Tutorials

How to Change the Internet Explorer Search Box Settings This will show you how to use, setup, and change the default search provider for the Internet Explorer Search box.To add or remove the Iternet Explorer Search box for all user accounts, see: How to Add or Remove the Internet Explorer Search Box in VistaThe keyboard shortcut to open and take you to the Internet Explorer Search box is: CTRL+E EXAMPLE: Internet Explorer Search Box Here's How: 1. To Search the Web A) Type what you want to search for and press Enter or click the magnifying glass button. (See example screenshot above) 2. To Use and Change the Search Box Options A) Click on the drop down arrow for the search box options. (See screenshots below) NOTE: See steps 3, 4...

How to Enable or Disable the Vista Welcome Center for All Users Startup This will show you how to enable or disable the Welcome Center from running at startup or log on for all user accounts on the computer including any new user accounts created.By default the Welcome Center is enabled to run at startup until you disable it.This can be handy to prevent the Welcome Center from running at log on or startup for new user accounts that you have created without having to manually disable the Welcome Center from within that new account. This tutorial will need to be done from a administrator account. If you enable the Welcome Center to run at startup and logon for all users, you may still need to manually enable the Welcome Center for a...

How to Enable or Disable the Vista Welcome Center at Startup This will show you how to enable or disable the Welcome Center from running at startup for only the currently logged in user account.By default the Welcome Center is enabled to run at startup until you disable it.If you wish to do this with another user account than the user account that you are logged into, then you will need to log out and log on to that account instead. Through Welcome Center and Control Panel 1. To Enable the Welcome Center to Run at Startup A) Open the Control Panel (Classic View) B) Click on the Welcome Center icon. C) Check the Run at startup box at the bottom of the Welcome Center window. (See screenshot below step 3) D) Go to step 3. 2. To...

How to Enable or Disable Create Vista System Restore Point when a Application is Installed This will show you how to enable or disable System Restore from creating a restore point automatically when you install a application on your computer.System Restore enables users, in the event of a problem, to restore their computers to a previous state without losing personal data files. By default, the Windows Installer automatically creates a System Restore point each time an application is installed, so that users can restore their computer to the state it was in before installing the application.System Restore will need to be turned on for Vista to be able to create a restore point. Through the Local Group Policy Editor NOTE: This method...

How to Disable or Enable a Specific Security Center Alert Notification in Vista This will show you how to enable or disable the Security Center Alert Warning Notification for only UAC turned off, Firewall programs, Antivirus programs, and/or AntiSpyware (Ex: Windows Defender) programs. These are all enabled by default in Vista.To enable or disable all Security Center Alert Warning Notifications, see: How to Disable or Enable the Security Center Alert Warning Notification in Vista instead.This can be helpful if you would like to keep Security Center and the Security Center Alert Notifications enabled, but one of your security programs is giving you false alerts and you want to disable just that one alert.If you disable the Security...

How to Change the Desktop Icons View Alignment and Sort By Order in Vista This will show you how to hide or show all icons on the desktop, or change how all of the icons are aligned (View) and sorted (Sort By) on the desktop to how you want them displayed. EXAMPLE: View Before (Everything Unchecked), Align to Grid, and Auto Arrange Hide or Show All Desktop Icons 1. Right click on the desktop and click on View. (See screenshot below step 3) 2. To Hide All Desktop Icons A) Click on Show All Icons to uncheck it. (See screenshot below step 3) 3. To Show All Dekstop Icons A) Click on Show All Icons to check it. Change the Desktop View Alignment Settings 1. Right click on the desktop and click on View. (See screenshot below...

How to Fix a Crashing Internet Explorer in Vista This will show you how to reset Internet Explorer (IE) back to it's default settings when IE keeps crashing or is not running properly, and how to fix the problem.This is usually caused by a bad or corrupted add-on. Make sure that you have the latest version of the add-on installed. Sometimes the add-on will just need to be uninstalled and reinstalled to fix the problem with it. If the steps below in the tutorial do not help, then: Try having DEP turned off for IE. See: How to Enable or Disable DEP in Vista Try these steps. See: Microsoft Help and Support: Internet Explorer stops responding, stops working, or restarts This will delete all temporary browser files, disable browser...

