Solved Windows Defender "ERROR: Signature Update failed with hr=800106BA" & "Windows Update cannot currently check for updates because the service is not running" errors in Acer Aspire X5900 pc with Windows 7 Home Premium x64 OS (Rev: 1.0)

After login to the Windows 7 Home Premium x64 Operating system (OS) of the Acer Aspire X5900 pc [Intel i5-650, 3.20 GHz, Western Digital 1 TB SATA Hardisk (3 Gb/s interface, 32 MB buffer), 4 GB RAM], Windows 7 login will hang/freeze and did not shown the desktop environment. I restarted the pc and press the [F8] key repeatly in order to boot into the Windows 7 Safe Mode environment. Then, I issued the below chkdsk command to check the hardisk:

# chkdsk c: /f

At "CHKDSK is verifying indexes (stage 2 of 3)...", chkdsk found errors and try to recover some of the system .dll files. However, at certain particular sectors number, chkdsk will hang for more than 45 minutes without any further process. Hence, the Windows 7 hang problem was caused by the faulty hardisk where some of the system files are corrupted and bad sectors are presented in the hardisk.

After backup all the users data in the Western Digital 1 TB SATA Hardisk, I deleted all the partitions inside the hardisk and the format failed error as shown below confirmed that the hardisk was faulty:

# format f: /fs:ntfs
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Enter current volume label for drive F: WD_1TB

WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK
DRIVE F: WILL BE LOST!
Proceed with Format (Y/N)? y
Verifying 953867M
Creating file system structures.
The first NTFS boot sector is unwriteable.
All NTFS boot sectors are unwriteable.  Cannot continue.
Format failed. 


For Acer Aspire X5900 pc, if you just want to restore only the Windows 7 OS partition from the Acer Hidden Recovery Partition (Unknown partition, 13.67 GB) that contains the original factory installation image, you can press [ALT] [F10] upon power on to run the Acer eRecovery Management. Kindly select the "Restore system to factory default" option to restore your Windows 7 OS partition. Please backup your data before trying the Acer eRecovery Management.



I replaced the faulty Western Digital 1 TB SATA hardisk with the Seagate Barracuda 1 TB SATA3 7200 rpm hardisk (6 Gb/s interface, 64 MB buffer). I restored the Windows 7 Home Premium x64 OS from my earlier Acronis True Image Home backup copy but did not included the Acer Hidden Recovery Partition in the Seagate hardisk.

When I try to use the Windows Update to check for Windows update patches, it will show a “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer” error. Restart the Acer Aspire X5900 pc does not solve the problem because it will still shown the same Windows Update error.

Both the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and Windows Update (wuauserv) services are already running (both the services startup type were set as "Automatic (Delayed Start)" in the Computer Management -> Services and Applications -> Services).

I had also checked the Windows 7 Home Premium x64 OS registry under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\BITS,
and all the BITS and sharedAccess services registries were already existed.


In my previous blog on 'Solved "Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer" error in Windows 7 Professional SP1 OS', the “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer” error is solved by updating the Windows Defender signature file. However, the updating of the Windows Defender signature file in Acer Aspire X5900 pc failed with an "ERROR: Signature Update failed with hr=800106BA" despite that the Windows Defender service (WinDefend) was already started:

# cd %programfiles%\windows defender

# mpcmdrun -signatureupdate 
Signature update started . . .
ERROR: Signature Update failed with hr=800106BA


Solution

The main difference between the spoilt Western Digital 1 TB SATA Hardisk (3 Gb/s interface, 32 MB buffer) and the Seagate Barracuda 1 TB SATA3 hardisk (6 Gb/s interface, 64 MB buffer) is the SATA interface. Under the "Device Manager" -> "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers", the Acer Aspire X5900 pc has an "Intel 5 Series or 3400 Series SATA AHCI Controller".

To solve the Windows Defender "ERROR: Signature Update failed with hr=800106BA", we need to install the Intel Rapid Storage Technology (Intel RST) RAID Driver v12.5.0.1066 or higher version. The Intel RST v12.5 is designed to provide functionality for the following Storage Controllers:

• Intel 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• Intel 7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• Intel 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• Intel 5 Series/3400 Series SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• Intel X79 Express Chipset

After installing the Intel RST by running the SetupRST.exe and restart the pc after the installation, the “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer” and the Windows Defender "ERROR: Signature Update failed with hr=800106BA" errors automatically disappeared.


