To work around this behavior and display devices when you click Show hidden devices (source):

• Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.
• At a command prompt, type the following command , and then press ENTER:
  • set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
• Type the following command a command prompt, and then press ENTER:
• start devmgmt.msc
• Troubleshoot the devices and drivers in Device Manager.

NOTE: Click Show hidden devices on the View menu in Device Managers before you can see devices that are not connected to the computer.

• When you finish troubleshooting, close Device Manager.
• Type exit at the command prompt.

Note that when you close the command prompt window, Window clears the devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 variable that you set in step 2 and prevents ghosted devices from being displayed when you click Show hidden devices.

The key I needed, fDenyTSConnection, was in HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server.

I changed the REG_DWORD value from 1 (Remote Desktop disabled) to 0 (Remote Desktop enabled), then remotely rebooted my PC, shutdown -m \\%PCNAME% -r.

After the reboot I was able to log in via the domain admin account. Once logged in I added my domain account to the users allowed to utilize remote desktop.

Here’s how to get them back.

First, you’ll have to go into Server Manager and access the Features section. In Features, you will select to add a feature and then select the Desktop Experience feature. After a reboot right-click on the Desktop and select Personalize. From here, you can add the desktop icons you desire as usual.

Invalid Boot.ini, loading from C:\Windows

The problem was caused due to a corrupted boot.ini file which is usually located in the C drive. Since I had a copy of XP Home I tried to rebuild the boot.ini as per the instructions below.

1. Insert the Microsoft Windows XP CD into the computer. Note: If you have a system recovery CD or restore CD (not a Microsoft CD) these steps will likely not work for your computer.
2. Reboot the computer with the CD and press any key when prompted to press any key to boot from the CD. If you do not receive this prompt and/or are not able to boot from the CD see document CH000217.
3. Once in the Microsoft Setup menu press R to open the recovery console.
4. Select the operating system you wish to use; if you only have Windows XP on the computer you will only have one prompt.
5. Once prompted for the password enter the Admin password and press enter.
6. Once at the command prompt type bootcfg /rebuild to start the rebuild process.
7. The rebuild process will step you through a number of steps depending upon how many operating systems you have on the computer and how the computer is setup. Below is a listing of the common steps you are likely going to encounter.
• Prompt for the identified versions of Windows installed. When you receive this prompt press Y if the bootcfg command properly identified each of the Windows operating systems installed on the computer. It is important to realize this command will only detect Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows NT installations.
• Prompt to enter the load identifier. This is the name of the operating system for the boot.ini. For example, Microsoft Windows XP Home users would enter Microsoft Windows XP Home edition.
• Prompt to Enter OS load options. When this prompt is received type /fastdetect to automatically detect the available options.
8. Once you have completed all the available options in the rebuild and are back at the prompt type exit to reboot the computer.

See Microsoft KB289022 for more info on boot.ini.

Take a look for yourself.

Remember to all ways remain calm.

I really hope they keep pumping these out.

Top 5 Features to look forward to

Warning: Highly technical one and a half hour video on HTML 5 goodness.