Tutorials

How to Enable or Disable the Preview Pane 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 opening it. This will allow you to Add or Remove Preview Pane from being listed in the Organize -> Layout menu option in a Windows Explorer windows.This will be applied to all user accounts on the computer.If you just wanted to turn the Preview Pane on or off, then see: How to Turn the Preview Pane On or Off in Vista EXAMPLE: Preview Pane Enabled and Disabled Through the Local Group Policy Editor 1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied...

How to Change the Date and Time in Vista This will show you how to set or change the date and time for the system clock in Vista. Through Change date and time settings 1. Click on the clock on the taskbar. (See screenshot below) 2. Click on Change date and time settings. (See screenshot below) 3. Go to step 3 in OPTION TWO below. Through Adjust Date/Time 1. Right click on the clock on the taskbar. (See screenshot below) 2. Click on Adjust Date/Time. (See screenshot below) 3. Click on the Change date and time button. (See screenshot below) NOTE: Check the Remind me one week before this change occurs box to be reminded of the Daylight Savings time change with a notification pop-up when it happens. 4. Click on Continue...

How to Backup Encrypted File System (EFS) Certificate in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 If you encrypt data (files and folders) on your computer, then you need a way to recover that data in case something happens to the encryption key. If your encryption key is lost or damaged and you don't have a way to recover your data, the data is lost. To make sure you can always access your encrypted data, you should back up your encryption certificate and key. The Encrypt feature is only available in the Vista Business, Ultimate, Enterprise, Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, Enterprise, and Windows 8 Pro and Enterprise editions.Be sure to store the backup (Exported) copy of your EFS certificate in a safe place. You will need it if you have to...

How to Change the Display Language in Vista The display language is the language that Vista uses in wizards, dialog boxes, menus, Help and Support topics, and other items in the user interface. This will show you how to install or uninstall a language pack, and how to change the display language for only the Vista Ultimate and Enterprise editions.This must be done while logged on to a administrator account EXAMPLE: BEFORE and AFTER Display Language Change Install or Uninstall a Language Pack in Windows Update OPTION ONE: How to Install the Language Pack(s) NOTE: You must have a language pack installed to be able to change the display language in STEP TWO below. 1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View). 2. Click on Windows Update...

How to Shutdown Vista from the Keyboard This is to Shutdown, Restart, Switch User, Log Off, Sleep, or Lock Vista from the keyboard or mouse. This can be helpful if your mouse has stopped working or you just want to use a quick keyboard shortcut.You can Lock the computer by pressing the Windows Key + L keys. Through the Start Menu NOTE: This is for the shutdown options for Vista. 1. Click on the Start button or press the Windows key. 2. Click on the arrow button or use your arrow keys to move over to the shutdown options. (See screenshot below) 3. Click on a shutdown option or press Enter to run the selected option. Through the Alt + F4 Keyboard Shortcut NOTE: This will also close any active open window when pressed. If you no...

How to Use the Resource Monitor in Vista The Resource Monitor allows you to see and monitor the real-time usage of CPU, Disk, Network, and Memory on your local computer. This can be helpful to determine where bottlenecks (slowdowns) are occurring and what is responsible for it. This gives you a lot more resource usage information than Task Manager.For more information and help with the Resource Monitor, click on a item under the Learn More drop down menu in Resource Monitor, or click on Help and Resource Monitor Help on the menu bar in Resource Monitor. Here's How: 1. Open the Start Menu. A) In the white line (Start Search) area, type perfmon /res and press Enter. B) Go to step 3. OR 2. Open Task Manager. NOTE: Press...

How to Enable BitLocker without a Compatible TPM Note: This will only work for Windows Vista Business, Enterprise or Ultimate. 1. Press Windows-key + R. 2. Type 'gpedit.msc' (without the quotes). 3. Now, navigate to 1. Computer Configuration 2. Administrative Templates 3. Windows Components 4. BitLocker Drive Encryption 5. On the right side, double-click "Control Panel Setup: Enable advanced startup options". 4. This will give you the following window. Enable the features as you can see: 5. Press 'OK'. Now you can follow the BitLocker setup in Control Panel. Have a nice day! :)

How to Disable or Enable the Security Center Alert Warning Notification in Vista Security Center alerts you when your security software is out of date, turned off, or when your security settings should be strengthened. Security Center monitors the following: Firewall, Automatic updating, Antivirus, Antispyware (EX: Windows Defender), Internet security settings, and UAC (User Account Control).To enable or disable a specific Security Center Alert Warning Notification for a type of security programs, see: How to Disable or Enable a Specific Security Center Alert Notification in Vista instead. EXAMPLE: Security Center Alert Warning Notification Here's How: 1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View) 2. Click on the Security Center icon...

How to Add or Remove Log Off from the Start Menu in Vista This will show you how to add or remove Log Off from the Normal Start Menu and the Classic Start Menu for all user accounts on the computer. EXAMPLE: Before and After Normal Start Menu EXAMPLE: Before and After Classic Start Menu Through the Local Group Policy Editor 1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied. For the Normal Start Menu 2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below step 3) 3. In the right pane, right click on Remove Logoff on the Start Menu and click on Properties. (See...

How to Disable or Enable NTFS Compression in Vista and Windows 7 NTFS Compression allows you to save some hard drive space by compressing files and folders to reduce their size. This will show you how to enable or disable the NTFS Compression option to compress or decompresss a file or folder for all user accounts in Vista and Windows 7. If you disable compression, no user account will be able to compress a folder or file until it is enabled again. This is not the same as the built-in Zipped Compression used for creating ZIP files in Vista and Windows 7. EXAMPLE: NTFS Compression Disabled Using a REG File Download 1. To Disable NTFS Compression A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below...

