- Click the Start button
, click Control Panel, click Programs, click Programs and Features, and then click Turn Windows features on or off.
If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
- Select the Games check box, and then click OK.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
How To Turn On Windows Games
Restrict Usage Of USB Removable Disks
Portable USB flash drives are indeed very handy, but they can also be used to upload malicious code to your computer either deliberately or by accident or to copy confidential information from your computer and take it away. In that case if you want to restrict usb removable disk access than do the following:
To block your computer's ability to use USB Removable Disks follow these steps:
- Open Registry Editor.
- In Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR- Locate the following value (DWORD):
- Close Registry Editor. You do not need to reboot the computer for changes to apply.
Enable usage of USB Removable Disks
To return to the default configuration and enable your computer's ability to use USB Removable Disks follow these steps:- Go to the registry path found above.
- Locate the following value:
Start and give it a value of 3. You can download a .REG file that configure this setting right HERE (1kb).
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Ways To Improve Display Quality
The visual appearance of your computer's display can be influenced by several factors. The monitor you use and its settings, how Windows is configured, and how you use your computer can all have an effect on display quality.
To ensure your monitor is calibrated correctly, refer to the instructions that came with your monitor. To learn how to configure Windows display settings, see Getting the best display on your monitor.
Trying to run too many programs at the same time can cause display problems such as jittery or choppy video. If you notice erratic or reduced visual performance on your computer, try one or more of the actions described below.
Windows chooses the best display settings, including screen resolution, refresh rate, and color, based on your monitor. These settings differ depending on whether you have an LCD or a CRT monitor. If you want to adjust your display settings or, if these settings were changed and you want to restore default settings, use the following recommendations.
For both type of monitors, it's typical that the higher the dots per inch (DPI), the better the fonts will look. For more information, see Make the text on your screen larger or smaller.
The difference between high DPI and low DPIThe best display for an LCD monitor
If you have an LCD monitor, check your screen resolution, which helps to determine the clarity of on-screen images and objects. It's a good practice to set LCD monitors to the native resolution—the resolution a monitor was designed to display best, based on its size. The monitor manufacturer or reseller should be able to provide the native resolution. If you can't get this information, you can try setting the monitor to the highest available resolution, which is usually the native resolution. See Change screen resolution.
If you don't know what your monitor's native resolution is, set it to the highest possible resolutionLCD monitors can technically support lower resolutions than their native resolution, but the image might be small, centered on the screen, and edged with black; or the image will look stretched.
Correct monitor flicker
Another consideration in getting the best possible display from your monitor is the screen refresh rate. If the refresh rate is too low, the monitor can flicker, which can cause eye strain and headaches. You should select a refresh rate of at least 75 Hertz. For more information about reducing or eliminating flicker, see Correct monitor flicker (refresh rate).
Make sure the screen refresh rate is high enough to prevent monitor flickerSet the color for an LCD monitor
LCD monitors display vivid color. To get the best color display from your monitor, make sure the color is set to at least 32 bit.
- Open Display Settings by clicking the Start button
, clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, clicking Personalization, and then clicking Display Settings.
- Under Colors, select Highest (32 bit), and then click OK.
The best display for a CRT monitor
For a CRT monitor, it's important to change the screen resolution to the highest resolution available that gives 32-bit color and at least a 72-Hertz refresh rate. For more information, see Change screen resolution. If the screen is flickering, or viewing the screen is uncomfortable, increase the refresh rate until you are comfortable with it. For more information, see Correct monitor flicker (refresh rate).
Resolution based on monitor size
Monitor size | Recommended resolution |
|---|---|
15-inch monitor | 1024 × 768 |
17- to 19-inch monitor | 1280 × 1024 |
20-inch and larger monitor | 1600 × 1200 |
Set the color for a CRT monitor
Windows colors and themes work best when you have your monitor set to 32-bit color. You can set your monitor to 24-bit color, but you won't see all the visual effects. If you set your monitor to 16-bit color, images that should be smooth might not appear correctly.
Set the color for a CRT monitor
- Open Display Settings by clicking the Start button
- Under Colors, select Highest (32 bit), and then click OK. (If you can't select 32 bit, check that your resolution is as high as possible, and then try again.)
Media Contact:-
Susheel Dhatwalia
info@leniotech.com or visit us at http://www.leniotech.com/
Susheel Dhatwalia
info@leniotech.com or visit us at http://www.leniotech.com/
Troubleshoot PDF printing | Not able to Print PDF Files
If you're having trouble printing a PDF, try the following steps. After each step, try printing the PDF again.
Note: If you recently updated to Acrobat 9.4.2, see Printing problems | Acrobat 9.4.2 update.
