Vista Error Code 0×80240016 While Updating Windows Defender may be a Skype Problem

This error code 0×80240016 happened to me while I tried to update Windows Defender. After some searching I found that it may be a problem with Skype and its associated plugins for Firefox and IE. When I clicked on the windows defender update icon in the lower right of the screen vista admin did not popup and ask if I wanted to OK this.. Only after I disabled the Skype plugin for Firefox then clicked on the lower right screen icon in the tray that the admin screen appeared then I clicked approve and windows defender updated with no problem.

Maybe I just got lucky, but I hope this might help other people with the error code 0×80240016 problem.  This may be an Access Denied. Meaning You do not have sufficient permissions. Be sure you are logged on as an Administrator. I was already logged on as admin but it did not let me update the first time but it did the second time. If anyone else was able to fix the 0×80240016 error code problem please post a comment.

Other possible fixes to this are:

Reboot (log on as admin)

Try Updating again.

Uninstall Skype

Two Ways to be Just a Bit More Efficient on your PC

As a power user on Windows and getting there on the Mac, I make it my duty to find and use every possible loophole of efficiency.

Here’s two that I use, or used to use on a day to day basis: (I say used to use, because now my primary computer is a Mac)

The First video show’s you how to move and manipulate your Taskbar. I made the video under Vista but it should work on XP.

And this next one shows you how to save surfing time by putting your favorite sites on your desktop:

I hope you like those tricks as much as I do, and if you have any other Windows power user tips, please email me: helpmetechshow@gmail.com or leave something in the comments.

Flip3D for XP

One of the coolest features in Vista is the cool Flip3D feature. Currently the only way that this could be done is with the Aero theme on. Now for users who sadly do not have the power to have Flip3D they sadly will miss out…until now!

Today i discovered this useful application called TopDesk. This neat little application emulates the Flip3D inside Vista for both XP and Vista basic themes.

After you install this application and run it you simple do Windows + Tab and and you have Flip3D emulated on your PC. Please note that the application does cost $17.95 but in my opinion this is still a good deal if you want that bit of Vista functionality but don’t want to install Vista.

Visit Otaku Software to purchase this fantastic product

Latest Version 2.9.0 of Fraps has just been released.

According to the Fraps 2.9.0 Release Notes this is what’s new.

“Fraps release adds support for Vista and DirectX 10 games. With games starting to appear using DirectX 10 graphics we are happy to report that benchmarking, video capture, and screenshots are now all fully supported for these titles.”

With more DX10 games coming to store shelves, it will be good to see some more DX10 game video coming online.“ Vista also includes a rewritten audio subsystem. Fraps can take advantage of this and directly record a sound stream from the machine without requiring any support from the soundcard driver. This allows you to capture in-game audio even if you are using a USB headset or other audio device which does not normally support a “Stereo Mix” or “What U Hear” recording input.”

This is very good to hear.

“Since the Vista Desktop Window Manager (DWM) runs through DirectX we have also added a new option to monitor the desktop under Vista. You can now take screenshots and record video from the desktop just like any other game or 3D application.”

Other fixes are:

Added support for DirectX 10
Added option to monitor Desktop Window Manager under Vista
Added Direct Stream sound recording for Vista
Fixed screen tearing in video captured from DX9 games
Fixed G15 LCD output running fast on Vista machines
Improved resource sharing with multithreaded games
Added numerous crash and compatibility fixes

I always liked Fraps for capturing gaming video and love to see they’re keeping the software updated. You can try Fraps for Free by clicking here.

5.1 SURROUND SETUP W/VISTA

This task requires your computer to have 5.1 surround capabilities

Hardware I used:

-Dell Dimension C521 W/ Windows Vista
-Integrated 5.1 surround sound

-CONNECTED TO-

-Logitech X-540 70 watt surround speaker system

(1) Connect speaker system to your computer as instructed by your system’s owners / installation manual.

(2) Left click the start button in the lower left hand corner of your desktop.

(3) On the right side of the resulting Start Menu, left click “Control Panel“. This should open the “Control Panel window”.

(4) On the left side of the Control Panel window Left click “Classic View” under “Control Panel Home”. (This makes things a little easier to navigate)

(5) The Control Panel window should contain an icon that looks like a little speaker and is labeled “Sound“. Double left click it. This should open a small widow titled “Sound”.

