Archive for November, 2008

In the old days of Windows XP we had Windows flip, which switched through open applications on your computer when you pressed the WinKEY and the TAB key. Now in Windows VIsta you can still do this, however now it also has Windows Vista 3D flip.

What is the Windows Vista Flip3D?

Well if you have any version above Windows Vista Basic you will probably know what Windows Flip 3D is. It is a fantastic way to browse through your open applications on Windows Vista. The thumnail windows glide past you as you scroll through them to make your choice of which program to open.  If you are into bells, whistles and cool tweaks, Windows Flip 3D is for you.

Now because this is all such a smooth process, it is annoying when you have to actually go and click on a shortcut icon on your taskbar to get Windows Vista Flip 3D to start. This is why you need a free program called Windows Vista Flip 3D activator. You simply download it, install it, and set it to open Windows Vista Flip 3D as soon as you go to a particular corner of the screen.

If you go to http://notj.net/flip3d/windows_vista_flip_3d_activator.html you can see more information on this program. Also see the video tutorial below to see Windows Flip 3D Activator in action.

 To see how to disable Windows Vista Flip 3D see this article http://www.winvistaclub.com/t191.html

Just say you accidentally delete the Windows Vista Flip 3D icon and then realise that you cannot find the program to create another icon. Well there is no need to panic as it is easily fixed.  There are two detailed steps to restore your Flip 3D icon to your desktop or quick launch toolbar on the taskbar.

Step 1 : Create a desktop shortcut that opens the Windows Vista Flip 3D application

1. Right click on the blank area on your desktop
2. Choose New from the menu
3. Then choose shortcut
4. Now copy this RunDll32 DwmApi #105 and paste it into the area that says Type the location of the item
5. Press next. Then Type in a name for your shortcut. (Flip 3D)
6. Press Finish. That’s it.

Now when you double press on this icon it will start Flip 3D.

Step 2 :  Change the icon to a proper Windows Vista Flip 3D icon

1. Right click on the icon that you just created
2. Choose properties from the menu
3. Now the shortcut properties will appear and you need to be on the shortcut tab
4. Then press the Change icon button
5. Press browse to find the right icon for Flip 3D
6. The file you want is in C:/Windows/System32 folder and is called imageres.dll
7. Once you have selected this file press open
8. Now you will have lots of icons to choose from. The Flip 3D icon will be in there somewhere.

Please watch the video tutorial below to see more details.

Windows Vista has a sidebar that can be enabled that holds cool gadgets to help you through the day. It could be a notepad to write notes, a clock, the local weather, and so much more. If you haven’t enabled the Windows Vista sidebar and added gadgets to it, seriously, you should give it a go.
How to enable the Windows Vista Sidebar Gadgets:

1. Got to the start menu at the bottom left corner and choose control panel
2. Then double click on the Windows Sidebar Properties icon.
3. The box below will appear.
4. Tick the box Start Sidebar when Windows starts
5. Then tick the box Sidebar is always on top of other windows
6. Press Apply and then OK.. It should immediately appear on the desktop.

How to download or install more gadgets:

To install or browse through all Vista gadgets that are available you can go to http://gallery.microsoft.com/vista/SideBar.aspx. If you have a genuine Windows Vista program then they are yours to download free.

Also when you have the Sidebar installed on your desktop there is a plus sign at the top. Double click on this to open the window pictured below. You can click on any of the gadgets here to install them to your desktop. If you want to download more click on get more gadgets online.

Windows Vista Free Gadgets

Aero Flip 3D in Windows Vista is very cool if you have it, however if you do not, there is a free program called Rocketdock that gives you the same convienience and feel. The screenshot below does not give it justice because you cannot see the icons glide out when you mouse over them.

If you have Windows XP or Windows Vista Home Basic you can download this program and almost pretend that you have cool graphics like Vista Aero Flip 3D. This is a really cool program that resembles the dock that is used on a mac computer.

Rocketdock screenshot - icon browser

In the settings you can move the Rocketdock to the top, right, left, or bottom of the screen. You can also drag icons onto it and remove them by right clicking on the icon and choosing to delete the item. There are also loads of themes to choose from.

I have tested this program on a Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows XP Professional and it worked flawlessly. Oh yeah… Did I mention it was free! And there are no nagging popups or spyware, the developers politely ask for a donation if you like the program.

Rocketdock features

• Easily drag and drop new icons onto the dock
• Fully customize themes and settings
• Real time previews are on the dock (movies are still playing and watchable)
• Runs great on slower computers

Download Rocketdock from http://rocketdock.com/downloadis

Please note that Windows XP x64 Edition, Windows Vista 64-bit Editions, and alternate shells are not supported.