Reference

[1] Intel Rapid Storage Technology (Intel RST) RAID Driver v12.5.0.1066 Read Me

[2] Acer Support Frequently Asked Questions

Automatically open multiple tabs in Firefox browser from DOS command line with URL in incremental sequence numbering (Rev: 1.1)

To easily read online comics, I use the Firefox browser add-on, AutoPager that will automatically loads the next comic page of a site inline when you reach the end of the current comic page for infinite scrolling of the comic content. However, AutoPager did not work on some of the comics sites. Hence, I have created a .bat file,
0_openMultipleTabsInFirefox_fromCommandLine.bat
(1157 bytes. MD5 checksum: 9ebefed48915a157d23dcab3a60420df)

to automatically open multiple tabs in Firefox browser from DOS command line with URL in incremental sequence numbering.

For example, if a comic website, www.abc.com has a comic with title xxx with
page 2 URL as http://www.abc.com/comic/xxx/01/?2,
page 3 URL as http://www.abc.com/comic/xxx/01/?3, and so on until
page 34 URL as http://www.abc.com/comic/xxx/01/?34

By opening a command prompt in Windows XP SP3 x86 Operating System (OS), and enter the below command:

0_openMultipleTabsInFirefox_fromCommandLine.bat http://www.abc.com/comic/xxx/01/?


The Firefox browser will automatically open multiple tabs with URL in incremental sequence numbering from http://www.abc.com/comic/xxx/01/?2 to http://www.abc.com/comic/xxx/01/?34. After finish reading a comic page, I will use Firefox browser keyboard shortcut, [CTRL] w to close that page tab.


----- Start 0_openMultipleTabsInFirefox_fromCommandLine.bat --------------------

@echo off
rem Automatically open multiple tabs in Firefox browser from DOS command line
rem with URL in incremental sequence numbering
rem For reading online comics that has URL page number in incremental sequence numbering
rem Command usage is as shown below:
rem %BATFILE% URL
rem JackNg, Rev: 1.1

SET BATFILE=0_openMultipleTabsInFirefox_fromCommandLine.bat

rem For Windows x86 OS only
SET FFOX="C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
rem For Windows x64 OS only
rem SET FFOX="C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

SET STARTPAGE=2
SET STEPAMOUNT=1
SET ENDPAGE=34

IF "%1" == "" GOTO NOURL

rem /L = Logic. Numbers increment start from 2 to 34 with step amount of 1
FOR /L %%i IN (%STARTPAGE%,%STEPAMOUNT%,%ENDPAGE%) DO %FFOX% -new-tab "%1"%%i
GOTO EXIT


:NOURL
echo No URL specified in the command line.
echo Command usage is as shown below:
echo ------------------------------------
echo %BATFILE% URL
echo ------------------------------------
echo Exiting...
echo.


:EXIT
set BATFILE=
set FFOX=
SET STARTPAGE=
SET INCREMENT=
SET ENDPAGE=

----- End 0_openMultipleTabsInFirefox_fromCommandLine.bat --------------------


Reference:

[1] Open multiple tabs in Firefox from a file containing urls

Solved People Express Management Flight Simulator software 16 bit Windows Subsystem error when login as a local user account in Windows XP Professional SP3 x86 OS (Rev: 1.1)

After installed the People Express Management Flight Simulator (PEMFS) v1.02 on a Windows XP Professional SP3 x86 OS using an administrator account, the PEMFS can start normally. However, if we login using a local user account (jack) and try to run the PEMFS, the PEMFS will shown the below error message:

16 bit Windows Subsystem
C:\DOCUME~1\jack\LOCALS~1\TEMP
(same as C:\Documents and Settings\jack\Local Settings\Temp)
A temporary file needed for the initialization could not be created or could not be written to. Make sure that the directory path exists, and disk space is available. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application


The local user account, jack already had full access right to the C:\DOCUME~1\jack\LOCALS~1\TEMP directory. The error message is misleading because the temporary file needed for the initialization could not be created\written to the c:\WINDOWS\Temp folder, not the C:\DOCUME~1\jack\LOCALS~1\TEMP folder.

