How To: Disassemble the 2TB USB Samsung Story Station External Hard Drive - Photo Guide

There are many reasons you may want or need to take apart your Samsung Story drive; maybe the drive has failed and you wish to use the caddy for another disk, or maybe the caddy has failed and you intend to use the Samsung Spinpoint HDD inside in another caddy or PC – either way it may not seem at all obvious how to break the device down so I have prepared this guide.
Click images for larger view

Dropbox: How to place Dropbox in the Windows 7 Start Menu (with images)

There are many uses for Dropbox, the fantastic free online storage service the allows you to easily upload and share files to the ‘cloud’ as well as providing an ideal means for backup and emergency data retrieval.
Here I show you how to add your Dropbox folder as a place in the Windows 7 Start Menu beneath your other document folder shortcuts, providing easy and fast access to your online storage no matter where you are, or what you are doing in Windows.
NOTE: If you don’t already have Dropbox, you can find out more, sign up, download and start using Dropbox here.
Step One
Right-Click the Windows Start Orb and select Properties

Step Two
Select Customize

Step Three
Scroll down until you see Recorded TV.
Click the circle next to Display as link.
Click OK
Click OK again on the next window.

Step Four
You now have a link to Recorded TV in your Start menu as shown in the image below.

Right-Click Recorded TV and select Rename
Type in the new name i.e. Dropbox
Press Enter on your keyboard to rename the folder.
Step Five
Now that you have a link named Dropbox (or whatever you decided to name it) we need to make sure the link points in the right direction!
Right-Click Dropbox and select Properties

Step Six
Under Library Locations highlight the current location and click Remove
Click Include a folder…
Navigate to your Dropbox (mine is at E:\Users\Diesel\Desktop) and click Include folder
Under Optimize this library for: select Documents from the dropdown menu
Click OK

There you are, you now have quick and easy access to your Dropbox directly from the Windows Start menu!
Note to Windows Vista and Windows XP users:
I have only set this up on my Windows 7 computers, and have not had the opportunity to try setting it up on Vista or XP.
I am sure that this is possible with Vista, using the same procedure as with Windows 7, however if it is possible on Windows XP I imagine the process is somewhat more involved… I could be wrong!

If you have set up your Dropbox for easy access from the Windows Start menu in Vista or XP please share your experience in the comments, and please also share your experience with Windows 7 and these instructions!

Important Questions To Ask A Computer Repair Service

As a computer repair business owner it is important to me to be able to give my customers clear guidance and advice regarding my services when they bring in a computer to be repaired.

This can sometimes be difficult as customers rarely ask the right questions, but often ask the wrong ones, or get emotional… both of which make it difficult for me to give the information I really need to get across.

This article is not designed to help my customers, rather it is designed to help all customers of all computer repair centres (especially in the UK) get the information they really need regarding both the repair centres services and the customers own computer.

”How much do you charge per hour?”
Asking the cost of a service seems like a question you’d be unlikely to forget, however customers rarely do.

Answer to expect: “We charge (£20 to £30) per hour”
Rates do vary, as do they ways in which a customer is charged, for example, at Evolve we have an hourly rate of £25 per hour, however certain jobs are capped at certain prices such as Virus Removal which is always set at £37.50, and performance optimisation is capped at £50.

between £20 and £30 per hour is average, too much higher and you’re likely to be ripped off, whereas too much lower and you can expect bad service or be charged for a great many more hours than the actual job took to complete.

“How Long will it take to fix”
Nobody want to receive a final bill for 10 hours at £25 per hour (£250) when a brand new PC can be had for just a little more.  It’s important as a customer to have at least a ball park figure for the repair cost before you leave your computer in the hands of the repair centre!

Answer to expect: “Usually this type of repair takes around (x or x) hours”
Having not yet inspected the computer and it’s faults it is difficult for the technician to give an accurate quote on the time a job will take, however an experienced technician will be able to give a rough estimate based on the time it has taken in the past to repair similar faults.  As a customer you should expect the answer to this question not to be accurate, however you final bill should not be exponentially higher.

