Windows 7 Updates

Microsoft Releases Critical Windows Security Update

2011-11-13T00:21:00.000+05:00

Back in October a rootkit was discovered that exploits a critical security vulnerability in the Windows operating system. We covered a detection and removal tool two days ago that would scan a PC and remove any traces of the Duqu rootkit from a system.

Microsoft today has releases a security advisory to give customers “guidance for the Windows kernel issue related to the Duqu malware”.

The advisory describes a vulnerability in TrueType font parsing that could allow elevation of privileges. Attackers who manage to exploit the vulnerability can run arbitrary code in kernel mode which would allow them to install programs, “view, change or delete data” and create new accounts with “full user rights”.

Microsoft confirms that targeted attacks are carried out currently that use the vulnerability. The overall impact is however rated as low.

Microsoft is offering a manual workaround for affected versions of Windows on the security advisory page:

On Windows XP and Windows Server 2003:

For 32-bit systems, enter the following command at an administrative command prompt:

Echo y| cacls “%windir%\system32\t2embed.dll” /E /P everyone:N

For 64-bit systems, enter the following command from an administrative command prompt:

Echo y| cacls “%windir%\system32\t2embed.dll” /E /P everyone:N

Echo y| cacls “%windir%\syswow64\t2embed.dll” /E /P everyone:N

On Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2:

For 32-bit systems, enter the following command at an administrative command prompt:
Takeown.exe /f “%windir%\system32\t2embed.dll”

Icacls.exe “%windir%\system32\t2embed.dll” /deny everyone:(F)

For 64-bit systems, enter the following command at an administrative command prompt:
Takeown.exe /f “%windir%\system32\t2embed.dll”

Icacls.exe “%windir%\system32\t2embed.dll” /deny everyone:(F)

Takeown.exe /f “%windir%\syswow64\t2embed.dll”

Icacls.exe “%windir%\syswow64\t2embed.dll” /deny everyone:(F)

The workaround may impact applications that “rely on embedded font technologies”.

The workaround can be undone again the following way:

On Windows XP and Windows Server 2003:

For 32-bit systems, enter the following command at an administrative command prompt:
cacls “%windir%\system32\t2embed.dll” /E /R everyone

For 64-bit systems, enter the following command at an administrative command prompt:
cacls “%windir%\system32\t2embed.dll” /E /R everyone

cacls “%windir%\syswow64\t2embed.dll” /E /R everyone

On Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2:

For 32-bit systems, enter the following command at an administrative command prompt:
Icacls.exe %WINDIR%\system32\t2embed.DLL /remove:d everyone

For 64-bit systems, enter the following command at an administrative command prompt:
Icacls.exe %WINDIR%\system32\t2embed.DLL /remove:d everyone

Icacls.exe %WINDIR%\syswow64\t2embed.DLL /remove:d everyone

Microsoft furthermore has released a fix it solution that users can run on their system to protect it from the security vulnerability

The fix it can be downloaded from the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article.

It is recommended to apply the workaround on computer systems until Microsoft releases a security patch that resolves the issue without side effects.

Please note that there is a fix-it for enabling and one for disabling the workaround.

Hide, Delete or Customize Libraries in Windows 7

2011-11-13T00:16:00.000+05:00

The Libraries feature in Windows 7 provides an easy interface to manage multiple file locations from a single location. Four default libraries are displayed in Windows Explorer: Documents, Music, Pictures, and Video. Many users only utilize one or two of the libraries. You can easily remove any of these libraries from the Navigation Pane and also restore them at a later time if you need to. The libraries can also be collapsed to have them available but also cleared temporarily. This is a simple task that may be useful for those just starting out with Windows 7.

Hiding an Individual Library

Open the Libraries window or open Windows Explorer and select Libraries. In the Navigation pane, right-click the library that you want to hide and a popup menu will be displayed. Out of the options, select “Don’t show in navigation pane”.

The library you selected will now be absent from the Navigation pane, but it will still be in the right pane of the Libraries window. In order to add it back to the Navigation Pane, right-click on the library in the right pane and a similar popup window will open as before. Select the option “Show in navigation pane”.

You may also delete a library if you want to. This is not the same thing as hiding a library. To delete a library, follow the same steps as you would for hiding a library but select “Delete” instead. If you do this either by accident or purposely, it is simple to get it back if you right-click on Libraries in the Navigation pane and click “Restore default libraries” from the menu.

Another option is to collapse the list if you would rather not hide or delete the library from the Navigation pane. This will collapse the list entirely, getting the libraries list out of the way. Right-click the Libraries link and, as usual, a popup menu will open. From the list, select “Collapse”. Once the list is collapsed, it is only temporary. If you click the arrow next to the Libraries link, the list will expand. You can collapse it again by clicking the same arrow.

If, for some reason, you are displeased with the Windows 7 Libraries feature, it is possible to completely remove the link from the Navigation pane. Included below is a registry hack that will accomplish this. This is not a manual registry hack but two .reg files that will save all the trouble of the multiple steps it will take to do this manually. This will not only remove the Libraries link from the pane, it will disable the shell extension in the registry and you will no longer be able to access any of the libraries. Fortunately, another hack is included to enable the Libraries feature again.

To disable the Libraries feature, double-click DisableLibrariesFeature.reg. Now close all Explorer windows and logoff then logon again. The feature will now be disabled. A reversal is included to enable the Libraries feature. To re-enable the Libraries feature, double-click EnableLibrariesFeature.reg. then logoff and logon as you did in the step to disable the feature.

Windows users who want better manageability of the library feature can use tools like the Windows 7 Library Tool or Librarian for that.

OPA Backup, Microsoft Office Activation Backup

2011-11-12T22:46:00.000+05:00

When you reinstall the Windows operating system you may need to reinstall other software like Microsoft Office as well. It may then be necessary to activate the software again which may not be a big problem in most cases, but might be one if the computer Office was reinstalled on has no permanent Internet connection. One option if Office has been reactivated before is to make a backup of that activation to restore it after the reinstallation of the Office suite on the new installation of Windows.

OPA Backup (which stands for Office-Produktaktivierung Backup, German for Office product activation backup) is a free portable software for the Windows operating system that can backup and restore the activation of Office on a computer system.

