Customizing Your Windows Live Messenger Contact List

This is the first of several upcoming blog posts on different aspects of Windows Live Essentials. For more information on the Windows 7 + Windows Live experience click here. First, I would like to congratulate the Windows Live Messenger Team for 10 years of Messenger! Find out how *you* can celebrate the 10 Year Anniversary of Windows Live Messenger by readingthis blog post from the Messenger Team. I have the pleasure of being able to say Ive been a Messenger user since V1. Its been exciting to see the progression of Messenger over the last decade. Today, I use Windows Live Messenger as a primary communication vehicle (outside of email) with friends and colleagues. As you can imagine, I have a pretty big contact list. Being able to manage and customize the layout of my contact list is pretty important. By default, Messenger will show all contacts in your contact list online or offline, as well as groups. Messenger will also show the tab bar, favorites, and Whats New feed. To customize this default layout of your contact list, you can click the contact list layout button next to the add contact button in Messenger (see below screenshot).   The Options window will appear with the layout options for your contact list. This is where you can customize the layout of your contacts list in Messenger to fit your needs. For me, because I have so many contacts in my contacts list, I find that I am doing a lot of scrolling between the different categories. Looking at my own IM behavior, Im usually chatting with contacts that are online. So to help alleviate some of the scrolling, I have unchecked Show offline contacts. This means that contacts that are offline will not appear in my contact list in Messenger until they come online. You can view contacts on your contact list by different sizes in Messenger: Large, Medium, Small or Status only. To consume less space on my contacts list, Ive chosen to view contacts by status only. Whats great here is you can choose the sizes of your contacts by your main contact list and favorite contacts just in case you want your favorite contacts viewed differently than the rest. If you someone whos not using Windows Live Groups, you can uncheck Show groups so this category doesnt appear on your contact list. You can also do this for other parts of the window on this menu too. Hopefully talking about this helps those of you with large contact lists like me manage and customize the layout for a better experience in Messenger! One last thing did you know that Windows Live uses a unified contacts store? That means the same contacts you have in Messenger are the same contacts you have in Hotmail or in Windows Live Mail on the PC. More on this and other aspects of Windows Live Essentials in upcoming blog posts!

Windows tip: How to Load Internet Explorer Faster with Windows

Internet Explorer plug-ins spent too much time to start, and this, no doubt slow down the overall performance of the entire browser. In IE8 in Windows, the user can see which browser plug-ins was started, and can disable the the slowest. Steps: Start Internet Explorer. Click on Tools (tools)> Manage Add-ons (Manage Add-ons). On the right side of the list shows the operation of plug-ins and their load times. Mouse right-click on the slowest plug-ins and click Disable.

How Do You De-Clutter Your Desktop?

I am a computer desktop pack-rat. No matter how often I make a concerted effort to de-clutter my desktop, it seems in just a short time I have stuff all over the screen again. I can’t tell you how many times this year I have swept the desktop clean, only to have it get cluttered again.

TheAppleBlog had a great post yesterday describing five things you can do to make a minimalist Mac desktop. There are some great tips in there that I must try, but I know in a short time I’ll have junk all over the desktop again. Sigh.

How about you? Is your desktop a nice, clean minimalist one? I use both Mac and Windows, so I’m open to any suggestions you can offer to help me de-clutter. Give me your best shot.

Don’t be impressed with my (sort of) clean desktop above. You can’t see the second screen with all the stuff “swept” over there.

Registry Repair For Windows XP – The Basics

Even though you are not internet savvy, you are able to recognize the need for a registry repair for Windows XP. The question is, how do you go about it? Where do you start, and how?

By definition, a computer registry refers to a set of files which basically contains all the important data of your computer — OS or operating system, control panel, user profile and preferences, and so on.

When your computer system fails to boot up properly or if you experience slower than usual boot ups, as well as an unstable system and the blue screen of death it’s time to have your windows xp registry cleaning.

It’s quite easy to do this if you have the right skills and the right knowledge. A certain software program, Registry Editor or Regedit, which comes with your Windows XP, can help you do it manually. However, you should never venture into this kind of thing when you don’t have the right skills to begin with, else you may only worsen the state of your computer. If your system gets damaged following a careless registry cleaning, you will have to reinstall Windows XP again, and certainly, you wouldn’t wish to go through all this trouble.

