Tutorials

How To Turn DEP On or Off for a Program in Vista and Windows 7 Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is a security feature that can help prevent damage to your computer from viruses and other security threats. Harmful programs can try to attack Windows by attempting to run (also known as execute) code from system memory (RAM) locations reserved only for Windows and other authorized programs. These types of attacks can harm your programs and files. If DEP notices a program on your computer using memory incorrectly, it closes the program and notifies you with the DEP stop error. DEP is ran in a software mode and in a hardware mode. If your processor supports DEP (NX for AMD, and XD for Intel), then you will have hardware and software DEP. If...

How to Add View and Print File Directory to the Context Menu in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 This will show you how to add View File Directory and Print File Directory in the context menu for all folders and drives. This will allow you to easily print or view a file and folder directory list when you right click on a folder and click on View File Directory or Print File Directory. The file directory list will not include the files in a subfolder. It will only have the subfolder listed. You will need to right click on the subfolder to view or print it's file directory. It may take a little bit to view or print the file directory of a drive if the drive is very large with a lot of files on it. EXAMPLE: Folder Context Menu Before...

How to Disable or Enable the Transient Multimon Manager (TMM) in Vista Transient Multimon Manager (TMM) is a Microsoft Windows Vista operating system feature targeted at improving the user experience of connecting and disconnecting displays, particularly for the mobile user. This is the 2-3 second delay followed by a blank black screen as Vista searches for monitor changes when you startup Vista. For more information on TMM, see: Microsoft: Transient Multimon Manager (TMM)TMM is enabled by default in Vista. Disabling TMM will get rid of that 2-3 second delay at startup.If you do not use a external monitor for a mobile PC or multiple monitors on a desktop PC, then you can safely disable TMM. Do not disable TMM if you do. Here's...

How to Run Disk Defragmenter from the Command Prompt in Vista This will show you how to run Vista Disk Defragmenter from the command prompt instead of the program within Vista to use more options and details. Here's How: Wait until your hard drive stops running before closing the command prompt to allow the defragmentation to finish. It may take a while to finish depending on how large and fragmented your hard drive is. 1. Open a elevated command prompt. 2. Choose the option you want to do below. 3. For a Complete List of Commands - A) In the elevated command prompt, type defrag.exe -? and press Enter. (See screenshot below) 4. To Defragment a Drive or Volume - A) In the elevated command prompt, type a option in bold...

How to Make a "Create System Restore Point" Shortcut in XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 This tutorial will provide you with a create a manual system restore point shortcut that will instantly create a restore point with an optional description and success message in XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. Restore points contain information about registry settings and other system information that Windows uses. System Restore points do not include personal user files in the C:\Users\(user-name) folders. This will work for 32 bit and 64 bit Vista. You must have System Restore and the services responsible enabled for this shortcut to work. If not you will get the error message below when you try to use the shortcut below. See: How to...

How to Enable or Disable DEP in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is a security feature that can help prevent damage to your computer from viruses and other security threats. Harmful programs can try to attack Windows by attempting to run (also known as execute) code from system memory (RAM) locations reserved only for Windows and other authorized programs. These types of attacks can harm your programs and files. If DEP notices a program on your computer using memory incorrectly, it closes the program and notifies you with the DEP stop error. DEP is ran in a software mode and in a hardware mode. If your processor supports DEP (NX for AMD, and XD for Intel), then you will have hardware and software DEP. If...

How to Change or Move Virtual Memory Paging File in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 If your computer lacks the random access memory (RAM) needed to run a program or operation, Windows uses virtual memory to compensate. Virtual memory combines your computer’s RAM with temporary space on your hard drive. When RAM runs low, virtual memory moves data from RAM to a space called a paging file. Moving data to and from the paging file frees up the RAM to complete its work. Windows manages the virtual memory size automatically by default. This will show you how to manually change the size of virtual memory if the default size is not enough for your needs, and how to change what drive is used for the paging file. For more detailed information...

How to Change the Startup Sound in Vista When you open the Sounds control panel and select the Sounds tab, you are presented with the current Sound Scheme and a list of sounds attached to program activities and various Windows events. You can play them and change them as you see fit, and even save this as a custom Sound Scheme. You will notice that there are sound event entries for Windows Exit, Logon, and Logoff. But there isn't one for Start. The reason why is that Microsoft spent a lot of money paying Robert Fripp (of King Crimson fame) to come up with the sound, and they want to be sure that this signature sound is played every time Windows starts. Well, they do allow you to mute the startup sound, but you are not allowed to...

How to Repair and Verify the Integrity of Vista System Files with System File Checker System File Checker (SFC) checks that all Vista system files are where they should be as they were by default and not corrupted, changed, or damaged. This will show you how to verify and repair the integrity of Vista system files with the System File Checker (SFC) command codes.If SFC Cannot Finish or Repair a File: NOTE: This is for when after you run the SFC scan below, it cannot finish or repair a file. There is no guarantee that SFC can repair the system files if they are corrupted or damaged to much. If SFC still cannot repair them after this, then you might try running Check Disk (chkdsk), System Restore, a Repair Installation, or a clean...

How to Do a Custom Installation of Vista This will show you how to do custom installation to have a clean install of Vista without formating the current Windows installation to have this previous Windows backed up to the Windows.old folder during the installation of Vista. This will replace your currently installed Windows installation with Vista. The C:\Windows.old folder contains all of the folders and files that were in the previous installation of Microsoft Windows.MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR VISTA NOTE: For more information, see: Microsoft Windows Vista: Recommended System Requirements Vista Home Basic Processor: 1GHz (32 or 64 bit) System Memory (RAM): 512MB Hard Drive: 20GB with 15GB available for Vista Video Card: 32MB...