1. Print the file as an image.
If you’re in a hurry and want to print a simple document (such as a letter, a form, or a calendar), print it as an image. For more information, see PDF printing quick fix: Print as image.For more information, see PDF printing quick fix: Print as image
2. Update your printer driver.
Update the driver if the PDF doesn't print, prints as a blank page or with unreadable text, or if printing produces an error message.
- Find your printer’s model number.
- Go to the manufacturer's website, and browse or search for "drivers" or "printer drivers."
Driver download pages for popular manufacturers appear below:
- Find the correct driver for your model number.
- Download and install the printer driver.
- Restart your computer.
3. Copy the file to your hard drive.
Sometimes when you print a file that is on a thumb drive or a network, the file becomes damaged. Open the copy on your hard drive and print again.
4. Try to print a different PDF file.
- If you can print a different PDF, see step 6.
- If you can’t print a different PDF, see step 5.
5. Open a different program and try to print a different file.
- If you can print the file, restart your printer.
- If you can’t print the file, see step 9, "Check your printer connection."
6. Re-create the PDF file.
If you have the original file that the PDF was created from, and you have Adobe Acrobat, re-create the PDF.
a. Open the file in the original program (such as a word processing or a page layout program).
b. Choose File > Print, and then choose the option to save the file as a PDF.
a. Open the file in the original program (such as a word processing or a page layout program).
b. Choose File > Print, and then choose the option to save the file as a PDF.
7. Copy or download the PDF again.
If you don’t have the file that the PDF was created from, try either of the following steps.
Make a copy of the PDF.
Choose File > Save As and give the file a new name. Include only letters and numbers in the filename. Do not include symbols such as %, $, or [].
Download the PDF again.
If you downloaded the PDF from the Web or received it in an e-mail, download the PDF again. Or, ask the sender to resend it.
8. Try printing the PDF using another printer.
If you can print using another printer, see next step 9, "Check your printer connection."
9. Check your printer connection.
a. Ensure that the cable that connects your printer to your computer is securely plugged in.
b. If your printer is plugged into a USB hub, then unplug the printer cable from the hub.
Plug the printer cable directly in to a USB port on your computer.
c. Ensure that your printer is turned on.
d. If your printer was already on, turn it off. Wait 15 seconds, and then turn it on again.
e. Try and print again. If your file still doesn't print, see step 10, "Restart your computer."
b. If your printer is plugged into a USB hub, then unplug the printer cable from the hub.
Plug the printer cable directly in to a USB port on your computer.
c. Ensure that your printer is turned on.
d. If your printer was already on, turn it off. Wait 15 seconds, and then turn it on again.
e. Try and print again. If your file still doesn't print, see step 10, "Restart your computer."
10. Restart your computer.
11. Use the current version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat.
Download the current version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat at the Adobe Product updates site. Or, in Adobe Reader or Acrobat, choose Help > Check For Updates.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Steps To Speed up a Slow PC
- Make sure your computer has at least 500MB of free hard disk drive space. If your computer has less than 500MB free, it may cause the computer to operate more slowly. Try regaining hard disk drive space.
- Run Microsoft Scandisk and Defrag on the computer. Additional information and help with these commands can be found on our scandisk page and our defrag page.
- Close any programs that are running in the background or disable background programs from automatically loading each time your computer boots. Information about doing this can be found in document CHTSR.
- Click Start, Search, and click For Files or Folders. In the search window, search for files named *.tmp and make sure you are searching or looking in the local C: drive. Once search has completed, delete any files found.
- Ensure that no errors or conflicts exist in the Device Manager.
- Make sure Windows XP is up-to-date by checking Microsoft Windows update page.
- Delete all files in your Windows Prefetch directory. These files can lower overall system resources if loading programs no longer being used. See the prefetch definition for additional information about prefetch.
- Verify your computer has the latest drivers for the hardware devices installed in your computer.
- If your computer has a virus protection program installed, make sure it is up to date and that no viruses are being detected. If your computer does not have a virus protection program, you may wish to consider installing a program to make sure no viruses are causing your problems. Information about updating your antivirus program can be found on document CH000533 and information about what antivirus programs are available can be found on document CH000514.
- If your computer has worked fine in the past but recently has been experiencing this issue, run the System Restore option to restore the computer to an earlier date. Information about how to do this can be found on document CH000589.
Diagnose Boot Problems In Windows XP Using MSCONFIG
The System Configuration Utility is easy to use and will help you troubleshoot a wide variety of Windows XP boot problems. The ease with which you can temporarily modify the boot files, system services, and startup files makes MSCONFIG an extremely useful troubleshooting utility. The best troubleshooting features I have found are the boot options located within the BOOT.INI tab. Remember to use caution when manipulating boot option parameters and always write down any changes you make in case you get stuck.
