Tutorials

How to Add or Remove the Public Folder Desktop Icon in Vista This will show you how to add or remove the Public folder desktop icon for when you are using either the Classic Start Menu or new Vista Start Menu.This can be helpful if you have a Public folder on the desktop that you cannot delete, or would like a Public folder on the desktop for easier access.EXAMPLE: Public Folder on the Desktop NOTE: This is example was using the Vista Start Menu and not Classic Start Menu. Using a REG File Download 1. To Add Public Folder to Desktop Using Classic Start Menu A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Add_Public_Clasisc_Start_Menu.reg...

How to Reset the Pin To Start Menu Area in Vista This will show you how to reset the Pin to Start Menu area to remove all current pinned items and restore the default pinned items in Vista. This is helpful if you cannot "Unpin from Start Menu" a item. EXAMPLE: Pin to Start Menu area "set by you" and "reset to default" Using a REG File Download 1. Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Reset_Pin_to_Start_Menu.zip https://www.vistax64.com/attachments/reset_pin_to_start_menu-zip.8539/ 2. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the desktop. 3. Open the .zip file and extract the .reg file to the desktop. 4. Right click the extracted .reg file and click on Merge. 5. Click on Run, Continue, Yes, and OK when...

How to Change the Size of Desktop Icons in Vista This will show you how to increase or decrease the size of all the icons on the Desktop in Vista. The icons size is set to Medium Icons by default.To see the icons for internet URL shortcuts on the Desktop instead of the default e icon, you must have the View set to Classic Icons. For more on this, see: How to Add a Fully Functional IE7 Shortcut Icon to the Desktop in Vista To Change Size with the Context Menu 1. Right click on a empty space on the desktop. 2. Click on View. (See screenshot below) 3. Select the size you want. (Classic, Medium, or Large Icons) To Change Size with the Mouse Scroll Wheel NOTE: This will also work on all icons in Windows Explorer. 1. Highlight the...

How to See the Folder Size in Vista In Vista Windows Explorer you can see the size of a file in the Size column. However, the folder is left blank with no size. This will show you how to see the size for the folder.This was done on purpose. On large content folders, it can take a few seconds to gather the size information for it. Now image that mulitplied by how many folders are in the window (EX: C:\Windows\System32). It could make navigating Windows Explorer an extremely slow nightmare. EXAMPLE: Windows Explorer Folder Size Column View Folder Size in a Pop-up Description NOTE: This is turned on by default in Vista. You will still only be able to see the size of one folder at a time though. 1. Open Folder Options. NOTE: For more...

How to Customize and Save the View in the Services Window in Vista This will show you how to save changes made to the icons size, add or remove columns, and customize the view in the Services window in Vista.The default path for the Services file is C:\Windows\System32\services.msc.Any changes made will just be reset back to the default view when you open the Services window next. EXAMPLE: Services window Here's How: 1. For a New Custom Services Window A) In Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows\System32, right click on services.msc, and click on Author. B) Go to step 3. 2. To Save Changes to an Existing Custom Services Window A) In Windows Explorer, navigate to where you previously saved the existing custom Services window...

How to Mount or Dismount a Drive or Partition to a Folder in Vista A mounted drive or partion is mapped (mounted) to an empty folder on another drive or partition that has been formated with the NTFS file system. A mounted drive is also known as a mounted folder because of this. This will show you how to mount or dismount a drive or partion to that folder.Mounted drives or partitions are typically assigned a label or name instead of a drive letter, but you can add or remove a drive letter to the mounted drive or partition if you like though. They can be useful if you need to share partitions or drives with many users. If the mounted drive or partition has a drive letter, then it can be accessed from Computer and from the folder. If the...

How to Add or Remove Help from the Normal and Classic Vista Start Menu This will show you how to add or remove the Help and Support option from the Normal and Classic Start menu in Vista. By default this is added to both Start menu choices. EXAMPLE: Normal Start Menu with Help and Support Added and Removed NOTE: You can use Option One or Two below for the Normal Start menu. EXAMPLE: Classic Start Menu with Help and Support Added and Removed NOTE: You will need to use Option Two below for the Classic Start menu. For the Normal Start Menu OnlyThis will only remove the Help and Support option for the default Normal Start menu. For the Classic Start menu, see Option Two below. 1. Right click on the Start button or on a empty space...