To backup, Microsoft Office needs to be activated on the system. The program won’t work if it is not. When you first start the program you may be asked to run it with administrative privileges. The main interface of OPA-Backup then displays a pulldown list where the installed version of Microsoft Office needs to be selected.

The program does not support auto-detection of the installed Office version. The user then has the option to make a backup of the Office activation on the system or to restore a previously recorded backup.

The backup path has to be selected on the next screen. The program displays a warning if a folder is selected that is part of the current Windows installation as it may be removed during a new installation of the operating system.

A status report is then displayed on the final screen of the backup or restoration process.

The process is nearly identical if the restore Office authentication option is selected.

The software can be handy in situations where Office cannot be re-activated over the Internet.

OPA-Backup supports all recent versions of Microsoft Office, including Office 2010. The software requires the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 on the system. The program can be downloaded from the developer website.

Using Free File Unlocker to Release OS-Locked Files and Folders

2011-11-12T01:20:00.000+05:00

The Windows operating system automatically locks files and folders that are being used by an application or any native Windows service. Stopping services or closing the applications that are locking the file or folder is not always an option. The familiar message, “Cannot delete file: It is being used by another program” can be an annoyance when you are trying to modify the name of the file, move it or delete. Free File Unlocker is a utility that allows you to release files and folders that are in use so that you can make the desired modifications or delete the file or folder altogether. You can use it to view all locked files and folders on your computer and manage them. By selecting a folder, you can instantly see a listing of the files causing the error. Using File Unlocker, you can unlock files and/ or kill the processes locking the file. Another interesting feature this utility offers is the ability to terminate viruses, Trojans, and other malware that are not being removed by standard methods.

Download Free File Unlocker from the following link:

When you see any of the error messages below, this is when you can use Free File Unlocker to gain access to files and make the desired modifications. Free File Unlocker is intended for advanced users. These error messages are specified on the readme.txt file that opens after you install the utility.

Cannot delete folder: It is being used by another person or program
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use
Cannot delete file: Access is denied
The file is in use by another program or user
There has been a sharing violation
The source or destination file may be in use
Cannot read from the source file or disk
Please note that we have reviewed comparable programs in the past, including IOBit Unlocker and the mother of it all Unlocker.

You will see the Locked File / Directory bar at the top of the user interface where you can specify the path for the Locked file or folder. Click the Select button to the left of the path field to choose between File or Directory and All Locked Files or Directories. The details will appear in the main field of the interface.

Select the file that needs to be unlocked and click Unlock in the right pane. If you want to unlock all locked files or directories, click Select and choose All Locked Files or Directories and then click Unlock All. You can also use the right-click context menu to unlock specific files without even using the main interface, as the option is integrated into the Windows context menu.

It is important to note that files are locked by Windows for a reason; otherwise it would not be a standard Windows default. You should have a complete understanding of the effects that unlocking a file will ultimately yield. This means Free File Unlocker is intended for advanced users and should not be used frivolously. The only time it is reasonable to use this utility is when user-initiated services and applications are blocking access to files and folders. You should not use the “Unlock All” option unless you are an advanced user and understand the implications. It was only mentioned in this article to give you an idea of the scope of options that this utility offers.

Remove Applications from the Context Menu in Windows Manually

2011-11-12T01:17:00.000+05:00

Windows accumulates context menu items any time you install several applications. Not all applications end up on the context menu but enough do so over time that the menu can become cluttered. You might find yourself wondering, “How did that get there?” You may not want it on the context menu, but it is there and you are stuck with it. Or are you? No, you are not. If it is something that you use, perhaps you should leave it on the context menu. If you do not use the application very often and prefer to access it from a different location, there is no reason to leave it there. After awhile, the context menu can become a complete mess. Using the registry hack methods in this tutorial will allow you to clean up the context menu so it does not have to look as extensive as this example:

The items on the context menu are all in the registry and a simple registry hack can easily remove them. Note that this is for the more experienced user and there are registry management utilities available for those who are inexperienced with accessing the Windows registry directly. Also, before digging into the registry and making any changes; create a restore point so that if you cause any undue problems you will be able to reverse the changes.
To clean up the context menu by hacking the registry, open regedit.exe from the Start menu. The unfortunate part of this is that context menu items are not stored in one location in the registry. You can find most of the menu items for various files and folders by searching one of the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFileSystemObjects\ShellEx
If the menu items are associated with specific folders, they can be found in one of the following two registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
Items in the context menu will need to be changed differently depending on the location in the registry. Shell items are the easiest to find. For example, browse to the shell key under Directory.

To hide an item, use Shift+Right-Click and add a new string value in the right pane. Name the new string “Extended”.

This will hide the item from the context menu. You can also enter “LegacyDisable” for the new string value and this will disable the key. If you choose to delete the key entirely, export and save a copy first.

When dealing with “shellex” items, you will go to one of the keys listed above:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
Determine the correct item by the key name in the left pane. Disable it by inserting a few dashes before the value item. This will not delete the item. In this example, SUPERAntiSpyware is disabled from the context menu in this manner.

Each key location indicated above will need to be searched to find the items you wish to remove (disable) from the context menu. For specific file types, use the Extended or LegacyDisable string values to disable. You will only need to edit the string with dashes for shellex items. This may seem tedious to some users while others may prefer these methods.

You can actually learn a lot by perusing the registry but it should always be done with great care. If you are inexperienced with this, create a full backup of the registry before playing around and, as mentioned, create a restore point

Windows Live Photo Gallery Gets RAW Format Support

2011-11-12T01:13:00.000+05:00

Now look at that. One of the things that Microsoft’s Windows Live Photo Gallery was criticized for in the past was lack of digital camera RAW format support. DSLR cameras give their users options to save their photo shootings in various formats, including RAW which offers several advantages over the compressed JPEG format. Among them an uncompressed higher image quality and more image information. RAW files are on the other hand larger than compressed images.

Photographers who shot their photos in RAW format could not really make use of Windows Live’s Photo Gallery until now, as it did not support RAW formats.

This changes today with the release of the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack for Windows Vista and Windows 7. The independent download adds support for more than 120 DSLR cameras to Photo Gallery, Windows Explorer and other programs that use Windows Imaging Codecs (WIC).

Installation of the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack should be a breeze. Users only need to make sure that they install the right version for their operating system. The camera codec pack is offered for 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.