Launching MSCONFIG
To use MSCONFIG, click the Start button and select Run. In the Open box, type MSCONFIG and click OK. The utility will open, as illustrated in Figure A.
Figure A
You must be logged on to the computer using an Administrator account before you can run MSCONFIG.
The MSCONFIG window contains six tabs: General, SYSTEM.INI, WIN.INI, BOOT.INI, Services, and Startup. We’ll take a closer look at each of these tabs in the following sections.
The General tab
The MSCONFIG General tab gives you some basic options for starting a computer. As shown in Figure A, the default setting for the utility is Normal Startup. The other two options for starting the computer are Diagnostic Startup and Selective Startup.
Diagnostic Startup allows you to start the computer with only the most basic devices and services that are needed for the computer to run. This startup gives you a clean environment for troubleshooting.
Selective Startup provides a variety of startup options that you can use for troubleshooting. By default, all the options under Selective Startup are chosen. However, deselecting one of these preselected options allows you to prevent one or more of the Selective Startup options from running.
For instance, if you think one of the programs that launch on startup is causing a problem, you can deselect the Load Startup Items option to prevent any startup program from launching. While this won’t help you determine which program is causing the problem, it will help you isolate the problem to a certain area. Please note that you’re unable to select the Use Modified BOOT.INI file unless you make a change on the BOOT.INI tab, which I’ll discuss later.
Finally, the Launch System Restore button provides easy access to the System Restore function, and the Expand File button is a very useful feature if you encounter a corrupted file and want to restore it.
The SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI tabs
The SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI tabs are included for legacy compatibility, and you may not need to use them very often. These tabs give you the ability to modify the SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI files or prevent lines of code from executing when the computer is started.
In Figure B, each line of the SYSTEM.INI file is displayed in the window. Sections of the file, such as drivers, are expandable to allow you to work with the lines of code in those sections. You can also deselect a section to prevent the entire section from being executed.
Figure B
Deselect a section to prevent the entire section from being executed.
The Move Up and Move Down buttons allow you to move lines or sections to other locations in the file. The Find button is used to search the file; the New button lets you add new lines; and Edit lets you change the value of a line. The Enable All and Disable All buttons at the bottom of the window will select or deselect all the lines of the program. Using these buttons to alter these files is much easier and safer than using a text editor to perform the same tasks.
As you can see in Figure C, the WIN.INI tab provides the same functionality as the SYSTEM.INI tab.
Figure C
Same as before, select and deselect.
Boot options using the BOOT.INI tab
The BOOT.INI tab, shown in Figure D, gives you many options for starting the computer. The top portion of the window contains the BOOT.INI file that the computer is currently using. You cannot edit this file using MSCONFIG. You can change the timeout value for the boot menu. Even if you can’t edit the file, it is easy to view the file when you use MSCONFIG.
Figure D
Microsoft recommends that you don’t attempt to use MSCONFIG to edit BOOT.INI unless you’re directed to do so by a Microsoft Certified professional.
Three of the four buttons provided in this window are for editing purposes and are grayed out by default. The Check All Boot Paths button is used to verify that the boot paths in the BOOT.INI file are correct. When you click this button, you’ll receive either an error message you can use for troubleshooting or a window alerting you that the boot paths have been verified.
Boot option pane
The most valuable functions on the BOOT.INI tab are the boot options, which are explained below. You can use these choices for a variety of troubleshooting techniques:
- /SAFEBOOT gives you suboptions for starting the computer.
- /SAFEBOOT with MINIMAL starts the computer in Safe Mode.
- /SAFEBOOT with NETWORK starts the computer in Safe Mode with networking support.
Note: /SAFEBOOT with NETWORK does not load the normal network configuration; instead, it loads a generic TCP/IP network configuration. - /SAFEBOOT with DSREPAIR is used to repair Directory Services on Domain Controllers.
- /SAFEBOOT with MINIMAL (ALTERNATESHELL) starts the computer in Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
- /NOGUIBOOT starts the computer without the VGA video driver that displays graphics during the boot process and Blue Screen crash information.
- /BOOTLOG enables boot logging to help you debug and troubleshoot startup problems.
- /BASEVIDEO starts the computer using a standard VGA video driver, as opposed to the one installed for the graphics card.
- /SOS causes the driver names to be displayed when they’re loaded. You can use this switch to diagnose driver-related issues.
- /MAXMEM limits the amount of memory that Windows XP can use. You can use this switch if you believe that your system has a bad memory chip.
- /NUMPROC limits the number of processors used in a multiprocessor system.
