Add Search the Internet to the Windows Start Menu
One of the things that I like about the search in Windows 8 is the option to load websites automatically from the interface. Just search for a site url, do not forget […]
How to bypass the file delete confirmation dialog in Windows
One of the first things that I do after I log in to a Windows account for the first time is to change the way files are deleted in the operating system. […]
Use Msconfig to log which drivers get loaded during system boot
Nothing really beats the excellent Autoruns when it comes to analyzing the files that get loaded during a system's boot process. For some users, Autoruns with its 18 different tabs may look […]
Clean-up Windows Explorer menu items with CCleaner
The more applications you install, the more likely the chance that your Windows Explorer menu fills up with context menu items. While some of these items may be handy to have, others […]
How to add installed unpinned apps to Metro's startpage again
Apps that you install through Windows 8's Metro store are automatically added to the start page of the Metro interface. When you right-click items here, you get options to unpin the items […]
Fixing Mouse without Borders annoyances
I have been working with the - for the most part - excellent Mouse without Borders application for the past months to control two PCs with a single mouse and keyboard. This […]
Advanced Windows Security: Activating SEHOP
When you browse the Internet for security tips and suggestions, you will notice that they sound alike on the majority of sites. Use antivirus and a firewall, update your system all the […]
How to quickly switch between themes in Windows
Microsoft changed the way basic themes are delivered in Windows 7. The new theme engine basically provides the themes as .theme files that just need to be double-clicked to be installed and […]
Top 20 Keyboard Shortcuts everyone should know
Keyboard shortcuts can speed up your productivity on a computer significantly. They usually replace multiple operations that are performed with the mouse with a set of keys that you need to press […]
Repair Microsoft .Net Framework installation, update issues
All recent versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system come with a version of the Microsoft .Net Framework preinstalled. Updates have been released for the .Net Framework that Windows users can install […]
How to find out when your version of Windows expires
Microsoft missed to mention the expiration date of the Windows 8 Release Preview that the company made available yesterday to developers and tech enthusiasts. This may not be an issue to some, […]
How to move installed programs in Windows
Moving an installed program from one partition or hard drive to another in Windows is actually a straightforward process if you have the right tools for the job. You may have different […]
Easiest way to show windows side by side in Windows
When I'm working on a computer that is connected to a single monitor, I often like to display two windows side by side, especially when writing a new blog post. I display […]
Fix a missing System Tray in Windows
Today when I started my computer I noticed something that I never experienced before. Everything looked normal, except for the System Tray area in the Windows Taskbar. The System Tray was missing, […]
How To Improve Windows Explorer's Media Preview Feature
Windows Explorer, the default file browser of the Windows operating system, can display previews for select media files right in its interface. This only works for select display modes, and select file […]
How To Schedule Cloud Hosting Data Backups
With every major Internet company offering their own cloud hosting and synchronization service, it is time to look at ways to make use of that extra storage. One option that you have […]
How To Open Multiple Program Windows
It sometimes may make sense to open a program in Windows multiple times. Maybe you want two web browser windows open so that you can display them next to each other on […]
2 Ways To Block Windows 8 Users From Uninstalling Apps In Metro
With apps making the core of the Metro user interface in Windows 8, come new challenges for system administrators, organizations and businesses to control what users are allowed to do, and what […]
KeePass Plugins That Improve The Password Manager's Functionality
I have been using the KeePass password manager ever since the Last Pass security incident, as it made me move my password manager from the cloud to the local system instead. KeePass […]
Bypass File Deletion Prompts In Windows
When you try to delete a file or folder in Windows Explorer, a confirmation prompt is displayed first that is basically asking you if you want to proceed with the deletion of […]
Fix The Program Can't Start Because MSVCR100D.dll Is Missing From Your Computer.
I had to reinstall Windows 7 on a different hard drive on my computer after the root drive crashed the other day. That meant a lot of re-installations of software, and sometimes […]
How To Fix Aero Issues In Windows 7
I received an error message that Aero was not enabled the first time I tried to install the custom Mac OS X theme for Windows 7. I remembered that I was running […]
ViStart Restores Start Menu, Disables Metro Ui in Windows 8
Microsoft has removed the start menu for good in the Windows 8 Consumer Preview version that was released yesterday. If you have tested the Developer Preview version of the operating system, you […]
How To Shut Down Windows 8
With the start menu gone for good in Microsoft's upcoming operating system Windows 8, some users have run into problems shutting down the PC properly. The shutdown button, originally attached to the […]
Limit The Upload Bandwidth Of Windows Programs
I noticed yesterday that the popular live streaming software Sopcast was using all of my computer's upload bandwidth. The program uses P2P technologies to distribute the live stream to all connected users, […]
How To Disable Restart Your Computer To Finish Installing Important Updates Prompt
We have all been there and seen it. Whenever updates are installed in Windows that require a reboot, you are prompted in regular intervals to do so. These messages appear shortly after […]
How To Run The Advanced Disk Cleanup Version In Windows
The Disk Cleanup tool offers a great way to quickly free up disk space by deleting temporary files that are no longer needed. It is in no way as complete or thorough […]
How to Configure Windows Remote Assistance On Windows 7
Windows Remote Assistance is a tool that Microsoft has integrated into the Windows 7 operating system. It is in many regards similar to popular remote access applications like Teamviewer, as it allows […]
How to Partition and Un-Partition your Hard Drive in Windows
Hard drive partitioning is useful for creating virtual drives and creating disk volumes that can be used for storing particular file types. For example, if you did not want to keep all […]
How To Disable WLAN Background Scans
Some Windows users who are connecting via wireless lan to the Internet may have noticed regular ping spikes and sometimes even disconnects due to an automated background scan. Especially Windows Vista users […]
Display Files In Windows 7 Libraries, Favorites Differently
Files in standard folders can be sorted and displayed in a number of ways. When it comes to sorting, users have options to display files in list form or as thumbnails. The […]
Change The Default Folder Picture In Windows Explorer
Some folders in Windows Explorer show a single preview picture embedded in the folder icon. It seems as if the selected image is picked randomly from the available images in the folder. […]
Download Unofficial Windows 8 Language Packs
One of the issues that users from all over the world may have experienced with the recently released Windows 8 Developer Preview is that the interface language of the operating system was […]
How To Disable The Caps Lock Key Permanently
When I was working in IT I sometimes dealt with support requests that involved the caps lock key. Users were complaining that they could not enter their password, or that they locked […]
Notepad++ Not Starting Up? Try Disabling Plugins
I just wanted to test the Light Explorer plugin for the notepad replacement Notepad++ on Windows. The plugin itself adds a folder browser sidebar to the Notepad++ interface which can speed up […]
Unable to Terminate Process, Windows Task Manager Alternatives
Today I tried to install the Adobe Flash Plugin for Microsoft's Internet Explorer. The basic idea was to download the executable, run it and have Flash installed. The problem was that somehow […]
Remove Applications from the Context Menu in Windows Manually
Windows may accumulate new context menu items any time you install programs on the system. Not all applications end up adding items to the context menu but chance is high that the […]
Windows 8 Service Configurations
With every new Microsoft operating system, regardless of it being a client or server OS, come new and modified services. System administrators as well as end users who are interested in optimizing […]
Copy CMD Output Directly To The Clipboard
The Windows command line prompt can be handy at times, and sometimes even the only option to execute a specific command on the operating system. You sometimes may need to copy the […]
ActiveX Controls and Windows Update Errors: Fix the Traffic
Initially, when your computer is new and you have a fresh Windows 7 installation, Windows Update works perfectly. You see no errors, everything is set to automatic and you need not lift […]
