Tutorials

How to Create a Drive Shortcut in Vista This will show you how to create a shortcut for any drive that has a letter for it in Computer. You can then place this shortcut where you like for easy use. Here's How: 1. Open the Start menu. 2. Click on the Computer button. (See screenshot below) 3. In the Computer window, right click on the drive you want a shortcut for and click on Create Shortcut. (See screenshot below) NOTE: This will create a shortcut of the selected drive on the desktop. 4. Move the drive shortcut where you like for easy use. That's it, Shawn How to Shrink and Create a Partition with Disk Management in Vista How to Delete and Extend a Partition with Disk Management in Vista How to Change a Drive Icon in...

Set Disk Cleanup to Delete Temporary Files Less than a Week Old in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 By default, Disk Cleanup cannot delete Windows temporary files unless they have not been accessed in at least 7 days. This tutorial will show you how to be able to delete these temporary files using Disk Cleanup regardless of their last accessed date in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. To see how to use Disk Cleanup to clear the Vista Temporary Files, see METHOD ONE here: How to Clear Vista Temporary Files in the Temp FolderYou will still not be able to delete a temporary file if it is currently use. EXAMPLE: Disk Cleanup Temporary Files Option Using a REG File Download 1. For No Last Access Date A) Click on the download button...

How to Open a Vista Retail Clear DVD Case After reading over 30 or so post in other forums where folks are asking how to open up the case just to get to the Vista DVD inside, I decided to help out a little.. Most people have spent days, and in some cases even weeks pulling and yanking on the case, pinching the tabs on the swinging door etc. HERE IT IS FOLKS.. NOTE: For more information, see: Windows Help and How-to: Opening the Windows Vista Box 1. On the top of the box, cut along the grooves on either side of the Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity label. 2. On the top left coner of the plastic case you will see a small piece of RED flimsy tape or tab just kinda hanging out of the case itself. Peel the red tabbed label off the...

How to Enter UAC Credentials on Secure Authentic Vista Logon Screen This will show you how to increase UAC Credentials privacy and security.This will only work if you have access to Gpedit.msc (Group Policy). The Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions do not have this feature.You may need to do this too: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/166991-user-account-control-require-password.html EXAMPLE: When you follow this tutorial, UAC will ask for credentials like this. . . Here's How: Step One: First, you will need to open the Local Group Policy Editor. Step Two: Second, Click Computer Configuration, Administration Templates, Windows Components, Credential User interface. If you cannot see these tabs, scroll down to Steps Two &...

How to Encrypt your Entire Drive or a Partition without BitLocker Using this will slow your computer slightly down as everything has to be encrypted/decrypted as the drive writes or reads. Ensure you have a recovery disk! Administrative Access Required Step One [1] The Download Go to TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source On-The-Fly Disk Encryption Software for Windows Vista/XP, Mac OS X and Linux - Downloads and download the software Step Two [2] The Installation Follow the prompts to install the software, when you come to this section (below) click Encrypt the system... Step Three [3] The Encryption [Part A] Follow the prompts, Pick an Algorithm (Recommend AES) . Pick a password, Ensure the password is at least 25 characters with...

How to Create or Remove a Custom Title Bar in IE7 and IE8 This will show you how to create a custom Title Bar with what you want in Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8.This can be hady if you bought some OEM computer, or installed some ISP's program, and your Internet Explorer title bar has their name on it that you want to remove or change. EXAMPLE: Default IE7 and IE8 Title Bar NOTE: Boxed in red below. EXAMPLE: With a Custom IE7 and IE8 Title Bar NOTE: Boxed in red below. Here's How: 1. Open the Start Menu. 2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter. 3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7). 4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)...

How to Extend Vista Trial Period for Up to 120 Days Vista gives you a 30 day trial period before you have to activate Vista or pay for a product key number. This will show you how to extend the trial period 30 days at a time for up to 3 times for a total of 120 days before you must either activate with a legally purchased product key number or uninstall Vista. Microsoft has allowed this rearm option to extend this trial period for another 30 days for up to 3 times. 3 (rearms) x 30 (days) = 90 (days extended) + 30 (default days) = 120 days total trial period. For more information, see: Windows Help and How-to: Activating Windows FAQs For the license terms for Vista, see: Microsoft: License Terms for Software Licensed from Microsoft...