How to Restore or Remove Internet Explorer from Default Programs This will show you how to either restore or remove Internet Explorer from the Set Default Programslist in for all users in Vista and Windows 7. EXAMPLE: Internet Explorer Restored and Removed from Set Default Programs list Here's How: 1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View-Vista) or (Icons view-Windows 7). 2. Click on the Default Programs icon. 3. Click on the Set program access and computer defaults link. (See screenshot below) 4. If prompted by UAC, then click on Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7). 5. Dot Custom and click on the drop down arrow to the right of it to expand Custom. (See screenshot below step 6) 6. Scroll down to the Choose a default web...

How to Pin a Folder to the Start Menu in Vista By default in Vista, you are only able to pin a program or a program shortcut to the left white side of the Start Menu. This will show you how to also allow a folder or a folder shortcut to be pinned to the Start Menu. This will only add Pin to Start Menu to a folder, or folder shorcut, on the Desktop or in Windows Explorer. It does not add it for folders in the Start menu All Programs area. It is best to Pin the actual source folder and not a shortcut to the folder. It is easier for a shortcut to be moved or deleted, causing the Pinned folder in the Start menu to not work anymore. EXAMPLE: Pin area of the Start Menu NOTE: This is the left white side of the Start menu. If you would...

How to Set the Processor Affinity for a Application in Vista By default, Vista set processes to run on all available processors (CPUs). If you have multiple processors or a multi-core processor, then you can use Process Affinity to control what processor(s) a application runs on. This will show you how to change the Processor Affinity for an application (process). WHY: Like setting the CPU Priority, you can set the Processor Affinity to have a application (Ex: Anti-Spyware scan) to use only one CPU while you have another application (Ex: Internet Explorer) running on just the other CPU to allow maximum usage of the CPU assigned to each application. If the installed application supports Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) or...

How to Restore or Remove Windows Media Player from Default Programs This will show you how to either restore or remove Windows Media Player (WMP) from the Set Default Programslist in for all users in Vista and Windows 7.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 Maker. The N editions of Windows 7 allow you to choose your own media player and software required to manage and play CDs, DVDs, and other digital media files. If you choose to use Windows Media Player 12, downloading it, along with related software, is free. Download Media Feature Pack for Windows 7 N...

How to Create a "Internet Explorer No Add-ons" Shortcut in Vista This will allow you to download and restore the Internet Explorer (No Add-ons) shortcut for either the 32 bit or 64 bit Vista.Internet Explorer (No Add-ons) is primarily a troubleshooting tool to help determine if you have a bad add-on installed in Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer (No Add-ons) loads Internet Explorer with all add-ons, such as ActiveX controls or toolbars, turned off.To see if you have the 32 bit or 64 bit version of Vista: Open the Start Menu Right click on the Computer button and click on Properties You will see you version to the right of System type EXAMPLE: Internet Explorer (No Add-ons) To Download the "IE No Add-ons" Shortcut 1. If You...

How to Change the Network Location Type in Vista When you first setup Vista or connect to a network, you must choose a network location type. This will explain and show you how to change the network location type so that Vista can automatically set the appropriate network and Windows Firewall settings for the type of network that you connect to. See STEP TWO step 7 here for during Vista installation: How to Do a Clean Install with a Full Version of Vista There are three Network locations, see below. You can change a network from the Private to the Public location type, or vice versa. Network Location Description Private (Home or Work) This is the location setting for when your computer is connected to trusted computers in a...

