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Category: Windows 7 support

  • How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 Password History Enforcement

    Information
    Password history determines the number of unique new passwords that have to be associated with and used by a user before an old password can be reused again. This enables administrators to enhance security by ensuring that old passwords are not reused continually.
    By default, there is 24 remembered on domains, and 0 remembered on stand-alone computers. This will show you how to enable or disable enforcing password history, and set how many passwords will be remembered before users can reuse a password.
    These procedures can also be applied on Windows Vista and Windows XP.

    Tip
    To maintain the effectiveness of the password history, do not allow passwords to be changed immediately after they were just changed by also enabling the minimum password age and setting it to be more than 0 days.
    Warning
    You can only do this while logged in as an administrator.
     
    EXAMPLE:
    Password History Message
    NOTE:
    This is a message a user will get when they try to change their password to a reused older password instead of a new unique password before the number of remember passwords has been reached.
    OPTION ONE
    Through Local Security Policy Manager
    NOTE:
    This option is only available for the Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions.
    1. Open the Local Security Policy editor.
    2. In the left pane, expand Account Policies, and click on Password Policy. (see screenshot below)
    3. In the right pane, double click on Enforce password history. (see screenshot above)
    4. To Disable Password History for All Users –
    A) Enter 0, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    B) Go to step 6.
    5. To Enforce Password History for All Users –
    A) Enter how many passwords between 0 and 24 that you want remembered before users can reuse a password, then click on OK. (see screenshot above)
    6. Close the Local Security Policy editor.
    OPTION TWO
    Through a Elevated Command Prompt
    NOTE:
    This option is available for all Windows 7 editions.
    1. Open a elevated command prompt.
    2. To See the Current “Password History” Setting –
    A) In the elevated command prompt, type net accounts and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
    3. To Disable Password History for All Users –
    A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
    Code:
    net accounts /uniquepw:0
    B) Go to step 5.
    4. To Enable or Change the Password History for All Users –
    A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    Substitute (1-24) for how many passwords you want remembered before users can reuse a password.
    Code:
    net accounts /uniquepw:(1-24)
    FOR EXAMPLE: 
    I would type in this command exactly for 5 remembered passwords, and press enter.
    Code:
    net accounts /uniquepw:5
    5. Close the elevated command prompt.
    These procedures can also be applied on Windows Vista and Windows XP.


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  • How to Export and Import Power Plans in Windows 7

    Information
    This will show you how to export and import power plans (schemes) and in Windows 7 to make it easier to reuse them on another computer or restore on your computer with all settings intact.
    This process can be used on Windows 7, Vista and Windows XP.

    Warning
    You will need to be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this.
    EXAMPLE:
    Power Plans
    Here’s How:
    1. Open a elevated command prompt.
    2. To List and See All Power Plans –
    NOTE:
    This will give you a list of all of the power plans on your computer with the name and GUID number of each power plan.
    A) In the elevated command prompt, type in powercfg list and press enter. (see screenshot below)
    3. To Export a Power Plan –
    NOTE:
    This will allow you to export a selected power plan as a pow file for a backup that can be imported into any Windows 7 computer to have that power plan available as a custom power plan on that computer.
    A) In the elevated command prompt, type in the command below (in code box) for the power plan that you want to export, and press enter.
    Note
    Substitute Power Plan Name in the command below for the name (all one word) you want for the power plan that you want to export. While it may be best to use the name of the power plan as displayed in step 2 above so you may better know which one it is, you can have any name you like for it.
    Substitute GUID in the command below for the actual long GUID number of the power plan that you want to export as shown in step 2 above.
    Code:
    powercfg -export “%UserProfile%\Power Plan Name.pow” GUID
    Balanced –
    Code:
    powercfg -export “%UserProfile%\Balanced.pow” 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e
    High Performance –
    Code:
    powercfg -export “%UserProfile%\High Performance.pow” 8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c
    Power Saver –
    Code:
    powercfg -export “%UserProfile%\Power Saver.pow” a1841308-3541-4fab-bc81-f71556f20b4a
    Custom –
    Code:
    You will have to look at step 2 above for the GUID # and name since it will be different per computer.
    B) You will now have the .pow file (ex: Custom Plan.pow) exported (saved) to your desktop.
    C) Move the .pow where you like for safe keeping. This is the file you will need to import this power plan.
    D) Go to step 5.
    4. To Import a Power Plan –
    NOTE:
    This will allow you import a .pow file (power plan) that was exported using step 3 to be able to add it as a custom power plan to select and use.
    A) In the elevated command prompt, type in the command below and press enter.
    Note:
    Substitute (Full Path of .pow file) in the command below for the the actual full path of the exported (step 3) .pow file with it’s name and file extension included within quotes.
    Code:
    powercfg -import “(Full Path of .pow file)”
    FOR EXAMPLE: 
    If I have my exported (step 3) CustomPlan.pow file saved to my desktop, then I would type in either one of the commands exactly as below.
    Code:
    powercfg -import “%UserProfile%\Custom Plan.pow”
    OR
    Code:
    powercfg -import “C:\Users\User-Name\Desktop\Custom Plan.pow”
    B) The imported pow file (power plan) has now been added as a custom power plan to be able to select and use.
    5. Close the elevated command prompt.
    This process can be used on Windows 7, Vista and Windows XP.


