When your computer crashes, sometimes you lose your icons, taskbar, start menu, and so on. This is called Windows Explorer.exe. This video tutorial shows you how to stop or restart explorer.exe so you can get the desktop back to normal. Starting the explorer.exe will bring back your desktop icons, taskbar, notification area, and start menu.

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.

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..