Scheduled Tasks

                                   

Scheduled task in Windows XP

With Scheduled Tasks, you can schedule any script, program, or document to run at a time that is most convenient for you. Scheduled Tasks starts every time that you start Windows XP and runs in the background, and it starts each task that you schedule at the time that you specify when you create the task.

Steps on How to schedule a Task in Windows XP

1.     Click on the Start button>Go to All Programs>Select Accessories>Double click on Scheduled Tasks.

                       

2.     A wizard will appear.  A list of programs that are installed on your computer, either as part of the Windows XP operating system, or as a result of software installation when you click on the Next button.

                             

3.     Use one of the following procedures:

a.     If the program that you want to run is listed, click the program, and then click Next.

b.     If you want to run a program, script, or document that is not listed, click Browse, click the folder and file that you want to schedule, and then click Open.

4.     Type a name for the task, and then choose one of the following options:

a.     Daily

b.     Weekly

c.      Monthly

d.     One time only

e.     When my computer starts (before a user logs on)

f.       When I log on (only after the current user logs on)

5.     Click Next, specify the information about the day and time to run the task, and then click Next.

                                 

6.     Type the name and password of the user who is associated with this task. Make sure that you choose a user with sufficient permissions to run the program. By default, the wizard selects the name of the user who is currently logged on.

7.     Click Next, and then click Finish after you verify the choices that you have made.

Turn On/Off Bit Locker- Windows 7

Bit Locker

Bit locker drive encryption allows a user to help protect data from hackers, loss or theft.

Available in Windows 7 and available in the Ultimate and Enterprise editions, Bit Locker helps keep everything from documents to passwords safer by encrypting the entire drive that Windows and your data reside on. Once Bit Locker is turned on, any file you save on that drive is encrypted automatically.

Windows 7 Tips

Use Checkboxes to Select Items in Explorer

Add the ability to select multiple files in Windows 7 Explorer windows by checking and unchecking boxes.

Windows 7 Tips

Prevent the System from Automatically Restarting after a Failure

If Windows 7 fails with a Blue Screen, prevent the system from automatically restarting so you can view debug information.

If Windows 7 fails and displays a Blue Screen (possibly due to a driver error), this includes some debug information. More detail in a kernel memory dump is written to the system hard drive, and then the machine reboots.
 

Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting

You can start your computer with minimal, basic drivers, which is also known as a "clean boot," to figure out if a program is causing a problem. Troubleshooting problems with background programs can be time-consuming, so performing a "clean boot" can save time and frustration.

SoC Tech for next version of Windows

Microsoft announced that the next version of Windows will support System on a Chip (SoC) architectures including ARM-based systems from partners NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments. Intel and AMD continue their work on low-power SoC designs on the x86 architecture that fully support Windows, including support for millions of x86 applications worldwide. SoC architectures will fuel significant innovation across the hardware spectrum when coupled with the depth and breadth of the Windows platform.

Test a Dead CPU

It's hard to tell when a CPU on a computer is dead or if there is another problem. Usually if there is another problem making you believe the CPU is bad, it's often the motherboard.

CPUs don't normally break down, but they do overheat, short out or just stop working for other reasons. CPUs can be expensive to replace, so be sure it's dead before giving up on it.

Power Supply Fitting for a PC

For those who have never had to open up their own desktop computer, having to replace and fit a new power supply may see a bit daunting at first. In fact, the task is fairly simple. The main challenge is making sure you obtain the correct replacement power supply unit that fits your computer. With that part taken care of, the actual installation process involves basic tools and some patience. Once you've performed it a first time, a power supply replacement will be a simple task in the future. Fortunately, the need does not occur
Instructions

1. Unplug your computer's power supply. Disconnect the monitor and external peripheral equipment (the keyboard, mouse, printer, modem, etc.). Remove your desktop processor unit (the main computer part) from its sitting place to table top where you work freely. Turn the unit around so the backside is facing you. Use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew all the chassis bolts keeping the cover on the unit.
2. Remove the cover and set it aside. Use the compressed air can to clean off the area you are going to work on. Locate the existing power supply unit by the cooling fan on the back of it. Use the screwdriver to remove the power supply's securing frame screws. Carefully pull the old unit free after disconnecting its wires to various computer units. Place the old unit aside or throw it away.
3. Unpackage your new power supply unit. Remove all the packaging material and unwrap the wires connected to it. Carefully position the new unit in its holding frame in the processor unit. Use the screwdriver again to insert the securing screws holding the supply unit to the processor unit framework
4. Separate the wiring coming out of the power supply unit. Find the motherboard wire and connect it first. Connect the drive power supply wires second as they match to your hard drives and your CD or DVD drive. Connect your floppy drive wire last if you have a floppy drive. Check that every wire is carefully but firmly connected. Rewrap the unused wires with a small zip-tie and tuck them out of the way.
5. Reconnect your keyboard and monitor to the back of the processor. Plug the processor into a wall plug and turn it on to test the power supply. Confirm your computer starts up correctly and all the drives work properly. Turn the computer off and disconnect the power again. Replace the chassis cover and secure the chassis screws. Place your processor back in its resting place. Reconnect the power and all your peripherals.

Windows 7 Tips

How To Add Additional Clock to the TaskBar?

If you have friends, family, or coworkers who live in different time zones, you may need to know their local times before communicating with them. This helps avoid calling late at night or too early in the morning, or expecting an e-mail or instant message response after they have already gone to bed.

Tech Updates: Microsoft Security updates

        Microsoft issued two security bulletins on 11 Jan, 2011 repairing two critical flaws that affect all versions of Windows. The software giant also updated a security advisory, issuing a temporary automated workaround that if deployed, would block attackers from exploiting an Internet Explorer zero-day vulnerability.

