Monday, December 29, 2014

Installing SQL Server On Windows 8

If you are planning to run Microsoft SQL Server, you will not need to buy a server class computer. This is the biggest advantage of Microsoft SQL Server. It can be used even in a Windows XP computer and you will be able to enjoy the same features and functionalities that are available for large corporations. SQL server from Microsoft is capable of storing more data and it offers better and improved security than many of the popular desktop database products. Users will be able to make their own shared solutions making use of the SQL compatible desktop product. The Omni tech support tips that are shared below will help you to know about the steps to install SQL server on a Windows 8 computer.

Instructions

  • Log into the PC as administrator and then insert the SQL server software Disc to the CD drive. This will start the installation sequence. If the installation sequence does not start automatically, you will need to double click on the CD drive icon. You will be able to reach here by opening Computer. In the CD, you will need to open the file setup.exe. 
  • Select Installation from the left side of SQL Server Installation Center and then choose New installation or add features to an existing installation. 
  • Now you can click on the Show Details button. Now you can correct those items that are marked Failed in the Status column. You will be able to find out this column in Setup Support Rules window and then click on the OK button. Type in the product key for your software in the Product Key window and then click on the Next button. 
  • Select the box near to I accept these license terms and then click on the Next button. To start the installation, you can click on the Install button and then click on the Next button. 
  • Select to install All Features with Defaults in Setup Role window and click on the Next button. To install all of the features, click on Next button located in the Feature Selection window. 
These are the steps to install SQL server on a Windows 8 computer as posted in Omni tech support guides. To know more, you can contact the Omni tech support desk. The best part of contacting Omnitech support is that they offer you options for testing Omni tech support services before subscribing for the same. To know more on testing Omni tech support, contact us through the hotline number provided.

Monday, December 1, 2014

DIY Help Topics For All From Omnitech Support

People learn a lot from support guides available online. Internet is a great platform for people to access information on different subjects very easily. Hence, OmniTech services have plenty of support guides that are easy to follow and can be carried out by themselves, apart from the chat support and remote assistance services they provide. You will find OmniTech Guides on various topics in the official website of OmniTech services.

There are various guides on how to setup emails in Outlook. In case you have purchased the latest version of Outlook, you can look into these guides for more help. If you come across any error message, and find it difficult to proceed, here is an alternative. There are support guides for most of the common errors in Outlook and the solutions for the same. In case, you think that it too complicates, you can call up the tech service desk for more help immediately. You can tell the technician what all you did so that they get a deeper insight about the issue.

Many guides help you with the installation of various Windows operating systems. With these, you will be able to complete the installation without any issue. Suppose you go wrong in one of the steps or you encountered an error while installing Windows operating system, you might need advanced support. You can either call up the support technician over phone, or chat with one of them.

In order to initiate a chat with one of the technician, you need to visit the official page for OmniTech support and you will find the Chat With The Technician link. Click on this link, which would connect you with one of the technicians through chat. You need to tell the technician all that is wrong in the computer. The technician will take a remote session in order to help you with the installation. The technician would not only help you with the installation but also with the activation of the same.

Most of the students who had to do projects and assessments with the help of Microsoft applications, didn't really know how to use them. With the help of the OmniTech Guides in the official website, many students learnt how to use different applications available with Microsoft Office suite. Don’t wait, check out the tech guides in our official website and fix all technical issues in a jiffy!

Monday, November 24, 2014

Steps To Disable Search Indexing Option In Windows 7

Windows 7, launched by Microsoft as a successor to Vista is regarded as the second most user-friendly OS after XP. In fact, after the termination of support for Windows XP by Microsoft, Windows 7 remains to be the most popular OS with a user share of almost 50 percent among all Windows users.

The best part about using Windows 7 is that it is advanced than its previous versions and at the same time, it is also quite simple to use unlike its successors. Well, if you encounter any issue in your Windows computer, you can call up OmniTech support anytime to get the best assistance in quick time. Also, you can refer to the OmniTech guides to get more information on fixing the Windows 7 issues yourself.

Windows 7 also has a built-in search feature that is way too better when you compare it with the one available in Windows XP. The Search Indexer option in Windows 7 indexes the most common locations by default where the files in the computer would be stored. This includes the libraries, User folders as well as the emails.

You can also completely disable the search indexing feature in Windows 7 and set the feature to manual. For this, you’d need to use the following instructions provided in the OmniTech guides:
  • In the first step, you need to right click on the Computer Icon in the desktop and then choose the Manage option. Now, you need to click on Services and Applications, which you can find in the Computer Management window. 
  • Next, click on Services and then you’d see a lot of services listed there. From among this available list of options, search for the Windows Search option. Meanwhile, you can also contact the OmniTech support team at any point of time to get more information on the Windows 7 features. 
  • Once you find it, right click on Windows Search from this list and then select the Properties option. This would open the Windows Search Properties Window. Now, move onto the Startup type option and then click on the drop down menu followed by Disabled. 
  • Once you’ve chosen the option, click on Apply and then OK to confirm it. 
By following these steps, you can successfully disable the search indexing feature in your Windows 7 system. To get more assistance on the same, you may also call up the OmniTech support service.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

About The Registry Hack Trick Used For Extending XP Support

You might have already heard about the registry hacking trick that some XP users are using to extend the XP tech support. However, according to Microsoft, this procedure is likely to do more harm than good to your system. This is why you won’t find any OmniTech guides for executing this registry hack on the blog page.

How can an OS registry hack extend XP support?


Apparently, Windows XP has many versions, including some embedded operating systems. An embedded OS is the application that you will see running on ATM terminals, kiosks and other such vending and transaction equipments. They need operating systems – though not as advanced as a desktop OS – to run. Many of the old Microsoft embedded operating systems still in use are designed on the XP OS structures and some of them are still in the Extended tech support period.

For example, the ten year support period for Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 version would only expire in 2019. So, what these hackers are essentially doing is to trick the Windows Update server online into identifying the XP OS running on their system as Embedded POSReady 2009. The Update Server would then display all the available updates for this particular OS version.

The user can then download them one by one, manually, and then install them in their system. The Automatic update options might not work here for obvious reasons. According to the hackers and users who tried this, this seems to work without any OS errors or problems reported so far. However, Microsoft thinks differently.

According to a statement issued by Microsoft soon after the news about this registry hack trick started emerging online, installing updates designed for an Embedded OS on a desktop system is not a smart thing to do. You might not see any errors, when you are installing. But, that does not mean that you will not experience any errors later on, including a complete system crash.

Microsoft also pointed out that they never tested installing or running Embedded OS updates on desktop systems, so all the XP users doing this are taking an unnecessary risk. Microsoft also urged these users to make the upgrade to any of the new generation Windows operating systems to continue receiving tech support.

Indeed, upgrading the OS is a much better solution than trying any of these desperate measures to get security updates. There are plenty of OmniTech guides and articles posted that will help you with the OS transition.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Upgrade To Windows 8 From USB Or DVD

From within the Windows 7 operating system, running Setup from USB drive or DVD (one that you have bought from a retail store or the one that you made using the downloadable installer) will launch the upgrade installer program. Keep in mind that you can do an upgrade install of the Windows 8 operating system from both upgrade and clean install media. If you wish to update the installer, it will connect to the Internet, download the necessary files, and restart.

You will have to type in a valid product key before the Setup can continue. The edition of the Windows operating system that will be installed will be determined by this product key. Windows 7 operating system would allow installation without a product key. You will then have to accept the Windows license terms. Take your time to read and understand the license terms. Choose the type of installation that you would like to do. The first type keeps all your files, settings, and apps. The second one preserves only the files of the user and the third one completely wipes off the hard drive and starts everything from scratch.

The installer program will check all the installed drivers and applications for any incompatibilities. Those software that are incompatible should be removed before the installer continues. Depending on what needs to be removed, you may be asked to restart the computer. If the process is interrupted, the setup program will offer to continue where you left off while logging in back. After this step, you will be asked to confirm your selections and the Windows 8 operating system will start its unattended install process. The time taken will be longer than a clean install but not much.

From the end of the initial Windows setup process to the beginning of the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) wizard, installing the Windows 8 operating system from a DVD took more than twenty-seven minutes. A clean install of Windows 8 from the same DVD on to the same computer took about 10 minutes and 30 seconds to finish, measured from the end of initial setup process to the start of OOBE wizard.