- /PCILOCK stops Windows XP from dynamically assigning system resources to PCI devices. The devices will use the BIOS configuration instead.
- /DEBUG starts the computer in debugging mode. It allows you to configure the machine with three additional suboptions, as follows:
- /DEBUG with /DEBUGPORT specifies the communications port to be used for debugging.
- /DEBUG with /BAUDRATE specifies the baud rate to be used for debugging. The default baud rate is 9600 with a modem and 19200 with a null-modem cable.
- /DEBUG with /CHANNEL specifies the 1394 communications channel for debugging.
Figure E
These are the advanced options.
Working with the Services tab
The MSCONFIG Services tab, shown in Figure F, allows you to prevent specific services from starting when the computer is started. This is extremely useful when you’re troubleshooting service-related problems.Figure F
Microsoft has designed the majority of services in Windows XP. To make it easier to find a non-Microsoft service, you can select the Hide All Microsoft Services option.
Troubleshooting using the Startup tab
The Startup tab lets you prevent items in your startup folder from starting when you log in. As you can see in Figure G, you can simply deselect the service to prevent it from starting. If you want to disable all the services, click the Disable All button. To enable all the services again, click the Enable All button.
Figure G
How to Improve Windows Explorer Using Folder Options
Windows 7 introduces a brand new WindowsExplorer with many changes versus its predecessors. Browsing and working with your files and folders has never been easier and more pleasant in the Windows world. Even so, there is always room for improvement by tweaking the configuration of the Folder Options menu. In this article I will show you where to find Folder Options and which are the key configuration options which can improve your experience with WindowsExplorer.
Where to Find the Folder Options Menu
Finding the Folder Options menu can be done in several ways. One of them is to open the Control Panel and go to Appearance and Personalization -> Folder Options.
Another way is to open Windows Explorer and go to Organize -> Folder and search options.
A third alternative would be to search for 'folder options' in the Start Menu search box and click on the appropriate search result. Once launched, the Folder Options window looks like in the screenshot below. If you are familiar with previous versions of Windows, you will notice the Folder Options window has changed and now it offers a different set of options and tabs.
In the next chapter we will go through each one of the tabs and highlight important configuration items which can improve the way you work with Windows Explorer.
The General tab has a very limited set of configuration options. You can set Windows Explorer to open each folder in the same window or in a different one or you can change the way you open items (via a single-click or a double-click). The most interesting option is the last one, regarding the navigation pane. If you check the two check-boxes highlighted below, Windows Explorer will show all folders when you open it and will automatically expand to current folder. This can be very useful to some users as it helps them navigate faster through their folders.
The View tab has lots of configuration options about the way files and folders are shown in Windows Explorer. Some of the most important options are the following:
· Always show icons, never thumbnails - this option can be useful when you are working with a large number of files and folders and your computer is rather slow when loading all their thumbnails. By checking this option, Windows Explorer shows only icons and stops loading thumbnails, which leads to speed improvements when browsing through your files and folders.
· Hide empty drives in the Computer folder - when this option is checked, if you insert an USB memory stick or any other drive which is empty, it will not be shown in your Computer folder. This can sometimes lead to confusion if your drive was installed and detected properly. Unchecking this option is highly recommended.
· Hide extensions for known file types - unchecking this option allows you to see file name extensions as parts of file names. This is a good way to ensure that files are not viruses or other malicious software disguised as normal files such as documents or pictures. There are many viruses which apparently have a safe file extension. They are named something like filename.doc.exe. If this option is checked, you will only see filename.doc and you might believe it is a safe file to open. Unchecking this option is highly recommended.
Use check boxes to select items - by checking this option, when you place your mouse on the top of a file or folder, you will see a small check box. This can be useful for easier selection of several items at once. It is the equivalent of holding down the CTRL key while clicking on multiple items to select them.
· When typing into list view - here you have two options, depending on the behavior you want. By default, when you type a letter, Windows Explorer will select the first file or folder which has a name starting with that letter. When found, the item will be automatically selected. If you want to change this behavior and you want to automatically search in the upper-right search box, select the first option which says 'Automatically type into the Search Box'.
The Search tab has configuration options about the way you can search for files or folders in Windows Explorer. The default configuration works very well. However, if you are not satisfied you can experiment with the available options and see if they improve your experience.
Conclusion
The tips shared here managed to improve my own experience with Windows Explorer and now I enjoy it even more. Actually, it is the first time I don't feel the need to use Total Commander, one of the best file managers you could find. If you have other good tips & tricks to share, don't hesitate to leave us a comment.
Media Contact:-
Susheel Dhatwalia
info@leniotech.com or visit us at www.leniotech.com
Susheel Dhatwalia
info@leniotech.com or visit us at www.leniotech.com
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