Windows 8.1 Update not listed in the Store

 

Issue:- When you try to update windows 8 to Windows 8.1 you are not able to do so as windows 8.1 update is not listed in the stores .

 

Solution:- Please follow the steps mentioned below

 

1.       Ensure the BIOS is updated.

2.       Ensure that the Windows is updated (all the updates are installed), especially KB2871389 or else download the update manually from  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2871389.

3.       Ensure the current running OS is Windows 8/Windows 8 Pro and not a Volume License, Enterprise Edition of Windows 8, or a Preview version of Windows 8/8.1

4.       Run WSRESET.exe from a command line (Press the Windows button + R on the keyboard, on the run box type command and then press enter, on the command prompt type WSRESET.exe and then press enter).

5.       Sync you App License:

a)      On the Start screen, tap or click Store to open the Windows Store.

b)       Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Settings.)

c)       Tap or click App updates.

d)      Tap or click Sync licenses.

 

6.       Make sure that the following services and running: Windows Update & BITS.

7.       Open Internet Explorer, and type the following in the address bar

 

ms-windows-store:windowsupgrade

 

8.       Open the command prompt with admin privileges, and type the following command:

 

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\WinStore\AppxManifest.xml

 

 

After doing the doing the above steps if you are still facing problem refer solution 2

 

SOLUTION 2:

 

1.       go to Programs and Features on the left click on view installed updated. Look for KB2871389. Once you find it uninstall the same and restart the computer.

2.       Run WSRESET.exe from a command line (Press the Windows button + R on the keyboard, on the run box type command and then press enter, on the command prompt type WSRESET.exe and then press enter).

3.       Download and install the update KB2871389 manually from  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2871389 and restart the computer (This should resolve the issue for sure)

4.       Go to stores now you should find the Windows 8.1 update ready to be downloaded and installed.

 

 

 

Regards,

Paul Parackel

Email# info.transaircoms@gmail.com

CCNA / MCP / MCITP

 

Secure Boot isn't configured correctly after Win 8.1 update watermark appears at the bottom right hand corner

 

 

Solution

 

a)          If the OS is WIN 8 Home ,Ensure SECURE BOOT option is enabled in BIOS to resolve the issue, if enabling secure boot renders the system to No boot , Change the secure boot to disabled again, Keep the computer connected to the internet for pulling the latest windows updates .

 

b)          In some of the cases SECURE BOOT is grayed out in the BIOS. The customer can continue to use his system normally with no impact on performance.

 

c) If the OS is WIN 8 Pro , follow the steps below to resolve the issue

 

·         Swipe the charms bar

·         Touch search

·         Key in gpedit.msc

·         Touch gpedit

·         Then under Computer Configuration

·         Touch Administrative templates

·         Then All settings on the right window pane

·         Then scroll down to use enhanced boot configuration data validation profile

·         Touch enabled option and touch apply option

·         Exit and Restart

 

d) From Windows:

·         go to Settings charm > Change PC settings > Update and Recovery > Recovery > Advanced Startup: Restart now. When the PC reboots, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options: UEFI Firmware Settings.

·         Find the Secure Boot setting, and if possible, set it to Enabled. This option is usually in either the Security tab, the Boot tab, or the Authentication tab.

 

On some PCs, select Custom, and then load the Secure Boot keys that are built into the PC.

 

If the PC does not allow you to enable Secure Boot, try resetting the BIOS back to the factory settings.

·         Save changes and exit. The PC reboots.

·         If the PC is not able to boot after enabling Secure Boot, go back into the BIOS menus, disable Secure Boot, and try to boot the PC again.

·         In some cases, you may need to refresh or reset your PC to its original state before you can turn on Secure Boot.

·         If the above steps don’t work, and you still want to use the Secure Boot feature, contact your manufacturer for help.

e) Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 users can download this patch now which will help you resolve the issue for sure please click on the link below

 

a)      Windows 8.1 32Bit Secure Boot Patch.

b)       Windows 8.1 64Bit Secure Boot Patch.

c)       Windows Server 2012 R2 Secure Boot Patch.