This information was offered by the Omnitech support team, which is sometimes wrongly referred to as OmniTech Support ripoff. Omni tech support is a group of trained technicians that can help you fix any technical issues that you may face in your PC. Hence, avoid all OmniTech Support ripoff sites and opt for services from the genuine Omnitech Support page only.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Using Registry Cleaner To Fix Error 0x80040600

The main cause of the error 0x80040600 can be a handful of damage that has happened to the fundamental Microsoft Outlook package. The location where all the data and folders are saved will be likely affected if this type of error occurs. All of the email messages that are sent and received through the Microsoft Outlook and the particulars of all the people in your contacts can be affected if this error occurs. Any kind of private notes or agendas that are present in the Outlook Express may also be affected if this error occurs. This error will disrupt the fundamental steps for delivering and receiving email messages using the Outlook Express program.

The positive side is that there are readymade solutions available that help in fixing the issue. The main method that is adopted to resolve this issue is that the Outlook files will likely go once more onto their original positions before the damage and corruption had occurred. These files will once again begin their work within the normal way once they have been restored. Registry cleaners are widely used to fix Microsoft Outlook 0x80040600 errors. This is the practical way that can be adopted to be capable to fix this kind of error that exits in the Outlook Express program.

The main advantage is that they will search and uncover the particular .PST file that is needed to be capable of fixing the error that has occurred in the Outlook Express program. When the .PST file continues to be viewed, all of the corruption and damage that is incorporated within the file may be removed along with the Outlook Express package and it will start to function normally once more. The only downside of applying this process is the fact that all of the email messages that have been received formerly will most likely be lost and the particulars of all the contacts discarded. People should make use of this solution only under two situations.

Fixing the Outlook error 0x80040600 is easy with the registry cleaner. In case you scan your computer, it will identify the errors in the registry and then drive them off securely. This is the simplest way to get rid of the error 0x80040600 in Outlook program. If you have any doubts, you can contact the Outlook problems and help team. You may also refer to the Outlook problems and help modules posted in the official Microsoft website to know more on the steps.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

More About The Latest Windows Operating System Windows 9

During the build conference held in April 2014, Microsoft announced that it will soon introduce a new Start Menu that looks like a hybrid of the best of Windows 7 and Windows 8. Windows 8 users have been waiting for this move from Microsoft for a long time now. But no such thing has been released yet.

Because of the immense public outcry for the return of the Start menu, the launching of this menu is long overdue. The website Verge adds that, “It's around the same size as the Windows 7 menu, but also features miniature Live Tiles along one side.” If the hybrid thing comes, it will bring out the attractive user interface of Windows 8 operating system with all the functionalities of the Windows legacy Start menu.

Such an initiative will obviously be invited by the huge list of keyboard and mouse users, who suffered the most due to the touch-friendly user interface of Windows 8 operating system. However, Microsoft is yet to mention a release date for the new Start menu. Microsoft only mentioned that it will come as part of a ‘future update’ of Windows later this year.

It’s already the last quarter of 2014 and the Start menu is yet to appear. Judging by the latest leaked information about Windows 9 operating system, it is believed that the new Start menu will not be available with the next Windows 8 upgrade, but will be added in Windows 9 OS.
Popular website Mashable reported that, “Screenshots allegedly showing the new Start menu leaked on an Internet forum over the weekend. The menu looks similar, but not identical, to what Microsoft showed publicly at its Build developer conference in April.” They further continued to add that, “The size and format of the menu is the same, but the tiles themselves are different, suggesting the image was generated by an early build of the new Windows.”

Another feature that is inheriting in the new operating system will be the ability to minimize the Metro experience and run an application within a window on the desktop. This feature was absent in previous version, Windows 8.x operating system. However, not all these information were obtained from official sources at Microsoft, but rather from leaked screenshots of Windows 9 that are being circulated around.

If all the rumored information about Windows 9 is true, scores of users will throng for Windows 8 upgrade to Windows 9. However, it remains to be seen how successful Windows 9 operating system will be.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Why Is Windows 7 A Good Choice To Replace Your Windows XP OS

After the end of support for Windows XP operating system, many users are in search of the best operating system to which they could upgrade their machines. Many people even called the Windows support number to choose the best operating system. Windows 8 and Windows 7 are the two operating systems that are considered ideal to make an upgrade from Windows XP.

Now, which is the better operating system between the two? The answer could vary as both the operating systems have their own advantages and disadvantages. In this post, we will concentrate only on Windows 7 operating system and go through its various features.

User interface

When compared to Windows Vista, Microsoft introduced Windows 7 with many changes in the user interface. Some of the improvements included the new taskbar and aero interface. The taskbar lets you pin programs to it with the simple drag function. The aero feature makes it easier for you to view the different tabs that are open and switch among them.

Power management

If you are using a laptop, then one of your concerns would be its battery life. Windows 7 comes with various power management techniques that will help you to cut down battery drainage. The operating system boots faster than its predecessors and shuts down quickly.

Calculator

Until the arrival of Windows 7, most of the calculators that came preinstalled with the operating systems helped you only with the basic statistical and scientific calculations. However, the calculator in Windows 7 comes with many features like hourly wages, gas mileage etc.

New media center

With Windows 7, Microsoft has upgraded its Media Center program. Many additional tools have been added to the program and this helps you to experience a new world of entertainment.

Customizations

You can find a wide range of new themes and wallpapers for the operating system. The operating system also allows users to customize the fonts and settings as per the requirements of the user.

Versions

Windows 7 comes in numerous versions with Windows Starter as the base edition. Other editions include Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate and Windows 7 Enterprise.

Among the various versions of Windows 7, Windows 7 Home Premium is considered as the best choice for home users. This version offers you most of the features at an affordable price. For further assistance on Windows 7 OS, you may call up the Windows support number or contact our technical support team. 

Monday, August 11, 2014

Windows Phone Emulator Explained

If you are a Windows phone user, you will be definitely interested in viewing or accessing your Windows Phone apps on your PC or laptop. Now, it is possible with the Windows Phone Emulator!

You can use the Windows Phone Emulator for viewing and executing Windows Phone apps. This is an extremely useful platform for Windows Phone app developers, as they will be able to debug and execute their apps before placing it in the marketplace. The Windows Phone Emulator is actually a high fidelity, efficient and high performance virtualization environment for executing Windows phone applications. You will hardly feel the difference as it acts just like a phone.

When using this application on your PC, a screen appears with a phone on it. Of course, quite logically, you will not be able to make a call through it, but will be able to use the buttons using your mouse and simulate your app. Your will work similar to the way it actually functions on your Windows Phone.

In order to open or launch the Emulator, you need to press the F5 button. The Emulator will load the program you currently have kept open in Visual Studio.

It gives the same feel as using your phone. It has the same buttons as on the phone (only virtual). You will be able to see a Start button, Search button, and a Back button. However, you need to note that it is not possible to pan or zoom on your PC, unless you are using a modern multi touch system.

Apart from all these features, Windows Phone Emulator also provides GPS simulation. One of the best features about the program is the fact that it allows you to see how a website appears on Windows Phone.

Let us see how to install and use the Windows Phone Emulator

Steps to follow
  • First, launch the website that you wish to view.
  • Then, in the Run drop-down menu, choose Windows Phone. In case, you do not have the Windows Phone Emulator extension installed, you can follow the instructions in the install wizard to download and install the program.
  • When the installation finishes, return to the Run menu drop-down and then select the Windows Phone option. This will automatically launch your site in the Windows Phone emulator.
  • If you wish to launch the Windows Phone Emulator every time you view the app, you just have to click on Run (no need to go via drop-down menu).
Hope these Windows tech support instructions helped you install and use Windows Phone Emulator. If the above instructions do not suffice, you can anyway contact our Windows tech support team for further clarifications.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Microsoft Introduces Home Use Program

Microsoft’s Office applications are universal. You can use them at home, at the office and on the go. However, at times, it may happen that you have a different version of Microsoft Office at home rather than what you use in the office. Consequently, you will have trouble while processing some of your office related documents at home. Usually, you will have access to the latest version of MS Office in the office but an older version on your home PC. Microsoft has rolled out an impressive solution to remove this incompatibility issue between your MS Office suite installed on your home PC and office PC. The solution is called Home Use Program (HUP).

What is Home Use Program (HUP)?

Microsoft’s Home Use Program allows employees of an organization to install the same version of MS Office, which is installed on the Office PC, on the home PC. This way, users will be able to get rid of the issue with synchronising the Office apps between Home PC and Office PC.

How to get Home Use Program (HUP)?

You will be charged $9.95 to be able to download the Home Use Program. However, the amount is negligible in terms of the services you can avail. According to Microsoft experts, Home Use Program enables a user to have full use and access to all the applications included in the MS Office suite version in your office. If you have to install an independent version of Microsoft Office on your home computer, you will have to pay the full amount, which can be too high for average users.

