Tutorials

How to Fix the Windows Explorer "Open" Application Toolbar and Context Menu Icon in Windows 7 This will show you how to fix the Windows Explorer Open application toolbar and context menu icon when you select an application (ex: EXE) file 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 (ex: .exe) file selected in Windows Explorer. Here's How: 1. Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Application_Icon.zip http://www.sevenforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=131849&stc=1&d=1294962885 2. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the desktop. 3. Open the Zip...

How to Apply Custom Themes in Windows 7 This will show you how to apply a custom theme from deviantART as your theme in Windows 7. Here's How: 1. First you will need to click on the Download button below to download and install either the 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Universal Theme Patcher (auto installer) below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7. 32-bit: http://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/30967d1255191076-theme-how-apply-custom-themes-universalthemepatcher-x86.rar 64-bit: http://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/30966d1255191076-theme-how-apply-custom-themes-universalthemepatcher-x64.rar 2. When downloaded, unrar the file using winrar, and run the exe. 3. Select your user interface language 4. Click...

How to Add or Remove a File Type from the Index in Windows 7 and Windows 8 The Index keeps track of the files on your computer and stores information about the files, including the file name, date modified, and properties like author, tags, and rating. The index is used to make searching for files in Windows much faster. Instead of looking through your entire hard disk for a file name or file property, Windows scans the index, which allows most results to appear in a small fraction of the time that a search without the index would take. This will show you how to add or remove a file extension type from the index, for the included folder locations, to be included or not in the search results in Windows 7 and Windows 8. When you...

How to Change Folder Background with AveFolderBG for Windows 7 I happened upon the fix awhile back that enabled Folder Backgrounds in Windows 7 and have since fixed AveFolderBG to work with Windows 7 It is recommended to create a restore point before doing this in case a mistake is made, or you do not like the results. This way you could quickly do a System Restore with the restore point to undo it. The application works by adding itself to the Folders Property pages. Just Right-Click a Folder, Choose Customize this Folder, or click Properties and you will be presented with a new menu tab. The fix has a few side-effects such as Tiles are no longer an option under view and is switched to Extended Tiles. Auto Arrange is no...

How to Enable or Disable Desktop Composition in Windows 7 and Vista The desktop composition visual experience feature, introduced since Vista, fundamentally changed the way applications display pixels on the screen. When desktop composition is enabled, individual windows no longer draw directly to the screen or primary display device as they did in previous versions of Windows. Instead, their drawing is redirected to off-screen surfaces in video memory, which are then rendered into a desktop image and presented on the display. Desktop composition is performed by the Desktop Window Manager Session Manager (DWM) service. Through desktop composition, DWM enables visual effects on the desktop as well as various Aero features such as...

How to Change the Screen Saver in Windows 7 and Windows 8 A screen Saver is a moving picture or pattern that appears on a computer screen when the mouse or keyboard has not been used for a specified period of time. This tutorial will show you how to change the screen saver in Windows 7 and Windows 8 to another screen saver of your choice. The default Screen Savers in Windows 7 and Windows 8 are located at: NOTE: The Aurora, Windows Logo, and Windows Energy screen savers are no longer available, but can be added back. Screen Saver | Location Bubbles.scr | C:\Windows\System32\Bubbles.scr Mystify.scr | C:\Windows\System32\Mystify.scr PhotoScreensaver.scr (Photos) | C:\Windows\System32\PhotoScreensaver.scr Ribbons.scr |...

How to Use Windows Remote Assistance in Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 Windows Remote Assistance is "a feature of Windows XP and later that allows a user to temporarily view or control a remote Windows computer over a network or the Internet to resolve issues without directly touching the unit" (Wikipedia). Based on RDP it uses Peer Name Resolution Protocol and a native Windows feature Easy Connect to allow a direct connection between two computers over LAN or Internet. Easy Connect requires that both computers (the one asking for assistance and the one offering it) use the same Windows version, and that routers on both ends support the Peer Name Resolution Protocol. In cross version assistance (7 to 8 or vice versa) or in any other Easy...

How to Enable or Disable Spelling Correction in Internet Explorer 10 (IE10) Internet Explorer 10 (IE10) includes a new spelling correction feature that autocorrects and highlights misspelled words. In Windows 8, spelling correction is included in both Internet Explorer 10 (IE10) desktop and Windows UI (Metro) versions. This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable spelling correction in Internet Explorer 10 (IE10) in Windows 7 and Windows 8. Autocorrect misspelled words - When turned on, will autocorrect the spelling of your typed words on the fly if it is matched with the correct spelling of the word in the dictionary. For example, type squigly and press the space bar after it, and it will be autocorrected to squiggly...

How to Add a "Accessories" Cascading Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7 This will show you how to add or remove a cascading (expandable) Accessories menu to the desktop context menu for all users in Windows 7. This is the same folder and items as in the Start Menu - All Programs - Accessories folder. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial. By default, the Windows Mobility Center context menu item below will only run on laptops, notebooks, and tablet PCs. However, if you would like to enable the Windows Mobility Center to be able to run on a desktop computer, then see: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/6552-windows-mobility-center-enable-desktop-computer.html EXAMPLE: Accessories Cascading...

How to Repair a Corrupted PST File This will help you to repair your pst file when the pst file corrupted. 1. If you Have 32-bit Windows Installed A) For Outlook 2007, go to the location below and run the SCANPST.EXE file. C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\SCANPST.EXE B) For Outlook 2010, go to the location below and run the SCANPST.EXE file. C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\SCANPST.EXE C) Go to step 3. 2. If you Have 64-bit Windows Installed A) For Outlook 2007, go to the location below and run the SCANPST.EXE file. C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\SCANPST.EXE B) For Outlook 2010, go to the location below and run the SCANPST.EXE file. C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft...

