Windows 7: Avatar

On my previous post, I showed how to change the logon screen. Say You found a cool picture for your logon screen. Now It won’t be complete till you have matching User Account Picture. It’s easy to change.

1. Click Start Orb button (or Windows key).
2. Start typing “User Accounts” and select User accounts from the search results.
3. Click the link on the top “Change your picture”

Remember in Windows 7 it also works for Domain User account as well. It would also be cool, choose a nice picture of yourself and have it as User account picture.

Where this user account picture is used? It will show up in Logon Screen and Windows Start Menu.

Where to find other great Avatar pictures? I would search internet for “avatar” pictures.

Windows 7: Have a pretty cool Logon Screen

Since Windows 7 beta days, I know I could change the logon screen very easily with registry hacks. See HERE.

Now there are easier ways. Our beloved developers made a GUI based Logon screen changer. Since then I change my logon screen whenever I found a cool picture.

Get this little utility (HERE) and change your logon screen to match your style.

Great Tip: You could have same picture for logon screen and your wallpaper and have a unique style experience.

Dream scenes in Windows 7

Vista Ultimate had Dream Scene (elite) feature and enjoyed by some. The whole point of dream scene is run a Video as a wallpaper, but not to kill the processor. Now you can enjoy this on any version of Windows 7. 

Check out a Sample Dream Scene below.

Get the DreamScene enabler here: Windows7-DreamScene-Enable.exe

Dream Scene Galleries:

http://browse.deviantart.com/customization/skins/vistautil/deskscapes/#

http://www.dreamscenevideo.net/blog/

http://www.metacafe.com/tags/dreamscene/

http://dreamscene.org/

Rotate Wallpapers and refresh new Wallpapers automatically – Wallpaper Juggler

If you haven’t already noticed Windows 7 has the feature to change Wallpapers in specified time from specified folder with your pictures. Check here.

Now how about download new Wallpapers automatically from InterfaceLift And/Or WallPaperStock. And rotate the wallpapers automatically just like Windows 7 feature.

Interested?? Check out Wallpaper Juggler

Checking Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, GMail and others in Outlook, no POP3/IMAP required

I know most companies don’t allow POP3 or IMAP access to/from Internet on the corporate network. So how do you check your personal emails at office? Most friends I know they check their emails in Internet Browser.

If you are THAT person, here is a cool tip for you. Add a Outlook folder and set the website address. It looks like this:

Interested more. Follow the steps below setup the folder that shows mails in web form.

1. Create a Outlook folder anywhere you like on your Mailbox. Make sure name the folder accordingly like “Yahoo! Mail”
2. Right click on the folder you created and select Properties
3. Click “Home Page” tab
4. Type the Email logon page or email page. e.g., http://mail.live.com, http://www.gmail.com
5. Make sure “Show home page by default for this folder” check box is selected. If it is grayed out, click Apply button after you typing the web page address and then check box will be enabled.

 

6. Click OK and click on the folder.

You have to type the username and password. If you have option to save the username/password option, choose it.

 

Enjoy.

Windows 7: Whoa! Magnifier!!

Hit Win+ (That is Windows Key and Plus Key) for magnified and start magnifier. Hit Win- to return to normal view.

When I first hit Win+ shortcut, it’s Whoa! moment for me. Try it yourself.

Run programs with elevated permissions

You may have to launch few programs with elevated permissions as Administrator. E.g., if you want edit hosts file, you should open up the Notepad as Administrator before you open the Hosts file.

You already may  have figured out how to run programs as Administrator. Right click on the program (e.g., Notepad) and select “Run as administrator” option.

Well it works. What if you known a keyboard short cut. Then you will be one of the elite user. Here it is,

Press Control+Shift while left click the application icon.

Windows 7: Window management by short-cut keys (with Multi-Monitor in mind)

You have to use the following short cut keys to appreciate the usefulness.  You can manipulate your current Window with following key storks without touching your mouse.

