Windows Tools, Help & Guides

If you’ve created a virtual hard disk for use with a virtual machine (i.e. XP Mode—how to create a virtual machine), you may want to access these files without booting in to the virtual operating system. To access files on a VHD from Windows:

1. Press Windows Key + R (or click Start > Run), type diskmgmt.msc, and press Enter
2. Click Action > Attach VHD

   
   

3. Browse to your VHD file and click OK

When you are finished using the VHD, open Disk Management (step 1), right click the virtual drive and click Detach VHD

Thanks to John Henderson for the tip.

If you’re itching to take a tour and try the new features of Windows 8.1, including automatic app updates, booting straight to the desktop, (up to) four app split screen, radio, a health and fitness app, 3D printer support, and more, you can download it now.

Note: If you’re using an English version of Windows, you can only install Windows 8.1 Preview from the Windows Store if your OS base language is English (US)

If you do not have a Windows 8 disc handy, create a Windows 8 USB recovery drive in case anything goes wrong in the upgrade process and you need to recover Windows. To update your installation of Windows 8 to Windows 8.1:
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I have a deal for you.
In exchange for a free piece of software that helps you keep track of your passwords and other log on information, I’m going to install other programs on your PC that will track your web surfing and display advertising that pops-up on your screen. There will also be other types of ads on your computer based on information we collect.

Does that sound like a good deal to you? Well, if you’re one of the many Windows users who have installed eWallet software from Gain Publishing that’s exactly what you agreed to do. But you already know that because you read the End User License Agreement
or “EULA” that was available prior to installing the program. You did read it right? Of course you did; before you could install the software you had to check a box certifying that you read the agreement. Legally speaking, that’s the same thing as signing a contract with pen and ink.

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If you share your PC with others or let friends use it when they come to visit, you may find settings changed, files deleted, programs installed etc. when you next use it. With previous versions of Windows, I’ve used Windows Steady State, which provided a mode to allow access without setting complicated policies to protect your settings. Thankfully with Windows 7, Microsoft has made this level of protection much more readily accessible. Learn, in this guide how to set up a Guest account—available in all Windows 7 and 8 versions—for infrequent users of your PC.

Please note two things before getting started:

1. You should not use a guest account if you have parental controls set on your children’s accounts
2. You cannot use Guest mode in an Active Directory environment
   In other words, you probably wont be able to add a guest account if you use company hardware

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When you store your data with a third party provider like Dropbox, you put trust in the storage provider’s security controls to protect your data. While all good storage providers encrypt their data locally and during transmission, you can add an additional layer of security to really lock down your data and keep prying eyes away.

In the past, we’ve shown you how to create a secure, encrypted volume on your PC or USB drive; however, you need to use a PC to access the data. In this guide, we share an application that encrypts your data while still providing access to your data from any Windows, Mac, or Linux PC as well as from an iOS, Android, or Windows RT device.

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Protecting your accounts with something you know (your password) and something you have (an authentication code) ensures that even if your password is compromised, your data is still protected. In this guide, we’ll show you how to set up two-step verification on your Dropbox account.

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