The download page over at Microsoft’s Download Center lists the supported camera models. I have taken the liberty to quote the camera models below:

Canon: EOS 1000D (EOS Kiss F in Japan and the EOS Rebel XS in North America), EOS 10D, EOS 1D Mk2, EOS 1D Mk3, EOS 1D Mk4, EOS 1D Mk2 N, EOS 1Ds Mk2, EOS 1Ds Mk3, EOS 20D, EOS 300D (the Kiss Digital in Japan and the Digital Rebel in North America) , EOS 30D, EOS 350D (the Canon EOS Kiss Digital N in Japan and EOS Digital Rebel XT in North America), EOS 400D (the Kiss Digital X in Japan and the Digital Rebel XTi in North America), EOS 40D, EOS 450D (EOS Kiss X2 in Japan and the EOS Rebel XSi in North America), EOS 500D (EOS Kiss X3 in Japan and the EOS Rebel T1i in North America), EOS 550D (EOS Kiss X4 in Japan, and as the EOS Rebel T2i in North America), EOS 50D, EOS 5D, EOS 5D Mk2, EOS 7D, EOS D30, EOS D60, G2, G3, G5, G6, G9, G10, G11, Pro1, S90
Nikon: D100, D1H, D200, D2H, D2Hs, D2X, D2Xs, D3, D3s, D300, D3000, D300s, D3X, D40, D40x, D50, D5000, D60, D70, D700, D70s, D80, D90, P6000
Sony: A100, A200, A230, A300, A330, A350, A380, A700, A850, A900, DSC-R1
Olympus: C7070, C8080, E1, E10, E20, E3, E30, E300, E330, E400, E410, E420, E450, E500, E510, E520, E620, EP1
Pentax (PEF formats only): K100D, K100D Super, K10D, K110D, K200D, K20D, K7, K-x, *ist D, *ist DL, *ist DS
Leica: Digilux 3, D-LUX4, M8, M9
Minolta: DiMage A1, DiMage A2, Maxxum 7D (Dynax 7D in Europe, α-7 Digital in Japan)
Epson: RD1
Panasonic: G1, GH1, GF1, LX3
Windows Live Photo Gallery supports viewing and editing of RAW image formats once the codec pack has been installed on the system. Photo Gallery will automatically create a copy of the RAW images in JPEG or JPEG-XR format which can then be edited and worked with by the user.

Windows users can now also preview the supported RAW image formats under Windows Explorer and other programs that make use of WIC.

Microsoft has already announced that they are working on adding support for missing and new camera models.

Microsoft Releases Critical Windows Security Update

2011-11-12T01:11:00.000+05:00

How To Disable The Caps Lock Key Permanently

2011-11-12T01:07:00.000+05:00

Users were complaining that they could not enter their password, or that they locked their account even though they were sure that they had entered the right password, or that their username was displayed in upper case letters.

The caps lock key, next to num lock, was the culprit here most of the time. Most computer users do not need the caps lock key on the keyboard anymore. The following guide explains how you can disable the caps lock key permanently.

Here is how it is done. Open the Windows Registry the following way: Hold down Windows-r to bring up the run box, enter regedit into the box and tap on the enter key. This opens the Windows Registry Editor. Navigate to the following Registry key in the folder browser on the left.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout

Right-click on Keyboard Layout and select New > Binary from the context menu. Enter Scancode Map and press enter to add the key. Double-click on the newly created key afterwards and enter the following information.

00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
02 00 00 00 00 00 3A 00
00 00 00 00

Take a look at the following screenshot to see how it should look like in the Registry editor.

You need to restart your PC after you have made the changes. Once you have done that you will notice that the caps lock key will no longer function under Windows. Nothing happens if you tap on the key.

Please note that some applications may make use of the caps lock key. If that is the case you may break some or all of their functionality. You can re-enable the caps lock by deleting the Scancode Map Registry key and restarting the Windows PC.

Keyboard remapping software like Sharp Keys can also be used to remap the caps lock key so that it no longer functions at all or offers a different function.

Are you using Caps Lock? If so, for what?

If Windows 7 Update Fails ?

2011-11-12T01:00:00.000+05:00

What can you do if the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Update fails? The answer depends largely on the error code that you see directly on the screen or in the Windows event log. Regardless of that code, it is still possible to try two generic fixes before you try to find a solution for the specific error messages.

The first thing that you may want to try is running the Windows Troubleshooter to resolve any problems that prevent Windows Update from working properly.

Windows 7 users find the troubleshooter when they click on the Start orb, select Control Panel > Troubleshooting and there the Fix problems with Windows Update link.

The Windows Update troubleshooter “resolves problems that prevent you from updating Windows”, which basically means that it tries to repair Windows Update if it is broken or not working properly.

A click on Next starts a scan that should take less than 30 seconds to complete. Problems and issues that have been found are automatically repaired by the troubleshooting process. The troubleshooting tool displays problems that have been found during the scan and if it was able to resolve the problems.

It is then suggested to try the Windows 7 Update again via Windows Update to see if the troubleshooter corrected the updating issue. If the update fails again it is time for the second option, the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows.

System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7 (KB947821) [download]
System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB947821) [download]
Make sure you download the tool that is compatible with your operating system. This means that you need to select the 32-bit or 64-bit edition based on your operating system and the correct language the tool is offered in.

This tool is being offered because an inconsistency was found in the Windows servicing store which may prevent the successful installation of future updates, service packs, and software.

The software has a size of roughly 100 Megabytes for 32-bit systems and 300 Megabytes for 64-bit systems.

What does it do?

After you download the System Update Readiness Tool, it runs a onetime scan for inconsistencies that might prevent future servicing operations. This scan typically takes less than 15 minutes to run. However, the tool might take significantly longer on some computers. The Windows Update progress bar is not updated during the scan, and progress seems to stop at 60% complete for some time. This behavior is expected. The scan is still running and you should not cancel the update.

The tool verifies the integrity of several Windows Registry keys

Files that are located under the following directories:

%SYSTEMROOT%\Servicing\Packages
%SYSTEMROOT%\WinSxS\Manifests
Registry data that is located under the following registry subkeys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Components
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Schema
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing
Which errors can it repair and fix?