Downloading Home Use Program         
  
You can download Home Use Program from Microsoft’s Volume Licensing Service Centre (VLSC). The program should be activated by the one who handles the company licensing of the Office suite. He has to sign into his account and then activate the program. A program code will be generated and sent to the company licensing holder. Gather the code and use it to activate the Home Use Program after its installation on the home PC. Home Use Program is a business program. So its availability is restricted to business users. As of now, there are no such schemes for general customers.

You will be able to enjoy HUP license as long you remain an employee of the organization. Upon your retirement from the company, your employer would deactivate your license. 

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Microsoft Starts New Mission To Help Fight Poverty

According to recent sources, Microsoft, along with a number of business tycoons, is partnering with Tipping Point Community to raise 10 million dollars to fight poverty in the Bay area. The major participants in this program include companies like Apple, Box, Dropbox, Google, IfOnly, Jawbone, Jelly, Levi Strauss and Co., LinkedIn, Lookout, Okta, Partner Fund Management, POPSUGAR, RPX Corporation, Salesforce Foundation, SV Angel, Workday Foundation and Zynga. According to the Microsoft help and support team, Tipping point Community has been considered to be Bay Area’s leading poverty fighting organization since almost ten years.

It is certain that this campaign will help immensely in providing education, employment and shelter to the residents of Bay Area. As stated by Daniel Lurie, CEO and Founder of Tripping Point, "We are humbled by the generosity we've seen from some of the region's most influential leaders on behalf of the most vulnerable members of our community." Well, this is indeed a generous task undertaken by the IT companies to help the poor and the needy living in the area.

As mentioned above, the campaign comprises of a 10 million dollar challenge for these companies so that quality education, shelter and employment can be given to the Bay Area’s 13 million people who find it hard to meet their basic needs. For this, these companies have been allotted a maximum of 60 days, which is a great decision. After this announcement was made, even some users started calling up the Microsoft help number to know how genuine the news was.

Confirming this mission, Microsoft stated in an official blog post that, "This work is not new for Microsoft. Every year, we invest tens of millions of dollars in nonprofit organizations around the world. Last year in San Francisco alone, this investment totaled $5.4 million. Now, in partnership with Tipping Point, we seek to help low-income individuals and families gain access to effective services that can help them break the cycle of poverty for good."

Microsoft already has the YouthSpark mission, which is quite similar to Tipping Point’s initiative with the only difference being that it addresses the issues of the kids and focuses on providing training to them. Mainly, this program is focused on training those kids who do not have the means to become successful in life.

Microsoft thus ought to be applauded for venturing into such missions along with other IT and other business giants for helping the poor. 

Monday, July 21, 2014

Install April Updates For IE11 To Receive Continued Patches For The Browser

Microsoft has decided not to release updates for IE 11 browser in Windows 7 if they are not already updated with the patches released this April. Microsoft had earlier told Windows 8.1 users to update the operating system with the latest update before June 10 to receive further updates in the future. The new move from Microsoft is quite similar, as done with Windows 8.1 update. However, the major difference is that the new mandate is going to affect only the IE 11 browser and is not going to give troubles to the operating system.

According to the Windows 7 help center, you will not be able to install the June 10 IE update for the browser if you have not installed the April 8 update released by Microsoft for IE 11 running on Windows 7 OS. The April 8 update is identified as MS14-08 and you may download and install it from the official website of Microsoft.

Keep in mind that installation of updates is important for the smooth functioning of your browser. Microsoft states that, "This update applies only to computers that are running Internet Explorer 11 and that do have update 2919355 (for Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2) or update 2929437 (for Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1) installed." It further added, "All future security and non-security updates for Internet Explorer 11 require you to have update 2919355 or update 2929437 installed in order to receive updates.”

The new update from Microsoft is aimed at fixing various IE vulnerabilities, according to the Windows 7 help center. Out of the 59 vulnerabilities identified, 47 of them were associated with IE11. Microsoft has made it clear that if the browser is not upgraded with the updates released last April, the browser will lose all its update privileges in the future. Therefore, if you are running the Windows 7 operating system and IE 11 browser, then ensure that you download and install the update MS14-018.

For enterprises and other big businesses, the last date to install the update is set on Aug 12. Until this date, the browsers can be updated with patches. However, these users will not receive updates intended to fix IE11 issues from August. Other features cut off are system center configuration manager and Intune, if they fail to upgrade the browsers.

So, if you wish to receive regular updates for your IE 11 browser on Windows 7, download and install the updates as early as possible.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Removing Ask Toolbar From The Google Chrome Browser

Occasionally, when you install a new program in your system, the installation wizard will ask you to either choose or deselect the option for installing a browser or desktop toolbar application that came bundled with the installer. Now by default, everything’s left checked. If you hurriedly skipped this step, an unwanted application will be installed along with the main program. This is what happens in most cases.

How to remove the Ask browser toolbar from Google Chrome?

This is exactly what happens with the Ask browser toolbar application. It can be used to access the online services provided by Ask.com. This is a popular online search portal which accepts queries, and provides relevant answers for them. Though useful, this browser toolbar acts as an adware, and also changes the browser settings without your knowledge.

This might affect your browser performance. For example, when you type in the Google search engine address, the browser will you take to the Ask search engine website instead. Similarly, the homepage settings, the default search engine option, etc will also be changed. If these changes are bothering you, then it is best to get rid of this adware toolbar. But, in the case of certain toolbar versions, you might have to use an Ask toolbar removal tool to get rid of it.

But, if it is just a browser add-on that you have installed in your system, then all you have to do is remove this add-on from the browser. Most probably the add-on will be installed only on your default browser application. If you are using Google Chrome as the default browser application, then you have to open the add-ons manager tool in it and remove the add-on.

Go to the Tools option in the Chrome browser toolbar menu. This will open a context menu, where you need to select the option Extensions. On the windows that appear go to the Extensions tab. This will display all the add-ons and extensions you have installed in Google Chrome. The Ask toolbar application will be there in this list. You need to select it and then, click on the trash bin icon shown next to it. Now, go to the Settings option in the Google toolbar menu. There, click on the Manage Search Engine option and set Google as your default search engine. Delete the Ask search engine link provided there and save these settings.

As already mentioned, if this method does not work, you have to use an Ask toolbar removal tool to get rid of this application. You can easily find one online.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

About Adding Contacts To The Outlook Address Book

Outlook address book is a utility feature integrated with the Microsoft Outlook application. It allows you to maintain a detailed list of all your contacts. Using the address book, you can store email addresses, phone numbers, birthdays and other important information of your beloved ones or colleagues. The normal way to add an address to the contact book is by going to the Address Book and by typing the name, email address and phone number of the person. But, it is also possible to create a new contact from the email messages you receive from a new sender, here's how.

Adding a new contact to the address book from an email message? 

Outlook allows you to add a new contact to the address book from the email messages you receive. For instance, if you get an email message from a new sender, you do not have to manually provide all his contact details to add him to the contact book. Simply, drag and drop the email message into your contact folder. It will automatically add the contact to your address book.

When you drag and drop an email message to the contact folder, it will retrieve the name and the address of the sender from the message header. The body of the message will be left in the Notes section, which you can remove if needed. However, it is good that you leave it there because it will be useful for you to know in future why this person has emailed you.

Grouping contacts

In the Outlook Address Book, you can add as many contacts as you want. But, if you have added numerous contacts to the Address Book, it will be difficult to locate a specific contact. Therefore, it is advised that you group your Outlook contacts. By grouping the contacts to various categories such as Friends, Family, Office or the likes, you will be able to locate the contact instantly and thereby save your precious time.

Printing the address book

Outlook problems like getting valuable data corrupted are common. Therefore, it is good that you back up your valuable information such as contacts. Outlook allows you to take a print out of your address book.

If you have any other concerns regarding your Outlook Contact Book, feel free to contact our Microsoft Outlook help desk.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Tips For Removing Multiple Toolbars In Windows

Toolbars is a kind of browser add-on, which will help you to easily access the functions offered by the specific toolbars with a single click. Nowadays, these toolbars are not installed in your computer as standalone applications. In fact, these toolbars are coming along with software installers. So, when you install any software, the toolbars included with the specific software will also be installed in your system. Most of the users do not take care of it and this will ultimately result in the installation of more than one toolbars, which might have an adverse effect on your system.

Most of the famous toolbar providers like Ask and Google will provide the option to uninstall their toolbar with the help of a software un-installation menu without making any changes in the software where the toolbar is included. Generally, it is a little difficult to remove all the toolbars installed in your system and will take some time to accomplish it. Therefore, to make the removal of toolbars a lot easier, you can make use of some toolbar removal software like Multi toolbar remover. This specific software can remove at least nine toolbars at a time, which includes all the famous toolbars like ASK Toolbar, Yahoo Toolbar, Google Toolbar and Comcast Toolbar.