Win+Left Arrow and Win+Right Arrow  is dock left or right

Win+Up Arrow and Win+Down Arrow maximizes and restores / minimizes;

Win+Shift+Up Arrow and Win+Shift+Down Arrow maximizes and restores the vertical size

Win+Home to minimize all the in-active background windows (except the one you are working on)

Win+1, Win+2, etc., to open the corresponding program in your task bar (running programs)

Win+Space – Aero Peek

 

Now if you have multiple monitors, try this:

Win+Shift+Left Arrow and Win+Shift+Right Arrow to move windows from one monitor to another – keeping them in the same relative location to the monitor’s top-left origin

Try it once, you will get used to it right away.

Windows 7: Connect your Laptop to Projector or second monitor

I have to see users struggle to connect to their laptops to the projector. Most laptop vendors provide a hotkey (e.g., Function + F8 is to switch between laptop screen and projector) and it mostly works. When it doesn’t work, user usually lost.

In Windows 7, I would say press Windows ÿ key + P. You get the following choices. Select the one that works for you. It’s that easy.

Windows 7: Drag N Drop Directory and File to a Command Prompt Window

Hate typing long path names in Command Prompt window. Open up the path location in Explorer window. Drag and drop the folder or file into command prompt window. Voila!

You can drop a file on command prompt. It will  paste the file name. Enjoy.

Windows 7: Changing Command Prompt Windows Title

I thought Microsoft investing big time on new child Power Shell and let go of old school Command Prompt. It’s not the case. They did improve many things in Command Prompt. One of them is “Title” command.

Title “Your title name”

It changes your Command Prompt window title. How cool it is. If I run multiple command prompts by script or even manually, now we can identify the windows with our own names.

Force kill the freeze programs

When a program hangs what do you do? Usually you right click on task bar and open Task Manager. Select the hung programs (that shows “Not Responding”) and click on “End Task”. I have got a better idea, use taskkill.exe tool (in-built tool with XP Pro, Vista and up). Create a batch file (see the instructions below) and running this batch file we can force kill the “Not Responding” programs.

Note: You have to make a Icon on Desktop or on Dock by yourself with the batch file below.

• Right click on the desktop. From the menu hover over New and click on Text Document.


• Name it “Kill-the-Zombies.bat” make sure there is no .txt at the end of the file.


• Hit “Yes” in the dialog box that asks you do you want to change the extension.


• Right click and select edit. This will open a blank notepad.


• Type the following lines:

@echo off
taskkill.exe /f /fi “status eq not responding”
exit

• Save it. File -> Save and close notepad.


• Now any time a program freezes just double click Kill-the-Zombies.bat. In fact this will kill all programs that are not responding.

Sweet Dreams, Free application gradually lowers the sound volume on a schedule

This is really “dream” application for me. At night, I enjoy music from computer (mostly on my Zune) till I go into sleep. This application gradually lowers the volume at night (and it even Shutdown or Standby my laptop). 

Other use I thought of use it on a Parties. If you like it, get the application HERE.

Portable Ubuntu run on top of Windows

Portable Ubuntu for Windows is an Ubuntu system running as a Windows application.

This system is built with the Colinux Kernel, Xming X server and Pulseaudio server for Windows.

Portable Ubuntu for Windows is a useful tool for when you need to use Ubuntu on an machine that has Windows as operating system.

Download it HERE.

SaveAllAttachments for Outlook 2007

This outlook add-in adds the missing feature in Microsoft outlook which allows you to save and with option to remove all attachments from multiple emails at once. Great tools to manage your mailbox size. Get it HERE.

IE8’s “In-Private Filtering” is great AD Blocker

Unlike Firefox or Chrome needs third party plug-in to block ads (AdBlock, AdSweep, etc.,) the latest IE8 don’t requires any third-parties. It has in-built Ad-blocking feature, otherwise called In-Private Browsing.

In-Private Browsing is as in Microsoft’s words,

InPrivate Browsing prevents Internet Explorer from storing data about your browsing session. This helps prevent anyone else who might be using your computer from seeing where you visited and what you looked at on the web. When you start InPrivate Browsing, Internet Explorer opens a new window. The protection that InPrivate Browsing provides is only in effect during the time that you use that window. You can open as many tabs as you want in that window, and they will all be protected by InPrivate Browsing. However, if you open another browser window, that window will not be protected by InPrivate Browsing. To end your InPrivate Browsing session, close the browser window

To use the In-Private Browsing and block the annoying ads, in IE8 Window do the one of the following to enable the feature.

