Help a computer guy if a solution has helped you.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

how to enable the security tab in Windows XP

To enable the security tab in Windows XP the system must first be using the NTFS file system and not FAT32.

For Windows XP Professional open Windows Explorer then click on Tools and then Folder Options .
Scroll down the list and uncheck the option Use Simple File Sharing ,click Apply then OK. For Windows XP home Simple File Sharing is enforced by default and it cannot be deactivated ,therefore you can only access the security tab from Safe Mode(it is automatically enabled in Safe Mode).

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

how to open Task Manger Windows Vista

To open Task Manager in vista do the following:
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del and click on Task Manger from the Security Box.
A quicker way is to press Ctrl+Shift+Esc and Task Manger will open straight away.

This also works in windows XP

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

how to set a keyboard shortcut to start a program in windows

To create a keyboard shortcut to start your favourite program quicker in windows do the following:

Right-click the program that you want to start with a keyboard shortcut, and then click Properties ,the Shortcut menu is shown.
Click in the Shortcut key box and then press on the keyboard letter that you want to use ,windows automatically adds Ctrl+Alt+ before you add your letter ,click on Apply and then OK.

All you have to do now is to press Ctrl+Alt+(your key) all at the same time for the program to start.

Have Fun.

Manage open windows with your keyboard in windows

If you have many open windows at the same time and would like to manage them quicker than what your mouse can do ,keyboard shortcuts are your answer.
Here is a list of the common keyboard shortcut keys in windows ,press each key one at a time.

Minimize a window to your taskbar
ALT, SPACEBAR, N

Maximize a window so it takes up your whole desktop
ALT, SPACEBAR, X

Restore a window so it's visible but doesn't take up your whole desktop
ALT, SPACEBAR, R

Close a window
ALT+F4

Switch to the last window you had open
ALT+TAB

Switch to any window
Hold down the ALT key, and press TAB until the window you want is active

Hope this helps.

Friday, January 9, 2009

This weeks TOP PC games chart 9 January 2009

Here is this weeks top PC games chart from CUSTOMPC

01 Football Manager 2009 (No change)
02 Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 (Last week: 3)
03 World of Warcraft: Wrath of Lich King (Last week: 4)
04 The Sims 2: Double Deluxe (Last week: 7)
05 Spore (No change)
06 Call of Duty: World at War (Last week: 2)
07 The Sims 2: Apartment Life (Last week: 11)
08 Grand Theft Auto IV (Last week: 6)
09 Far Cry 2 (No change)
10 Fallout 3 (Last week: 8)


Monday, January 5, 2009

how to convert FAT32 to NTFS in Windows XP

To convert a FAT32 file system to the faster and more secure NTFS one in Windows XP do the following;

Click Start then Programs ,Accessories and then click Command Prompt.
At the prompt type the following CONVERT [driveletter]: /FS:NTFS ,Convert.exe attempts to convert the partition to NTFS

The process is one way ,therefore it is recommended to perform a backup of important information that one might have.


Windows XP error "It is Now Safe to Turn Off Your Computer" when shutting down

when trying to shut down a newly formatted Windows XP computer you might get the It is Now Safe to Turn Off Your Computer error ,here is how to fix it.

Microsoft has various solutions for it ,this one works for me in most cases.

Open Control Panel, and then double-click System.
Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.
On the View menu, click Show Hidden Devices.
Expand Non-Plug and Play Drivers.
In the NT APM/Legacy Support branch of the device tree, you will see the item NT Apm/Legacy Interface Node. It will show a red X to indicate that it is disabled.Right-click NT Apm/Legacy Interface Node, and then click Enable.

The computer should now shutdown.