Tutorials

How to Add or Remove "Copy as Path" from the Vista and Windows 7 Context Menu This will show you how to add or remove Copy as Path from the context menu for all users on the computer. By default, Copy as Path is added to the context menu.To see what and how to use Copy as Path, see: How to Copy the Full Path of a File or Folder in Vista and Windows 7 EXAMPLE: "Copy as Path" added and removed from the Context Menu NOTE: By default, you must press and hold Shift and right click on the file or folder to see Copy as Path. Using a REG File Download 1. To Add "Copy as Path" to Context Menu A) Click on the download button below to download the file below. Add_Copy_as_Path_Menu.reg...

How to Fix the New Folder Context Menu Item in Vista If when you right click on the desktop or in a User folder and click on New and Folder it does not work, then this will show you how to fix the Folder menu item so it will create a new folder again. If you also cannot rename a normal file or folder and not just a New Folder, then also see: Cannot Rename or Move a File or Folder in Vista Fix If New is also missing from the context menu, then see: How to Restore or Remove New from the Context Menu in Vista If you are missing other or all New menu items, then to restore them, see: How to Restore Missing Default New Context Menu Items in Vista EXAMPLE: New Folder in the Context Menu and a New Folder NOTE: You see this context menu...

How to Stop System Restore Points from being Deleted in Vista and Windows 7 when Dual Booting with XP When you are dual booting XP with Vista and/or Windows 7, this will show you how to stop XP from deleting all of the System Restore Points and Shadow Copies in Vista and Windows 7 everytime you start XP. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. For more information, see also: Microsoft Help and Support: KB926185 System Restore "restore points" are missing or deleted In Vista and Windows 7, shadow copies are used to maintain System Restore Points. Additionally, shadow copies are used to maintain Complete PC Backup files. Therefore, when you access the volume from an earlier operating...

How to Do a Clean Install and Setup with a Full Version of Vista This will show you how to do a clean install and setup of a Full Retail or Express installation DVD version of Vista. A OEM Recovery installation DVD can only do a clean install. It is just a clone of the hard drive that will set your computer back like it was from day one. The installation process is basically the same though, but can only be reinstalled on the same computer it was originally installed on. A Express or Retail Vista can be installed on any one computer at a time for as many times as you like. The product key number for the Vista 32 bit version is the same one for it's 64 bit version. You can only have the Product Key activated on one computer and...

How to Fix the Start Error for Windows Search Service to Enable the Index in Vista The Indexing Options are grayed out and you cannot get the Windows Search service to start. Follow the steps one by one, and at the end the index should be running again.If the steps below do not help you, then you will need to do either a System Restore to a restore point date before this problem, a Repair install, or Clean install to fix this problem. See the related links below for how to do these. EXAMPLE: Error Message EXAMPLE: Index Options grayed out Set Windows Search Service 1. Leave Windows Search service set to only Automatic. (See screenshot below step 3) 2. Close Services. 3. Proceed to STEP TWO below. Reset the Index in the...

How to Change a Shortcut Folder or File Icon in Vista This will show you how to change a shortcut folder or file icon to a icon of your choice. To change a regular file icon you must make a shortcut of it first, then you can change the icon for the shortcut. EXAMPLE: Before and After Icon Change Here's How: 1. Right click on the shortcut folder or file, then click on Properties. 2. Click on the Shortcut tab. (See screenshots below) 3. Click on the Change Icon button. 4. To Select an Available Icon in Vista A) Select a icon here. (See screenshot below) OR B) Click on Browse and navigate to another icon available in Vista. NOTE: Some common icon locations in Vista. C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll (Recommended one to use)...

How to Change the Default Boot Screen in Vista The boot screen is the screen that displays during the bootup (startup) of Vista before the logon screen (welcome screen) and the desktop.Running the sfc/ scannow command will reset the boot screen back to default.If you wanted to run chkdsk at startup or the Memory Diagnostic Tool and you have changed the default boot screen, then you will need to temporarily change the boot screen back to the default boot screen to be able to see what is happening first to be able to see what is happening when they run at startup. EXAMPLE: Default Vista boot screen Using Stardock BootSkins NOTE: This free program will let you replace the default Vista boot screen with any free skin that you have...