• Click Safety menu and select “InPrivate browsing”

• Click a new Tab, click the link “Open an InPrivate Browsing window” 

• Click to open the InPrivate Browsing menu on the bottom of the Window as in below picture.

 

• Press Control+Shift+P

If you open the InPrivate Browsing Settings, you can set to “Automatically block” the Ads or “Choose content to block or allow”. If you choose the second option, you can choose (obviously) the particular Ads like “googlesyndication.com” .

Alternative (sometimes Free) Quality Software

AlternativeTo website tries to list “non crappy” alternative software for major famous software like MS Office, Burning tools, Media Players.. You may find some quality free alternatives for yourself here.

Excel 2007: Eye Candy Check List in Excel, otherwise called “Conditional Formatting”

As a System Admin in IT, Many times I have to make a list in Excel to state status of, say, Servers. I am sure you have some list you have to manager in Excel. Here is the cool way of managing the check list. This is tested in Excel 2007 and I am not sure about the lower versions of Office.

The End result looks like this:

Like the idea.  Read ahead for “How to” help.

1. Make a list like above and Select the Status column with header like below picture.

2. Now click Conditional Formatting in Home tab and select Icon Sets. Select the ICON that suits your needs. For this document I chose the Tick mark, X icon and ! icon.

3.  Leave the Status column selected, click on Conditional Formatting again and Select Manage Rules..

4. On Conditional Formatting Rules Manager click on Edit Rule…

5. Select Show Icon Only check box on the bottom and click OK. (Note the ICON/Value rule)

6. On the Status column cells, enter 1 for tick mark, 0 for X mark and –1 for ! mark.

Show your Excel spreadsheet others and show them how to do it.  Look Good!!!

Cursor Themes: Don’t be boring default cursor person

I always change my Windows themes, cursor themes, Wallpapers almost every week or even every day.

Here are some tips to get good looking and your own likable cursors.

1. Customize.org – Here you have to download the mouse cursors and change it yourself at Control Panel –> Mouse –> Pointers.

2. CursorFX – You have to download a free cursor theme program and download themes at WinCustomize.com

Enjoy.

Unlocking file or folder: “Cannot delete Folder: It is being used by another person or program”

How many times you get this error message when you try to delete or move a folder or file?

OR you may get one of the following error messages depending on the OS flavors.

• Cannot delete file: Access is denied
• There has been a sharing violation.
• The source or destination file may be in use.
• The file is in use by another program or user.
• Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.

No worries. There is a freeware program that can unlock the folder or file, so you can move on with your life other un-important things.

Head over to Unlocker

Windows 7: Your own Wallpapers to display in specified intervals

I like to change my wallpaper every 15 minutes on my computer. I have blogged about Wallpaper Master (freeware) for XP and Vista computers.

Now in Windows 7, you can choose group of pictures which will be applied as Wallpaper for every specified minutes. Default is 30 minutes. Imagine you may group your last vacation photos as, say, vacation wallpaper group. Interested, follow me I will show you how in Windows 7.

1. Right click on desktop and select Personalize.

2. Click on Desktop Background icon. Notice you may select a themes right here. I am expecting custom themes from enthusiasts.

3. Click Browse button and select the folder which has your photos or pictures.

4.  Check out the options below for Picture Position and Change Picture every X minutes. Click Save changes button. And That’s it.

Enjoy.

I have 2 GB worth of collected wallpapers which I set to rotate in every 1 minute. Man! I Love my desktop.

Windows 7:Burn ISOs to CD/DVDs quickly

Windows 7 can burn ISOs now. If you have a ISO, just right click and select Burn disk image.

You will get this dialog box. Click Burn and that’s it.

 

For earlier versions of Windows, I would suggest using the free CD/DVD burning tools like InfraRecorder or it’s portable version here.

Windows 7: Middle Click to open new program instance on Task bar

In Windows 7 desktop, there is no quick launch. Instead we get a default program list in big Icons (e.g., Internet Explorer, Windows File Explorer). It’s cool feature that you can add your own mostly used programs like quick launch.

When you try to open second instance the already opened program by clicking on the icon the task bar, it opens the running instance. 

