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Category: how to

  • Dual boot Windows 8 with Windows 7

    Information
    This article will show you how to set up a dual boot installation with Windows 8 Consumer Preview and Windows 7, when Windows 7 is already installed.

    (more…)

  • Windows 7: Enable Run command

    Steps to Enable Run Command in Windows 7 Start menu
    Windows 7 is really amazing as compared to Windows Vista and Windows XP. The main feature it missed out is the Run command shortcut in Windows 7 start menu. We all know the importance of RUN command in our daily computer usage but due to some mysterious reason it is not available in Windows 7 Start menu. Even if the start menu is doing a great job as a substitute, it’s hardly a substitute to the almighty run command.

    But don’t worry there is a way to bring back Run command in Windows 7 Start menu with a few clicks of your mouse. To do this we should enable Run Command in Start menu properties.
    Steps to bring back Run Command in Windows 7 Start Menu
    To bring back Run Command in Windows 7 start menu follow the steps below.
    1. Right click on Windows 7 Start menu
    2. Click on Properties
    This will open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Window
    3. Click on Customize button
    Click on Customize button under Start Menu tab. Now Windows 7 start menu customization option window will be opened. To activate run command in Windows 7 start menu we need to check Run Command check box in the customization window.
    Click on OK. Now the Run Command short is added in Windows 7 Start Menu.

