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Author: infobamleo

  • No sound in Windows 7

    Introduction
    This tutorial is designed to help you identify and fix common sound problems in Windows, including no sound coming from your speakers or headphones. This tutorial doesn’t cover sound problems related to specific programs. Sound problems can be caused by cables that aren’t connected properly, corrupt drivers, incompatible drivers, sound settings, missing updates, and problems with your sound card.
    How to use this tutorial
    For best results, complete each step before moving on to the next one. Check for sound after each step before going to the next step.
    Step 1: Check hardware

    Many sound problems are caused by hardware that isn’t set up property. Here’s some information about how to check your sound card, verify that cables are plugged in to the correct locations, make sure the hardware has power, and check the volume.
    Check your sound card
    Check to make sure your computer has a sound card, or sound processor, and it’s working properly.
    Do one of the following:
    If you’re running Windows 7 or Windows Vista, click the Start button , click Control Panel, click System and Security, and then, under System, click Device Manager.   If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
    If you’re running Windows XP, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click System, click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.   If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
    Double-click Sound, video and game controllers to expand that category. If a sound card is listed, you have one installed. If no sound card is listed, check the information that came with your computer to see if there’s supposed to be a sound card installed. If there should be a sound card installed, you’ll need to install one. For more information, see Install or remove a sound card.
    Notes
    If you think you have a sound card installed, but you don’t see it under the Sound, video and game controllers category, expand the Other devices category and check any devices listed there.
    Laptops don’t usually have sound cards. Instead, they have integrated sound processors, which appear in the same category in Device Manager.
    If there’s a yellow question mark next to the name of the sound card in Device Manager, there might be a problem.
    Right-click the name of the sound card, and then click Properties.
    Click the General tab, and then look in the Device status box to identify problems with the sound card.
    If there’s a problem, you might need a new driver for your sound card. For more information, see “Step 3: Update drivers” in this tutorial.
    Check if the cables are connected properly

    Check to make sure all of the cables are plugged in to the correct locations, which might include speakers and headphones, HDMI cables, USB audio devices, and other audio devices.
    Check power and volume
    If you have speakers, make sure they’re plugged in to a working power source and turned on.
    Make sure that your speaker volume or headphone volume isn’t muted or turned down too low. This is particularly important for laptops, which often have small speakers that can be hard to hear.
    Windows 7 and Windows Vista
    Click the Start button , click Control Panel, click Hardware and Sound, and then, under Sound, click Adjust system volume.
    Move the slider up to increase the volume.
    Make sure the Mute button isn’t turned on. If the button looks like this:  , muting is turned off. If the button looks like this: , click it to turn off muting.
    Notes
    Some laptops have an external volume control. If you’re using a laptop, check the external volume control to make sure it’s not turned all the way down.
    In some cases, you might have several volume controls to check. For example, if you’re using Windows Media Player, it has its own volume control; Windows has a volume control; and your external speakers have their own volume control. If any of these volume controls are set to their lowest setting, you will not hear any sound.
    Step 2: Use a troubleshooter
    A troubleshooter is an automated tool that can find and automatically fix some problems with your computer. Different versions of Windows use troubleshooters in different ways.
    Run the first troubleshooter to diagnose and fix common sound playback issues, and then try to play an audio file. If the problem isn’t fixed, try the next troubleshooter to diagnose and fix common problems with hardware and devices.
    Trouble Shooter 1
    Trouble Shooter 2
    Step 3: Update drivers
    In order for Windows to recognize your sound card or sound processor, you must find and install a compatible driver. Most sound cards and sound processors require driver software to work properly. Outdated, incompatible, or corrupted sound card drivers can disrupt communication between the computer and the sound card.
    If you recently upgraded from one version of Windows to another, it’s possible that the current sound card driver was designed for the previous version of Windows. If you’ve had recent power outages, viruses, or other computer problems, it’s possible that the drivers have become corrupted. Downloading and installing the latest sound card driver for your sound card can resolve these types of problems.
    Here are three ways to find and install a driver:
    Use Windows Update. You might need to set Windows Update to automatically download and install recommended updates. Installing any important, recommended, and optional updates can update system features and other software that might help to fix your sound problems.
    Install software from the device manufacturer. For example, if your device came with a disc, that disc might contain software that installs a driver for the device.
    Download and install the driver yourself. You can search for a driver on the manufacturer’s website. Try this if Windows Update can’t find a driver for your device and the device didn’t come with software that installs a driver.