Simply Middle click on the icon the taskbar (any icon), it will open a new instance of the same program. :-)

Windows 7: System Configuration (formally called MSConfig)

What can you do with System Configuration tool in Windows 7 (and MSConfig in Vista and XP)? Many things.. First how to open the application in Windows 7, Vista and XP. I covered MSConfig for controlling startup programs HERE.

In Windows 7, Click on Windows Orb button. Start typing System Config.

Click on System Configuration from the search list.

On Vista and XP, press Windows button and R to open the RUN dialogbox, type MSConfig and press enter.

Here are the uses of this tool:
- You can control the start up programs in Startup tab, Services in Services tab.
- On Boot tab, you can control the Boot.ini file and this is for more advanced users
- When your computer is unstable because of driver or program, take a look at General Tab. You can boot into Diagnostic Startup or  Selectic Startup to troubleshoot the issue

How many of you already know you can list and launch all the system tools in one place? It’s System Configuration (or MSConfig). Check out the Tools tab.

Windows 7: Sticky Notes

Somebody in Windows team impressed with Tomboy Notes (Linux) application or PNotes (Windows) application. They decided to add this to Windows 7. If you have touch screen, you can write down information on the notes for quick jot down. These sticky notes are really simple has only two buttons on the top (Close and Add new notes).

If you have Windows 7, you can check this out by clicking Windows Orb button and select “Sticky Notes”.

I am using PNotes in my XP Laptop for a while and I am addicted to it. PNotes is free and you can get it here. It has all the bells and whistles you would expect. You can download it by clicking the image below:

Freeware: xB Browser. Who wants to browse anonymously? Sometimes I do.

The main advantage compared to other anonymous web browsers is that xB Browser requires no configuration or technical knowledge in order to achieve anonymity. xB Browser is open-source so you can feel safe knowing what goes into our code. Additionally, it is even portable on a USB stick so you can take it to work, school, or on vacation.

When you run xB Browser first time, select “Tor” for free anonymous access. It’s still little slow but it works. Other notable information, it’s based on Firefox browser.

Download it here:

HD Wallpapers

InterfaceLift is a great source for great high resolution wallpapers. I still download wallpapers from here. Check it out here: http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper_beta/downloads/date/any/

Vista Wallpaper Pack

These pictures owner (Hamand Darwish)’s own words,

My Windows Vista Desktop Wallpaper Pack is a collection of the images I have taken under contract with Microsoft, in early 2006, during the Windows Vista photo-shoot. Two of the images in the pack are included in Windows Vista's installation disk, while the rest just didn't make the cut. You can download my High Resolution Windows Vista Desktop Wallpaper Pack

Download from here: http://www.hamaddarwish.com/winvista.html

Disable and block startup programs (Free Software)

I came across this program at lifehacker blogs and turn out to be very useful and works very well. It blocks those pesky malware/adware changing your internet startup page and any new start up programs. And it is Free.

Try it yourself : Disable Status

TechNet Magazine Features Windows Vista Tips This Month for IT Pros - Windows Experience Blog - The Windows Blog

These are very nice set of tips for Vista. Check it out at: TechNet Magazine Features Windows Vista Tips This Month for IT Pros - Windows Experience Blog - The Windows Blog

Circle Dock: Another cool looking dock

I came across this dock and using it for past two months. It turn out to be very usable cook looking dock for me.

Download it here: Circle Dock

Tip: Hide Desktop Icons

In Windows XP and Vista, you can hide all Desktop Icons in 3 mouse clicks.  You can show the icons in same 3 clicks.

Right click on your desktop, select “Arrange Icons By” and select “Show desktop Icons” to hide (and show it later).

Share Clipboard between Computers

I have many desktop and laptops in my home and office. One day I wanted to copy a information between computers (like a URL, a paragraph of text). I tried few software and settled on FREE software called "Ditto". Ditto can help you sync's clipboard information between computers and keep the clipboard data for a month. BEST thing I like about it is, they provide this as PORTABLE SOFTWARE. So I don't have to install it and carry it in my USB drive.

