Tutorials

If you have got hardware on your system, but are not sure of the manufacturer of that device and hence where to download drivers for it, then this might help. Note that it is not exhaustive, and that there may be omissions and possible errors. PCI Vendor and Device Lists To use it, simply find the relevant device IDs in the Device Manager. I shall use my graphics card as an example. To get this information, open the Device Manager. Click to expand the category you are interested in and then double-click the relevant sub-category (alternatively, click on the sub-category and then click on the Properties icon). In the Properties page that appears, click on the Details tab. In the Properties dropdown, select Hardware Ids. The...

How to Enable or Disable Magnifier Starts at Startup and Log on in Windows 7 and Windows 8 Magnifier allows you to zoom in or out of different parts of the screen. This can be useful for viewing small objects or text that are difficult to see by making them larger. This will tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the option to have Magnifier to run automatically at startup or when you log on in Windows 7 and Windows 8. By default, making any changes in the Ease of Access Center will reset your Visual Effect Settings back to default. You will need to change them back again after doing this tutorial. EXAMPLE: Magnifier Here's How: 1. Do step 2 or 3 below depending on what you are able to do. 2. If Magnifier is...

How to Uninstall Programs using Command Prompt in Windows This tutorial will show you how to uninstall programs using a command prompt in XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. This will only list programs that use Windows Installer when installed. It is recommended to uninstall a program in Programs and Features if able instead to have a full list of installed program. Here's How: 1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do. 2. Open an elevated command prompt in XP/Vista/Windows 7 or Windows 8, and go to step 4 below. 3. Open Safe Mode with command prompt in XP/Vista/Windows 7 or Windows 8, and go to step 4 below. 4...

Problem description The traditional rotating disks are divided into physical sectors. The Windows operating systems and their components operate according to this sector logic. Despite the fact that SSDs store the data in a completely different way, they are still being treated with this sector logic. The alignment of the SSD is required to assure that a logical sector starts exactly at the beginning of a physical page of the SSD. Without the alignment, the sector boundaries and the page boundaries will not match and sectors will span pages. That would require for a Windows write operation to clear two blocks in lieu of only one thus reducing the write speed by 50%. Situation If you install Windows7 on a brand new SSD, you need...

How to Completely Block and Disable Autorun.inf Files in Windows When a CD/DVD disc is inserted or a USB drive is connected to your system, Windows looks in the root directory of the new disc or drive for a file named autorun.inf. If found, Windows executes the instructions (keys) in that file. For more about: Autorun vs Autoplay – What’s the Difference? Since Windows 7, Vista, and XP, two important changes were made to help improve security: NOTE: For more on this, see: AutoRun changes in Windows 7 - MSRC AutoPlay will no longer support the AutoRun functionality for non-optical removable media. In other words, AutoPlay will still work for CD/DVDs but it will no longer work for USB drives. For example, if an infected USB...

Clean Reinstall - Windows 7 How to Clean Reinstall Windows 7 A clean reinstall is often better than getting a new computer since most PC's come larded with sponsors' bloatware and duplicate utilities that interfere with much better versions built into Windows 7. For this reason most tech enthusiasts clean reinstall using the Product Key on the COA sticker affixed to machine. This guide compiles everything that works best in tens of thousands of installs we've directly helped with here. Please read over all steps to be sure you understand them before beginning. Ask back any questions in the Comments section below. For example, it is important enough to understand exactly how drivers are handled in the first mostly driver-complete OS...

How to Physically Install a SSD and Transfer the Operating System Introduction If you never owned an SSD, you have missed something. Yes, they are not cheap, but Dollar per Dollar there is no other piece of hardware that can give you as much additional performance than an SSD. Because SSDs are expensive, their current use is for placing the operating system. That’s how you get the best mileage. Although XP and Vista can be installed on SSDs, it is recommended to use them for Windows7, which is the first system to support Trim. For desktops, an SSD with a 60GB capacity is usually sufficient. The user data can be moved to the HDD – I will explain the procedure later. Should you have very large programs, e.g., games, you should...