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  • How to Rename a Power Plan Name in Windows 7

    Information
    This article will show you how to rename power plans (schemes) in Windows 7 to have any name you would like.
    This tutorial will also work on Windows Vista and Windows XP

    Warning
    You will need to be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this.
    EXAMPLE:
    Power Plan Renamed
    Here’s How:
    1. Open a elevated command prompt.
    2. To List and See All Power Plans –
    NOTE:
    This will give you a list of all of the power plans on your computer with the name and GUID number of each power plan.
    A) In the elevated command prompt, type in powercfg list and press enter. (see screenshot below)
    3. In the elevated command prompt, type in the command below (in code box) for the power plan that you want to rename, and press enter.
    Note:
    Substitute GUID in the command below for the actual long GUID number of the power plan that you want to rename as displayed in step 2 above.
    Substitute New Name in the command below for the new name that you want to rename the power plan within quotes.
    Code:
    powercfg -changename GUID “New Name”
    4. Close the elevated command prompt.
    5. The power plan has now been renamed.
    This tutorial will also work on Windows Vista and Windows XP


    http://www.linkedtube.com/static/flash/player.swf?sum=How%20to%20Rename%20a%20Power%20Plan%20Name%20in%20Windows%207&btn=TechSupp247&txt=Tech%20Supp%20247&vis=always&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftechsupp247&vid=Raf1A0Dy3Po

  • How to speed up Farm Ville in windows 7- Series 1

    Have you ever felt that your Farm Ville game runs slow? If the answer to this question is yes, then this article is for you.
    The heart of the problem lies with two resources  your Farm Ville animals and the fact that they are script programs that run through java script and your computer.
    The bottom of the story is that the java script enables your Farm Ville animals to be animated and move. Unfortunately when you have numerous animals the java script applications bog-down your browser and slow down the speed at which the applications on the web-page or website will function, and that is why the Farm Ville game goes so slow.
    We are going to provide a series of articles/posts on Speeding up Farmville. This is the 1st one of the series.

    In this article we will only talk about the first part of the story that being the animals and the decorations on Farm ville itself.

    We have done an exhaustive search for programs that disable scripting, but for whatever reason they do not work on Farm Ville, so the best tip to speed up Farm Ville is as follows:
    Making changes in Farm ville itself
    A.  Farm Ville Buildings
    Our objective is to get rid of your animals to eliminate the scripting from bogging down your browser. There are only two options available to do this and the first option offers very limited help because it only applies to your cows and chickens.
    Farm Ville allows you to store cows and chickens in buildings; Dairy Farms and Chicken Coop’s, respectively. However, although at the current time you can buy unlimited Dairy Farms to store cows in, unfortunately you can only obtain 1 chicken coop that has a capacity of 20 chickens.
    If you haven’t done so already, go to the Market and choose the “Building” tab. There you will see the various buildings that you can purchase; either with Farm Ville dollars or coins.
    Purchase a chicken coop and store up to 20 of your chickens, and then SELL the rest of your chickens.
    Purchase as many Dairy Farms as needed to store all your cows in. Fortunately because you can obtain unlimited Dairy Farms you will not have to SELL any cows.
    As for the rest of your animals, sell them if possible! This will eliminate all of the scripting from bogging-down your Farm Ville game play speed and you will be able to plant, plow and harvest with great speed.
    B.  Sell Farm Ville Animals
    The other alternative is to SELL ALL OF YOUR ANIMALS. To sell your animals simply left click on the animal and choose “Sell”. Another screen will open and choose “yes” to sell the animal. Yes we know that selling all of your other animals is not a very good option, but you either play the game faster or deal with playing Farm Ville bogged-down?
    Gaining higher levels in Farm Ville is mainly done through harvesting crops so the most crucial thing to keep in mind is that once you advance in levels in your Farm Ville game by plowing, planting and harvesting many, many crops, you can always get more animals from your Farm Ville neighbors.
    Sacrificing your animals to speed up Farm Ville to attain higher levels is a worthwhile choice that everyone will quickly learn.
    C.  Trap your Farm Ville farmer
     

