Windows Tools, Help & Guides

Windows 7 comes with plenty of new features.  Notably, Libraries.

In Windows 7, the Libraries are not individual folders by themselves. Each library folder is an aggregate of various different folders and each library view is tailored to specific content.

By default , MS have provided us with four libraries.  Documents, Music, Pictures & Videos.

What if you want to add a custom Library and assign a specific icon to it?

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HomeGroup is a great new feature in Windows 7.  Unless you have multiple Windows 7 computers on your network however, HomeGroup is pretty useless.

Disabling it will remove the HomeGroup link in the left hand pane of any Explorer window and stop the HomeGroup services.

If you’re not part of a HomeGroup already, skip to Step 2.

Step 1.

Start by clicking the Start Orb and hitting Control Panel

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This is an excerpt from the Windows Guides PC Security Handbook. To learn more or find out other security-related tips, download the PC Security Handbook now.

Data backup is essential. If you’d like to explore local backup options, download my Windows pocket guides. I strongly recommend using online (off-site) backups. Backing up your data online prevents data loss if your computer is damaged or stolen—or if your data is wiped by malware.

Online Data Backup

By far my favorite solution for online backup is Mozy. Mozy offers free online storage (up to 2GB with paid options too.) I’ve had Mozy installed on my laptop for over two years and it has saved me on more than a handful of occasions.

Setup is simple and after downloading Mozy, you can specify what you want to back up and when. Mozy will automate your backups and let you decide when it backs up (specific times), what causes it to back up (low CPU usage), and how often (one, two, three etc. times a day.)

I just let Mozy run and it alerts me after a successful backup:

You can specify what types of files to backup or specify folders— it’s up to you:

Mozy even integrates into My Computer so you can browse and restore your backed up files (even ones you’ve deleted from your computer):

MozyHome Features

• Open/locked file support: Mozy will back up your documents whether they’re open or closed.
• 128-bit SSL encryption: The same technology used by banks secures your data during the backup process.
• 448-bit Blowfish encryption: Secures your files while in storage, providing peace of mind that your private data is safe from hackers.
• Automatic: Schedule the times to back up and MozyHome does the rest.
• New and changed file detection: MozyHome finds and saves the smallest changes.
• Backs up Outlook files: Disaster-proof email protection.
• Block-level incremental backup: After the initial backup, MozyHome only backs up files that have been added or changed, making subsequent backups lightning fast.

Download Mozy for Free

Download MozyHome Free

In previous guides, I showed you how to encrypt your files in Windows (XP) (Vista/7) In this guide, I’ll show you how to decrypt these files. You may need to decrypt your files in the following circumstances:

• Moving files to a new computer
• Reformatting your current machine and using your encrypted files on the new installation of Windows

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Update: Having trouble with the comments system? Get help here.

Windows Guides has a new comment system and, to introduce you all to it, I’ve decided to run a competition. We’re giving away a fully licensed copy of  Windows 7 Home Premium to a random visitor who comments on this site between now (right now) and Sunday, September 13, 2009 @ 11 P.M. EST (GMT-5.)

What Do I Win?

Windows 7 Home Premium (Retail: $199.99)

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System restore can quickly swallow up a large portion of your hard drive.

System restore in Windows 7 is more customisable than before.  You can specify how much space is taken by system restore, and how it backs you up.

This guide will walk you through the custom options and show you how to change & limit system restore (yes i am fed up of writing system restore!)

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