Obscure IT fixes • Hardware rabbit holes • Tech notes from the field
Random Fix
Obscure IT fixes. Real world solutions.
A troubleshooting notebook for Windows issues, Microsoft problems, browser bugs, Synology oddities, homelab repairs, AI tools, hardware notes, and fixes that were hard to find anywhere else.
Repair log
> symptom: weird edge case
> tried: the obvious things
> result: one thing finally worked
This worked for me. This did not fix it. Not fully solved yet, but here is what I know.
What worked
Direct notes on the fix, the setting, the command, the driver, or the workaround that actually changed the result.
What failed
Dead ends are part of the archive, because knowing what did not fix it can save someone else an hour.
What is still unknown
Some problems are not fully solved. Those notes still belong here when the trail is useful.
Latest Fixes
Troubleshooting archive
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Dell laptop Task Manager CPU stuck at 22%
I had the strangest problem troubleshooting a client’s slow laptop. I ran a full diagnostic, hard drive checked out. The craziest thing was the hard drive was a…
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Repairing laptops
I used to do a lot of computer repairs. Things like replacing keyboards, fans, speakers, LCD screens, etc. Early to mid 2000s, you could easily get spare parts…
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PEXUS313AC2V not compatible with VMWare ESXi
I contacted StarTech via their chat and they informed me that this card is not compatible with any version of ESXi. No idea if it’s compatible with Hyper-V.…
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Configuration information could not be read from the domain controller, either because the machine is unavailable, or because access is denied
If you can’t change an Active Directory user’s password, check to make sure the computer you’re trying to log in to doesn’t have a static DNS server set…
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VCenter backup via SMB to Synology
I was trying to create a VCenter backup within VCenter 7.0. I had a hard time trying to backup to my Synology. I did some Google-Fu and found…
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Cannot format a used Windows hard drive in an iMac
I was trying to use disk utility to format a Windows hard drive that I installed into an iMac. I kept getting an error about “MediaKit reports not…
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Fenix PD25 brief review
I finally lost my Fenix PD35 flashlight that I’ve owned for a better part of a year. It was small and light enough to fit in my pocket…
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Microsoft Windows 10 calculator always on top
I recently found out that in Windows 10 you can choose to have the calculator app always on top. However, the app that you can always on top…
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Update for Universal C Runtime in Windows download links broken
If you’re trying to download the Update for Universal C Runtime in Windows from this link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2999226/update-for-universal-c-runtime-in-windows, just know that you’re not going crazy and it’s not down…
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Lenovo Yoga C740 Ubuntu missing Intel wireless card
If you have a Lenovo Yoga or similar model or even a laptop that Ubuntu just cannot seem to find the wireless card, follow these instructions: https://askubuntu.com/questions/1180765/intel-wifi-card-not-working-on-ubuntu You…