Tutorials

How to Use Tabbed Browsing in Internet Explorer in Vista Tabbed browsing is a feature in Internet Explorer that allows you to open multiple websites in a single browser window. You can open webpages on new tabs, and switch between them by clicking the tab. If you have multiple tabs open, you can use Quick Tabs to easily switch to other tabs. The advantage is that you have fewer items open on the taskbar. For more information, see: Windows Vista Help and How-to: Tabbed Browsing FAQs EXAMPLE: Internet Explorer Tabs on the Toolbar How to Change Tabbed Browsing Settings in Internet Explorer 1. Open IE7 and click Tools. A) Go to step 3. OR 2. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View) 3. Click on Internet Options. 4. Under the Tabs...

How to Enable or Disable Fast User Switching in Vista and Windows 7 Fast User Switching or Switch User is a feature in Windows that allows you to switch to a different computer user account without closing programs and files first, and then be able to switch back where you left off. This makes it easier to share a computer with others. Fast User Switching is enabled by default. This tutorial will show you how to add or remove Switch User from the Start menu, CTRL+ALT+DEL screen, and Task Manager for all user accounts or only the current user account on the computer. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. If you want to add or remove Lock and Switch User from the Start menu, then see...

How to Harvest, Restore, & Retain Icons on Vista This tutorial will show you how to harvest icons from your system and the internet, how to refresh and rebuild the icon cache to restore your icons, and how to retain your designated icons.OTHER REFERENCES ON ICONS: Neowin.net - Beautiful Windows Vista icons a double-edged sword JTB World Blog: How to show website favicons on the Vista desktop Vista Icons - Introducing Vista Icons - How to create Vista Icons Icon Extraction : There are literally thousands of icons on your system from Windows and from other programs you have installed. You can search for these icons from a Browse box when in the middle of changing an icon or you can get a program like PC Icon Extractor (free trial...

How to Create a Fully Functional "Internet Explorer" Desktop Icon Shortcut in Vista This will show you how to create a Internet Explorer shortcut that has the Open Home Page, Start without Add-ons, and Internet Properties in the context menu. This does not work in Windows 7. The default location for the Internet Explorer exe file is at: 64 bit Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe 32 bit Windows: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe EXAMPLE: Fully Functional Internet Explorer Shortcut NOTE: Properties opens Internet Properties, not the shortcut's properties. If You Use the Normal (Default) Start Menu 1. To Add Internet Explorer Shortcut A) Click on the Download button below to download the...

How to Change the Menu to Appear to the Left or Right of a Click in Vista This will change all menus in Vista to appear to the left or right of where you click in Vista. EX: Windows Explorer Menu bar, right click Context Menu, etc.If the menu does not have enough room to fully open at the border of the window or display screen, it will compensate and open from the opposite direction of the border instead. This will override whatever side you have the menu set to open on below. EXAMPLE: Set to LEFT HANDED EXAMPLE: Set to RIGHT HANDED Here's How: 1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View) 2. Click on the Tablet PC Settings icon. 3. To Have Menus Open to the Left A) Select (dot) Right-handed. (See screenshot below step 5) B) Go...

How to Change the Logon Screen Saver Wait Time in Vista When you enter a logon screen and do not click on a user and just let it sit, in 10 minutes (wait time) you will see the default logon screen saver. This will show you how to change the logon screen saver wait time to what you want instead. Here's How: 1. Open the Start Menu. 2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter. 3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt. 4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below) HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop 5. In the right pane, right click on ScreenSaveTimeOut and click Modify. (See screenshot above) 6. Type in how long you want the wait time to be for in seconds and click on OK. NOTE: The default time is...

How to Change the ClearType Font Settings in Vista ClearType font smoothing makes text look sharp and clear on a LCD monitor. On a regular CRT (tube) monitor, this could make the text appear blurry and will need to be turned off.If your screen is an LCD and you are not running it at it's native screen resolution, then this can also cause blurryness. Here's How: 1. Right click on a empty area of your desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below) 2. Click on the Window Color and Appearace link. (See screenshot below) 3. Click on the Open classic appearance properties for more color options link. (See screenshot below) NOTE: If the color scheme Windows Aero (All Vista editions except Home Basic) or Windows Vista...

