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Category: Windows 7 Tips

  • Windows 7 Tips – Protected File Sharing

    Password Protected File Sharing in Windows 7

    If you are not aware, password protected file sharing in Windows 7 is useful to only allow limited users to access shared file/folder after having successful username and password authentication. This is recommended file sharing method to avoid unauthorized file access.



    1) First you need to confirm that you have enabled file and printer sharing on network card. It’s easy to verify! Go to Start and click on Control Panel. Proceed to click View network status and tasks in Control Panel window.
    2) Network and Sharing Center window will appear, after that click change adapter settings on left panel.
    3) Network Connections window will appear. Here you can right click on the network adapter (can be wireless adapter or wired Ethernet adapter) that you are using and click Properties.

    4) Your network card’s properties window will appear, then tick File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks if it’s not tick, finally click OK.

    5) Let’s move back to Network and Sharing Center window, make sure you have selected the appropriate network location type before enabling file sharing, mostly home network or work network type. In this case, my network location type is home network.
    Note: I would also advise you to set the same Workgroup for all computers on the same network in order to ease the file sharing.
    Note: You are also advised to enable network discovery too, so your computer can discover and locate other computers easily.

    6) Now you can proceed to click on Change advanced sharing settings.

    7) Here you need to locate your current set profile (home or network in this case), and turn on following settings to enable password protected file sharing in Windows 7. Click on Save changes at last.
    Turn on file and printer sharing
    Turn on password protected sharing

    8) Ok, now we are ready to enable password protected file sharing. Right click the file or folder you plan to share, and click on Specific people

    9) File Sharing window will appear, and here you can select or key in the people you would like to share the file/folder with and click Add. In this example, I share this file with nicola only and also give her Read/Write permission. Finally click Share to do sharing.
    Note: You can set 2 different permission levels for each people you selected:
    Read – Can open, but not modify or delete the file
    Read/Write – Can open, modify, or delete the file

    10) The next window will tell you that your file/folder is shared, click Done to close the window. Basically you have done password protected file sharing in Windows 7.

    11) Finally, when Nicola tries to access this password protected shared folder from Vista, XP or other Windows OS, she will be prompted to key in username and password. Here she needs to key in user nicola and correct password to access this folder from other XP computer.

    Note: You will notice there is no change on the shared file/folder icon, but if you right click the shared folder and click on Properties. Then go to Sharing tab, it will show that folder is shared.

    Note: If you just shared a file (not folder), right click the file and click on Properties and go to Details tab, it will show you the users that the file shared with.

    Note: You should also click on Security tab. Check the group or user names that are allowed to access this file/folder, and make sure the user/group that you allowed to access during sharing process just now is listed here as well (usually will be added automatically when you do file/folder sharing), if not click Edit to add those missing user/group.
    If the specific user/group you allowed during sharing process does not match the user/group listed here, the missing user might not be able to see that shared file/folder at all! Or the user will get prompt saying that you might not have permission to use this network resource when try to access this shared file/folder from other computer.


  • PPPoE Dialer Setup – Windows 7 Tips

    PPPoE Dialer Setup in Windows 7

    PPPoE dialer setup is required in Windows 7 if your DSL modem is in bridge mode, so that you need to use this dialer with username and password information to manually connect to Internet. This dialer is also used for Cable Internet connection sometimes.



    This dialer is useful if you have subscribed to low end DSL/Cable Internet service with online hours cap, so that you can easily trigger Internet connection when you need to use it only by using your computer. If this computer is connected to other computer, you can also share this PPPoE DSL/Cable connection by activating Internet Connection Sharing feature.
    In order to set it up, first you need to configure network card to obtain IP address and DNS server automatically, so that these network settings will be provided once the Internet connection is established later.

    1) Go to Start and click on Control Panel.
    2) Control Panel window will appear, proceed to locate Network and Internet section and click View network status and tasks in order to open Network and Sharing Center.

    3) Click Set up a new connection or network option in Network and Sharing Center.

    4) Connection or network setup wizard will appear, here you need to select Connect to the Internet and click Next.

    5) Select and click on Broadband (PPPoE) option.

    6) OK, here you need to type in username and password of your DSL/Cable Internet connection, this info is provided by ISP when you subscribe the Internet service. Name your connection and so you can identify it easily later. Finally you can click Connect to trigger you Internet connection.
    Note: If you want, you can also tick Remember this password and Allow other people to use this connection options.

