Tutorials

How to Change the Visual Effects Settings in Windows 7 This will show you how to change the visual effect settings you want to use for the appearance and performance of Windows 7 on your computer.If you apply any changes in the Control Panel -> Ease of Access Center, your visual effects settings will automatically get reset back to default. You will notice that not all visual effects options are available in the Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions since they do not include the Aero feature. The visual effect settings below are the most common ones to turn off (uncheck) to help improve performance. Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing Animations in the taskbar and Start Menu Enable transparent glass Fade or...

How to Boot from a VHD using Windows 7 and Windows 8 Windows 7 and Windows 8 includes support for creating, mounting and booting from VHD images but not many seem to know how to use this functionality to boot VHDs at boot time... I will detail the steps required to have another OS bootable using Windows 7... This tutorial will show you how to setup Windows 7 or Windows 8 to boot from an existing VHD (Virtual Hard Disk). All Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 (except Windows 8 RT) editions support booting from a VHD. You must have either Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8 Pro, or Windows 8 Enterprise installed on the VHD to be able to boot from the VHD. If you do not have a good knowledge of how to reset your...

How to Create a USB Startup Key to Lock or Unlock Windows SysKey (SAM Lock Tool) is an in-built Windows utility that can help you secure the Security Accounts Management or SAM database. The SAM Database stores hashed copies of your user passwords, which is encrypted with a locally stored system startup key by default. You can use SysKey to store the startup key locally in Windows or on a USB flash drive. Having the startup key stored on a USB flash drive instead will give you better security since the USB flash drive must be connected at startup to be able to login and gain access to Windows. This tutorial will show you how to use SysKey to be able to create a USB flash key "Startup Key Disk" to lock or unlock Vista, Windows 7...

How to Edit the Desktop "NEW" Context Menu in Windows 7 This tutorial shows you how to do this BEFORE AFTER Here's How: 1. To delete all the items from the new list run this reg file: 2. To add HTML, BAT, REG to the new list run this reg file: 3. To remove HTML, BAT, REG from the list run this reg file: 4. To restore all default items run this reg file: To add extensions of your choice to the list write in notepad below, save it as "whatever.reg" and run it. NOTE: Replace .png with the file extension you want to add and replace whatever with anything you want. Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.png\ShellNew] "NullFile"="" How to Remove and Restore the Default Windows 7 New...

How to Create a Default Programs Shortcut in Windows 7 This will show you how to create or download a Default Programs shortcut. You can also Pin to Taskbar or Pin to Start Menu this shortcut, or move where you like for easy use. EXAMPLE: Default Programs To Download the "Default Programs" Shortcut 1. Click on the download button below to download the file below. Default_Programs.zip https://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/54236d1266223277-default-programs-shortcut-create-default_programs.zip 2. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the desktop. 3. Open the downloaded .zip file and extract the Default Programs shortcut to the desktop. 4. Right click on the Default Programs shortcut, and click on Properties...

How to Change the Group by, Sort by, and Arrange by Folder View in Windows 7 Explorer This will show you how to change and organize the file and folder arrangements in a opened folder using Arrange by, Sort by, or Group by folder views in Windows 7. After you make any changes to the Sort by or Group by folder view settings in a library, you can restore the library back to it's default Sort by or Group by folder view by clicking on the Arrange by drop down menu on the toolbar (top right corner) and clicking on Clear changes. If Clear changes is not listed, then the library is already set to be viewed by it's default Sort by or Group by folder view. EXAMPLE: "Group by" and "Sort by" in Windows Explorer NOTE: These...

How to Change the Maximum Number of Recent Items to Display in Start Menu This will show you how to set the maximum number of recent documents shortcuts to display in the Recent Items Start Menu button for all or specific users in Vista and Windows 7. By default, Recent Items displays shortcuts up to the 10 most recently opened documents and files. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. The hidden system folder Recent Items is located at: C:\Users\(User Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent Items OR %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent Items If you go to the Recent Items folder location above and you have a yellow folder named Recent instead of one named Recent...

How to Free Up and Recover Hard Drive Space in Windows 7 This will show you several options on how to free up and recover lost space on your hard drive (HDD or SSD) in Windows 7. You can pick and choose from within the options below that you would like to do and best fits your needs. This can be handy if the hard drive is running out of space or you are losing hard drive space for no apparent reason.For more information on why your HDD or SSD may not be the size as advertised, see: http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/23890-hdds-advertized-size-vs-actual-size.html WinDirStat WinDirStat is a free disk usage statistics viewer and cleanup tool that will help you to see exactly what total of system and user files are...

How to Restore "Windows Logo Screen Saver" Back in Windows 7 and Windows 8 This tutorial will show you how to restore the Windows Logo screen saver back into Windows 7 and Windows 8. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. EXAMPLE: Windows Logo screen saver EXAMPLE: Screen Saver Settings NOTE: If restored, the Windows Logo screen saver will be added back to the Screen Saver Settings screen to be available to select as Logon. Here's How: 1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below. Windows_Logo_Screensaver.zip http://www.sevenforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8227&stc=1&d=1239861008 2. Save the .zip file to the desktop. 3. Open the .zip file...

How to Map a Network Drive in Windows 7 This will show you how to map or unmap a share folder on your computer or shared network folder from a computer on your network to create a shortcut of it as a drive with a drive letter in the Computer window for easier access.You will need to be connected to your network to be able to map a shared network folder as a drive from it. You will be able to map a shared folder on your computer as a drive whether you are connected to a network or not since it's on your computer and does not require a network connection to access it. EXAMPLE: A Mapped Network Drive NOTE: For example, this is a shared network folder from a server on my network that was mapped as a drive on my computer. To Map a...