How to Unblock a File to Stop "Open File - Security Warning" and "Windows 8 SmartScreen" Prompt This will show you how to unblock a file that you have downloaded or copied from the internet or external source to no longer get the "Open File - Security Warning" or "Windows 8 SmartScreen" prompt when you open or run the file. The Open File - Security Warning prompt is a security measure in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 to ask for your permission (like UAC) before allowing a downloaded or copied file from the internet or another computer to be opened or run on your computer. Windows SmartScreen, like the SmartScreen Filter in Internet Explorer, can help keep your whole computer safer by warning you before running unrecognized...

How to Unassociate File Extension Types in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 This tutorial will show you how to unassociate a file extension to no longer have a default program to open it with afterwards in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to unassociate file types. These are free standalone EXE program that run without installing anything on your computer. CONTENTS: Option One: Unassociate File Type using "FileTypesMan" Program Option Two: Unassociate File Type using "Unassociate File Types" Program Option Three: Unassociate File Type using "Unassociate" BAT file option1Unassociate File Type using "FileTypesMan" Program NOTE: This program supports running in XP, Vista...

How to Enable the Built-in Elevated "Administrator" Account from WinRE Theoretically if you don't have any administrator account, the built-in Administrator account should be available in safe mode (see also related articles). Sometimes due to any identified reason, the built-in Administrator may not to be available in safe mode. This tutorial will help you to log on to the built-in Administrator in this case in Vista and Windows 7. It may also help if you forgot your admin password and you don't have a password reset disk. METHOD I (work only for 32 bit systems) 1. Download this file enableadmin.exe, save it on your desktop, and unblock it. 2. Open a command prompt at boot. 3. In the command prompt, type diskpart...

How to Install DreamScene in Windows 7 and Vista (non-Ultimate) This will show you how to install & configure Windows DreamScene in Windows 7 and in Vista.This article applies to: Windows 7:Home Basic,Home Premium,Proffessional,Ultimate (x32,x64) Vista: Home Basic,Home Premium,Business (x32,x64) Official DreamScenes is only available for Vista Ultimate (more details in this tutorial CLICK ) there is no DreamScene for Vista non-Ultimate versions and for Windows 7.In Windows 7 is only available slideshow pictures (more details here CLICK ).Neverless there are two unofficial methods to enable DreamScenes on Vista non-Ultimate and in Windows 7 METHOD I This method based on DreamScene from Vista Ultimate, it adds DreamScene.dll to...

How to Reset Local Group Policy to Default in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 This will show you how to reset all policy objects in the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc), including any custom GPOs for specific users/groups or all users except administrators, back to default in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. This will also only reset registry entries for policies that had been changed in the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) itself to default, and not those changed using a REG file, manually in Registry Editor, or any other means. This will not reset local security policies (secpol.msc) This could be handy if you lost track of what changes you made in the Local Group Policy Editor, and just wanted to reset it back to...

How to Change the Screen Resolution in Windows 7 This will show you how to change the screen resolution in Windows 7 with the recommended native settings based on the monitor size.The screen resolution setting determines how much information is displayed on the display screen. It is measured horizontally and vertically in pixels. At lower screen resolutions, such as 640 x 480, fewer items will fit on the screen, but they will be larger. At higher resolutions, such as 1600 x 1200, more items will fit on the screen but they will be smaller. The resolution options will vary with each computer based on the video card device, monitor size, and video & monitor drivers. If the screen looks distorted or fuzzy, then you may have an incorrect...

