Day, Date and Time in Taskbar - Skinny Clock solves that!

Nearly forgot ;) - July 26, 07 (Photo credit: ThrasherDave)

14-July-2014


A couple of weeks ago, I started working (again). And the box that I was given was running Windows XP. Yes, XP, as in XP. And the consolation was, the HDD size was considerable. I mean, compared to my previous company, whose old XP  machines came with a measly 40GB, the old machines in my new company, as I also heard from fellow newcomers, was generous: 250GB.

We all know what XP is, at least compared to Windows 7 and Windows 8. And since I am so used to being 'free' when it comes to computing, I find myself suddenly choked and restricted by the limits set to a normal user.

Nonetheless, I still was able to do some workaround, at least with the date on the PC. I was already getting used to the Linux interface, which I also see in Mac computers, so I was looking for the Day-Date-Time display on the taskbar.

Now, I checked this small requirement of mine, actually, a personal requirement, and of course, there are some answers. And some answers I find quite st**id. As I read it, the one who asked the question already mentioned that his/her taskbar is in the normal one-line mode, and they still would say, "What day-date-time?" And they continue saying '"f you just make your taskbar two lines, then you will see the 'day-date-time' info that you are looking for." I'd like to strangle that person!

I guess if you don't know the answer, then just keep quiet. Please!

Now, some guys know the real answer, and here it is. Use Skinny Clock.

Make it replace the system clock, and you can easily format the Day-Date-Time display to your liking. And as I mentioned, for one like me who has limited access privilege, there is the binary version, which you can download and extract to a folder of your choice, then run it from there. No installation required. And, it works!

Try it. I'm sure you will like it.

Till then!

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Employing Windows XP Logon Screen in Windows 7

Image via Wikipedia
21-October-2011

Yesterday, I spent some 2 hours at our End User Support area, and one of the things that our main guy, the one doing all the OS installation and setup of individual and production PCs and laptops, was the user acceptability of Windows 7 for the general user group.

Mainly, the big difference between Windows 7 and Windows XP is right from the start: the Logon screen.

In Windows XP, users are so used to seeing 3 boxes:

•  username
•  password
•  domain

In Windows 7, you don't see the boxes, but you either see the name of the last logged user, and a box for the password, or you get 2 choices: the last logged user, and 'switch user'. Now, laying aside all questions of intelligence and common sense, an average user (and sometimes even a geek) would never try to guess and attempt clicking on the 'switch user' icon. Especially if that is their orientation, don't play-play.

So now you get the picture - will Windows 7 be accepted easily? It is like saying, go into that new house, there are better things there - and the average tenant can't even figure out how to open the gate...


Keystroke Logger and Computer Monitoring Software


Is there a workaround?

I told him I didn't knew about this problem, since in out team, we are on 99.9% single-user PC/laptop usage ratio. But things are different in the production line. And I said I would look it up in the web.
I did find some very simple solutions, applicable to both Windows Vista and Windows 7, and while the approach may be different between the flavors of Windows 7, the effect is the same.

Here goes:

1. Click on Windows 7 pearl (hey, it isn't a button anymore).
2. Type secpol.msc and hit [Enter] (that's for Security Policy).
3. At the left side, click on Local Policies, then on Security Options.
4. Then at the right side, click any item, then press "i". That brings you to the list of items beginning with "I".
5. The main item to Enable is: "Interactive logon: Do not display last user name".
6. Enabling this is optional: "Interactive logon: Do not require CTRL + ALT + DEL". Enabling this means users will immediately see 2 boxes at the logon screen: username and password.
7. Close window, and we are done.

Applicability:

I managed to apply these to 2 desktop PCs, and my laptop. I'm just happy that with this simple solution, the objective can be met.

As for the laptop, it isn't exactly the same screen, because there is an additional option for logging in: biometrics sensor.

Hopefully, we are helping to get Windows 7 less resisted but more accepted in the line.

Till then!

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Restoring the Show Desktop Icon in Windows 7

Image via Wikipedia

For the many changes from NT, XP and Vista, and all other previous OSes, Windows 7 engineered the Show Desktop feature in 2 ways:

• a rectangular bar at the far right side of the Taskbar (which means bottom-right side of the screen), and
• a mouse right-click on the Taskbar, and the Show Desktop selection is somewhere in the middle of the list

Change is almost always a bitter pill to swallow, and while Windows 7 generally is a change that is welcome, not all that it brings along is. At least for some, it isn't - until another 5 to 10 years of encountering it, and getting used to it.

For those who want to "see it" just like before, one way to have it like before is to show again the Show Desktop icon - at the left side of the taskbar.

There are 2 ways to do that: simple, and simpler, method.

New Registry Cleaner, if you are looking for one...