  • How to Change the Windows 7 Homegroup Password

    Information
    This article will show you how to change the password for your Windows 7 homegroup.
    Here’s How:
    1. Open the Control Panel (all items view), and click on the Network and Sharing Center icon.
    WARNING: You must only do this step and step 2 in all computers joined to this homegroup. If not, then each computer that you did not do this for will have to leave the homegroup and join the homegroup before it be part of the homegroup again.
    2. Click on the Choose homegroup and sharing options link. (see screenshot below)
    WARNING: You must only do this step and step 1 in all computers joined to this homegroup. If not, then each computer that you did not do this for will have to leave the homegroup and join the homegroup before it be part of the homegroup again.
    3. In only one of the computers, click on the Change the password link. (see screenshot below)
    4. Select Change the password. (see screenshot below)
      
    5. Type in your own password, or use the one generated for you. When done, click on Next. (see screenshot below)
       
    6. Write down and/or print this password down. When done, click on Finish. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: The password is case sensitive, so it will need to be typed exactly as it appears here when entered in the other computers in the homegroup.

       

    7. After you change the password, everyone else connected to this homegroup will be asked to enter the new password automatically.
    NOTE: You will need to do this step now in every computer that is joined to this homegroup.
    A) Click on the Type new password button. (see screenshot below)

           
    B) Type in the new password from step 5, and click on Next. (see screenshot below)

            
    C) Click on Finish. (see screenshot below)

          
    D) Close the HomeGroup window. (see screenshot below step 2)
    E) Repeat step 7 until the new password has been entered in all computers in this homegroup.

  • How to Create a Homegroup in Windows 7


    HomeGroup makes your job easy to share pictures, music, documents, videos, and printers with other people on your home network. This article will show you how to create a homegroup in Windows 7.
    Note
    Computers must be running Windows 7 to participate in a homegroup. HomeGroup is available in all editions of Windows 7. In the Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic editions, you can join a homegroup, but you can’t create one.
    If your computer belongs to a domain network, you can join a homegroup but you can’t create one. You can access files and resources on other homegroup computers, but you can’t share your own files and resources with the homegroup.
    All computers that will be on the homegroup must have (be on) the same workgroup or domain name.
    You can create or join a Homegroup with a virtual machine in Windows Virtual PC.
    Warning
    You will need to have these Services set as below. They are by default.
    DNS Client – Started and Automatic
    HomeGroup Listener – Started and Manual
    HomeGroup Provider – Started and Manual
    SSDP Discovery – Started and Manual
    UPnP Device Host – Started and Manual
    Function Discovery Provider Host – Started and Manual
    Function Discovery Resource Publication – Started and Automatic
    Network List Service – Started and Manual
    Server – Started and Automatic
    Here’s How:
    NOTE:  
    The homegroup created here as an example was done between a laptop (joined homegroup) with a wireless connection through a wireless router and a desktop (created homegroup in) connected to the same router’s ethernet port via CAT6 cable.
    1. Make sure that all computers that will be on the home network have the date and time in sync.
    2. Make sure that the computer is set to have a home network location type. You will not be able to create a homegroup from any other network locations.
    3. If you are using a wireless network through a wireless router, then check to make sure that WLAN Partition is disabled in the router’s wireless settings. When it is enabled, it prevents associated wireless clients from communicating with each other.
    4. Open the Control Panel (all items view), and click on the Network and Sharing Center icon.
    A) Click on the Change adapter settings link. 
    B) Right click on your network connection adapter, and click on Properties. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes. Make sure that the items below are checked, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
    Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)
    Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)
    C) Click on the back arrow button (left arrow) in Network Connections to return to the Network and Sharing Center. (See screenshot above)
    D) Click on the Change advanced sharing settings link.
    E) Make sure that the Home or Work (current profile) settings are set as they are below for the ones pointed out with the red arrows, then click on save changes. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes. 
    5. In the Network and Sharing Center, click on the Choose homegroup and sharing options link. 

