How to use smaller icons start menu and change PC name

I. Change icons to smaller ones

By default, the icons in the Start menu are so large that it is sometimes annoying. I'll teach how you can change the size of the icons to your preferred setting.

• Right-click on the empty space on the Taskbar and select Properties.
• Click on customize under the Start Menu tab.
• Scroll down and uncheck "Use large icons".
• Click on OK and you're all set.

II. Change the username of your computer

For use in your network or when somebody else installed Windows 7 in your computer or when you bought and the operating system is already installed, you may not like the default name of the computer. Here's how you can change it.

• Go to Start menu.
• Right-click on Computer and select Properties.
• On the System window, click on "Change Settings".

On the System Properties window, click on Change and then enter your preferred computer name. Click on OK and you're done.

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How to Set default programs in Windows 7

Sometimes when you install a new program like iTunes, you may have set it as the default player for some file types which you previously desired to be opened only with your preferred application. To correct this and to ensure that those specific file types are only opened with your preferred application, follow these steps:

• Go to Start menu and click on Default Programs.
• On the Default Programs window, click on “Set your default programs”.
• Choose a program/application and then click on “Choose defaults for this program”.

Select the files that you want to associate or open by default for this application (in this case, it’s Windows Media Player).

You can also change the default program associate to certain file types. Go back to the Default Programs window and click on “Associate a file type or protocol with a program”.

As you can see, the JPEG files by default opens with Windows Photo Viewer.

We’ll change it to Adobe Photoshop CS3.

• Click on the Change program… button and on the next screen,
• Select Windows Media Player.
• If Windows Media Player is not on the list, click on the Browse button to search for it.
  

Hope it helps.

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Making shortcuts to Shutdown/Restart/Lock your computer

You may probably have the question like "why do I need shortcuts to shutdown, restart, or lock my computer when they are already in the Start menu". Well sometimes, or probably in most times, you may just want to do such actions by double-clicking on desktop icon.

Shutdown Shortcut

• Right-click on the Desktop, select "New" and then "Shortcut'.
  
• On the Create Shortcut Window, type "Shutdown.exe -s -t 00" and then click Next.


• On the next screen, enter the name of the shortcut and then click on Finish.

Below are some of the commands and their corresponding functions that you can use on your shortcuts.

- Shutdown.exe -s -t 00 – Shutdown Computer
- Shutdown.exe -r -t 00 – Restart
- Rundll32.exe User32.dll,LockWorkStation – Lock
- rundll32.exe PowrProf.dll,SetSuspendState – Hibernate
- rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0 - Sleep

Changing Your Shortcut's Icon

Currently, the default icon for your shortcut is not that pleasing to look at. Since you might be creating many more shortcuts, let's try changing the icon of the one we've just created.

• Right-click on the shortcut in your desktop and select Properties.
• On the Properties window, go to the Shortcut tab and click on the Change Icon… button.
• Select the appropriate icon from the list and click on OK.

Now your Shutdown Computer shortcut has different look and cam be distinguished from the rest of your shortcut just with its looks.

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Customizing the date, time, and all other related settings

Changing the Date, Time, and their FormatFirst thing we need to do is to right-click on the time/date on the lower-right corner of your screen.

Under the Date and Time tab, you can change the date and time and time zone. To change the time, follow the following steps:

• Click on “Change date and time…” button
• Select the correct date and time and click on OK.

We can also here the option to 'Change calendar settings' and have the settings on a different format.

Click on it if you want to change the date and choose from the dropdown options for your preference.

Similarly, we do the same process in changing the time format. Go to the Time tab and choose from the dropdown options for your preference.

• Changing the Time ZoneWe will have to open the Date and Time window by right-clicking on the clock from the taskbar and choosing the Adjust Date/Time option.
• Click on “Change time zone…”
• Click on the drop-down list and choose your respective time zone. And if applicable in your area, you may check the option for Daylight Saving Time.
• Once you are done, click on OK.

Changing the Internet Synchronization Settings

Windows can automatically synchronize the time and on our computer by connecting to a time server in the internet. To set this:Open the Date and Time window, go to the “Internet Time” tab and click on “Change Settings”.

At this stage we have the choice for our PC time to be in-synch with an Internet time server or not. We just have to select/deselect the check box for 'Synchronize with an Internet time server' option.Then, we can click on the drop-down list to select a different time server. If you wish a specific time server which is not available in the drop-down list, you can copy-and-paste its web address in the server text field.

