Basesoft Windows HowTo (under construction)

This Basesoft Windows HowTo (FAQ) page gives some, hopefully useful, hints about solving some advanced problems in networked solutions, that we have encountered and where solutions have not easily been found on the net. This includes both usage of Windows servers, server software products and open source solutions as well as different kind of clients - UNIX, Linux, Windows and thin client solutions such as SunRay, Citrix, Terminal Services. Before trying this - be sure that you are aware of whar you are doing and of any side-effects or other problmes that might arise.

Turning off call to http://msftncsi.com/ncsi.txt at Windows 7 boot

Avoiding filling your harddrive (disk) with old Windows Installer files

There is no email program associated ... warning message

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Turning off call to http://msftncsi.com/ncsi.txt at Windows 7 boot
Initially when Windows 7 (Vista etc) workstation boots it makes a call to http://msftncsi.com/ncsi.txt. To turn this off use the registry key below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NlaSvc\Parameters\Internet

and set EnableActiveProbing to 0. (The default value is 1). Then restart Windows. Also confirm by checking your external firewall log that this Internet access test no longer happens. If you are interested in more possibilities with this service check the other name - value pairs under this key.

[Updated 2010-FEB-25/JH]

Avoiding filling your harddrive (disk) with old Windows Installer files
To turn off cachning of old Windows Installer files (e.g. in %WINDIR%\Installer\$PatchCache$) use the registry key below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer

and set (possible create as a REG_DWORD) MaxPatchCacheSize to 0.

If MaxPatchCacheSize is not set (seems to be the default), the default value used is 10, i.e. a maximum of 10% of the disk space might be used to save old installer files. This setting only implies to new installs. It is no cleanup of old files already cached. You might try the command compclean for this (works on Windows patches after Vista SP1).

Another hints for temporarily getting more space on your windows (e.g. C:) drive for e.g. Windows upgrade is to move the Windows swap file (pagefile.sys) to any other filesystem (partition, drive) and disable the hibernation file (hiberfil.sys) e.g. by the command powercfg -h on | off. Both files are as default located on your Windows root file system (e.g. C: or where your current Windows is installed).
[Updated 2010-FEB-25]

There is no email program associated ... warning message
After an upgrade of Windows Vista to Windows 7 you may get the following warning pop-up (Email) message at logon:

"There is no email program associated to perform the requested action. Please install an email program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel."

One reason for this could be the DesktopSMS (e.g. from "\Program Files\IDM\Desktop SMS") utility that might be looking fore.g. Microsoft Outlook.

The easy fix is turning it off at startup, e.g run msconfig and uncheck "Desktop SMS" in the Startup tab. You may also edit the registry key (HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run).

The reason behind could be that you no longer have Microsoft Outlook installed or you had WindowsMmail introduced in Vista that is no longer supported in Windows 7. It does not help to do the suggested action in Default programs, e.g install another Email program such as Thunderbird. .
[Updated 2010-MAR-01]

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