It can be safely said that a Windows XP system repair may spell either your success or your doom, depending on how you do it.

If you believe you don’t have sufficient knowledge and skills, you can simply search for a good registry repair software program to download to reduce the risk of causing damage to your system. A good program allows you to run a scan and then it tries to figure out what’s wrong with your system.

Of course, you must know that programs like this can be very expensive, so do try to do an extensive search so you’ll be able to find a good program that is just right for your budget. It is so essential to give priority to the repair of your Windows registry. The expenses can be far worse if you take this thing for granted and allow the errors of your system to continue causing damage to your system until it finally breaks down.

If you conduct a registry repair for Windows XP, you are actually doing not just your PC, but yourself, too, a big favor.

About the Author:

Find out more about registry cleaners and what they can do from the top registry cleaner reviews. Fix up your PC registry today! Read more about how to fix a runtime error and DLL errors

Windows Performance Improvement Tips

In spite of the bad press it has been receiving from the technical community, Microsoft's Windows is still the most widely used operating system in the world and that by a distance. Windows represents the kindergarten in the hierarchy of computer education. At one time, Macintosh computers were considered a serious rival to Windows; but Mac never captured the public imagination as Windows has. Then came Linux, which many thought would displace Windows as the operating system of the world. It is free and the source code is bundled along with the software. However, its popularity never reached outside the circles of hardcore tech wizards and self-confessed geeks. Google has recently announced buoyed perhaps by the success of its web browser, Chrome that it would launch an operating system for laptops and desktops. The new operating system, christened Chrome Operating System, would be web-based and much faster. However, it is unlikely, though not impossible, to end the near-monopoly of Windows. This post is not intended to predict the outcomes of the so-called operating system war between software giants. Rather, this is intended to provide a few tips to improve the performance of the good old Windows operating system. These are general tips and will work for almost all versions of Windows from the vintage Windows 98 to the chic Windows Vista. Clean The Registries Windows registry, for the sake of those who are not in the know, is a database that contains the details of all the programs installed in a system. When you install a program, its details are written on the registry. On the other hand, if you simply copy a stand-alone .exe file, its details are not normally copied to the registry. Keeping a clean registry is important for the efficient and reliable performance of Windows. If you delete a program by using the delete button, the registry entry remains in the operating system as a broken link, which can slow down the system. Therefore, make sure that you delete the programs only by using the uninstall option available with most software packages. In case you can't find that option, go to the "Add or Remove Programs" option (you can find it in the control panel) of Windows and remove the software through that option. Clean The Startup Folder Startup is a folder in Windows in which details of programs that should automatically start after loading the operating system are stored. There might be some essential programs in the system tray and certain Windows elements that must be started for the proper running of the operating system. If too many programs start up after booting, it would slow down the system. You can run a command called msconfig.exe to find out the entries in the Startup folder. You can deselect any programs that you do not want to start up after booting. One has to be careful while doing this and should not remove any essential Windows components. Use System Tools You can run system tools such as Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to make the system run faster. Make sure that you clear temporary internet files and cookies periodically. You can also uninstall all the programs that you do not use to improve the performance of Windows. In addition, you have to leave sufficient free space in the drive in which Windows is running, i.e., C drive in most cases. Similarly, do not save too many files in the Desktop folder or create too many short cuts there. This is guest article written by Reed Terry. Sponsored links: Concert Tickets and Events Resources A site with reviews and articles on events such as concert tours with advice and information for finding any concert tickets on the net.