    6. Click on the Create a homegroup button. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: 
     If a homegroup already exists (already created) on your home network, then Windows 7 will ask if you would like to Join Now instead of creating a new one.
     
    7. Select (check) what libraries and printers that you want to share from this computer with any other computer that joins this homegroup, then click on Next. (see screenshot below)
    8. Write down and/or print this password down. You will need to have and use this password to join a computer to this homegroup. Click on Finish. (See screenshot below)
    NOTE: The password is case sensitive, so it will need to be typed exactly as it appears here when used to join a computer to the homegroup.
    9. Close the HomeGroup window. (see screenshot below)
    10. You will now need to add other computers to the homegroup by joining them so that you can access shared libraries and printers between them.

  • Customize Windows 7 Search Settings

    Customizing What and How to Search


    You can find all the Search settings for Windows Search on the “Folder 
    and Search Options” window in Windows Explorer. Follow these steps to cus-
    tomize where Windows Search looks for files/folders:



    1. Choose Start | Documents. In the upper-left area of the window, click the down-arrow next to Organize and then choose “Folder and Search Options”. Select the “Search” tab as shown in the image below:































    2.  On the Search tab, there are three separate sections:
    What to search:
    – Here you can specify whether you would like the search software to use the indexing service’s data or all data, on-the-fly. By default, Windows Search will search both filenames and contents of indexed files but just filenames of files not in the index. If you don’t want to use the indexer at all, you can work with other options.


    How to search:
    There are 4 different settings: 
    1. The ability to search subfolders, 
    2. Report results with partial matches.
    3. Turn on natural language searches, and 
    4. Disable searching from the index.


    You should mainly focus on the sub-folder search and natural language search options. These features are usually the two that can be used as tweaks, the most. First, to speed up searches, un-check “Include sub-folders in search results when searching in file folders” and then also check “Use natural language search” option so that easier searches can be performed. For example, if you want to find e-mails from a person, you normally have to type Kind:email from:person in the Search box. When you turn on natural language search, however, you can type email from person instead and get the same results. 


    When searching non-indexed locations 
    This specifies what to do with compressed files and system folders that are not indexed or when index search is turned off. I leave these blank to speed up searches, 
    but I strongly suggest that you do not turn on the compressed file option; 
    it will cause your searches to take forever.


    When you are finished tweaking the search options, you would need to press OK to save your changes. A restart may be required. 

  • How do I configure System Restore in Windows 7?

    System Restore helps you restore your computer’s system files to an point back in time. It helps you undo system changes to your computer without affecting your personal data. It is worthy to note that System restore affects Windows system files, programs, registry values, scripts, batch files, and other types of executables. System Restore in Windows 7 and Vista works a bit differently than it does in Windows XP in that it uses the Shadow Copy feature in which it creates a snapshot of your drive at a certain point of time.

    The System Restore in Windows 7 needs a minimum of 300 MB of the drive space of the hard drive, by a general rule. In Windows XP however, the minimum size required is 200 MB. Depending on the size of the partition it is usually a good idea to either increase or decrease the allocated space for system restore. Here is how this is done:
    To access System Restore Configuration, Click on Start and then right click on Computer and then select Properties from the context menu. 





    Then click on System Protection to display the System Restore configuration menu.

    system properties 400x445 Configuring System Restore In Windows 7
    From here, you can control the way System Restore will work or behave in Windows 7. It will furthermore display the drives that are currently configured to use System Restore and those that are not. 


    You can select a drive or partition and click on the Configure button to get detailed configuration information about it. This includes the percentage that is currently allocated for System Restore in MBs along with the current usage.
    windows 7 system restore 400x448 Configuring System Restore In Windows 7
    It is possible to change the percentage that Windows can allocate for system protection to free up disk space for other data, simply by dragging the slider above. By default it is 4% in Windows 7. It is also possible to delete previous system restore points and to change the restore settings. 


    By default System Restore can save system settings and previous versions of files. You can however choose to restore only the previous versions of files as shown in the figure above.