0×80070002 ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND The system cannot find the file specified.
0x8007000D ERROR_INVALID_DATA The data is invalid.
0x800F081F CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING The source for the package or file not found.
0×80073712 ERROR_SXS_COMPONENT_STORE_CORRUPT The component store is in an inconsistent state.
0x800736CC ERROR_SXS_FILE_HASH_MISMATCH A component’s file does not match the verification information present in the component manifest.
0x800705B9 ERROR_XML_PARSE_ERROR Unable to parse the requested XML data.
0×80070246 ERROR_ILLEGAL_CHARACTER An invalid character was encountered.
0x8007370D ERROR_SXS_IDENTITY_PARSE_ERROR An identity string is malformed.
0x8007370B ERROR_SXS_INVALID_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_NAME The name of an attribute in an identity is not within the valid range.
0x8007370A ERROR_SXS_INVALID_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_VALUE The value of an attribute in an identity is not within the valid range.
0×80070057 ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER The parameter is incorrect.
0x800B0100 TRUST_E_NOSIGNATURE No signature was present in the subject.
0×80092003 CRYPT_E_FILE_ERROR An error occurred while Windows Update reads or writes to a file.
0x800B0101 CERT_E_EXPIRED A required certificate is not within its validity period when verifying against the current system clock or the time stamp in the signed file.
0x8007371B ERROR_SXS_TRANSACTION_CLOSURE_INCOMPLETE One or more required members of the transaction are not present.
0×80070490 ERROR_NOT_FOUND Windows could not search for new updates.
Try to install the Windows 7 Service Pack or another Windows Update again after the System Readiness tool has finished its scan.

Windows 7 Updates: How to easily download and install Windows 7 Language Packs (MUI packs)

2011-11-11T22:42:00.000+05:00

Windows 7 Updates: How to easily download and install Windows 7 Language Packs (MUI packs)

Windows 7 RC To Windows 7 Final Upgrade

2011-11-11T02:46:00.001+05:00

Most users who visit our website are running at least one version of the Windows 7 operating system on their computer systems. It is likely that the majority runs Windows 7 RC, the last official public release of the operating system. With the release of Windows 7 only a few months away it is time to find out how to upgrade the Windows 7 RC (and other post-beta builds of Windows 7) to the final version. Not everyone wants to upgrade and that is perfectly fine as well. A clean install makes sure that no garbage is taken over from previous installations.

Some users still might want to upgrade the RC to the final release version as they might be running Windows 7 already on their main computer system. Dwight Silverman recently confirmed that it is indeed possible to upgrade the Windows 7 Release Candidate version with Windows 7 Final. Probably even more interesting is the fact that upgrade versions of the retail version of Windows 7 can be used to upgrade the release candidate to the full build.

The data on the other hand will not be taken over. The installation will move all data to a folder called windows.old from where the files are accessible. It is not possible to run programs from there unless they are portable though. It should also be noted that it is not possible to reinstall unless a copy of Windows XP or Windows Vista is available that has been installed on the computer system.

To sum it up: If you are running the Windows 7 RC you can buy a Windows 7 Upgrade to install Windows 7 final on your computer system without needing Windows XP or Windows Vista during the first installation.

Windows From The Beginning To Now

2011-11-11T02:43:00.000+05:00

If you’ve ever wondered where Windows first came from, you may want to keep reading. For me, the only versions of Windows that I’ve ever seen are Windows 2000, XP, Vista and of course Windows 7. But if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to see the evolution of the primeval Windows 1 to majestic Windows 7 of today, look no further.

With the title ‘Chain of Fools,’ the video is the chronicles of one man’s attempt to upgrade from every one version of Windows to the next, starting right back at Windows 1 and following every upgrade path with the exclusion of Windows ME.

The idea behind this is to see how well Windows deals with the upgrade process ie.whether settings and UI preferences are preserved and to see how well later, more modern versions of Windows deal with very old games (Doom 2 and The Secret of Monkey Island).

Personally I also think this guy had way too much time on his hand and must have spent at least a whole day just upgrading from one Windows version to the next.

Here is the complete upgrade process, that’s followed:
MS-DOS 5 > Windows 1 > Windows 2 > Windows 3 > Windows 3.1 > Windows 95 > Windows 98 > Windows 98 SE > Windows 2000 (NT!!) > Windows XP SP2 > Windows Vista > Windows 7. Windows ME isn’t included as its upgrade is mutually exclusive with Windows 2000.

I’ve never seen any actual footage of Windows 1 or 2, in fact I’ve never seen half of these, they were all before my time! So it’s cool to see how far Windows has come in these years. Check out the video below and let me know what you think

Download Windows7 News Editor’s FREE Facebook Privacy Guide eBook

2011-11-11T02:40:00.000+05:00

One of the biggest issues facing social networking these days is online privacy, and nowhere is this more of an issue than Facebook. The world’s biggest social network has three quarters of a billion registered users and has been repeatedly criticised in the last couple of years for the lax way in which it treats its users privacy. Indeed at one point Facebook make everybody’s profile completely public unless they changed their settings otherwise. This caused uproar and the company very quickly had to back down and make the settings more private by default. Things are better now with Facebook, but there is all too much personal and sensitive information there that’s available for everybody to see, and that’s searchable by Google and Bing.

This is why I’ve written a FREE eBook on the subject aimed specifically at the Facebook users who might not know about these things, or who might not know how to protect their own privacy from other people, advertisers and malware writers.

The “Facebook Privacy Guide” is 36 pages long and includes a great many Quick Tips to help you get the best privacy setup possible in the shortest amount of time. It’s full colour with large text and screenshots throughout so suitable for every age group including children, teenagers, adults and the elderly and is written using the same accessible and non-technical language I’ve received praise for with my Microsoft Press book, “Troubleshooting Windows 7 Inside Out“.

Additionally the guide details how to stay safe from Facebook spam and malware, and covers how to create safe usernames and passwords, not just for Facebook, by every website you use on the Internet. If you like the book please pass on this link to share it with others as privacy on Facebook is a problem that impacts on so many people worldwide.

You can download the Facebook Privacy Guide here directly from Windows7News and you can see some images from the book below. Download this FREE eBook HERE.

Windows 7 & New Macbook Pro

2011-11-11T02:36:00.000+05:00

Many people criticise Apple a lot for being to “locked down” to their own software. However many people aren’t actually aware that Apple does let you choose what you’re preferred operating system is. While this is not a well advertised feature, it is actually there. Boot Camp has been around since 2006 and has been included with OS X since 2007 with the release of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.

