Solution Properties
Solution ID:
200427112205047
Last Modified Date:
Wed Apr 01 10:30:23 UTC 2026
Taxonomy Path:
Case category//How do I...//setting up
Author:
[email protected]
Common Windows computer tasks
Description

If you're not certain which tasks below to complete, or you're not confident about doing them, contact your IT support for help.

Safe mode

Safe Mode is an operating system mode that switches off many non-core components. This often helps to diagnose and fix problems.

Sometimes Safe Mode helps to test the functionality of Sage products and recreate any issues.

Mapped networked drive

Mapping a network drive is a way of assigning a letter to a shared drive or folder on another computer.

You can then refer to the new drive letter rather than the full universal naming convention (UNC) path.

Hidden shares

A hidden share is a shared folder that you can't locate by browsing the network. To access a hidden share, you must specify the exact UNC path, including the $ sign. For example, \\server\share$.

NOTE:

Because hidden shares are applied by adding a $ sign after the share name, they're often referred to as $ shares or dollar shares.

 The following sections explain how to complete certain computer tasks.

How to use Task Manager if your Sage software isn't responding

If you can't click anything within the Sage software, use Windows Task Manager to exit.

  1. Press the CTRL + ALT + Delete keys on your keyboard at the same time.
  2. Select Task Manager.
  3. In the Applications section, select the software that isn't responding.
  4. Select End Task.

Safe Mode

To start a computer in Safe Mode, turn on or restart your computer.
  1. When the computer starts to power on, press the F8 key.
  2. On the start-up menu, choose Safe Mode with Networking then press Enter.
To restart a computer in normal mode after using Safe Mode, restart your computer and let it restart without touching any keys.

Manually registering and unregistering a file

Contact your IT support for help with this section. This involves changing the Microsoft Windows registry.

Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that sometimes require a reinstall of the Microsoft Windows operating system to correct them.

Sage can’t guarantee a solution to any problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor.

It may at times be necessary to register or unregister a file to solve problems with Sage software.

Only follow this procedure if you're certain it's the correct process to follow.

CAUTION:

Contact your IT support for help with the steps below.

To register a file

  1. Close any software you have open.
  2. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard.
  3. Type cmd, then press Enter on your keyboard.
  4. At the prompt, enter regsvr32.
  5. Press Enter then select OK.
    • If the file path contains spaces, add quotation marks at the start and end of the file path. For example, regsvr32 "C:\Program Files\Sage Payroll\PayAppData.dll"

To unregister a file

  1. Close any software you have open.
  2. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard.
  3. Type cmd then press Enter on your keyboard.
  4. At the prompt, enter regsvr32 /u.
  5. Press Enter then select OK.
    • If the file path contains spaces, add quotation marks at the start and end of the file path. For example, regsvr32 /u "C:\Program Files\Sage Payroll\PayAppData.dll"

Map a network drive

  1. Press the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
  2. Select Map network drive.
  3. Select the required drive letter.
  4. Select Browse and select the required shared folder.

  5. Select the Reconnect at logon checkbox then Finish.

Identify a computer name

  1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard.
  2. Enter cmd then press Enter on your keyboard.
  3. Type hostname then press Enter.
  4. Type exit then press Enter to close the window.

Share a folder

  1. Press the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
  2. Browse to the required folder to share.
  3. Right-click the folder and select Share.
  4. From the dropdown list, choose the required users.
    • If the computer is a member of a domain, to add extra users choose Find people
  5. Choose the required permissions from the Permission Level and select Share.
  6. Select Done then Close.

Check administrator access

  1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard.
  2. Type cmd then press Enter.
  3. Type net localgroup administrators then press Enter.

A list of all members of the administrator group appears. If the name you use to log in to Windows doesn't appear, you don't have administrator access.

Resolve software hanging

Ensure you've got sufficient space on your hard drive.

  1. Press the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
  2. Right-click the local hard drive and select Properties.

If the free space is less than 100MB, make more space available by deleting any files you don't need anymore.

Increase the font size

  1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard.
  2. Type control then press Enter.
  3. Select Display and amend the font size option as required.