  • Windows 7 VS Vista

    Mind blowing things Windows 7 does that Vista doesn’t
    Shake them away
    Ever had 10 Notepad, two Powerpoint and 50 Outlook windows open? Want to minimise all of them except the most important one? In Windows 7, you can grab the top of the window and shake it about to scare away all of the other open windows. Simple.
    A step forward in previewing
    In Vista, hovering over a minimised window on the taskbar would provide a preview of the window. In Windows 7, a similar preview pops up which also gives the option to close a window (within the preview), along with a full-size ‘peek’. You can also press Win + T to scroll along previews in the taskbar.
               A smaller preview, along with a full-size ‘peek’ with the ability to close the window
    Snap into place
    Simply drag your window to the left or right edge of the desktop to snap and resize the window to one half of the screen. Drag the window to the top to maximise it. A pretty neat idea made neater by the use of the keyboard shortcuts (Win + respective arrow keys). No longer do you have to frustratingly position the mouse at the edge of the window to resize it.
    Jumplists
    Jumplists are a new feature that give you the option to view a list of recently accessed files by application, even when the application isn’t open, by right-clicking on the application’s icon in the taskbar. It also allows you to quickly access a favourite playlist without opening your media player. Jumplists can also be found integrated into the Start Menu.
                                         The Jumplist for Windows Explorer – pretty useful
                                                 A Jumplist integrated into the Start Menu
    XP Mode
    This time, you do not have to slap your head that same way when Vista would not run an XP application. For those XP applications that do not work under Windows 7, you can download XP Mode free from the Microsoft website and run XP applications in an emulated XP environment in Windows 7. Imagine Parallels on Mac OS X without the need to fish out money on an extra OS.
    An easier and quicker way to adjust multiple displays
    Do you constantly connect your computer to different external monitors or projectors, especially at work? Try Win + P, and duplicating or extending your display to the other monitor takes just a second. Win + P presents you with an Alt + Tab style menu, which is ideal if you give a lot of presentations at work on your laptop.
    A personalised Stage for your device
    With the new ‘Device and Printers’ button on the Start Menu, devices which are connected to your computer can have their own Stage. This Device Stage presents supported devices with a photo-realistic render and a link to the vendor’s website, along with other updates and useful information (such as firmware updates and manuals).
    Eliminate the notification area!
    What, I can even get rid of the clock and volume icons? Yes. Click the arrow that gives access to the overflow icons in the notification area and click ‘customise’. Select each icon and click ‘hide icon and notifications’ to remove it. Clean.
                                                            Stop all those notifications
    Problem Steps Recorder
    The ‘Problem Steps Recorder’ lets you record a particular problem you are having with your PC so you can send it to someone who may be able to help. Click ‘Record’, and a screenshot is taken with every mouse click, allowing comments to be added in between if required. These screenshots (and comments, if any) are placed in a well-formatted HTML document that is placed inside a zipped folder on your desktop – ideal to be attached to an email.
                                    Simple, yet so effective. Send this to friends or manufacturers
    A brand new Magnifier tool
    If you are, or someone you know, is visually impaired, then the Windows 7 Magnifier provides two options for providing a bigger display. One of which is using the traditional dock (which took up a lot of the screen) and the other being a rectangular lens that is stuck to the cursor (meaning there is no loss of workspace).
                   A sleek new magnifier that follows your cursor, without decreasing your workspace
    A new way to preview your music files
    Opening and listening to an MP3 is a lot more snappier with Windows 7 due to its new smaller preview player, presenting you with album art, basic music functionality and a link to the full-blown Windows Media Player. This is an obvious attempt to mimic the preview feature of Mac OS X, but it is very well executed.
                                                The new preview is simple – and loads up very quickly
    Homegroup Networking
    In Vista (or, frankly, any Windows OS), creating a shared folder over a network at home could be a bit of a pain. In Windows 7, using the ‘Homegroup’ wizard, check the default folders you would like to share. This will give you a passcode that will have to be entered in another computer on the same network to share the files. Sounds too good to be true? There is a catch: only a Windows 7 computer can join a Homegroup.
    Stream Music directly to another computer
    If you do create a Homegroup, Windows Media Player allows you to stream music directly to another computer. So, instead of listening to music through your measly laptop speakers, you can wirelessly stream to the 7.1 Surround Sound Speakers of your PC in your living room, without stepping away from your laptop. Sweet.
    Action Center
    The Action Center is the new Security Center for Windows 7, along with other notifications such as updates and access to the improved troubleshooting and recovery using restore point facilities. Basically, it is everything windows usually annoys you with, rolled into one place with one icon in the notification bar. If you find the alerts irritating, you can check out this tip to make the Windows 7 Action Center less annoying.
    Pin just about anything to the new Windows Taskbar
    Imagine a blank Mac OS X Dock with the start menu, the notifications bar and the improved ‘Show Desktop’ button added to it. Drag just about anything on to it and the associated application will place itself on the translucent taskbar, with an option to open the file in the Jumplist.
    Improved Touch Navigation
    Windows 7 has much improved touch navigation. The larger taskbar with squarer icons makes it a lot easier to navigate with your fingers, and Macbook-like multi-touch gestures on various applications could change the way you interact with windows. Subtle enhancements such as a larger Start Menu appearing when Touchscreen hardware is detected also help.
    Native ISO Burner
    There are those times when you inevitably have to burn an ISO file (such as when you have to copy a downloaded Windows 7 beta or RC) to a DVD. With Windows 7 you do not need to download third-party software (some of which are pretty confusing to use). Double-clicking on an ISO file will take you to a window that allows you to change the disc burner drive. Click ‘Burn’. After a while, your disc is ready. Simple.
                                            Burning an ISO file has never been so easy
    Native calibration tools
    If you tend to hook up your computer to an HDTV or care about getting the highest quality from your monitor, then the in-built basic and easy-to-use calibration tools built into Windows 7 will please you.

  • Windows 7-Multiple Home Pages for Pinned Sites

    How to Have Multiple Home Pages for Pinned Sites in IE9
    Information
    This tutorial will show you how to have multiple home pages for any pinned site in IE9

    Note
    This works for the Release Candidate build of IE9.
    OPTION ONE
    In Internet Explorer 9
    1. Open a pinned site of Internet Explorer 9.
    2. Open a new tab and navigate to the page that you would like to add as a second home page.
    3. Right-Click on the home button and select ‘Add as home page’ (note: in the screenshot I have pinned bing and want to add google as a second homepage)
    4. That’s it! Now when you click on the pinned site logo your pinned site will open, and the second homepage will open in a new tab.
    OPTION TWO
    Through Internet Options
    1. Open a pinned site of Internet Explorer 9.
    2. Press Alt + X, and then select ‘Internet Options’.
    3. Add the homepage(s) that you wish to open along with your pinned site in the box.
    4. Click ‘Apply’

  • Windows 7-Add/Remove Sites in IE Security Zones

    How to Add or Remove Sites in Internet Explorer Security Zones
    Information
    Zone security is a system that enables you to divide online content into categories, or zones. You can add or remove websites from the zones, depending on your level of trust in a website.

