Tutorials

How to Prevent or Allow a User to Change their Password in Vista and Windows 7 This will show you how to Allow or Prevent a selected User Account from being able to change their password from within User Accounts in the Control Panel (Classic View).By default in Vista and Windows 7, users are allowed to change their passwords. EXAMPLE: "Windows cannot change the password" Message NOTE: This is the message a user will get after trying to change their password if their option to change password is set to disabled. Through Local Users and Groups 1. Open the Local Users and Groups manager. 2. In the left pane, click on Users. (See screenshot below) 3. In the middle pane, right click on the user account you want to do this with and...

How to Change the Desktop Background Wallpaper in Vista The desktop background wallpaper is the image on the desktop from your personal collection or one that comes with Vista. You can also select a color for your desktop background or use a color to frame your background picture.The default Wallpaper folder is located at: C:\Windows\Web\WallpaperYou can download a ton of free wallpapers at: Free wallpapers, wallpaper download at Jurko.net Here's How: 1. Right click on a empty area of your desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below) 2. Click on Desktop Background. (See screenshot below) 3. To select a Image that is Displayed for the Wallpaper A) Highlight the image. (See screenshot below step 4) NOTE: If you...

How to Open and Change Folder Options in Vista Folder Options can change the way files and folders function, as well as how the content in folders are displayed. How to Open Folder Options 1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View) 2. Click on the Folder Options Icon. (See screenshot below) OR 1. In a Windows Explorer window. 2. Click on the Organize button. (See screenshot below) 3. Click on Folder and Search Options. OR 1. In a Windows Explorer window. 2. Click on the Tools menu. (See screenshot below) 3. Click on Folder Options. How to Change Folder Options NOTE: The Apply to Folders button will be grayed out unless you open it from within the same window that you want to apply the same changes to the other...

How to Replace "Delete" in the Recycle Bin Context Menu in Vista This will show you how to replace Delete in the Recycle Bin context menu with Disk Cleanup, Search, or Clear System Temps. EXAMPLE: Recylce Bin Context Menu with Delete EXAMPLE: Context Menu after Delete is Replaced with One of These Options Here's How: NOTE: You do not need to restore Delete to switch between the items below to replace Delete with. They will automatically replace each other. You will only need to restore Delete if you want Delete back instead of the items. 1. To Replace Delete with Disk Cleanup A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Replace with Disk Cleanup.reg...

How to Open a Folder in the Same or Separate New Window in Vista This will show you how to have a folder temporarily or always open in the same or separate new Windows Explorer window in Vista. To Temporarily Open a Folder in the Same or Separate Window NOTE: Explore (same window) is the default always action. To change the default option in the context menu to Explore (same window) or Open (separate window), see OPTION TWO below for how. 1. Open a Windows Explorer window. 2. Turn on the Navigation Pane. 3. Right click on a folder. (See screenshot below step 5) 4. To Open the Folder in the Same Window A) Click on Explore. NOTE: If Open is bolded instead, then turn on the Navigation Pane from step 2. You can also just click or...

How to Remove a Single Address or Reset the Entire List of Recently Used Addresses in Windows Mail Be sure to close Windows Mail before doing this. Reset Entire List of Recently Used Addresses NOTE: This will delete and clear the list. 1. To Reset Recently Used Addresses - A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Reset_Recently_Used_Addresses.reg https://www.vistax64.com/attachments/reset_recently_used_addresses-reg.3840/ 2. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop. 3. Right click on the downloaded .reg file, and click on Merge. 4. Click on Run, Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted. 5. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like. Manually Remove Recently Used...

How To Add Application Shortcuts To The Desktop Context Menu This tutorial aims to show you how to add application and batch file shortcuts to the desktop context menu. More precisely it aims to provide a template for this. Possible uses of the method include adding shortcuts for the Registry Editor, Command Prompt, and Task Manager. See the Examples section for several ideas. Instructions 1. Choose an executable or batch file as your target. In the figures I have chosen Firefox. You may also want to download the Basic Application Template found in the Examples section. TIP: To quickly find the directory of an application right click it and select properties. Copy the Location entry. NOTE: The shortcuts appear in the order in which...

