Tutorials

How to Enable or Disable the Vista Built-in CD and DVD Burning Features

This will allow you to enable or disable the Vista Explorer built-in CD and DVD burning features for all users. This feature is enabled by default in Vista. If you have installed a third party CD and DVD burning program, then this may be handy disabled.Disabling this feature does not prevent users from using third party applications to create, burn to, or modify CDs and DVDs.EXAMPLE: Built-in CD and DVD Burning Features...

How to Backup Specific Files in Vista Like NT Backup in XP

In Vista we can only backup file types in the built-in backup files feature. That will use more space from your drive. This tutorial will help you to create a backup of specific files instead of file types.

Here's How:

1. From a XP computer, copy these files in the C:\Windows\System32 folder, or click on the Download button below to download them in a ZIP file.


ntbackup.exe size 1.14 mb
ntmsapi.dll size 40 kb
vssapi.dll size 420...

How to Change the OS Name in Windows Boot Manager

When you dual boot, this will show you how to change a listed operating system name in the Windows Boot Manager to what you want from within the operating system that you want to change the name of. For example, in Vista.It can be real useful to rename a operating system if you have more than one OS listed with the same name, or you would like to have a better description (ex: 32-bit, 64-bit, build number), etc..)
EXAMPLE: Windows Boot...

Remove Virus without Booting into Windows Vista
This will show you how to scan the system for viruses when Windows Vista fails to boot, or the system keeps restarting and not allowing you to do anything.

Reboot to the Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Recovery Environment (WinRE)

1. Restart the computer.

2. Tap the <F8> key during startup until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears.
NOTE: If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, restart the computer, and try again.

3. Press the...

How to Create a 32-bit Windows Explorer Shortcut in Vista 64-bit

This easy to create shortcut will open the Computer Windows Explorer window with the 32 bit shell to enable use of 32 bit shell extensions in Vista 64 bit. From inside this shortcut, any folder you navigate to will be running as 32 bit. Try out the shell extensions of some of your 32 bit programs to verify it if you like.

Here's How:
1. Right click on the desktop and select New and Shortcut.

2. Where it says "type the...

How to Allow or Prevent the Vista Recycle Bin Icon to Display

This will show you how to allow or prevent the Vista Recycle Bin icon to display from the desktop, Windows Explorer, programs that use Windows Explorer, and the File - Open menu bar window for all users on the computer. By default, the Recycle Bin icon is allowed to be displayed in all user accounts.If set to prevent, then this will only remove the Recycle Bin icon and not prevent a user from using other methods to gain access to...

Troubleshooting Specific Stop Errors
This out of the Vista Inside out book. I thought it may be helpful for some people that have this happen on their system to know.General Advice for Dealing with Stop Errors If you experience a Stop error, don’t panic. Instead, run through the following troubleshooting checklist to isolate the problem and find a solution: l Look for a driver name in the error details If the error message identifies a specific file name and you can trace that file to a...

How to Turn Taskbar Auto-hide On or Off in Vista

This will show you how to turn on or off having the taskbar auto-hide until you move the mouse pointer over the location of the hidden taskbar to temporarily unhide it. By default auto-hide it turned off for the taskbar.EXAMPLE: Taskbar Auto-hide Turned On
NOTE: When turned on, the taskbar will be hidden until you move the mouse pointer over it. When turned off, the taskbar will be displayed and not hidden.



Here's How:
1. Right click on a...

How to Enable or Disable Taskbar Always on Top in Vista

This will show you how to enable or disable to keep the taskbar on top of other windows in Vista.
EXAMPLE: Taskbar Always On Top Enabled and Disabled
NOTE: Enabled is the left screenshot, and disabled is the right screenshot.



Here's How:
1. Right click on a empty area on the taskbar and click on Properties.

2. To Enable Taskbar Always on Top
NOTE: This is enabled by default in Vista.
A) Check the Keep the taskbar on top of other...

How To Change the Drive Boot Priority in BIOS

This will show you, step by step, how to change the drive Boot priority on your computer in the BIOS.This will set your computer to Boot from where you want, in any order.You may want to view this Tutorial on another computer, as your computer will need to restart multiple times.

Here's How:
Starting Out:

1) Shut down your computer

2) Power your computer back on, but be ready.

