Pin Your Own Extra Icons On Windows 7 & 8 Task Bar

Follow the steps listed below:

·        Right-click on the desktop and click “New” and “Shortcut”.

·        Enter the following location in the “Type the location of the item” box and click “Next”

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe shell:MyComputerFolder

·        Type any name under “Type a name for this shortcut” and click “Finish”.

·        Right-click new “Computer” shortcut on the desktop and click “Properties”.

·        Under the “Shortcut” tab, click the “Change Icon” button.

·        In the "Look for icons" line, type the following:

%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll

 ·        Select the “Computer” icon (Any icons of your choice) from the available images and click “OK”.

·        Click “OK”, “Apply” and “OK”.

 Now, you may drag the new “Computer” shortcut onto the taskbar until you see the “Pin to Taskbar” pop-up and drop it..

 The above method works perfectly without any spurious instances of “explorer.exe”.

Note: Above mentioned steps are for creating My Computer Shortcut, like wise you can create shortcuts for all the icons below. You can always delete any shortcuts from Desktop.

Available Shortcuts For Windows 7 & 8 :

explorer shell:MyComputerFolder (for My Computer shortcut)

explorer shell:RecycleBinFolder (for Recycle Bin shortcut)

explorer shell:ControlPanelFolder (for Control Panel shortcut)

explorer shell:Administrative Tools (for Administrative Tools shortcut)

explorer shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder (for Programs and Features shortcut)

explorer shell:NetworkPlacesFolder (for Network shortcut)

explorer shell:Favorites (for Favorites shortcut)

explorer shell:HomegroupFolder (for Homegroup shortcut)

explorer shell:Games (for Games shortcut)

explorer shell:Fonts (for Fonts shortcut)

explorer shell:UserProfiles (for Users folder shortcut)

explorer shell:Profile (for your username folder shortcut)

explorer shell:Public (for Public folder shortcut)

explorer shell:My Documents (for Documents shortcut)

explorer shell:Common Documents (for Public Documents shortcut)

explorer shell:My Music (for Music folder shortcut)

explorer shell:CommonMusic (for Public Music folder shortcut)

explorer shell:My Pictures (for Pictures folder shortcut)

explorer shell:CommonPictures (for Public Pictures folder shortcut)

explorer shell:My Video (for Videos folder shortcut)

explorer shell:CommonVideo (for Public Videos folder shortcut)

explorer shell:Downloads (for Downloads folder shortcut)

explorer shell:CommonDownloads (for Public Downloads folder shortcut)

explorer shell:::{3080F90E-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257} (for Flip 3D or Window Switcher shortcut)

Thank You..

Windows 7 God Mode!!!

Have you ever heard of this name in windows 7 ??? 

The aptly named God Mode (Master Control Panel) is a built-in, yet unadvertised feature in Windows 7 that gathers all Windows utilities in one spot.

Just follow the simple step :

Ø Create a newfolder

Ø Name it : God Mode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Ø Can use any name of your choice instead of  God Mode

Ø When renaming, make sure there is no space before the name ie; God Mode or any other names and after the } bracket.

Ø You are done !!!

Open it up and you'll find access to display options, backup/recovery, power management and more. This is a useful trick for those of you that easily forget where to access the defragmenter or the device manager. You may even find a useful utility you didn't know existed.

Note : This tip also works on the 32-bit version of Windows Vista too. If you are running the 64-bit version of Windows Vista, do not use this trick. It can cause Windows Explorer to crash.

Thank You..

Single Click Screen Lock

You can always lock your computer using the Win+L keyboard shortcut. Here’s another way to do it with a single mouse click.

Follow These Simple Steps :

Ø Right-click on your desktop.

Ø Select New, Shortcut

Ø Type the location of the item.

Ø Enter rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation.

Ø Click Next, name the shortcut ‘Quick Lock’, and Finish.

If you wish, you can make it look pretty by giving it a lock or keys icon:

Ø Right-click, select Properties.

Ø Click Change Icon, enter shell32.dll.

Ø Select any icon you wish.

Ø Drag this shortcut and pin it to the taskbar, after which you can delete the desktop shortcut.

Thank You..

Integration Of Virtual Windows XP Mode in Windows 7

Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 makes it easy to install and run many of your Windows XP productivity applications directly from a Windows 7-based PC. It utilizes virtualization technology such as Windows Virtual PC to provide a Virtual Windows XP environment for Windows 7.

Windows XP Mode provides a 32-bit Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (SP3) environment pre-loaded on a virtual hard disk. Client virtualization software, like Windows Virtual PC is a pre-requisite to use Windows XP Mode.