    You can also selectively turn System Restore off for a specific drive or partition. This was also possible in Windows XP

  • How to Add Additional Time Zone Clocks in Windows 7


    Selective Information:
    Windows 7 can exhibit up to 3 clocks unlike Windows Xp: One for the localized time, and Two for the time in other time zones of your choice.
    This article will demonstrate how to add an additional Time Zone clock.
    Here’s How to achieve that:
    1. Left click on clock on the taskbar and click on Change date and time settings.

    A) Go to step 4 below.
    OR
    2. Right click on Time on the taskbar and click Adjust Date/Time.
    A) Go to step 4 below.
    OR
    3. Open the Control Panel in Classic View, and click on the Date and Time icon.
    4. Click on the Additional Clocks tab.
    5. Check “Show this clock to add a clock.”
    NOTE: You can add one or both clocks.
    6. Click on the Select time zone drop down arrow and choose one from the list you want to be exhibited on this clock.
    7. Enter a display name for this clock.
    NOTE: You can type up to 15 characters.
    8. Click on OK.

  • How to Uninstall or change a Program

    Selective Information:
    You can uninstall an application or program off your computer if you no longer utilize it or if you want to free up space on your hard disk.

    This will demonstrate how to use Programs and Features in the Control Panel to see, uninstall, change, or repair programs that are currently installed in Windows 7.

    In Windows XP, this would have been in Add and Remove Programs rather.

    Tip
    If the program you desire to uninstall is not listed in Programs and Features, then it may not have been written for this version of Windows. To uninstall the program, check the data that arrived with the program, or go to the program publisher’s/manufacturer’s website. Most programs install automatically in the C:\Program Files folder (option 3 below). Search in this folder some programs also include an uninstall program that you can use.

    Programs and features embedded with Windows 7 can be turned off in Windows Features.
    If the program doesn’t uninstall completely the first time, sometimes running the uninstall program a second time will succeed.

    If the previous choice doesn’t cultivate, attempt uninstalling the program while Windows 7 is running in safe mode.

    If you installed the program recently, you can try using System Restore to return your computer’s system files to an previous restore point dated before you installed the program.

    OPTION ONE

    Using Programs and Features

    1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on Programs and Features.

    2. Select a listed program to highlight it and see the accessible options on the toolbar for that program.

    NOTE: The options will be either Uninstall, change, Uninstall/change, Repair, or modify/Repair. A program may not have all the options available for it.

    If mouse is set to single click, then hover the mouse pointer over the named program to select it.
    If mouse is set to double click, then left click one time on the listed program to choose it.

    3. To Uninstall the Program

    A) Click on the Uninstall or Uninstall/change (depending on the button displayed) toolbar button.

    OR

    B) Double click on the selected program.

    OR

    C) Right click on the chosen program, and click on Uninstall or Uninstall/change (depending on the pick available).

    D) If you had only the Uninstall pick, then you may require click on Yes.

    E) If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes (if administrator) or typewrite in the administrator’s password (if standard user).

    F) Adopt the rest of the onscreen instructions to uninstall the program, then go to step 6.

    NOTE: Some programs may require a restart afterward.

    4. To modify the Program

    NOTE: This will allow you to install or uninstall optional features of the program without uninstalling it. Not all programs use the modify button, and may offer only Uninstall.
    A) Click on modify or Uninstall/modify (depending on the push button displayed) toolbar button.

    OR

    B) Right click on the selected program, and click on modify or Uninstall/modify (depending on the choice available).

    C) Follow the rest of the onscreen instructions to change the program, then go to step 6.

    NOTE: Some programs may require a restart afterward.

    5. To Repair the Program

    NOTE: Repair is usually used when you require corrupted files and settings substituted with original ones from the selected program’s installation program. Sometimes the entire program is just reinstalled with all files overwritten and settings returned to default for the selected program. Not all programs use the Repair button, and many of them will offer only Uninstall.

    A) Click on the Repair or modify/Repair (depending on the button displayed) toolbar button.

    OR

    B) Right click on the selected program, and click on Repair or change/Repair (depending on the pick available).

    C) Follow the rest of the onscreen instructions to repair the program, and then go to step

    NOTE: Some programs may demand a restart afterwards.

