Tutorials

How to Manually Extract Files from a Backup in Vista and Windows 7 This will show you how to manually extract files from a Windows Backup in Vista and Windows 7. This can be handy if you are unable to restore the files from the backup normally in Windows. This tutorial is not for manually extracting files from a system image backup. New backups are saved in this format: drive letter:\computer name\Backup Set YYYY-MM-DD HHMMSS For example: If your computer name is Brink-PC, your backup location is on hard drive (network or local) F: , and you backed up on July 9th 2011 at 3:10:38 PM (it will use 24 hour time), then your backup would be located at: F:\BRINK-PC\Backup Set 2011-07-09 151038 There will be a incremental Backup...

How to Install and Uninstall Display Languages in Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise This will show you how to install and uninstall a Language Interface Pack (LIP) in the Windows 7 Ultimate and Windows 7 Enterprise editions. These can be used to change the display language Windows 7 uses to display text in wizards, dialog boxes, menus, and other items in the user interface. By default Windows 7 uses the language selected during it's installation.When you install a language pack and change the display language to it, this will also automatically add a keyboard input language for this language in the Language bar. Install a Language Pack (LIP) 1. Open the Control Panel (icon view), and click on the Windows Update icon. A) Go to...

How to Mark a Partition as Active in Windows 7 Contents Mark as Active in Disk Management Mark as Active in Command Prompt Mark as Active in Partition Wizard Marking a partition as active on a basic disk means that the computer will use the loader (an operating system tool) on that partition to start the operating system. At various times the need to mark a partition as active arises. This will show you two ways of doing so. You must be logged on as an administrator to mark a partition as active. You can't make a logical drive or an extended partition active. Only a primary partition can be made active. There can be only one active partition per physical hard disk. If you have multiple hard disks installed on your computer...

How to Backup and Restore the Registry in Windows 7 and Vista This will show you a few options on how to export the registry as a .reg file backup, and how to import the .reg file to restore to the registry in Windows 7 and Vista.Importing or merging a .reg file backup will only restore the keys and values that were included in the exported backup. If you have added new keys and values since the .reg file backup was created, then these items will not be affected or restored when you import or merge the older exported .reg file backup to the registry. If you wanted to replace the registry completely with a backup, then System Restore (see Method One in OPTION ONE & TWO below) will allow you to do this instead. Backup Registry Using...

How to Transfer your Complete Windows 7 Installation to New Computer To start, a warning from Microsoft: Important You must use the Sysprep /generalize command to generalize a complete Windows installation before you can use the installation for deployment to a new computer, whether you use imaging, hard disk duplication, or another method. Moving or copying a Windows image to a different computer without running the Sysprep /generalize command is not supported. This tutorial will show you how to do the transfer. Windows 7 System Preparation Tool is a powerful, native Windows tool. When for instance used in so called Audit Mode, it let's you to freely configure Windows 7 to be then deployed to other computers as hardware...

How to See What Your Windows Restart Time is This will show you how to see how long in seconds it takes your Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10 PC to restart back to the desktop. You can also view the startup logs in Event Viewer (C:\Windows\system32\eventvwr.msc) under Applications and Services Logs, Microsoft, Windows, Diagnostics-Performance, and Operational. The logs will be in the middle to show you what ran at startup, how long it took, and more.Credit completely belongs to sidney1st for writing this VBS script.For fun, post your restart time at this link. Here's How:1. Click on the download button below to download the Restart-Time.bat or Restart-Time.vbs file, and save it to your desktop. Restart-Time.bat...

How to Recover a TrueCrypt Container with Corrupt Header Information TRUECRYPT is a free open source application that allows you to encrypt files, folders, partitions or even entire physical drives. It is a very useful alternative to Windows Bitlocker Drive Encryption, which is only available in Windows 7 Ultimate. In some cases, the header information of an encrypted container/volume can become corrupted resulting in the inability to mount the container/volume and retrieve the encrypted data. TrueCrypt allows you to attempt to recover the corrupted volume header information, thereby allowing you to access the encrypted data by mounting the container/volume as you normally would. . Encrypted containers/volumes can only be...