What is Windows Virtual PC? 

Windows Virtual PC is the latest Microsoft virtualization technology for Windows 7. It is the runtime engine for Windows XP Mode to provide a virtual Windows environment for Windows 7. With Windows Virtual PC, Windows XP Mode applications can be seen and accessed from a Windows 7-based PC. Get more information about Windows Windows Virtual PC here : Windows Virtual PC: Documentation

System Requirements for Virtual Windows XP Mode:

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows 7 (Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, or Windows 7 Enterprise.)

• Hard disk requirement: 2GB for installing Windows XP Mode. Addtional 15GB of hard disk space for the virtual Windows environment

Note: You can use Windows Virtual PC to run Windows XP Mode on your computer. Windows Virtual PC requires processor capable of hardware visualization, with AMD-V or Intel VT turned on in the BIOS.

Install Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 

• Now Download the Windows Virtual PC Beta  

• Based on the architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) of your computer, download the appropriate update package (Windows6.1-KB958559-x86.msu or Windows6.1-KB958559-x64.msu). Double click on the update package (Windows6.1-KB958559-x86.msu or Windows6.1-KB958559-x64.msu) and follow the instructions. Reboot your system to complete installation.

• Windows6.1-KB958559-x64.msu : 32 bit\VirtualWindowsXP.msi
• Windows6.1-KB958559-x86.msu : 64 bit\VirtualWindowsXP.msi

•  Now Download Windows XP Mode Beta .

• Based on the architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) of your computer, download the appropriate installer (VirtualWindowsXP.msi). Double click on the installer and follow the instructions to complete the installation. 

• On the download page choose the appropriate file name from the following options:

• For 32-bit Windows 7 : 32 bit\VirtualWindowsXP.msi 
• For 64-bit Windows 7 : 64 bit\VirtualWindowsXP.msi

•  First Install the the update KB 958559 that is the setup of Windows Virtual PC Beta you have downloaded .

• After completing installation you need to restart the PC.

• After restarting install the downloaded VirtualWindowsXP.msi installation file.

• After completing installation If you'll prompted by UAC, click on Yes.

  Configure Windows XP Mode in Windows 7

• After completing installation, You'll need to configure the Virtual XP mode.

• Launch the Virtual XP Mode.

• It will prompt You for the Password. Type password and again enter password to confirm it, then click on the Next.

• Now in the next window you can turn on Automatic updates on XP mode as this is the recommended settings. 

• Now the Setup will Configure the XP mode for First Use.This will take some time as per your PC specifications.

Using Virtual Windows XP Mode

• After completing the configuration virtual PC opens the XP mode. And this XP Mode will have all the features of Windows XP. 

• Following is the screenshot of Virtual Windows XP mode

• To Close Virtual Windows XP : Click on X button or CTRL +ALT+ DEL button on the top of Virtual XP.

• Now to start Windows XP mode , In Start menu Choose Windows Virtual PC and select Virtual Windows XP.

Thank You..

Windows 7 Tricks You May Not Know

1.  How to Get  Windows Vista-Style Task-bar in Windows 7

It's hard to deny that Windows Vista scores high on appearance. Here's your chance to give the Windows 7 a Vista look. Just follow the steps mentioned below :

  

• Right-click on the task bar and choose the properties dialog. Select the small icons check box.

• Under the taskbar buttons setting, choose combine when taskbar is full. Although it’s not pixel-perfect in accuracy, but, it’s close from a functionality point..

2. How to Unlock Windows 7 Hidden Themes

 The Windows 7 beta has a pack of hidden and locked themes. Let's see how you can unlock the hidden themes.

•  Open the Explorer (Windows + E) and go to C:\Windows\winsxs

• Enter *.theme into the search field. Alternately you can use the * sign on the number block.
  You'll get the Click me prompt

• Double-click the themes ZA, US, GB, CA, AU to install them.

3. How to Enable the Windows Aero in Windows 7

If you were looking for the best designed and most transparent Microsoft user interface then you can't escape Windows Aero. Here's a hack to enable Windows Aero in Windows 7. But before you proceed with the steps keep a backup of your registry.

• Click on the Start Menu and type “regedit” into the search box. When the program appears click to open the regedit.exe icon.

• Locate the Key HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsDWM 

• Look to the pane on the right of the key hierarchy. Right click on the white area and select New > DWORD (32 bit) Value.

• As the value appears name it UseMachineCheck.

• Repeat and create 2 more DWORD Values, Blur and Animations.

• First double-click the value just created with the UseMachineCheck and enter 0 in the Value Data box. Do the same for Values Blur and Animations. Then click OK.

