Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Know The Different User Profiles In Windows XP

Windows XP has the ability to let you create different user profiles that can be customized with personal preferences. Different users on the same computer can have their own separate login. They can create their own personalized folders, settings, themes, icons etc.
Both Windows XP Professional and Home edition creates a user specific folder in the Documents and Settings folder which contain personalized data that stores different configuration information. Let us now move on to discuss about all the different user profiles in Windows XP Home Edition and XP Professional operating systems.
  1. Default User Profile: This profile serves as a template to create all new profiles on the computer. A new user receives a copy of this profile and this can be customized according to his need and is saved in Documents and Settings Default User folder.
  2. All Users profile: This profile has the common settings that apply to all the users who logs on to the computer. This is saved in Documents and Settings All Users folder. The All Users profile settings are merged with the profile of the current user during his log on session. If an administrator wants a common setting for all the users, the best way to do it is to modify the All Users profile.
  3. Roaming profile: Before talking about the Roaming profile, one must know about the concept of network environment having a network client and the server. The client computer uses the shared network resources provided with the server computer. A user who logs on to the network from different computers at different timings is called a Roaming user. The Roaming profile is stored in a shared folder on the server. When a user logs on to any of the computers in the network, this roaming profile is downloaded to that machine from the server and is automatically updated both locally as well as on the server. 
  4. Mandatory profile: This is a type of Roaming profile which is pre-configured and cannot be permanently edited by a user. The changes made on the Mandatory profile only remain until the current user session lasts. When the user re-logs, the original settings are automatically restored.
Only the administrator or a user with administrative privileges can make changes to the user profiles or settings. So, in order to create or modify such user profiles, first you need to be an administrator or a user with administrative privileges. Go through the Windows XP Professional Help menu to gain more information about this.

How To Set Up Windows File Sharing

While working on their computers, many users share files with others over the same network. Windows file sharing is easy way used for file sharing between computers. If you have not tried Windows File sharing feature yet in your computer, follow the below listed instructions. You can explore more on Omni Tech scam blog.


Windows File Sharing on Local Set Up 


By setting up Windows File Sharing feature in a host computer, you can share files, documents and other significant data between Windows computers that are linked over the same network. File sharing between remote systems also demand this basic criterion. 
Navigate to the files that are to be shared with the host computer. Right-click over the file and configure the file sharing settings in it. 

Specify the access settings. You can act proactively by keeping the files password-protected, so that the access will be limited only to the people with whom you have shared the password. Access settings such as who should be able to access the files and other security options can be found in the Security and Sharing options.

Configuring the Firewall

Windows Firewall protects your computer from unverified incoming network connections. If Windows Firewall is enabled in your computer, you will be blocked from initiating Windows file sharing. This demands re-configuring Windows Firewall settings. The easiest way for the same is to disable Windows Firewall. However, Microsoft technicians do not recommend this, instead suggests adding an exception in the Firewall settings for file sharing by editing the Control Panel settings.

File sharing through Remote Access

You can start file sharing between computers after setting up Windows File Sharing in the host computer and configuring Windows Firewall to allow file sharing. The below steps tell you how to access shared files.
  • Start your computer and wait until it is fully loaded. 
  • Launch Run command and enter the name of the host computer in the type field. 
  • You may also have to specify the location of shared files. 
  • This will prompt the remote computer to connect with the IP address of the host computer. The remote computer will open a new Windows Explorer window containing remote files. 
  • If you want the remote computer to connect with the shared files each time when it gets started, be advised to map a network drive to the host computer in My Computer window. 
That is all you should need to know to enable Windows File Sharing. For more details on Windows file sharing, navigate to the Omni Tech scam blog.

What’s New In The Windows 8 User Interface

Windows 8 is the latest version of the Windows OS released by Microsoft, right on the heels of the highly successful Windows 7. But the user interface of the new version is almost completely different from that of the old one, right from the lock screen onwards. Will these changes incorporated in Windows 8 help in ousting the competition?

