Tutorials

How to Set a Default Folder Template for All Folders in Windows 7 This will show you how to either set a folder template of your choice to be the default for all folders, or reset all folder templates back to default in all folders in Windows 7. The folder template for Library folders cannot be changed in Windows 7. Automatic Folder Type Discovery is when Windows will automatically change the folder template of a folder to match the file type of the last file added or saved in the folder. For example, if your folder contains music files and you add a picture file, then Windows may change the folder template and view to the "Picture" template to match the new picture file. By setting a specific template (steps 2 to 6) to be the...

How to Turn the Menu Bar On or Off in Windows 7 This will show you how to turn the Menu Bar on or off in Windows 7 for Windows Explorer, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Windows Media Player. The Menu bar is turned off by default in Windows 7. The Menu Bar includes the File, Edit, View, Favorites (In IE only), Tools, and Help menu items. Pressing the ALT key will temporarily display the Menu Bar as well. You can then press ALT + the underlined letter of the menu item. For example ALT + F to open the File menu etc.... 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...

How to Enable or Disable File and Folder "Last Access Time" in Windows The Last Access Time attribute is the date and time a file or folder was last accessed in Windows. Last Access Time updating is enabled by default in XP. In order to save system resources, it is disabled by default in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the last access time attribute in Windows to show the date and time of when each file and folder was last accessed. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. On older or slower systems, enabling Last Access Time could cause a performance decrease due to the increased overhead of Disk I/O. If you like while using...

How to Create a Windows 7 VHD at Boot to Start with from Boot This will show you how to create a Windows 7 VHD file at boot on an existing installed OS's (ex: Vista or Windows 7) C: hard disk or partition to be able to natively boot from the Windows 7 VHD at startup in the Windows Boot Manager. This tutorial uses an example that will create a C:\(file name).vhd file on the C: drive/partition at boot that is used to natively boot from at startup. You will be able to create the VHD file on any partition or drive letter that you like though. 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...

How to Troubleshoot a Problem by Performing a Clean Startup in Windows 7 or Vista When you start Windows by using a normal startup, several applications and services start automatically, and then run in the background. These programs include basic system processes, antivirus software, system utility applications, and other software that has been previously installed. These applications and services can sometimes cause interference when you install or run a program. This tutorial describes how to troubleshoot Vista or Windows 7 by starting it using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs so that you can determine whether a background program is interfering with your game or program. This kind of startup is known as a clean...

How to Add or Remove Columns in Task Manager in Vista and Windows 7 This will show you how to add or remove columns in the Processes, Networking, and Users tabs in the Windows 7 or Vista Task Manager. All Changes made will be remembered for when you close and open Task Manager until you make new changes. Here's How: 1. Right click on a empty space on the taskbar and click on Task Manager, OR press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC. 2. To Add or Remove Columns in the Processes Tab A) Click on the Processes tab, then click on View (menu bar) and Select Columns. (see screenshot below) NOTE: The sceenshot below shows the added Base Priority (Base Pri) column added. B) Check or Uncheck the boxes to add or remove the available columns of your choice...

How to Pin or Unpin a Program to the Windows 7 Start Menu This will show you how to pin or unpin a program of your choice to the Windows 7 Start Menu pin area to have a easy to access shortcut of it.The pinned items in the Start Menu are located in the hidden system folder: C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\StartMenu It is best to pin the program from it's EXE file location instead of from a shortcut of the program. It is easier for a shortcut to be moved or deleted, causing the pinned program in the Start Menu to not work anymore. EXAMPLE: Pin to area of the Start Menu NOTE: This is the white left side of the Start Menu. Pin a Program to the Start Menu 1. Right click...

How to Delete System Protection Restore Points in Windows 7 and Windows 8 This will show you how to delete all, all but the most recent, or individual System Protection restore points for a selected hard disk in Windows 7 and Windows 8. System Restore isn't available for Windows RT. If you delete all of the restore points, then you cannot restore the disk until System Protection is on and a restore point is created for the hard disk again. It has been reported that some 3rd party disk defragmentation programs could also delete your restore points when used. Use System Protection Properties to Delete Restore Points :warn:WARNING: This will delete all restore points (system settings and previous versions of files) for the...

How to Transfer Files from One Computer to Another Computer with Windows Easy Transfer This tutorial will show you how to transfer your user files and settings from one computer to another using the Windows Easy Transfer tool.This feature is available in Vista and Windows 7. It can also be used as a handy backup if you are thinking about installing a new build of Windows 7 on your current machine.This process can also be used between accounts if, for example, your old account has been acting up and you do not want to re-install and transfer your old data. To do this you will need to follow the steps outlined in Step 1 below, then create a new user account. Next, log into the new User account and proceed to follow Step 2 below to...

How to Use Speccy in Windows to Publish your Complete System Specifications Speccy from Piriform is one of the best, in my subjective opinion the best program to extract and collect complete system specifications of your Windows PC. Following these instructions you can publish your complete system specifications without revealing any personal information. The information cannot be used in any way to access your computer or network. Publishing the information Speccy extracts is absolutely 100% safe. Here's How: 1. If you have not already, you'll need to install Speccy (Free, Professional or Business). 2. While in Speccy, click on File menu and Publish Snapshot. 3. Click/tap on Yes to allow publishing. 4. Speccy publishes...