(6) Right click the “Speakers” listing on the playback tab opening a smaller window and left click “Configure Speakers”

(7) On the “Speaker Setup/Choose your configuration” window is a small box labeled “Audio Channels“, left click the listing “5.1 Surround“. Left click the “Test” button to ensure everything is connected properly. The Speaker Setup window will animate an on screen speaker diagram that will correspond with the appropriate satellite if the system is properly connected. When finished, left click the “Next” button.

VISTA will automatically set up the rest of the configuration, so keep left clicking the “Next” button moving through each window until you click the “Finish” Button. Be sure to take the time to read over each menu just so you know how everything is setup and where things are located.

When finished, close any windows or applications you might have running and restart your computer.

Dual Monitor Setup W/ VISTA

This task requires a graphics card with dual heads (2 outputs DVI or VGA) or a dual monitor dongle (vga or dvi splitter).

HARDWARE I USED:

– Dell Dimension C521 W/ Windows VISTA
- 1 Gb Ram
- ATI Radeon 1300 Pro graphics W/ dual VGA dongle

-CONNECTED TO-

-Samsung Syncmaster 226bw 22″ LCD Display (Monitor 1/Primary)
-Dell 17″ oem LCD Display (Monitor 2/Secondary)
(1) Right-click the desktop and Left-click “Personalize“, which will open the”Personalize appearance and sounds”
window in Control Panel.

(2) Left-click “Display Settings” and check the “Extend the desktop to this monitor” box, then left click “Apply“.

(3) Next adjust your monitor resolution settings accordingly. (Refer to your monitors owners manual for appropriate settings)

(4) You can toggle between each monitor by left-clicking the 1&2 monitor icons which will be highlighted in blue & gray. (a blue outline indicating the monitor being adjusted)

(5) Once you adjust and apply all of your settings and left-click “ok” and give your PC a minute to adjust.

(6) You should now have both monitors running on the same desktop. By moving your cursor through the side of one monitor and into the other you can now click and drag desktop icons and open applications from your primary to your secondary monitor and run other applications and windows
on your primary monitor.

Remember* Closing a window or application on your secondary monitor will cause it to open in the secondary monitor until you drag it back to the primary monitor and close it

To veiw photo of my project click here> http://www.flickr.com/photos/8175831@N08/483478403/

Microsoft allows bypass of Vista activation

Heard about this hack on Leo Laporte’s Tech Guy show #335. As a way totally bypassing all the activation features of Windows Vista.

Why does SkipRearm even exist in Vista?

The Vista development teaam apparently inserted the SkipRearm loophole to help major corporations work around Microsoft’s new Volume Licensing Agreement. This new program, which the Redmond company calls “Volume Licensing 2.0,” requires buyers to set up a Key Management Service (KMS) host, as described by a Microsoft FAQ. Companies must choose from two types of digital keys and three different methods of activation to validate thousands of individual Vista machines within the corporate LAN.

The following describes the Registry key that’s involved.

Step 1. While running a copy of Windows Vista that hasn’t yet been activated, click the Start button, type regedit into the Search box, then press Enter to launch the Registry Editor.

Step 2. Explore down to the following Registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ SL

Step 3. Right-click the Registry key named SkipRearm and click Edit. The default is a Dword (a double word or 4 bytes) with a hex value of 00000000. Change this value to any positive integer, such as 00000001, save the change, and close the Registry Editor.

Step 4. Start a command prompt with administrative rights. The fastest way to do this is to click the Start button, enter cmd in the Search box, then press Ctrl+Shift+Enter. If you’re asked for a network username and password, provide the ones that log you into your domain. You may be asked to approve a User Account Control prompt and to provide an administrator password.

Step 5. Type one of the following two commands and press Enter:

slmgr -rearm
or
rundll32 slc.dll,SLReArmWindows

Either command uses Vista’s built-in Software Licensing Manager (SLMGR) to push the activation deadline out to 30 days after the command is run. Changing SkipRearm from 0 to 1 allows SLMGR to do this an indefinite number of times. Running either command initializes the value of SkipRearm back to 0.

Step 6. Reboot the PC to make the postponement take effect. (After you log in, if you like, you can open a command prompt and run the command slmgr -xpr to see Vista’s new expiration date and time.)

Step 7. To extend the activation deadline of Vista indefinitely, repeat steps 1 through 6 as necessary.