As I still have 20 pc to install the PEMFS, I have created the below "1_solved user account startup error.bat" file which is stored in my thumbdrive to solve the PEMFS "16 bit Windows Subsystem" startup error:

----------------- start 1_solved user account startup error.bat -----------------------

@echo off
rem JackNg, Rev: 1.0

rem Give local Users Modify, Read & Execute, List Folder Contents, Read and Write
rem access to %SystemRoot%\temp
rem to solve the People Express Management Flight Simulator startup error
rem when login as a local user account

c:

rem %SystemRoot% = C:\WINDOWS
rem /e = Edit ACL instead of replacing it
rem /p = Replace specified user's access rights
rem c = Change (write)
%SystemRoot%\system32\cacls %SystemRoot%\temp /e /p Users:c

----------------- end 1_solved user account startup error.bat -----------------------


Reference

[1] 16 Bit DOS Application

Solved BSOD 0x00000124 (fatal hardware error) in Windows 7 Professional SP1 OS for Lenovo ThinkPad W510 notebook (Rev: 1.0)

For the Lenovo ThinkPad W510 (type: 4391-BK1) notebook (Intel Quad Core Processor i7-720QM 1.6 Ghz, 6 MB Intel Smart Cache) with Windows 7 Professional SP1 Operating System (OS), Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD) 0x00000124 (0x00000000, 0x88B7301C, 0xF6002DC0, 0x00040150) was occasionally encountered.

If we use the Nirsoft BlueScreenView v1.47 or higher version to view BSOD 0x00000124 crash information stored in the dump files (eg: 040813-16910-01.dmp) at c:\windows\minidump, Nirsoft BlueScreenView will indicate that the BSOD 0x00000124 was caused by the  
halmacpi.dll (address in Stack is halmacpi.dll+efcd) and  
ntkrnlpa.exe (address in Stack is ntkrnlpa.exe+124d48).

Using Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox application to update all the related Lenovo applications to the latest version (including updating the BIOS to the latest v1.45) or using Windows Update to update all the Windows 7 patches to the latest version did not help to solve the BSOD 0x00000124 error.

If we download the Lenovo Diagnostics (Bootable CD) v1.6 or higher version to test the Lenovo ThinkPad W510 notebook memory and hardisk, the memory and hardisk test (Controller Diagnostics, Read verification & Speed Test) will pass without any error. Lenovo Service Support had changed the Lenovo ThinkPad W510 motherboard, but the BSOD 0x00000124 error still occasionally encountered.


Analysis the DMP (dump) files at c:\windows\minidump

1. Please download the Windows Driver Kit v7.1.0 (GRMWDK_EN_7600_1.ISO, 649,877,504 bytes).
   
   
   
2. You can use the freeware MagicDisc from Magic ISO Maker to mount the .iso file, GRMWDK_EN_7600_1.ISO to a virtual drive (assume it is v:\ drive).
   
   Assume you have already installed MagicDisc and had started it. On the lower RHS of the monitor screen, kindly right-click on the "MagicISO Virtual CD/DVD Manager" icon, go to "Virtual CD/DVD-ROM" -> "V: No Media" -> "Mount". At the pop-up "Mount CD/DVD image", please point to the GRMWDK_EN_7600_1.ISO file to mount the GRMWDK_EN_7600_1.ISO file to the v:\ drive.
   
   Kindly open a Windows Explorer and go to v:\ drive. Please double-click "v:\KitSetup.exe" to start the Windows Driver Kit installation process. I have only checked to install the "Debugging Tools for Windows (To install Microsoft Windows Debuggers)". I have installed the Microsoft Windows Debuggers to d:\Util\WinDBG directory.
   
   
   
3. Please open the Microsoft Windows Debuggers by double-click the d:\Util\WinDBG\Debuggers\windbg.exe file. Kindly click "File" -> "Symbol File Path ...". Please insert the below Symbol File Path:
   
   SRV*D:\Util\winDBG\symbols*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols
   
   
   
4. In the Microsoft Windows Debuggers (WinDBG), kindly click "File" -> "Open Crash Dump...", and point to the minidump file (eg: 040813-16910-01.dmp) to load it. When ask on whether to "Save information for workspace?", kindly check the "Don't ask again in this WinDbg session" and click the "Yes" button. WinDBG will now process the 040813-16910-01.dmp.
   
