End of Windows XP

Windows XP Support Ends!

On April 8, 2014, Microsoft will end support for the decade-old Windows XP as well as Office 2003. This means you will no longer receive updates, including security updates, for Windows XP from Microsoft. The security and privacy implications of this event could have significant impacts on your business.

	Without critical Windows XP security updates, your information may become vulnerable. Windows 8 Pro and the new Office offer enhanced security features like built-in firewall, anti-virus, rootkit malware protection and Rights Management for emails and attachments.
	Many software and hardware vendors will no longer support their products that run on Windows XP. Newer versions of your line of business apps are supported on Windows 8. For example, the new Office takes advantage of the modern Windows and will not run on Windows XP.
	When problems arise, online and phone-based technical support will unfortunately no longer be available. Continue to work on a supported platform with Windows 8 Pro and the new Office.
	The risks of business disruption could increase because of the lack of supported software, and the increasing age of hardware running Windows XP. Moving to Windows 8 Pro and the new Office in a timely, planned manner will reduce downtime later.

This is your opportunity to see how 10 years of innovation in both Windows 8 Pro and the new Office (either Office 365 or Office Standard 2013) can help your business. Just contact us to see what you've been missing.

Making the switch is easy Moving off of Windows XP and Office 2003 couldn't be easier. With these special offers and our migration assistance, your switch to Windows 8 Pro and the new Office will be a snap. Upgrade offer Buy Windows 8 Pro and Office Standard 2013 together and save up to 15%.* New PC Offer Upgrading your office? Purchase two or more PC Solutions 3620 or 3630 workstations and get 10% off onsite installation labor.**

*Offer valid until June 20, 2013 on purchases of Windows 8 Pro and Office Standard 2013 together through the Open License program for up to 249 seats. Availability will vary by geography. Contact your Partner for exact pricing.  Limited to UPGRADES ONLY – Program not valid for new PC Purchases. **Offer valid until June 20, 2013. Cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers.

We look forward to the challenges of making your business computing and networking solutions the best in the market. We are in business to assist you in making advanced information technologies work for your business goals.

How to fix Windows corruption errors such as 0x80070002 and 0x80070057

To resolve this problem, use the inbox Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. Then, install the Windows update or service pack again.

1. Open an elevated command prompt. To do this, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. Or, if you are using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, and then click Search. Type Command Prompt in the Search box, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
2. Type the following command, and then press Enter.
   It may take several minutes for the command operation to be completed.
   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
   Important When you run this command, DISM uses Windows Update to provide the files that are required to fix corruptions. However, if your Windows Update client is already broken, use a running Windows installation as the repair source, or use a Windows side-by-side folder from a network share or from a removable media, such as the Windows DVD, as the source of the files. To do this, run the following command instead:
   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess
   Note Replace the C:\RepairSource\Windows placeholder with the location of your repair source. For more information about using the DISM tool to repair Windows, reference Repair a Windows Image.
3. Close the command prompt, and then run Windows Update again.

DISM creates a log file (%windir%/Logs/CBS/CBS.log) that captures any issues that the tool found or fixed. %windir% is the folder in which Windows is installed. For example, the %windir% folder is C:\Windows.

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2008

To resolve this problem, use the System Update Readiness tool. Then, install the Windows update or service pack again.

1. Download the System Update Readiness tool.
   Click the download link in the following table that corresponds to the version of Windows that is running on your computer.
   Find out if your computer is running the 32 or 64-bit version of Windows
   
   This tool is updated regularly, we recommend that you always download the latest version.
   
   

   Operating system	Download link
   x86-based (32-bit) versions of Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 7	Download
   x64-based (64-bit) versions of Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 7	Download
   x64-based (64-bit) versions of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1	Download
   Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1	Download
   x86-based (32-bit) versions of Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Vista SP1	Download
   x64-based (64-bit) versions of Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Vista SP1	Download
   x86-based (32-bit)versions of Windows Server 2008 SP2	Download
   x64-based (64-bit) versions of Windows Server 2008 SP2	Download
   Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008 SP2	Download

2. Install and run the tool.
   1. Click Download on the Download Center webpage, then do one of the following:
      • To install the tool immediately, click Open or Run, and then follow the instructions on your screen.
      • To install the tool later, click Save, and then download the installation file to your computer. When you're ready to install the tool, double-click the file.
   2. In the Windows Update Standalone Installer dialog box, click Yes.
      
      
      
   3. When the tool is being installed, it automatically runs. Although it typically takes less than 15 minutes to run, it might take much longer on some computers. Even if the progress bar seems to stop, the scan is still running, so don't click Cancel.
      
      
      
   4. When you see Installation complete, click Close.
      
      
      
   5. Reinstall the update or service pack you were trying to install previously.

How to enable .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 8 in Offline Mode

Windows 8 does not include .NET 3.5 (include .NET 2.0 and 3.0) by default. But if the user is upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8, .NET Framework 3.5 is fully enabled. The user can make sure this feature is enabled by check in Program and Features.