How to Roll Back Driver for a Device in Device Manager This tutorial will show you how to restore the driver for a device to the previous version if you encounter problems with your computer or device after updating to that driver version in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps. Here's How: NOTE: I will use a graphics card (display adapter) as an example in this tutorial. 1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View-Vista) or (Icons View-Windows 7/8). 2. Click on the Device Manager icon. 3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7/8). 4. Click on the + sign next to the device that you want to roll back the driver of to expand it. (see...

How to Add or Remove Install Updates and Shut Down to the Vista Start Menu This will show you how to add or remove the Install Updates and Shut Down option from the Start Menu power options arrow menu. If enabled the Windows Update alert icon shield on the Start Menu power button is removed and this is used instead when there is an available Windows Update to install.If you just want to disable the Windows Update alert icon shield on the Start Menu power button when you have updates and not use this option, then see: How to Enable or Disable Windows Update Start Menu Power Button Alert in Vista instead. This will disable and prevent both of these options from working. EXAMPLE: Start Menu with "Install Updates and Shut Down" Added and...

How to Specify a Default Screen Saver for All Users in Vista This will show you how to set or change a specific screen saver of your choice to be used as the default screen saver for all users on the computer with the users not being able to change the screen saver.Even though a user cannot change a default screen saver to another one when set, they can still change their individual screen saver settings for it. See right example screenshot below. EXAMPLE: Screen Saver Settings Before and After a Default is set NOTE: Notice that when a default screen saver is set, the Screen Saver drop down menu is grayed out to prevent the screen saver from being changed to another one. (See right screenshot below) Through the Local Group Policy...

How to Enable or Disable Adding and Removing Taskbar Toolbars in Vista and Windows 7 This will show you how to enable or disable the ability for all or specific users on the computer to add a new taskbar toolbar or remove a current taskbar toolbar in Vista and Windows 7. If you want to enable or disable taskbar toolbars and remove all current Toolbars, then see: How to Enable or Disable Taskbar Toolbars in Vista instead. If you want to add or remove taskbar Toolbars, then see: How to Add or Remove a Toolbar on the Taskbar in Vista EXAMPLE: Toolbars Enabled and Disabled in Start Menu and Taskbar Properties NOTE: You can see this window by right clicking on the taskbar, Start menu button, or inside the Start menu and click on...

How to Create a "Power Options" Shortcut in Vista This will show you how to create a Power Options, or any other Control Panel item, shortcut on the desktop. You can then move it where you like to use it at.If you are using a laptop on battery power, or have a desktop computer connected to a backup battery UPS device, then you will have the Power icon available in the Notification System Tray Icons. For more on this, see: How to Enable or Disable the Notification Area System Icons in Vista EXAMPLE: Power Options window NOTE: This is what the shortcut will open to. Here's How: 1. Open the Control Panel. NOTE: Open Start menu and click on the Control Panel button. 2. Click on the Classic View link in the upper left corner. (See...

How to Open Selected Registry Address from Internet Explorer into Regedit Adding a function in the context menu is quite easy. You noticed that many apps offer some context menu facilities, to do so they mainly use an activex/addon installed with their program. An IE context menu item is usually linked to a htm/html file wich includes scripts, links to activex, etc... and use a personalized dll. In fact we have to write a script, embed it or name it as a htm file and ask the registry to write an entry in the context menu which on click links to the htm file. Due to UAC, the htm file will ask to open a VBS file which will do the job. A prompt will ask you if you accept to run the script. Personally i place the htm file in the...