   At the bottom "0: kd>" prompt, please enter the below command to get detail debugging information:
   
   !analyze -v

Below are 2 examples of the Lenovo W510 notebook BSOD 0x00000124 minidump files analysis content:

---

Microsoft (R) Windows Debugger Version 6.12.0002.633 X86
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


Loading Dump File [E:\040813-16910-01.dmp]
Mini Kernel Dump File: Only registers and stack trace are available

Symbol search path is: SRV*D:\Util\winDBG\symbols*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols
Executable search path is:
Windows 7 Kernel Version 7601 (Service Pack 1) MP (8 procs) Free x86 compatible
Product: WinNt, suite: TerminalServer SingleUserTS
Built by: 7601.18044.x86fre.win7sp1_gdr.130104-1431
Machine Name:
Kernel base = 0x83254000 PsLoadedModuleList = 0x8339d4d0
Debug session time: Mon Apr  8 10:06:30.233 2013 (UTC + 8:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 0:39:17.466
Loading Kernel Symbols
...............................................................
................................................................
.....................................................
Loading User Symbols
Loading unloaded module list
..........
0: kd> !analyze -v
*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR (124)
A fatal hardware error has occurred. Parameter 1 identifies the type of error
source that reported the error. Parameter 2 holds the address of the
WHEA_ERROR_RECORD structure that describes the error conditon.
Arguments:
Arg1: 00000000, Machine Check Exception
Arg2: 88b1e01c, Address of the WHEA_ERROR_RECORD structure.
Arg3: f6001740, High order 32-bits of the MCi_STATUS value.
Arg4: 00040150, Low order 32-bits of the MCi_STATUS value.

Debugging Details:
------------------

BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_GenuineIntel

CUSTOMER_CRASH_COUNT:  1

DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT

PROCESS_NAME:  TmListen.exe

CURRENT_IRQL:  1f

STACK_TEXT: 
83378d0c 8322bfcd 00000124 00000000 88b1e01c nt!KeBugCheckEx+0x1e
83378d48 833257ac 88af2c31 88b1e01c 832cb740 hal!HalBugCheckSystem+0xab
83378d78 8322c27f 88afa780 83239e40 00000000 nt!WheaReportHwError+0x230
83378e8c 8322c371 88afa780 88afa7d0 00000008 hal!HalpMcaReportError+0x3b
83378eb0 8322c48d 00000000 88afa7d0 00000000 hal!HalpMceHandler+0x8b
83378ed0 8322c5d6 00000000 88afa780 83378ff0 hal!HalpMceHandlerWithRendezvous+0x4b
83378ee0 832225f5 00000000 00000000 00000000 hal!HalpHandleMachineCheck+0x34
83378ff0 8321f261 00000000 801e2000 00000000 hal!HalpMcaExceptionHandler+0x87
83378ff0 00000000 00000000 801e2000 00000000 hal!HalpMcaExceptionHandlerWrapper+0x89


STACK_COMMAND:  kb

FOLLOWUP_NAME:  MachineOwner

MODULE_NAME: hardware

IMAGE_NAME:  hardware

DEBUG_FLR_IMAGE_TIMESTAMP:  0

FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE

BUCKET_ID:  0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE

Followup: MachineOwner
---------

---

Loading Dump File [E:\040813-25864-01.dmp]
Mini Kernel Dump File: Only registers and stack trace are available

Symbol search path is: SRV*D:\Util\winDBG\symbols*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols
Executable search path is:
Windows 7 Kernel Version 7601 (Service Pack 1) MP (8 procs) Free x86 compatible
Product: WinNt, suite: TerminalServer SingleUserTS
Built by: 7601.18044.x86fre.win7sp1_gdr.130104-1431
Machine Name:
Kernel base = 0x83219000 PsLoadedModuleList = 0x833624d0
Debug session time: Mon Apr  8 09:24:41.047 2013 (UTC + 8:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 0:42:23.280
Loading Kernel Symbols
...............................................................
................................................................
....................................................
Loading User Symbols
Loading unloaded module list
.........
0: kd> !analyze -v
*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR (124)
A fatal hardware error has occurred. Parameter 1 identifies the type of error
source that reported the error. Parameter 2 holds the address of the
WHEA_ERROR_RECORD structure that describes the error conditon.
Arguments:
Arg1: 00000000, Machine Check Exception
Arg2: 88ae701c, Address of the WHEA_ERROR_RECORD structure.
Arg3: f6002240, High order 32-bits of the MCi_STATUS value.
Arg4: 00040150, Low order 32-bits of the MCi_STATUS value.