Repair Vista Options - Preferred Sequence When things start going wrong on your computer you need to find a way to get back on track. This tutorial shows you how to start repairing Vista, stepwise, from simple diagnosis and repair modules to a Clean Install with its more serious consequences.If you have SP1 installed, then you will need a slipstream or normal Vista SP1 installation DVD to do any repairs calling for the use of the Vista installation DVD. If you have SP2 installed, you'll likewise need a Vista SP2 DVD.It's a good idea to Backup Files & Folders before you do any repair work on Vista in case anything unexpected happens. Once your repair is completed, you can Restore Backup Files & Folders if needed. How to Backup Files...

How to Add Encrypt and Decrypt to the Context Menu in Vista This will add Encrypt and Decrypt to the context menu (right click). It will allow you to encrypt or decrypt a file or folder by simply right clicking the item and selecting Encrypt or Decrypt. You will no longer have to go through the Advanced Properties of the file or folder to do it. The Encrypt feature is only available in the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise versions.If the file or folder is not already encrypted, you will see Encrypt when you right click on the file or folder. If the file or folder is already encrypted, then you will see Decrypt when you right click on the file or folder.If you add encrypted files to a compressed (zipped) folder, the files will...

How to Encrypt or Decrypt a Folder or File in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 Encrypting folders and files on your local internal hard drives is a way to protect them from unwanted access. Encrypting File System (EFS) is a feature of Windows that allows you to store information on your hard disk in an encrypted format. Encryption is the strongest protection that Windows provides to help you keep your information secure. This feature is only available in the Vista Business, Ultimate, Enterprise, Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, Enterprise, and Windows 8 Pro and Enterpise editions. Encryption is based on your username. So if you encrypt a file or folder and you try to open the file, the file is automatically decrypted. If you try to...

How to Restore the Encrypted File System (EFS) Certificate in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 This will show you how to restore the Encrypted File System (EFS) Certificate by importing the backup EFS Certificate you made. The EFS certificate is used to encrypt or decrypt a file or folder in Windows. You can lose access to encrypted files if you install a new operating system, upgrade your current one, or if your current operating system fails. The Encrypt feature is only available in the Vista Business, Ultimate, Enterprise, Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, Enterprise, and Windows 8 Pro and Enterprise editions. You must have a backup of the Encrypted File System (EFS) Certificate in order to be able to restore it. It would be best...

How to Control What Games Can be Played in Windows Vista Parental Controls This will show you how to use Parental Controls to control access to games, choose an age rating level, choose the types of content you want to block, and decide whether you want to allow or block unrated or specific games for a Standard user account.Parental Controls is only availble to the Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, and Ultimate editions. Parental Controls can only be applied to Standard user accounts. If your computer is connected to a domain, Parental Controls is not available.If your game did not include itself in the Games Explorer window, then you will need to block it as a specific program instead. Here's How: 1. Setup and turn on Parental...

How to Setup a Windows Vista Web Filter in Parental Controls This will show you how to use Parental Controls to restrict websites, make sure children only visit age appropriate websites, indicate whether you want to allow file downloads, and set up what content you want the content filters to block and allow. You can also block or allow specific websites.Parental Controls is only availble to the Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, and Ultimate editions. Parental Controls can only be applied to Standard user accounts. If your computer is connected to a domain, Parental Controls is not available. Here's How: 1. Setup and turn on Parental Controls. 2. Click on Windows Vista Web Filter. (See screenshot below) 3. Select (dot) Block...

How to View the Internet Explorer Temporary Internet Files and Settings in Vista When you view a webpage, Internet Explorer saves a temporary copy of that page so that the page can be displayed more quickly if you open it again later. This will show you how to view the Temporary Internet Files and how to change the settings for it.The Temporary Internet Files folder is at this is a hidden protected operating system file location. C:\Users\(User Name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files Here's How: 1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View) A) Click on the Internet Options icon. B) Go to step 3. OR 2. Open Internet Explorer - IE . A) Click on the Tools menu and on Internet Options. 3. Under the Browsing...

How to Delete the Browsing History of IE7 and IE8 As you browse the web, Internet Explorer stores information about the websites you visit and information that you're frequently asked to provide. For example: Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, Website History, Passwords, and Web Form Information. This will show you how to delete this browsing history. For more information, see: Windows Help and How-to: Delete Webpage History Usually, it's helpful to have this information stored on your computer because it can improve web browsing speed or automatically provide information so you don't have to type it in over and over. You might want to delete that information if you're cleaning up your computer or are using a public computer and do...

How to Add or Delete an Exception in Windows Firewall in Vista An Exception is an instruction that tells Windows Firewall to open a port briefly, allow a program or service to pass a specific piece of information through, and then close the port. These instructions are called "exceptions" because normally the firewall blocks all unsolicited attempts to send information. For more information, see: Windows Help and How-to: Firewall Exceptions It is generally safer to create a program exception than to open a port. If you open a port, it stays open until you close it, whether or not a program is using it. If you create an exception, the "door" is open only when needed for a particular communication.Only create an exception or open a port...

How to Use Hard Disk Drive Space Quota in Vista This will show you how to setup a Hard Disk Drive Space Quota to allow you to set maximum space usage limits for user accounts with a warning or deny message when the user reaches the usage limits you set. For more information, see Managing Disk Quotas (Windows). Here's How: 1. Open the Start menu. 2. Click on the Computer button. 3. Right click on the C:\ drive and click on Properties. (See screenshot below) NOTE: You can also put a quota on any hard drive or separate partition you have installed. 4. Click on the Quota tab and click on the Show Quota Settings button. (See screenshots below) 5. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt. 6. To Enable Quota A) Check Enable quota...