The new lock screen

The lock screen in windows 8 has a whole new look; one different from those in the previous versions of the OS. While those were plain and utilitarian, this one displays information ranging from the date and time to the number of emails you’ve received. To log in, you can tap a key or click the mouse, or swipe upwards if you’re using a touch screen. This brings you to the sign in screen, from where you select the account to login to, and enter the password and hit the Enter button.

The start screen

Though the design was at first called the Metro interface, Microsoft has since switched to calling it the Windows 8 Design. The big tiles and the horizontal orientation might not be endearing to Laptop and Desktop PC users, but then I’d suggest you get used to it because this is what you have now.

The tiles

A grid of colorful tiles makes up the Start screen and each of them represents an app. Clicking on a tile launches the app that it represents. Several simple new apps that have been built into the OS can be accessed using these tiles, which have the same look and feel as the Start screen. You can get more apps from the newly launched Windows Store website. They were initially called Metro apps but are now simply called Windows 8 apps.

The notifications

Some of the apps mentioned above retrieve info online and display them as updates called notifications. For instance, the Calendar app grabs info like upcoming events and friends' birthdays and displays them on the tile. The People app displays social media updates on its tile, and the Mail app shows the sender and subject of emails received and unread.

The Charms bar

Upon moving your mouse to either of the right corners of the screen, the screen is overlaid by a Charms bar, directly on top of the files or other content. From this, you can quickly access Search and other system setting options.

Hope this article about the new features in Windows 8 help you get some idea about the features and changes in this version of the OS. 

How To Sync Open Office With Windows Mobile Phones

Open Office is a powerful software suite which is used for word processing, preparing spreadsheets, presentations and graphics. This suite is compatible with the Microsoft Office Suite for enabling the users to sync their files. Most of the Microsoft file extensions are recognized by the Open Office and hence can be imported.

Open Office for Windows 7

As Windows phones are gaining popularity, more business as well as personal users finds it convenient to use Open Office to synchronize their data with their Windows mobile phones. Those who are on a constant move find this extremely useful as they can take their work related stuff like spreadsheets, documents and presentations along with them anywhere they go. One can easily transfer the files through the proprietary Windows Mobile Device Center.

More people seem to prefer Open Office for Microsoft Office these days as people find using Open Office much easier than the Microsoft product. It has got the same functionality as that of the Microsoft’s Suite such as the word processor, spreadsheet creator and slide show presentation maker.
If you want to know how to sync Open Office with your Windows 7 phone, please read on.

Instructions

  • You need to have the Windows Mobile Device Center software in your computer to perform file transfer. Download it from the Windows Mobile official website and save it to your desktop for easy access.
  • Run the Windows Mobile Device Center setup wizard and follow the instructions to complete the setup. Restart the computer so that it can recognize the new software.
  • Set up the connection by connecting your Windows Mobile to the computer, using the USB cable that came along with your phone, to the USB port.
  • Double-click the Windows Mobile Device Center icon to open the program.
  • On the screen that appears, click Next and Device Center will establish a connection between your phone and the computer.
  • Check Open Office and select those documents and files you want to sync from the drop-down menu. Click Next.
  • Now it’s time for the synchronization and you ought to wait till it is completed and click Finish when you get the prompt. Please remember not to disconnect the USB cable during the synchronization process as it may result in data loss or corruption.

Now you have successfully synchronized all your Open Office files in the computer to the Windows mobile phone. You might have realized how convenient it is to use Open Office for Windows 7 in a mobile phone!

How To Edit Images In Microsoft Paint Program

Microsoft has many interesting applications built into its Windows XP operating system. One such interesting app is the Paint program that lets you edit pictures easily. The numerous options in this program allow you to crop images, add texts, choose colors, etc. In this article, we will guide you through the steps so that you can edit your pictures perfectly.

Instructions

  • Go to the Start menu and click the option All Programs.
  • Further click on Accessories and then select Paint from the popup menu. This will launch Microsoft Paint application.
  • From the menu bar at the top, select File and then click on Open.
  • Navigate to the location of the picture, which you wish to edit. Select it and choose the option Open.
Editing options

According to Windows XP Help and Support Center, there are numerous tools in the Paint program, which helps you make your picture beautiful. We will discuss some of the important options below.

Choose areas – Click on the image and drag to any portion of the picture that you have selected.