Debugging Details:
------------------

BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_GenuineIntel

CUSTOMER_CRASH_COUNT:  1

DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT

PROCESS_NAME:  svchost.exe

CURRENT_IRQL:  1f

STACK_TEXT: 
8333dd0c 83639fcd 00000124 00000000 88ae701c nt!KeBugCheckEx+0x1e
8333dd48 832ea7ac 88adea39 88ae701c 83290740 hal!HalBugCheckSystem+0xab
8333dd78 8363a27f 88ade7e8 83647e40 00000000 nt!WheaReportHwError+0x230
8333de8c 8363a371 88ade7e8 88ade838 00000008 hal!HalpMcaReportError+0x3b
8333deb0 8363a48d 00000000 88ade838 00000000 hal!HalpMceHandler+0x8b
8333ded0 8363a5d6 00000000 88ade7e8 8333dff0 hal!HalpMceHandlerWithRendezvous+0x4b
8333dee0 836305f5 00000000 00000000 00000000 hal!HalpHandleMachineCheck+0x34
8333dff0 8362d261 00000000 801e2000 00000000 hal!HalpMcaExceptionHandler+0x87
8333dff0 00000000 00000000 801e2000 00000000 hal!HalpMcaExceptionHandlerWrapper+0x89


STACK_COMMAND:  kb

FOLLOWUP_NAME:  MachineOwner

MODULE_NAME: hardware

IMAGE_NAME:  hardware

DEBUG_FLR_IMAGE_TIMESTAMP:  0

FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE

BUCKET_ID:  0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE

Followup: MachineOwner
---------

---

All the minidump files that I had analysis all point to the same Intel CPU Cache fault (despite different PROCESS_NAME) for the BSOD 0x00000124 (fatal hardware error):

FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE
BUCKET_ID:  0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE


After Lenovo had replaced the faulty Intel Quad Core Processor i7-720QM, the BSOD 0x00000124 (fatal hardware error) is solved.


References

[1] BSOD 0x00000124 hardware seems fine

[2] Bug Check 0x124: WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR

[3] How to open DMP files in Windows 7 ?

Solved "Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer" error in Windows 7 Professional SP1 OS (Rev: 1.1)

For the Lenovo W510 (type: 4391-BK1) ThinkPad notebook with Windows 7 Professional SP1 Operating System (OS), I had used Windows Update to check and install all the available Windows 7 patches. After that, I had also used Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox application to update all the Lenovo software files (including updating to latest BIOS version 1.45) for the Lenovo W510 ThinkPad notebook.

On the next day, when I try to use the Windows Update to check for Windows update again, it will show a “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer” error. Restart the Lenovo W510 ThinkPad notebook does not solve the problem because it will still shown the same Windows Update error.

I had opened a Command Prompt to check the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and Windows Update (wuauserv) services, and both services are already running (both the services startup type were set as "Automatic (Delayed Start)" in the Computer Management -> Services and Applications -> Services):

# sc queryex bits
SERVICE_NAME: bits
        TYPE               : 20  WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS 
        STATE              : 4  RUNNING
                                (STOPPABLE, NOT_PAUSABLE, IGNORES_SHUTDOWN)
        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 0  (0x0)
        SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)
        CHECKPOINT         : 0x0
        WAIT_HINT          : 0x0
        PID                : 1220
        FLAGS              :


# sc queryex wuauserv
SERVICE_NAME: wuauserv
        TYPE               : 20  WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS 
        STATE              : 4  RUNNING
                                (STOPPABLE, NOT_PAUSABLE, ACCEPTS_PRESHUTDOWN)
        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 0  (0x0)
        SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)
        CHECKPOINT         : 0x0
        WAIT_HINT          : 0x0
        PID                : 1220
        FLAGS              :


I had also checked the Windows 7 Professional SP1 OS registry under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\BITS,
and all the BITS and sharedAccess services registries were already existed.