It allows users to run Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 on Macbooks. However Zdnet have pointed out that the recent Macbook Pro’s and Macbook Air models that Apple refreshed, no longer support the older operating systems.

According to a release note from Apple

Note: Windows XP and Vista drivers are not supplied for these computers and are not supported.

The site says Book Camp will support 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, or Windows 7 Ultimate. So if you’re running Windows XP or Vista (it’s probably XP) on an older Mac and are upgrading to one of the new notebooks, it looks like you will have to upgrade to Windows 7 as well. See even Apple want you to upgrade to Windows 7!

Another thing to note is that Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Enterprise edition do not appear to be supported.

And here’s the specs needed for running Windows 7 on Boot Camp

Window 7 running on Boot Camp requires:

-An optical drive (MacBook Air computers require an external optical disc drive to install Windows 7).
-A blank CD or USB storage device to contain the Windows Drivers created by the Boot Camp Assistant.
-For 32-bit versions of Windows, at least 16 GB of free space.
-For 64-bit versions of Windows, at least 20 GB of free space.
-Boot Camp Assistant, which is pre-installed in /Applications/Utilities/
-An authentic, 32-bit or 64-bit Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate disc.

How to easily download and install Windows 7 Language Packs (MUI packs)

2011-10-19T23:39:00.000+05:00

Language packs or MUI packs are used to change the default language of Windows 7 to a language of your choice. For example, download and installing the French language pack will translate all the menus and options in Windows 7 into French.
This feature is only available in Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate. You can download these language packs via Windows Update. Google works as well. The hard part is installing them, which is outlined in the walkthrough below:
Installing the Language Pack:
Start off by accessing the Control Panel through the Start Menu
Then select Change Display Challenge under the Clock, Language, and Region Box. If you’re in Classic View, select Regional and Language Options.

Make sure you’re on the “Keyboards and Languages” tab and click on Install/Uninstall Languages

Select the 2nd option and Browse to your DVD drive or where you had previously extracted the ISO. You only need to navigate to the directory in which the language pack is in. For some reason, the ISO doesn’t show up as a selectable option. (Microsoft may offer these language packs as optional updates in the near future.)

Click Open and Windows will automatically find the language pack. Accept the EULA and Install the Language Pack. This can take quite a while. Once you’re done, you’ll be asked if you want to switch to the installed language pack. Whenever you switch language packs, you will have to log off and log back in for the changes to take into effect. In the future when you want to change language packs that have already been installed, head back to the “Keyboards and Languages” tab under Regional and Language Options and you should be able to select from a menu of different language packs. Just want to note that Windows 7 Beta actually switched to my new language pack without me having to log off even though it had asked me to.

Windows 7 Build 7100 Language Packs Download:

These Language Packs are untested, please download at your own discretion:

Windows 7 Build 7100 Polish MUI x64 (Megaupload)
Windows 7 Build 7100 Italian MUI x86 (Rapidshare)
Windows 7 Build 7100 Italian MUI x64 (Rapidshare)

Video Tutorial:

The Windows 7 Control Panel

2011-10-19T22:43:00.000+05:00

Hardware and Sound brings together all of the settings and tools pertinent to your system’s hardware setup. This screen enables you to add and remove devices, configure the way that peripherals work, change the settings on your monitor, and change the power plan employed by a laptop.

Devices and Printers - visit these screens to add and re-configure hardware devices. View the printers, input devices, displays and other peripherals hooked up to your machine, and troubleshoot or change the settings for each one. Some router and network settings are also available from here.

AutoPlay - control the way in which Windows deals with new media (such as DVDs) or devices (such as USB sticks) as they are plugged into the machine. You can have the operating system take a particular action, ask you to make a decision each time, or simply do nothing.

Sound - clicking here will launch the Sound configuration dialog. From here you can configure your speaker or headphone setup, change the playback and recording devices that are in use, update the relevant drivers, and more. There are also options to change the sound scheme being used by Windows.

Power Options - this screen will be of most use if you are using a laptop. Change the length of time the computer waits before it goes into sleep or hibernation mode, change the delay before the screen shuts off, and more. If you need to conserve battery power, then this is the place to do it.

Display - visit this area of Control Panel to access the more technical aspects of your monitor and graphics setup. The settings here enable you to change the screen resolution and text size, calibrate the colour options, and configure extra features such as ClearType.

7 New and Improved Windows 7 Features That Shouldn’t Go Unnoticed

2011-10-07T22:13:00.000+05:00

I’ve been playing around with Windows 7 since beta version 6801, I must say that I am quite pleased everything that I have experienced. There are tons of lists highlighting some of the new features found in Windows 7, specifically the new task bar, extended wireless capabilities, a friendlier User Account Control, and other changes/additions. However I feel that some of the really interesting things are not mentioned or fully covered, so I’ve decided to put a list down which describes some of the lesser known enhancements and additions. I hope you find this article useful. What other obscure features have you encountered, please post them below to share with others.

Note: I used Windows 7 RC1 for this article.

1. Math Input Panel - Quit fighting with symbols and other software to enter equations into Word documents. Use the new Math Input Panel to easily convert your writing to equations with the appropriate formatting. The Math Input Panel can be found under Start > All Programs > Accessories

2. Modify the Shut Down Button Action – If you don’t like the default action for the shut down button, Windows 7 now includes an option that allows you to customize it. Follow this guide for instructions on how to change the option.

3. WordPad’s Face lift – In this version of Windows 7, WordPad received a complete facelift. The interface resembles Word minus the advanced features. Locate WordPad by opening the Startmenu and typing WordPad in the search box.

4. Microsoft Paint Evolves – Microsoft paint has gone from very basic painting tools and options in previous versions to a highly functional paint program. You now have options for multiple brushes, additional shapes, and a cleaner interface. Locate Paint by opening the Start menu and typing Paintin the search box.

5. Sticky Notes Everywhere – You no longer need to dig for the Sticky Notes application to add them to your desktop. Now you can post Sticky Notes by simply opening Start > Sticky Notes > New Note.

Note: This feature is a carryover from Vista (you’d be surprised how many people didn’t know it was available in Vista to begin with, hence its place here) Sticky Notes in Vista was not available in Home Basic, I have not been able to confirm if they will be included in all Win7 versions or just Premium and above. Will update as soon as I find out.