Base method:
Open up Notepad.
Enter below (5) lines, exactly the same, as is, no change.
Save As "Show Desktop.scf" in desktop folder, or the folder of your choice. (Note that the common place to keep this file is in the following folder:  "C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\". But why save it there, when it will be done for you by Windows 7? Save it to a safe folder of your like, that is.
We're done with the base file.

-----
[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop
-----

Simple method:

1. Select an icon that is currently on the desktop (e.g., Notepad, Sticky Notes, etc.)
2. Right-click the icon, select Copy, then Paste on the desktop, as well. This is a duplicate icon.
3. Click-and-drag the duplicate icon to the Taskbar, and drop it there nicely (on the left next to the pearl button, since that is the closest to the Show Desktop XP/Vista icon).
4. Right click the pinned icon, select Properties.
5. Replace the following: Target field, to the file that was saved earlier (Show Desktop.scf), so you have to remember where the file was saved for faster execution.
6. Empty the Start In field.

7. Finally, do a Change Icon. Click on that button, and select from the list offered when using %SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll, or from the list offered when using %SystemRoot%\system32\shell%.dll. It is the blue screen icon, or select which one you prefer for that matter.
8. To really have it show "Show Desktop" when hovered by the mouse, rename that icon by clicking on the General tab in the Properties dialog.
9. To conclude, restart your PC/laptop for the changes to take effect. You should see the 'Show Desktop' icon where you planted it.
10. Enjoy!

Tinting a physical window


Simpler method:

1. Do base method, and make sure that you save the file in Desktop.
2. Click and drag the icon to the Taskbar, to the leftmost part, next to the pearl button.
3. We're done! Restart your PC/laptop to see the changes.

Disclaimer:

1. If the Simpler method simply fails, do the Simple method.

Enjoy!


Resources:
1. Site 1
2. Site 2
3. Site 3
4. Site 4

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More, or most out of Windows 7?

Image via CrunchBase

With Windows 7 just getting a more serious attention from all the affected users who'd have to buy a license for their copy, I think it would be high time that Windows 7 users now focus on getting the most out of Microsoft's latest OS, Windows 7.

I found this article in the Ezine directory, and I am sure that there will be some good points, practical and useful, to be gained from this reading.

Read on...

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Getting the Most Out of Windows 7

Microsoft's newest operating system, Windows 7, is an excellent release. Microsoft listened to consumers and technicians this time around to create a great operating system that has a lot of user-friendly features. This article will cover several of those features to help you get the most out of your Windows 7 system.

First, your Start Menu remains the improved version seen in the last Windows release. You access your Start Menu by clicking on the Windows button at the bottom left of your screen. Once you click, your most frequently used programs are displayed right in front of you. You can "pin" programs to this menu by right-clicking them and choosing "Pin to Start Menu."

Access all your programs by clicking "All Programs" on the bottom of the menu, or simply type the program name into the search box. You'll see buttons linking to all your folders to the right of your menus. Your user folder will be there, as well as a link to documents, downloads, and pictures. You can customize what shows up by right-clicking next to your user picture and choosing "Properties," then click the "Start Menu" tab, then click the "Customize" button.

Next, take a look at your Taskbar - that's be bar that runs along the bottom of your computer screen. Any programs you have open will have an icon displayed on the Taskbar. The Taskbar is greatly improved in Windows 7. First, you can rearrange the icons in any order you like. Simply click on them, hold your mouse button down, and drag the icon where you want it.

If you have multiple windows open in a program they will "stack" on top of each other, looking a bit like a deck of cards. When you click the stack of icons, a little window will pop up and show you a preview of each of your program windows so you can pick the one you want. There will also be an "X" button so you can quickly close those you don't need open anymore. If you have music or a video play, the preview window will have controls for you!

Next up is the windows themselves. If you have a window in a small size and you want it maximized, simply click on the top border of the window with your mouse. Hold down your mouse button and drag the window to the top of the screen. It automatically maximizes! Drag it down again and it will return to the size you had it.

Windows 7 makes comparing two documents or screens easy, too. Click on the top bar of the first window and drag it until your mouse point hits the left side of your screen. It will pop to fill half of your screen. Use the same technique to drag the second window to the right - it will fill the other half of the screen for side-by-side viewing.

A final useful feature in Windows 7 is a small button in the very bottom, right-hand corner of your screen. It looks like a tiny button on top of the Taskbar. Click that, and all windows on your screen minimize so you can see the desktop. Click again, and your windows pop back to where they were.

Windows 7 truly has a user-friendly interface that you'll find quick to learn and easy to work with. Explore these features and others to get the most out of your copy of Windows 7.

Kristen enjoys writing and sharing good ideas. Come visit her new website about the pet play pen and a really great idea - the puppy play pen.

Article Directory: EzineArticles

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Taken from Ezine directory; see the source article below:
Getting the Most Out of Windows 7
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