Category: Windows 7

  • 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.
    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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  • How to Install, Enable, and Disable Windows Virtual PC Integration Features

    Information
    The Integration Components package contains integration features, which improve the interactions between the virtual machine (guest) and the physical computer (host).
    This article will show you how to install, enable, and disable them in Windows Virtual PC. Once you have installed the integration components in a virtual machine, you will be able to enable or disable the integration features at will.

    Note
    After the Integration Components package is installed, you can turn some of the integration features on or off by modifying the virtual machine settings. The two exceptions are mouse integration and time synchronization, which are always turned on when the package is installed.
    Windows Virtual PC Integration Features:
    Mouse integration – This makes it possible for you to move the mouse seamlessly between the desktops of the host operating system and the guest operating system.
    Time synchronization – This keeps the time in the guest operating system (virtual machine) synchronized with the host operating system (your Windows 7 computer).
    Audio – This setting controls whether audio input and output for the virtual machine is redirected to audio devices in the host, or is managed by an emulated audio device. To improve audio performance, clear the check box for a virtual machine running Windows XP, and select the check box for a virtual machine running Windows Vista or Windows 7.
    Clipboard – You can copy and paste data between the host operating system and the guest operating system. For example, you can copy a URL from the browser in a guest operating system, and paste it to a browser in the host operating system.
    Hard drives – This feature shares the drives you select on the host with the virtual machine so that you can easily access host data from within the virtual machine.
    This feature also makes it possible to access the host desktop and Documents folder from virtual applications when you select those resources to share.
    Printers – This feature makes it possible to share printers between the host operating system and guest operating system. To share printers when Windows XP is the guest operating system, you must also install the printer drivers.
    USB devices – Printers, storage devices, and smart card readers are automatically shared with virtual machines. Other types of supported USB devices are supported by redirecting them to the virtual machine.
    Here’s How:
    1. Open the virtual machine in Windows Virtual PC.
    2. To Install Integration Components
    NOTE: You would only have this option if you have not installed the Integration Components in this specific virtual machine yet. If you have, then you will have the option to either Enable Integration Features or Disable Integration Features instead.
    A) Click on Tools on the virtual machine menu bar, and click on Install Integration Components. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    You may need to press CTRL+ALT+Left Arrow to move the mouse pointer out of the virtual machine to click on the menu bar.
    B) Click on Continue. (see screenshot below)B) Click on Continue. (see screenshot below)
    C) Click on Run Setup.exe. (see screenshot below)
    D) Click on Next. (see screenshot below)
    E) If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.
    F) When it’s finished installing, click on Finish. (see screenshot below)
    G) Click on Yes to restart the virtual machine. (see screenshot below)
    H) Log on to the virtual machine by typing in your password for the virtual machine and pressing enter. (see screenshot below)
    I) You will now need to enable the integration features. Continue to step 3.
    3. To Enable Integration Features
    NOTE:
    You will only be able to enable the integration features if you had already installed the integration components (step 1). After the first time you do this, you will usually only need to do step 3A to enable the integration features.
    A) Click on Tools on the virtual machine menu bar, and click on Enable Integration Features. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    You may need to press CTRL+ALT+Left Arrow to move the mouse pointer out of the virtual machine to click on the menu bar.
    B) Check the Remember my credentials box, and click on Use another account. (see screenshot below)
    C) Type in your user name and password for this virtual machine, then click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    D) Integration features will now be enabled.
    4. To Disable Integration Features
    A) Click on Tools on the virtual machine menu bar, and click on Disable Integration Features. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    You may need to press CTRL+ALT+Left Arrow to move the mouse pointer out of the virtual machine to click on the menu bar.
    B) Log on to the virtual machine by typing in your password for the virtual machine and pressing enter. (see screenshot below)
    C) Integration features will now be disabled.

    So now you have 2 Operating system’s at the cost of one, Windows 7 and Windows XP

  • How to Open Windows PowerShell in Windows 7

    Information
    Windows PowerShell is a command-line shell and scripting environment program included in Windows 7 that brings the power of the .NET Framework to command-line users and script writers to help IT professionals and power users control and automate the administration of the Windows operating system and applications that run on Windows. It introduces a number of powerful new concepts that enables you to extend the knowledge you have gained and the scripts you have created within the Windows Command Prompt and Windows Script Host environments.

