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Category: Windows 7

  • How to Speed Up the Shut Down Time in Windows 7


    Information
    This article will show you how to set the Wait to Kill time Windows 7 waits for programs to save data and close before shutting down. This process can be performed on Windows Xp and Vista as well.
    Warning
    You should always save and close all programs before shutting down the computer to help prevent any data loss.
    Through the Registry
    1. Open the Start Menu.
    2. In the search box, type regedit and press Enter. (See screen shot below)
    3. In regedit, go to: (See screen shot below)
    Code:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control
    4. In the right pane, right click on WaitToKillServiceTimeout and click on Modify. (See screenshot above)
    5. Type in a number between 2000-20000 (2-20 seconds) and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    The default time is 12000. I use 2000 (2 seconds) and have not had any problems. Your experience may vary depending on Xp or vista.
    6. Close regedit.
    NOTE:
    If you have problems with programs shutting down too quickly, then repeat the above steps and increase the time (step 5) a bit and as i mentioned this trick works on Windows Xp as well.

  • How to Enable or Disable Windows Media Center

    Information
    This article will show you how to enable or disable Windows Media Center from being able to run by all users in Windows 7.

    Windows Media Center is not available in the Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic editions.
    EXAMPLE:
    Windows Media Center Disabled Message
    NOTE:
    This is the error message that will be displayed when a user tries to open Windows Media Center when it is disabled.
    OPTION ONE
    Through the Local Group Policy Editor
    1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
    2. In the left pane, click on the arrow to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, then click on Windows Media Center. (see screenshot below)
    3. In the right pane, right click on Do not allow Windows Media Center to run and click on Edit. (see screenshot above)
    4. To Enable Windows Media Center
    A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled. (see screenshot below step 6)
    B) Go to step 6.
    5. To Disable Windows Media Center
    Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below step 6)
    6. Click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor.
    OPTION TWO
    Through “Set Program Access and Computer Defaults”
    1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on the Default Programs icon.
    2. Click on the Set program access and computer defaults link. (see screenshot below)
    3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.
    4. Click on the Custom gray bar or arrow to expand it. (see screenshot below)
    5. To Enable Windows Media Center
    A) Under the Choose a default media player section, check the Enable access to this program box to the right of Windows Media Center, then click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    B) Go to step 7.
    6. To Disable Windows Media Center
    Under the Choose a default media player section, uncheck the Enable access to this program box to the right of Windows Media Center, then click on OK. (see screenshot above)
    7. Close the Default Programs window. (see screenshot below step 2)

  • How to Enable or Disable Autorun for Removable Media in Windows 7

    Information
    This tutorial will show you how to enable the AutoRun feature of AutoPlay in Windows 7, which is disabled by default, for external drives.


    Note
    Autoplay feature enable Windows to pop up the default options when a removable drives like USB flash drive or CD ROM is inserted.
    Warning
    Autoplay feature is, by default, disabled in Windows 7 due to security reasons. Many malwares like Conficker Worm can autorun on your computer if an infected USB drive, CD or DVD is inserted.However, its useful to enable autoplay as it gives quick access to default choices when any removable drive is inserted. Anyways, use it at your risk.
    EXAMPLE: AutoPlay
    Method 1:
    1. Go to Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\AutoPlay.
    To Enable:
    At the top, check Use Autoplay for all devices and Click Save.
    To Disable:
    Uncheck Use Autoplay for all devices and Click Save.
    Method 2:
    1. Click Start and in the Search box, type gpedit.msc and press Enter. Now browse to Computer Configuration\ Administrative Templates\ Windows Components\ Autoplay Policies\ Turn off Autoplay.
    To Enable:
    Change the value of Turn off Autoplay to disabled.
    To Disable:
    Change the value of Turn off Autoplay to enabled.


    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6ubWhGVF2U&fs=1&hl=en_US]

  • How to Use System Restore to Change your User Account Password

    If you are not able to log on to Windows 7 / Vista for any of the following reasons:
    You set a new password for the Administrator account and no longer remember it.
    You enter the correct password but because of system corruption it is not accepted.
    You delete a protected Administrator account and are no longer able to log on to another account.
    You change a protected Administrator account to a standard user account and are unable to log on to another Administrator account.
    In any of the above conditions are true for you, this article is for you



    Note:
    For this to work there must be a valid System Restore Point to use from the last successful log on.

    Information

    This will work for either Windows 7 or Windows Vista but not for Windows XP.

    If you don’t have a proper Windows installation disk, have a look at the link below to create a repair disk that can be used to reset your user account password in Windows 7 and Vista.

    System Repair Disk – Create

    Let’s get Started!
    1) The Boot Priority in the BIOS needs to be set to boot first from the optical drive, insert your Windows disk and re-start the PC, when you see “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD” press the space bar.

    2) After the initial “Windows is loading files” select your language, time and keyboard preferences and click next, then select “Repair your computer”, then it’ll do some searching then choose “Syetem Restore”.




    3) Remember you must select the restore point before you started experiencing the issues; once you have selected the correct restore point you’ll be presented with one last chance before the restore begins, when you are sure everything is correct click next then finish.




    4) When the System Restore “checkup” completes you’ll get a “Confirm your Restore Point” window, click finish then yes to the next window, then you will need to restart the machine to complete the process.





    5)When the PC restarts remember you MUSTuse the password that was active for the Restore Point that you went back to. After Windows restarts you’ll get a “System Restore Completed Successfully” window, just click close.


    6) You may need to add back any programs and/or any Windows Updates that may have been removed during the restore process, you may also need to reset any personal settings that may have been changed but all your personal documents or files will be intact.