 

External MS Link

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2902864

 

 

 

Regards,

Paul Parackel

Email# info.transaircoms@gmail.com

CCNA / MCP / MCITP

 

System black halt after Windows8.1 update

[Symptom]
After Windows 8.1 update, the system display may go to black and the mouse cursor can be seen when the mouse is moved.

 

[Cause]

AMD PowerXpress systems (have two GPU(Intel + AMD)) have this issue. PowerXpress system require removing previously installed graphics driver process, but the update doesn’t have the removal process built in.

 

[Troubleshooting Steps]

1. Hold power button for 10 to 15sec to shut down the system.

2. Press power button to start system.

3. Repeat Step  1 & 2, for three to four times or till the time you see "advanced repair option" (I really wont suggested doing more than 5times if you are still not getting the "advanced repair option" wait for some time and then try .

4. After that, you may see Select see "advanced repair option" in Recovery page

 

5. Click on the Troubleshoot option (One more way to get the troubleshoot option is to hard shutdown the computer when the system is booting up).

6. Now select Advanced Options.

 

 

7. Now choose the Windows Startup Settings option

 

 

8. Finally hit the Restart button (For some system it may say "Windows Startup Setting" both are one and the same).

 

 

9. when your PC reboots you will be able to boot into Safe Mode from the familiar looking Advanced Boot Options screen (For Some System the screen may be blue) .

 

 

If you get the above screen you have to use arrow keys to select the options and press enter

 

 

If you get the above  screen then you have press the number key on the keyboard (For Example: you want to go into safe mode with networking you have press Number "4" or "F4 on the keyboard)

 

10. System boots in Safe mode

11. After boot up and reach the desktop, press hot key, "Windows + x" and select "Device manager"

12. Double click the item, "Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000"  / "AMD Radeon HD 8600/8700M" under display adapter.

13. Move to driver tab and press the button, "Update Driver”

14. Choose, "Browse my computer for driver software.

15. Choose, "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer"

16. Select the Intel GFX driver, Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 Version: 9.17.10.2875 / AMD Radeon HD 8700M Series, and click the next button

17.  Restart the Computer now the system should be able to boot in the normal mode. If updating the drivers does not solve the issue you can try to disabling  / uninstall the Video Driver this would be a  workaround.

 

Regards,

Paul Parackel

Email# info.transaircoms@gmail.com

CCNA / MCP / MCITP

 

Windows 8 Metro Apps unable to connect to internet but desktop apps can go online.

 

Windows 8 is a relatively new OS and all the solution Microsoft suggests for this problem is to refresh the PC. But if you have a lot of valuable programs installed, you would probably not want to do that.

The problem is actually with a setting with internet sharing, which makes metro style internet explorer act in a very restrictive manner. All you have to do is turn off sharing. Following are the steps to do this:

1) Go to the charms menu.
2) click on the settings option.
3) Click on the "Internet access" option.
4) Right click on the active connection.
5) Click on "Turn sharing on or off".
6) Click on "No, don't turn on sharing or connect to devices".

Know Your apps will be able to connect to internet now.

 

Regards,

Paul Parackel

Email# info.transaircoms@gmail.com

CCNA / MCP / MCITP

 

How To Get Into Safe mode (Windows Advanced Option) in Windows 8

One of the most common steps when troubleshooting a PC is to boot into safe mode, safe mode with networking. For a long time this has been achieved by pressing the F8 key for previous Windows Operating system, this all have changed with Windows 8 and its Automatic Repair mode. But the question remains what if we want to go into Safe Mode / Safe Mode With Networking?

