Thursday, October 22, 2009

Open multiple instances of same program with Windows 7

Access several instances of an open application at the same time in Windows 7 with different tabs. The operating system also allows you to shift windows in a smooth manner and

Microsoft is much closer to making a completely secure operating system been. .

Many a times we need to open multiple instances of the same program, or to take remote troubleshooting help on phone. We also need to shift any open windows to view the other

one. A program needs to be closed or minimized again and again, and on a remote session often some times we are not able to catch the whole tips and we often blunder.

However, Windows 7 or windows xp 7 offers a panacea for this issue. The operating system allows you to open the same application in

multiple instances as per your need.

Instead of opening the program again, you can simply press the SHIFT key and left-click on the first instance in the Windows taskbar to open a second one.

Problem Steps Recorder

The Problem Steps Recorder is an efficient tool in Windows 7 that can be used by the user to record the steps over phone by some expert. Hence, you don’t have to suffer calling

again and again.

You need to start the recorder by entering psr in the Start Menu box and click on Start Record in the program interface. Screen shots will be taken from user actions. It is

possible to add comments at any time if the user feels so. The whole recording will be saved as a zip file containing a slideshow of the actions.

Collect favorite folder

Want to add a favorite folders to Windows Explorer to be able to access them faster? Just drag and drop the folder to the favorites menu. It will remain there until you delete

it with the delete key again.

Moreover, Windows 7 has introduced several new keyboard shortcuts for window management. Some useful ones are given below:

    * [Windows Shift Left Arrow] or [Windows Shift Right Arrow] to move windows from one computer monitor to another.
    * [Windows Left Arrow] or [Windows Right Arrow] to dock windows to the left or right side.
    * [Windows Up Arrow] to maximize a window.
    * [Windows Down Arrow] to restore or minimize windows.
    * [Windows Home] to minimize all windows but the active one.
    * Shortcuts to start pinned task bar items.
    * Pressing [Win Number] will start a new instance of a pinned task bar item. You should also note that the items can be dragged and dropped into different positions easily.
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Monday, October 19, 2009

Automate Administration with PowerShell

Windows PowerShell 2.0, a useful feature in Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 7, is a great boon to IT professionals yearning for a elevated management of computers in enterprises.

PowerShell 2.0 is built on the Microsoft .Net Framework and is especially designed for system administration providing great help to IT professionals to automate the administration of Windows operating system. The command tools in Windows PowerShell, named cmdlets, allows you to manage computers in enterprise.

Microsoft latest Windows 7 version also helps you to access data stores and supports Windows Management Instrumentation classes. The tool is designed to easily permit the addition of new features . Your own cmdlets, providers, functions and scripts can be added which enables you to use Windows technologies such as Active Directory Domain Services, Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption, the DHCP Server service, Group policy, etc.

IT professionals and developers might be most interested in these improved features in Windows 7 as it helps them to manage Windows at the command line. Developers can also use it to build script language

In a nutshell, following are the changes included in Windows 7 PowerShell:

1. More than 100 new cmdlets are included in Windows PowerShell.

2. Interactive session can be created with single computer and as many as computer can be run with the single command. A session can be established with it which allows you to receive remote commands from multiple computers.

3. With Windows PowerShell background jobs, you can continue to work on your session as the commands run in the background. Background jobs can be run on a local as well as on the remote computer.

4. With debugger, you can debug functions and scripts. Breakpoint can be set and removed with it and you can also check the values of the variables.

5. Modules in Windows PowerShell allows you to function as independent entity. Module package containing your cmdlets, providers, scripts, functions and other files can be distributed to the other users.

6. It supports new event infrastructure and transaction.

7. The messages and text can be displayed to users in multiple languages, with script internalization.

8. For enhanced user experience, not only help at the command line but also new online parameters are included in Get-Help cmdlet which opens updated version of each help topic.
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Sunday, October 18, 2009

Windows 7 features – Device Management


One of the several salient features of Windows 7 is Device Management, which includes device stage and the devices and printer folder making it easier for a user to work with printers, cameras, phones, and music players.

The tool acts as a location for external devices that updates you with the device status information. Device Stage acts as a home page for your hardware in Windows 7. In earlier versions, you need to go to separate menus, but in Windows 7 this advanced feature will pop up all the functions of the device.

The user can also have a look at everything connected to the PC with Devices and Printers folder. Now you don’t have to worry about downloading the drivers as the drivers of the new devices will be downloaded automatically.

In Windows 7, default printing adjusts itself depending upon the connected network. If you are at home or work it gets aware of the location from where you are printing with Location aware printing feature. It also provides support for wireless alternatives to USB such as Ultra Wideband (UWB), Wireless USB (WUSB), Wireless Host Controller Interface (WHCI), Device Wire Adapter (DWA).

Moreover, it supports devices such as ambient light sensor, GPS, temperature gauge, etc. You can also enlarge the text display when using high resolutions . The tool provides improved support for external displays. You can easily toggle between the laptop screen and an external display by simply pressing +P key.

If you want to add a new device it can easily be done with Devices and printers as it also provide the place to add a new networked or wireless device and also to troubleshoot problems with it. It also provide Blue-ray Disc write support and standardizes the Display color as it helps in adjusting an LCD display to be as close as possible to the sRGB standard color space. The user can expect simpler device pairing, better security and better power savings.