These is list of steps that the user can do to check it :


Step 1 :
Go to Settings. Choose Control Panel then choose Programs.

Step 2 :
Click Turn Windows features on or off, and the user will see window as image below.

The User can enable this feature by click on .NET Framework 3.5 (include .NET 2.0 and 3.0) select it and click OK. After this step, it will download the entire package from internet and install the .NET Framework 3.5 feature.

But if the user does not have an internet connection, this steps can not be applied

Solutions

The user still can enable this feature in offline mode if the user has Windows 8 DVD or ISO image.

How To Do

The following are the steps to enable .NET Framework 3.5 (include .NET 2.0 and 3.0) feature in offline mode :

Step 1 :
Insert Windows 8 DVD or mount ISO image. The source of this feature can be found in folder E:\sources\sxs. (In this case E: the user’s drive letter on which the user has loaded Windows 8 Media.)

Step 2 :
Open CMD.EXE with Administrative Privileges.

Step 3 :
Run the following command Dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /All /Source:E:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess, and hit Enter.

After completing the installation of .NET Framework 3.5 you can see that the feature is enabled.

How to Make a USB Bootable

Have an old USB drive lying around that you don't use anymore? Turn it into an operating install disk for Windows, Linux or Mac, or a diagnostic tool for your PC. Follow this guide to learn how


Method 1 of 5: Making a USB Drive to Install Any PC Operating System

1. 
   1
   Open the Command Prompt. You will need to run Command Prompt as an Administrator. Right-click on it and select Run as Administrator. You may need to enter the Administrator password.
   • This method will create a USB drive that is bootable. You can then copy the contents of an operating installation disc onto the drive to create a portable installation drive.
   • This method only works in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.
2. 
   2
   Open the disk management utility. This can be opened by entering the command diskpart.
3. 
   3
   Display the connected disks. Type the command list disk to show a list of all the drives connected to your computer. Your USB drive should be listed here as well. Make note of the number next to your USB drive.
4. 
   4
   Select the USB drive. Enter the command select disk #, replace “#” with the number from the previous step.
5. 
   5
   Clean the flash drive. Enter the command clean to have the disk management utility verify the integrity of the USB drive, and erase all data.
6. 
   6
   Create a bootable partition. Once the USB drive is clean, type in create partition primary. You will see a message saying that the operation was successful.
7. 
   7
   Select the new partition. Enter the command select partition 1 and press Enter. Once you receive a confirmation message, type active and press Enter. This will activate the partition.
8. 
   8
   Format the USB drive. Input the command format fs=fat32. When you press Enter, the program will work for a few minutes (if it is a small USB, e.g. 32Gb could actually take hours to SLOW format), and the progress will be displayed as a percentage.
9. 9
   Assign the USB a drive letter. Enter the command assign to give the thumb drive a letter designation. Type exit to end the disk management program.
10. 
    10
    Copy the operating system. Once the USB drive has been made bootable, you can copy over the installation files for the operating system you want to install. You can do this by dragging and dropping using your preferred file manager/explorer.
    • Copy over any drivers you might need during the operating system installation to make the process much smoother.

Method 2 of 5: Making a Windows Vista or 7 Install Drive

1. 
   1
   Create or Obtain A Windows Vista/7 ISO. Install a free burning program. There are a number of free burning utilities available online. You need one that can create ISO files. If you received your Windows 7 as a downloadable ISO file from Microsoft, you can skip to Step 2.
   • Insert your Windows 7 DVD. Open your new burning program. Look for an option such as “Copy to Image” or “Create Image.” If prompted, select your DVD drive as the source.
     
   • Save your ISO file. Choose an easy to remember name and location for the file. The ISO you make will be equal in size to the disc you are copying. This means it can take up several gigabytes of space on your hard drive. Be sure you have enough storage available.
     
   • Creating the ISO can take a long time, depending on the speed of your computer and DVD drive.
2. 
   2
   Download Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. This is available for free from Microsoft. Despite its name, this tool works with Windows Vista ISOs as well. You can run this tool on virtually any version of Windows.
3. 
   3
   Select the Source file. This is the ISO that you created or downloaded in the first section. Click Next.
4. 
   4
   Select USB device. You are given the option to either burn to a DVD or create a USB device. For this guide, click USB Device.
5. 
   5
   Choose your USB device. Make sure that your flash drive is connected correctly. You will need at least 4GB space on your flash drive to copy over the Windows installation.
6. 
   6
   Wait while program works. The program will format the USB drive to boot correctly, then copy the ISO file onto the drive. The copying process can take up to 15 minutes to complete, depending on the speed of your machine.