Logon Screen - Fix Showing Only "Other User" and Last Logged On User How to Fix Windows 7 Logon Screen Showing Only "Other User" and Last Logged On User Icon If your Windows 7 login, welcome, or switch user screen only displays the last user that was logged on and Other User icons instead of the icons of all users created on the computer, then this tutorial will show you how to fix this. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. It is highly recommended that you create a restore point before doing this tutorial. This way if you make a mistake that leaves Windows 7 unbootable or messed up, you would be able to easily do a system restore and select the restore point to undo and fix the...

How to Create a "Power Options" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8 This tutorial will show you how to create or download a Power Options shortcut to select a power plan in Windows 7 and Windows 8. EXAMPLE: Power Options To Download the "Power Options" Shortcut 1. Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below Power_Options.zip http://www.sevenforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57035&stc=1&d=1267257145 2. Save the .zip file to your desktop. 3. Open the downloaded .zip file, and extract (drag and drop) the Power Options shortcut to your desktop. 4. Unblock the Power Options shortcut. 5. In Windows 7, you can now Pin to Taskbar or Pin to Start Menu, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut...

How to Add or Remove "Details" Tab in File Properties in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 This will show you how to add or remove the Details tab when users right click or press and hold on a file and click/tap on Properties 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: "Details" Tab in Properties Page of a File Here's How: 1. To Add "Details" Tab to Properties NOTE: This is the default setting. A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below. Add_Details_Tab_to_File_Properties.reg http://www.sevenforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=218501&stc=1&d=1340738964 B) Go to step 3. 2. To Remove "Details" Tab from Properties A)...

How to Use Extended Disk Cleanup in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 This will show you how to access and run the Extended Disk Cleanup function in Windows, allowing you to clean up more HDD space for you to use. This must be done in an elevated command window to complete. Let's get started! 1) In the Windows 7 start menu search box type "cmd" (without the quotes) right click the entry and select "Run As Administrator" then enter your user credentials for the UAC prompt and click yes to open the command window. 2) In the command window that opens type the command below and hit enter. Be advised: the command window must be left open while the cleanup is carried out. %SystemRoot%\System32\Cmd.exe /c Cleanmgr...

How to Enable or Disable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7 and Windows 8 The usual method used in Vista to disable the taskbar thumbnail previews does not work in Windows 7 and Windows 8. This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the thumbnail previews of open items on the taskbar in Windows 7 and Windows 8. In Windows 7, you will need to have a Aero Theme selected and not one of the Basic and High Contrast Themes for taskbar thumbnail previews to display. Aero Requirements to be Enabled in Windows 7 NOTE: If Aero is not enabled, then taskbar thumbnail previews will not display even when enabled. 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor 1 GB of system memory Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (in...

How to Add "Empty Recycle Bin" to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8 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 tutorial will show you how to add or remove Empty Recycle Bin from the desktop context menu for all users on the computer in Windows 7 and Windows 8. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial, but all users will be able to use the "Empty Recycle Bin" context menu item. Here's How: 1. To Add "Empty Recycle Bin" to the Top of the Desktop Context Menu A) Click on the Download button...

How to Change the Icon Cache Size in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 When an icon is loaded for the first time it is cached in the iconcache.db file. The cached icons load faster than icons loaded directly from the source resource files. If the limit of the cache file is reached and overridden, you could experience incorrect or corrupted icons. Increasing the icon cache size helps to prevent icons from reloading from the source or being corrupted. This tutorial will show you how to change the maximum size of the icon cache (iconcache.db) file to be more or less than it's default 500KB size for all users 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. The...

If the alignment of your SSD is not divisible by 4, you will suffer a noticeable performance degradation. On an SSD with an installed OS, this situation is not easily corrected. You can try the Paragon Alignment Tool, but I am not sure whether they will do the job without a fee. The steps below and the program I use are completely free and a lot of fun. I hope it can help you when your SSD is in an unfortunate misalignment situation. 1. The fast method 1. Watch this video: Align Partition Easily with AOMEI Partition Assistant Free 2. Download the program from here: Free Partition Manager - AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard 3. In case you do not remember the steps, here are the 3 steps to take once you are in the AOMEI...

How to Disable Windows 7 End of Support Reminder Notifications Microsoft made a commitment to provide 10 years of product support for Windows 7 when it was released on October 22, 2009. When this 10-year period ends, Microsoft will discontinue Windows 7 support so that they can focus their investment on supporting newer technologies and great new experiences. The specific end of support day for Windows 7 will be January 14, 2020. After that, technical assistance and software updates from Windows Update that help protect your PC will no longer be available for the product. Microsoft strongly recommends that you move to Windows 10 sometime before January 2020 to avoid a situation where you need service or support that is no longer...

How to Automatically Log On a User Account at Windows 7 Startup This will show you how to select or change a user account to have Windows 7 automatically log on to at startup. If you only have one user account that is not password protected on the computer, then Windows 7 will automatically log on to that account at startup. If you have more than one user account and the user account that you want to have Windows 7 log on to automatically at startup does not have a created password, then leave the password fields blank in step 6 below. This can only be done while logged on to an administrator account. It cannot be done from within a standard account. If you change the password for the user account you have set to have Windows 7...