HOW TO DISABLE AERO PEEK FEATURE IN WINDOWS 7

Aero Peek feature is a feature of Windows 7 that helps the computer user to have a quick peek on the applications and gadgets on the desktop or have a peek at the applications in the taskbar.

This article is meant  only for Windows 7 and is not applicable to Windows XP.

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Automatically backup to Skydrive

This tutorial is going to show you how to backup to Windows Live SkyDrive, but this time, for free and it actually works, but still with some of the limitations (The 50MB limit, and a 9 subfolder limit). 

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How to Rebuild Windows Media Player Corrupted Libraries

Information

This tutorial will show you how to rebuild your Windows Media Player (WMP) libraries in order to remove corrupted files (for example, files deleted from the hard disk that linger in the WMP library) in just a few, easy steps. This tutorial can also be applied to other issues.

Note

Using this tutorial will not delete any media files physically; instead, it will reset the WMP libraries to their default state, without changing your previously made settings.

Windows Libraries are not affected by this tutorial.

Tip

Please make sure Windows Media Player is closed during this process.

Here's how:

1. Click on the Start Orb and type "services" into the search, then select Services from the list of search results.

 

Alternatively, you can right-click the Computer icon, select Manage, then choose Services under "Services and Applications" in Computer Management.

2. In the list of services, locate "Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service" and stop it via one of the highlighted options.

Tip

Please keep the Services window open, you will need it later.

3. Click on the Start Orb and use the search again, this time type in C:\Users\(user)\AppData\Local and click the Local folder from the list of search results.

4. Inside the "Local" folder, navigate to the "Microsoft", then "Media Player" folder. Delete all the files contained in this folder and close the Explorer window.

5. Now go back to the Services window and start the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service. Next time you start Windows Media Player, it will automatically rebuild all libraries using the information on folders that are included in the Windows Libraries.

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How to Create a Windows PE Disk

This tutorial does not cover every possible scenario, nor is it intended to. It's pretty basic but, if followed, will create a usable Windows PE disk based upon Windows 7. I'm using Windows 7 professional.

Here's How:

Start by downloading the Windows Automated Installation Toolkit

Download details: The Windows® Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows® 7

You'll find online documentation here:

Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) User's Guide

Downloadable documentation here:

Download details: Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7 documentation (May 2010 Update)

and the readme here:

Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7 Readme

Once you have the WAIK downloaded, either burn it to disk, or mount it using your preferred ISO mounting application, and install. 

I used Virtual Clone Drive for mounting the ISO, available from:

SlySoft Virtual CloneDrive

Once installed, open the AIK Command prompt:

Start – All Programs – Microsoft Windows AIK – Deployment Tools Command Prompt

Begin with a cleanup:

Code:

dism /cleanup-wim

Run the copype.cmd script:

Code:

copype.cmd x86 c:\winpe

NOTE:

the syntax for this command is:

Code:

copype.cmd <architecture> <destination>

so you'll need to change “x86” to “amd64” or “ia64” for those architectures. Also, my chosen destination is “c:\winpe” but you can create your folder elsewhere if you want. Just keep in mind that this tutorial uses “c:\winpe” in the examples, so you'll need to adapt that to your choice of destination. The command creates the necessary folder structure within the destination folder.

Now, copy and rename the base image:

Code:

copy c:\winpe\winpe.wim c:\winpe\iso\sources\boot.wim

Mount the wim file:

Code:

dism /mount-wim /wimfile:c:\winpe\winpe.wim /index:1 /mountdir:c:\winpe\mount

Add imagex to the system32 folder so it is pathed:

Code:

copy "c:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86\imagex.exe" c:\winpe\mount\windows\system32

NOTE:

I didn't add any additional packages or drivers to my Windows PE, however I am including the following two steps for those who might need them.

You can add additional packages by using the following syntax:

Code:

dism / image:<path_to_image> /add-package /packagepath:<path_to_package>

Drivers can be added using the following syntax: (The recurse switch causes the command to add all drivers within the path including those in subdirectories.)

Code:

dism /image:<path_to_image> /add-driver /driver:<path_to_driver> /recurse

Unmount the finished wimfile:

Code:

dism /unmount-wim /mountdir:c:\winpe\mount\ /commit

Copy the finished wimfile:

Code:

copy c:\winpe\winpe.wim c:\winpe\iso\sources\boot.wim /y

Create a bootable iso file:

Code:

oscdimg -n -bc:\winpe\etfsboot.com c:\winpe\iso c:\winpe\winpe.iso

Close the Deployment Tools Command Prompt.

Browse to c:\winpe\ and right-click on winpe.iso and choose Open With – Windows Disk Image Burner to burn the iso to disk.

You now have a usable Windows PE disk. Mine has proven invaluable since I support a herd of over 200 Windows boxen and frequently need to image machines.

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How to Add System Support Information in Windows 7

Information

This article will show you how to customize your Windows 7 System properties window by adding a logo, manufacturer, model, hours, phone, and website support information of your choice.

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Windows 7 Startup Recovery feature

     
       A lot of times if Windows can’t boot properly because of a hardware change, unexpected shutdown, or other errors, it will come up with the Windows Error Recovery screen. This gives you the option to go into Startup Repair or try to boot Windows normally.

This article works for Windows 7, but will not work for  Windows XP.

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