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Every Windows power user knows the command line is “the place” to get serious work done.  The new Start Menu search box in Windows Vista opens the door to a whole new level of command line possibilities.  One utility called Start++ extends the Start Menu search box to add even more features allowing you to use shortcuts to launch web sites and processes.

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Microsoft Update was first released a few years ago for Windows XP and Server 2003 as a great way to update all of your Microsoft software installed on your PC. Not only would it update Windows, but it would also update Microsoft Office.  Are you a Microsoft Outlook user? If so, Microsoft Update would even download updated junk mail signatures when they are released.

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Would you like to change the time format in the taskbar to military or international time format?

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The new Network and Sharing Center in Windows Vista is great for the average Windows user but can be a huge headache for advanced users. When I need to make a change to my network settings I don't want to be forced to go through the networking interface for the average non-technical users.  I want to go right to the settings screen and make the change.

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The Windows Disk Cleanup utility does a good job of deleting old Microsoft temp files, logs, memory dumps and other OS related junk files. It can free up a lot of space on your computer but it often leaves a lot of junk behind.  A great program that I use all the time on my computers is called CCleaner. Not only does it clean the Microsoft OS related junk files from your computer, it also removes... Read More


Throughout the beta process Microsoft received a lot of feedback on how the taskbar and the window border changes to black when you maximize a window.  Before the final release they altered the behavior slightly so the window and taskbar would still turn opaque and black, but with a very slight tint of color that matches the color of your glass. This change satisfied some users but left others still... Read More


Did you forget to activate your computer within 30 days of installing and it is now stuck in reduced functionality Mode? Are you not yet ready to activate your copy and want to extend the activation period another 120 days? Using a slick Internet Explorer trick you can break out of Reduced Functionality mode and run the commands... Read More


Would you like the change the registered owner and organization for your Windows Vista installation? Follow these steps below to make the registry changes necessary:

  1. Click on the Start Button and type in regedit and hit Enter.
  2. Navigate through HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, SOFTWARE, Microsoft, Windows NT and CurrentVersion.
  3. Right click on RegisteredOwner and select Properties.
  4. Enter in the new...
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Yod'm 3D is a virtual desktop manager that allows you to have 4 different desktops arranged on a 3D cube.  Holding down CTRL+SHIFT and using the left or right arrow keys rotate the cube showing the virtual desktops. Alternatively, you can click and drag your mouse to switch desktops.

* Because of the capture software I used, the video is very choppy.  Normally, the cube spins very smoothly.

Download...

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Windows Vista includes a new hard drive encryption feature called BitLocker Drive Encryption. BitLocker can be a very useful security feature for businesses and home users that have sensitive and confidential information stored on their computer.  Unfortunately, BitLocker Drive Encryption by default requires a Trusted Platform Module (TPM Chip) version 1.2 or later installed in your computer.  A... Read More