Windows

Gnomie Jerry Smith writes:
I upgraded to Windows Vista about eight months ago and have been somewhat pleased. I found that the overall UI has been changed very much — specifically the start bar. It took me a while to get used to, but the transition ran somewhat smoothly. Around Thanksgiving I found that the computer […]

When you try to open a file in XP that has an unknown extension, a dialog box appears asking if you want to use a Web service to find a program to open the file.
You can edit the registry to disable the dialog box from appearing in which case, you will receive a list […]

Each time you delete an item in XP, you are prompted to confirm your actions. The confirmation prompt ensures that you do not accidentally delete a file. However, in some cases, you may not want to receive the prompt; for example, if you are cleaning up your folders and deleting a large number of files. […]

The System Tray displays icons for system tray applications that are running on your computer. For example, MSN Messenger places an icon in the System Tray that you can use to access the application.
If you never use the System Tray, you may be interested in a registry hack that lets you disable it.

Click […]

When you log off your computer, Windows will normally save all your settings. This includes your desktop configuration, icon placement, and so on. Most people find this useful so that they do not have to reconfigure the desktop each time they log on.
However, for security purposes, some users may not want settings to be saved […]

By default, the privacy level in Internet Explorer 7 is set to Medium. This means that Internet Explorer places some restrictions on the use of cookies. For example, it will automatically block certain third-party cookies.
You can customize the privacy level to suit your needs using the following steps:

Open Internet Explorer.

Click Tools and select […]

Gnomie Stefano writes:
Hi, Chris! I saw your video where you reacted to Preston Gralla’s blog post, Five reasons Vista beats OS X, and decided I would share with my somewhat unusual point of view.

Windows made the GUI happen: Because Windows was the first GUI OS that would run on the widely spread IBM PC (the […]

A great way to save time when searching for information in Windows Vista is to save some of your searches. For example, if you are frequently searching for the same information, you can save the search and Windows Vista will keep it up-to-date for you.
To save a search in Windows Vista, click the Save Search […]

One of the advantages of using the Public folder is that it can simplify file sharing on your network. It eliminates the need for you to have to share individual folders. For example, if you have a folder called MyFolder on your computer that you want to share with users, all you have to do […]

Gnomie Jebus (pronounced “hay”-”bus”) writes:
Mr. Pirillo,
I’m a long-time watcher, recent-chat-joiner and first-time writer. I’ve noticed that one topic that comes up regularly is Windows Vista, to which many chatters respond to “upgrade to XP.”
However, no matter how strong you think you’ve built your argument against the winds of change, your shelter of stubbornness is bound […]

As with most components in Vista, the Recycle Bin can be customized to suit your personal needs. For example, you can increase the size of the Recycle Bin if you frequently delete files and recover files.
Another way that you can customize the Recycle Bin is by turning off the confirmation dialog box. Each time […]

Most people who use Windows have likely experienced an unresponsive program. When a program becomes unresponsive, you can wait while Windows attempts to identify and correct the problem.
Alternatively, you can use Windows Task Manager to manually end the program. The downside of ending a program this way is that your unsaved changes will be […]

Windows Mail is the default e-mail program used by Vista and other programs. If you use a different e-mail client, such as Microsoft Outlook, you can configure a different e-mail program as the default.
To change the default e-mail program in Vista:

Click Start, Default Programs, and click Set program access and computer defaults.

Type in your […]

If you are familiar with Windows operating system, you will know that a clock resides within the System Tray. The time that the clock displays is determined by your time zone. Vista lets you add multiple clocks to the System Tray in case you need to know the time in more than one time zone. […]

When you dual boot multiple operating systems — such as Vista and Windows XP — you can easily configure the default boot operating system. In the case of Vista and Windows XP, you need to set the default boot operating system from within Vista.
To set the default boot operating system within Vista:

Right click the […]

Vista plays as sound as it starts up. You can easily disable the startup sound if you would prefer not to hear it as your system is starting up. To disable the Vista startup sound:

Click on the Start Button and type in Sound in the search field.

Select Sound from the list of results.

Click the Sounds […]

In a previous tip, I outlined how to enable the Encrypting File System (EFS) for a folder in Vista. The local computer policy has additional settings used to further configuring EFS.
Within the local computer policy, navigate to the following container: Computer Configuration \ Windows Settings \ Security Settings \ Public Key Policies \ Encrypting File […]

Hi, my name is Lawrence and I believe there are a few top reasons to stick with Windows Vista or XP and not to switch over to OS X. Even though I like OS X, I think these reasons explain why PCs are currently 90% of the market. Here is my detailed list:

Major software support. […]

Another way in which you can secure your computer is to configure an account lockout policy. This eliminates the ability for someone to sit down at your computer and continuously attempt to guess your user name and password.
An account lockout policy will do just that, lockout an account after a certain number of failed […]

When your inbox begins to fill up, it’s time to start deleting some of the old email messages. Outlook Express users will know that there are a few ways in which you can do this. One method is to highlight the message and click the Delete icon on your toolbar (this is the big red […]