How to Specify a Desktop Background for Users in Windows This tutorial will show you how to specify a BMP or JPG image of your choice as the default desktop background wallpaper for all or specific users in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. You will also be able to specify that the wallpaper image position to have the center, fill, fit, tile, or stretch style on the desktop. The options to change the desktop background in personalization will not be grayed out, but users will not be able to change anything after you have specified a desktop background in this tutorial. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. When you specify a desktop background, it will disable the Set as desktop...

How to Make a "Create Incremental Backup" Shortcut in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 This will show how to download a Create Incremental Backup shortcut that will instantly create a incremental backup of the last previously created Windows backup set, and show a progress bar in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. Each new backup is saved in this format: drive letter:\computer name\Backup Set YYYY-MM-DD HHMMSS Inside each new Backup Set folder will be Backup Files YYYY-MM-DD HHMMSS folders that are incremental backups of that specific backup set. When this shortcut is used, it will instantly create a new Backup Files folder in the Backup Set folder for the last (newest) backup set created. This is the same as clicking on the Back up...

How to Backup and Restore Advanced Appearance Settings in Windows The advanced appearance settings is part of each user account's own personalization settings. This would include changing the size, color, and fonts used for items in Windows. This tutorial will show you how to back up your advanced appearance settings to be able to restore or apply to any user account in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. All advanced appearance settings for a single user are stored in the three registry keys below. This is what the downloaded .bat file below will automatically back up for you as .reg files. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\Colors HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics...

How to Hide or Show System Icons and Notifications in Windows 7 and Windows 8 The notification area is a part of the taskbar that provides a temporary source for notifications and status. It can also be used to display icons for system and program features that are not on the desktop. The notification area was known historically as the system tray or status area. By default, the only icons that will be visible in this area are some system icons. However, you can select which icons appear on the taskbar, and which icons hide in the overflow section. This will show you how to hide or show your choice of the system icons and their notifications on the taskbar in Windows 7 and Windows 8. Each system icon will have the choice to...

How to Manually Change WEI Score in Windows 7 So i got bored today and started to think is there a way to change WEI manually... Started googeling and first answer was how to change WEI in Vista. wasted about 30 min changing files before realised that win 7 works a bit different. Before you continue, you will need to disable UAC and you may need to take ownership of the files needed to change below. You will need to rate your computer's WEI score at least once before. This is only for fun and show, this does not increase performance!!! To restore original scores just rerate your computer's WEI score Here's How: 1. Open up Windows Explorer & Browse to C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore. 2. Click on the most recently created...

How to Setup a Media Center Movie Library in Windows 7 This tutorial will show how to manage your movie library in Media Center, including poster images & full synopsis information.Windows Media Center is not available in Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic editions. . The N and KN editions of Windows 7 have all the features that normally come with each individual Windows 7 edition, except for Windows Media Player 12 and related programs, such as Windows Media Center or Windows DVD Maker. The N editions of Windows 7 allow you to choose your own media player and software required to manage and play CDs, DVDs, and other digital media files. If you choose to use Windows Media Player 12, downloading it, along with related...

How to Open a Command Prompt in Windows 7 This will show you how to open only a non-elevated a command prompt without administrator rights instead of an elevated command prompt with administrator rights (Run as administrator) in Windows 7. Some commands will need to be used in an elevated command prompt instead for them to work. EXAMPLE: Command Prompt NOTE: Notice how the command prompt opens to C:\Users\(user name) and not C:\Windows\System32 as a elevated command prompt with administrator rights. Open a Command Prompt from Start Menu 1. Open the Start Menu, click on All Programs, Accessories, and on Command Prompt. (aee screenshot below) OR 2. Open the Start Menu, type cmd in the search box and press Enter. (see...

How to Boot to the Advanced Boot Options in Windows 7 This will show you how to boot into the Advanced Boot Options screen to select options to start Windows 7 in advanced troubleshooting modes. Some options, such as safe mode, start Windows in a limited state, where only the bare essentials are started. If a problem does not reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and basic device drivers as possible causes. Other options start Windows with advanced features intended for use by system administrators and IT professionals. Here's How:1. Turn on or restart the computer. 2. If you Multi Boot with more than One Operating System A) At the Windows Boot Manager screen, select the OS you want to use...

How to Make your own Windows 7 Theme Pack A theme pack is a cab file (.themepack) that includes a desktop background, window colors, sounds, screen saver, icons, and mouse pointers (cursors) used to change your Windows 7 theme all at once instead of each individual item. A theme pack (.themepack) file will allow you to share your theme with family and friends. This will show you how to create, save, install, and delete a theme pack. The Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions do not have this feature included in them. For developers or advanced users, see Creating and Installing Theme Files for more advanced options to modify the theme file. For free themes and desktop backgrounds from Microsoft, see: Desktop...

Hello to all my fellow and future users of SSD drives and Windows 7. I wanted to set up an area with real-world tips on getting the most out of your SSD and the Windows 7 operating system. I will separate each type of tip to its own message to keep things easier to read and to follow. All of this has been tested on my laptop system, configured as follows: HP DV2270us, Core 2 qual 2ghz, 4 Gig RAM. Disk 0: Patriot M28 64-gig SSD 240MBs (Boot drive), Disk 1: Seagate ST9500420AS 500 Gig 100MBs second drive. Windows 7 ultimate 64-bit. Machine is used all day every day at work and home, lots of virtual machines running. These suggestions are just the way I choose to set things up and get GREAT performance and utilize the SSD to its...