It may be difficult as a customer for you to judge if this figure is fair or exaggerated.  Do not be afraid to ask around and get further estimates.

If the repair centre is not prepared to give you an estimate at all, do not do business with them.  You cannot be expected to enter into any agreement to have your computer repaired with no idea whatsoever of the likely final cost!

”Do you have a minimum charge?”
Not all repairs take several hours to complete.  There are a great many instances where a repair take only a few minutes.  If the fault your computer is suffering falls into the ‘quick-fix’ repair category you need to be aware of how you will be charged for it.

Answer to expect: “Yes. Our minimum workshop charge is one hour”
The greater majority of repair centres will charge a minimum of one hour labour to have a computer on the workshop’s repair bench.

Here at Evolve our minimum repair charge is £12.50 (half-hour) which includes the initial inspection cost, and the fix too if it can be carried out during the time.

“Should I expect any other charges in addition to the hourly rate?”
In a world where consumers are often charged hidden fees, the above is an astute question to ask, no matter if we’re talking computer or car repair (or any other services for that matter).

Answer to expect: “No.”
£25 per hour should be just that.  There should not be VAT to be added, there should not be a set-up cost, a feather duster charge or any other additional costs.

However, if your repair required a new item of hardware (parts) then you should expect to pay this.

“Do you guarantee your service?”
Here in the UK all physical repairs (hardware/parts) must be guaranteed for a minimum of 3 months, however software repairs do not.

Answer to expect “Yes.  3 months warranty on hardware repairs, and (x) days for software repairs”
Expect at least the minimum hardware warranty, if  less is quoted then do not do business!

Software repairs are different.  Quite often software is fixed, but the problem was caused in someway by the user.  For example, it is easy to accidentally delete a file crucial to the Windows start up process.  Deleting it may prevent the computer from starting up.
Once this is fixed the user may once again accidentally delete the same file.
In this scenario, is it fair to expect the repair centre to repair this same problem again (for free) under guarantee?

At Evolve we only offer software guarantee’s on Virus Removal.  Even then that is only when it is obvious that a reinfection has been caused by us missing something during the initial service.  If it is apparent the virus is new, then we charge for the time.

The answers to all of the above questions should apply in most cases, to most people and to most repairs and should be used as a guideline not only regarding computer repairs, but any kind of repairs – to cars, plumbing, building… anything.  You may think it common sense after reading this article, but quite often customers ask not one of the above questions, and instead ask lots of other questions instead!

(Images sourced through Google Image Search, please contact me if you are the owner of any of the images use and wish them to be removed)

Please feel free to discuss this article in the comments!

Using Ninite Makes Installing Your Favourite App’s Simple On A Windows Fresh Install Easy

Ninite.com provides a fantastic and simple method to install many of your favourite Windows applications on a fresh Windows installation.

Simply head on over to www.ninite.com and click on the items you wish to install (see image below)

When you have made your selections, click the green link “Get Installer” in the lower right hand side of the screen.

You will be led to a new page where your download should start automatically… if it does not, just click the link to start the download. (shown below)

 

Save the file somewhere you can easily find it, such as your Desktop.

Close the webpage, then run the downloaded the file.

Ninite will now proceed to download and install the programs as you specified, all without you having to click next, next, agree, next, next, finish over and over and over.  Another benefit?  No toolbars!

 

Ninite.com provides installations for Windows PC’s only, and is only for personal use.  For businesses there is the Ninite PRO version which offers many additional benefits.

CnM miniBook redux PART 1 – Online Video

In this article we revisit the CnM’s linux-wonder-machine, the miniBook and find out how to view online streaming video from YouTube etc.

 

You may remember one of my earliest articles on this site; Review – CnM Lifestyle miniBOOK 7”; well it’s proved to be the most searched article on this site, and also has received the greatest number of comments.  Therefore I thought it about time to take a look back through the comments and see what nuggets of information I can bring to the forefront in a helpful new series of articles.

From the comments

Anonymous wrote:

I have just bought the CNM book and find it good for the purpose i bought it. But if i want to relax for a big an say watch you tube clips, i am unable to view them, i cant seem to make them work through the cnm program provide.
Could you be of assistance.