How to Enable or Disable Changing Display Settings in Vista This will enable or disable the ability to change the Display Settings for all users on the computer. The Display Settings include DPI size, screen resolution, screen refresh rate, and color depth.Changing the Display Settings is enabled by default in Vista. EXAMPLE: Display Settings and DPI link in the Personalize window NOTE: You will see this window by right clicking on a empty space on the desktop and click Personalize, or opening the Control Panel (Classic View) and click on the Personalization icon. EXAMPLE: Changing the Display Settings and DPI size are Disabled Message NOTE: These are the messages you get when you click on the links boxed in red above when changing...

How to Add "Copy To Folder" and "Move To Folder" to the Context Menu in Vista Copy To Folder allows you to right click on a item and copy it to another location immediately. Move to Folder allows you to right click on a item and move it to another locatation and remove it from it's current location immediately.This is also under the EDIT menu in a Explorer window. (See Example screenshot below) EXAMPLE: Default Edit Menu Location: NOTE: These are the keyboard shortcuts to use the Menu bar location while having the file or folder selected that you want to Copy or Move to another folder. Copy To Folder - Press and hold Alt then press E and F Move To Folder - Press and hold Alt then press E and V EXAMPLE: Copy To Folder and Move To...

How to Log on Automatically at Startup in Vista This will show you how to set or change a user account for Vista to automatically log on to at startup. By default all user accounts must log on at startup. If you only have one user account without a password on your computer, then Vista will logon to that account automatically at startup. If you have more than one user account and the one you want to have Vista logon to automatically at startup does not have a password, then leave the password fields blank in step 7 below. If you forgot or lost the password for a user account, then see: How to Reset a User Account Password in Vista If your computer is a member of a domain, then the check box for Users must enter a user name and...

How to Change the Number of Processors Used at Boot Up in Vista If you have a multiple core CPU (Ex: Intel Core Duo or Quad CPU) or multiple CPUs, then this will show you how to change the Number of Processors that will be used during boot up for troubleshooting and debugging purposes to be able to determine if there is a problem with a single processor/core, or for a programmer to test their code against a single core while running on their multi-core system.Vista will use all your processors by default at boot up without this Number of Processors setting box checked. Using all of your available processors (cores or CPUs) durring boot allows the computer to boot faster only because a multiple core CPU or multiple CPUs can handle and...

How to Change the Schedule for Disk Defragmenter in Vista This will show you how to turn the Disk Defragmenter automatic Run on a schedule on or off, and how to change the schedule to run Disk Defragmenter when you want it to run.The Disk Deframenter .exe file is located at C:\Windows\System32\dfrgui.exe .For a faster alternative that includes a progress graph, you can use the free Auslogics Disk Defrag.Solid State Drives (SSD) do not need to be defragmented. Doing so may lower the lifespan. To Change the Disk Defragmenter Schedule 1. Open the Start Menu. A) In the white line (Start Search) area, type dfrgui and press Enter. B) Go to step 3. OR 2. Open the Start Menu. A) Click on All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then...

How to Change or Disable the QoS Reserved Bandwidth Limit in Vista By default, Vista can reserve up to 20 percent of the network bandwidth for QoS traffic handled by the QoS Packet Scheduler. One hundred percent of the network bandwidth is available to be shared by all programs unless a program (Ex: Windows Update) specifically requests priority bandwidth. This 20 percent reserved bandwidth is still available to other programs unless the requesting program (Ex: VoIP applications) is sending data. Vista can then restrict the best effort traffic to a minimum of 80 percent of the bandwidth to the other programs so that the high priority traffic can be accommodated. If the program that reserved the bandwidth is not sending sufficient data...

