PortableAppsPlatform.exe file is not a valid PortableApps.com release and cannot be launched

Today I started getting this message:

PortableAppsPlatform.exe file is not a valid PortableApps.com release and cannot be launched

I couldn't figure out what had changed or why it was complaining after working seamlessly for so long. I could launch the launcher by going to it directly but not otherwise -- and even then it didn't run correctly.

I tried re-installing but to no avail.

Then turned out the solution was to "run as Administrator".
Strange how all of a sudden it required this additional step to work correctly...

UPDATE:
The key lies in permissions in your C:\Users\*\AppData\Local\Temp folder
A windows update resets the permissions. If you give yourself full permission, everything starts working once more!
No need to "run as Administrator"

Google Chrome slow start up because it's "resolving proxy"

For my own notes in case I can't remember later:

https://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=106010

"Resolving proxy"

If Google Chrome seems to take a long time to load a website or search, it may be configured to acccess pages through a web proxy. Check whether the "Resolving proxy" message appears in the lower-left corner of the browser window.
Follow these steps to change your proxy setting (for Windows):

1. Click the Chrome menu  on the browser toolbar.
2. Select Settings.
3. Click Show advanced settings.
4. In the "Network" section, click Change proxy settings. This will open the Internet Properties dialog.
5. Click LAN settings .
6. Deselect the "Automatically detect settings" checkbox.

The steps above will change your proxy settings, potentially disabling your web proxy. Consult your system administrator if you're unsure about this setting.

Delay Windows startup programs

I needed to delay the programs that launch from my startup folder.

Stick this in a batch file, and stick the shortcut to it in the startup folder

@echo off

::: 20 sec delay

timeout /t 20 > NUL

start /b "" "D:\Applications\App1.exe"
start /b "" "D:\Applications\App2.exe"

Windows 8 DVD drive not showing up

Installed a clean Windows 8 today from a DVD on my work laptop. New OS looks great.

Strange problem though, no CD/DVD drive detected in Explorer.

This didn't work:

1. Run Command Prompt as an Administrator. Type cmd in Windows 8 Metro UI (Start) and press cltr+shift+enter

2. Type following and hit enter

reg.exe add "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\atapi\Controller0" /f /v EnumDevice1 /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000001

3.Reboot

4. Verify if the problem has been resolved.

But this did

1) Close all open programs
2) Click on Start, Run, and type REGEDIT and press Enter
3) Click on the plus signs (+) next to the following folders

* HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
* SYSTEM
* CurrentControlSet
* Control
* Class
* {4D36E965-E325-11CE-
BFC1-08002BE10318}

4) This folder is the DVD/CD-ROM Drive Class Description in the registry. Look for any of the following names in the right hand column.

* UpperFilters
* LowerFilters
* UpperFilters.bak
* LowerFilters.bak

5) If any of the above keys shown in step 4 are listed, right-click on them and choose Delete
6) After deleting the keys, close the Registry Editor
7) Reboot your computer