How to Change the Mouse Pointers in Windows 7 This will show you how to change and customize the mouse pointers in Windows 7. Windows 7 uses .ani (animated cursor) and .cur (cursor) files for the mouse pointers. The default Cursor folder in Windows 7 is located at C:\Windows\Cursors. It would be best to keep your pointers saved in this folder as well. For all you left handed folks out there, here are some left handed Aero cursors for you in a .zip file below. :) https://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/358319d1430846932-mouse-pointers-change-left-handed-mouse-pointers.zip To Change Pointers in Mouse Properties1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on the Mouse icon. 2. Close the Control Panel window...

How to Automatically Create System Restore Points in Windows 7 and 8 The two (2) separate methods outlined herein make it very easy to have fresh, reliable System Restore points available for use whenever needed; whether created by a system startup/restart or created by the Windows Task Scheduler; once it's setup you never have to be concerned with it again, it's all completely automatic. System Restore isn't available for Windows RT. Credit for this goes to our own Microsoft MVP and all around good guy Brink who wrote these "Restore Point" scripts, without whose dedication and hard work with the Windows Operating Systems none of this would even be possible. Thanks Shawn! :) Please view his original tutorial for pertinent...

How to Do a Windows Anytime Upgrade in Windows 7 This method will allow you to upgrade your edition of Windows 7 and still keep your current programs, files, and settings intact.You can use Windows Anytime Upgrade to upgrade a 32-bit version to a 32-bit version or from a 64-bit version to a 64-bit version of Windows 7. However, Windows Anytime Upgrade can't upgrade a 32-bit version to a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or a 64-bit version to a 32-bit version of Windows 7. From Windows 7|Anytime Upgrade to Windows 7 Starter|Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate Home Basic|Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate Home Premium|Professional, Ultimate Professional|Ultimate Windows Anytime Upgrade is only available for online purchase in...

How to Create and Use a Windows 7 Password Reset Disk If you forget your Windows password, you can use this password reset disk to create a new password. It is recommend that you create a password reset disk when you create your password, so you don't lose access to your files and information. A password reset disk can only be created for local user accounts. If your computer is on a domain, a system administrator can reset your domain password. You must have either a USB flash drive or a Floppy drive; it will not be created on a CD or DVD.The disk can only be created from within Windows. The disk will only work for the OS that it was created in. This tutorial will also work for Windows Vista. . This will only create a...

How to Change the User Account Password if Unable to Login to Windows This tutorial will help you remove the existing user account password and set up a new password incase you have forgotten the user password using WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) Here's how: 1. Boot to WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment). 2. Click on the Command Prompt option. 3. Type the following commands and press enter after each one: C: CD Windows\system32 ren cmd.exe cmd.old ren magnify.exe cmd.exe ren cmd.old magnify.exe 4. Restart computer. 5. Click on Easy of Access centre left side bottom à Choose Magnify option. 6. A Command prompt opens up 7. Type: net user administrator /active:yes and press enter. 8. Restart the computer...

How to Change the Default Location of a User Profile in Vista and Windows 7 A user profile is the main C:\Users\(user-name) folder of a user account that contains all of the account's settings, shortcuts, information, and user folders (ex: My Music) with the files in them. This will show you how to Move the default location of a user profile in Windows 7 and Vista to another location of your choice so it will be stored and used from the new location instead. This can be handy if you are low on free space on your C: drive. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. Before doing this, you should create a system image to be safe. This way you can do a system image recovery to undo...

You've all seen something like this on SevenForums, a YouTube video inside somebody's post: Bvu1DU_RZ9w ...and some of you are wondering how to do it yourself. It's simple, just read along... 1 - First of all, go to YouTube and find your video. 2 - Now look at the URL - the actual web address of the YouTube clip: 3 - The important bit is the code after http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= - in this case, it's Bvu1DU_RZ9w. Select just the Bvu1DU_RZ9w part with your mouse, right-click and copy it. Sometimes, depending on the particular YouTube video, you may see something like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvu1DU_RZ9w&feature=related, if so, ignore the &feature=related bit of the URL, and just copy the Bvu1DU_RZ9w. 4 - Now, if...