    There is nothing more annoying than waiting for your farmer to walk all around your farm to plant and harvest. Trap your farmer using hay bales or fence and you will be able to play Farm Ville a lot quicker. That is one java script less. 
    The next part of the article will describe about the second factor of the story, that happens to be your Computer.

     

    © TechSupp247

  • How to Change the Windows 7 Startup Sound

    Information
    This will show you how to change the Windows 7 start-up sound, not the Windows logon sound, to any WAV file of your choice.

    You can only do this while logged on to a administrator account.
    Note
    If you run a sfc /scannow command, then you will lose all changes made to the system file in the tutorial below since it and all other system files will be restored back to default by the command.
    Warning
    Making a mistake while modifying system files can render your Windows 7 installation unusable. To be safe, you should create a restore point before doing this tutorial in case you need to do a system restore at boot using the restore point to undo any mistakes that may be made.
    OPTION ONE
    Change Windows 7 Startup Sound
    1. In Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll. (see screenshot below)
    2. Right click on the imageres.dll file, and click on Copy. (see screenshot above)
    3. Right click on your desktop, and click on Paste.
    4. If you have not already, then download and install Resource Hacker 3.5.2.84 Beta (or newer version if available).
    5. Right click on the Resource Hacker shortcut in Start Menu – All Programs, then click on Run as administrator. (see screenshot below)
    6. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.
    7. In Resource Hacker, click on File and Open. (see screenshot below)
    8. Navigate to and select the imageres.dll file copy on your desktop, and click on Open. (see screenshot below)
    9. In the left pane of Resource Hacker, expand WAVE, and 5080, to 1033. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    If 5080 and 1033 is named something else, then that is fine as long as they are still under WAVE. Just substitute what you have instead in the steps below. You can click on the Play WAVE button to hear what the current startup sound is.
    10. Right click on 1033 and click on Replace Resource. (see screenshot below)
    11. Click on Open file with new resource. (see screenshot below)
    12. Navigate to and select the .wav file that you want for the startup sound, and click on Open. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    This .wav file must remain at this same location. If you move or delete this .wav file, the startup sound will no longer play it.
    13. Under Resource Type, type WAVE. Under Resource Name, type 5080. Under Resource Language, type 1033. Click on the Replace button. (see screenshots below)
    14. Click on File and Save, then close Resource Hacker. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    You can click on the Play WAVE button first to hear and verify what the current startup sound is set as in this file.
    15. On your desktop, Move and Save the imageres_original.dll file to a safe location.
    Warning
    THIS IS YOUR ONLY BACKUP OF THE ORIGINAL IMAGERES.DLL FILE WITH THE DEFAULT STARTUP SOUND.
    16. Check to make sure that the Play Windows Startup sound is checked in Sound so that it is turned on. (see screenshot below)
    17. Restart the computer and boot into the System Recovery Options (WinRE) screen, then select the Command Prompt option and press enter.
    18. In the command prompt, type diskpart and press enter. (see screenshot below step 22)
    19. In the command prompt, type list volume and press enter. (see screenshot below step 22)
    20. Make note of what the drive letter is for your Windows 7 partition or drive. (see screenshot below step 22)
    NOTE:
    For example, mine is listed as D here.
    21. In the command prompt, type exit and press enter. (see screenshot below step 22)
    22. In the command prompt, type the command below and press enter. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    Substitute D in the command below with the drive letter you have listed in step 20 for your Windows 7, and substitute username in the command below with your user account name.
    Code:
    COPY /V /Y “D:\Users\username\Desktop\imageres.dll” “D:\Windows\System32″
    23. Close the command prompt, and click on the Restart button. (see screenshot above)
    24. As Windows 7 restarts, you will hear your new startup sound.
    OPTION TWO
    Restore Default Windows 7 Startup Sound
    1. Copy the default backup imageres_original.dll file (step 15 above) to your desktop.
    2. Right click on the imageres_original.dll file and click on Rename.
    3. Rename it to imageres.dll and press enter.
    4. Repeat steps 17 to 24 above to restore this file.