6. A Calculator for Everyone - Windows 7 includes 4 different calculators; Standard, Programmer, Scientific, and Statistics calculators. In order to access the other calculators, click on View located on the menu and choose the calculator you wish to use.

7. Use Windows Vault to Store Your Credentials – Windows’ Credential Manager uses the Vault for storage and backup. According to a Microsoft spokesperson, "…in Windows 7 we’ve added the ability to back up or restore this information. The default storage vault for the credential manager information is the ‘Windows Vault.’” I hope that resources like Gmail, Twitter, Meebo, NAS devices, network locations, and other resources requiring credentials can be integrated with this feature. Time will tell.

To access the credential manager go to Start > Control Panel > User Accounts and Family Safety > Credential Manager

Know of any other features not listed here? Please post them below.

How to Create a Bootable Windows 7 USB Drive or DVD in Four Steps

2011-10-07T21:59:00.000+05:00

Do you have a netbook you’ve been dying to upgrade to Windows 7? You are probably wondering how you’re going to boot a DVD on a netbook without a DVD drive! If you find yourself in this situation there is a a little tool which will make this problem go away. The Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool from the Microsoft Store on CodePlex allows you to copy a bootable ISO of Windows 7 and other operating systems to a bootable USB flash drive or DVD. The guide below will show you how to create a bootable USB flash drive using this nifty little tool.

If you have any comments or questions please use the comments form at the end of the guide.

How to Create a Bootable Windows 7 USB Drive

Note: If you are using this application on a Windows XP machine you will need to download and install the .NET Framework v2 and the Microsoft Image Mastering API v2.

1.When you launch the tool you will need to select the location of the ISO file you are burning, clickBrowse and select the location.

Note: In this example I actually created a bootable USB for Windows Server 2008, I didn’t have a copy of Windows 7 ISO on my laptop.

2. Click Next to proceed.

3. Click the media type you would like to burn the ISO to. USB Device or DVD.

4. Choose the USB Drive from the drop-down. If the USB does not appear click on the double arrows (refresh) button to find the USB drives installed.

Note: You should use a USB Flash drive with 4GB of storage at a minimum.

5. Click on Begin Copying to start the process.

If the USB flash drive contains other files you will be reminded that the USB drive is erased in the process. So if you have any valuable files make sure to copy them from the USB flash drive before proceeding.

6. Click Erase USB Device.

Depending on your computer and the size of the ISO copied you should have a bootable USB flash drive in less than 15 minutes.

Download the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

You now have a bootable copy of Windows 7 on a USB flash drive. If you know of similar tools that accomplish the same task and more, please post them in the comments form below.

Note: There are reports of issues arising from trying to create 64-bit images on a 32-bit operating system. If you run into this this issue download a copy of bootsec.exe from your Microsoft Store account and save in the directory where the USB/DVD Download tool resides. Keep in mind you can only get the file if you purchased the Windows 7 download from the Microsoft Store.

2011-10-07T21:41:00.000+05:00

If you’re asking yourself, “Windows 7? What’s that?” Then you’re probably among a large number of users that are unaware of the new operating system hitting the market on October 22nd of this year. That is correct, almost 3 years later Microsoft is now set to release a replacement for Windows Vista (which was released to retail on January 30, 2007). Only this time it appears that Microsoft has been keeping their fingers on the pulse and have intently listened to the user community about its disappointment with Windows Vista.

Although much improved from its initial release, Vista with Service Pack 2 still leaves a lot to desire. Microsoft’s resolve to listen to the customer is evident in the plethora of built-in applications and functionality that will be available with the release of Windows 7. They have also streamlined the product offering, made it less confusing, and dropped prices. In this article I will go over some of the new features WIndows 7 will be sporting along with some resources, and a walk through along with tips to help you, should you decide to upgrade come October. If you have any tips or information to add, please feel free to post it below.

What’s New?

So what’s the big deal? Why should you upgrade? There are several good reasons to upgrade to Windows 7, among those are the new and improved features listed below.

Work with Windows Efficiently

Taking a hint from other gesture enabled devices and trying to clear up the clutter that multiple windows, gadgets, and other applications create, Microsoft has introduced the Aero Shake, Snap, and Peek. These are all gestures and functions that make it easy for users to manage open windows in the operating system.

Aero Shake: While selecting a window move your mouse from left to right as if you were shaking it side to side and the unselected open windows will automatically minimize and get out of the way.
Aero Snap: With so many users opting for wide screen displays there is an awful lot of space lost when browsing the internet. Users will now be able to snap open windows (browsers and other applications) to sections of the screen, after snapping a windows to the left, you can go ahead and open another window snap it to the right. Viola!
Aero Peek: Want to take a look at your gadgets, but the open applications are blocking the view, use Aero Snap to display only open gadgets on your desktop.
New Super Bar
The task bar has been re-designed with appeal and ease of use as priorities. You will now be able to preview the windows that are minimized to the task bar by simply placing the cursor over the icon. You will also notice that open programs are now represented with an in con instead of an icon and text. The notification area has also been improved (not pictured).
Improved Gadgets
The main change with gadgets has been releasing them from the sidebar. Instead of being limited to the sidebar, gadgets can now roam freely throughout the desktop. Use Aero Peek (mentioned above) to quickly access open gadgets
Working with Libraries
My Pictures, My Documents, My Videos – those folder names are history. In Windows 7, Microsoft has introduced the concept of a library, each library pertains to a file type, for example the Videos library would be used to store all video related content, the Pictures library would do the same, but for pictures …I think you get the idea. However you are not limited to these libraries, you can create your own.
The best part of the library feature is that files in a library can be physically located in other locations, they need not be in the Picture library. Refer to the diagram below for a quick description.
You will notice that pictures are stored in various physical locations, but since they were placed in the Picture Library location (as a reference/link), whenever you open the Picture Library ‘folder’ all the images tagged with the Picture Library folder will appear in the same window regardless of location.
Networking with HomeGroup
HomeGroup simplifies file and printer sharing on home networks. Vista made some strides with the Networking Center, however 7 goes a step further by simplifying access to wireless networks via the notification area and simplified the process to share a single file across the network.
Jump Lists
Similar to pinning up your favorite programs in the Start menu and your favorite files in Office 2007, Jump Lists provide you with links to your frequently used files just by right-clicking on a program icon in the task bar.
Windows Touch
The tablet PC on steroids, instead of using a pen or a clumsy touch screen with your finger, Microsoft is introducing Windows Touch with Windows 7 to address some of the shortcomings found with previous versions of Windows.
“…Windows 7 extends it to every corner of your PC. The Start menu and task bar now sport larger, fingertip-friendly icons. Familiar Windows 7 programs are also touch-ready. You can even finger paint in Paint!”