Windows tip: Disable Windows Services

You already know that some services in windows start automatically. Some of them most of the time are not usable and you can disable them from starting automatically, and with that, increase speed of computer in many ways (speed up your boot time and free resources). In the next list we are presenting all services which we think that can be disabled. They are only suggestions so I suggestion you read the description of each one when you run Services and that you turn them off one at a time. Some possibilities of disabling are: Alerter - Sends alert messages to specified users that are connected to the server computer. Application Management - Allows software to tap directly into the Add/Remove Programs feature via the Windows Installer technology. Background Intelligent Transfer Service - The Background Intelligent Transfer service is used by programs (such as Windows AutoUpdate) to download files by using spare bandwidth. Clipbook - ClipBook permits you to cut and paste text and graphics over the network. Error Reporting Service - Allows applications to send error reports to Microsoft in the event of an application fault. Fast User Switching - Windows XP allows users to switch quickly between accounts, without requiring them to log off. Help and Support - Allows the XP Built-in Help and Support Center to run. IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service - You don't need this if you have other software to create CDs. Indexing Service - Indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers; provides rapid access to files through flexible querying language. IP SEC - Manages IP security policy and starts the ISAKMP/Oakley (IKE) and the IP security driver. If you are not on a domain, you likely don't need this running. Messenger - Transmits net send and Alerter service messages between clients and servers. This is how a lot of pop-up windows start appearing on your desktop. Net Logon - Supports pass-through authentication of account logon events for computers in a domain. If you are not on a domain, you don't need this running Network DDE - Provides network transport and security for Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) for programs running on the same computer or on different computers. NT LM Security Support Provider - Provides security to remote procedure call (RPC) programs that use transports other than named pipes. Performance Logs and Alerts - Collects performance data from local or remote computers based on preconfigured schedule parameters, then writes the data to a log or triggers an alert. If you don't need to monitor your performance logs, then you don't need this service. Portable Media Serial Number - Retrieves the serial number of any portable music player connected to your computer QOS RSVP - Provides network signaling and local traffic control setup functionality for QoS-aware programs and control applets. Remote Desktop Help Session Manager - Manages and controls Remote Assistance. If you are not using Remote Desktop you don't need this service. Remote Registry - Enables remote users to modify registry settings on this computer. Routing & Remote Access - Offers routing services to businesses in local area and wide area network environments. Allows dial-in access. Secondary Login - Enables starting processes under alternate credentials. This is what allows you to run an application as another user. Smart Card - Manages access to smart cards read by this computer. Smart Card Helper - Enables support for legacy non-plug and play smart-card readers used by this computer. SSDP Discovery Service - Enables discovery of UPnP devices on your home network. TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper - Enables support for NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) service and NetBIOS name resolution. This should not be needed in today's network environment. Telnet - Enables a remote user to log on to this computer and run programs, and supports various TCP/IP Telnet clients. Uninterruptible Power Supply Service - Manages an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to the computer. Universal Plug and Play Device Host - Provides support to host Universal Plug and Play devices Upload Manager - Manages synchronous and asynchronous file transfers between clients and servers on the network. Volume Shadow Copy Service - Manages and implements Volume Shadow Copies used for backup and other purposes. Web Client - Enables Windows-based programs to create, access, and modify non-local files across the Internet. Wireless Zero Configuration - Provides automatic configuration for the 802.11 adapters WMI Performance Adapter - Provides performance library information from WMI HiPerf providers.

Windows tip: How To Spy Windows Users

Simple, just use software Detective Dominator. Detective Dominator is a stealth keylogger that will provide you with necessary tools in monitoring PC and internet activity. Detective Dominator is a must have key logger software tool for the serious parent, spouse, and professional employer. You can easily set up the software to record computer activity in which it records keystrokes, websites visited, and programs used. It can help to find out virtually everything that happens on the computer of your employer (or any other computer) If you are interested read more about Detective Dominator (google it) or download demo version here.

Windows tip: How to Remove Duplicate Contacts From Outlook

With using Microsoft Outlooks contact management functionality you may accumulate duplicate entries or contacts as you sync with your mobile device. To remove duplicate entries you can use the tool which will help with removing the duplicates. That tool is Contacts Scrubber for Outlook which easily removes duplicate contacts from your Outlook Contacts folders. Scrubber works by comparing all of your Outlook Contacts, looking for possible duplicate items. As it finds these potential duplicates, it presents them to you one at a time via an intuitive interface, displaying field-by-field comparisons of the contact data, and proposing a logical way to merge this data into a single contact item. You may then merge the contacts by either accepting Scrubbers proposed merge, or you can select which values to used on a field-by-field basis in the merged contact item. Great for eliminating duplicate Outlook Contacts created by your BlackBerry or iPhone. Contacts Scrubber works on Outlook (not Express though) 2000 and later. The free version of this program processes up to 1,000 entries so if you have more contacts or need additional features, taking a look at the pro version might be worth the time. Link: Scrubber