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  • How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7

    Information
    This article will show you how to boot to the System Recovery Options screen to select the Start-up Repair, System Restore, Complete PC Restore, Memory Diagnostic Tool, or Command Prompt option to use on Windows 7.

    Note
    The System Recovery Options menu is on the Windows 7 installation disc. If your computer manufacturer (OEM) has pre installed recovery options, the menu might also be installed on your hard disk as a recovery partition. If your computer does not include the System Recovery Options menu, your computer manufacturer (OEM) might have customized or replaced the tool. Check the information that came with your computer or go to the manufacturer’s website.
    METHOD ONE
    Using a OEM Recovery Partition
    NOTE:
    This is if your computer did not come with a Windows 7 installation DVD, and has pre-installed recovery options (recovery partition) instead.
    1. Start or Restart the computer.
    2. Boot into the Advanced Boot Options screen.
    A) Select Repair your computer and press Enter.
    3. Select your keyboard language preferences and click on Next. (See scree shot below).
    4. Select your user name and type in the password, and then click on OK.
    5. Go to step 6 in METHOD TWO below.
    METHOD TWO
    Using a Windows 7 Installation or System Repair Disc
    1. Insert the Windows 7 installation disc or System Repair Disc into the CD/DVD drive and restart the computer.
    WARNING:
    Check to make sure that you set the BIOS to have the CD or DVD drive listed first in the boot order.
    2. If prompted, press any key to boot from the Windows 7 installation DVD. (See screenshot below)
     
    NOTE:
    You will only have about 8 seconds to press this key.
    3. Select your language preferences and click on Next
    4. Click on Repair your computer. (See screenshot below)
    5. Select which operating system you want to restore and the click on Next. (See screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    If Windows 7 is not listed here, or it is blank, then it is OK. Click on Next anyway.
    6. Select the system recovery option you want to use. (See screenshot below)

  • How to Automatically Log On a User Account at Windows 7 Startup

    Information
    This article will show you how to select or change a user account to have Windows 7 automatically log on to at startup.

    Note
    If you only have one user account that is not password protected on the computer, then Windows 7 will automatically log on to that account at startup.
    If you have more than one user account and the user account that you want to have Windows 7 log on to automatically at startup does not have a created password, then leave the password fields blank in step 6 below.
    Warning
    This can only be done while logged on to an administrator account. It cannot be done from within a standard account.
    If you change the password for the user account you have set to have Windows 7 automatically log on to, then be sure to change it here as well.
    Setting your computer to automatically log on to a user account at startup could pose a security risk if you share the computer or there are other people about that could use your computer. If your computer logs on automatically, they will have the same access as whatever user account you have set to be logged on to at start up.
    EXAMPLE:
    Log On Screen
    NOTE:
    With Automatic Log On, you will not see this anymore. Windows 7 will boot into the desktop of the selected user account instead.
    Here’s How:
    1. Open the Start Menu.
    2. In the search line, type netplwiz and press Enter. (See screenshots below)
     
    3. To Turn On Automatic Log On for a User Account
    A) Check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box. (See screenshot below)
    B) Click on the user account name, that you want to have automatically log on at startup, to highlight it. (See screenshot above)
    C) Uncheck the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box. (See screenshot below)
    D) Click on OK. (See screenshot above)
    E) Go to step 6.
    4. To Turn Off Automatic Log On
    A) Check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box. (See screenshot below step 3A)
    B) Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 3A)
    C) Your done.
    5. To Change the User Account to Automatically Log On to
    NOTE: For this step, you would have already had a user account selected to log on to automatically in step 3.
    A) Check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box, and click on the Apply button. (See screenshot below step 3A)
    B) Select the other user account name, that you want to have automatically log on at startup instead, to highlight it.
    C) Uncheck the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box. (See screenshot below step 3C)
    D) Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 3C)
    6. Enter the User Account Password
    A) In the Password field, enter the selected user account’s password. (See screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    If the user account does not have a password, then leave this field empty. See the WARNING at the top of the tutorial.
    B) In the Confirm Password field, enter the selected user account’s password again to confirm that it is the same as in step 6A above.
    C) Click on OK.