How to Change the Default Boot Partition Settings in Vista This will show you how to select or change which operating system (OS) you would like to load as the default at startup when you dual boot with multiple operating systems. You will also see how to turn on or off and adjust how much time to display the operating system selection during boot up. EXAMPLE: Windows Boot Manager Through Startup and Recovery Options 1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View). A) Click on the System icon. B) Go to step 3. OR 2. Open the Start Menu. A) Right Click on Computer and click Properties. 3. Click on the Click to Play button in the video below. 4. To Change the Default Operating System to Start Up - A) Click on the OS to highlight it...

How to Fix Most Problems with Vista Windows Mail Windows Mail is a new version of Outlook Express with a new name for Vista. Windows Mail only supports POP3 and IMAP E-mail accounts not Web Site based accounts (EX: Hotmail or Yahoo) unless they are the paid versions with the POP3 option. Below are some solutions to the most common issues. For more information, see: www.oehelp.com/For a list of error code numbers and their description for Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail, see: Microsoft Help and Support: Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail error codes How to Remove a Stuck Undeletable Message in Windows Mail Do the section below for the folder that you have the stuck undeletable message in to remove it. The To Reset Windows Mail...

How to Set and Unset the Read-only File and Folder Attribute in Vista By default in Vista, folders do not have a read-only attribute. Only files have a read-only attribute. Any changes to the folder's read-only box will only affect the files inside the folder, then the read-only box will default back to blue when you check it again. This will show you how to set and unset the read-only attribute of a file or folder in Vista.Read-only files cannot be modified. They can only be copied, moved, renamed, or deleted. Read-only box blue = File or folder is not read-only. Default setting. Read-only box checked = File or folder is set as read-only. Read-only box empty = File or folder is currently being set as not read-only. If you copy a...

How to Change the Advanced Appearance Settings in Vista This will show you how to change the Advanced Appearance settings that affect the size, color, and text for all windows in Vista. 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 (All Vista editions except Home Basic) or Windows Vista Standard (Only Vista Home Basic) is not running, then you will not see this screen. Instead you will see the screen below step 4 instead. To change the clor scheme, see: How to Change the...

How to Create a Vista Installation USB Key This will show you how to create a USB flash key drive that you can boot from to install Vista with.If the USB flash drive is of sufficient capacity, say 8GB, then after copying the Vista installation DVD onto it, you can create a new folder (ex: Device Drivers) in the USB key and place all of your latest driver installation files in it. This way you will have them handy to manually install the drivers after installing Vista from the USB key. You can only create a 32-bit Vista USB key from within a 32-bit OS (ex: Vista or XP). You can only create a 64-bit Vista USB key from within a 64-bit OS (ex: Vista or XP). The USB key needs to be at least 4 GB in size. You must have a Retail Vista...

How to Add "Select all" to Context Menu in Vista By default in Vista, you have to either click on Edit (Menu bar) and Select all or press CTRL+A to select all items in a Windows Explorer window. This will show you how to add Select all to the context menu of the desktop and blank area in a folder window for all users to be able to easily select all items in a Windows Explorer window in Vista. While you must be logged in as an administrator to add or remove the context menu, all users will be able to use the context menu. EXAMPLE: "Select all" added to context menu NOTE: You would right click on a empty area on the desktop and in a folder window to see these. To Add "Select all" to Context Menu 1. Click on the Download button...

How to Create a Vista Recovery Disc This will show you how to download or create a Recovery Disc for both the 32 bit and 64 bit Vista.The Recovery Disc created here does not install Vista. It is also not like the OEM Vista recovery DVD that comes with most store bought computers created from the factory recovery partition. Instead it is used only to boot from to repair your already installed Vista. See the example below for the options available from the recovery disc when booted from.This can be useful if you only have a OEM Vista recovery DVD or partition and would like to have a dvd to boot from to repair your Vista instead of reinstalling it. Plus, the recovery disk files are small enough to fit on a CD if you do not want to or can...