    This article will show you how to add or remove website URL addresses in the Internet, Local Intranet, Trusted sites, and Restricted sites Internet Explorer security zones.
    Note
    Internet zone
    You will not be able to add or remove sites in the “Internet” zone. The Internet zone includes all sites on the internet that are not in the Trusted sites or Restricted sites zones.
    Local intranet zone
    The Local intranet zone includes all sites inside an organization’s firewall (for computers connected to a local network). By default, the Local Intranet zone contains all network connections that were established by using a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path, and Web sites that bypass the proxy server or have names that do not include periods (for example, http://local), as long as they are not assigned to either the Restricted Sites or Trusted Sites zone. The default security level for the Local Intranet zone is set to Medium-low. Be aware that when you access a local area network (LAN) or an intranet share, or an intranet Web site by using an Internet Protocol (IP) address or by using a fully qualified domain name (FQDN), the share or Web site is identified as being in the Internet zone instead of in the Local intranet zone. For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    303650 Intranet site is identified as an Internet site when you use an FQDN or an IP address
    Trusted sites zone
    The Trusted sites zone can include all Internet sites that you know are trusted. For example, the Trusted sites zone might contain websites that are on your organization’s intranet or that come from established companies in whom you have confidence. When you add a website to the Trusted Sites zone, you believe that files you download or that you run from the website will not damage your computer or data. By default, there are no websites that are assigned to the Trusted Sites zone, and the security level is set to Medium.
    Restricted sites zone
    The Restricted sites zone can include all sites that you do not trust. When you add a website to the Restricted Sites zone, you believe that files that you download or run from the website may damage your computer or your data. By default, there are no websites that are assigned to the Restricted Sites zone, and the security level is set to High.
    Here’s How:
    1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View (Vista) or Icons View (Windows 7)).
    A) Click on the Internet Options icon.
    B) Go to step 3.
    OR
    2. Open Internet Explorer.
    A) Click on Tools (Menu bar) or gear icon (in IE9), click on Internet Options, and click on the Security tab.
    3. For the Internet Zone
    A) You will not be able to add or remove sites in the Internet zone since it automatically includes all sites on the internet that are not in the Trusted sites or Restricted sites zones.
    B) Go to step 7.
    4. To Add or Remove Sites for the Local intranet Zone
    A) Select Local intranet, and click on the Sites button. (see screenshot below)
    B) Check what settings (automatically detect or specifics) to define which websites are included in the local intranet zone, then click on the Advanced button. (see screenshots below)
    NOTE:
    The default setting is Automatically detect intranet network.
    Include all local (intranet) sites not listed in other zones. Intranet sites, such as http://local, have names that do not include dots. In contrast, a site name that does contain dots, such as Microsoft Corporation, is not local. This site would be assigned to the Internet zone. The intranet site name rule applies to File URLs as well as HTTP URLs.
    Include all sites that bypass the proxy server. Typical intranet configurations use a proxy server to gain access to the Internet but have a direct connection to intranet servers. The setting uses this kind of configuration information to distinguish intranet from Internet content. If your proxy server is configured otherwise, you should clear this check box and then use other means to designate the Local intranet zone membership. For systems without a proxy server, this setting has no effect.
    Include all network paths (UNCs). Network paths (for example, \\servername\sharename\file.txt) are typically used for local network content that should be included in the Local intranet zone. If some of your network paths should not be in the Local intranet zone, clear this check box and then use other means to designate the Local intranet zone membership. In certain Common Internet File System (CIFS) configurations, for example, it is possible for a network path to reference Internet content.
    C) To Add a Website to Internet Zone
    Check (only add https: websites) or uncheck (add any website) the Require server verification (https for all sites in the zone option for what you want websites you want added.
    Type in the website address and click on Add. (see screenshot below)
    D) To Remove a Website from Internet Zone
    Under Websites, select a added website and click on Remove. Repeat to remove additional websites. (see screenshot below)
    E) When finished, click on Close. (see screenshots below steps 4C and 4D)
    F) Click on OK. (see screenshots under step 4B)
    G) Go to step 7.
    5. To Add or Remove Sites for the Trusted Sites Zone
    A) Select Trusted Sites, and click on the Sites button. (see screenshot below)
    B) To Add a Website to Trusted Sites Zone
    Check (only add https: websites) or uncheck (add any website) the Require server verification (https: ) for all sites in the zone option for what you want websites you want added.
    Type in the website address and click on Add. Repeat to add additional websites. (see screenshot below)
    C) To Remove a Website from Trusted Sites Zone
    Under Websites, select a added website and click on Remove. Repeat to remove additional websites. (see screenshot below)
    E) When finished, click on Close. (see screenshots below steps 5B and 5C)
    F) Go to step 7.
    6. To Add or Remove Sites for the Restricted Sites Zone
    A) Select Restricted Sites, and click on the Sites button. (see screenshot below)
    B) To Add a Website to Restricted Sites Zone
    Type in the website address and click on Add. Repeat to add additional websites. (see screenshot below)
    C) To Remove a Website from Restricted Sites Zone
    Under Websites, select a added website and click on Remove. Repeat to remove additional websites. (see screenshot below)
    D) When finished, click on Close. (see screenshots below steps 6B and 6C)
    7. Do steps 4, 5, or 6 above if there are any other security zone that you would like to add or remove sites from.
    8. When finished, click on OK. (see screenshot below steps 3A, 4A, 5A, or 6A)

