updated your driver software” and now the device name should be displayed correctly.

    successfully-installed-driver

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