How to Disable or Enable Superfetch in Vista Superfetch is a new improved feature in Vista that monitors which applications you use the most and preloads these into your system memory (RAM) so they'll be ready when you need them. It treats system memory like a cache much more aggressively and effectively than any other version of Windows. Superfetch will help Vista prioritize background programs, (EX: Disk Defrag and Windows Defender), at a low priority so that they can do their job while your work always comes first. The folder Superfetch uses is located at: C:\Windows\PrefetchSometimes Superfetch may cause a bit of a longer startup as it loads everything into memory and your hard drive is running more to preload this data for...

How to Display Information About Previous Logons During User Logon in Vista and Windows 7 This will show you how to display the previous number of successful and unsuccessful logon attempts, with the date and time, display when logging on. You would then just click Ok to continue to logon and start Vista or Windows 7.This can be useful if you need to keep track of how many logon attempts where made to your system. EXAMPLE: (After you logon) Through the Local Group Policy Editor 1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor. 2. In the left pane, click on Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and Windows Logon Options. (See screenshot below) 3. In the right pane, right click on Display information about...

How to Turn Windows Sidebar On or Off in Vista Sidebar provides a way to organize the information you want to access quickly, without cluttering your workspace. Sidebar is located on the desktop and contains gadgets, which are customizable mini-programs that display continuously updated information and allow you to perform common tasks without opening a window. For more information, see: Windows Help and How-to: Windows Sidebar FAQs SHORTCUT LOCATION: Click Start button, All Programs, Accessories, and then Windows Sidebar. FILE PATH: C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe FREE SIDEBAR GADGETS: Windows Vista Gadget Gallery EXAMPLE: Windows Sidebar To Turn Off Windows Sidebar 1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View) A)...

How to See About Windows in Vista This will show you the version and build number of Vista, registered owner and organization, and how much RAM is available.The About Windows exe file is located at: C:\Windows\System32\winver.exe EXAMPLE: About Windows Here's How: 1. Open a Windows Explorer window. 2. Click on Help (on menu bar) and About Windows. (See screenshot below) OR 3. Open the Start Menu. 4. In the white line (Start Search) area, type winver and press Enter. That's it, Shawn How to See Windows Vista Current License Information How to See Vista Boot Information at Startup How to Display Information About Previous Logons During User Logon in Vista How to Find the Computer IP Address in Vista How to See What the...

How to Open and Use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool in Vista and Windows 7 DirectX Diagnostic Tool helps you troubleshoot issues with the DirectX suite of multimedia technologies that come with Vista and Windows 7. For more information and what to look for, see: Microsoft Help and How-to: Run DirectX Diagnostic Tool and Diagnosing basic problems with DirectX This can be handy if you're having trouble getting game animation or a movie to run properly, you should run DirectX Diagnostic Tool to see if it can help you find the source of the problem.If you have the 64-bit Vista or Windows 7, then the DirectX Diagnostic Tool will have a extra Run 64-bit DxDiag button where the 32-bit Vista and Windows 7 will not. It does the same thing, but...

How to Underline Keyboard Shortcuts and Access Keys in Vista and Windows 7 This will show you how to temporarily or always have the Alt + key shortcuts underlined in all of the Vista menus. This can make it easier for you to use the keyboard shortcuts for these menu options. EXAMPLE: Not Underlined and Underlined To Temporarily Underline the Keyboard Shortcuts NOTE: This option will only temporarily underline the shortcut keys for the menu options until you use the shortcut, press the Alt key again, or click on anything else. 1. Press the Alt key. To Turn Underlined Keyboard Shortcuts On or Off NOTE: This option will underline the shortcut keys for the menu items until you turn it off again. 1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic...

