Category Archives: Windows XP

OpenOffice Java Is Defective Error

When attempting to use the letter wizard in OpenOffice an error occured indicating that  Java was defective. This issue appears to be a result of using Java 7.  Many forums I visited suggested downgrading Java to a version 6.  DO NOT DO THIS!  There is a better and easier way of resolving this issue.  You need to install Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Restributable. 

The link at the time of this wrinting to download the C++ 2010 Library is:  http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/B/C/5BC5DBB3-652D-4DCE-B14A-475AB85EEF6E/vcredist_x86.exe

 

Adobe Flash Player Error 2753

While trying to push out the 2 different Adobe Flash Player .msi install files via Group Policy, I noticed a few computers were not being updated by one or both of the installers.  I looked in the Event Viewer of these computers and found my error on the Applications tab.  The error was 2753: The file “InstallAX.exe” is not marked for installation.  I found the file name varied based on the system and which file or files were not installing.

The files names could be any of these:
InstallAX.exe
InstallAX64.exe
InstallPlugin.exe
InstallPlugin64.exe

You may also receive this error if you try to manually install the .msi file.  After a little research I found that this error is caused by some incorrect registry values for Adobe Flash Player.

Resolution

Uninstall the current version of Adobe Flash Player.  It is best to uninstall both the plugin and the activex version if they are both installed, but I found if you are only having problems with the plugin or activex you only need to uninstall that version of it if you are careful when modifying the registry in the next step.

Open up the registry editor (regedit.exe), and navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInstallerProducts.  The sub-keys in this registry key contains the installer registry settings the the software installed on the computer.

Before editing the registry, it is always best to make a backup in case you accidentally delete or change you didn’t mean to.

Every piece of software installed will be represented with a unique GUID.  Use the find function (CTRL+F) in this registry key only and search for “Adobe Flash”.  Delete the corresponding GUID key.  If you only unistalled the plugin or activex version pay attention that you only delete the keys associated with that version.  There could be more than one GUID entry that needs to be deleted so make sure to continue searching the entire HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInstallerProductskey for “Adobe Flash” until you have deleted all the keys.

After you have deleted all the keys, close the registry editor.  Your Flash Player .msi file should now install correctly.

Resetting Forgotten Windows Passwords

Occasionally I will have a person bring me a computer with a password protected user account that they don’t know the password to.  There is commercial software that you can purchase to reset the password but why pay for it if you don’t have to.

Windows Reset Disk

Windows 7 offers you a way to reset your password using a password reset disk.  The only problem with this is that you have to have made the disk prior to forgetting the password.  Who plans for that?  But if you did plan ahead good for you.

Offline Password Reset

Now the majority of people who didn’t plan ahead.  There is a program called Offline NT Password Registry Editor.  You can download a reset CD from them directly or you can also acquire the program with the Hiren Boot CD.  I use the Hirens Boot CD

  1. Boot your computer using the Hirens Boot CD
  2. Select Offline NT Password Changer
  3. After it is loaded the first prompt will ask you to select a partition.  You need to select the partition where windows is installed. IF your are unsure try picking the largest partition
  4. You will need to select the directory path to your windows registry.  The program will check to see if it can find the path to you registry files.  If it does, it will default to that partition.  You can usually just enter through this.  I find that if it could not find the path you have selected the wrong partition.
  5. Next you need to select “Password Reset”.
  6. You will now want to select “Edit User Data and Passwords”
  7. The program will list all of the users that it finds. You can just type in the name of the user that you want to edit.
  8. You will be given a few choice once you select a user.  I have had some problems trying to edit the users password, especially in Windows 7, so I usually clear (blank) out the users password.
  9. After clearing out the password you will need save the registry changes.
  10. You can now remove the boot CD from your computer and restart.  The computer should automatically boot up and move right to the desktop.  If not you might have to type in the username your cleared out and log in with no password.
  11. Once you have logged in you can go to the control panel and select user accounts.  From there you can create a new password for your account.