How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7 This will show you how to run Check Disk or chkdsk in Windows 7 to check a selected hard disk for file system errors and bad sectors on it. Running a check disk may take a bit depending on the size of the selected hard disk. For faster and better results, do not use your computer while check disk is checking for errors. You will have a choice to scan only, scan for and attempt to fix errors, scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors, or scan for and attempt to fix errors and recovery of bad sectors.Solutions to Common Check Disk (chkdsk) Issues in Windows 7 The Chkdsk.exe program does not start correctly on a Windows 7-based computer Incorrect free disk space displayed after running check...

How to Create a Sleep Shortcut in Windows This will show you how to create or download a Sleep shortcut to put your computer to sleep with. You can also Pin to Taskbar or Pin to Start Menu this shortcut, or move where you like for easy use.If you would also like to create a keyboard shortcut key to use to open the shortcut with from either method below, then see: How to Create a Keyboard Shortcut for a Program A Sleep Shortcut from a VBS File NOTE: This method for a sleep shortcut will allow you to put your computer to sleep no matter if hibernate is enabled or disabled, or what you have your power plan settings set to.1. Set your Start Menu power button to Sleep. (see screenshot below) :warn:WARNING: This Sleep shortcut will do...

GeForce Experience - A Beginner's Guide This tutorial is designed to give new users a look into GeForce Experience's UI and its features, and includes tips to optimise the user's experience and keep their machine 'clean'.Not all features of GeForce Experience are compatible with all nVidia GPUs, please check this list for compatibility with your nVidia card. List of Contents Part One: What is GeForce Experience? Part Two: Games & Optimisation Part Three: ShadowPlay Part Four: Drivers Part Five: General Preferences Part1What is GeForce Experience? GeForce Experience is a free piece of software available to all owners of qualifying nVidia graphics cards. It offers a range of features including a driver update manager, gameplay...

How to Change Taskbar Thumbnail and List Mode Threshold in Windows 7 and Windows 8 By default, the taskbar will show thumbnail previews of open windows and programs when you hover the mouse pointer over it's taskbar icon while using a Aero theme. When you are using a Basic or High Contrast theme, the taskbar will only show a list of tabs (list mode) for the open windows and programs (ex: Internet Explorer) when you hover the mouse pointer over it's taskbar icon, and never any thumbnail previews. While still using a Aero theme, this will show you how to change the number of thumbnail previews that will display for a icon on the taskbar before it switches to list mode instead in Windows 7.If the taskbar thumbnail previews of...

How to Add or Remove "Open Command Window Here" from Context Menu in Windows This will show you how to add or remove Open Command Window Here from the context menu of the desktop, folders, and drives in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. EXAMPLE: Open Command Window Here NOTE: This is when you press and hold the Shift key and right click on a folder or drive, or right click on the desktop, to click on Open Command Window Here to open a command prompt with the focus at the folder or drive. Here's How: 1. To Add "Open Command Window Here" to Context Menu NOTE: This is the default setting. A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download...

THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE YOUR WINDOWS 7 DVD, HARD DRIVES FAIL, AND YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HANG ONTO THE DISK, THIS IS SIMPLY TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF REINSTALLING OR DOING A RECOVERY This recovery partition will only be available to you assuming that your bootmanager is in tact, if it becomes corrupted it will be inaccessible just like your copy of windows, another good reason for hanging on to the original disk it is recommended that you allow windows to create the 100MB System reserved partition upon installation if you plan to do this or you will have to repeat it everytime you reinstall 1. Download Easy BCD 2.0 from here: EasyBCD 2.0 Beta Builds - The NeoSmart Forums (you will need to register on the forum first)...