  • How to Unlock a Locked Out User Account in Windows 7

    Information
    Normally the account lockout duration security setting determines the number of minutes a locked out account remains locked out before automatically becoming unlocked. If the account lockout duration is set to 0 minutes, then a locked out user account will be locked out until an administrator manually unlocks that locked out user account.
    This article will show you how to manually unlock a user account that was locked out when it reached its account lockout threshold of invalid logon attempts.

    Warning
    You will only be able to do this while logged in as an administrator.
    EXAMPLE: Locked Out User Account
    NOTE:
    This is the locked out message a user will get if they reach the account lockout threshold number of invalid logon attempts.
    Here’s How:
    1. Open the Local Users and Groups manager.
    2. In the left pane, select Users. (see screenshot below)
    3. In the right pane under the Name column, double click on the locked out user account. (see screenshot above)
    4. Uncheck the Account is locked out box, and click on OK. (see screenshots below)
    NOTE:
    If the Account is locked out option is grayed out, then the selected user account is not locked out.
    5. Close the Local Users and Groups manager.

  • How to See a List of Devices that are able to Wake Up your Computer

    Information
    This article will show you how to see a list of devices installed on your computer that are configured to be able to wake up your computer from sleep.

    This process may or may not work on windows XP.

    Here’s How:
    1. Open a command prompt.
    2. In the command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press enter. (see screenshot below step 3)
    powercfg -devicequery wake_armed
    3. You will now see a list of device names that are able to wake up your computer. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    For example, my HID-compliant Bluetooth Mouse and Logitech HID-Compliant Keyboard are listed as being able to wake up this computer.

    This process may or may not work on windows XP.

  • How to Enable or Disable Hibernate in Windows 7

    Information
    This article will show you how to enable or disable Windows 7 Hibernate by restoring or deleting the Hibernation File. When disabled, the Hibernate option is missing from the Start Menu, Shut down Windows, and the Advanced Power Plan Options.

    Note
    By default in Windows 7, the size of the hibernation file (hiberfil.sys) will be the same as the amount of installed RAM on your computer.

    This process may or may not work on windows XP.

    Tip
    You can set your computer to either use or not use the Hybrid or Hibernate sleep mode option from the Advanced Power Plan Options.
    You will only see Hibernate listed in the Start Menu power button arrow menu unless you have Hybrid turned off in the Advanced Power Plan Options.
    OPTION ONE
    To Enable and Turn On Hibernate
    NOTE:
    This option will restore the hiberfil.sys file, and then Allow hybrid sleep and Hibernate after Power Options under Sleep.
    1. To Enable Hibernate
    A) Open an Elevated Command Prompt.
    B) In the elevated command prompt, type powercfg -h on and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
    C) Close the elevated command prompt.
    2. To have the Computer Automatically Hibernate after Specified Minutes
    NOTE:
    You can also use a hibernate shortcut to manually put the computer into hibernation instead or in addition to this option.
    A) Open your Power Plan Options (click on link) to change the advanced power settings, then expand Sleep and Hibernate after. (see screenshot below)
    B) Now set your Power Plan settings (click on link) to the recommended settings for Hibernate to set the Setting (Minutes) to how many minutes you want your computer to be inactive before hibernating, then click on OK. (see screenshot above)
    OPTION TWO
    To Disable Hibernate
    NOTE:
    This option to disable hibernation will delete the hiberfil.sys file, and remove the Allow hybrid sleep and Hibernate after Power Options under Sleep.
    1. Open a Elevated Command Prompt.
    2. In the elevated command prompt, type powercfg -h off and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
    3. Close the elevated command prompt.
    OPTION THREE
    To Only Turn Off Hibernate
    NOTE:
    This is if you still have hibernate enabled, but only want to turn it off.
    1. Open Power Options to change the advanced power settings, and expand Sleep and Hibernate after. (see screenshot below)
    2. Under Hibernate after, set the Setting (Minutes) to Never. (see screenshot above)
    3. Under Allow hybrid sleep, set Setting to Off. (see screenshot below step 4)
    4. Click on OK. (see screenshot below step 4)


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