Windows tip: System is low on virtual memory error

You must have faced this error message at some time or the other, when you try to run some large applications and your system either goes very slow or starts hanging and finally displays this message from your system tray: Your system is low on virtual memory. Windows is increasing the size of your virtual memory paging file. During this process, memory requests for some applications may be denied. For more information, see Help. To fix this all you need to do is to follow these few basic steps: Click on "Start" followed by "My Computer" and right click on it to select Properties In the "System Properties" dialog box, click the "Advanced" tab and in the "Performance" pane click on "Settings" In the "Performance Options" dialog box, click the "Advanced" tab. In the "Virtual memory" pane there, click "Change". In the Virtual Memory window, under "Custom Size" change the "Initial size" value and the "Maximum size" value to a higher value, then the one that is mentioned there, depending on the space available, mentioned above the custom size. (The total of Initial size and Maximum size should not exceed your total space available.) Finally click "Set", and then click "OK". After this, you wont see that annoying error popping up and you can also feel the speed improvement of your computer.

Windows 7 tip: Windows 7 Clear Type Tuning - How to

 
With Windows 7, you can now configure your monitor for the best display of Clear Type.

Here is the steps:

1. From the Start Menu, run CTTUNE
2. This will allow you to first Turn on Clear Type
   
   
   
3. If you have two monitors, you can select which or both monitors to tune
   
   
   
4. You will then be presented with a series of screens on the respective monitor.
5. Select which font looks the clearest for you.
6. When you are done, the completed monitor will show a check next to the calibrated monitors.

Windows 7 tip: Maximizing, Restoring and Moving Windows

 

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You can quickly maximize a window by simply dragging it to the top of the screen or double clicking on its border at the top.

Double clicking on the window will restore it to the original size.

To move a window to a different monitor, even if maximized, you can simply drag it to the other monitor. You don't need to make it smaller first.

If you want to minimize the entire one particular window, have that be the active window and just shake it with the mouse. Your other windows will be minimized. Shake it again and they will return to the size and location they were before.

Windows 7 tip: How to Run a Program in Compatibility Mode

 
June 26, 2009 at 4:34 am

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If you have installed Windows 7 OS, sometimes you can be faced with the problem of running some windows program which is written for older windows operating systems and it is not compatible with Windows 7 operating system. If you have a program that doesn't run in native Windows 7, to run it - try:

1. Right click on the icon of the program
2. Select Properties
3. Click on the Compatibility tab
4. Check Run this program in compatibility mode for:
5. Select one of the options such as Windows XP (Service Pack 3). Right now there are ten different options you can choose ranging from Window95 to Vista (Service Pack 2).

Windows tip: Removing Not Usable .Dll Files from the Memory

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From day to day for our daily job we need more and more computer memory. Adding more RAM memory is one of the options. Other option is to remove unusable files from the memory of your computer. Most of those files are .dll files. Dll files are loaded into memory after installing a variety of programs and thus reduce the amount of available memory, which after removing or closing some of those programs dlls are not removing form the memory. Here's how to configure Windows to delete .dll files from memory and with that increase memory space and speed up your computer:

1. Open regedit (Start> Run> type "regedit" without quotes of course) .
2. Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / Software / Microsoft / Windows CurrentVersion / Explorer.
3. Create a new dword entry named AlwaysUnloadDLL, set the value to 1.
4. Close Regedit and Restart your computer.

Windows 7 tip: Restore Gadgets After Disabling UAC

Windows 7 tip: If you have changed your User Account Control settings to Never notify, by default Gadgets will not be displayed on the desktop. A simple registry change should solve the problem: Start Regedit Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Sidebar \ Settings Right-click on the right panel and create a new DWORD (32-Bit) Value named AllowElevatedProcess. Double click on this and give it a value of 1 [via]

Windows 7 tip: How to burn ISO

With Windows 7, you can now directly burn ISO images. Using the Windows Explorer, double click on the ISO file. If you have another software program that lets you view the contents of an ISO file (like WinZip), right click on the file and select Open with Windows Disk Image Burner