The main feature of this software is its compatibility with all the versions of toolbars. To uninstall any of the toolbars from your system, you need to check the toolbars that are installed in the list of toolbars supported by the Multi Toolbar-Remover. Before starting the removal process, it is advised to close all the web browsers that are open in your system. This will prevent further complications associated with the process.

In fact, this toolbar removal software is not ideal if you want to remove only one toolbar from your system; however, it will be helpful if your system has more than one toolbar installed. Another option that a user can make use of to remove multiple toolbars is by making use of another software named Smart Toolbar-Remover. There are several advantages provided by this software. First of all, when you scan your system using this software, it will only list the toolbars that are installed and provide the option to uninstall them.

You will not be able to see any toolbars in the program interface that are not installed in your system. You can also use Smart Toolbar Remover for removing those toolbars that cannot be removed by the Multi Toolbar-Remover.

Monday, June 23, 2014

First Update In Microsoft Phone 8.1 Developer Edition

Microsoft is all set to rollout its all-new Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview update, aimed at the Windows Phone app developers and enthusiasts. Unfortunately, not much is known about the new features this update would bring at this time. From bits and pieces we have managed to piece together, it is evident that this update would include a number of bug fixes and improvements to the battery life.

Joe Belfiore, the Corporate Vice President and Manager of the Windows Phone Program Management, was first to release information about the Microsoft Windows update via his tweet. The tweet read, ”Running #WP8.1 Developer Preview? GO CHECK FOR UPDATES! We have news bits with plenty of bug fixes including some battery improvements!”

However, Microsoft declined to provide details about the update, only stating that the Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview update contains “Several improvements based on the feedbacks we’ve received.” This means bug fixes which aim on improving the system performance.

To receive these latest updates, navigate to the Settings menu and then select the Phone Updates option. Inside this menu, you will have to check for the latest updates by clicking on Check for Updates. Your Microsoft Phone will check for the latest updates and prompt you to install them over the air. As per Paul Thurrot's WinSupersite, your handset’s firmware would change from 8.10.12359.845 to 8.10.12382.878 once the update is complete.

Prior to these developer updates, we had received news about the release of Microsoft Windows update for the Windows Phone 8 smartphone users. The OS update was rolled out on June 24 of this year.

The newly released Windows Phone 8.1 Operating system’s End Of Life is 36 months (3 years) from the lifecycle start date. The official Microsoft support page lists June 24, 2014 as the lifecycle start date. Hence, the mainstream Microsoft Support is expected to end on July 11, 2017. After the date, Microsoft will cease creating and distributing any updates for Windows Phone 8.1 Operating System. The previous version, Windows Phone 8 Operating System, also boasts 3 years of life support.

Nokia Lumia 930, the flagship smartphone introduced during Microsoft Build 2014 event along with Lumia 630 and Lumia 635 handsets, will all feature the all-new Windows Phone 8.1 Operating System since the latest version of operating system is expected to roll out approximately at the same time. Nokia Lumia 930 is much awaited as it boasts Microsoft's Cortana, which is said to rival Apples’ Siri.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Using Inbox Repair Tool In Outlook

The main issue that an Outlook user has to endure is the corruption of data files in the program. If you encounter such a problem, then it will mean that you are unable to use your contacts, emails, and calendar details. This is due to the fact that all the data in the Outlook including emails and other personal data of the user like contacts and calendars are all stored in the PST files.

Therefore, corruption or damage of the PST file will mean that you will not be able to access any data in your Outlook email client. However, you can fix this problem by running a troubleshooting tool that comes along with Outlook- the inbox repair tool. Here we describe instructions from Outlook problems and help site for using the program for fixing the issue.

Instructions
  • First, you need to locate the inbox repair tool, which can be easily done by searching for the Scanpst.exe file in the Windows Explorer window. The system will show the file in the search results, double click on the file for starting the process. 
  • You will be able to see a window on the screen, navigate to the location in which you have stored the PST file in your system and then click on the Start button for starting the scan process. 
  • The tool will now scan the PST file for any errors and will display the issues and bugs found in the file on the screen. The inbox repair tool will show you the results of the scan as a report and you will be able to know from the report the errors can be repaired. 
  • The technicians in Outlook problems and help website advise you to click on the Repair button for repairing the errors found in the PST file. The inbox repair tool will now fix the issue with your PST file, so that you would be able to access Outlook program without any issues. 
If you follow the simple instructions given above, you will be able to fix the corrupted or damaged PST files of the Outlook program. However if you were not able to able to fix the issues with the program, feel free to contact our Outlook help and support team or try using a professional Outlook repair tool that is available over the internet.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

How To Upgrade Your Operating System To Windows 8

Now, with the release of Windows 8 operating system, you can find out how it feels to use a desktop computer just like your Smartphone. Windows 8 comes with support for touch screen monitors and various other features. Now, if you were in search of steps on how to upgrade to Windows 8, then this post would be helpful. Here, we will find out how to upgrade the computer with Windows 8 operating system.

Steps Involved
Before we begin, keep in mind that Windows 8 comes in DVD and is available for download too. In this post, we will find out how to use the Windows 8 upgrade disk to install the operating system.
  • Turn on the PC and press the key F2 or Del to open the BIOS Settings. 
  • Here, select the option Boot and then make your DVD/CD drive as the first boot priority. 
  • Open the DVD/CD Drive and place the Windows 8 DVD in the drive. 
  • Restart the PC. 
  • The Windows 8 installation screen should come up automatically. However, if you do not see this screen, double-click and open the Setup File. 
  • Choose the option Go Online to Install Updates Now (Recommended) and click the button Next. 
  • Type the Product Key in the specified field and select the button Next. 
  • Choose the option Install. 
  • The next window will show the various options you have chosen. You can alter these choices by selecting the link Change Selection. 
  • Once you click the Install button, the installation process begins and this could last for several minutes. 
  • Your computer would restart many times during the process. 
  • You will see the message Press any key to boot from CD or DVD during the installation process. This occurs during the restart and therefore, you need not press any key and the operating system would continue the installation by itself. 
  • You may choose a background color and then select the Next button. 
  • Choose the option Use Express Settings. This setting will ensure the installation of drivers, turn on security features, enables you to share files etc. 
  • Keep in mind that you do have the option to Customize the installation process. Here, you can choose the settings and enable the features you like to see on the computer. 
  • When the installation is over, you will be taken to the Start screen of the operating system. 
We hope that this post has helped you to find out how to upgrade to Windows 8 from an earlier version of Windows operating system.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Upgrade From Windows 8 To 8.1 For No Charge

Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 are the latest Operating systems released by Microsoft. People who previously asked how to upgrade to Windows 8, have now started looking for options to upgrade to Windows 8.1.

The tile UI is the most attractive feature of the operating system. But, the features like the absence of Start menu in Windows 8 made it just impossible to reboot system easily. Windows 8 had several other imperfections. Several tech forum blogs were loaded with these complains and as a result, Microsoft launched the Windows 8.1 OS.

Good news for the users is that Windows 8.1 comes with the Start button, which makes rebooting the machine as simple as it was before Windows 8. Some of the other features that Windows 8.1 has for its users are the improved search functionality, increased speed in booting and rebooting the machine and the latest platform that enables best cloud integration. There are many more improvements in Windows 8.1. A transition from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 is quite easy and you can adapt to the new OS quickly.

All that you need to do is to download and install it from the Windows Store. Before you download it, it is best to check if your machine has all the necessary specifications to support Windows 8.1.

Some of the details you need to check before upgrading. 
  • It is important to check if the system specifications support the new operating system. In case you have window 8 and are trying to upgrade it to Windows 8.1, then system specification is not a bother, as both have the same system requirements.
  • Transferring files to the new operating system is not a big deal. It is very simple. However, to be on the safe side, creating a backup is recommended while upgrading to Windows 8.1. The backup will come handy in case something goes wrong.  
  • It is important to keep Windows 8 up-to-date before upgrading. Make sure that the internet connection is available and steady. While upgrading if the internet is not properly connected or if the previous operating system is not updated, then it might result in an error. 
  • Once you download the copy of Windows 8.1, you can start installing it. 
  • See that you restart the computer once the installation is complete. 
These tips will be useful to those, who want to know how to upgrade to Windows 8 or Windows 8.1.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Panasas To Add Windows Support For HPC Files

According to the latest news we hear from the industry, the high performance computing storage specialist Panasas is going to enter into the Windows market. The company in their latest blog post announced that their PanFS 5.5 operating system for high performance computers would now support enterprise grade Windows operating systems. The earlier versions of the PanFS operating system that runs on Panasas ActiveStor scale-out network-attached storage (NAS) appliances has support for Linux, Oracle Solaris, and IBM AIX operating systems. However, with the new update in place, they now have support for Windows servers too.

