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Don’t Forget About Live CD’s

So I’ve been troubleshooting this computer. It’s a Windows XP machine, relatively new, decent hardware, all SiS integrated components. Video works fine, USB works fine all SATA components are fine. No matter what I do I can’t get the network card to work –> fails to obtain a lease, static IP configuration doesn’t allow me to ping my local gateway. I have tried all my tricks, hard coding the MAC address into a static lease in the router, setting up both DHCP and a matching static in the machine. The network cable is good, DHCP works fine on other machines on the same cable. Also, the HD audio is not producing any noise either.

 

I’ve ran my personal tools, (ComboFix, CCleaner, Advanced System Care and Malware Bytes Anti-Malware) and they found a few things but nothing major. The customer’s machine currently has Spyware Doctor installed and it may have interfered with ComboFix, but I did disable it. I even uninstalled the NIC and rebooted (there were no previous drivers to roll back to). After exhausting these resources onsite, I asked if I could bring it back to the office for diagnosis. My initial gut told me it was a software issue, but at this point I’m leaning toward failed hardware.

 

Why I didn’t think of it while I was onsite I am not sure, but it occurred to me that I could runfull hardware tests from a Live CD – I downloaded and burned to disc the most recent CD-sized Knoppix (6.2.11) – a great tool for trying out hardware, trying out Linux and just all around access to things Winbloze just doesn’t allow.

 

Sure enough I booted Knoppix and was instantly online on the same network card that ethernet would not work in Windows. Software issue.

 

I’ve since booted the AVG Rescue CD and was scanning overnight, and have burned the newest SiS network and audio drivers to disc for a reinstall. I am not sure what the final issue will be proven to be, but the point is, don’t overlook live Linux CD’s as part of routine testing. It can save valuable hours of troubleshooting and truly isolate the problems to hardware or software.

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free windows software to help secure you

with how malicious people are online, it’s important to protect your data and protect your identity. these programs are our key tools in making windows safer.

AVG 2011

Free anti-virus just doens’t get better. This is the most basic version of the software that AVG offers, but it does an amazing job. the current verion of this software introduced an awesome anti-rootkit component (previously available as it’s own tool)

Advanced System Care

this replaces 30% of what i do when i clean computers. it fixes basic registry errors, cleans junk files and even file-by-file defrags – great to run in the background

Spybot S&D

this program has been a staple anti-spyware program for a long time. it’s resident protector monitors registry changes live, and it can immunize against 180,000 known problems

CCleaner

use this program to quickly remove temp files from your computer, and to fix many registry issues.

internet explorer is one of the worst things that has ever happened to browsing. it doesn’t honor code standards, it contains many vulnerabilities, and it’s not as fast as other options.

the two browsers below are my highly recommended alternatives (mac, win, lin compatible)

Chrome

google’s product….amazing

Firefox

mozilla corp’s baby that launched them into fame, a remake of the famous netscape navigator

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windows xp BSOD Stop 0x0000007E

so after an architecture change of a client’s server’s pc during a disaster recovery middle of business day, i was forced to learn a lot about migrating windows xp install to and from intel and amd architectures.

i found the repair to be sufficient moving from amd to intel, but left me with a BSOD when going from intel to amd.

well like most microsoft problems, this error has a bajillion reasons as to why and finding pertinent information was difficult. i finally stumbled across this microsoft kb artice (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/953356) which instructed that when the repair cd was created via an image that was intel-based, it needs to have a registry key disabled in order to boot on amd.

fortunately, since even safe mode is not accessible during a half-complete repair, the kb article even documented how to disable the feature via the recovery console of an install cd

i cite the kb article here:

To work around this issue, run the recovery console by using the Windows XP CD. Then, select the recovery option. To run the Recovery Console from the Windows XP startup disk or from the Windows XP CD, follow these steps:

  1. Insert the Windows XP startup disk in the floppy disk drive. Or, insert the Windows XP CD in the CD drive. Then, restart the computer.

    Note If you are prompted, click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD drive.

  2. When the “Welcome to Setup” screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
  3. If you have a dual-boot computer or a multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.
  4. When you are prompted, type the administrator password.

    Note Press ENTER if the administrator password is blank.

  5. At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
    disable intelppm
  6. To exit the Recovery Console and to restart the computer, type exit at the Recovery Console command prompt, and then press ENTER.
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kde4.2 on windows

from the kde website

i hate it but i have a windows computer. i find the interface intolerable for the brief times i do have to use it, and was inspired to look for others who have already solved my issue at hand. well there is a very complete solution and i’m installing it as i type. i’ll post back with whether it ran ok on the junky xp box or not sometime when i remember.

edited 20090527

took it off because using it was horrible