How to Add Empty Folder and Subfolders to the Vista or Windows 7 Context Menu This will show you how to add Empty Folder and Subfolders to the Vista context menu to be able to automatically permanently delete all file contents of a folder and it's subfolders without deleting the subfolders when you right click on a folder and click on Empty Folder and Subfolders.Be careful of what folder you decide to empty. The files deleted by this are permanently deleted and not placed in the Recycle Bin. EXAMPLE: Context Menu with "Empty Folder and Subfolders" added Here's How: 1. To Add Empty Folder and Subfolders NOTE: This will add Empty Folder and Subfolders to the context menu to automatically permanently delete the file contents of a...

How to Restore or Remove Windows Mail from Default Programs This will show you how to either restore or remove Windows Mail from the Set Default Programs list in Vista for all users.If you wanted to set Windows Mail as the default email program, then see this tutorialinstead. EXAMPLE: Internet Explorer Restored and Removed from Set Default Programs list Using a REG File Download NOTE: This option will only restore Windows Mail back to the Set Default Programs list. 1. Click on the Download button below to download the file below. WindowsMailRegistry.reg https://www.vistax64.com/attachments/windowsmailregisty-reg.7288/ 2. Click on Save and save the .reg file to the desktop. 3. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click...

How to Restore Missing Default Time Zones in Vista If when you attempt to change the time zone in Vista and either the Change time zone button does not work or you have missing time zones, then this will show you how to restore the default times zones so you can change the time zone again. You will need to be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial. This usually is caused by allowing some registry cleaner program to delete registry entries at the location below that it should not have. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Time Zones EXAMPLE: "Change time zone" button does not work EXAMPLE: Default and Missing Time Zones NOTE: Left screenshot is the default list of time zones, and...

How to Change the Time Zone in Vista This will show you how to change the Time Zone in Vista. Click on Clock 1. Click on the clock on the taskbar. (See screenshot below) 2. Click on Change date and time settings. (See screenshot below) 3. Go to step 3 in OPTION TWO below. Use Clock Context Menu 1. Right click on the clock on the taskbar. (See screenshot below) 2. Click on Adjust Date/Time. (See screenshot below) 3. Click the Change time zone button. (See screenshot below) NOTE: Check the Remind me one week before this change occurs box to be reminded of the Daylight Savings time change. 4. Change the Time zone to the correct one for your region. (See screenshot below) NOTE: If your time zone observes daylight saving...

How to Open a Command Prompt at Startup in Vista This will show you how to open a command prompt at startup from the System Recovery Options or Advanced Boot Options screen in Vista.Command Prompt is a feature of Vista that provides an entry point for typing MS‑DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System)commands and other computer commands. The most important thing to know is that by typing commands, you can perform tasks on your computer without using the Vista graphical interface (GUI). Command Prompt is typically only used by advanced users.How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows Vista From Advanced Boot Options NOTE: This starts Vista in safe mode with a...

How to Back Up Data without Booting into Windows Vista Wait, how can I back up my stuffs when I cant even boot to windows because of this blue screen or any other windows errors? Today, we will show you how you can make use of a USB flash drive to save your important things when windows fails to boot. Step 1: Boot into the System Recovery Options screen. Step 2: Click on the Command prompt option. Step 3: Type notepad and press Enter to open a notepad. Press Ctrl+S and it will open a Save As Dialog Box. Step 4: Click on Computer and it will open up all your drives. Step 5: Connect a USB flash drive and back up your data the easy way using copy and paste functionality. Currently, i do not have its screen shots but i will post it...

