Windows Tools, Help & Guides

In this guest post, James Ricketts explores using computer error codes to solve PC problems. Learn more about James at the conclusion of this post.

One of the most common complaints of computer users across the world is that they find computer error messages to be complicated and hard to understand. This is partly true as most computer error messages do not clearly spell out cause of error and its possible solution. However, certain error messages do leave certain clues in the form of error codes, which not only computer experts, but any common user can use in order to solve PC problems.

These error codes may look like a random collection of numbers and letters, but they are your best bet in solving the error yourself. This article shows you how to effectively use computer error codes to solve your PC problems.

Read the rest of this entry »

I recently had an issue trying to install Office 2010. To get it fixed, a system restore seemed like the proper action to take. The purpose of System Restore is to return your computer to a previous state under which it was operating as it should. This guide will walk you through restoring your system to a previous ‘good state’.

Before we start though, make sure you save any work and close all programs.

Read the rest of this entry »

Most of you should be on Google Wave (GW) by now, Rich & the mintywhite community have donated heaps of invites.

Unfortunately, GW suffers from incredibly bad performance in your browser. A nice way to alleviate this is to run GW in Thunderbird 3, don’t ask why it runs better, it just does, the same can be said for running GW in a Linux environment (at least for me!).

Setting up GW to work in Thunderbird is a very simple process and this guide will show you how to do it.

Works in XP, Vista & 7

Read the rest of this entry »

Joseph Moran and Kevin Otnes are both writers who have a long history in technical documentation and other tech-related endeavours. In this interview, we get to know Kevin and Joseph and then I’ll share a little about their book “Getting StartED Windows 7″ (Amazon $15.24 aff.)

Interview with Joseph Moran & Kevin Otnes

RICH: Joe, you say you like to play Tennis; what else do you like to do outside of the world of computers?

JOE: I’m a big movie fan, though considering the way I watch most of them– on Blu-Ray disc or via digital download– I guess that barely qualifies as outside the realm of computers. Considering how much time I spend seated in front of glowing screens, I do try to get outdoors as often as possible– biking is another activity I’ve recently rediscovered (though with a GPS mounted to the handlebars, even that isn’t quite computer-free!).

Read the rest of this entry »

Fellow Microsoft MVP, Michael Martin, recently released mediaforma.com, which hosts free Windows 7 training videos. Twenty videos out of a total of 105 are available on the website; every week, two new videos are added and the two oldest videos disappear.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you’d like to customize your Windows 7 library icons to the ones below, you can download them and learn how to install them here.

With Google launching their new DNS Server not long ago, aptly named; Google Public DNS, I’ve been playing around with my DNS server to see which is the quickest!

This guide will show you how to change your DNS server and verify the settings in Windows 7.

Read the rest of this entry »

I was very disappointed to see the Ultimate Extras seen in Windows Vista, dropped in Windows 7 (if you can call them Ultimate extras!).  DreamScene was one of my favourites, but no fear, it can be enabled in Windows 7.

Windows DreamScene is a utility that allows videos and other optimized animations to be used as desktop wallpapers

Note:  You must have Aero enabled.

Here’s how it’s done;

Read the rest of this entry »

In this guest post, James Ricketts explores steps to solve common DLL errors. Learn more about James at the conclusion of this post.

When something goes missing you can either look for it randomly or go about your search in a systematic, step-wise manner. Obviously, in the second case, the efforts involved will be much less and the chances of success higher. What if you are asked to search something you have never seen or heard about? In such a case you should first take some time to gather some basic information about the missing item that will help you ascertain its origin and why it could have gone missing.

So, before you go ahead and start searching for a file that may have gone missing on your computer without any prior warning, it is of utmost importance that you begin by understanding a few basic facts. These include knowing the purpose of this file, and usual reasons for a file to go missing. This article will make you aware of DLL files, causes for their disappearance and finally steps to solve such problems.

Read the rest of this entry »

This guide is Part 2 to “Change the Background in WMP12″.  In Part 1. I showed you a simple method to change the WMP12 background using 7 backgrounds MS provided us with.  In this guide I’ll show you how to assign your own images.

I’ve made a background here that goes nice ( I think).  I’ll be using this image for the guide, you can of course, use your own.  Be cautious using dark backgrounds however.

Read the rest of this entry »