Windows XP Mode
When Microsoft released Windows Vista it had a hard a time convincing the enterprise to make the switch from the robust XP operating system. In this version of Windows, Microsoft listened and is now including a Windows XP mode that allows businesses to run applications that may not be compatible with Windows 7.
“The feature, designed primarily with small- and medium-sized businesses in mind, comes as a separate download and works only with Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate. Windows XP Mode also requires vitalization software such as Windows Virtual PC. Both are available free on the Microsoft website.”
Link to Windows XP Mode download.
Windows XP Mode Image from WinSuperSite
BitLocker
Although available in Windows Vista, BitLocker has been improved and now allows for the encryption of thumb drives as well, a big plus for anyone who would like to secure their information on their thumb drives.
for a complete list of features, visit Microsoft.com
Minimum System Requirements
In order to run 7 your computer should meet the following requirements;
- 1GHz or faster 32-bit or 64-bit processor
- 1GB of RAM for 32-bit installations and 2GB for 64-bit installations
- 16GB of hard disk space for 32-bit installations and 20GB for 64-bit installations
- DirectX 9 graphics card with WDDM 1.0+ driver
- BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2
- Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1GB of RAM and 15GB of hard drive space
Which Flavor?
It turns out that in this version Microsoft has divided the product into 4 segments (only three pictured below). The chart below describes the features available in each flavor. The fourth which is not picture below is the Starter Edition of Windows 7 which is aimed at the Netbook or Mini Notebook segment.
More information on the different versions can be found at Microsoft.com

How to Control Device Drivers Automatic Installation in Windows 7

2011-10-05T19:36:00.000+05:00

Windows 7 makes many things easier to work with than previous Windows versions of the operating system, But sometimes it can perform quite aggressively when it comes to detecting, downloading, and installing device drivers for newly discovered hardware. Sometimes this can be a problem.

Windows 7 users may prefer to install device drivers manually and would prefer that the operating system not interact automatically with the new devices. As a matter of fact there are some options you can use to prevent Windows 7 from dowing this.

Start by clicking on Start>Control Panel>Hardware and Sound>Devices and Printers.

Select the option showing in the image. Then you will get the following screen.

This window contains multiple icons that represent the devices that are connected and available to your PC. They include the monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, external storage disks.

So next you must locate the icon which represents your computer. The name of your computer is not My Computer but the actual individual name of your computer, which appears on a network.

Next select the device installation settings, as shown below.

Next select the appropriate options from the device driver screen.

Device Driver Installation Options

Here users have three options to select from. Option number one allows Windows 7 to always install the best driver from Windows Update operation. If you want Windows to go to Windows Update and download and install a driver whenever a new device is detected this is the option to take.

Now option number two is more conservative. Windows 7 will first take any local driver that is on your computer and install that before going to Windows Update to search for a useable driver,to download, and instal.

Finally option number three is the most conservative. Select this one if you want to prevent Windows 7 from automatically downloading and installing the device drivers or if you always want to manually install drivers yourself.

Windows 7 Starter Edition

2011-10-04T23:59:00.000+05:00

With its artificial restriction on performance (you can only run three simultaneous programs) will be available for sale worldwide, but only as a preinstalled operating system on OEM-built PCs "limited to specific types of hardware."
Microsoft is clearly confident that it has pared down the resource requirements of Windows 7 Home Premium so that it will run acceptably on the generation of netbooks that will be current when Windows 7 arrives later this year.
It's hard to imagine the Windows 7 Starter Edition name being much of a selling point. Microsoft may even be taking the calculated risk of discouraging Windows 7 from being installed on underpowered notebooks and triggering disappointing reviews.
The crucial element missing from today's announcement is pricing. Microsoft's Mike Ybarra, General Manager for Windows, told me yesterday that we can expect "aggressive price points and some very good offers" when Windows 7 is released.
In my estimation, the biggest news in this announcement is the change in how the upgrade process works. Microsoft's Anytime Upgrade program was a complete failure in Windows Vista. But the revamped version has a much better chance of drawing in upgrade dollars, a topic I'll look at more closely in a follow-up post.

Windows 7 Starter has been specifically designed by Microsoft for the low end market that includes most netbooks and other PC hardware that has to be sold for the cheapest price possible.
The main reason for this edition is to provide manufacturers with a Windows 7 edition that they can put cost effectively on their low end products.
Windows 7 Starter has caused lots of controversy after the publication of the feature differences between this edition and the other - more expensive - Windows 7 editions.
Here is a short overview of what users can expect to get when purchasing a computer that is running Windows 7 Starter.
3 Concurrent Applications
32-bit only support
Home Group join only
Windows Internet Explorer 8
Windows Media Player 12

The limitation to three concurrent applications running on the system has been the focus of criticism.
Some application types, antivirus software for example, are exempt from the limit.
It still means that users will face serious difficulties and often disappointment when they reach the limit. Additional limitations are 32-bit support only and the ability to join Homegroups but not to create them.

Windows 7 Family Pack

2011-10-04T23:58:00.000+05:00

The Windows 7 Family Pack is a deal which allows you to upgrade three eligible PCs.

There are some advantages to moving a whole household over to Windows 7—mainly related to the home network setup and music, media, file and printer sharing.
Microsoft has come along way from offering just a few versions of its operating system.

It wasn’t so long ago that you could get a home version of a Windows operating system and a few business oriented Windows versions.

But, a bit like Ford, who decided offering the Model-T in any color as long as it was black, was restricting sales, Microsoft now have multiple versions of its operating system geared towards businesses and home users—and also multiple deals, including deals for enterprise and for families.

The Windows 7 Family Pack is a deal which allows you to upgrade three eligible PCs

There are some advantages to moving a whole household over to Windows 7—mainly related to the home network setup and music, media, file and printer sharing.