SOLID STATE DRIVE

SOLID STATE DRIVE

A solid-state drive (SSD) is a data storage device that uses the Solid-State Memory to store data. SSDs are different from the traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDD), which are basically electromechanical devices containing spinning disks which revolve over a spindle and movable read/write heads.

HOW TO GET UPDATES FOR ALL MICROSOFT PROGRAMS AND DRIVERS ALONG WITH WINDOWS UPDATES

Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer.

Along with the version of Windows that you are using and the internet explorer, you can also receive updates for other Microsoft products installed on the computer through Windows updates.

For instance, if you are using Microsoft Office or Microsoft Money software, you can get updates for those software using Windows Updates.

Here’s how:

Open Windows Update from the “Start Search” option

In the Windows Update screen that appears, look for the option “Find Out More”

Internet Explorer would open up with a title “Install updates, Office and More”

Agree to the Terms and Conditions by making a check mark and then clicking on “Install”

The next time, you use Windows Update; you would get the updates for all the Microsoft programs installed on the computer.

HOW TO REDUCE SYSTEM RESTORE SPACE TO GAIN MORE FREE SPACE ON DISK

HOW TO REDUCE SYSTEM RESTORE SPACE TO GAIN MORE FREE SPACE ON DISK

System Restore is a component of Microsoft's Windows Me and the later editions like Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems that allows rolling back of hardware drivers, system files, registry keys, installed programs, etc., to a previous state in the event of system crash or malfunction.

For instance, if the computer does not work normal after you installed a program, you can do a system restore to a date before the installation of that program. That would remove the program and also get your computer to a state when it was working fine. 

System Restore takes a snapshot of the system files, drivers and settings each time a restore point is created. When too many system restore points are created that occupies a considerably huge disk space.

You can remove the older restore points to free that disk space or just restrict the space used. To do that:

1.      Right Click on “My Computer”

2.      Go to “Properties”

3.      In the Window that appears, Click on “System Restore”

You would see the drives on the computer as “C:\” , “D:\” etc.

4.      Highlight the drive where you would like to free up the disk space and then click on “Settings”

5.      In that window, under the disk space usage, use the scroll bar to reduce the disk space allocated for “System Restore”

6.      The default size is 12% of the disk space. You can increase or decrease it as needed

The computer has to be restarted for the changes to take effect.

INTERNET EXPLORER AS A TAB IN FIREFOX

HOW TO OPEN INTERNET EXPLORER AS A TAB IN MOZILLA FIREFOX

                                                                                                                                                                            

Many users find it easy to browse the internet with Mozilla Firefox because it is faster and it is more customizable. But still there are some websites that work good only with Internet Explorer and not Firefox. And some Microsoft Websites open only in Internet Explorer like the Windows updates                                            

Have you ever wondered if there is a way to open Internet Explorer within Firefox?                                        

There is an Add-On available in the Firefox website that will help you open Internet Explorer within Mozilla Firefox as a tab. You can find the Add-On in the Mozilla website with the name IE Tab here                            

Just download and install this Add-On from the Mozilla Firefox Add-On website and whenever you right click on some icon you will get an option “View this Link in IE Tab”                                                                         

When you click on it, that particular page will open with Internet Explorer as a tab inside Firefox browser                 

This article applies to Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7

RIP DVDs WITH VLC MEDIA PLAYER

HOW TO RIP DVDs WITH VLC MEDIA PLAYER

VLC Media Player Users would know that VLC is one of the best multimedia players for it can play almost any video type.

To add credits to VLC Player, there are other features that make it more likeable.

One such feature is the DVD Rip feature which works fine with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7

How To Create a DVD Rip:

Place the Video DVD that you want to rip in the DVDdrive

Open VLC Media Player. Click on Media

Click Convert/Save

In the “Open Media” window that is open, click on the Tab with the name “Disc”

Make sure that DVD is selected and choose the “Disc Device” which is your DVD drive and then click on “Convert/Save”

In the next window that opens up, under “Destination”, click on “Browse” and name the file with the desired list of extensions you see under file types and click on “Save”

In the next window, click on “Start”

Now the Video plays and the DVD Ripping happens simultaneously. Do not pause or stop the video until the entire video is complete.

Once the Video ends, close the VLC Media Player and check if the output file plays fine, which sure will!!

HOW TO CONFIGURE WINDOWS MEDIA CENTER TO OPEN A LIBRARY WHEN LAUNCHED

HOW TO CONFIGURE WINDOWS MEDIA CENTER 

TO OPEN MEDIA LIBRARY WHEN LAUNCHED

Windows Media Center is a digital video recorder and media player developed by Microsoft. It is an application that allows users to view and record live television, as well as organizes and plays music and videos. The application is included in various versions of Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate and all editions of Windows 7 except for Starter and Home Basic editions.

When Windows Media Center opens up it opens with a default animation page and then the user must manually select the music, video or the live TV option etc.

 

There are ways that allow the user to open the Windows Media Center directly with a library

Here’s how to do that

Right click on the Windows Media Center icon on the desktop

Go to “Properties”

In the target you would find the value “ %windir%\ehome\ehshell.exe ”

Leave a space after %windir%\ehome\ehshell.exe ” and type in the value

/homepage:MusicBrowsePage.xml /PushStartPage:True and then click on "Apply"  and then "OK"

Note: This would open up Music Library by default when you open the Windows Media Center

If you would want to open Pictures Library by default, change the value to /homepage:PhotosBrowsePage.xml /PushStartPage:True

If you would want to open Videos Library by default, change the value to /homepage:VideosBrowsePage.xml /PushStartPage:True