How to Delete an Operating System Listed in Windows Boot Manager This will show you how to delete a non-default operating system in Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8 from the list in Windows Boot Manager or Startup Options (Windows 8) that allows you to select a OS to run at startup. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. EXAMPLE: Windows Boot Manager or "Startup Options" (Windows 8) NOTE: This is the boot screen where you select what operating system that you would like to start. By default, you have 30 seconds to choose another operating system before the default operating system will start automatically. Through System Configuration 1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the...

How to post a proper screen capture image of your Disk Management screen If you are seeking help with Windows 7, you will often be asked to include a screen capture image of your Disk Management screen. A well executed capture of the Disk Management screen means you get accurate advice in the quickest possible time. This short tutorial will show you how to do this the easiest way. Steps: 1. Click :orb: 2. Right-click My Computer 3. Click Manage 4. From the Computer Management screen that opens, click Disk Management. 5. This step is the most important. Maximize the Disk Management window so it fills your entire screen. Resize the window components so the status and sizes of the partitions are clearly shown. 6. Use...

How to Set Unidentified Networks to be a Private or Public Network Location Sometimes Windows 7 is unable to identify the network it is connected to due to a network issue or lack of identifiable characteristics. This type of network is called a unidentified network. A network location identifies the type of network that a computer is connected to and automatically sets the appropriate firewall settings for that location. This will show you how to set a unidentified network to always be set as a private (work) or public network location as displayed in the Network and Sharing Center. Choose Private network (Work) for small office or other workplace networks. Network discovery, which allows you to see other computers and devices on...

Add and Change System OEM Support Information in Windows 7 and Windows 8 This tutorial will show you how to customize your System properties window by adding a logo, manufacturer, model, hours, phone, and website support OEM information of your choice in Windows 7 and Windows 8. EXAMPLE: System Support Information NOTE: This is the default (left screenshot) and custom (right screenshot) System window when you right click on Computer in the Start Menu and click on Properties, or when you open the Control Panel (icons view) and click on the System icon. Add and Change System Support Information using "WinBubble" 1. Download and install WinBubble here: WinBubble, "Customization and Tweaks, Not Just for Geek's But For ALL" -...

How To Share PCs And Printers On Local Windows 7 And Windows 98 Network 1. Download and install on Win 98 Active Directory Services Client DSClient for Win9x to enable NTLMv2 Network Authentication btw Win 98 and Win 7; 2. Open Regedit in Win98 at the key below, then create a key named LSA, then under the newly created key, create a DWORD value named LMCompatibility, and set it's value to 3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control 3. Go to Win98 Control Panel, and open the Users applet, then create a new User Account with the same credentials (User Name and Password) as the one on Win 7; 4. Reboot your Win 98 PC and login with the newly created account. Setup shared folders or drives, and printers; 5. In Win 7...

How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker The sfc /scannow command (System File Checker) scans the integrity of all protected Windows 7 system files and replaces incorrect corrupted, changed/modified, or damaged versions with the correct versions if possible. If you get the Windows Resource Protection Could Not Start the Repair Service error when trying to run SFC, then make sure that the Windows Modules Installer service is enabled, click on Start, and set to Manual. Services - Start or Disable OR Copy and paste the command below in the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. After the Windows Modules Installer service has started, try running the SFC command again net start trustedinstaller The...

“Test Mode Windows 7 Build 7601" Watermark - Remove from Desktop How to Remove “Test Mode Windows 7 Build 7601" Watermark from Desktop This tutorial will show you how to remove the Test Mode Windows 7 Build 7601 (with SP1 installed) or Test Mode Windows 7 Build 7600 (without SP1 installed) watermark from the lower right corner of the Windows 7 desktop by turning off test mode. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. According to Microsoft, the test mode watermark can appear if the test signing mode is started on the computer. This test mode may occur if an application whose drivers are not digitally signed by Microsoft is installed and still in the test phase. Microsoft added test...