How to do Disk clean up in Windows 7

        If you want to reduce the number of unnecessary files on your hard disk to free up disk space and help your computer run faster, use Disk Cleanup. It removes temporary files, empties the Recycle Bin, and removes a variety of system files and other items that you no longer need

Read More

HOW TO GET UPDATES FOR ALL MICROSOFT PROGRAMS AND DRIVERS ALONG WITH WINDOWS UPDATES

Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer.

Along with the version of Windows that you are using and the internet explorer, you can also receive updates for other Microsoft products installed on the computer through Windows updates.

For instance, if you are using Microsoft Office or Microsoft Money software, you can get updates for those software using Windows Updates.

Here’s how:

Open Windows Update from the “Start Search” option

In the Windows Update screen that appears, look for the option “Find Out More”

Internet Explorer would open up with a title “Install updates, Office and More”

Agree to the Terms and Conditions by making a check mark and then clicking on “Install”

The next time, you use Windows Update; you would get the updates for all the Microsoft programs installed on the computer.

Read More

How to Add or Remove the Security Tab in Windows Media Player Options

Information

This article will show you how to add or remove the Security tab in the Options of Windows Media Player for all users in Windows 7 and Vista but will not work on Windows XP.

Read More

How to Add or Remove the Privacy Tab in Windows Media Player Options

Information

This article will show you how to add or remove the Privacy tab in the Options of Windows Media Player for all users in Windows 7 and Vista. This article is not for Windows XP.

Read More

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.

Read More

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). 

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

Tech Updates: Windows 7 introduces voluntary antipiracy update

         Microsoft will be releasing "Windows Activation Technologies (WAT) Update for Windows 7" which, as its name implies, is an update for WAT, the set of built-in activation and validation components, in Windows 7. The update will detect "more than 70 known and potentially dangerous activation exploits" that attempt to bypass or compromise WAT and will determine whether the copy of Windows 7 that is installed on a PC is genuine. It is also supposed to improve the integrity of key licensing components on the OS and will run periodic validations every 90 days.

Read More

How to Fix the Open Application Toolbar and Context Menu Icon in Windows 7

Information

This will show you how to fix the Open application toolbar and context menu icon in Windows Explorer to the correct icon in Windows 7.

EXAMPLE:

Open application Toolbar and Context Menu icon

NOTE:

This is before and after you fix the icon when you have an application file selected in Windows Explorer.

Here's How:

Through Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the search box, type regedit and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

3. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below step 4)

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open

4. In the right pane, right click on a empty space and click on New and String Value. (See screenshot below)

5. Type Icon and press enter. (See screenshot below)

6. In the right pane, right click on Icon and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)

7. Type Imageres.dll,-15 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

NOTE: If you like, you could also enter the full path of a icon (.ico file) that you would like to use instead.

8. Regedit will now look like this. (See screenshot below)

9. Close regedit.

10. If you have not already, close and reopen all Windows Explorer windows to apply.

Read More

How to Hide or Show Previous Versions of Files from File Shares

Information

Previous Versions are either copies of files and folders created by Windows Backup when you back up your files, or copies of files and folders that Windows automatically saves as part of a restore point.

This will show you how to hide or show Previous Versions of files that come from on-disk restore points on file shares for all users in Windows 7 and Vista. Previous Versions from a normal restore point not part of a file share will still be available.

Read More

How to Delete Fonts in Windows 7

Information

A font is a collection of numbers, symbols, and characters. A font describes a certain typeface, along with other qualities, such as size, spacing, and pitch. This will show you how to delete fonts of your choice that are installed in Windows 7.

For a list of all default fonts that come supplied with Windows 7, see: Fonts supplied with Windows 7

Read More

How to Add or Remove the "Location" Tab in Region and Language

Information

This article will show you how to add or remove the Location tab in Region and Language for all users to be able to see or not the option to change their default geographical location (GeoID) in Vista and Windows 7.

Read More

How to Enable or Disable Recent Items in Windows 7

Information

Recent Items is a list of your recently used files on the right side of the Start Menu, Taskbar Windows Explorer icon link, in the Navigation Pane Recent Places, and in Jump Lists.

This article will show you how to enable or disable all users on the computer the ability to turn on Recent Items in Windows 7 and Vista.

Read More

How to Find the IP Address of Your Computer in Windows 7

Information

This article will show you how to find out what the Internet Protocol address (IP address) is for your computer. A IP address identifies a computer that is connected to the Internet or a network by a unique number. Currently this will usually be a Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) number that consists of four groups of numbers separated by periods, for example 192.200.44.69 (not a real one).

Read More

How to Change the Background Image in Windows 7 WMP12

Information

This tutorial will show you how to change the default background image in Windows Media Player that is shown in Library mode.

Read More