The feature list from the creator's web site as below,

Easy to use interface

Search and paste previous copy entries

Keep multiple computer's clipboards in sync

Data is encrypted when sent over the network

Accessed from tray icon or global hot key

Select entry by double click, enter key or drag drop

Paste into any window that excepts standard copy/paste entries

Display thumbnail of copied images in list

Full Unicode support (display foreign characters)

UTF-8 support for language files (create language files in any language)

Uses sqlite database (www.sqlite.org)

Download it here: DITTO

Portable Firefox and Opera Browsers

You don't have to install Firefox and Opera browser to use on your computer everyday. You can use Portable browsers right from your USB drive or from a local drive. If you like the idea, go ahead and download the software from the links below.  Click on the screen shot.

Portable Firefox

Portable Opera

My Windows Mobile (PocketPC) Favorite Applications

Best thing about Windows Mobile devices is available third-party applications and lots of free ones. I used to like Palm devices ages ago, it had fantastic third-party apps support.  Here is my list of applications which I use it currently, it's all freebies.

Click on the header to download the application. (you can download straight from your mobile browser).

1. My Mobiler

View your mobile screen and control with your keyboard and mouse on your desktop.

Obviously you have to connect your Windows Mobile device via USB or Bluetooth to your computer. ActiveSync should be able to see your device.

Great feature I like you can copy and paste between Mobile and your computer.

Don't be surprise if your mouse is disappears when this application is running. Answer is your move is moved to PocketPC device screen like if you have second monitor.

2. PointUI

This is new refreshing finger-friendly user interface for Windows Mobile (PocketPC) devices. It's getting better in every version revision.

I use this UI time to time. I started to like the latest version with the improvements.

3. Flash Player (watch YouTube videos & more)

Who wants to watch YouTube videos on your Windows Mobile? Adobe provides Flash Player for PocketPC (link above), But I like TCPMP with FlashPlugIn and YouTubePlay.

TCPMP plays multiple video and audio formats. It's very good player to watch full length videos as well as flash content. You need to download the following two programs and install them in order.

1. TCPMP program
2. TCPMP Plugin for Flash Video

YouTube Play is another interesting application. You can search YouTube videos from this application and play the flash content full screen.

YouTubePlay

4. ClearTemp

ClearTemp is an application for you to free up memory on your device. It allows you to clear temporary/unused files and unused registry keys/values on your system easily. It also allows you to clear your Recent Program List, Internet Address History and boot count. You can even change the location of the temporary folders (Cache, History & Cookies) or e-mail attachment folder to the Storage Card.

5. S2U2 (Slide to Unlock)

S2U2 is a simple lock/unlock application which has the iPhone style slide unlocking. It can be used as a screensaver while you don't use your device. And it's has a CallerID function.

You can customize the S2U2 look and feel. Check here: Customize S2U2 Battery Animation, Slider Button, Animation & Curtain

6. Network Folder Plug-in

This is a File Explorer plugin to help you map a network drive. You can see the shared folders from Windows machine via WiFi connection. I use it time to time to copy files back and forth.

7. Live Search for Windows Mobile

Live Search name confuses me. This program named "Live Search", but it doesn't do the web search. It's a mapping and "Yellow Page" like local business finding program. Those damned "Microsoft Marketing" hot heads. If most people hates Microsoft, major reason is their marketing department.

I like Live Search on my mobile which gives me nice maps including the satellite maps. It's not frequently updated like Google maps, but it's very useful. The extra features like "Movie finding", "finding cheap Gas", Voice command, etc., are very very useful at times. You can browse and zoom the map without stylus.

I will add more applications here very soon.

Keywords: What's on my PocketPC, What's on my Windows Mobile

What to do when Vista computer is unstable?

If your Vista Machine is running slow or very unstable or any hardware issues or mismatched driver issues, Don't gripe like some silly wannabe bloggers or "page hit" longing magazine editors or self proclaimed Geeks. Instead take some productive steps to find out why it is happening?

STEP 1:

When exactly moment your Vista machine experiencing issues, run "Perfmon /report" in Start search box.  It collects the performance data for 60 seconds and fetch Hardware details.

It gives nice report with detailed information.

Expand all the sections (e.g., Hardware configuration, CPU, Network) and look through to see any RED (error) information. If you find any, start your investigation from there.

