Tutorials

Vista Tutorials Quick Reference Index A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z A: Abort - Create Shortcut How to Create an "Abort" Shortcut in Vista About Windows Vista How to See About Windows in Vista Account Lockout when a User Fails to Logon - Enable How to Set Account Lockout when a User Fails to Logon in Vista Activate Vista by Phone How to Activate Vista Normally and by Phone Activation Activation - Extend Trial Period How to Extend Vista Trial Period for Up to 120 Days Activation - Reduced Functionality Mode Your Activation Period has Expired Activation - Uninstall Product Key Number and Deactivate Windows How to Uninstall the Product Key Number and...

How to Download a Vista ISO and Create an Installation DVD or USB Downloads are available for the 32 (X86) and 64 bit (X64) versions of Vista Ultimate only, in English, French and German, but if, during the install, you do not enter the product key when initially prompted for it then you will be asked to select the version of Vista you want to install. It can be any of these four: Windows Vista Home Basic Windows Vista Home Premium Windows Vista Business Windows Vista Ultimate You must have a valid installation key, which should be on the COA sticker on the computer, to activate the installation once it completes. To Download the Vista Setup Files The Vista downloads listed below seem to come and go. Right now...

How to Start Vista in Safe Mode Safe mode is a troubleshooting option for Windows that starts your computer with a minimal set of drivers and services. If an existing problem does not reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and basic device drivers as possible causes.If your computer automatically starts in safe mode without prompting, a problem with your computer might be preventing Vista from starting normally. If you think the cause of the problem might be a recently installed program or device, then try using System Restore. See: How to Do a System Restore in VistaCHANGE SAFE MODE USER ACCOUNT LOGON: If you would like to change the user account that Safe Mode is currently logged on with, then...

How to Fix a Corrupted Recycle Bin in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 If you cannot Empty Recycle Bin or delete a file or folder inside the Recycle Bin, then this will show you how to fix the corrupted Recycle Bin so that you can by resetting it. This is done by deleting the Recycle Bin of each affected hard drive to have Windows automatically create a new clean Recycle Bin afterwards that will work properly again.This will permanently delete all files in the Recycle Bin for all user accounts on the computer To Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin Using an Elevated Command Prompt NOTE: You may need to repeat this inside of each hard drive or partition letter that you have displayed in Computer. 1. Open an elevated command prompt. 2. In the...

How to Change the Internet Time Synchronization Update Interval in Windows This tutorial will show you how to change the Internet Time Synchronization Update Interval to be updated more often in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. This could be used as a workaround if your system clock is constantly out of sync or slow, even though it says the sync was successful. Windows gets the initial time from the BIOS, check to see if the time and date is correct in it if the time is always incorrect. If the system clock loses track of the time when you shut down the computer, then this could be the CMOS battery on your motherboard getting weak and dying. You will just need to replace the battery. This is usually a lithium button cell, type...

Restore Default Vista File Extension Type Associations This will allow you to restore the default registry entries and program associations for the Vista file extension type of your choice. This can be helpful for example when a file extension type opens with the wrong program by default, has the wrong icon, or is missing or corrupted in the registry. Downloading the .reg file for the selected file extension in the tutorial below, will restore that file extension back to default for all of these items above. If the file extension type you need to restore is not listed below yet, then please post a request for it. I'll be happy to add it to the list. :) Default program associations for file extensions are a per user setting by...

How to See System Uptime in Vista and Windows 7 The system up time will show you how much time your system has been running since the last time the computer had been shutdown or restarted. It can be fun to see who has the longest up time. This can be handy in order to know if and when the system has recovered from a possible power failure or any other issue it might have had. See System "Up Time" Using Task Manager 1. Open the Task Manager. NOTE: Right click on the taskbar and click Task Manager, or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys. 2. Click on the Performance tab. (see screenshot below) 3. The current system Up Time is shown under System. See System "Up Time" Using a Command Prompt 1. Open the Start Menu, then copy and paste...