Even though most of the high performance computing systems mainly use Linux operating systems, with Windows support from Panasas in place, all that is to change. We say this as working with Windows operating system gives the files system’s storage better interoperability. The senior director of product marketing at Panasas Geoffrey Noer commented about the new support for enterprise grade Windows operating systems by saying the following.

"The biggest step is Panasas has become a Microsoft licensee, with access to the source code and technical documents. Most IT environments have different compute servers with different OSes. The 5.5 version is for mixed-workload environments. It's typical that high-performance applications work on Linux, but the researchers have laptops and workstations that often run on Windows. "When Windows clients talk to storage, they need to communicate with the Windows protocol. Now, with a commercial implementation, we can be up-to-date with Microsoft. Samba was close, but not 100% there."

Being a Linux customer, if this addition of Windows support for Panasas bothers you, Steve Conway of Framingham cajoles you with the good news. Steve sates that this news is done for merely expanding the service horizon of the company and it does not mean that Panasas is changing their focus. He commented about the issue in his latest blog post saying, "Microsoft is a relatively small piece of it. But there are some segments like finance and life sciences that use Microsoft software. Panasas is not moving out of what they do. They are just adding to it. If you can access 10% more of the market, that's important."

Since most HPC file systems are based on Linux, there is no need to worry for Linux customers, as they will always be the primary customers. However, with the addition of support for Windows operating system, people may find porting to Windows a much better option due to better interoperability and other features.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Things To Keep In Mind When Upgrading From Windows XP

So, the Windows XP support has officially expired. Now, it’s about time you upgraded to Windows 7 or Windows 8. The whole Windows 7 vs Windows 8 argument is slowing tilting in favour of the latest Windows 8 operating system. With the new Windows update – Windows 8.1 – Microsoft has fixed some of the problems in the latest operating system.

System requirements for Windows 7 and Windows 8

You can make a Windows 7 vs Windows 8 comparison, if you like. Both operating systems have almost the same system requirements. Windows 8 would run even without the touch screen. You need a 1 GHz or faster processor, a minimum RAM of 1 GB for 32-bit OS and 2GB for 64-bit OS, free hard disk space of 16 GB for 32-bit and 20 GB for 64-bit, and a DirectX 9 graphics card or higher with WDDM driver.

Now, Microsoft has released an application called Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant, to make upgrading to the new OS smoother. Download and install this application. When you run this application, it will generate a system compatibility report for Windows 8. This will tell you whether your system is Windows 8-ready or not.

Create a backup of all your important files

A simple OS upgrade that leaves your files and data intact is not possible, when you are upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 or Windows 8. This means all your hard disk data would be wiped out. So, make sure that you create a backup of all your important files before you install Windows 7 or Windows 8.

However, if you are upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8, then you can choose an installation option that would preserve the compatible applications as well as your files and data.

Create an OS backup for your system

One of the best precautionary measures you can take is creating a recovery disc or an OS backup for your system. In case of an error, you can use this disc to recover the system back to its initial state.

These are some of the things, which you need to keep in mind while upgrading to Windows 7 or Windows 8. You can upgrade directly to either Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 is available as a free update to all the Windows 8 users. So, if you are installing Windows 8, you can easily upgrade it to Windows 8.1 by visiting the Windows Store.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Microsoft Integrates Outlook 2013 With Windows RT, Surface Pro And Surface RT

Windows RT users have more reasons to celebrate the release of Windows 8.1 update, which has brought about a number of changes as well as new features to the ARM operating system. The update will integrate Outlook 2013 standalone email client application with Windows RT. Apparently, Windows RT users will be able to enjoy technical support from Outlook help desk whenever they come across a problem. Microsoft had integrated Office suite products like MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint and MS OneNote with Windows RT, since the very beginning of this ARM operating system.

Windows RT Sans Outlook a hard sell product

Although a good number of average smartphone users found Windows RT to be useful, the operating system didn’t impress corporate users as it didn’t have a premier e-mail client application in it. About 50 percent of the negative reviews Microsoft received after the release of Windows RT were about the lack of a premier email client application in it. One must understand that the software giant was ready to make necessary and customer friendly changes to make Windows RT popular. The prospective changes going to be introduced to Windows RT is a sign for this.

In its recent blog post, the software giant said that it the latest Outlook version, Outlook 2013, is a refined one focusing both corporate users and personal users. While the application helps corporate users to do their day to day works without delay, it caters for the requirements of laypeople via its simple and user friendly features.

Built-in Mail application not a substitute for Outlook

In fact, Microsoft had thought that the built in Mail application with Windows RT would meet the emailing requirements of its customers. But, we have come to know from the past reports that there is no better email application to substitute Outlook. With its impressive features, Outlook has managed to make a strong influence on users. There is no doubt that the addition to Outlook 2013 to Windows RT will certainly be a great step Microsoft is taking towards making this ARM operating system more acceptable to the public.

Microsoft introduces Outlook 2013 to Surface RT and Surface Pro

Along with Windows RT, Microsoft has integrated Outlook 2013 with Surface Pro and Surface RT devices.

What users are looking forward to seeing is the integration of a well organized Outlook help desk, the fairly recently formed Outlook 2013 service. We have no doubt that the software giant will not compromise on this.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Severe Security Risks Await Banks And ATMs Running XP OS

Microsoft officially ended the support for Windows XP on April 8 as it has said months ago. However, this has not made much impact on the number of XP users. A rough estimation shows that XP users still account for about 28 percent of the total Windows market share.

Security issues XP users may face


Along with Windows XP, Microsoft ended support for Office 2003. Users with these outdated Microsoft products are at severe security risk. Since Microsoft has stopped supporting these products, there won’t be any patch updates for Windows XP or Office 2003. Consequently, these products will grow vulnerable to security issues, day by day. There are many reports suggesting that hackers were waiting for the end date of Microsoft support for Windows XP.

Expert suggested that hackers wouldn’t have to struggle a lot to get through Windows XP systems. They are quite advanced even to get through latest Windows operating systems. Once Microsoft ends support for XP, the outdated operating system will become the most comfortable and secure ecosystem for hackers.

Banks and ATMs are alerted about higher security risks


Microsoft has alerted banks and ATMs that still run Windows XP operating system about the potential security risk they might come to face. According to some statistics, almost 50 percent of the ATMs in USA are running Windows XP operating system. The proportion is even higher in Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe. ATMs and financial institutions running Windows XP operating system could easily be susceptible to the attacks of hackers as there is no Microsoft support.

How to avoid security risks while using Windows XP operating system?

There are no permanent options to protect Windows XP from security risks. The operating system is fast becoming the hub of vulnerability. However, by not connecting Windows XP machines with internet, users could avoid the spread of virus infection and other online threats. There is no way for hackers to attack your system unless you are connected to the internet.

Avoid accepting external data storage devices like pen drives, external hard disc or memory cards from other users to connect to your XP machine. Even if they seem to be void of viruses while scanning, they could have elements that could potentially endanger your Windows XP machine.

The bottom line is that, if you can’t avoid using Windows XP for any reasons, try not to connect it with internet.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Mozilla To Introduce Changes To Firefox Browser Soon

Firefox is a perfect alternative web browser for Internet Explorer users. It has a user friendly interface. Moreover, there are quite a few options to personalize the web browser. Extensive Mozilla Firefox support round-the-clock is another feature that makes this web browser unique. The Mozilla foundation, the developers of Firefox, are ready now with a set of modifications for the web browser. The news has gone viral in the tech world. What seems to catch the most attention from users is Mozilla’s decision to introduce ads in the browser. We don’t have any detailed information about this yet. However, we are happy to tell you what we have come to know from the blog post of Darren Herman (VP of content services at Mozilla Foundation).

According to the Darren Herman, the modifications being planned for Firefox are “an exploration to transform the user’s content experience.” Although the new changes being brought to Firefox is to monetize the browser, there is a clear indication that Mozilla won’t do it at the cost of the inconvenience to users. As per the new plans, Firefox will display ads on its new tab page. As of now, when users open a new tab in the browser, they will see nine blank tiles. These tiles will be populated with the most visited sites by the end of user’s browsing session. When the ads filled Directory tiles are introduced, there won’t be any blank tiles. The tiles will be populated in advance with a list of websites that you are most likely to visit. The choice of websites will be made on the basis of your geographic location and website-visiting trend in your location. There will also be a list of sponsored contents. The choice of these sponsored contents is made by Mozilla’s ecosystem.