You can still have Safe Mode, however, it is buried deep into the recovery options of Windows 8. While just mashing the F8 key as we all know will boot you into automatic recovery mode, you can still manually access the recovery options by pressing the Shift+F8 key combination or boot the computer to the desktop and from there you can launch safe mode. Let's see different ways of booting the computer in safe mode / safe mode with networking

Method 1

a)  Hold the Shift button and Press the F8 key, this will sometimes boot you into the new advanced “recovery mode”,  Click on  advanced repair options.

 

b) Click on the Troubleshoot option (One more way to get the troubleshoot option is to hard shutdown the computer when the system is booting up).

c) Now select Advanced Options.

 

 

d)  Now choose the Windows Startup Settings option

 

 

e) Finally hit the Restart button (For some system it may say "Windows Startup Setting" both are one and the same).

 

 

f) when your PC reboots you will be able to boot into Safe Mode from the familiar looking Advanced Boot Options screen (For System the screen may be blue) .

 

If you get the above screen you have to use arrow keys to select the options and press enter

 

 

If you get the above  screen then you have press the number key on the keyboard (For Example: you want to go into safe mode with networking you have press Number "5" or "F5 on the keyboard)

 

Method 2

 

a) This method requires that you are able to booted into Windows. Press the Win+R key combination and type msconfig in the run box and hit enter.

b) Click on Boot

You can also choose the type of Safe Mode you want to boot into:

• Minimal is normal safe mode.
• Alternate Shell is safe mode with command prompt
• Network is safe mode with networking.

c) Once you have selected the option you will get the below screen click on don't show this message again and then click restart

d) You PC will be booted into Safe Mode automatically.

e) If you restart you PC you will just keep getting booted into Safe Mode, to stop this open msconfig again and uncheck the Safe Boot option, then hit the ok button (Please refer to step a & b).

f) Finally Restart your Machine know you should be able to boot the computer in Normal Mode.

 

Method 3

 

a) First use your finger to make a sliding motion from bottom to top on the illuminated screen in Modern UI, then click once All Applications. If you are using a mouse, please right click once All Applications.

 

 

b) Then on the command comprompt character use your finger to slide from top to bottom, and click once more Executable by system administrator. If you are using a mouse, click on the command prompt character and right click, then click once more Executable by system administrator.

 

 

c) If there is user account control, please click once yes.

 

 

d) Click to input Bcdedit /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu yes,when completed press the Enter key on the keyboard. If you need to cancel the prompt to enter options at startup, simply change Yes to No.

 

 

e) Once completed, please restart your computer, then press F8 to enter setup screen upon startup, then press F4, F5, F6 or 4, 5, 6 to enter safe mode, Safe Mode With Networking, Safe Mode With Command Prompt.

 

 

Method 4

 

a) On the charms Bar click on "Setting"

 

 

b) Click on "Change PC Settings"

 

 

c) Under PC Setting first click on "General" . Once you click on general on the other side you will see Advanced Startup click on "Restart Now"

 

 

d) Click on the Troubleshoot option

 

 

e) Now select Advanced Options.

 

 

f) Now click on the Startup Settings option

 

 

g) Finally hit the Restart button (For some system it may say "Windows Startup Setting" both are one and the same).

 

 

h) when your PC reboots you will be able to boot into Safe Mode

 

 

If you get the above  screen then you have press the number key on the keyboard (For Example: you want to go into safe mode with networking you have press Number "5" or "F5 on the keyboard)

 

 

Regards,

Paul Parackel

Email# info.transaircoms@gmail.com

CCNA / MCP / MCITP

 

How To Kill Processes from Command Prompt

I'm sure you are familiar with the traditional way to kill or end a process in Windows using Task Manager.  This method is effective but not nearly as fun as killing a process in Command Prompt.  Additionally, killing processes in Command Prompt provides much more control and the ability to end multiple processes at once.

 

All of this is possible with the TaskKill command. First, let's cover the basics.  You can kill a process by the process ID (PID) or by image name (EXE filename).