Well, another Anonymous visitor offered up a bit of useful advice…

Hello, yeah found a site now that can play you tube videos.
All you do is copy and paste the URL address and download.
Not as simple as just pressing play, but can still watch them and if they r good, they r automatically saved on your comp, so can be watched again in a flash.
the site is www.catchvideo.net so enjoy your you tibe viewing.

That was pretty handy but it gets better… (thanks to yet another Anonymous – it’s a common name y’know!)

…And all you people who have had trouble with the youtube client, well, there is a solution! Just visit the CnM website visit the software section, or thats what I think it is, anyway, click on the youtube client and download the new .info file and the patch file, install it using your software installer and hey presto! Happy to help and good review.

The third Anonymous was right, after checking the CnM website there is a link to download and install “Video Online” (which has recently been updated to a new version.

The instructions are simple to follow:

How to install Video Online:

1. Download the .info and .xap files below and save them both to an SD Card or USB Memory Stick, or in the 'Download' folder on your CnMBook.
2. Start the 'Software Installer' program on the Others tab of the desktop.
3. Click the 'Add' button. A dialog screen will open.
4. If the files are on an SD Card or USB Memory Stick, navigate to the SD Card or USB Memory Stick by double clicking on the .. Icon in the folder list twice, a USB Stick will be accessible through a folder called USB, an SD Card through a folder called SD. If the files were saved to the download folder they will already be showing.
5. Any .info files within the folder will be shown, find the 'VideoOnLine-v08-register.info' file, and double click on this file or highlight it and click ‘Open'. Video Online will be installed. Click 'Finish'.
6. Click the 'Add' button, find the 'PID-register-jh(20081230).info' file, and double click on this file or highlight it and click 'Open'.  This file will then be installed.  Click 'Finish'.
7. Click the 'Add' button, find the 'sys-curl-7.18.1(20081229).info' file, and double click on this file or highlight it and click 'Open'.  This file will then be installed.  Click 'Finish'.
8. Click the 'Add' button, find the 'sys-Wget-1.11.1(20081024).info' file, and double click on this file or highlight it and click 'Open'.  The application will now be installed. Click 'Finish'.
9. There will now be a new icon on the Internet tab called VideoOnline.
File Download - right click to download these files:
VideoOnLine-v08-register.info
VideoOnLine-v08-register.xap
PID-register-jh(20081230).info
PID-register-jh(20081230).patch
sys-curl-7.18.1(20081229).info
sys-curl-7.18.1(20081229).patch
sys-Wget-1.11.1(20081024).info
sys-Wget-1.11.1(20081024).patch

“Heavy Metal Farmer”, playing with Video Online via YouTube on the CnM miniBook

 

In CnM miniBook redux PART 2 we’ll be taking a look at How to Upgrade the CnM miniBook’s Firmware

Comments are a good place to look for and request information on products such as this… so don’t forget to do just that!

Personal Security Spyware Removal Instructions

How to remove Personal Security virus/spyware from your Windows PC

Since returning to work after the new year, I have encountered over 30 Windows PC’s infected with the very same malware, known (un)popularly as Personal Security aka Personal Antivirus, Cyber Security and other such titles.
Personal Security is a rogue anti-spyware. This program is advertised through the use of Trojans that display fake security alerts on your computer.  These alerts will state that your computer is under attack or that malware has been detected running on your computer.  When you click on these alerts, Personal Security will be installed on your computer and automatically configured to run at Windows login.  While running it will ‘scan’ your computer and present you with a list of ‘infections’ that cannot be removed unless you purchase the program.  However these infections are all fake and are shown to scare you into purchasing the program.
I can not stress enough at this point that you should not purchase Personal Security!  If you have, inform your credit card company that you were mislead into paying for the product, and that the product is a scam.

