Archive for the 'How to's' Category
How to Recover a Lost Windows Password
Tuesday, November 6th, 2007The terms recover and lost are used to assist those using search engines in finding this article. This procedure will not technically allow you to “recover” your original password, though it will allow you to very quickly remove an existing password or create a new password so that you may regain access to your computer. [...]
How to update vista and office offline
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007For the first time, version 4.0 of the heise Security Offline Update script archive supports updates for Windows Vista and Office. Offline Update provides a simple mechanism for users to install security updates from a CD, DVD or USB stick.
HOW TO: improve the performance of Vista Media Center
Saturday, October 13th, 2007I’ve been running Vista Media Center (VMC) on two machines for a while now, and so far I have to say that the experience has been pretty good, but not all smooth sailing. Just like XP MCE 2005, VMC is very dependent on the capabilities of the hardware platform, the setup of the operating system [...]
How to downgrade Windows Vista to Windows XP
Sunday, October 7th, 2007Microsoft’s decision last week to delay the end of Windows XP sales five months means users have just that much longer to jilt Vista and return to the older — and some say more mature — operating system. But even with XP’s reprieve, few PCs come with anything but Vista. Even if you wanted to [...]
How to fix Vistas network bottlenecks
Monday, October 1st, 2007As much as I enjoy using Vista, I’ve definitely noticed that in some networking activities, it definitely seems to struggle. Particularly compared with Windows XP. For the most part it’s not a problem – I just assumed that Vista’s beefy network stack was responsible, and made a mental note to fix it at some point. [...]
HOW TO: Change the Registered Owner in Windows
Monday, October 1st, 2007If you’ve ever wondered how to change the name of the person that Windows is registered to, this is the quick tip for you. It’s not all that useful, but it might come in handy if you got a computer from somebody else.
How to create a Windows Vista VPN connection
Saturday, April 28th, 2007VPNs can be a lifesaver. Secure remote access enables additional productivity, saves travel time and empowers administrators and other staff. Here’s how to create an ever-popular VPN connection in Windows Vista. Use Windows Vista’s Network console (reached from the Start menu) to create a VPN connection.
Top 10 Vista Hacks
Saturday, April 28th, 2007You’ve run Windows Vista, you’ve played around with the Aero interface, and maybe you’ve even mucked around a little bit in Vista’s innards to see what makes it tick. Now what? Now is when the fun begins. There are plenty of ways you can hack Windows Vista, make it jump through hoops, bend it to [...]
How to run Vista legally without activation for at least a year
Friday, March 23rd, 2007Windows Vista can be run for at least a year without being activated, a serious end run around one of Microsoft Corp.’s key antipiracy measures, Windows expert Brian Livingston said today.
Livingston, who publishes the Windows Secrets newsletter, said that a single change to Vista’s registry lets users put off the operating system’s product activation requirement [...]
Make User Account Control (UAC) Stop Blacking Out the Screen in Windows Vista
Friday, March 23rd, 2007In Windows Vista, the screen goes dark when the User Account Control window comes up, which is extremely annoying. They call it the “Secure Desktop”, but I think it’s obnoxious. Note that this will make your system less secure before proceeding. Update: Windows Vista Home users should use the registry patch at the bottom of [...]