Fill or add colors – You can see the menu for color in the bottom left corner. You can select the color of your choice to fill the selected area or portion of the image.

Type texts on images – You can edit the images and add texts to it. For this, choose the text tool. Select a portion to enter the text and type the matter.

Inserts objects – You have a wide range of objects to choose from; as polygon, circle, rectangle, ellipse, rounded rectangle, etc. Select any of these tools and insert in the picture in any size

Alter images – You can alter the images as you wish. You can rotate them in any direction you wish. You can also resize these images as per your needs.

When you are done with the editing, in order to save the image, select the option File and then click on Save As. You will be asked to choose a location on your hard drive to save the file. Select the location and select Save.

You can instantly take prints of the edited images as well. For this, select File and then the option Print. You can also print the image using the shortcut keys Ctrl and P. Press these keys simultaneously to access the print options.


We hope that the above-mentioned steps have helped you edit your favorite pictures without troubles. If you have any queries regarding the various options in the application, you can contact Windows XP help and Support Center or Microsoft Chat, for assistance.

Adding Fonts To Microsoft Word In Windows 7

Microsoft Word is one of the world’s most commonly used word processing tools. It is included in the Microsoft Office suite of applications. Like all the Windows-based applications, the fonts available for use by the users of the application are tied to the operating system’s central Fonts folder. Due to this reason, if you would like to add a new font to the Word program, you will have to add this font to the Window 7’s Fonts folder. This article discusses the steps to add the fonts file to the Fonts folder. Once you know the proper menu command, this task can be performed in a few clicks. The Windows support number tips discussed below will help you to add fonts to the Word program very easily.

Instructions

  • Close the Microsoft Word program if it is open.
  • Open the folder that contains the font file you need to add to Microsoft Word and the Windows 7 operating system.
  • After that, click on the Windows Start button that is located on the extreme left hand corner of the screen. From the Start menu, select Control Panel.
  • Click on the search box that is present at the top-right corner of the window and type in fonts.
  • Click on the View Installed Fonts link that is located under the heading Fonts in the search results list. This will open the Fonts folder.
  • Go back to the folder you opened in step number 2.
  • After reaching the folder, drag and drop the font file into the Fonts folder that you opened in step number 5. This will add the selected font to the Windows central collection of fonts in no time. The next time you open the Microsoft Word program, this font will be available for you to use.

These are the simplest and the easiest steps to add the fonts file to the Fonts folder of the Microsoft Word program. You should be logged in as the administrator of the computer to make these changes and add the fonts file. If you are not comfortable with any of the steps discussed above, you can contact the Windows support number for further assistance. The technician may take remote access of your computer and perform the steps for you.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Windows 8 Installation On A Virtual Hard Disk

Creating a virtual hard disk is a facile process. The benefit of the virtual hard disk is that it can be accessed by the host from wherever it is stored. To install the Windows 8 on a virtual hard disk is quite easy. By following the below provided Windows 8 installation guidelines, Windows 8 can be installed on the virtual hard disk.

Instructions
  • The Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool is available and it has to be downloaded. After the download process, it has to be installed on the Windows system.
  • Access the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool and follow the below provided steps.
  • Choose Windows 8 ISO and a blank USB device has to be made use of.
  • In the hard disk, the Windows 8 ISO file will be present. You have to choose it.
  • The blank USB device has to be chosen and the copy process should be initiated.
  • After the copy process is complete, the USB device is ready to use.
  • The Disk Management feature has to be accessed and a VHD file has to be created. In order to create a VHD file, the Create VHD option has to be selected.
  • The custom installation option has to be selected. An existing partition should not be selected and for a command window to appear, the SHIFT-F10 keys have to be tapped. Now the following commands have to be made use of.
DISKPART
SELECT VDISK FILE="D:\VHD\Win8.vhd"
ATTACH VDISK
EXIT
  • Choose the Windows installation screen and then select Refresh. Now the newly made VHD partition is visible.
  • On the selected VHD partition, Windows 8 has to be installed. The installation process will consume some time. Restarts will be required during the installation process. After the process is complete, Windows 8 will be started. The network connection has to be chosen and you can start your work.
  • A boot menu will be visible after the next restart occurs. You can choose between Windows 7 and Windows Developer Preview once you select Options.
By following these Windows 8 installation guidelines, you can easily install Windows 8 on a virtual disk. If you have any doubts in following the steps or if you require additional help, you can visit the Microsoft support page to resolve all your issues and solve all your problems.