    7) In future, you can just go to network icon that looks like ladder on you right hand corner taskbar, identify and select your PPPoE connection (in Dial-up and VPN section), finally click Connect to connect to Internet connection.

  • Windows 7 Tips – Exit Home group

    Cannot Leave Home group in Windows 7! What to do Next?

    In case you want to leave one of the home groups on your system and are unable to do so, you will most probably end up with the following prompt: “Windows couldn’t remove your computer from the homegroup“. This tip focuses on helping you resolve this issue.


     
    This can happen due to several reasons, 2 of the most prominent reasons are homegroup service or dll files issue. 

    Following are the steps that can help you out:

    Open homegroup troubleshooter (Start the HomeGroup troubleshooter option) to troubleshoot the problem first before trying the options shown below.


    1) As usual, go to Start and click on Control Panel.

    2) Control Panel window will appear, click on System and Security.

    3) Proceed to click on Administrative Tools.

    4) Double click on Services in Administrative tools window.

    5) Locate following 2 services, right click each service and then stop it, after that try to leave homegroup again. Hope this helps.
    Note: Please note you can only see HomeGroup Listener service if you do not log on as administrator. If you can only see HomeGroup Provider service, stop this service and try to leave the homegroup.
    HomeGroup Listener
    HomeGroup Provider

    Note: If you still fail to leave the homegroup with above approach, try to rename the following file and try again. Probably the file is corrupted. You can try by clicking Start the HomeGroup troubleshooter option again on homegroup window too.

  • Delete or Leave Homegroup – Windows 7 Tips


    INFORMATION:

     
    This article will show you how to delete or leave homegroup in Windows 7, so that you could stop library, document, media file or other sharing with other users on homegroup. 




    HERE’S HOW:

    Following are the step-by-step instructions to leave the homegroup:
    1) Go to Start and click on Control Panel.
    2) Proceed to click Choose homegroup and sharing options in Control Panel window.

    3) Homegroup window will appear, scroll down and click Leave the homegroup

    4) You can then click on Leave the homegroup option on Leave the Homegroup window. If you change you mind, you can then select other options.
    Note: If you click Don’t leave, but change what I’m sharing option, you can then enable or disable what you have shared.

    5) Wait for a while and your computer will then leave the homegroup. In addition, all user accounts on your computer also leave the homegroup.

  • Windows 7 Tips – Recover Home Group Password

    Quick Way to View Home group Password in Windows 7

    You might have forgotten your home group password if you created it some time ago. if this is the case, we might be able to help you with this.



    1) As usual, go to Start and click on Control Panel.
    2) Proceed to click Choose home group and sharing options in Control Panel window.
    Note: You can also locate this same option in Network and Sharing Center window.

    3) Change homegroup settings window will appear, go ahead to click View or print the homegroup password.

    4) Your homegroup password will then be shown, so you just need to write it down and share with other users, so that they could join the homegroup later. If you want, you can even click Print this page button to print the password.

  • Windows 7 Tips

    Configure Disk Defragmenter Schedule in Windows 7 or Vista

    Windows 7 or Vista automatically configures Disk Defrag to schedule defragment to run once a week, usually at 1am on Wednesday. I don’t know about you, but I’m usually awake at 1am on wednesday, and I’d rather schedule it for a different time.

    To open up the defragment utility, just type defrag into the Start menu search box, and hit enter. Vista users will have to click through a UAC prompt, but you should see this screen:
    Windows 7 users will see a very similar dialog, and will need to click the Configure Schedule button:
    From this screen, you can disable automatic defrag by unchecking the box. You can also modify the schedule by clicking the Modify schedule button
    If you are on Vista and using at least Service Pack 1, you can also select which volumes will be automatically defragmented during this scheduled defrag. (Windows 7 users can select the volumes from the start screen).

  • Windows 7 Tips- Create System Image

    How to Create a System Image in Windows 7
    Most of us who like experimenting with newer softwares or tips and tricks more often then not end up screwing up our system and going through the whole process of installing OS and applications etc. But wait there is an easy way out, we could create an optimal system image and keep it handy for times like this so we can get back to the best possible config even after our experiments go wrong.