How to Add, Change, or Remove a Drive Letter in Vista This will allow you to either add, change, or remove (hide) a drive letter to organize them how you like. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. You can assign the letters D to Z to each drive on your computer. A and B are usually reserved for floppy disk drives, but if your computer does not have floppy disk drives, you can assign A and B to volumes. C is reserved for the drive Vista is installed on. You can see which drive letters are used on your computer by clicking on Computer in the Start menu. If you want to have all drive letters set to show or be removed from being displayed instead, then see: How to Show or Remove Drive...

How to See the Date and Time on the Taskbar in Vista This will show you how set the Taskbar so you can see both the time and date instead of just the default time.Yes, you could just hover your mouse pointer over the time, or click on the time, and the date will pop up. Except, maybe you would like to have the Date and Time to always show on the taskbar instead. EXAMPLE: Default Time Display EXAMPLE: Hover Mouse Pointer Over Time Display EXAMPLE: Click on Time to see Date and Time EXAMPLE: Date and Time Always Showing Display NOTE: This is what is exained how to do in the steps below. Here's How: 1. Right click on the taskbar. 2. Click to uncheck Lock the Taskbar. (See screenshot below) NOTE: If Lock the Taskbar is grayed...

How to Hide Favorite Links in a Windows Explorer Window in Vista This will show you how to hide or unhideFavorite Links inside the Navigation Pane in a Windows Explorer window. It contains shortcuts to the Documents, Pictures, Music, Recently Changed, Searches, and Public folders by default. For more information see: Microsoft Help and Support: Article KB926167 The Favorite Links folder is located at: C:\Users\(your username)\Links The Navigation Pane contains both the Favorite Links and Folders sections. You cannot turn off just one of these sections, only hide or adjust the size for one of them. If you turn off the Navigation Pane, you will turn off both of these sections as well. If the Favorite Links section is empty, then see...

How to Edit a Word in the Spell Checker Custom Dictionary in Windows Mail The custom dictionary is the secondary dictionary for Windows Mail Spell Checker. It is the dictionary that you customize by adding your own words that you would like Spell Checker to also use while spell checking your message. This can be helpful if you misspelled a word you added to the custom dictionary from Spell Checker and you want to remove or edit the word. You may also want to add a word or add a whole list without having to do it one at a time in the normal way. The custom dictionary file used by Windows Mail is located at this hidden system file location below. If you have changed the default location of the WinMail stores folder, then the...

How to Restore Missing Default Send To Context Menu Items in Vista This will show you how to restore any missing default menu items listed in the Send To context (right click) menu. This includes the Compressed (zipped) Folder, Desktop (create shortcut), Documents, Fax Recipient, and Mail Recipient menu items.The Send To menu folder is located in the hidden folder below: C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo EXAMPLE: Send To Context Menu Here's How: 1. For Compressed (zipped) Folder A) Click on the download button below to download the Compressed (zipped) folder.zip file. B) Go to step 6. https://www.vistax64.com/attachments/compressed-zipped-folder-zip.5540/ 2. For Desktop (create shortcut) A) Click...

How to Debug a BSOD in Vista You might have been directed to Vox's BSOD troubleshooting via Vistax64 forums but STOP errors are caused by 4 key problems: 1. New hardware physically installed that is causing problems or its drivers are causing problems. 2. New software installed that is causing problems or its drivers/services may be causing Vista to STOP. 3. A virus infection could also be causing Vista to fall over. 4. Any system changes via the registry or services control panel that a user might have made or changes that could be made via the first 3 steps. In essence, those are the roots of STOP errors, and most of them are related to poorly written drivers. So if you are getting any STOP errors, consult the above list, and if...

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 prompt, type ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old and press <Enter>. At the C:\Boot prompt, type bootrec /rebuildbcd and press <Enter>. The Boot Configuration File will be rebuilt at this point. Once it finishes, type exit and press <Enter>. Click the Restart...

How to Create a YUMI MultiBoot USB Flash Drive for Windows This tutorial will teach you how to create a bootable USB so you can install (most) operating systems without a dvd/cd drive, along with several repair tools. Basic Essentials to create a MultiSystem Bootable USB Drive USB Flash or USB Hard Drive PC that can boot from USB Windows XP/Vista/7 to create the Bootable USB YUMI-0.0.6.7.exe Your selection of ISO Files Step 1) Download an .ISO version of your installation (available through various sources [Microsoft, Apple, etc., or just from within the tool itself.]) Step 2) Plug in your USB and open up "My Computer". Right click the USB, and select the "Format" button. Recommended options: FAT32, quick format. Now...

How to Delete and Extend a Partition with Disk Management in Vista When you Delete a hard disk partition (volume) you turn that partition into a unallocated (unformated) partition. You can then use this unallocated partition to Extend another partition to a larger size. For more information, see: Windows Help and How-to: Partition and Understanding Disk Partitioning Partition Type Description Primary Partition A type of partition created on a hard drive that can host an operating system and functions as though it were a physically separate hard drive. Also called a volume. Only up to four primary partitions, or 3 primary partitions and 1 extended partition can be created on a single hard drive. Primary partitions can be used to...

How to Restore or Remove Windows Media Center from Default Programs This will show you how to either restore or remove Windows Media Center from the Set Default Programslist for all users in Vista and Windows 7.The N and KN editions of Windows 7 have all the features that normally come with each individual Windows 7 edition, except for Windows Media Player 12 and related programs, such as Windows Media Center or Windows DVD Maker. The N editions of Windows 7 allow you to choose your own media player and software required to manage and play CDs, DVDs, and other digital media files. If you choose to use Windows Media Player 12, downloading it, along with related software, is free. Download Media Feature Pack for Windows 7 N with Service...