Method 3 of 5: Making a Windows XP Install Drive

1. 1
   Gather your software and hardware. You will need USB_Prep8 and bootsect.exe. These are developer tools both freely available online. You will also need a flash drive at least 1GB in size, and a Windows XP installation CD or DVD.
   • Insert the USB drive and the Windows XP disc. Close any Autoplay windows that open.
     
2. 
   2
   Extract and run USB_Prep8. Once you extract the USB_Prep8 .zip file, open the folder it creates and run usb_prep8.cmd. This will open a command prompt. Press any key to format the USB drive with PeToUSB. Note: In Windows 7, you will need to open a cmd as administrator and run usb_prop8.cmd from prompt, otherwise nothing works.
3. 
   3
   Start the format. Do not change any of the settings in the PeToUSB window. Once the format is complete, leave both windows open and start a new command prompt by pressing Windows key + R and typing “cmd” into the field.
4. 
   4
   Extract bootsect. Once it is extracted, navigate to the bootsect folder using the new command window. Once you are in the bootsect directory on your computer, type “bootsect.exe /nt52 Z:”. Change the “Z” to the drive letter of your USB drive.
   • You cannot have any windows open showing the contents of the USB drive at this point, or the operation will fail and you will need to restart
   • Bootsect copies the files necessary to allow your computer to boot from the flash drive. When it is complete you will see the message “Bootcode was successfully updated on all targeted volumes.” You can close this window and PeToUSB now, but keep the usb_prep8 command window open.
5. 5
   Adjust the Prep8 settings. Once the bootsect is done copying, the usb_prep8 command window will display a numbered menu allowing you to change some settings. You will need to change the first 3 settings:
   • Press 1 and then Enter. A Browse for Folder window will open. Select the drive that contains your Windows XP disc and press OK.
     
   • Press 2 and then Enter. If you have a drive on your computer that is already assigned to the letter T:, then change this option to a free letter. Otherwise, you can leave this as is.
     
   • Press 3 and then Enter. Enter the drive letter for your USB flash drive.
     
6. 
   6
   Start the copy process. To do this, press 4 and then Enter. You will be notified that proceeding will format the virtual disk from the earlier menu. Press Y to continue. Once the format is complete, press any key to continue.
   • Files will scroll up the screen as the copy process progresses. You will be prompted to press any key to continue again. After a few moments, a window will open confirming that you want to copy TempDrive Files. Press Yes, and wait around 15 minutes, then press Yes for the next two windows that open.
     
7. 
   7
   Begin Windows XP setup. At this point the USB drive is complete. Insert it into the computer that you want to install Windows XP on. You will need to set the BIOS to boot from a USB drive. Check out our guide on setting your BIOS correctly.
   • When the startup menu opens, select Option 1 for a text mode installation. The Windows XP installation will now begin as normal.
   • After the computer reboots after the text mode portion, select Option 2 to start the GUI (Graphical User Interface) portion of the installation.
   • Keep your USB drive plugged in during the entire installation process.
     

Method 4 of 5: Creating a USB PC Repair Toolkit

1. 
   1
   Download the Ultimate Boot CD (UBCD) ISO file. This file is available for free from the developers here. The UBCD is a collection of diagnostic tools that can be run before the operating system loads. Having them all on one thumbdrive makes for a convenient PC repair tool. You will also need the Universal USB Installer, which can be found here. Place the Universal USB Installer in the same folder as the UBCD .iso file.
2. 
   2
   Run the Universal USB Installer. Select Ultimate Boot CD from the menu. Make sure that the directory in the field is correct. Select the correct drive letter for your USB flash drive. Click the Create button.
3. 
   3
   Boot from the USB drive. After the USB is done being created, you’re ready to boot from the drive and run the diagnostic tool.

Method 5 of 5: Making a Mac OS X 10.7 or 10.8 USB Install Drive

1. 
   1
   Assemble the hardware and software that you will need. You will need an 8GB or larger USB flash drive. You will also need the OS X installer app from the Mac App Store. Download the app and insert the USB drive.
2. 
   2
   Launch the Disk Utility. It can be found in the Utilities folder inside the Applications folder. The Disk Utility will allow you to manipulate the USB drive. In the left frame, select your USB drive and then open the Partition tab. Under Partition Layout, select 1 Partition.
3. 
   3
   Select the format. From the format dropdown menu, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled). This will allow your drive to be read by any Mac OS computer. Click the Options button and select GUID Partition Table.
4. 
   4
   Find the Install Mac OS X file. This is the .app file that you downloaded from the Mac App Store. It is installed in the Applications folder by default. Right-click on the file and select Show Package Contents. Open Contents and then Shared Support. You should see a file called InstallESD.dmg. Drag this file to your desktop.
5. 
   5
   Open the Disk Utility again. Click on the USB drive in the left frame. Open the Restore tab and click the Image… button next to the Source box. Select the InstallESD.dmg file. For Destination, drag the newly created partition into the field.