Monday, October 21, 2013

How To Access The Onscreen Keyboard In Windows XP

For performing a variety of tasks on the computer, people make use of hardware devices like keyboard and mouse. Due to the ease of use of keyboard shortcuts, people are more adaptable to the keyboard. A host of tasks that can be performed using a mouse can be done using the keyboard also. However, if your keyboard is not working or if your keyboard is broken, you are in for quite a trouble, as you may not be able to perform most of the tasks without the use of a keyboard. In the Windows XP operating system, there is a way in which you can access an onscreen keyboard, which would let you input keystrokes using the keyboard on the screen.

Instructions
  • To get a hold of the On Screen keyboard, you need to click on the Start menu, choose All Programs, select Accessories, click on Accessibility, and choose the Onscreen Keyboard.
  • The keyboard menu will be available and you can choose the type of keyboard that you want. You may choose the enhanced keyboard or the standard keyboard and then either the regular layout or block layout may be selected. You may also choose whether your onscreen keyboard should have 101, 102 or 106 keys.
  • From the Settings menu, you can choose the preferences. The Always On Top is the application’s default setting. When each time a key is selected, you may choose to produce a click sound. Different choices like Hover to select, Click to select and Use joystick to select can be chosen. The amount of time for the hover or joystick options can be set. In the next menu, you can choose the font.
  • Now you need to launch the program into which you would like to enter text. The text area of the program has to be selected. Now in order to familiarize with the on screen keyboard, you need to move over the keys in the on screen keyboard.
  • In order to make all the letters in the keyboard in capitals, you need to click on the Shft key. If a mistake is made while you type, you can click the Bksp button or you can select the entire text and make use of the Del button to delete the selection. 
If you face any difficultly while using the on screen keyboard, you can contact Windows XP support team to resolve your problems. The Windows XP support team provides apt help for all issues concerning the operating system.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

How To Update Windows Installer On your Computer

As you use your Windows computer, you will be installing many programs and applications on it. Different applications serve different purposes. By default, there will be some programs already installed in your Windows computer when you purchase it. There are many third party applications that you might want to install on your computer. That is the reason why Microsoft has included Windows Installer to help you with the task.
However, if your Windows Installer is outdated or corrupted, the applications won’t get installed properly, causing vulnerabilities and performance issues. If you are facing problems with installing software and other applications, it is high time you get a new version of Windows Installer. The following Windows Help guidelines will help you update the Windows Installer in your computer.

Instructions
  • Open the web browser on your computer and go to Microsoft’s official website. Type Microsoft Windows Installer into the Search field and hit the Enter key. Typing in the search bar is a shortcut, but doesn't guarantee that you are downloading an authentic version of the program you need.
  • When you get this page, locate the option Downloads and Trials. Move your mouse over it and you will get a drop down menu. From the menu, click on Download Center. 
  • From the list titled Product Families, click the option Windows.
  • When you get the Windows page, click on the dropdown box labeled Show downloads for. Here you can find the link Microsoft Windows Installer. Click on it and then click Go. 
  • From the Microsoft Windows Installer page, locate the option Release Date and click to view the most recent version of Windows Installer. Let’s consider the latest version to be “Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1 Redistributable”.
  • On the download page, click on the hypertext phrase "Download files below." The page will automatically scroll to a spot where you will see three downloads: Redist.txt (you may copy and paste this text to a text file in the folder where you install Windows Installer); Windows Installer 3.1 EULA.doc; and WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe. Click on each download and save them to your computer.
  • Once you have downloaded the files, wait for the Install Wizard to take over and automatically update Microsoft Windows Installer or repair the version that you already have.
You have now successfully updated the Windows Installer on your computer. If you need any further help on this, you can contact the Windows Help and Support Center and avail advanced assistance.