When you start your Windows Vista computer, the Volume Control icon may be missing from the Notification area. Also, in the Taskbar properties – Notification tab, the checkboxes for Clock, Volume and Network may remain grayed out. (more…)
Archive for March, 2008
Notification Area Icons Missing in Vista
Open Command Window Here – Make Available From Folder Tree
It’s over an year since Vista was released, and by now most of you know that the Open Command Window Here is now a built-in option in Windows Vista, which can be accessed by holding the SHIFT key when right-clicking on a directory (file system folder). The Open Command Window Here option had been included as an Extended menu by default, probably to reduce clutter in the context menu.
Since the option was implemented as an Extended menu, the command Open Command Window Here wouldn’t be available when you right-click on a folder from the folder pane in Windows Explorer.
Error “the Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed” In Windows Vista
When you try to install a program which uses Windows Installer in a Windows Vista computer, you may receive the following error.
The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance. (more…)
How to Turn Off Magnifier?
Q: I opened up voice recognition on my computer running Windows Vista. Since then the Magnifier starts up automatically at every startup. How do I disable Magnifier?
A: Click Start, All programs, Accessories, Ease of Access, and Ease of Access Center. Click Make the computer easier to see. Uncheck the option Turn on Magnifier. Click Save.
If the above option is enabled, Magnifier starts whenever you logon to your computer.
Then click the Magnifier icon in the Taskbar (to maximize the window), and select Exit from the File menu in Magnifier.
Accidentally Deleted a Special Folder in Vista
Q: I have accidentally deleted the Music and the Videos folder. How can I recreate those special folders?
A: Click Start, type the following commands one by one and press ENTER
shell:My Music
shell:My Video
You’ll get the following error messages after running the above commands:
Windows cannot find ‘shell:My Music’. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.
Windows cannot find ‘shell:My Video’. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.
This is expected. By now, Windows would have created the two missing folders automatically. Logoff and login back in order to access the Music, Videos folders.
See also:
How to Rename the Network Icon in Vista
Q: Is there any way to rename the Network icon (for example, to "My Network Places") in Windows Vista? The context menu which appears when you right-click the Network icon on the Vista desktop doesn’t have a "Rename" option.
A: Yes, the Network icon text can be renamed. But it takes a registry edit. Follow these steps:
Vista Help and Support Unstyled
Q: When I open the Help and Support in Windows Vista, the content displayed isn’t styled, which makes it a little hard to read. Here is a screenshot:
A: It appears that the CSS styles are not applied to the pages in Help and Support, Check this page for a fix:
Pages in Windows Vista Help and Support are not displayed correctly
The .reg fix in the above page also resolves the issues in Windows Vista Help and Support:
- Red X mark appears where the images are to be displayed
- Error Internet Explorer cannot download / from Help occurs:
Bottom-Posting in Windows Mail
When you reply to a mail message or newsgroup post, your reply is automatically added to the top of the message. However, if you prefer bottom-posting when replying to an email or newsgroup post, you can configure Windows Mail accordingly. (more…)
Vista – Desktop.ini Files Shown on the Desktop
Q: I have enabled the Show hidden files and folders setting in the Folder Options. Now, the two Desktop.ini icons are now showing on the desktop. I know that one comes from the C:\Users\Public\Desktop, the other comes from the current users Desktop folder. How do I hide them whilst still keeping other hidden files and folder visible?
Save and Restore Desktop Icon Layout in Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista
When testing various display resolutions or after completing a remote desktop session, the desktop icons may go out of order. Another case is that when you accidentally use the CTRL+ Scroll button (mouse) on your Windows Vista desktop, the Desktop icon size changes. But reverting back to the original icon size does not restore the custom icon positions on your desktop. In these cases, you need to revert back the custom icon positions manually. (more…)