     

    Creating an Image in Windows 7

    Click on Start go to Getting Started and then select Back up your files.
    Next click on the Create a system image hyperlink.
    Decide where you want to save the image. You can choose an external drive, burn to multiple DVD’s, or store it on a network location.
    You can include other drives if you want as well but remember that will add to the size of the final image.
    At the confirmation screen notice the amount of space the image may take. If something doesn’t look right you can still go back from this point and make adjustments.
    A progress meter is displayed while the images is created and backed up. In this example a disk of about 15GB in size took under 20 minutes backed up to an external drive. Times will vary depending on your system and where you’re backing it up to.
    After the process is complete you get the option to create a system repair disc which you should do and make sure to save it in a secure location.

    When it comes time to restore the image, you will be able to use the System Recovery Options to get the system back.
            

  • Manage Backup Size – Windows 7 Tips

    INFORMATION:
    This article will show you how to manage the size of your backup on your windows 7 machine

    Sometimes you may need to recover some disk space and Windows 7 allows you to manage the size of your backups.  In the Backup and Restore section click on the Manage Space link. 

    Your given a summary of the backup location and what is taking up space from the backup. 
    Click on the View backups button to check the different dated backups where you can delete older ones if needed.

    You can also change how windows retains older system images.
    Backing up data is one of the most important but overlooked tasks for a computer user.  If you have another backup app you might not consider letting Windows do it, but overall, the new backup and restore utility in Windows 7 is much better than previous versions. 

  • Backup and Restore – Windows 7 Tips

    How To Use Backup and Restore in Windows 7

    The backup utilities in previous versions of Windows have been less than spectacular resulting in a nice market for third party applications.  Today we take a look at the Backup and Restore feature in Windows 7  that may be their best backup tool yet.

    Set the Backup
    To set up a backup in Windows 7 open up Computer right-click on your local drive and select Properties.  Then click on the Tools tab and click the Back up now button.
    In the Back up or restore your files window click the link to set up a backup.
    Windows will search for a suitable drive to store the backup or you can also choose a location on your network.  If you backup to a network location you might need the password to the share.
    You can have Windows choose what to backup or you can choose the files and directories.  Because I like more user control for this tutorial I am choosing what to backup but it’s completely up to you.
     

    Note:  If you let Windows choose it will not backup Program Files, anything formatted with the FAT file system, files in the Recycle Bin, or any temp files that are 1GB or more.

    Select the files and folder to include in the backup.  Also notice you can select the option to create an image of your local drive.
    Now review the backup job and make sure everything looks correct. 
    Here you can also schedule the days and times the backup occurs.
    Save the backup settings and kick off your first backup and while it runs you can monitor the progress.
    Click the View Details button to see exactly what is being backup during the process.
    When the backup is complete you will see the two backup files and image folder if you created one.
    Double click on the backup file and can restore files or manage the size of the backups folder.
    Restore Files from Backup
    If you need to go back and restore a file from a backup click on Restore my files in the Backup and Restore Center.
    Now you can browse or search the most recent backup for a file or folder your missing. 

    Next you can restore them back to the original location or choose a different spot then click Restore.

    Progress of the restoration will vary depending on the size of the data and location it’s restoring from.

  • Restrict Access To Drives – Windows 7 Tips

    How To Restrict Access To Drives In My Computer In Windows
    If you have a shared or public computer that several people use, you might want to restrict access to it’s drives to prevent users from deleting important data. Today we look at restricting access to some or all drives on the machine using Local Group Policy.


    Note: This method uses Local Group Policy Editor which is not available on home versions of Windows 7 or Vista
    First type gpedit.msc in the search box of the Start Menu and hit Enter.
    Now navigate to User Configuration \ Administrative Templates \ Windows Components \ Windows Explorer. Then on the right side under Setting, double click on Prevent access to drives from My Computer.
    Select Enable then under Options from the drop down menu you can restrict a certain drive, a combination of drives, or restrict them all. The main drive you would probably want to restrict is the C:\ drive or which ever lettered drive Windows is installed on. Restricting all drives means they can’t access the CD or DVD drive, and cannot use a flash drive if they need to get files from it.
    Note: This setting won’t prevent users from using programs that access the local drives.
    The restrictions take effect immediately, no restart is required. When a user opens up My Computer they’ll be able to see which drives are listed, but when they try to access a restricted drive, they’ll get the following error message.
    For the screenshots in this tutorial we used Windows 7 Ultimate, but this process also works with XP Professional and Vista (not in Home versions) the screens just look different.
    Local Group Policy allows you to customize several settings for how you want to administer your machine. Restricting access to certain drives in addition to other security and access measures, can help  keep a shared computer stable and secure.