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Friday, October 16, 2009

Prevent Windows 7 From Automatic Restart After System Failure



Making an improvement over Windows XP, Window 7 allows a user to get rid of system restarts.
A reflection on Windows 7 features will tell us that if the operating system Windows 7 fails due to driver error and your system restarts, you can follow these steps to resolve the issue.
Just click the "Start" button after selecting "Control Panel". After that, click "System and Security", and then "System". In the left pane, select "Advanced system settings". If the User Account Control dialog box appears, click "Yes". The "System Properties" multi-tabbed dialog box appears. Click the "Advanced" tab. Underneath "Startup and Recovery", click the "Settings" button. After that in Windows 7 the "Startup and Recovery" dialog box appears. Underneath "System failure", uncheck "Automatically restart". Click "OK" on the dialog boxes to close them.
Meanwhile, in Windows 7, you can also set Process Priorities to boost your system. You will have to determine which processes should get the most attention in your Windows 7 system.
If your main program or process running too slow on your Windows 7 version, you can raise the priority of it.
You can open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc together on keyboard. The multi-tabbed "Windows Task Manager" should appear. Make sure the "Applications" tab is selected. If the process you need to change is linked to an application, right-click it and choose "Go to Process" from the pop-up menu that appears.
Otherwise, click the "Processes tab" to find a process you need to change. Right-click a process and select "Set Priority". If you cannot find the process that needs its priority changed, click the "Show processes from all users" button. You may have to confirm your action via User Account Control.
From here you can select from the following possible priorities (highest to lowest): Realtime, High, Above Normal, Below Normal, Normal, and Low.
If you are sure you want to change the process priority, click the "Change priority" button when prompted.
You cannot change priorities permanently, next time you reboot your computer default priority will be there. Save all open files before trying this trick.
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How to change Account Picture in WIndows 7

Microsoft’s Windows 7 release will be a boon for users as now they will be allowed to change the picture that appears on the Start Menu and Welcome screen in Windows 7.
While using Windows 7 you must have noticed a picture that appears when you click the Start menu or access the Welcome screen. A picture represents your account. You can replace this default picture with your favorite one.
You can follow these steps to perform this task. Click the Start button and then click on your account image to open the "User Accounts" Control Panel. When the "User Accounts" Control Panel opens, click "Change your picture" and then choose the one you like from the gallery and set as a default picture for your account.
After that you will have to click the "Change Picture" button, and then close the "User Accounts" Control Panel.
Taking up another issue, you can use setup to show the computer name on your Windows 7 taskbar.
You usually check computer name manually by right-clicking on My Computer and choosing Properties. But in Windows 7 release you can display it on Taskbar.
You just have to create a new folder in Document folder with the same name as your computer name. You can find your computer name by right-clicking on My Computer and choosing Properties. Right-click on an empty area in the taskbar and choose Toolbars, then click on New Toolbar. Now you want to browse to the location of the folder you just created. Choose that folder and click the Select Folder button.
Thats all. Now your computer name will appear on the Windows 7 taskbar.
Another Windows 7 update is that you can also get an effective package from Dr. Web CuireIt against all virus and spyware in Windows 7
When you update your system with Windows 7, then you need a comprehensive package because your existing antivirus will lose the compatibility.
Dr. Web comes with a most efficient Anti-Virus called Dr. Web CuireIt. Its extensive scanner and virus will scan the complete system even without installation. You can get it from the website link http://www.freedrweb.com, absolutely free. You can combine this package with Windows 7 install package. First, open the website with the above link. Press the button of "Download." Save the file on your desktop. Double click on the file and run the set up. Follow the prompt and at the end accept the Agreement form. Click on "Finish" after the process is complete.
You can run this program anytime, to scan your startup files and main memory. Depending upon the area you want to scan you can run this program under complete scan or custom scan. Press "Scanning" after selecting. After scanning the incurable files are moved to the quarantine directory.
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Monday, October 12, 2009

How to Browse Internet on Windows 7 E Version



Microsoft introduced Windows 7 Version in reaction to statements made by the European government with respect to Internet Explorer. The EU introduced antitrust case against Microsoft to the group of IE with Windows and therefore the exploitation of dominant market position. The government claimed that "the linking of Microsoft Internet Explorer for the Windows operating system harms competition among web browsers, undermines the product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice."

Windows 7 version E is a response to this that shows that Microsoft must comply with the law. The E version is without any type of browser and therefore welcomes the European markets with Windows without any type of Internet browser now so they can use any browser of your choice. However, the question remains: HOW? If no browser at all how is it possible to download any web browser?

Microsoft has provided detailed information about installing Windows 7 E on its website. However, the instruction also includes an extra step for customers in Europe with regard to keeping the browser of choice in some external hard drive. Therefore, European customers that Windows 7 will save the web browser on a CD, DVD or USB or other storage media and install the Web browser once the Windows 7 has been completely installed.

This is a genius step taken by Microsoft, as they show they are following the laws, and to be able to get more revenue by providing additional CD web browser with the operating system.

John James is a professional writer with extensive work experience in the development of web services industry. The author has written several useful and informative articles on various topics related to IT and Pc Support Services.


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