STEP 2:

Run "Problems Reports and Solutions" program to see if you can find solutions from Microsoft (documented using error collection from customer machines).  This program collects the hardware and software crash information, hung programs issues ,etc.,

Click Start Orb button and type "Problems Reports" in Search bar. Select the search result item "Problem Reports and Solutions". Explore the options here and you may find a documented solution already here. If you click on "Check for new solutions", the program will download (from Microsoft) new information for your collection problems on your computer.

If you are running on a old hardware, you are allowed to gripe till you afford to buy a latest computer.

If you are trying to use unsupported devices in Vista intentionally, Enlighten yourself at https://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/Default.aspx or at Vendor's web site.

Keywords: Vista Hardware issues, Vista Crashing, Vista Slow, Vista Unstable

Icons on the Desktop, you can make it large

You are the desktop decorator, Huh! You have plenty of ICONs sitting everywhere on your desktop. That's the way you like it. Nothing wrong with it. I am a clean freak. I keep my desktop with no ICONs, not even Recycle bin.

With vista, you can display the ICONs in large size in two clicks. Here the few ICONs show up normally.

Now Right click on your desktop, Select View menu ==> Large Icons. That's it. Check how your ICONs looks now.

You can also go back to your old XP icons view with Classic Icons option. But, Do you really want to go back?

1by1 - the Directory player. Very small sized MP3 player software

Here is the software I really really like. 1by1. It's really really small foot print and plays MP3 files from your directories.

I compared with 1by1 and Windows Media Player for occupied memory.

Windows Media Player: 21 MB
1by1: 8 MB

I am Impressed. Plus I like the following features in this small foot print.

- Gap less play
- Cross fading
- Audio Enhancer
- Portable (one single EXE file, just move it wherever you want or to any computer...OR simply from your USB drive)

  Download it right here: 1by1 - the Directory Player

Details..Details..Details pane in File Explorer in Vista

Have you noticed the "Detail Pane" in file explorer in Vista. It looks like this.

It shows the relative file information according to the file just like details view. I started to like this idea now. When I am in ICON view mode (which I am usually in all folders), when I click on the file icon the details pane on the bottom shows the information about the file.

Now here is tip. You can change the size of the details pane. Just right click on the blank space in the detail pane and select the size Menu. You have option to change "small", "medium" and "Large".

The above picture is small detail pane. The medium one looks like this.

The large detail pane looks like this.

Notice that more information about the file is displayed in the details pane.

Don't like the detail pane, you can hide it easily by right clicking on the blank space in the details pane and select "Hide Details Pane".

It's nice to know every nook and corner is customizable in Vista.  

What's the actual executable for the process running on your Vista computer?

When you suspect there is a virus or spyware, you check the "Windows Task Manager" to scan through the processes. Say you found an unknown process running on your computer, say abcxyz.exe, what do you do? Usually you search for the executable on your hard disk to see what it is located.

Search no more in Vista. Windows Task Manager in Vista is already showing up some description for the process. Well! if it is spyware, you don't see any description there.

On Processes tab, Just click View menu and select "Select Columns..." option. Check "Image Path Name" and "Command Line" check box and click OK to close. You will see the location of the process right there in your task manager (processes tab).  It looks like this: (click on image for bigger size)

"Defer Delivery": Delay sending mails from Outlook

Have you ever regret for sending mail to a wrong person or wrong information? Almost everyone does at some point of time. Some people does frequently.  And then they regret it and furiously try to recover the mail.

Here is the tip: Use Outlook Rules and Alerts feature to delay the mail sending, say a minute. So every time you send a email, it will sit in Outlook for a minute before sending. It gives time decide if the mail really wants to go out.

How to create the "Defer Delivery" Outlook Rule?

1. Click Tools --> Rules and Alerts... in Outlook

2. Select "Check messages after sending" and click Next

3. Do not select anything in "Step 1: Select Condition(s)", just click Next.

4. Check the box for "defer delivery by a number of  minutes". In Step 2 section, click "a number of" link and select 1 for one minute. Click Finish.

5. Close the Rules and Alerts window. You are done.

Now every time you send a mail, it will sit in Outbox as I told before. Hope you are happy with the solution.

Is Adobe PDF format is really good for E-books? Certainly NOT.