    6. When finished, close Program and Features.

    OPTION TWO

    Uninstall a Program through the Start Menu

    NOTE: Some programs will add a shortcut in the Start Menu All Programs area that includes a pick to uninstall it.

    1. Open the Start Menu and click on All Programs.

    2. Click on the program’s folder to expand it. 

    3. If accessible, click on the program’s uninstaller shortcut

    4. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes (if administrator) or typewrite in the administrator’s password (if standard user).

    5. Follow the remainder of the onscreen instructions to uninstall the program.

    NOTE: Some programs may require a restart afterward.

    OPTION THREE

    Uninstall a Program through the Program Files Folder

    NOTE: If the program is not named in Programs and Features (choice ONE) and is not in  the Start Menu (option TWO), then you may be able to uninstall the program through the  Program Files folder.

    1. For 32-bit Windows 7, open the C:\Program Files folder, and open the program’s folder.

    A) Go to step 3.

    2. For 64-bit Windows 7, open either the C:\Program Files folder for a installed 64-bit program or C:\Program Files (x86) folder for a installed 32-bit program, and open the program’s folder (ex: picture-shark). 

     

    3. If available, click on the program’s uninstaller application file.

    4. If reminded by UAC, then click on Yes (if administrator) or typewrite in the administrator’s password (if standard user).

    5. Adopt the rest of the onscreen directions to uninstall the program.

    NOTE: Some programs may require a restart afterward.

  • How to Uninstall Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta and RC

    Information
    Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta adds a clock time with an termination date of June  30, 2011 to your Windows 7. You will be reminded starting on March 30, 2011 about the termination date, but you will be able to use your system to assist beta test the SP1  beta until June 29, 2011. Later, you will need to either upgrade to the eventual edition of SP1 when released in the first half of 2011 or uninstall the Beta version of SP1 to be capable to utilize your Windows 7 again.


    This article will demonstrate, how to uninstall Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta in  case you have issues with operating the SP1 beta, before the SP1 beta dies, or you  are installing the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RC build.

    For more info about Windows 7 SP1 Beta FAQ’s, see:

    Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 Beta FAQ’s

    To download and for more info about Windows 7 SP1 RC, see:

    Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Release  Candidate (KB976932)

    Note
    When you download and install the “Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RC”, it adds a  watermark to your desktop letting you know that this is right away a evaluation copy of  Windows 7.

    Word Of Advice
    You will have to uninstall Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta before you will be able  to install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RC.

    Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RC will end running on November 30, 2011. Before this date, you will need to either upgrade to the final version of SP1 when released in the first half of 2011 or uninstall the RC version of SP1 to be capable to use your Windows 7 again.

    OPTION ONE

    Uninstall Windows 7 SP1 Beta or RC using Programs and Characteristics
    1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on Programs and Features.

    2. Click on the View installed updates link in the left pane.

    NOTE: If you don’t find Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB 976932) in the list of installed updates, or if the uninstall option is disabled, use System Restore to uninstall the service pack.

    3. Click on Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB976932) to uninstall.

    NOTE: You could also select Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB976932) and click on  the “Uninstall” push button on the toolbar, or right click on Service Pack for Microsoft  Windows (KB976932) and click on “Uninstall”.

    4. Click on Yes.

    5. Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta or RC will now start uninstalling. It will take a bit of time to complete.

    6. When prompted, restart the computer to finish.

    OPTION TWO

    Uninstall Windows 7 SP1 Beta or RC using a Advanced Command Prompt
    1. Open a elevated command prompt (Run as administrator).

    2. In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press enter.

    Wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:976932

    3. Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta or RC will now start uninstalling. It will take  a bit to complete.

    4. When prompted, restart the computer to finish.

    OPTION THREE

    Uninstall Windows 7 SP1 Beta or RC using System Restore

     WARNING: Performing a System Restore will also withdraw any programs and revert any system changes that were made since you installed the service pack. System Restore will not affect any personal files in your user folders.

    1. Do a system restore using a restore point that has the same date or before you installed the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta or RC.

    NOTE: The restore point created automatically when you installed the SP1 beta will be labeled either Install: Windows Update or Install: Windows 7 Service Pack 1.