Derek’s Musings

More often than not, the simplest solution is the best solution (think: Occam’s razor).

So, when your computer “randomly” starts translating every press of the keyboard into WinKey+[key] don’t:

• …assume StickyKeys is on, even though the check box in Accessibility options is clearly unchecked
• …suspect the latest driver update
• …blame Logitech/Microsoft/[insert-keyboard-manufacturer-here] for making such a shitty piece of hardware
• …assume Windows “just needs to be rebooted like it always does”
• …suspect Chinese hackers

Instead, have you non-computer oriented friend come over. Have him look under your desk and declare that it’d be pretty funny if that keyboard on the floor with a book on top of it was plugged in and causing all the problems. Chuckle at your friend…then awkwardly realize that said keyboard is plugged in.

If you get this:

Setup cannot upgrade the HAL in this virtual machine. Hyper-V integration services can be installed only on virtual machines with an ACPI-compatible HAL.

Do this:

• Open Device Manager
• Under the Computer node remove Standard PC
  

  "Standard PC" in Device Manager

• Reboot
• Eject and reinsert the Integration Services ISO (or rerun the setup directly)

The bad:

Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.

The good:

• Shift+F10
• diskpart
• select partition 123
• active
• exit