Below is the export registry content of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\BITS:

-------------- Start ------------------------------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\BITS]
"DisplayName"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\qmgr.dll,-1000"
"ImagePath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
  74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,\
  00,76,00,63,00,68,00,6f,00,73,00,74,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,2d,00,\
  6b,00,20,00,6e,00,65,00,74,00,73,00,76,00,63,00,73,00,00,00
"Description"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\qmgr.dll,-1001"
"ObjectName"="LocalSystem"
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000002
"DelayedAutoStart"=dword:00000001
"Type"=dword:00000020
"DependOnService"=hex(7):52,00,70,00,63,00,53,00,73,00,00,00,45,00,76,00,65,00,\
  6e,00,74,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,00,00,00,00
"ServiceSidType"=dword:00000001
"RequiredPrivileges"=hex(7):53,00,65,00,43,00,72,00,65,00,61,00,74,00,65,00,47,\
  00,6c,00,6f,00,62,00,61,00,6c,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,\
  67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,49,00,6d,00,70,00,65,00,72,00,73,00,6f,00,6e,\
  00,61,00,74,00,65,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,\
  00,00,53,00,65,00,54,00,63,00,62,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,\
  00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,41,00,73,00,73,00,69,00,67,00,6e,00,50,00,\
  72,00,69,00,6d,00,61,00,72,00,79,00,54,00,6f,00,6b,00,65,00,6e,00,50,00,72,\
  00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,49,00,6e,00,\
  63,00,72,00,65,00,61,00,73,00,65,00,51,00,75,00,6f,00,74,00,61,00,50,00,72,\
  00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,00,00
"FailureActions"=hex:80,51,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,14,00,00,\
  00,01,00,00,00,60,ea,00,00,01,00,00,00,c0,d4,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\BITS\Parameters]
"ServiceDll"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
  00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
  71,00,6d,00,67,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\BITS\Performance]
"Library"="bitsperf.dll"
"Open"="PerfMon_Open"
"Collect"="PerfMon_Collect"
"Close"="PerfMon_Close"
"InstallType"=dword:00000001
"PerfIniFile"="bitsctrs.ini"
"First Counter"=dword:000007d2
"Last Counter"=dword:000007e2
"First Help"=dword:000007d3
"Last Help"=dword:000007e3
"Object List"="2002"
"PerfMMFileName"="Global\\MMF_BITS_s"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\BITS\Security]
"Security"=hex:01,00,14,80,90,00,00,00,a0,00,00,00,14,00,00,00,34,00,00,00,02,\
  00,20,00,01,00,00,00,02,c0,18,00,00,00,0c,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,\
  00,00,20,02,00,00,02,00,5c,00,04,00,00,00,00,02,14,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,01,00,\
  00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00,00,00,18,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,\
  20,00,00,00,20,02,00,00,00,00,14,00,8d,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,04,\
  00,00,00,00,00,14,00,8d,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,06,00,00,00,01,02,\
  00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,20,02,00,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,\
  00,20,02,00,00

-------------- End ------------------------------


Solution

In the end, the solution to solve the “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer” error is to update the Windows Defender signature file. In Windows 7 Professional SP1 OS, you can start Windows Defender at Start -> Control Panel -> Windows Defender.

Windows Defender includes a command-line utility, MpCmdRun.exe which can be handy if you want to automate the use of Windows Defender and is located at
%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe:


# cd %programfiles%\windows defender

# mpcmdrun -signatureupdate
(To update the Windows Defender signature file)

[JackNg: If the Windows Defender signature update produces an "ERROR: Signature Update failed with hr=800106BA", please refers to 'Solved Windows Defender "ERROR: Signature Update failed with hr=800106BA" & "Windows Update cannot currently check for updates because the service is not running" errors in Acer Aspire X5900 pc with Windows 7 Home Premium x64 OS'.]


After updating the Windows Defender signature file, the “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer” error automatically disappeared and Windows Update works normally again.

How to add additional HP Laserjet 6L x64 printer drivers to a shared HP Laserjet 6L (x86) printer in the Windows 7 Enterprise SP1 x86 OS (Rev: 1.0)

After installing the HP Laserjet 6L x86 printer drivers for Windows 7 Enterprise SP1 x86 Operating System (OS), I had shared the HP Laserjet 6L printer. I wanted to add additional HP Laserjet 6L x64 printer drivers to support users with Windows 7/8 x64 OS so that they don't have to find the print drivers when they connect to the share HP Laserjet 6L printer. The HP website does not provides the Windows 7 x86/x64 drivers for downloading because the HP Laserjet 6L x86/x64 printer drivers are already included in the Windows Vista/7 x86/x64 OS.