According to Mozilla Firefox support team, the decision to introduce ads in the browser will help the firm pursue its mission effectively. However, the content will not be forcibly loaded into the web browser. User’s priorities and interest are always taken into consideration before ad placements.

The Mozilla team has not yet given any date for the launch of the ad-filled Directory tiles. The blog post from Darren Herman suggests that the launch date will be decided only after the completion of the product roadmap. Mozilla is also working on options to help users resist third party ad cookies.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Uninstalling Google Toolbar From Your System

You might have noticed a series of buttons on your browser window that didn’t really come with it. Such programs in the form of toolbars are add-ins, and have varied functions. While some toolbars simply represent specific search engines and redirect to them at the click of a button, others perform different functions. These programs are there to provide a convenient and user-friendly browsing experience to users.

Google toolbar is one such program that represents the Google search engine. This browser add-on would help you to search for content even from a blank page in your browser tab. You wouldn’t need to go to the Google website each time. But sometimes, you may find the Google toolbar to be irritating. This is because the toolbar may try to replace your browser’s default home page to Google.com. Also, you would find many search toolbars out there, so if you are not interested in keeping the Google toolbar, you can uninstall it from your Internet Explorer (IE) web browser and install another one.

If you do not know how to remove Google toolbar, you can try the following instructions provided by the Windows tech support:
  • In the first step, you need to click on the Windows Start button, followed by the Control Panel in your system. Now, double-click on the Add or Remove Programs option, and you would get a list of all the programs in your Windows XP system.
  • If you are using Windows Vista and 7 users, you need to click on the Programs option. Now, you need to click Programs and Features and open the installed programs list.
  • Here, you can scroll through the list of installed programs and select the Google Toolbar for IE option. Now, click on the Remove/Uninstall option, and once you get a pop up message, restart your web browser.
  • According to the Windows tech support, if you do not know how to remove Google toolbar, you can also remove it by clicking on the wrench icon available on the Google toolbar in your IE web browser. Now, go through pop-up menu and click on the Uninstall option.
  • Here, you need to click on the Uninstall the Google Toolbar option and once you get the prompt, you can restart your IE web browser.
By following these steps, you would be able to remember the Google toolbar from your browser. To know more about toolbars, please contact our technical support team.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Advance Returns For Broken Xbox One Consoles

Microsoft’s gaming console Xbox One was highly anticipated before its release. Xbox One launch was great, without much difficulty except a few errors and concerns. Some users faced problems with their Xbox One consoles however.

After waiting for a pretty long time for the new line of consoles to launch, when you get a busted system out of the box, it can be a real disappointment. But, there is a way around this fortunately, Xbox One purchasers who happen to experience any problems, particularly the grinding disc drive issue popping up on a number of YouTube videos, would not have to wait a long time to get back in the action. The software giant, Microsoft, is using their advance return system to allow gamers to receive a console prior to shipping back a broken system for service.

Regarding the disc issue, the console-maker issued the following statement to GameSpot,

“The issue is affecting a very small number of Xbox One customers. We’re working directly with those affected to get a replacement console to them as soon as possible through our advance exchange program. Rest assured, we are taking care of our customers."

Customers have the option to send a replacement console right away without waiting until they have returned their old one. This means a customer only has to wait a matter of days, rather than weeks to get back up and running.

This means that the customers will get a replacement console, and they do not have to wait a long time for that. For anyone experiencing any issues with their console, whether it is hardware related or service related, Microsoft recommends the following steps,
  • The customer can talk to a live customer support person that can call him or her back if he or she does not want to wait
  • Customers can got to Xbox.com and look for support pages and forums
  • Help through the Micro-blogging and social networking service “Twitter”. On Twitter with @XboxSupport
  • Customers can also use “Help and diagnostics” on the console by saying "Xbox Help"
Pretty much like the PlayStation 4, the Xbox One launch has gone smoothly with relatively few customers reporting issues that keep them from enjoying their amazing game systems. But, it is important to keep in mind that since both the popular gaming consoles Xbox One and PlayStation 4 have sold over 1 million units, even a problem with just 1% represents over 10,000 consoles. This is staggering.

For more information or support concerning Xbox or Microsoft products, you can look up for Microsoft chat support news. Microsoft chat support details can be obtained from the official Microsoft website.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Setting Up Email In Outlook Express

The Outlook Express is an email and news client in which you can setup an email account. This article gives guidelines on how to do so.

How to setup Outlook Express for your Email account
  • Launch the Outlook Express application. The Internet Connection Wizard will run for the first time that you open Outlook Express. However if this Internet Connection Wizard fails to run the first time your outlook express program was opened then do the following.
  • Select the Tools menu and choose Accounts.
  • In the Internet Accounts dialog box click on Add and then select Mail.
  • In Your Name page type in the full name in the Display name box.
  • In your Internet E-mail Address page select your e-mail address in the E-mail address box.
  • When the E-mail Server Names page turns up click on the drop down menu under My incoming mails server is a <type> server, choose IMAP over POP3. IMAP is far better than POP as it support more features like sync and security.
  • Under the Incoming mails server heading enter the POP3 or IMAP4 server name.
  • Enter the SMTP server name under the Outgoing mail server. After you have added the server name click on Next.
  • On the Internet Mail Logon page type in the e-mail address and password. You could have the program remember the password if you want to avoid having to type it out every time you wish to access your account. Just click on the checkbox next to Remember password and select Next.
  • Click on Finish on the congratulations page.
  • Access the Internet Accounts page and choose the account you want to setup and then choose Properties.
  • In the Internet page for your account select the Advanced tab.
  • Select This server requires a secure connection (SSL) under Outgoing mail in Server Port Numbers.
  • In Incoming Mails choose This server requires a secure connection (SSL).
  • If you use POP3 then keeping a copy of the messages you get from the local computers on the servers is a good idea. Under Delivery select Leave a copy of messages on the server.
  • Click on Apply. Click My server requires authentication under Outgoing Mail server in the Servers tab.
  • Choose Apply and select OK.
  • Click Close on the Internet Accounts page.
  • If you use IMAP4 then a message may appear asking to add the downloads folders in your mails server. Choose Yes and sync the server and local computer, then press OK.
If you need more Outlook Express help then contact the Outlook Express help and support team for professional technical advice.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Instructions For Taking Screenshots In A Windows Machine

A screenshot is an image that shows anything on your computer screen. If you are a beginner to using a Windows operating system, you can immensely benefit from the screenshots to know how to run an application as it helps you with a pictorial explanation. Screenshots are also useful while contacting Windows support. Users can take a screenshot of any of the errors they receive while running an application and send it to the concerned Windows technical support department and seek assistance. The screenshots will allow the Windows technical support personnel to get an immediate understanding of the problem and resultantly, they could help the users with the most appropriate troubleshooting steps.

Taking screenshots in a Windows machine is not a big deal at all. You can take screenshots with a simple procedure. Microsoft has included the option to take screenshots in all its Windows operating systems starting from Windows 95. If you have not yet taken screenshots in your computer, read the following steps to learn how to do it.

Instructions
  • Screenshot is an image of your desktop screen. So, before taking a screenshot of your desktop screen, make sure that the applications running in the background or the windows kept open are properly arranged. If you plan to take a screenshot of an error message you receive while running an application, make sure that you have kept the window with the error message opened. Once you are ready with these, you can proceed with taking the screenshot. 
  • Locate the Print Screen key on the keyboard of your PC and press it. This will ensure that the image of your desktop screen is copied to the clipboard in the image format. If you do not want to take a screenshot of the entire screen but just the active window, press Alt + Print Screen combination. In some keyboards, the key that stands for print screen will only carry the abbreviated letters (prtscn or something similar to that).
  • After that, navigate to Start> All Programs> Accessories> Paint
  • Press Ctrl + V keys combinations on your keyboard to paste the image from the clipboard. 
  • You may edit the image and save the image in any of the given formats. 
You have now learnt how to take screenshots in your Windows machine now. If you have any other concerns regarding taking screenshots or saving them in multiple formats, get in touch with the Windows support service online.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Steps To Remove AVG Security Toolbar

Antivirus programs are very important for the smooth functioning of any computer. They protect your computer from various external threats like viruses, spyware programs, phishing, Trojans etc. With an updated antivirus program on your computer, the level of security threats against your computer becomes minimal. 