  • Windows 7: Hide or Show Desktop Items


    How to Hide or Show Desktop Icons and Gadgets in Windows 7
    Information
    This article will show you how to easily hide or show all of the icons and Gadgets on your desktop in Windows 7. By default, all desktop icons and gadgets are set to show in Windows 7.

    OPTION ONE
    Hide or Show Desktop Icons
    Using the Desktop Context Menu
    1. Right click on a empty area of the desktop.
    2. To Show All Desktop Icons
    A) Click on Show Desktop Icons to check it. (See screenshot below step 3)
    3. To Hide All Desktop Icons
    A) Click on Show Desktop Icons to uncheck it. (See screenshot below)
    B) Save your current theme to help prevent these settings from being reset after you log off and on, or restart the computer.
    OPTION TWO
    Hide or Show Desktop Gadgets
    1. Right click on a empty area of the desktop.
    2. To Show All Desktop Gadgets
    A) Click on Show Desktop Gadgets to check it. (See screenshot below step 3)
    3. To Hide All Desktop Gadgets
    A) Click on Show Desktop Gadgets to uncheck it. (See screenshot below)
    B) Save your current theme to help prevent these settings from being reset after you log off and on, or restart the computer.

  • Add "Copy to Clipboard" to Context Menu

    How to Add “Copy to Clipboard” to the Context Menu in Windows 7
    Information
    This will show you how to add or remove Copy to Clipboard from the right click context menu of BAT, CMD, LOG, REG, RTF, TXT, and VBS files.
    If added, this makes it a lot easier to copy the entire contents of a file with one of these file extensions to the clipboard, then paste the contents where you like.

    Note
    This will not work for the RTF (WordPad) file extension context menus if you have Microsoft Office Word installed and set as the default program to open RTF files instead of WordPad.
    EXAMPLE:
    Context Menu with “Copy to Clipboard” Added or Removed