•  Now close the Registry Editor.

• Open the Start Menu and type “cmd” into the search box, right-click on cmd.exe when the program appears in the search results. Now, select Run as Administrator from the drop-down.

As the Command Prompt opens type the commands below

i) Net Stop uxsms – this command will stop the Desktop Windows Manager Session

ii) Net Start uxsms– this command will restart it.

• Once you close the Command Prompt. Right click on the desktop and click on Personalize from the menu.

• Click on the Window Color and Appearance in the Personalization Windows Aero the Color Scheme menu. 

4. How to Enable the Quick Launch Bar in Windows 7

It is a surprising to see that the Quick Launch Bar has not been enlisted in the easy to enable list. Here's what you gotta to do to enable the Quick Launch Bar. 

• Right-click on the Taskbar and select Toolbars > New Toolbar from the menu.

• Copy and paste the address provided below into the Address bar%SystemDrive%Users%username%AppDataRoamingMicrosoftInternet Explorer then click the arrow to the right of the Address bar to navigate to the folder. 

• Select the Quick Launch folder listed and click the Select Folder button.

5. How to Remove Send Feedback link in Windows 7

The bug that troubles the window in Windows 7 is the send feedback link. This is a simple fix to get rid of this pique. Make sure you have a backup of the registry before you proceed.

• Click on the Start Menu and type “regedit” into the search box, click to open the regedit.exe icon when the program appears.

•  Look for the following Key HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktop

• Right-click on the white space in the In the pane to the right of the key hierarchy and select New > DWORD (32 bit) Value.

• Now as the value appears name it FeedbackToolEnabled 

• Double-click the value that was created with Feedback Tool Enabled and enter 0 in the Value Data box, and then click OK.

• To effect the changes Log off the computer and log on to the system.

6. How to Start Windows Explorer from ‘My Computer’

For those who are in the habit of customizing the Windows for convenience and fun can try this out on Windows 7. With this hack you can set the indows Explorer to start from My Computer instead. This will help you to access the different hard disk drives or removable disks easily. Let's go through the steps

• Navigate to Windows Explorer in the Start Menu (it’s in the Accessories folder). Then edit the properties and change the target to read : %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /root,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}. This will make the explorer open folders/drives in new Windows. To fix this see the next step.

• Set the target to : %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,::{20d04fe0-3aea-1069-a2d8-08002b30309d}

7. Remove Watermark from Windows 7 beta 1 Desktop

Windows 7 is in its beta version and you can realize it well with the lapses in the operating system. One such annoying feature with the OS is the water mark embedded in the desktop. To remove the watermark you can follow the steps below. Before beginning with the steps you need to ensure that the User Account Control is disabled.

• Click on the Start Menu> Control PanelClick on User Accounts.

• Change User Account Control Settings and adjust the slider so that it is at the bottom of the screen (Never Notify).

•  After the rebooting browse to the following directory : C:WindowsSystem32en-US

• Once you’re in the directory locate and right-click the following file user32.dll.mui

• From the drop down menu select the properties. Click on the Security tab and click on the Advanced button at the bottom.

• In the Advanced Security Settings window click on the Owner tab  and click Edit

• Click OK to effect the changes and return to the original file Properties window. 

•  Under the security tab, Click Edit. 

• Select Users and do check all the checkboxes to give you full control of the file. 

• Rename user32.dll.mui to user32-backup.dll.mui

• Download the patched versions of the files - 32 bit Download or 64 bit Download 

• After the files have been downloaded extract it from the original directory C:WindowsSystem32en-US

• Restart the computer 

8. How to Uninstall Internet Explorer

This is for those users who never need to use the Internet Explorer. Just follow the steps below to uninstall IE

• Click on the Start Menu and move to the Control Panel

• Select the Programs and Features

• Click on Turn Windows features on or off link located on the left pane

• The Turn Windows features on or off window appears. Uncheck the Internet Explorer 8 and click OK

•  After a couple of restarts Internet Explorer should be gone for good

9. How to lock and encrypt any drive in Windows 7

Windows 7 offers you an extra, superb way to protect your sensitive and private data by letting you lock and encrypt any drive on your computer. Thanks this trick you will be able to keep out unauthorized, nosy people and hackers from getting important information about you. Let’s see below how to achieve this result thanks to a small embeeded utility called BitLocker Encryption.

• Click Start.

• Click and open Control Panel.

• Click the BitLocker Encryption link.

• Select the drive to protect, lock and encrypt.

• Tick the option : Use a password to unlock the drive.

• Now, select where to save the recovery key.

• Done!

Thank You..