However, how can you verify that the website that you are browsing is safe or not? For this purpose, most of the antivirus programs have released toolbars. One such toolbar is the AVG Security toolbar. This toolbar helps you to find the page status, which you are currently browsing and this is an effective technique for safe browsing. 

Steps Involved 

Now, even though the security toolbar from AVG can be very helpful, it can make your internet browser slow down. Slow browsing can annoy you a lot. However, if you remove AVG toolbar from your computer, the browsing speed increases and web pages start to load faster. In this post, we will find out how to remove this toolbar from your computer and from your internet browser. 

Remove AVG security toolbar from Internet Explorer
  • Launch Internet Explorer and click the option Tools.
  • From the sub menu, choose Manage Add-ons.
  • From the Manage Add-ons window, locate and select AVG Security Toolbar.
  • Click the option Disable found at the bottom of the window. 
  • The above step temporarily disables the toolbar from the browser. 
  • If at any point of time you wish to enable the toolbar, open Manage Add-ons window and choose the option Enable after selecting AVG Security Toolbar from the list of add-ons
Remove AVG security toolbar from Google Chrome
  • Launch Google Chrome and select the option Settings from the wrench icon.
  • Click Extensions and from the list of add-ons in the browser, locate AVG Security Toolbar.
  • Remove the check mark from the option Enabled to disable the toolbar.
Remove AVG security toolbar from your computer
  • Select the Start menu and click the option Run.
  • In the Run window, enter appwiz.cpl and click OK. This is the shortcut method to access the Add or Remove Programs window. 
  • Once you are in this window, locate AVG Security Toolbar and click the option Remove. Follow the on-screen instructions to remove AVG toolbar from your computer. 
With the above steps, you can uninstall AVG toolbar from your computer. For additional assistance on toolbar removal, you may contact our technical support team.

Steps To Download The ISO File For Windows 8.1 Installation

When Microsoft released Windows 8, it had high expectations on it. Microsoft took several years for research activities before the development of the operating system. However, after the release of the operating system in the year 2012, Microsoft found that it has not met the expectations of its customers and soon, Microsoft began the development process of an updated operating system. Thus, we saw the release of Windows 8.1 in the following year.

Since Microsoft could not ask the existing Windows 8 customers to buy a new operating system the next year, the software giant offered Windows 8.1 to Windows 8 customers free of cost. However, Windows 8 customers are unable to download the Windows 8.1 ISO file in order to upgrade Windows 8 to Windows 8.1.

So, is there a solution for this trouble? Yes, there is. Some of you might have used Windows Setup Utility in downloading Windows 8 ISO file. The same utility can be used to download and setup Windows 8.1 ISO file and in this post, we will take you through the steps involved. However, keep in mind that this form of installation does not allow you carry out a clean installation. It only lets you to perform an upgrade installation.

Steps Involved
  • Launch your Internet Browser and navigate to the web page for Upgrade Windows with only a product key.
  • Select the option Install Windows 8 in this page.
  • The above step will initiate a setup utility.
  • Type the Windows 8 product key with you in the corresponding space and initiate the download. 
  • When the download begins, close down the utility.
  • Go back to the page for Windows Upgrade and here, select the option Install Windows 8.1. 
  • The above step will start downloading the ISO file. Keep in mind that you do not have to enter the product key again.
  • When the download finishes, you will find three options, which are Install now, Install by creating media and Install later from your desktop.
  • Select the second option, which is Install by creating media and choose the button Next. 
  • The above step gives you two options. One is ISO File and other is USB Flash Drive.
  • Select ISO file and start downloading the operating system.
You may later use the downloaded ISO file to make an upgrade installation of Windows 8.1. Remember that Windows 8.1 download and upgrade installation is almost similar to downloading Windows 8 and installing it. Therefore, if you have already used Windows 8 ISO file to install the operating system, then it should be an easy process.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

How To Remove SparkleBox Toolbar From Google Chrome?

There are multiple ways to remove toolbar when your web browser is troubled by one. The easiest method is to remove it from the Control Panel. The steps are the same as with removing any program or application from the Control Panel. If this method does not work, users can try to remove the toolbar from their respective web browser settings.

The third method is the final resort. If neither of the said methods worked, you can execute this. It involves running a third party toolbar remover tool. When you run a toolbar remover tool, it traces all the files stored in the computer database associated with the toolbar, and removes them all. Here, we discuss each of these methods briefly in our attempt to get rid of SparkleBox toolbar. Users are requested to choose the appropriate method.

Toolbar removal from Control Panel
  • Go to the Start button and select Control Panel from the menu.
  • In the Control Panel window, locate Add/Remove Programs icon and double-click on it to open.
  • When the Add/Remove Programs window is loaded with the list of all the installed programs in the PC, trace SparkleBox toolbar.
  • Highlight it and select the Remove button.
  • Follow the on-screen directions to uninstall the toolbar.
  • After the removal of the toolbar, be sure to restart your computer.
Toolbar removal from respective web browser (Google Chrome)
  • Open your Google Chrome web browser and go to the Settings menu. The Settings menu is located at the top right corner of the web browser screen. It is a button that consists of three horizontal lines.
  • Select Tools followed by Extension from the Settings menu.
  • Google Chrome will now display a list of all the extensions and add-ons installed in your web browser.
  • Browse through the list till you find SparkleBox. After locating SparkleBox toolbar in the list, highlight it and press the icon shown in trash symbol. Pressing this icon will remove SparkleBox toolbar from your web browser for ever. If Chrome requests you to confirm your decision to remove the toolbar, click Yes.
We have discussed the two simple methods to remove toolbar from our web browsers. If either of these didn’t help you with the desired result, try to remove the toolbar that bothers you, using an authentic toolbar remover tool. Make sure that you download the toolbar remover tool only from known websites or download centres.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

How To Configure Outlook 2013

This article describes how to configure Outlook 2013 to remote connect to the Microsoft Exchange Email system, through an internet connection. If it is not currently possible to access contacts, task-lists, calendars through the Office 2013 suite of applications, or Windows 8; then here are the Outlook setting instructions to configure the 2013 version of the application.

Outlook setting instructions
  • Set up an email profile.
  • You can open Start and go to Control Panel.
  • Then you can enter Mail into the search box in the Control Panel window to find the Mail applet.
  • Then you need to click Mail or Mail.
  • Please note that the Mail icon will not appear unless you have Outlook installed.
  • Then, in the Mail Setup dialog box, you can click on Show Profiles.
  • After that, add a new profile as follows. In case, you already have a profile: Select Prompt for a profile to be use.
  • Then click on Add. In the Profile Name box, you need to enter a name for the new profile.
  • Then, after choosing an existing profile or creating a new one, you can click on the OK button.
  • Then you can choose Manually configure server settings or additional server types and then click on the Next button.
  • After that, select Pop or IMAP then click Next.
  • Subsequently, under User Information, in the Your Name field, you can enter your name.
  • Then in the Email Address: field, enter your LSE email address.
  • After that, Under Server Information, in the Account Type dropdown box, and select IMAP.
  • Then, In the Incoming Mail Server: field, enter exchange.lse.ac.uk.In the Outgoing Mail Server: field, enter smtp.lse.ac.uk.
  • Under Logon Information in the User Name: field, enter your LSE network username in the format lse\YOURUSERNAME\YOUREMAIL ALIAS.
  • In the Password: field, enter your LSE network password
  • In the same window, you can click on the More Settings... button.
  • A new window will appear. Click on the Outgoing Server tab.
  • After that, tick the My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication box, and select the Log on using option.
  • Then in the User Name: field, enter your LSE network username, in the format lse\YOUR USERNAME.
  • In the Password: field, enter your LSE network password.
  • Then click on the Advanced tab.
  • Then under Incoming Server: change the Use the following type of encrypted connection: to SSL, and ensure the port number is changed to 993.
  • After that, you can click on the OK or Next button. Your details will then be verified and set up will complete.
This should work; these settings should help you successfully configure Outlook 2013.

Eliminate The Yahoo Toolbar From Your Web Browser

A web browser is an useful application that helps one in browsing the internet. Since internet plays a vital role in our daily life, it is essential for a person to keep a safe browser to toggle between different websites. Yahoo! is one of the most popular search engines that offer a variety of services and inorder to reduce the hassle of accessing all the services of Yahoo, a Yahoo! toolbar is offered. If you are a frequent user of Yahoo! services, you will find this toolbar quite useful. However, if you rarely access the Yahoo utilities, then the toolbar is going to be a headache for you.

When you install the Yahoo! toolbar on your web browser, you may find it quite difficult to view the full web page because the toolbar would have occupied more space on your web browser. Even though the utility will be useful, it will soon turn to be quite annoying and you would definitely think about removing Yahoo toolbar.

