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Category: windows 7 quick launch

  • Installing and updating drivers in 7


    This guide is broken up into a number of parts:
    Intro to drivers
    Driver guidelines
    Finding & updating drivers
    Using Driver Sweeper
    Device Manger updates
    INTRO:
    Drivers instruct Windows exactly what hardware you have and what it does, along with any specific features. Manufacturers usually release new drivers frequently to keep their products updated and add new features. Performance is also usually improved, so it is absolutely vital to keep all your drivers updated. Use a driver sweeper for some drivers too.
      
    GUIDELINES:
    Install them in safe mode if you can. Otherwise, use safe mode if a normal 7 install fails. If you’ve built a new pc, then you’ll most likely install the drivers in 7, not safe mode.
    Don’t bother with driver programs. Get them yourself. Do you trust a random app to stick a driver in the right place and ensure its installed correctly on top of a driver install? Use them only – only – if you really can’t find drivers and then uninstall them.
    Reboot. Always reboot after each driver. Even better after you install them, reboot again later in the day.
    Make sure it matches your hardware and for laptops, the model, and whether its x86 or x64.
    Create a folder in your browser with links to your hardware and check this once a week.
    Use Driver Sweeper for your graphics card and sound drivers. This will clean up any leftover junk in safe mode.
    Try and find WHQL – Windows Hardware Quality Labs – drivers that have been certified by Microsoft.
    Keep a backup of the latest drivers on an external hard disk in case 7 dies. If you use a backed up image, then recent drivers are available.
    FINDING & UPDATING DRIVERS:
    Finding drivers is usually easy. First you need to find out what is in your pc. I’d recommend HWInfo32. Install it and open it. Note the chipset and BIOS type/date then close the summary window. Then open up the tabs:
    The drivers you want to update:
    Chipset
    BIOS
    NIC (Network Interface Device) for Ethernet and Wireless.
    Sound
    Graphics Card
    DVD drive firmware if necessary
    Anything proprietary if necessary, such as Webcam etc.
    Once you know the drivers, google any with the manufacturer such as nvidia driver and then bookmark the link in a folder. Download the drivers and then reboot after each one. If you have any problems open a thread in the drivers sub-forum or PM me. The BIOS will be from the PC manufacturer or the motherboard manufacturer and chipset most likely from AMD, Intel, Nvidia, or SiS:
    AMD
    SIS
    NVIDIA
    INTEL
    DRIVER SWEEPER:
    Use Driver Sweeper if you are updating some drivers. Driver Sweeper is a program that will remove leftovers from key drivers, namely graphics and sound. The first thing to do is to ensure that you have new and possibly old drivers on hand. Also, if you have 2 graphics cards – I have Intel and Nvidia in my ultraportable – don’t do this. The manufacturer will most likely have different instructions. Otherwise, this should work, along with SLI/Crossfire. Uninstall the drivers from control panel with the exception of ATI drivers. If you have ATI run the new installer, uninstall the old drivers, reboot, and then use Driver Sweeper. Reboot into 7 again and then re-run the Catalyst installer, this time choosing to install the new driver. For anything else uninstall anything other related like control panels. Reboot at the end:

    Reboot into safe mode and then run driver sweeper.

    Select Analyse and then clean – choose the right drivers you want removed! It will be all of them, just select the right ones above. Reboot once more into safe mode and install the newest drivers. Then reboot into Windows. Use driver sweeper if it can clean up any of your drivers. This will most likely be sound and display, but the app is updated and some more support will come for other bits of hardware.
    DEVICE MANAGER UPDATES:
    In device manager, right click the device and select update, try the internet and then try choosing from installed drivers. Also, use the Unknown Devices app from Halfdone Development to identify any hardware (usually) that has a question mark.
    Otherwise install any drivers over old ones unless you find different instructions for the piece of hardware. The .txt readme will have instructions or the site. Some installers uninstall old drivers, tell you to reboot, then run the installer again to install the new ones. After you install graphics drivers re-run the Windows Experience Index assessment. If you follow these simple steps your PC will run better and driver problems shouldn’t exist.. If you can’t get any 7drivers, then it might time for new hardware that has support.

  • 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.

  • Enable Windows 7 God Mode

    Here’s a neat Windows 7 trick that’s mind blowing. It enables “GodMode,” a term devised by the fans of this trick, which provides a single place to access all Windows settings without needing to browse options and folders in the Control Panel.
    Follow these simple steps to enable the God Mode:
          1.      Create a new folder.
          2.      Rename the folder to GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} (You can change the “GodMode” text to anything you want, but the following period and code number are essential).
          3.      The folder icon will change — double click it to show the GodMode window:
          4.      The window shows nearly 50 sections with quick links to configuration options. Strictly speaking, it’s not a God Mode since all the options are available elsewhere. It’s more akin to an “all tasks” list — but you may find it easier than stumbling through Windows numerous screens and panels.
    Note:
    The trick appears to work on  32 and 64-bit versions of Windows 7. Vista 32-bit and Windows Server 2008 32-bit , However, it is known to crash 64-bit versions of Vista — and you may need to boot in safe mode or to the command line to delete the folder. Sadly, Windows XP does not have this feature.


    http://www.linkedtube.com/static/flash/player.swf?sum=How%20to%20Enable%20God%20Mode%20in%20Windows7&btn=TechSupp247&txt=Tech%20Supp%20247&vis=always&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftechsupp247&vid=S8YJwOVwsrw

  • Get back the almighty Quick Launch bar

    Windows 7’s new taskbar functions as a program launcher as well as task switcher. As a result, the old Windows XP style Quick Launch bar, the area on the left side of the taskbar that contained shortcuts for frequently used programs, has been banished. However, if you really miss the little applet, you can add it back. 
    Here’s how to do it:
    1. Right-click the taskbar and choose Toolbars –> New Toolbar.
    2 . You’ll be asked to select a folder for where the new toolbar should live. In the Folder text box at the bottom of the dialog box, enter this text:
    %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
    3. After you do that, click Select Folder. A link for the Quick Launch bar will be added to the taskbar. It will be on the right of the taskbar, just to the left of the Notification area.
    4. It’s not particularly useful docked all the way to the right with no application icons showing, so we’re going to have to do a bit of work on it to make it useful. Right-click the taskbar and, in the pop-up menu, remove the check next to “Lock the taskbar.” Now right-click Quick Launch and remove the checks next to Show Text and Show Title.

    5. Once you’ve done that, drag the vertical triple dotted line next to the Quick Launch bar to the left until you expose its icons. To prevent further changes, right-click the taskbar and check Lock the taskbar. You can now use the Quick Launch bar as you could in Windows XP and Vista, including adding icons to it and deleting them.