How to Make a MS-DOS Bootable Flash Drive This will show you how to create a flash drive that is able to boot your computer into a MS-DOS environment. This will be accomplished by using the HP Flash Utility and the Windows 98 MS-DOS System FilesThe flash drive being used in this process will be formatted. Please backup all of your data on the drive beforehand!List of MS-DOS commands - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Here's How: 1. Download the HP Flash Utility and also download the Windows 98 MS-DOS System Files . Extract hpflash1 to a location readily accessible 2. Run the installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions 3. Extract the contents of "win98boot" to a location readily accessible 4. Run...

How to Enable or Disable AutoPlay for Drives in Vista, Widows 7, and Windows 8 AutoPlay lets you choose an action for different kinds of media when you plug in a device, insert media, or receive content from another person using Tap and Send (Windows 8). You can set AutoPlay to open different kinds of content, such as photos, music, and video on different kinds of media, such as drives, CDs, or DVDs. For example, you can use AutoPlay to select an app that will automatically open photos on a removable drive when you plug it into your PC. With AutoPlay, you don't have to open the same app or reselect preferences every time you plug in a certain device. . This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable AutoPlay for either all...

Quick Format a HDD or USB How to Quick Format a HDD or USB Drive This tutorial will show you how to format both external and 'internal' hard disk drives. We will be using both quick formats and also two useful pieces of software that can make fully formatting a HDD or USB much easier. In simple terms, this will remove all your files and folders from your disk storage device.You cannot quick format your C: drive as it has your OS installed on it.Formatting your C: drive WILL kill your system. As I said above, whatever you format, back up a copy of all files and folders first on an external hard drive or CD. You follow this tutorial at your own risk. Please, please, please back up your hard drive. BEFORE YOU START: Back up a copy...

How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc This will show you how to create a Windows 7 system repair disc to be able to use to boot to system recovery options to help recover your Windows 7 installation if you don't have a Windows installation disc, can't find your Windows installation disc, or can't access the recovery options provided by your computer manufacturer. A system repair disc is not able to install Windows 7. If you are unable to boot your Windows 7 to create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc, then you could create it on another computer to use on your computer. A system repair disc is not the same as a OEM factory recovery/restore disc. A system repair disc is not an installation disc. You cannot do a repair...

Bootrec.exe Tool - How to Use in the Windows Recovery Environment How to Use Bootrec.exe Tool in Windows Recovery Environment You can use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to repair the following item in Windows 7 should you be experiencing startup issues that cannot be resolved by the Startup Repair option: The Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store To run this tool you must do so from within the Windows 7 Recovery Environment. Make sure your computer is configured to start from the DVD drive Insert your Windows installation DVD or Windows repair DVD Press any key when prompted Choose your language, time, currency, keyboard language and click Next Click Repair your computer Select the operating system you...

How to Diagnose an Intel CPU with Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool The Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool (IPDT) is a free application from Intel Corporation that runs several diagnostic and performance tests on a wide variety of Intel CPU's. The results are summarised in a simple text format file that can be useful in understanding the capability's of your CPU, seeking help with a hardware issue, or even dealing directly with Intel as supplementary information if you are considering an RMA of the CPU. This tutorial will show you how to: Download and install IPDT to your computer Run the quick (default) tests Select & run full functional and burn-in tests Setup & run customised tests Review the IPDT test results IPDT is a useful tool...

How to Pin the Recycle Bin to the Windows 7 Taskbar The Recycle Bin provides a safety net when deleting files or folders. When you delete any of these items from your hard disk, Windows places it in the Recycle Bin and the Recycle Bin icon changes from empty to full. This will show you how to create a Recycle Bin shortcut with Empty Recycle Bin in the context menu, and how to pin this shortcut to the taskbar as a toolbar. Removable drives do not use or have a Recycyle Bin. Files deleted from removable drives are permanently deleted instead. EXAMPLE: Recycle Bin Unpinned and Pinned from the Taskbar Here's How: 1. Make sure the Recycle Bin is on the desktop. 2. Right click on the desktop and select New and Folder ...

How to Add or Delete Start Menu All Programs Shortcuts in Windows 7 This will show you how to add or delete shortcuts in the All Programs area of the Start Menu for the Current User or All Users in Windows 7.It appears that the context menu items for the Start Menu to open the Start Menu folders has been ommitted in the Windows 7 beta for now. Instead of adding and removing shortcuts directly out of the Start Menu, you could manually navigate to the two Start Menu folder locations. EXAMPLE: Start Menu All Programs NOTE: All Programs is the right screenshot. You would click on All Programs (left screenshot) to open it. Start Menu for Only Current Logged On User 1. Open the Start Menu. A) Right click on All Programs and click on...

How to Specify Default Power Plan for All Users in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 This will show you how to specify a custom or default (Balanced, Power Saver, High Performance) power plan for all users in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 so that the power plan and settings cannot be changed. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. Making a change in either option below will override any setting made previously in any other option below. EXAMPLE: When a "Custom" or "Default" Power Plan is Specied for All Users To Specify a "Default" Power Plan Using a REG File Download NOTE: If you wanted to specify a custom power plan, then you would need to use either OPTION THREE or OPTION...

How to Display a Message Reminder in Windows with Task Scheduler This will show you how to create yourself, or another user or group, a message reminder scheduled to display for when and how often you like in Windows 7 or Vista using Task Scheduler. All users on the computer will be able to do this. The steps may look long and complicated, but this is really quite easy to do. I just included a lot of details to help make it easy. :) The message reminder might not always appear on top of the current active window if you just happen to be typing or clicking in the window (ex: Internet Explorer) at the same time when the message reminder displays causing the message reminder to no longer be the active window and not on top. The...