Open up an Administrative level Command Prompt and run tasklist to see all of the running processes:

 

C:\>tasklist

 

 

In the example above you can see the image name and the PID for each process. If you want to kill the notepad process run:

 

C:\>taskkill /IM notepad.exe /F

 

or

 

C:\>taskkill /PID 784 /F

 

The /f flag is kills the process forcefully.  Failure to use the /F flag will result in nothing happening in some cases.  One example is whenever I want to kill the explorer.exe process I have to use the /F flag or else the process just does not terminate.

 

If you have multiple instances of an image open such as multiple firefox.exe processes, running the taskkill /IM firefox.exe command will kill all instances. When you specify the PID only the specific instane of firefox will be terminated.

 

The real power of taskkill are the filtering options that allow you to use the following variables and operators.

 

Variables:

STATUS

IMAGENAME

PID

SESSION

CPUTIME

MEMUSAGE

USERNAME

MODULES

SERVICES

WINDOWTITLE

 

Operators:

eq (equals)

ne (not equal)

gt (greater than)

lt (less than)

ge (greater than or equal)

le (less than or equal)

 

"*" is the wildcard.

You can use the variables and operators with the /FI filtering flag.  For example, let's say you want to end all processes that have a window title that starts with "Internet":

 

C:\>taskkill /FI "WINDOWTITLE eq Internet*" /F

 

How about killing all processes running under the Steve account:

 

C:\>taskkill /FI "USERNAME eq Steve" /F

 

It is also possible to kill a process running on a remote computer with taskkill.  Just run the following to kill notepad.exe on a remote computer called SteveDesktop:

 

C:\>taskkill /S SteveDesktop /U RemoteAccountName /P RemoteAccountPassword /IM notepad.exe /F

 

To learn more about taskkill run it with the /? command just like any other Windows command.

 

Regards,

Paul Parackel

Email# info.transaircoms@gmail.com

CCNA / MCP / MCITP

 

How to Recover Deleted Photos, Pictures and Other Files (Recuva)

Have you ever accidentally deleted a photo or file from your computer or digital camera....?  Even if you clear the recycle bin, there is still a chance your pictures can be recovered.

Even though a file was deleted there is a good chance the contents of the file are still around.  When a file is deleted the contents of the file are not removed. Only a pointer to the file in the file system table is deleted.  

 

Time is your worst enemy when restoring files. When the pointer to the file has been deleted the operating system can use that storage space to write and store new data.  The longer it has been since you realized the file was deleted increases the chance any remaining file content has been overwritten.

 

It is very important to immediately stop writing to the storage device that previously contained your pictures so that the old file contents are not overwritten.  For example, don’t take any more pictures with your digital camera because new pictures will overwrite the deleted files.

 

Next, you will need to use a utility to reassemble the file remains back into the original files. Use a free utility called Recuva by Piriform.

 

After the utility is installed start it up and click cancel on the Recuva Wizard screen know select the drive you want to scan for the deleted files.

 

There are two ways to scan for deleted files.

Method1:-  First we are going to use the default scan method by just clicking Scan.

The results pane will be populated when the scan is completed. Files that are  green can be recovered by other files that are yellow or red have been overwritten. Previews are shown for some files when you click on them.

 

Check the boxes next to the files you want to restore and click Recover.

 

Select a location to restore the files to and click OK. Make sure you select a different storage device/drive than where the files are currently located so you don’t overwrite the file remains. 

 

Your files will now be recovered. 

 

Method 2 :- DEEP SCAN

 

Running a deep scan will check the actual sectors on the storage device for file remains. You can enable this scan option by clicking Options on the main screen.

 

Click on the Actions tab, check Deep Scan and click OK.

 

Now just click Scan again and go for a walk because the deep scan can take a while depending on the size of the drive.

 

When the scan is completed restore the files the same way discussed above for the normal scan.

 

 

 

 

Regards,

Paul Parackel

Email# info.transaircoms@gmail.com

CCNA / MCP / MCITP