Windows 7 in the home environment introduces a change of direction for sharing from Microsoft.

Whereas in earlier versions of Windows, the default was to restrict sharing of files on a network, in this version the default is to allow open sharing of files such as media files.

The thinking behind this—called HomeGroup--is that security in the home is really all about securing the perimeter, the front and back door—and the windows.

An individual within the home can always lock a room, a closet, or a drawer—but it’s a choice. Well, it’s now the same with Windows 7.

The home network supposedly is fastened tight and the computers within the home can intermingle freely—with the option of locking them.

The Windows 7 Family Pack includes just one packaged copy of Windows 7 Home Premium—but you can install it on up to three PCs. There are both 32-bit and 64-bit discs included.

Microsoft have pitched it at $149.99 as an estimated retail price, but prices may vary. Microsoft is saying this is a limited time offer and that quantities may run out. Upgrades may be made from Windows XP or Windows Vista.

Earlier versions of Windows are not upgradeable.

As we all know from nightmarish experience, any operating system upgrade can open a can of worms, so you should check your computer’s compatibility.

Run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor (click here to get it.)

Also check out the Windows 7 Compatibility Center for more information, including seeing if other gear attached to your computer will work. Click here to see it.

Windows 7 Home Basic

2011-10-04T23:56:00.000+05:00

Which lacks the Aero interface, will be available for sale only in emerging markets and will not legally be available for sale in the U.S., Western Europe, Japan, and other developed countries.

Windows 7 Home Basic is a Windows 7 edition that is not available worldwide. It has been specifically created by Microsoft to be sold in emerging markets.
Its feature set is superior to the Windows 7 Starter edition.
The features that it comes with are the following:
Concurrent Applications Unlimited
32-bit and 64-bit mode support
Home Group Join Only
Windows Internet Explorer 8
Windows Media Player 12
Desktop Window Manager
Windows Mobility Center
Windows Aero Partial
The most apparent differences are that it does not come with the concurrent application limit. Other advantages are 64-bit support and the inclusion of the Desktop Window Manager, Windows Mobility Center and partial support for Windows Aero.

Windows 7 Ultimate

2011-10-04T23:55:00.000+05:00

In the retail channel, this edition will be called Ultimate; for corporate customers with a Select license agreement, it will be called Enterprise.

In either case, the feature set includes everything in Professional edition plus support for BitLocker whole-drive encryption (and the new BitLocker To Go feature, which adds high-grade encryption to removable media).
This edition also includes all supported language packs (those cost extra for other editions) and the capability to boot from a VHD.
Microsoft is de-emphasizing the Ultimate edition, which has only been able to gather a tiny share (a Microsoft told me yesterday that Ultimate's share is in the 3-5 percent range).
It will still be available, but primarily for those who want BitLocker and as a premium upgrade for super-high-end machines where the Ultimate name might add some cachet.
The real news is that each edition is a superset of the one before it. That means you can upgrade from, say, Home Premium to Professional by purchasing an upgrade key and then "unlocking" the additional features. The entire process takes 5-10 minutes, I'm told by people who've tested it, and involves none of the hassles of the current upgrade strategy, which requires a complete reinstallation.
So what happened to those other editions? They're still around, but your ability to buy them is highly constrained.

Windows 7 Ultimate is the non plus ultra edition of the Windows 7 operating system as it is the only edition of Windows 7 that is feature complete.
All other editions - with the exception of Windows 7 Enterprise which is Windows 7 Ultimate branded differently - lack features that are included in Windows 7 Ultimate.
Windows 7 Ultimate comes with the following set of features that distinguish it from other Windows 7 editions:
Bitlocker file encryption
Direct Access
Branch Cache
Plus all features of all other Windows 7 editions.

Windows 7 Professional

2011-10-04T23:54:00.002+05:00

Windows 7 Professional is the second Windows 7 edition next to Windows 7 Home Premium that Microsoft will be available for customers and OEMs worldwide.
This edition would basically have been Windows 7 Business but was renamed by Microsoft to reflect that it is not only aimed at business but also at professionals.
Some say that it was done to make the decision for Windows XP users easier to switch to the new operating system as one of the Windows XP editions was named Windows XP Professional.
Windows 7 Professional contains all features that Microsoft has build into Windows 7 Home Premium plus the following:
Windows Server Domain support.
Remote Desktop Server support.
Location aware printing.
Encrypting the file system
Presentation mode
Windows 7 Enterprise / Windows 7 Ultimate
Windows 7 will not include the following feature set which is exclusively available in Windows 7 Ultimate and Windows 7 Enterprise:
AppLocker.
BitLocker Drive Encryption
BranchCache Distributed Cache
DirectAccess
Multilingual User Interface Pack
Virtual Hard Disk Booting

Windows 7 Updates

Microsoft Releases Critical Windows Security Update

Hide, Delete or Customize Libraries in Windows 7

OPA Backup, Microsoft Office Activation Backup

Using Free File Unlocker to Release OS-Locked Files and Folders

Remove Applications from the Context Menu in Windows Manually

Windows Live Photo Gallery Gets RAW Format Support

Microsoft Releases Critical Windows Security Update

How To Disable The Caps Lock Key Permanently

If Windows 7 Update Fails ?

Windows 7 Updates: How to easily download and install Windows 7 Language Packs (MUI packs)

Windows 7 RC To Windows 7 Final Upgrade

Windows From The Beginning To Now

Download Windows7 News Editor’s FREE Facebook Privacy Guide eBook

Windows 7 & New Macbook Pro

How to easily download and install Windows 7 Language Packs (MUI packs)

Windows 7 Build 7100 Language Packs Download:

Video Tutorial:

The Windows 7 Control Panel

7 New and Improved Windows 7 Features That Shouldn’t Go Unnoticed

How to Create a Bootable Windows 7 USB Drive or DVD in Four Steps

How to Create a Bootable Windows 7 USB Drive

What’s New?

Work with Windows Efficiently

New Super Bar

Improved Gadgets

Working with Libraries

Networking with HomeGroup

Jump Lists

Windows Touch

Windows XP Mode

BitLocker

Minimum System Requirements

Which Flavor?

How to Control Device Drivers Automatic Installation in Windows 7

Windows 7 Starter Edition

Windows 7 Family Pack

Windows 7 Home Basic

Windows 7 Ultimate

Windows 7 Professional