How to Turn Pop-Up Descriptions On or Off in Vista This will show you how to turn pop-up descriptions when you move the mouse pointer over a folder or desktop item on or off. This is turned on by default.This is one of the only ways to see the size of a folder. The other way is to right click on the folder and click Properties. EXAMPLE: Pop-up Description Through Folder Options 1. Open Folder Options. 2. Click on the View tab. (See screenshot below step 4) 3. To Turn Off Pop-up Descriptions A) Uncheck the Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items box. B) Click on OK. 4. To Turn On Pop-up Descriptions A) Check the Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items box. B) Click on OK. Using a REG File...

How to Hide or Show a Notification Icon in Vista This will show you how to change each of the system tray icons in the notification area to be set as Hide all the time, Hide when inactive, or Show all the time. Here's How: 1. Right click on a empty area of the Taskbar. 2. Click on Properties. 3. Click on the Navigation Area tab. (See screenshot below) 4. To Show All Icons on the Traybar A) Uncheck Hide inactive icons and click Apply. B) Go to step 9. 5. To Hide Inactive Icons on the Traybar A) Check Hide inactive icons and click Apply. 6. To Hide or Show Only Selected Icons A) Do step 5 first. B) Click on the Customize button. C) Click on a icon Item to highlight it. (See screenshot below step 9) D) Click the drop...

How to Change the Number of Domain Logon Cache Entries Saved in Windows CachedLogonsCount determines how many domain log on entries Vista and Windows 7 saves in the logon cache on the local computer. By default, when connecting to a domain Windows will cache the domain credentials locally so that they can be used to login even when the domain isn't available. This will show you how to change how many user account log on entries Windows saves in the logon cache on the local (your) computer. This will only work for computers that are configured to log in to a domain. It will not work for the Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions, and Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, and Home Premium editions. Here's How: 1. Open the Start menu...

How to Turn the Run Command Window On or Off in Vista Using the Run command is a quick way to open programs, files, folders, and websites (when you're connected to the Internet). If you're not using the Start menu in Classic view, the Search box on the Start menu can also be used in place of the Run command. EXAMPLE: Run Command Window Using Run Keyboard Shortcut 1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run command window. Using Run Shortcut Location 1. Open the Start Menu. 2. Click on All Programs. 3. Click on Accessories. 4. Run shortcut is located here by default. Start Search Area in the Start Menu 1. Open the Start menu. 2. Just type in the command in the white Start Search box and press Enter. (See screenshot below) OR...

How to Customize the Recycle Bin Context Menu in Vista This will show you how to add a program of your choice to the Recycle Bin context menu for easy use. EXAMPLE: Before and two Afters Add Disk Cleanup, Search, or Clear System Temps NOTE: You can add one or all of these if you like. 1. To Add Disk Cleanup A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Add Disk Cleanup.reg file. https://www.vistax64.com/attachments/add-disk-cleanup-reg.2301/ B) Go to step 7. 2. To Remove Disk Cleanup A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Remove Disk Cleanup.reg https://www.vistax64.com/attachments/remove-disk-cleanup-reg.2304/ B) Go to step 7. 3. To Add Search A) Click on the Download button...

How to See and Flush the Contents of the DNS Resolver Cache in Windows When you type a web address into your web browser and press ENTER, you are sending a query to a DNS (Domain Name System) server. If the query is successful, the website you want opens; if not, you'll see an error message. A record of these successful and unsuccessful queries is stored in a temporary storage location on your computer called the DNS cache. DNS always checks the cache before querying any DNS server, and if a record is found that matches the query, DNS uses that record instead of querying the server. This makes queries faster and decreases network and Internet traffic. Internet Explorer has it's own DNS cache it manages, not including this one. For more...

How to Set Recycle Bin to Permanently Delete a Item Immediately in Vista This will show you how to set the Recycle Bin to not store deleted items and automatically delete them permanently instead when you delete them. If you do not want a delete confirmation prompt, then see: How to Enable or Disable the Recycle Bin Delete Confirmation Dialog in Vista If you had set the available storage size to use for the Recycle Bin to low, then the Recycle Bin will start permanently deleting files when new ones are added to it if it runs out of storage space. For more on this, see: How to Change the Recycle Bin Storage Size in Vista Keyboard Shortcut : 1. Press and hold Shift key. 2. Right click the item you want to permanently delete and click...