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Changing the default playback and recording audio system

Audio devices are PC tools that you use to play or record audio. When you listen to music or any sound from your computer, you are using your computer's playback functionality; while when you record any sound, through a microphone for example, you are using the recording functionality.

Choosing a Default Playback Device

• Go to Start menu.
  


• Type "manage audio devices" in the Search field and press Enter.
  


• Click on Manage audio devices to pull up the Sound window. This can also be achieved if we right-click on the sound icon in the located in the Notification area and selecting "Playback Devices".
  


• In the "Playback" tab of the Sound window, we will see our devices. This is where we can choose the device we want to set as default and then click on the Set Default button. When we’re done, click on OK for the current configuration to take effect.
  

Choosing the Default Recording Device

In similar manner as choosing our default playback device, we now set our Default Recording Device.

• Open the Sound window (as mentioned above) and click on the "Recording" tab.
  


• Choose or click the recording device of your choice, then click on Set Default and then OK.
  

What if your Sound Device is not in the List?

Yes you might run into this question, who knows? Please check first if the device is properly connected to the computer. If it is, try and verify if the appropriate driver is installed. Or you may simply right-click in the space somewhere in the list of devices and "Show Disabled Devices". You may then proceed and further enable the device or even set it as the default device.

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Shortcuts - Shutdown/Restart/Lock your computer

I'm sure you'll ask "why do I need shortcuts to shutdown, restart, or lock my computer when they are already in the Start menu". Well sometimes, or probably in most times, you may just want to do such actions by double-clicking on desktop icon.

Shutdown Shortcut

• Right-click on the Desktop, select "New" and then "Shortcut".
  


• On the Create Shortcut Window, type "Shutdown.exe -s -t 00" and then click Next.
  


• On the next screen, enter the name of the shortcut and then click on Finish.
  

Below are some of the commands and their corresponding functions that you can use on your shortcuts.




- Shutdown.exe -s -t 00 – Shutdown Computer


- Shutdown.exe -r -t 00 – Restart


- Rundll32.exe User32.dll,LockWorkStation – Lock


- rundll32.exe PowrProf.dll,SetSuspendState – Hibernate


- rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0 - Sleep

Changing Your Shortcut's Icon

Currently, the default icon for your shortcut is not that pleasing to look at. Since you might be creating many more shortcuts, let’s try changing the icon of the one we’ve just created.


Right-click on the shortcut in your desktop and select Properties.




On the Properties window, go to the Shortcut tab and click on the Change Icon… button.

Now your Shutdown Computer shortcut has different look and cam be distinguished from the rest of your shortcut just with its looks.

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The shortcut icon arrow

Generally speaking, Windows 7 looks great but one thing I don't like is the ugly big arrows on every shortcut on your desktop. We need to download the overlay manager from the Take Control of Windows 7 directory.Okay, you should have grabbed the Vista Shortcut Overlay Manager (this is actually developed for Windows Vista but it works for Windows 7 as well) by now.

• Double click the downloaded file and follow the installation steps to install the software.
• Double click the desktop icon to open Overlay Manager

You can select in the program window the option for deleting the shortcut arrows, changing the shortcut arrows into an arrow, or create a custom shortcut arrow or no arrow at all. I've selected no arrow at all and I also check marked the option to remove the “- Shortcut” extension when new shortcuts are created.

Now you need to reboot and your shortcut arrows will be deleted or changed.

Read Also:

• User guide for DVD to MP4
• DVD to iPod Touch, iPod Nano and iPod Classic
• How to Convert DVD to iPad?
• 2 free ways to convert DVD to iTunes
• DVD to Hard Drive

Taskbar productivity tips and shortcuts (2)

Temporarily show an opened window
Just mouse over a specific window thumbnail in the taskbar to momentarily display only the window corresponding to the hovered thumbnail

Cycling Between Windows and Taskbar Icons
The following tips are helpful if you want to use your keyboard to cycle or navigate between opened windows or with taskbar icons.Cycling between opened windowsPress Windows + T to cycle between opened windows through thumbnail previews.

Cycling between taskbar icons
Press Windows + (1-9) to cycle between taskbar icons. To open the first icon, press Windows + 1. To open the second icon, press Windows + 2, and so on. To minimize the opened window, press the same keys again.

Cycling between an application's opened windows
If you opened two or more Internet Explorer windows, you can cycle between them by pressing on CTRL and then clicking on its taskbar icon.