Before we added additional HP Laserjet 6L x64 printer drivers for Windows 7 x86 OS, we need to download the HP Laserjet 6L x64 printer drivers first from Microsoft Windows Update Catalog website:

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Download the HP Laserjet 6L AMD64 drivers from Microsoft Windows Update Catalog website   

1. Using only Microsoft IE v6 and above version browser, please download the HP Laserjet 6L drivers from Microsoft Windows Update Catalog website. If prompt to install an activeX control to utilize the Microsoft Windows Update Catalog website, please install it.
Please search for: laserjet 6l


2. You will see 3 "Microsoft driver update for HP LaserJet 6L" version 6.1.7233.0 with different file sizes:

• Microsoft driver update for HP LaserJet 6L, version 6.1.7233.0, 11.4 MB -> for x86 architecture (Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Drivers)
• Microsoft driver update for HP LaserJet 6L, version 6.1.7233.0, 11.6 MB -> for AMD64 architecture
  (Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Drivers, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server Drivers)
• Microsoft driver update for HP LaserJet 6L, version 6.1.7233.0, 13.9 MB -> for IA64 architecture
  (Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Drivers, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server Drivers)

3. Although I only need the HP LaserJet 6L printer drivers for AMD64 architecture, I clicked the "Add All" button, and then click the "view basket (3)". I clicked the appeared "Download" button to download all the 3 different architectures HP LaserJet 6L printer drivers.  I chose to download to my "d:\temp" folder. The 3 download .cab files are as shown below:

• X86-all-4189_1228a7cf7b1aac21346b20cb6e21db409dde9e72.cab (11,997,924 bytes)
• AMD64-all-4188_bacd1413e93b4a6362d9a2ca653c869f1c02f6f7.cab (12,129,488 bytes)
• IA64-all-4190_6e0f85bb67d0038a6406fc71b777a1906a87888c.cab (14,621,012 bytes)

4. As I have already installed the WinRaR software in the Windows 7 x86 OS, I use WinRaR to unzip the AMD64-all-4188_bacd1413e93b4a6362d9a2ca653c869f1c02f6f7.cab to a created "d:\HP_Laserjet6L_printer_AMDx64" folder. The unzip
AMD64-all-4188_bacd1413e93b4a6362d9a2ca653c869f1c02f6f7.cab files have a total of 69,659,733 bytes.

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Download HPLaserJet6L_Win7_64bits_NTPRINT.rar file

Please download the HPLaserJet6L_Win7_64bits_NTPRINT.rar file (2,790,881 bytes).
HPLaserJet6L_Win7_64bits_NTPRINT.rar MD5 checksum: c4c8520233fb543ca95220331bf9ab90

Assume you have already installed WinRaR software in your pc. I use WinRaR to extract  HPLaserJet6L_Win7_64bits_NTPRINT.rar to "d:\HPLaserJet6L_Win7_64bits_NTPRINT" folder. After extracting, the  "d:\HPLaserJet6L_Win7_64bits_NTPRINT" folder will consists of ntprint.inf, ntprint.cat and "Amd64" folder.


The HPLaserJet6L_Win7_64bits_NTPRINT.rar content file are copied from the Windows 7 Enterprise x64 SP1 OS DVD as shown below:

1. Assume you are using Windows 7 Enterprise SP1 x86 OS. Please download "The Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) Supplement for Windows 7 SP1" version 3.0 or higher version ISO file (1.3 GB). Please use the instructions listed in the Windows AIK readme file on how to install "The Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) Supplement for Windows 7 SP1".


2. After installing "The Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) Supplement for Windows 7 SP1" and had restarted your pc, please click the "Start" -> "All Programs" -> "Microsoft Windows AIK" -> "Deployment Tools Command Prompt".

The "Deployment Tools Command Prompt" will automatically update path to include dism, oscdimg and imagex. You should be at the default "C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools" path in the Command Prompt.


3. Assume that you have already created the
"d:\wim_mount",
"d:\Win7EnterpriseSP1_x64_installWim" and
"d:\HPLaserJet6L_Win7_64bits_NTPRINT" folders.

I copied the install.wim from the Windows 7 Enterprise x64 SP1 OS DVD, \sources folder and paste it at the "d:\Win7EnterpriseSP1_x64_installWim" folder.


4. In the "Deployment Tools Command Prompt", please type the below dism command:

# dism /cleanup-wim
[Delete resources associated with mounted WIM images (if any)]


5. In the "Deployment Tools Command Prompt", please type the below imagex command:

# imagex /mount d:\win7EnterpriseSP1_x64_installWim\install.wim 1 d:\wim_mount
[Mount the install.wim image to "d:\wim_mount" folder with image_number 1]


6. After the install.wim is mounted successfully, please open Windows Explorer and go to the "d:\wim_mount\Windows\winsxs\" folder.

