Archive for the ‘Windows Vista’ Category

Add Your Documents Folder to the Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows Vista

The My Documents folder is displayed in the top level of the navigation pane in Windows XP. In Windows Vista, the Documents folder does not show up by default in the navigation pane. If you like the Windows XP design and want to add Documents namespace to the navigation pane in Windows Vista, here is how to do so. (more…)

Fix for Error “Windows Resource Protection Could Not Start the Repair Service” When Running SFC in Vista

When you run the System File Checker using the /Scannow parameter from an elevated Command Prompt, the following error may occur. Additionally, you may experience problems running Windows Installer Setup files and installing fixes from Windows Update. (more…)

How to Make Folders Appear as Cascading Menu in the Quick Launch Toolbar

When you create sub-folders in the Quick Launch folder to better organize the shortcuts, the folders will appear in the Quick Launch toolbar correctly, but clicking them would launch Windows Explorer. Some people would like to view the contents of the folder (cascaded as a list) rather than opening the folder when clicked. Here is how to make folders in the Quick Launch toolbar cascade as menu when clicked. (more…)

How to Change the Icon for a File Type in Windows 7 and Vista

Windows XP and earlier Operating Systems include the most useful File Types tab in the Folder Options applet. This tab was removed in Windows Vista and Windows 7 and replaced by Default Programs, which lacks many features that the File Types tab has. This forced users to look for third-party utilities to manage file type associations and customize the icons. This article provides information on how to manually change the icon for file types in Windows 7 and Vista. (more…)

How to Create a System Repair Disk in Windows 7 and Vista

You can create a system repair disk in Windows 7 and Windows Vista to guard against being unable to start Windows correctly. The repair disk loads the Windows Recovery Environment, which contains the recovery tools to repair/recover your unbootable Windows system. (more…)

Prish Image Resizer: PowerToy for Windows XP/Vista

To resize images using the right-click menu, you used the Image Resizer PowerToy to resize images from the right-click menu in Windows XP. The Image Resizer PowerToy which was originally written for Windows XP, does not work in Windows Vista. However, there is a similar tool available for Windows Vista, written by Shahar Prish of Microsoft. (more…)

How to Add a Drop Shadow Effect for Image Thumbnail Previews in Windows Vista

When you open a folder containing image files in Windows Vista, the thumbnail images have a photo border by default. You can remove the photo border and add a drop shadow effect using a registry edit. (more…)

Fix: Cannot View CHM Files From a Network Drive in Windows XP/2003/Vista

When you open a .CHM file over a network drive in a Windows XP/2003/Vista computer, the right pane may show the following message instead of displaying the topic/contents. (more…)

Add “Explore” To the Desktop Context Menu in Windows Vista

This tip is for users who hide the desktop icons (for a clean looking desktop) and want to quickly access the Desktop folder when required, without toggling the Show Desktop Icons option in the context menu. (more…)

Configure Windows Vista Screensaver Settings via the Registry

Windows Vista Screensavers don’t have an options page, and clicking the Settings button in the Screen Saver Settings shows the message This screen saver has no options that you can set. Long Zheng revealed that the Windows Vista Screensavers were designed to be customizable and he provides the registry hacks to configure them. (more…)