In the old days of Windows XP we had Windows flip, which switched through open applications on your computer when you pressed the WINKEY and the TAB key. Now in Windows Vista you can still do this, however now it has Windows Vista flip 3D. This is one of the new features that  comes with Windows Vista Aero.

Window Vista 3D Flip animates the entire idea of flipping through open applications. The open programs actually glide past you on your desktop in a cascading style, moving as you move the scroll wheel on your mouse. Then, conveniently you can click on any window in the line to open it fully to work on. You do not even have to click on the open application that is at the front of the line.

To use Windows Vista Aero Flip 3D you will need:

• Windows Vista Home Premium or higher. (not included with Home Basic)
• A compatible video card that is capable of running Aero Glass.
• A relatively fast computer for a seamless glide of open windows.

The great thing is that if you have a video playing or a game running, it will continue to do so while lined up behind other programs. The video keeps playing. A good way to test this is to put yourself on your webcam and wave to yourlsef when using aero flip 3D. You will be able to see yourslef moving even though the size of the window has been reduced.

Windows Vista Aero Flip 3D

Old habbits die hard! And this is exactly why we need to bring back the old style classic menu when using Windows Vista Explorer. There are menu items that are hiding from us.  I am talking about the file, edit, tools, view, and help menu that was on every explorer window in XP.

This classic menu enables you to change important settings such as folder options, which in itself has at least 30 settings alone.

Here’s how to show the classic old style menu (file, edit, tools, and view)

1. Go to the start menu and choose documents from the menu
2. Now press the Alt key on the keyboard
3. The classic menu will appear
4. If you press Alt again it will disappear

This is just a temporary fix because the classic menu will not stay there. Next time you go to m computer or documents, you will have to press Alt again.

To get the classic menu to stay in Windows Vista Explorer you need to:

1. Open computer or documents from the start menu.
2. Press the Alt key to get the classic menu to appear.
3. Now got to the tools menu and choose Folder Options.
4. On the general tab under the heading tasks put a check next to Use Windows Classic Folders.

Watch this video tutorial below to see more details.

If you have Windows Vista and have tried pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys, to bring up the task manager, it will not work. You will be logged out first and then given a menu of choices. Of course you can choose to open the windows vista task manger from there, however why go to all that trouble.

In Windows XP it was easy to get to the task manger by just pressing Ctrl Alt and Delete keys on the keyboard. You would be taken straight to the task manager, and not logged out to get there. In Windows Vista you can now press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to get directly to task manager.

I would love to know why they have changed it?

Windows Vista Task Manager

The Windows notification area is the most frequently used part of the desktop taskbar. It keeps you up to date with whats going on on your computer by animated icons that occassionally poup with messages for you. A great example is when there are Windows updates ready for your computer or if your laptop battery is running low.

The notification area also holds the volume control icon, the time, and any other program icons that are enabled to show there. You can change the settings for a program icon to Hide when inactive, Always hide, or Always show. This allows you to remove annoying icons and just keep the important ones.
What are the most common icons that appear in the Windows Vista notification area?

• Time
• Volume
• Windows update icon
• Network connections icon
• Bluetooth icon
• Laptop Power icon
• Windows Live Messenger

How to add or remove icons in the notification area in Windows Vista

1. Go to the start menu icon in the left corner
2. Right click on it to bring a menu
3. Choose properties from the menu
4. Go to the Notification Area Tab
5. Click on customize to change the settings for each icon that shows up in the notification area

Watch this video tutorial to see more details..

If you can’t handle the new Windows Vista start menu, and you cannot seem to find what you want, then don’t pannic. You have two choices for a start menu in Windows Vista. If you have Windows Vista you would have seen the default start menu. It seems a little confusing after dealing with Windows XP

Classic Windows Vista menu

 Here’s how to change the Windows Vista start menu to a classic menu.

• Go to the Windows Icon in the left bottom corner and right click on it.
• A menu will appear. Choose properties from the menu.

• The taskbar and start menu properties will appear.
• Go to the start menu tab.
• Put a check next to Classic Start Menu.
• Then press apply for the menu to change.

Start menu properties

Having used Windows Xp for what seems like forever, adapting to the changes in Windows Vista was a big task for me. Even though I am very familar with Windows XP and Vista seemed to be similar, it didn’t turn out to be afterall.

One of the features that was left out by default in Windows Vista was the good old run box link in the start menu. It was a complete delema for about 5 minutes in total. I supose its means nothing to the average computer user, however to the computer geek, freek, addicted person, it does.

Watch this video tutorial on how to put back the run box link in your Windows Vista Start menu.

Here is how to put a run command shortcut on your start menu in Windows Vista:

1. Right click on a blank space in your taskbar

2. Go to the start menu tab

3. Press on the customize button

4. Then scroll down near the bottom and tick the box next to run command

5. Press OK and then apply