How to Turn User Account Control (UAC) On or Off in Vista UAC or User Account Control is used to increase the security of the operating system by helping the user gain more control over the actions that are performed with administrative rights on their computers. Anytime a action requires administrative rights, UAC will confirm the action with you first. When a program asks for your permission to run with a UAC prompt, this means that program is asking for complete and unrestricted access to every part of your computer. This keeps you in control of what is happening on your computer. For more information, see: Windows Help and How-To: What is User Account Control? Microsoft TechNet: Security: Inside Windows Vista User Account Control...

How to Import & Export Favorites in Internet Explorer INFO: This tutorial explains the procedure for exporting and importing your favorites in IE7. NOTE: This tutorial concentrates on favorites, but the same procedure can be applied if you want to follow this method for managing your cookies and feeds. In this case, some of the dialogue boxes may be slightly different, but the principal is the same. See the section on E-mail for information on importing an attachment. DEFAULT FILENAMES: FAVORITES bookmark.htm COOKIES cookies.txt FEEDS feeds.opml 1) These options are found when you click 'Add to Favorites' (the yellow star with a green plus sign). 2) One of the options here is 'Import and Export...'. Select this option. This starts...

How to Enable or Disable "Clear Virtual Memory Paging File at Shutdown" in Vista and Windows 7 This will show you how to enable or disable clearing the virtual memory pagefile when you restart or shutdown the computer. By default, this setting is disabled in Vista and Windows 7. WHY ENABLE: Sensitive information may have been temporarily stored in the virtual memory pagefile. For this security reason and others, it may be a good idea to enable this setting to clear the virtual memory pagefile occasionally or when you suspect this. When this setting is enabled it will clear the virtual memory pagefile, and the hibernation file only on a portable computer, when you restart or shutdown the computer. WHY DISABLE: When this setting is...

Dual Boot using Free Partitioning Software Walkthrough: Using manage function in Vista to partition hard drive and operating system(s) installation (see related link for Syschat) OR: For partitioning space larger than Vista will allow (download free partitioning software, follow steps) >Paragon Partitioner Step1 Burn ISO Partitioner to CD (ISO is a disk image. for free ISO image burning software):BURNCDCC to burn ISO, run BURNCDCC, and navigate to Partitioner unzipped ISO Image file. Nero users will find ISO image burning as program feature, and can add the downloaded file for burning. Step2 Boot off Paragon Partitioner disk; follow instructions to resize/create partitions Restart to allow Windows to see new partion, then Insert...

How to Change a Icon in the Control Panel in Vista This will show you how to change most of the classic view Control Panel icons listed below to whatever you want them to be.To change the icons back to their default (original) icons, see the post below for a list of the original default paths, and then follow these same steps. See: Control Panel Icons The icons you decide to use must be a 256x256 .ico icon file (not .PNG) to be used in Vista without any viewing problems with a larger size. A PNG file must be converted to a 256x256 ICO file before it can be used. To convert a PNG to ICO you must use a program such as this free 30 day trial program called Axialis IconWorkshop: Axialis IconWorkshop Download Page . Here's a good location...

How to Delete the Windows.old Folder in Vista If you performed a custom installation (not a upgrade installation), without formatting the drive for a clean install, and selected to install Vista on the same partition of the previous Windows installation, then this will show you how to delete the Windows.old folder generated during installation. The C:\Windows.old folder contains folders and files from the previous Windows installation.For how to restore a computer to a previous Windows installation after you install Windows Vista, see: How to restore a computer to a previous Windows installation after you install Windows Vista You will need to do this while logged on to an administrator account. EXAMPLE: Windows.old Folder NOTE...