While the Personal Security is running you may observe the following:

1. A window impersonating Windows Security Centre displaying that you should purchase Personal Antivirus . – DO NOT DO THIS(!)
2. A number of alerts stating that your computer security is compromised or that you have malware running on your computer.  Should you click on these alerts, Personal Security will be installed, or you will be brought to the purchase page for the program.
3. Your Internet Explorer browser will be hijacked and will display security alerts when browsing the web that prevent the page you browsed to being displayed.

These symptoms are being created by Personal Security to encourage you to purchase the product.

(The following guide was derived from an article published at BleepingComputer.com and adapted after following the guide myself and finding a slightly more effective method)

Please print these instructions as you are required to close all open windows later in the fix.

• Download MBAM (Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware) and RKILL and save to your desktop.
  MBAM (via Download.com)
  RKILL (via BleepingComputer.com)
• Once downloaded, shut down you PC
• Turn your PC on and immediately start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard until you are offered a selection screen.
• From this screen, select Safe Mode (with networking)
• Log in to Windows
• Double click the icon on you desktop name “rkill” a black window will open while RKILL shuts down all known processes associated with spyware.  None should be started due to running in Safe Mode, however this is a “just in case”er.
• Double click on the icon on your desktop named mbam-setup.exe to install Malwarebytes onto your computer.
• At the end of the installation process ensure you leave both the Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware checked.  Then click on the Finish button.

• MBAM will now automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program before performing a scan.  As MBAM will automatically update itself after the install, you can press the OK button to close that box and you will now be at the main program window as shown below.

 

• On the Scanner tab, make sure the the Perform full scan option is selected and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for Personal Security related files.
• MBAM will now start scanning your computer for malware. This process will usually take a long time, so I’d suggest you go and have a cup of tea or ten.  When MBAM is scanning it will look like the image below.

• When the scan is finished a message box will appear.  Click on the OK button to proceed.
• You will now be back at the main Scanner window. At this point you should click on the Show Results button.
• A window displaying all the malware that the program found will be displayed.
• You should now click on the Remove Selected button to remove all the listed malware.  MBAM will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the programs quarantine.  When removing the files, MBAM may require a reboot in order to remove some of them.  If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot, please allow it to do so.  Once your computer has rebooted, and you are logged in, please continue with the rest of the steps.
• When MBAM has finished removing the malware, it will open the scan log and display it in Notepad. Review the log as desired, and then close the Notepad window.
• At this point you might think that the job is done, however it is possible, and quite likely that there is still more to be found, so you should repeat the steps above (Safe Mode, RKILL and running a Malwarebytes scan) until Malwarebytes reports 0 (zero) infections.
• When Malwarebytes is no longer finding and removing infections, reboot your computer, this time as normal.
• Log in to your account as usual, then ensure your antivirus product is fully up to date.
• Once up to date, run RKILL again.
• Now run your chosen Antivirus scanner and clean/quarantine as required at he end of the scan.

NOTES

1. We have run the scans under Safe Mode because quite often a virus will not launch when running in this mode.
2. RKILL ends processes associated with known malware.  If the processes were left to run Malwarebytes might pick them up in a scan, but would unlikely be able to end and disinfect them, thus leaving the spyware on your computer.
3. Quite often the results of running a single antivirus, antispyware program is not enough to completely disinfect a Windows computer, so running another scan will help to ensure that your computer is completely malware free.
4. However, it is not advisable to install two antivirus products side by side, since one will recognise the other as a virus due to the signatures (aka updates) a antivirus program requires to recognise viral activity.

Have you any thoughts or findings regarding this guide that you would like to share? That’s what the comments are for!

Windows 7 (and Vista) on the Netbooks – Set Up For Best Display

Windows 7 looks great.  I don’t think anyone has disputed that, and if they have, then I can’t agree with them.

However, just like Vista, it is not without it’s faults when it comes to low resolution screens, such as that found on a netbook such as the Acer Aspire One, upon which I have it installed.

The larger taskbar looks great, and works even better when docked to the left hand side of the screen, since it gives more vertical viewing space, something which is highly import on a netbook since their tends to be only 600 pixels along the vertical.

However, Border Padding, the width of the window frames, a burden brought over from Vista is set at 4 pixels.  meaning a loss of 8 pixels of viewable window area across the width of the window, and 4 pixels at the bottom.  Setting this to 0 gains a few more pixels and enhances the view.

