Most of these Windows time tested tips go back several versions of Windows so they’re definitely worth using.
Table of Contents
Famous Shortcuts
- Menu – Win + X
- Explorer – Win + E
- Useful cmds
pingtracertipconfig>(output to text file)
- Security policies – Secpol.msc
- Add / remove programs – Appwiz.cpl
- Useful apps
- Procmon
- psexec
- autoruns
Note: here are some useful run commands for Windows as well.
Logon Errors
User Profile Service service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded.
Login as local Administrator and delete the SQM Folder located at C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\SQM
There could be a couple reasons why this may be happening. Here’s the most likely culprits:
- Beginning hardware problems like bad memory, hard drive failure (disk write errors), and more. This could be due to age and wear or a power failure that damaged your hardware. This happens quite a bit.
- An improper shutdown, especially in the middle of a cleaning, install, or upgrade of normal files or hardware.
- Failed Windows Update of a critical system file.
- Virus, other malware, or a poorly coded 3rd party Windows utility.
Common Files Locations
| Location | Notes | Win7 x64 | Vista x64 | Vista x86 | XP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Users Desktop | – | C:\Users\Public\Desktop | C:\Users\Public\Desktop | C:\Users\Public\Desktop | C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop |
| All Users Start Menu | – | C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu | C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu | C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu | C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu |
| ALLUSERSPROFILE | All Users Profile | C:\ProgramData | C:\ProgramData | C:\ProgramData | C:\Documents and Settings\All Users |
| APPDATA | – | C:\Users\username>\AppData\Roaming | C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming | C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming | C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data |
| CommonProgramFiles | – | C:\Program Files\Common Files | C:\Program Files\Common Files | C:\Program Files\Common Files | C:\Program Files\Common Files |
| CommonProgramFiles(x86) | Common 32bit Program Files on 64bit machine | C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files | C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files | – | – |
| HOMEDRIVE | – | C: | C: | C: | C: |
| HOMEPATH | Location of User Profile while user is logged in (not location of roaming profile) | \Users\username | \Users\username | \Users\username | \Documents and Settings\username |
| IE Favorites | – | C:\Users\username\Favorites | C:\Users\username\Favorites | C:\Users\username\Favorites | C:\Documents and Settings\username\Favorites |
| Links | – | C:\Users\username\Links | C:\Documents and Settings\username\Links | – | – |
| LOCALAPPDATA | Mozilla Profile in Vista | C:\Users\username\AppData\Local | C:\Users\username\AppData\Local | C:\Users\username\AppData\Local | – |
| Mozilla Profile | – | C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles | C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles | C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles | C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles |
| ProgramData | MST Login Scripts, All Users Profile | C:\ProgramData | C:\ProgramData | C:\ProgramData | – |
| ProgramFiles | 32bit programs for 32bit OS, 64bit programs for 64bit OS | C:\Program Files | C:\Program Files | C:\Program Files | C:\Program Files |
| ProgramFiles(x86) | 32bit Program Files on 64bit machine | C:\Program Files (x86) | C:\Program Files (x86) | – | – |
| Public | Shared Public Data in Vista | C:\Users\Public | C:\Users\Public | C:\Users\Public | – |
| Quick Launch Toolbar | Quick Launch shortcuts | C:\Users\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch | C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch | C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch | C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch |
| SystemDrive | Drive where Windows is installed | C: | C: | C: | C: |
| SystemRoot | Location where Windows is installed | C:\Windows | C:\Windows | C:\Windows | C:\WINNT |
| User Desktop | – | C:\Users\username\Desktop | C:\Users\username\Desktop | C:\Users\username\Desktop | C:\Documents and Settings\username\Desktop |
| User Documents | – | C:\Users\username\Documents | C:\Users\username\Documents | C:\Users\username\Documents | C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents |
| USERPROFILE | Profile location | C:\Users\username | C:\Users\username | C:\Users\username | C:\Documents and Settings\username |
| WINDIR | Location where Windows is installed | C:\Windows | C:\Windows | C:\Windows | C:\WINNT |
Note 2: here are some useful environment variables for Windows as well.
Note 3: here are some useful shell commands for Windows as well.
That’s it for this post. What other windows time tested tips do you have?
Update: If you’re looking for more modern tips instead of tips that stood the test of time, this Windows 10 Tips, Tricks, and Shortcuts article by Ed Bott at ZDNet has quite a few (over 30) tips for getting the most out of Windows 10.