How to Create a Shortcut for "Show Windows Stacked" or "Show Windows Side by Side" This will show you how to create a Show Windows Stacked, Show Windows Side by Side, and a Undo Windows shortcut that can be placed where you like them for easy use in Windows 7 and Vista.These shortcuts will allow you to have open windows on your desktop to either be displayed side by side vertically or stacked horizontally. The UndoWindows shortcut will set the open window back the way they were displayed before clicking on the SideBySide and Stacked shortcuts.You can minimize the opened windows that you do not want included in the stack to the taskbar before using the scripts below. EXAMPLE: Show Windows Stacked on Desktop EXAMPLE: Show Windows Side...

How to Restore a Missing or Default Location of User Folders in Vista This tutorial will show you how to restore a personal user folder if it has been deleted, in the wrong location, or is missing from your C:\Users\(user name) or Start menu location. If you have duplicate user folders instead, then you will need to backup the contents of the duplicate user folders, do OPTION TWO below, delete the duplicate folders, then you may need to restart the computer a couple of times first before the default location is restored. EXAMPLE: Personal User Profile Folders EXAMPLE: Personal User Profile Folders Start menu Location Restore User Folders Using Folder Properties NOTE: This can help restore the default location of a user folder...

How to Upload and Post a Screenshot and File in Vista Forums This tutorial will show you how to upload, attach, and post a screenshot, image, or a file in your post here at Vista Forums. CONTENTS: Option One: To Insert Image into Post Option Two: To Attach Files to Post option1To Insert Image into Post 1. Do step 2 or step 3 below for how you want to insert an image into your post. option1s22. Drag and drop the image from your computer to where you want into your post, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below) option1s33. Place the cursor in your post where you want to insert the image at, click/tap on the Insert image (Ctrl+P) button on the toolbar of your post, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)...

How to Hide or Unhide a Drive in Vista and Windows 7 This will show you how to hide or unhide a drive from being displayed in Computer and Windows Explorer in Vista and Windows 7. By default, all drives are not hidden.This will only hide or unhide the drive in Vista and Windows 7, and will not prevent access to the drive from say the command prompt or Run command window. This will not unhide a drive that was not hidden by this method. EXAMPLE: The D drive set to Unhide and Hide in Computer NOTE: Open the Start menu and click on the Computer button to see this. Using the Local Group Policy Editor NOTE: For more drive letter options, see Method Three below. 1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except...

How to Backup and Restore Messages in Windows Mail To Backup your messages, you will use the Export option. To Restore your messages that you have already backed up, you will use the Import option. This will save a copy of your messages to a empty folder outside of Windows Mail that you can use for a backup. Windows Mail email messages have the .eml file extension.The default hidden system folder location where Windows Mail store the messages at is: C:\users\(user-name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folders To backup everything (Accounts, Message Rules, and All Settings) in Windows Mail, then see the How to Backup and Reset Windows Mail section here: How to Fix Most Problems with Vista's "Windows Mail" How to Export...

How to Do a System Restore in Vista This will show you how to do a System Restore to help you restore your computer's system files, programs, and registry settings to an earlier point in time. It will not affect your personal files, such as e‑mail, documents, or photos, so it cannot help you restore a deleted file. Be sure to use a restore point dated before the problem started or it will not help you. If this System Restore did not help or made things worse and you need or want to undo it, then see: How to Undo the Last System Restore in Vista System Restore uses this Service with this setting: Volume Shadow Copy This service is set to Manual by default. If you dual boot with Windows XP, then everytime you start in XP the...

How to Disable or Enable Vista Services This will show you how to enable or disable a Service in Vista with the help of an advice guide. The guides have different levels of recommendations. Services are a computer program or process that runs in the background and provides support to other programs in Vista.If you want to cut down the overhead of what is running in the background and speed Vista up some, then only disable the services you do not use. If you disable a service that you need or use, then it could actually lower your computer's performance. The Services apply to all users on the computer. Configuration Information: Automatic - With a service in this state, it will start at boot time. Some services, when no longer...