Border padding is just one way you can improve the display for improved viewing on a netbook, here are some more.

To alter these settings, you will need to do the following:  Start > Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Change The Theme > Window Colour > Advanced Appearance Settings

From the Windows Color and Appearance window, use the drop down list to select and set the following settings

• Active Title Bar – Size “17” – Font Size “8”
• Active Window Border “1”
• Border Padding “0”
• Caption Buttons “17”
• Icon “30” – Font Size “8”
• Icon Spacing (Horizontal) - “40”
• Icon Spacing (Vertical) - “40”
• Inactive Title Bar “17” – Font Size “8”
• Inactive Window Border “1”
• Menu - “16” Font Size “8”
• Message Box – Font Size “8”
• Palette Title – “15” – Font Size “8”
• Scrollbar “15”
• Selected Items – Size “16” – Font Size “8”

Using these settings I have found you will find that some elements have become, initially, a little more difficult to use.  These include the scroll bar, which you will have to be a little more precise when using, and text will be smaller, and a little more difficult to see.

Use your better judgement to readjust the above given settings to best suit your needs.

Have you found this guide useful?  Would you like to share your thoughts?  Maybe you have made other adjustments to get more out of your netbooks screen space… leave your comments below.

How To: Disassemble a LaCie Little Disk – Photo Guide

While looking for a disassembly guide for the LaCie Little Disk 320GB so that I could use the SATA hard drive within to replace the faulty and failed hard drive in my Acer Aspire One netbook, I read many reports that it was very difficult and gave up trying to find a guide.

Instead I decided to look at it logically, and found it to be very simple.  Here is how to disassemble the LaCie Little Disk 320GB.

1.  Here is the LaCie Little Disk, its just a little bit scratched and there are a few fingerprints, but otherwise it is a very nice looking device.
2.  Remove the front cover and set it aside, now take a look at the what you see.  You will find a tiny notch just at the seam as indicated in the photo.
3.  I used a penknife for this, but any similar, flat bladed item will do, such as a credit card. Insert your chosen blade between the two housings just above the notch, be gentle.  Now, twist it slightly until you hear a pop like noise.  This is simply the glue separating from the two housings.
4.  Slide the blade along to the right until it stops, then give it another twist as before.  Once again you should hear the same pop.  Now, slide the blade back along to the left and do the same.
5.  Flip the drive over and repeat the process on the other side.  Once you have done this, you are ready to pull the drive free of the housing.  Give it a good, firm tug.
6.  I forgot to take a photo of the drive with this rubber band attached, but here it is set aside.  If you decide to reuse the caddy, perhaps with a smaller capacity drive, then make sure you take notice of where it is situated, you will need to put it back on.  [UPDATE – As you may read in the comments, not all LaCie Little Disk’s have this rubber band]
7.  You will need to remove these two screws to remove the SATA/USB converter PCB.

I replaced the 320GB drive in this caddy with a smaller 80GB drive from an old laptop.  When I put it all back together it worked fine.
And that is all there is to it, it’s really no more than a 10 minute job at most.  Of course, I have to say at this point that if your drive does not work after you have carried out these instructions then you must not hold me responsible, it’s your drive, your warranty and your responsibility!
Have you found this LaCie Little Disk disassembly guide useful?  Would you like to share it with others – just use the icons below?  Please leave your comments below.
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Vista’s Defrag is SLOW… Let’s speed it up a little

It’s no secret among those who have upgraded from Windows XP to Vista that Defrag (the process of reorganising the file structure on a hard disk drive) has slowed down somewhat with Microsoft’s latest OS release (discounting Windows 7 – which has not yet officially launched at this time).

It operates on an almost continual basis, defragmenting the hard drive on a regular schedule, which can mean that at times your PC will run like an old, three-legged dog with broken ankles, in other words… very SLOWLY.

