Add Additional Clocks in Vista

Windows Vista provides us with an option to add additional clocks for other time zones. Up to two additional clocks can be added. These clocks will be displayed when you click or move your mouse over (hover) the clock displayed on the taskbar. I don't know how useful they will be, but if can't find any uses, you might as well play around with them or use them to show off! The steps to add additional clocks are given below.

Works On: All Versions

Step 1: Open the "Control Panel" by clicking on the control panel option in your start menu.

Step 2: Select "Clock, Language, and Region" option from the options displayed in the start menu.

Step 3: Under "Date and Time", select "Add clocks for different time zones". The following "Date and Time" window must be displayed.

Step 4: To display the clock, check or place a tick mark beside the "Show this clock" option.

Step 5: Select the time zone for your clock from the list of available time zones.

Step 6: Enter a display name that's meaningful and click "OK".

This new clock will be displayed when you hover your mouse over the clock in the taskbar. You can add another clock using the above method. Go ahead, try it out.

Technorati tags: Windows Vista, Vista, Additional Clocks, Clock, How to, Features

Use check boxes to select multiple items in Windows Vista

Did you know that you can use check boxes to select your files in Vista? Gone are the days where you had to hold CTRL and select the files if you had to select many items to perform some actions. This option in Vista is not enabled by default. Here are the steps to enable this option.

Works On: All Versions

Step 1: Open "Control Panel" by selecting Start and then clicking the Control Panel button.

Step 2: Open "Appearance and Personalization" section in the control panel.

Step 3: Under "Appearance and Personalization" choose "Folder Options". Choose the "View" tab from the list of tabs displayed at the top position of the window. The following window must be displayed.

Step 4:  Scroll down through the list of options and find the option highlighted in the above figure. The option is "Use check boxes to select items". Place a tick mark or check the check box besides that option.

Step 5: Click on "OK" and that is it, you are ready to use check boxes to select multiple files on your Windows Vista machine.

Once you start using this option, you would wonder why this was not thought about earlier!

Happy selecting!

 

Technorati tags: Windows Vista, Vista, Check boxes, Select, Multiple Items, Select Multiple Items, Folder Options

Show RUN command in Start Menu

Unlike the previous versions of windows, Vista does not place a shortcut for the RUN command in the start menu by default. However, we can customize the start menu to show the RUN command. Here are the steps to be followed to show hide the RUN command.

Works on: All Versions

Step 1: Right click on the taskbar where your open windows and programs are listed and choose properties.

Step 2: "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" window would show up. Select "Start Menu" tab.

Step 3: Click on "Customize..." button.

Step 4: Scroll through the list of available options and find "Run command". Check or place a tick mark in the check box beside "Run command" to show the Run command in the Start Menu. Uncheck or clear the tick mark, to hide the Run command.

While in this window, you can also configure a lot of other options and choose how each the items in your start menu behave.

Step 5: Click OK. Again click OK in the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window.

Technorati tags: Windows Vista, Vista, Start Menu, How to, Run command, properties

Search Folders in Vista

In Windows Vista, a new type of folders called the search folders have been introduced. These search folders are virtual folders that can be used to save your searches. Yes, literally save your searches. Here is how it works.

Say you want to search for all the Microsoft Word files in your computer. Just open the search explorer by selecting Start -> Search or by typing Windows Key + F. You will be presented with a search box where you have to type in "*.doc". By default, Vista searches only the indexed locations in your PC. Indexing locations helps Vista find files within them quickly. We can modify the default locations by using the advanced search option that can be invoked by clicking on the "Advanced Search" option present on the right top of the explorer window under the search box. After hitting search Vista will display all the Microsoft Word files that are found in the location you specified.

Many of us do these kind of common searches on a regular basis. This is where Vista's search folders come into play. Once you have finished searching for what you need, you can save your search to a folder called a search folder. This folder can be named anything and can be placed anywhere on your PC. The next time you want to repeat the search, just open the search folder you have saved. Vista automatically updates your search folders in the background and presents you with fresh and up-to-date results.

Once you start using search folders, they become indispensable. The searches are stored in a folder called searches under your user account. (Start -> User Name -> Searches). It is better to leave them there so that you need not search for the search folders again!

Here is a link to Advanced Search Techniques from Windows Team Blog.

Advanced Search Techniques : Windows Vista Team Blog

Technorati tags: Windows Vista, Vista, How to, Features, Search, Search Folders, Virtual Folders

Enable telnet in Vista

You must have noticed that telnet is disabled in Windows Vista by default. Here is how to get telnet up and running.

Works on: All Versions

Step 1
Click Start or the Vista logo on your taskbar.

Step 2
Select ' Control Panel' from the start menu.

OR

Type ' Control Panel' into the search box in the start menu, and click ' Control Panel' under programs from the search results.

Step 3
Click Programs' in the control panel.

Step 4
Click ' Turn windows features on or off' under ' Programs and Features'.
If you have User Account Control turned on, Vista will ask for your confirmation. Click continue.

Step 5
A window with the title "Windows Features" should pop up.
Scroll down and find "Telnet Client". Check or place a tick mark in the check box beside "Telnet Client".

Step 6
Click "OK". Vista will take its time and install telnet client.


That's it. You should be able to use Telnet as you did in your previous version of windows.

 

Technorati tags: Windows Vista, Vista, Telnet, how to

Disable User Account Control in Vista

Works on: All versions

Step 1

Click start or the Vista logo on your tacks bar.

Step 2

Click on Control Panel in the start menu.

OR

Type 'Control Panel' into the search bar. In the search results, click on "control panel" under programs.

Step 3

Click on 'User Accounts'. (On business edition of Vista, click on User Accounts again on the next screen).

Step 4

Click on 'Turn User Account Control on or off'.

Step 5

Vista's UAC will ask for your permission. Click 'continue'.

Step 6

Clear the tick mark inside the check box beside 'Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer'.

Step 7

Save all your work and restart the computer.

PS: You might want to read this if you are not sure about turning off Vista's UAC!

 

 

Technorati tags: Windows Vista, Vista, UAC, User Account Control, How to