How to Enable or Disable Open Folders in a New Process in Vista This will show you how to enable or disable the option to have all folder windows open in a separate new Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) process in Vista.This is not the same as just having a folder open in a separate new window. Those two folder windows would still just be running in the same single explorer.exe process. Having a folder open in a separate process will allow multiple instances of the open folder window to be running with each instance running with a separate explorer.exe process. If one of these instances should close or crash, the other instances would be completely unaffected by it.This can increase the stability of Windows 7 by opening every folder in...

How to Move a Offscreen Window Back to the Desktop in Vista This would be a window that you accidentally moved off the screen to far to get to it with the mouse pointer or if a laptop or computer is plugged up to a temporary secondary monitor and then disconnected without remembering to move the window(s) back to the primary desktop. Here's How: 1. Right click on the offscreen window's tab on the taskbar. (See screenshot below) 2. Click on Move. NOTE: If Move is grayed out, then click on Restore first. 3. The mouse pointer will now turn into the Move cursor. 4. Press one of the arrow keys on the keyboard. 5. Now either move the offscreen window back in view by moving the mouse, or use the arrow keys. Hold the arrow key down...

How to Customize the Welcome Center Manufacturer Information If you're running Vista and do not disable Welcome Center at start-up, then this will show you how to customize it. If you have purchased your computer and your operating system is integrated with it, your manufacturer's information might already be modified or created by your manufacturer. For example, I have here a DELL logo: And I change it to something like this: LOL...:p To do that, simply: 1. Click on Start-->Computer-->Local Disk (C: -->Windows-->System32-->oobe-->info 2. In the Info folder, right click the file OOBE.xml and choose open with WordPad. Then you'll see this: 3. Find : <oemLogo...

How to Stop the "You have files waiting to be burned to disc" Message If you have the You have files waiting to be burned to disc Notification Area balloon message at every startup or log on of Vista, or just want to stop files waiting to be burned to disc, then this will show you how to stop this by clearing the Temporary Burn Cache folder.Unless you place a blank CD or DVD in the CD/DVD drive, you usually will also have a blank window when you click on the To view the files now, click this balloon link. EXAMPLE: You have files waiting to be burned to disc Notification Area balloon message EXAMPLE: To view the files now, click this balloon - Blank Window From Computer Window 1. Open the Start menu, and click on the Computer...

How to Enhance Windows Vista DreamScene with Stardock DeskScapes Stardock DeskScapes extends Windows DreamScene to support dynamic animated wallpaper by adding support for the new .Dream format. The .Dream format supports triggers, dynamic content, MPEG video, WMV video, and author information. This gives you a wider choice of animated wallpapers to choose from. For more information and updates, see: Stardock.com: DeskScapesDeskScapes is only for Vista Ultimate, and you must have Windows DreamScene installed. See: How to Install and Use DreamScene in Vista On some computers, DeskScapes and can cause a significant performance impact. Some Dreams will use more of the CPU Usage than others. You can check in Task Manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC)...

How to Enable or Disable Windows Mail Splash Screen This will show you how to enable or disable the Windows Mail splash startup screen.This can save you a few seconds off of the loading time of Windows Mail with it the Splash Screen turned off. EXAMPLE: Windows Mail Splash Screen Using a REG File Download 1. To Disable the Splash Screen A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Disable_Splash_Screen.reg https://www.vistax64.com/attachments/disable_splash_screen-reg.1583/ B) Go to step 3. 2. To Enable the Splash Screen A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Enable_Splash_Screen.reg https://www.vistax64.com/attachments/enable_splash_screen-reg.15905/ 3. Click on Save, and save...

How to Install a Device Driver in Vista Device Manager This will show you how to install or update a device driver using the Device Manager in Vista if you cannot do so in any other way. You must be running the Device Manager with administrative credentials for this. Here's How: NOTE: I will use a sound card (audio adapter) for this example. This may either be on-board or an external card. 1. Open the Control Panel (Standard View). 2. Click on System and Maintenance and then System. 3. Under Tasks, click on Device Manager. 4. Provide administrative credentials when prompted. 5. Click on the + sign next to the device that you wish to install a driver for to expand it. 6. Right click on the selected device and click...