How to Reset the Last Backup Listing for Vista Back Up Files This will show you how to reset the Last Backup listing so the old or deleted Back Up Files will no longer be displayed with it's time, date, and location in the Backup and Restore Center.This only removes the backup from the list, not the backup files themself. To delete the backup files see below: Backups are saved in this format: (backup location)\(computer name)\Backup Set (year-month-day) (time) If the backup was done on Local Disk D: at 9/7/2007 1:00:50 PM (It uses 24 hour time), then the full backup file path would be: D:\Computer\Backup Set 2007-09-07 130050 You would right click the folder Backup Set 2007-09-07 130050 and click on Delete to delete that backup. To...

How to Reset the Last Backup Listing for Vista Complete PC Backup This will show you how to reset the Last Backup listing so the old or deleted Complete PC Backup will no longer be displayed with it's time, date, and location in the Backup and Restore Center.The Complete PC Backup feature is only available in the Vista Enterprise, Ultimate, and Business editions.Once this is reset you will not be able to restore this unless you backed up the registry WindowsBackup key in OPTION TWO below first. Right click on the WindowsBackup key (folder) and click Export, then save this exported REG file to where you like as the backup. To restore this backup, right click on the REG file and click Merge and approve. EXAMPLE: Backup and Restore Center...

How to Use the Indexing Options in Vista This will show you how to open the Indexing Options to include or exclude a file to be indexed, change the saved Index data location, rebuild the Index, and restore the default Index settings.The Search Index needs to be enabled for these settings to be active. By default it is enabled. How to Include or Exclude Folders , Locations , and File Types to the Index 1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View) 2. Click on the Indexing Options icon. 3. Click on Modify. (See screenshot below) 4. Click on Show all locations if it is not grayed out. (See screenshot below) 5. Click the little arrow next to the check box for the drive letter to drop down all the folders for that hard drive. 6. Check...

How to Create a "Network Connections" Shortcut in Vista This will show you how to create a shortcut to the Network Connections folder to quickly see all of your internet, network, or other computer connections made by your network adapter(s).When you install a network adapter in your computer, Vista creates a connection for it in the Network Connections folder. A Local Area Connection is created for an Ethernet network adapter. A Wireless Network Connection is created for a wireless network adapter.EXAMPLE: Network Connections folder window NOTE: This is the window that will open when you click on this shortcut to see all of your network adapter(s) connections. To Create Shortcut Through Network Connections 1. Right click on the...

How to Create a "Local Area Network Connection Status" Shortcut in Vista This will show you how to create a Local Area Network Connection Status shortcut so that you can quickly disable, enable, diagnose, or open a network adapter's connection properties.If you decide you do not want this shortcut later, then you can simply right click on it and click on Delete to delete just this shortcut.EXAMPLE: Local Area Connection Status window NOTE: This is what you will see when you click on the shortcut to open it. A Local Area Connection is created for an Ethernet network adapter. A Wireless Network Connection is created for a wireless network adapter. Here's How: 1. Right click on the Network icon in the Notification area and click on...

How to Turn the Preview Pane On or Off in Vista The Preview pane allows you to see a preview of the highlighted image, video, or document file in the opened Windows Explorer window without having to open it. This will show you how to turn the Preview pane on or off.The Preview Pane can only be turned on or off for windows with the same folder template at each location. For example, the Music Details, Music Icons, Pictures and Videos, All Items, Contacts, and Documents templates. EXAMPLE: Windows Explorer Preview Pane Set Folder Options 1. Open Folder Options. 2. Click on the General tab. (See screenshot below) NOTE: Having Use Windows classic folders dotted instead will remove the preview pane in the Windows Explorer window...

How to Force Control Panel Home or Classic View in Vista This tutorial will show you how to force the Control Panel to have the Control Panel Home or Classic View for all users on the computer. Users will not be able to change between the two as they could by default. EXAMPLE: Default Control Panel View NOTE: By default in Vista, users can click on either the Control Panel Home or Classic View link to switch between the two at will. EXAMPLE: Force Control Panel Home View NOTE: Users will only have the Control Panel Home view displayed, and the Classic View link will be removed. EXAMPLE: Force Classic View NOTE: Users will only have the Classic View displayed, and the Control Panel Home link will be removed. Through the Local...