How to Associate a File Extension Type With a Program in Vista This will show you how to associate a file extension type or protocol to open with a program that you want it to open with by default. These Default Programs association settings are a per user setting and not applied to all users. The program you select will need to be able to support that file extension for it to open it. For example, .TXT with Notepad or Wordpad. It would not open with MSPaint. Through a Download 1. Go to the link below to select a file extension to download a .reg file for to merge and restore it's default associations for. Restore Default Vista File Extension Type Associations Through Open WithTo add a program to the Open With menu list, see...

How to Turn Windows Update Automatic Updating On or Off in Vista This will show you how to turn Windows Update automatic updating on or off and how to adjust it's settings in Vista.To have Vista install important updates as they become available, turn on automatic updating. Important updates provide significant benefits, such as improved security and reliability. You can also set Vista to automatically install recommended updates, which can address non-critical problems and help enhance your computing experience. Optional updates are not downloaded or installed automatically. For a complete list of Windows Updates with descriptions, see: ITsVISTA: Windows Updates For more about the types of updates that Microsoft publishes, see...

How to Change Folder Permissions Info: If you have multiple users on your computer, and there are specific folders that you do not want them to access (perhaps because they contain sensitive information of some sort), then this will show you how to modify the permissions of a folder so that only you can access them. WARNING: Do not perform this procedure on a drive root (C:\, D:\, etc.), because you may not be able to easily restore the default permissions later. Incorrectly modifying the permissions of a drive root folder could render that drive inaccessible and could lead to data loss. Option One To Make a Folder Private: 1. Open Windows Explorer. 2. Navigate to the drive or folder containing the folder for which you want to...

How to Restore the System Configuration Restart Prompt in Vista If you checked the Don't show this message again box in the Restart prompt in System Configuration (MsConfig), then this will show you how to restore the Restart prompt so it will display again when you make changes in System Configuration. CREDIT TO: Dzomlija (Peter) EXAMPLE: System Configuration (MsConfig) Restart Prompt Using a REG File Download 1. To Restore MsConfig Restart Prompt A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Restore_Msconfig_Restart_Prompt.reg https://www.vistax64.com/attachments/restore_msconfig_restart_prompt-reg.4125/ 2. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop. 3. Right click on the downloaded .reg file...

How to Use and Create a Flip 3D Shortcut in Vista This will show you how to open and use Flip 3D, plus how to create a Flip 3D shortcut. Flip 3D is used to flip through your currently open windows in a easy to use format without having to click on the taskbar. Flip 3D displays your open windows in a stack. At the top of the stack, you'll see one open window. To see the other windows, you flip through the stack. Flip 3D is called Switch between windows in Quick Launch. HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR: WINDOWS AERO See: Windows Help and Support: Troubleshoot problems with Windows Aero NOTE: The Windows Aero color scheme is not available for the Vista Home Basic version. :( 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor 1 GB of system memory A graphics...

How to Add and Remove Internet Explorer Restricted Sites This will show you how to add or remove website addresses in the Internet Explorer Restricted Sites list.Restricted sites is a Security zone level in Internet Explorer that is applied to sites that might potentially damage your computer or your information. Adding sites to the Restricted sites zone does not block them, but it prevents them from using scripting or any active content. The security level for Restricted sites is set to High and can't be changed.In addition to the listed Restricted sites, you can also customize and change the Restricted sites security settings by clicking on the Custom level button. Here's How: 1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View or Icons...

Remove Virus without Booting into Windows Vista This will show you how to scan the system for viruses when Windows Vista fails to boot, or the system keeps restarting and not allowing you to do anything. Reboot to the Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Recovery Environment (WinRE) 1. Restart the computer. 2. Tap the <F8> key during startup until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears. NOTE: If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, restart the computer, and try again. 3. Press the <Down Arrow> until Repair Your Computer is highlighted, and press <Enter>. A) The System Recovery Options window appears. 4. Click to select your language, and click Next. 5. Log in as a user with administrative rights, and click OK. The Windows...