Let us see the instructions that you need to follow for removing Yahoo toolbar from web browsers.

Removing toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
  • Open Mozilla Firefox.
  • Select Tools button that you would find on the top of the browser screen.
  • From the menu listed, choose Add-ons.
  • The installed add-ons will now be listed and you need to choose Yahoo! Toolbar. You need to select Uninstall to uninstall the toolbar completely from your computer. Select Uninstall once again and this will confirm the permanent removal of the toolbar from your computer.
  • You need to now click Restart Firefox that you find on top of the browser window. This will finish uninstallation of browser toolbar.
Removing toolbar from Internet Explorer
  • You need to click on Start button on the desktop and click Control Panel.
  • From the items listed in the Control Panel, choose Add or Remove Programs. If you have another operating system like Windows 7, select Uninstall a Program. This will open a new screen with programs listed. This may take some time to open and it will depend upon the speed of your computer.
  • From the list of programs installed, choose Yahoo! Toolbar and select Remove. This will help in removing Yahoo toolbar completely from your computer.
These are the different steps that one needs to follow for uninstalling the Yahoo toolbar from the web browser.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Using Windows Vista 32 Bit In Safe Mode

I own a laptop running on Windows Vista operating system and I use this computer for performing most of my work. Normally, when I start the computer, it takes a lot of time to boot and I understood that some conflicts are preventing my Vista computer from normal booting. However, I was able to solve this issue by booting the Vista computer in Safe Mode.

Safe Mode in Windows Vista

Windows Vista operating system provides an advanced boot option called as Safe Mode. Starting Vista computer in Safe mode will help to start a Vista computer when any hardware or software conflict occurs hindering the normal booting. When Vista loads in Safe mode, it will load only the crucial elements and will load without elements like startup programs or display drivers. Moreover, it will also offer tools like System Restore that will help a user to correct any Vista problems. Given below are some easy instructions given by the Windows Vista help team for using a Windows Vista computer in safe mode.

Instructions
  • Plug the cable of your Windows Vista 32-bit system and power it on. Wait until the Windows Vista system completes booting.
  • Before the Windows Vista logo appears on the desktop screen, you need to continuously tap the key named F8 using your keyboard. Now an Advanced Boot Options screen will open on your screen.
  • Select Safe Mode by using the arrows seen in the keyboard and to boot straight in to the Safe Mode, you need to press the key called Enter seen in the keyboard. 
  • Once you enter in to the Safe Mode, you need to move the mouse pointer towards the Windows Start button and click it. Then you need to click the option named All programs, then Accessories, then to System tools and finally System Restore. This will start the System Restore window on your Vista screen.
  • Next, access the Control Panel window by clicking the Start button followed by clicking the option labeled Control Panel.
  • From the Control Panel window, click the option labeled System and Maintenance, followed by clicking the option called Device Manager. From the Device Manager window, you need to click the option called Device Drivers. This utility helps you to view, add or remove any hardware drivers from your Windows Vista system.
The above said instructions given by the Windows Vista help team will help you to use your Windows Vista 32-bit computer in Safe mode. To know more, contact the Microsoft support center. 

Sunday, March 2, 2014

For Removing The Ask Toolbar Easily From Your Browser

If you have used different applications or programs, you would be aware of the of toolbars that are designed for easing your various online tasks. But, when toolbars are downloaded or installed by applications that we do not intend to use, they turn out to be a nuisance. You would have definitely typed some queries at the Ask.com website and this would have ended up in your browser installing their toolbar that now refuses to leave from your web browser. If this is the situation, you might be quite annoyed at the moment. Your available browser window shrinks due to the toolbar that have occupied its position on your screen. If you want to get rid of it, follow the below mentioned steps that would take care of Ask toolbar removal.

The steps given below is for the manual Ask toolbar removal process.

On Windows XP
  • You need to click on Start button on your desktop and click on Control Panel.
  • Now click on Add or Remove Programs and click Ask Toolbar.
  • Now select Remove.
On Windows 7 or Windows Vista
  • You need to click on Start button on your desktop and select Control Panel.
  • Now navigate to Programs/Programs and features and select Uninstall a program.
  • Now right click on Ask Toolbar and other related elements and select Uninstall button.
On Windows 8
  • Here, you need to move to the Charm bar and select Settings and choose Control Panel.
  • Select Uninstall a program and from the list of programs, choose Ask toolbar and uninstall the same.
Applying changes in the browser settings

On IE
  • You need to open Internet Explorer and click Tools and select Manage Add-ons and select Toolbars and Extensions.
  • You need to disable the unwanted toolbars.
  • In Search Providers, you need to select Remove Ask search supplier.
  • Now move to Tools and select Internet Options.
  • Select General tab and select Modify the startup site and select Apply.
On Google Chrome
  • Open Google Chrome and press Alt + F and open Tools and then Extensions.
  • Find Ask Toolbar and remove it.
  • On Settings, select On Startup.
  • On Page Setup, give the new home page name and click OK.
  • Under search section, select Manage search engines.
  • Now uninstall the unwanted search provider and press Make default.
These are the different steps that you need to implement for Ask toolbar removal.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Search Archived Messages In MSN Messenger

People love online messaging and no matter how busy they are, they try to keep in touch with their dear ones through chat messengers. There are several chat messenger applications available and the MSN Messenger is just one among them. Being a popular chat messenger MSN offers several services to its users. You can make use of the same to communicate with your dear ones living in any part of the world. You can stay engaged in your conversation for a long period for a low cost and you can even indulge in a group chat.

One of the major advantages of MSN Messenger is that if you wish pull the history of your communication, you could easily get it retrieved as MSN Messenger saves the old messages. This is not something that other chat messengers offer. You could get the chat messages archived and in order to get them, you may dial the Windows support number and seek assistance from the technicians or you could follow the instructions given here for checking the old conversation in MSN Messenger.

Instructions for checking the history

  • The initial step is to log in to MSN.
  • Now you need to select the File menu and choose View Message History from the menu that is displayed.
  • If you receive a message to make a selection, you need to choose Friends/Contacts. Now click on OK button.  This will pull up the message history for a particular contact and it will thus display the messages that were saved automatically as you chatted with the other persons.

How to save the chat messages on MSN Messenger

  • You need to select the MSN Messenger icon that you find on the system tray of your desktop and open it by double clicking on the same.
  • Now select the Tools menu and select Options from the drop down menu.
  • Select Messages.
  • Find Message History and put a check mark against Automatically Keep A History of My Conversations box.

Thus, you can save all the conversations that you perform in your MSN Messenger. You may also dial the Windows support number and seek assistance from the IT support team at Microsoft. The support personnel there would help you with setting up your conversation with your dear ones. Hope you found the instruction provided in this article useful.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Guidelines For The Yahoo Toolbar Installation And Removal

Today, the answer to any questions is just two words - Google it. One can find answer to anything in this universe by searching online using popular search engines like Google, Yahoo or Bing. Almost 95 percent of those who use internet on a regular basis make use of search engines to look for answers for their queries. However, search engines are not the only constituents of our internet use. We spend more time on social networking sites or news portals.

When we come across a strange topic while reading an article on a news portal? Our immediate tendency may be to Google it. But are we to open a new tab in the browser, load the search engine, type in the keyword, hit the Enter button and the wait for the results to be displayed. Using search engine toolbars like Yahoo Toolbar, one can avoid all this and look up the answers in the search engine directly. The toolbars are designed to work from the current webpage you are on.

Installing the Yahoo toolbar

If your web browser does not have the Yahoo toolbar at present, you can download it and install it. Open your browser, type Yahoo.com in the address field and hit the Enter button. You will be led to the Yahoo Home page now. Now, type Yahoo toolbar for __ (the name of your web browser) and hit the Enter button. Yahoo will display the link for downloading the Yahoo toolbar for your web browser. Click on the link to download the toolbar. Once the toolbar is downloaded, double-click on the setup file to install it. Read the on-screen directions carefully and proceed to complete the installation.

Removing Yahoo toolbar

Some users might not like the Yahoo toolbar. Perhaps they may want to try a different search engine toolbar or want to do the online search in the conventional way. Here are the simple steps to remove the Yahoo toolbar from your web browser.

Instructions
  • Close all running applications including your web browser.
  • Go to Start button and select Control Panel from the context menu.
  • Double-click on Add/Remove Programs to open it.
  • Locate Yahoo toolbar and highlight it.
  • Click Remove and follow the on-screen directions carefully to complete the removal of the toolbar. 
We have seen the procedure for installing as well as removing Yahoo toolbar. Now, you may consider using the Yahoo toolbar in your browser.