How to Enable or Disable the Recycle Bin Delete Confirmation Dialog in Vista This will show you how to enable or disable the delete confirmation dialog box for the Recycle Bin when you delete something. It is enabled by default. You can press and hold Shift key, right click on the file or folder you wanted to delete, click on Delete, and release Shift to permanently delete items. EXAMPLE: Recycle Bin Delete Confirmation Dialog Box Here's How: 1. Right click on the Recycle Bin desktop icon. 2. Click on Properties. 3. To Enable A) Check the Display delete confirmation dialog box. (See screenshot below step 5) B) Go to step 6. 4. To Disable A) Uncheck the Display delete confirmation dialog box. (See screenshot below step 5)...

How to Restore or Remove "File" from the Windows Explorer Menu Bar This will show you how to restore or remove File from the Menu bar in Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer for all users in Windows 7 and Vista.You will need to have the Menu bar enabled to be able to see the File menu item. EXAMPLE: Windows Explorer Menu bar with File Restored and Removed Through the Local Group Policy Editor 1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied. 2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and Windows Explorer. (See screenshot below) 3. In the right pane, right click on Remove File...

How to Set Vista Account Lockout when a User Fails to Logon This will allow you to set Vista to lockout user accounts at logon when a user fails to have a valid logon for how many attempts you specify until how many minutes you specify until they can try logging on again, or until a administrator unlocks the user account. By default, this is not enabled in Vista.Failed password attempts against workstations or member servers that have been locked using either CTRL+ALT+DELETE or password protected screen savers count as failed logon attempts. If this applies to you, be sure to allow for this in the Account lockout threshold amount below. EXAMPLE: A User Account Locked Out at Logon Through Local Security Policy NOTE: The Vista Home...

How to Allow or Prevent the Color Scheme to be Changed in Vista This will show you how to allow or prevent the Color Scheme in the Apearance Settings window to be changed for all users. By default, the color scheme is allowed to be changed.This is for the Windows Aero (All Vista editions except Home Basic), Windows Vista Standard (Only the Vista Home Basic edition), Windows Vista Basic, Windows Standard, Windows Classic, High Contrast White, High Contrast Black, High Contrast #2, and High Contrast #1 color scheme options depending on your edition of Vista. EXAMPLE: Color Scheme Set to Allow and Prevent from being Changed NOTE: For how to change these settings, see: How to Change the Color Scheme in Vista Through the Local Group...

How to Check if DirectX 10 and 10.1 is Properly Installed The DirectX Diagnostic Tool (opened by typing dxdiag in the Start menu search bar and pressing enter) displays which current DirectX version you have. DirectX comes with any Windows, DirectX 10 comes standard with any Windows Vista and DirectX 10.1 comes with Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista, but DirectX Diagnostics will still display DirectX 10.RELATED LINK: How to Use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool in Vista If you want to be sure DX10.1 has been installed on to your PC properly, then go to your Windows folder on the hard drive you have it installed too. For 32 bit users, open your System32 folder. For 64 bit users, open your SysWOW64 folder. Located the files that are...

How to Change the Width of Window Borders in Vista This will show you how to change the width of all of the window borders to what you want them to be in Vista. EXAMPLE: Default window borders size (4) EXAMPLE: Thicker window borders size Here's How: 1. Right click on a empty area of your desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below) 2. Click on Window Color and Appearace. (See screenshot below) 3. Click Open classic appearance properties for more color options. (See screenshot below) NOTE: If the color scheme Windows Aero or Windows Vista Standard (Vista Home Basic) is not running, then you will not see this screen, but see the screen in step 4 instead. 4. Click on the Advanced button. (See screenshot below)...

How to Disable or Enable Windows Features Access in Vista This will show you how to enable or disable access of Turn Windows and Features On or Off to view, enable, or disable various Windows features and services for all users. EXAMPLE: Windows Features Enabled or Disabled NOTE: The Turn Windows and Features On or Off link is found in the Control Panel's Programs and Features window. Through the Local Group Policy Editor 1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied. 2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and Programs. (See screenshot below) 3. In the right pane, right click...