How to Use the Snipping Tool in Vista and Windows 7 This tutorial will show you how to use the 'Snipping Tool' to select an area of an on-screen image for use in other programs and applications. 1) In this tutorial, I will show you how to use the 'Vista Snipping Tool' to select an area of an on-screen image for use in other programs and applications. The image I have chosen for this example is found in the 'Sample Pictures' folder, and is the 'Toco Toucan'. The first image shows the full picture, and this example will show you how to select the Toucan from the picture. For details on how this image was inserted into the tutorial, refer to the footnote at the end. 2) With the screen showing the image from which you wish to make...

How to Fix the Error "The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded." When you log on to Vista or Windows 7 using a temporary profile (user account), you receive this error message: The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded. For more information, see: Error message when you log on to a Windows Vista-based or Windows 7-based computer by using a temporary profile: "The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded" CAUSE: The jury is still out on the exact cause, but so far : This issue may occur if the user profile was manually deleted by using the command prompt or Windows Explorer by a user or by some program. A profile that is manually deleted does...

How to Use the Vista SP2 Disk Cleanup Tool This will show you how to run the Vista SP2 Cleanup tool to permanently remove the Vista RTM and SP1 backed up files created during the installion of the Vista SP2 to gain more hard drive space.Running the Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Disk Clean-up tool permanently removes the ability to uninstall the Vista SP1 and SP2. Do not run this tool unless you have no plans of uninstalling the Vista SP1 or SP2 and just want to save or regain hard drive space. The only option to remove them after using this tool is to do a clean install of Vista.To see how much space you recover, make a note of how much free space you have on the C:/ drive in Computer before and after you run the SP2 Cleanup Tool. It...

How to Use Disk Cleanup in Vista Disk Cleanup finds and then removes temporary files on your computer that you decide you no longer need to free up hard drive space.For how to delete the Vista Temporary Files in Disk Cleanup that are less than a week old, see: How to Set Disk Cleanup to Delete Vista Temporary Files Less than a Week OldChecking the Hibernation File Cleaner option to be deleted will disable the Hibernate and Hybrid sleep mode. If you did accidentally delete it, then see: How to Enable or Disable Hibernation in Vista Here's How: 1. Open the Start Menu. A) Click on All Programs, Accessories, System Tools folder, and Disk Cleanup. B) Go to step 3. OR 2. Open the Start Menu. A) In the white line (Start Search) area...

How to Troubleshoot a Vista or Windows 7 Sleep Mode Problem This will show you some steps to help you troubleshoot and find out what is causing your sleep mode problem. These are the usual reasons for sleep mode problems. For more information, see: Windows Help and How-to: Turn Off a Computer FAQs When your computer is in hibernation, the only way to wake it is to tap the case power button. If this sleep mode problem just started recently, then you might consider doing a System Restore before or after trying the steps below if they do not help. Common Problems: Computer will wake up for no reason. Sleep mode does not work any more. Hibernate option is not available in Power Options, then you accidentally deleted the Hibernation file...

How To Perform a Repair Installation For Vista This will allow you to repair your Vista installation and keep all of your personal user account files, settings, and programs. You will be performing a Upgrade Install from within your currently running Vista. You will have to use the exact same Vista installation media type that you currently have installed. You will not be able to do a upgrade install in Safe Mode. You must have Retail Full or Upgrade Vista installation DVD to do this. Some people have had problems with a Full version letting them do a upgrade install though. A OEM (retail version) Vista installation DVD that you buy at a store and does not come with the computer are usually the same as a regular retail (full or...

How to Rebuild the Icon Cache in Vista If you have any icons that are not displaying correctly in Vista, then rebuilding the icon cache will reset them. This will show you how to delete the icon cache, to clear it, so Vista will rebuild it after a restart. The icon cache is located at the hidden system folder location below: C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Local\IconCache.db This does not change the icons. It only clears the icon cache to get rid of any corruption and rebuilds the icon cache with the correct icons again. If this is for a internet URL icons (favicons), in IE7 Favorites for example, then you will need to delete the Temporary Internet Files to reset these icons instead. For how, see: How to Delete the Internet Explorer...