When I buy tech books, I receive CD with the book with extra materials and whole book as E-Book format. It turn out to be I like to read e-books in my Laptop than the real book. Now why would everyone gives E-Book in PDF format?

I hate reading books using Adobe Reader. It's just me. Number one reason is Adobe Reader doesn't support Bookmarks. Their meaning of book mark is table of contents generated by the Reader software (What the heck?).  I would like book mark (the real book mark) on the page when I left reading. So I can open the E-Book go to the book-marked location and start reading where did I left yesterday. With Adobe Reader, it's simply NOT possible. I hate remembering the page numbers to start reading for tomorrow.

The winner is Microsoft Word. It has all the features as E-Book reader like book-marks, Full page view, Reader format, etc., So I simply converted PDF file to DOC file using this free converter: Free PDF to Word Doc Converter version 1.1

Mailbox Cleanup from Outlook 2007

How many times did you helped users to cleanup their mailbox? The usual way of cleaning up the mailbox is to archive the old mail, cleaning up the Sent Items, moving mails to PST folders, etc.,

Do you know there is Mailbox Cleanup utility comes with Outlook 2007? If you don't know check it out. I would strongly suggest educating the users about this tool in Outlook and let them clean up their mailbox themselves. If they do it, it's really Cool! Isn't?

To invoke the Outlook Mailbox Cleanup tool, Click Tools --> Mailbox Cleanup.

It looks like this:

How do I move "Outlook Mail Desktop Alert Window" to my own location?

When a new mail arrives, Outlook shows cool Desktop Alert window with the subject text and little drop down menu with few mail options. You quickly see the sender and subject text, and you can also delete or flag the mail for future review.The alert window look like this.

Now the issue is some times this alert window is showing at wrong part of the desktop, like middle of the screen. This is because when your desktop resolution changes, alert window moved to the usual location (Bottom-Right). If the desktop changed it resolution, alert window still keeps in its old location. That's why it show up in different location in desktop.

Fix: Just drag the window to your own comfortable location. Outlook will alert window at your selected location.

Save the Size and Location of the Application Windows

Ever wonder when you open Mails in Outlook or Notepad or Calculator opens in wrong location and size. You always wanted to change the location of the window and the size you wanted. Here is the tip for you. This tip works in Windows XP also.

1. Move the application window (notepad or Outlook Mail window, word, etc.,) and size the window.

2. Press Control on your keyboard and click Close (X) button of the window.

3. That's it. When you open the same application again, it will open exactly same location and size.

Microsoft Office Labs: Search Commands for Office 2007

I found this Office 2007 Search Commands tool from Microsoft Office Labs web site.

This cool little tool create an additional Office ribbon tab.  You can type Office ribbon (menu) commands in the search bar like table, format, etc., It brings the related command icons right there on the Search Commands tab.

Download the tool HERE, install it and Try it yourself.

Change Outlook 2007 color scheme (and the whole office suite)

1. Click Outlook: Tools ==> Options ==> Mail Format

2. Click Editor Options. Select Color Scheme. Click OKs to close the dialog boxes.

 

Source: Changing your theme

Hide the Ribbon in Office 2007 when you don't want them

Here is the quick tip. If you don't want to see the ribbon temporarily (or never), simply press Control-F1.

To get back the ribbon again, press Control-F1 again.

Caffine: One little useful software utility

This tool (Caffine) is one of kind very useful tool. No installation necessary. Download and and run it. I didn't say what it's for.  It will stop the screen saver from running by single click and you can enable the screen saver in one click. Check  out the above link.

Windows media player and other media player can block screen savers while playing the media. IE or Firefox are helpless when playing online media like YouTube.

Here is the download Link: Caffine

Developer Site: Zhorn Software

Keywords: Stop Screen Saver, Disable Screen Saver, Screen Saver Tray Utility

Address bar in Task Bar

My last tip was how to get Run menu in the Start menu. You can make even more easier to open web sites, hard disk location, etc., I put the Internet Explorer Address Bar in Task Bar...like this,

  What you gain is,

• Address bar is available right on the desktop (task bar), where you can instantly type
• History is displayed in a drop down box, so you don't have to type the same thing again and again

Here is how you can enable the address bar in task bar,

1. Right click on your task bar, Select Toolbars and Address

2. That's it