    HERE’S HOW
    Through Registry Edititor
    NOTE: 
    This option will allow you to manually pick and choose to add or remove Copy to Clipboard from either one, more, or all of the context menus of the BAT, CMD, LOG, REG, RTF, TXT, and VBS files.
    1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press Enter.
    2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7).
    3. To Add “Copy to Clipboard” to the Context Menu
    A) In regedit, navigate to the location below for the file extension that you wish to add Copy to Clipboard to.
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\cmdfile\shell
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\regfile\shell
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rtffile\shell
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfile\shell
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VBSFile\shell
    B) In the left pane of regedit, right click on shell, click on New and Key, type Copy to Clipboard, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
    C) In the right pane of Copy to Clipboard, right click on a empty space, click on New and String Value, type Icon and press Enter, right click on Icon, and click on Modify. (see screenshot above)
    D) In the Edit String box, copy and paste the commmand below and click on OK.
    DxpTaskSync.dll,-52
    E) In the left pane of regedit, right click on Copy to Clipboard and click on New and Key. Type command, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
    F) In the right pane of command, right click on (Default) and click on Modify. (see screenshot above)
    G) In the Edit String box, copy and paste the commmand below and click on OK.
    cmd /c clip < "%1"
    H) Repeat step 3 above for any other file extenstion that you wish to add Copy to Clipboard to it’s context menu.
    I) When finished, go to step 5.
    4. To REMOVE “Copy to Clipboard” from the Context Menu
    A) In regedit, navigate to the location below for the file extension that you wish to remove Copy to Clipboard from.
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\Copy to Clipboard
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\cmdfile\shell\Copy to Clipboard
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\regfile\shell\Copy to Clipboard
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rtffile\shell\Copy to Clipboard
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfile\shell\Copy to Clipboard
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VBSFile\shell\Copy to Clipboard
    B) In the left pane of regedit, right click on Copy to Clipboard, and click on Delete. (see screenshot below)
    C) Click on Yes to approve deleting the key. (see screenshot below)
    D) Repeat step 4 above for any other file extenstion that you wish to remove Copy to Clipboard from it’s context menu.
    E) When finished, continue on to step 5.
    5. Close Registry Editor.

  • Add/Remove Network Connection to Network Bridge

    How to Remove or Add a Network Connection to a Network Bridge
    Information
    If you have two or more networks connected by a network bridge, then this will show you how to remove or add a network connection to the bridge.

    Warning
    You should not add a public Internet connection to a network bridge because it creates an unprotected link between your network and the Internet, which makes your network accessible to anyone on the Internet.
    Here’s How:
    1. Click or right click on the Network icon in the notification area, then click on Open Network and Sharing Center. (see screenshot below)
    A) Go to step 3.
    OR
    2. Open the Control Panel (icon view), and click on the Network and Sharing Center icon.
    3. Click on the Change adapter settings link. (see screenshot below)
     
    4. To Add a Connection to the Network Bridge
    A) Right click on the Network that you want to add, and click on Add to Bridge. (see screenshot below)
    B) If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes (if administrator) or type in the administrator’s password (if standard user).
    C) After a moment, the network will be added to the bridge.
    D Go to step 6.
    5. To Remove a Connection from the Network Bridge
    A) Right click on the Bridged Network that you want to remove, and click on Remove from Bridge. (see screenshot below)
    B) If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes (if administrator) or type in the administrator’s password (if standard user).
    C) After a moment, the network will be removed from the bridge.
    6. When finished, you can now close the Network Connections window. (see screenshot below step 4A or 5A)

  • Delete or Create Network Bridge- Windows 7

    How to Delete or Create a Network Bridge in Windows 7
    Information
    This article will show you how to create a network bridge to connect two or more of your networks together so that they can communicate.
    You can only create one network bridge on a computer, but the one network bridge can handle any number of network connections added to it.

    Warning
    You should not create a bridge between an Internet connection and a network connection because it creates an unprotected link between your network and the Internet, which makes your network accessible to anyone on the Internet.
    Here’s How:
    1. Click or right click on the Network icon in the notification area, then click on Open Network and Sharing Center. (see screenshot below)

    A) Go to step 3.
    OR
    2. Open the Control Panel (icon view), and click on the Network and Sharing Center icon.
    3. Click on the Change adapter settings link. (see screenshot below)

    4. To Create a Network Bridge –
    A) Press and hold down the CTRL key and select each network connection that you want to bridge together. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    You must select at least two network connections to be able to bridge them together.


    B) Release the CTRL key, then right click on one of the selected network connections and click on Bridge Connections. (see screenshot below)

    C) If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes (if administrator) or type in the administrator’s password (if standard user).
    D) After a moment, you will now have a network bridge of the selected network connections. (see screenshot below)

    E) Go to step 6.
    5. To Delete a Network Bridge –
    A) Right click on the Network Bridge and click on Delete. (see screenshot below)

    B) Click on Yes. (see screenshot below)

    C) If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes (if administrator) or type in the administrator’s password (if standard user).
    D) After a moment, the network bridge will be deleted and removed. (see screenshot below)

    6. When finished, you can now close the Network Connections window. (see screenshot above or below step 5D)