So how can you speed things up?  Easy, and all it requires is two little downloads, an installation and a file copy…

• Download Microsoft’s Contig.exe (this allows any NT4-based OS to defrag a drive via the command line)
• Download PowerDefragmenter 3.0 which provides a user-friendly frontend for Contig.exe
• Install PowerDefragmenter
• Copy Contig.exe to the install folder of PowerDefragmenter (i.e. C:\Program Files\PowerDefragmenter\)
• Run PowerDefragmenter
• You are given the option to run the defrag on a drive, folder or file – pick you option and click Next
• PowerDefragmenter will launch Contig.exe and run the option you chose.

Running PowerDefragmenter on an 80GB Vista boot drive completed in just 16 minutes and 23 seconds on a test machine, not bad eh?

This tip comes from CustomPC magazine, issue 63 – December 2008

How Can I Disable “Send Feedback” In Windows 7 Beta?

The Send Feedback link at the top of the windows in the Windows 7 Beta are really annoying.  Why?  Because the link is placed right next to the minimise/maximise/close buttons and is easily clicked by accident.

I have actually sent feedback to Microsoft about this ill-placement of  the Send Feedback link, but have not yet received a reply, and to be honest, I doubt I ever will.

I had a hunt through the registry and found the means to remove the Send Feedback link, it’s really quite simple.  Here is how to do it:

1. Open the Registry Editor by typing REGEDIT in the Start Menu search box.
2. Navigate through HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
3. Locate the DWORD FEEDBACKTOOLENABLED.  Double click it
4. Change the VALUE to 0 (zero)
5. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

Now the Send Feedback link is gone!

If you want to re-enable it for any reason, repeat the steps above, however at step 6 change the VALUE to 3 (three).

How Can I Disable “Send Feedback” In Windows 7 Beta?

The Send Feedback link at the top of the windows in the Windows 7 Beta are really annoying.  Why?  Because the link is placed right next to the minimise/maximise/close buttons and is easily clicked by accident.

I have actually sent feedback to Microsoft about this ill-placement of  the Send Feedback link, but have not yet received a reply, and to be honest, I doubt I ever will.

I had a hunt through the registry and found the means to remove the Send Feedback link, it’s really quite simple.  Here is how to do it:

1. Open the Registry Editor by typing REGEDIT in the Start Menu search box.
2. Navigate through HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
3. Locate the DWORD FEEDBACKTOOLENABLED.  Double click it
4. Change the VALUE to 0 (zero)
5. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

Now the Send Feedback link is gone!

If you want to re-enable it for any reason, repeat the steps above, however at step 6 change the VALUE to 3 (three).

Top Tips – Another New Windows 7 Feature

Over the last few days I have given a few tips for using the new Windows 7 Beta that I have come across in daily use.

This morning I accidentally discovered another one, which upon review I found was also included in Tim Sneath’s excellent “The Bumper List Of Windows 7 Secrets”, and that is a new quick method of opening another instance of a running program via a quick keyboard shortcut.

• Locate the running application icon on the SuperBar
• Shift+Click (left mouse button on the icon)

That’s all there is to it.  Providing the application you are using supports more than one instance of the program then a new window will open running that application.  This is a good tip for Windows Explorer, where using more than one open window is common, or for sending a second new email message for example.

Tim Sneath’s guide also revealed an even quicker method using a mouse, which I have not been able to test myself since I do not use a mouse with my Windows 7 Aspire One.

• Locate the running application icon on the SuperBar
• Click (middle mouse button – the scroll wheel button)

Personally I think this is a very handy little tip that could save users quite a bit of time.  The usual method would be to open up and navigate the start menu for the application shortcut to click.  This tip potentially cuts out several seconds of navigation and about 3 mouse clicks.  Ideal!

Don’t forget to share this guide on your favourite social bookmarking sites!  Several icons are provided below to make it even easier to share this article with others, so feel free to use them.

You are also invited to discuss this article below in the comments.

Top Tips – How Can I Get The Vista Taskbar Back In Windows 7?

The new Windows 7 SuperBar is really quite useful, and i think it adds to my productivity, however there will undoubtedly be many users of Microsoft’s latest and greatest OS that hate the SuperBar and would prefer the taskbar from they know and love from Vista to be restored.