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Customizing the default playback and recording audio system

Audio devices are PC tools that you use to play or record audio. When you listen to music or any sound from your computer, you are using your computer’s playback functionality; while when you record any sound, through a microphone for example, you are using the recording functionality.

Choosing a Default Playback Device

• Go to Start menu.
• Type "manage audio devices" in the Search field and press Enter.
• Click on Manage audio devices to pull up the Sound window. This can also be achieved if we right-click on the sound icon in the located in the Notification area and selecting "Playback Devices".
• In the "Playback" tab of the Sound window, we will see our devices. This is where we can choose the device we want to set as default and then click on the Set Default button. When we're done, click on OK for the current configuration to take effect.

Choosing the Default Recording Device

In similar manner as choosing our default playback device, we now set our Default Recording Device.

• Open the Sound window (as mentioned above) and click on the “Recording” tab.
• Choose or click the recording device of your choice, then click on Set Default and then OK.

What if your Sound Device is not in the List?

Yes you might run into this question, who knows? Please check first if the device is properly connected to the computer. If it is, try and verify if the appropriate driver is installed. Or you may simply right-click in the space somewhere in the list of devices and “Show Disabled Devices”. You may then proceed and further enable the device or even set it as the default device.

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Windows 7 taskbar

The Windows 7 taskbar has features that improve your productivity. In this topic, we will discuss tips and shortcuts like controlling the position of taskbar icons, previewing contents of windows without opening and using the keyboard in navigating between windows, and many others.

Controlling the Taskbar Icons
Changing icon positions within the taskbar - simply drag-and-drop any icon on your taskbar to change its position. You may rearrange them any way you choose.

Pinning an application to the taskbar
To pin an application in the taskbar is simply creating a shortcut of that application in the taskbar. To do this, open any application and right-click its icon in the taskbar then clicking on "Pin this program to the taskbar".

To remove the pinned application, simply right-click on it and click on "Unpin this program from taskbar".

Managing Opened Windows
Showing the Desktop – click on the rightmost area in the taskbar which gives you the information (show desktop) if you mouse over.Other way of doing this is by pressing: Windows + D.To revert to the previous state, click on the same area or press the same keys again.

Show the desktop temporarily
To temporarily view the desktop while opening an application, press Windows + Space. You may also mouse over the rightmost area in the taskbar which gives you the information (show desktop).

Live thumbnails
Move the mouse cursor over the application's icon in the taskbar to get a thumbnail preview. If you opened five Internet Explorer windows, you'll be able to view them all.

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Using small icons in the start menu

By default, the icons in the Start menu are so large that it is sometimes annoying. I’ll teach how you can change the size of the icons to your preferred setting.

1. Right-click on the empty space on the Taskbar and select Properties.
2. Click on customize under the Start Menu tab.
3. Scroll down and uncheck “Use large icons”.
4. Click on OK and you’re all set.

See Also:
Rip DVD to Hard Drive
Rip DVD to WMV
Rip DVD to Hard Drive - Hassle Free Solution
DVD to MP4

Default Playback Device

1. Go to Start menu.
2. Type “manage audio devices” in the Search field and press Enter.
3. Click on Manage audio devices to pull up the Sound window. This can also be achieved if we right-click on the sound icon in the located in the Notification area and selecting “Playback Devices”.
4. In the “Playback” tab of the Sound window, we will see our devices. This is where we can choose the device we want to set as default and then click on the Set Default button. When we’re done, click on OK for the current configuration to take effect.

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Changing the Internet Synchronization Settings

Windows can automatically synchronize the time and on our computer by connecting to a time server in the internet. To set this:Open the Date and Time window, go to the “Internet Time” tab and click on “Change Settings”.

At this stage we have the choice for our PC time to be in-synch with an Internet time server or not. We just have to select/deselect the check box for 'Synchronize with an Internet time server' option.Then, we can click on the drop-down list to select a different time server. If you wish a specific time server which is not available in the drop-down list, you can copy-and-paste its web address in the server text field.

Read Also:

• DVD to MPEG without loss of quality
• How-to Manual for DVD to iPod
• DVD to Hard Drive
• DVD to iTunes for Free
• DVD to iPad
• Mental Power

Easiest way for disabling the System Beep

I am pretty sure that a lot of us have the same feeling of being annoyed each time we hear that sound when we press the wrong key, when an error screen pops up or when we change the volume of the computer. There is a couple of ways to do this but I want to show you the easiest way.

• Go to Start, Control Panel and click on Sound.
• In the Sounds tab, search for “Default Beep” under the Program Events.
• By default and as the screen shot tells us, my system has the "Windows Ding.wav" enabled.

