Thursday, October 20, 2011

FIREFOX - Possible Windows Error Dialog on Launch

This is about an occasional problem with the Firefox browser.

This problem happened to me after:
  1. Upgrading from Firefox 6 to Firefox 7

  2. Then after installing a new Add-on

I did some research on the Firefox Support Forum I found the solution.

The problem is getting a Windows error dialog when Firefox cold-launches using your [Favorites] menu. By "cold-lunch" I mean when Firefox is NOT already running.

(click for larger view)


I stress this is a Windows dialog that appears BEFORE Firefox opens.

This is the fix found on the support site and it does work:

Firefox Win Error Fix

Registry Editor (regedit)

CAUTION: Editing the registry incorrectly can damage your system. Do not attempt these steps if you are inexperienced or uncomfortable using the Registry Editor.

BEFORE making changes, from the tree hierarchy on left of REGEDIT, backup the "open" folder for EACH entry listed below by righ-clicking the folder and using [Export]. Save the result as the branch-name but change "\" to dashes.

NOTE: Make the changes in the order they appear on the tree. (order shown here)

Use the directory tree hierarchy to navigate to the following and DELETE the "ddeexec" registry key:
  1. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxHTML\shell\open\ddeexec

  2. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxURL\shell\open\ddeexec

  3. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTP\shell\open\ddeexec

  4. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTPS\shell\open\ddeexec

After making the changes and closing the Registry Editor, Log Off then Log On.

Now use your [Favorites] menu to launch a site. The Windows error dialog should not appear.

Note that others have had this problem, and why it happens is not known.

Friday, October 7, 2011

WINXP - Make Icons Display Quicker

In Windows XP every time you open My Computer to browse folders XP automatically searches for network files and printers. This causes a delay in displaying your icons. This also applies to your [Start] Favorites menu.

You probably see the "default" windows icon and as you scroll it changes to the correct icon. This is how to stop that...
  1. Open My Computer

  2. Click on the Tools menu and select Folder Options

  3. Under Folder Options, select the View tab

  4. Uncheck the very first box that reads "Automatically search for network folders and printers"

  5. Click [Apply] or [OK]

You should see a dramatic increase in speed when Windows displays your icons.

NOTE: I've tested this on 2 WinXP desktops and it works.

WINXP - Changing Registry Entries

This article is about changing Registry entries, especially using filename.reg downloaded from WEB sites.

First, the WARNINGS:
  1. If it ain't broke, don't fix it DEFIANTLY applies to the Registry

  2. If you are NOT technically-incline, DO NOT DO THIS

  3. Do NOT trust downloaded filename.reg files, open them in NOTEPAD FIRST and see what they change

  4. Make a backup of the Registry Branch from the tree (left-pane) BEFORE executing the REG-file, using the [Export] option, and assign a unique filename (see example below)

  5. Only AFTER you have a backup of the Registry Branch being changed, execute the filename.reg

  6. Backing up the Registry Branch also applies to any manual changes you make


EXAMPLE file disablerefresh.reg:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"NoNetCrawling"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"Max Cached Icons"="12000"


The Registry Branches that should be backed-up in from example file above, are (see example screenshot)
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer


(click for better view)