Please copy the content of the "amd64_ntprint.inf_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16385_none_96f58ea8d463e7df" folder to "d:\HPLaserJet6L_Win7_64bits_NTPRINT" folder.

The "d:\HPLaserJet6L_Win7_64bits_NTPRINT" folder will consists of ntprint.inf, ntprint.cat and "Amd64" folder.


7. After the copying is completed, please close the Windows Explorer window or any other explorer.exe process and issue the below imagex command:

# imagex /unmount d:\wim_mount
[Unmount the install.wim image from the d:\wim_mount folder]

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Installing the additional HP Laserjet 6L x64 printer drivers to the shared HP Laserjet 6L (x86) printer in the Windows 7 Enterprise SP1 x86 OS

1. In Windows 7 Enterprise SP1 x86 OS, I had already changed the "User Account Control" settings to "Never Notify". I clicked the "Start" -> "Devices and Printers". I right-click the already installed "HP Laserjet 6L" printer icon and left-click the "Printer properties". In the pop-up "HP Laserjet 6L Properties", I clicked the "Sharing" tab -> "Additional drivers..." button. I checked the "x64" (Type 3 - User Mode) and clicked the OK button.


2. When prompt for the "Install print drivers (x64 processor)", please point to the "d:\HP_Laserjet6L_printer_AMDx64" folder path for the HP Laserjet 6L AMD64 printer drivers.

At the next pop-up "Install Components From Windows Media" prompt, the system is trying to find the ntprint.inf for AMD64 architecture. Please point to the "d:\HPLaserJet6L_Win7_64bits_NTPRINT" folder. Kindly click the OK button to finish installing the additional HP Laserjet 6L AMD64 printer drivers.



References

1. HP Laserjet 6L

2. On 64-bit 2k8 server, trying to add x86 drivers asks for ntprint.inf 

Set a light green desktop background colour to protect your eyes through long hours of looking at the pc monitor (Rev: 1.0)

If you spend long hours looking at your pc monitor screen daily, you might want to protect your eyes by changing the background colour of your pc desktop to light green instead of the default white colour.


For Windows XP SP3 Operating System (OS)

1. Kindly click Start -> Control Panel -> Display.

2. At the pop up "Display Properties" window, please click the "Appearance" tab -> "Advanced" button.

3. At the pop up "Advanced Appearance" window, please click anywhere within the "Window Text" area. The "Item:" will automatically change from "Desktop" to "Window". Kindly click the "Color 1:" drop down menu and click the "Other..." button.

4. Please enter the below light green colour values:

Hue = 84
Sat = 86
Lum = 215

or

Red = 219
Green = 238
Blue = 221

Kindly click "Add to Custom Colors" and click the "OK" button. Click "OK" button twice to exit from the "Advanced Appearance" window and from the "Display Properties" window.



For Windows 7 Enterprise SP1 OS

1. Kindly click Start -> Control Panel -> Display -> Personalization.

2. Please click "Window Color".

3. At the pop up "Window Color and Appearance" window, please click anywhere within the "Window Text" area. The "Item:" will automatically change from "Desktop" to "Window". Kindly click the "Color 1:" drop down menu and click the "Other..." button.

4. Please enter the below light green colour values:

Hue = 84
Sat = 86
Lum = 215

or

Red = 219
Green = 238
Blue = 221

Kindly click "Add to Custom Colors" and click the "OK" button. Kindly click the "OK" button to exit from "Window Color and Appearance" window.



Mozilla Firefox v19.0.2 or higher version

1. In Mozilla Firefox v19, please click "Tools" -> "Options" -> "Content" tab -> "Colors..." button.

2. At the pop-up "Colors" window, please check the "Use system colors" and click the "OK" button twice. This will now change your Mozilla Firefox background colour to use the system colors which is the light green color that we have just set in the Windows XP/7 "Display Properties".



Internet Explorer v8.0.6001.18702 or higher version

Internet Explorer v8 by default has already used Windows colors as the browser background colour. Hence, you don't have to set the Internet Explorer background colour. You can check it as shown below:

1. In Internet Explorer v8, please click "Tools" -> "Internet Options".

2. At the pop-up "Internet Options" "General" tab, kindly click "colors" under the Appearance section. The "Use Windows colors" by default is checked.