To NOT hear this anymore, click on the dropdown arrow and choose the option “None”.
Click on Apply then OK, and this should be a good little addition to the to a better Windows 7 experience.

Read Also:

• DVD to MPEG without loss of quality
• How-to Manual for DVD to iPod
• DVD to Hard Drive
• DVD to iTunes for Free
• DVD to iPad

Stop applications from automatically starting

Having applications automatically start when you turn on your system is necessary for good usability but I’m now going to show you how you can disable some of the programs that you never use but are set on auto start. You’ll be amazed how many programs are listed.

• Go to Start menu
• Type in “msconfig” in the Search field and press Enter

Now select the Startup tab; here you can unmark all the applications that you don’t want to automatically start on start up. In this case I unchecked the program Skype. After you uncheck it click on OK.

And now you are asked if you want to reboot your system and after this you are finished.

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Controlling the Taskbar Icons

Changing icon positions within the taskbar - simply drag-and-drop any icon on your taskbar to change its position. You may rearrange them any way you choose.Pinning an application to the taskbar – to pin an application in the taskbar is simply creating a shortcut of that application in the taskbar. To do this, open any application and right-click its icon in the taskbar then clicking on “Pin this program to the taskbar”.

To remove the pinned application, simply right-click on it and click on “Unpin this program from taskbar”.

Read Also:

• User guide for DVD to MPEG
• DVD to iPod Touch, iPod Nano and iPod Classic
• How to Convert DVD to iPad?
• 2 free ways to convert DVD to iTunes
• DVD to Hard Drive

Stop the pop-up “You lowered your Internet Explorer’s security settings”

Windows 7 is “great” but sometimes all the security settings and pop-ups can we get a bit annoying (Read Also: Vista Knowledge). I know security is needed but we don’t have to be all paranoid about it. If you are still using Internet Explorer then you’ve probably seen the message that you’ve lowered your security settings many times.To turn off the pop-up:

• Go to Start menu
• Type in gpedit.msc in the Search field and press Enter
• PLEASE NOTE: The Local Group Policy Editor will only be available in the Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. You will not have the Local Group Policy Editor available in the Windows 7 Starter and Home Premium editions.

Now your Group Policy Object Editor is opened.

• Go to Local Computer Policy then Computer Configuration
• Then Administrative Templates
• And Windows Components
• And finally Internet Explorer
• Now you need to double click on “Turn off the Security Settings Check feature”
• Now you need to set it to Enabled.
• Click Apply and OK.

Read Also:
User guide for DVD to MPEG
DVD to iPod Touch, iPod Nano and iPod Classic
How to Convert DVD to WMV?
How to convert DVD to MP4 file on Windows(Windows 7 included)?
2 free ways to convert DVD to iTunes
DVD to Hard Drive

Make a Short Cut to Clear the clipboard

This trick bright side is something that could be mentioned in the previous tutorials, because what really will help you increase your speed of work when working with large files. I will show you how to create a shortcut icon to delete the Windows clipboard. Working with an empty memory dramatically increases the speed of your system, especially with slower machines. And this is also a great tool for cleaning the clipboard if you copied something I do not want to go there for anyone to see.

• First you have to right click on the desktop and select "New" then "Shortcut."
• Then type the following command cmd / c "echo off clip "
• Now you can give the icon a little more style, giving another icon and assign a shortcut key.
• You can do this by right clicking on the icon and selecting the Properties icon.
• Select Change icon
• Type% SystemRoot% system32 shell32.dll and press Enter. Select any icon, click OK and
• Apply and you're done.
• Now moved (CTRL + C and Ctrl + V) on the icon of a folder that I use for all my tricks.
• Then right click on the shortcut.
• Select Pin to the taskbar
• This would not be cluttering up my desk and I have to hand every time you use.

Hope it helps and have a good day.

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How to disable the System Beep

I am pretty sure that a lot of us have the same feeling of being annoyed each time we hear that sound when we press the wrong key, when an error screen pops up or when we change the volume of the computer. There is a couple of ways to do this but I want to show you the easiest way.

• Go to Start, Control Panel and click on Sound.
• In the Sounds tab, search for “Default Beep” under the Program Events.
• By default and as the screen shot tells us, my system has the “Windows Ding.wav” enabled.
  

To NOT hear this anymore, click on the dropdown arrow and choose the option "None". Click on Apply then OK, and this should be a good little addition to the to a better Windows 7 experience.

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