    Built-in Windows PowerShell commands, called cmdlets, let you manage the computers in your enterprise from the command line. You can use each cmdlet separately, but their power is realized when you use these simple tools in combination to perform complex tasks. Windows PowerShell includes more than one hundred basic core cmdlets, and you can write your own cmdlets and share them with other users.
    This tutorial will show you how to open the PowerShell command-line shell. For more detailed information on PowerShell, see: Windows PowerShell
    EXAMPLE:
    Windows PowerShell Command-Line Shell
    NOTE:
    If you have 64-bit Windows 7, then you will have both a 32-bit (x86) (top left screenshot below) and 64-bit (top right screenshot below) version of Windows PowerShell. You can also use Run as administrator on both of these versions to open a elevated Windows PowerShell (bottom screenshot below).
    Here’s How:
    1. Open the Start Menu, click on All Programs, expand Accessories, and expand the Windows PowerShell folder. (see screenshot below)
    2. If you have a 64-bit Windows 7
    A) Click on the Windows PowerShell (x86) shortcut to open a 32-bit Windows Powershell.
    NOTE:
    This file is located at:
    C:\Windows\sysWOW64\Windowspowershell\v1.0\powershell.exe
    B) Click on the Windows PowerShell shortcut to open a 64-bit Windows Powershell.
    NOTE:
    This file is located at: C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
    3. If you have a 32-bit Windows 7
    A) Click on the Windows PowerShell shortcut to open Windows Powershell.
    NOTE:
    This file is located at: C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
    4. To have Windows PowerShell “Run as Administrator”
    A) In step 2 or 3 above, right click on the shortcut (Start Menu) or file, and click on Run as administrator.
  • How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker

    Information
    The sfc /scannow command (System File Checker) scans the integrity of all protected Windows 7 system files and replaces incorrect corrupted, changed, or damaged versions with the correct versions if possible.

    Warning
    Be aware that if you have modified your system files as in changed theme explorer/system files, running sfc /scannow will revert the system files such as explorer.exe back to its default state. Make the appropriate backups of your system files that you have modified for theme if you wish to save them before running sfc /scannow.
    OPTION ONE
    To Run the SFC /SCANNOW Command
    1. Open a elevated command prompt.
    2. To Scan and Repair System Files
    NOTE:
    Scans the integrity of all protected system files and repairs the system files if needed. Please see red WARNING box at the top of this tutorial.
    A) In the elevated command prompt, type sfc /scannow and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    This may take a little bit to finish.
    B) Go to step 4.
    3. To Only Verify if the System Files are Corrupted
    NOTE:
    Scans and only verifies the integrity of all protected system files only. This command will not change your system files as in the red WARNING box at the top of this tutorial.
    A) In the elevated command prompt, type sfc /verifyonly and press Enter.
    4. When the scan is complete, hopefully you will see all is OK like the screen shot below.
    NOTE:
    If not, then you can attempt to run a System Restore using a restore point dated before the bad file occurred, to fix it. You may need to repeat  a System Restore until you find a older restore point that may work.
    5. When done, close the elevated command prompt.
    OPTION TWO
    How to See and Read the SFC /SCANNOW Scan Results
    NOTE:
    When SFC runs, it logs it’s actions to the C:\WINDOWS\LOGS\CBS\CBS.LOG. This will show you how to see only the specific SFC entries with the [SR] tags in the CBS.log. This can be helpful to show you what files SFC could not fix automatically if you wanted to try and manually replace them. For more on this, see: How to analyze the log file entries that the Microsoft Windows Resource Checker (SFC.exe) program generates in Windows Vista.
    2. In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
    NOTE:
    This will place a sfcdetails.txt file on your desktop with the SFC scan details from the CBS.LOG.
    Code:
    findstr /c:”[SR]” %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log >%userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt
    3. Close the elevated command prompt.
    4. Open the sfcdetails.txt file on your desktop to see the SFC scan details in the CBS.LOG.
    5. You can safely delete the sfcdetails.txt file afterwards if you like.
    Tip:
    If you need to replace a corrupted system file that SFC cannot fix, then this will show you how to by extracting a new copy directly from your Windows 7 installation DVD.
    Extract Files from Windows 7 Installation DVD
  • How to Rebuild the Windows 7 Index

    Information
    If the Windows 7 index cannot find a file in its search results that you know exists or not exists in an indexed location, then this will show you how to manually rebuild and update the index to have accurate search results from changes to the included locations since the last rebuild or update.

    Note
    The index will often run (indexing) automatically in the background to rebuild and update for changes made to the included index locations since the last index rebuild to increase search result accuracy.
    By default, the indexing speed is reduced due to user activity. If the computer is running idle, then the indexing speed will be at full speed instead to finish indexing faster.
    Warning
    Rebuilding the index can take several hours, and searches might be incomplete until the index is fully rebuilt.
    Here’s How:
    1. Open the Control Panel (All Items view), and double click on the Indexing Options icon.
    2. Click on the advanced button. (See screenshot below)
    3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.
    4. Click on the Rebuild button. (See screenshot below)
    5. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)
    6. After a moment, you will notice the index being rebuilt. 
    7. Once it is done Click on Close. (See screenshot below)


    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWmIp-amcr0&fs=1&hl=en_US]