3) The BIOS screen is the motherboard boot screen. This is NOT...

Issue : Unable to boot to windows error “bootmgr is missing”

Before trying the step below please run startup repair first

Solution :

1. Boot the computer from Vista OS DVD.

Click on Repair Your Computer.



Click on Command prompt.



At the X:\Sources prompt, type bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup and press <Enter>



Type c: and press <Enter>.



At the C:\ prompt, type cd boot and press <Enter>.



At the C:\Boot prompt, type attrib bcd -s -h -r and press <Enter>.



At the C:\Boot...

Vista Installed on USB Hard drive

I hope this method is easy to do and will help anyone looking for the vista usb solution. This avoids any ghosting or copying over of OS install to different drives.

Avoids cross mounting registry hives.

Drawback: Needs another drive plugged in sata or ide channel or BSOD after install procedure (used or unused). Meaning this only boots off usb vista, if there is another hard drive present in the system. Has something to do with vista verification of disk...

You are unable to select or format hard drive partition when you try to install Vista

When you try to install Windows Vista, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

The hard disk on which you want to install Windows Vista is not listed.
You cannot select a hard disk partition on which to install Windows Vista.
You cannot format a hard disk partition or partitions.
You cannot set the correct size for a hard disk partition.

What if you are unable to format a hard drive...

How to Change the Mouse Hover Time before Pop-up Displays in Vista

This will show you how to change the delay time, in milliseconds, that the mouse pointer has to stay hovered on a item before tooltip popups display in Vista.
Using a REG File Download
1. To Have a Fast Mouse Hover Time
NOTE: This changes the mouse hover delay time to 30 milliseconds.

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

30ms_Mouse_Hover_Time.zip...

Run Commands For Vista

This is a list of Run commands that you can type into the Run command window or Start Menu search line to open or run the listed items here.

The Run commands are the ones in bold below.
EXAMPLE: Run command window and Start Menu

.





Here's the List:
Display Adapter Troubleshooter AdapterTroubleshooter

Authorization Manager azman.msc

Bitlocker Wizard bitlockerwizard

Color Management Color.cpl

Computer Management Launcher CompMgmtLauncher

Control Panel...

How to Fix the BootMGR is Compressed Message at Boot

Why does this BootMGR is Compressed message appears at boot?
Well, for some bizzare reason, Vista also compresses the BOOTMGR when you select (check) to Compress this drive to save data space option on the C: drive. When BootMGR is compressed Vista cannot boot from it. This will show you how to fix this boot error.

Here's How:
1. First of all, boot from your retail Vista or Windows 7 installation DVD, or from you bootable Vista USB or...

How to Retain the DVD Drive Icon if Disappeared from Computer

Sometimes the DVD drive icon disappears from Computer and you have a ! mark on dvd drive in device manager. This tutorial will help you restore the DVD drive icon on Computer.

Here's How:
1. In the device manager, right click on the dvd drive and click on Uninstall.

2. Click on the Start button, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press Enter.

3. In the User Account Control window, type your password or click...

How to Restore Previous Opened Folder Windows at Logon in Vista

This will show you how to turn on or off the setting to automatically open the folders that you have open when you log off, restart, or shut down Vista last for whenever you start Vista and logon to your user account next. This is turned off by default in Vista.You can use this setting to help you preserve your work from session to session.
Through Folder Options
1. Open Folder Options.

2. To Turn On Restore Previous Folder...

How to Change the Border for Thumbnail Previews in Vista

This will show you how to change the border for all Windows Explorer thumbnail preview images in Vista to either have a drop shadow, photo, video sprockets, or no border.You will need to click on View or Views, on Windows Explorer window Menu bar, and have it set to either Medium Icons, Large Icons, or Extra Large Icons to see a thumbnail preview of the file image as the icon.

EXAMPLE: Available Thumbnail Preview Image Borders
NOTE...

How to Change the User Account Password if Unable to Login to Windows

This tutorial will help you remove the existing user account password and set up a new password incase you have forgotten the user password.

Here's how:
Boot to Win RE
Click Command Prompt option.
Type the following command:
C:
CD Windows\system32
ren cmd.exe cmd.old
ren magnify.exe cmd.exe
ren cmd.old magnify.exe
Restart computer
Click on Easy of Access centre left side bottom à Choose Magnify option à Command prompt...