Fear not.  This is possible.

Step One – Open Taskbar Properties

• Right click on a blank area of the taskbar (where there are no icons
• Select Properties from the context menu

Step Two – Change Settings

• Select Place a tick in the checkbox marked “Use small icons”
• In the drop down menu marked “Taskbar buttons” select the last option “Never combine”
• Click on “OK” to save and apply the new settings

Step Three – Check It Out

Your new SuperBar will now be returned to the look and feel of the old Windows vista Taskbar!

If you have enjoyed this guide, or found it useful, why not share it with others by giving it a Digg or a Stumble?  It’s easy to do, just use the icons below!  Also, you are welcomed and encourage to discuss this guide in the comments too

Top Tips – How Do You Minimise Windows Live Messenger To The System Tray In Windows 7?

The new Windows 7 taskbar aka SuperBar is one of the biggest new features of Windows 7, however it does come with a problem or two.  One of the problems I have found is that it changes the way Messenger is minimised.

Under Windows XP, and then Vista, Messenger always minimised to a small icon in the system tray, freeing up space on the taskbar for applications you used more frequently.  However, Messenger is now, under Windows 7, minimised to an icon on the SuperBar, which can be annoying for some users such as myself because it takes up space I would rather reserve for other running programs.

Thankfully it is simple enough to return the previous minimising action to the system tray. Follow this guide to do so…

Step One – Find msnmsgr.exe

• Click on the Start button (Windows Orb) on the task bar and type “Windows Live Messenger”
• Right click on the first result and select “Open File Location” as shown in the image below

 

Step Two – Open the .exe Properties

• Right Click on “msnmsgr”
• Select “Properties”

 

Step Three – Set Vista Compatibility Mode

• In the Properties dialogue select “Compatibility” tab
• Tick the checkbox marked “Run this program in compatibility mode for”
• Select “Windows Vista” from drop down menu
• Click on “OK”

Conclusion

You will now have the same default action as you did in Windows XP and Vista, with Windows Live Messenger minimising to the System Tray.

If you have found this article useful, why not share it with a quick Digg or Stumble?  Use the icons below to share this article.  You can also leave comments and discuss this article in the comments below.

How Do You Use Microsoft SyncToy v2.0?

Microsoft SyncToy v2.0 is a great and simple little program to enable backup of files and folders from one place to the next.  SyncToy does this by method of duplication.

Download SyncToy v2.0 here

By this I mean that it copies all the files and folders from Location A to Location B.  Each location is set by the user. Location A could be you My Documents folder, and Location B could be an external USB hard drive.

SyncToy is not a definitive backup method, however for small jobs it is more than adequate.

Say for example, you have your digital photographs stored within you My Pictures folder, and you also have a 2GB USB flash drive.  You could set up a ‘folder pair’, which you could then use to copy whatever digital photo’s are stored within the My Pictures folder over to the USB drive. 

In this guide I will show you how to set up a folder pair to copy files from Location A to Location B.

First of all you need to create a folder pair, which identifies the folders you want to synchronise.

Create the source or left folder

• Open SyncToy
• Click Create New Folder Pair
• Select Browse
• Click OK
• Click Next

Create the target or right folder

• Select Browse
• Navigate to the folder you wish to backup to i.e. a USB flash drive
• Click OK
• Click Next

Complete creation of the folder pair

• Select an option on the left.  I choose Contribute because this adds files to the right folder, therefore should I accidentally delete a file from the left folder (original location) I can retrieve it from my backup (the right folder)
• Click Next
• Enter a name for your folder pair
• Click Finish
  

Preview the folder pair and synchronise

• Select Preview to display a list of files and operations to be completed

To prevent SyncToy from performing any of the operations on the files listed, untick the checkboxes in the Active column

• Select Run to synchronise the files
• When complete, the Results window will open

That’s all there is to it, your files are now copied to the destination (right) folder, and any new ones that you create in the original location will be added to the backup next time your run SyncToy.

I will soon post another guide on SyncToy, which will show you how to automate the backups via Windows built in Task Scheduler.