K2Know - IT || EP.70 Bring the Old Windows Taskbar to Life in Windows 7

Bring the Old Windows Taskbar to Life in Windows 7

Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows 7, brings a slew of tweaks and improvements. While most adjustments are under the hood, the graphical user interface has received a facelift as well. One of the first changes you will notice is the revamped taskbar. Unofficially dubbed the "Superbar," this new feature is essentially a mash-up of the traditional Windows Quick Launch/taskbar and the Mac OS X dock. As it's often the case with any significant change in the way we use software, opinions will vary. While many like to stick to the "if it's not broken, don't fix it" philosophy, I happen to like the new taskbar a lot. Unfortunately for the those of you who don't, defaulting to the ways of old isn't as simple as unchecking Superbar in favor of Quick Launch, so you'll have to get a little hands-on. Keep reading to bring back the taskbar you're familiar with.
Start by right clicking the Superbar, mouse over Toolbars and click New toolbar. When prompted to enter a folder directory, paste the following string of text:

%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

Then click Select Folder.
A labeled Quick Launch bar should appear near the clock.
To configure the Quick Launch bar to how it was in previous versions of Windows, you'll have to make a few swift changes. Start by right clicking the Superbar and unchecking Lock the taskbar. You should see a few dotted lines appear near the Quick Launch bar.
Next, right click on the Quick Launch bar, uncheck Show text, and Show title. Then you'll need to right click on all your Superbar icons and unpin them.
Grab the dotted lines near the Quick Launch bar and pull it all the way to the Start button. By doing so, the bar where your applications load will be bumped near the clock - so pull those dotted lines back to the left near your Quick Launch bar.
Now, your open applications will still be using Windows 7's small collapsed buttons instead of the long text-filled ones. To change that, right click on the Superbar and head into Properties.
Click the drop down menu next to Taskbar buttons and choose either of the last two options. When you're done, click Ok and recheck Lock the taskbar.
The finished product should look something like this:
Did you know?
Microsoft first introduced a taskbar with Windows 95. Its design remained largely unchanged until the modifications seen in Windows 7.


Credit from: http://www.techspot.com/guides/188-old-taskbar-in-windows7/

 

K2Know - IT || EP.69 Should You Install Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit?

Should You Install Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit?

With the upcoming release of Windows 7, the question is raised again on whether you should install the 32-bit version (x86) of the operating system or move up to 64-bit (x64). This is something that's been asked since the introduction of consumer-level processors bearing the “x64” nomenclature. It feels like just yesterday that Intel and AMD fanboys were at odds over the Athlon 64. At that time and even as recently as the introduction of Windows Vista, software and drivers for 64-bit setups were slim-pickings.
Analogous to the shift from 16 to 32-bit computing, the jump to 64-bit has been a slow one. Windows XP x64 never took off, though 64-bit versions of Vista did, thankfully. The ride was a bumpy one, but hardware manufacturers and software developers alike have finally widely adopted the 64-bit architecture - and there’s no turning back now.
At this point in time, nearly everyone is on the same page about the transition. If your old video card and printer have yet to receive 64-bit compatible drivers, odds are they won’t be getting any. A boatload of legacy hardware support was dropped with Windows Vista, and Windows 7 certainly won’t pick it back up, regardless of which version you install.
Now, you’re probably wondering why 64-bit operating systems are being phased in and what benefits they deliver over their 32-bit predecessors – both legitimate questions. One of the most commonly cited differences is that the 32-bit architecture has a memory access limit of 4GB (2^32 bytes). This permits you to use about 2.75-3.5GB of RAM after IO reservations are factored in.
On paper, the 64-bit architecture can address 16 exabytes of memory (2^64), or more than 4 billion times that of its precursor. Consumer editions of Windows Vista permit from 8GB to 128GB of physical memory to be accessed, depending on the version. Windows 7 bumps that up to 192GB with the Professional version and above.
Other benefits of running a 64-bit OS include enhanced security with hardware-backed DEP, Kernel Patch Protection and mandatory driver signing.
This is all just scratching the surface, but I suppose the real question should be:
Why shouldn’t you install Windows x64?
The short answer is that you should go with Windows 7 64-bit unless you’re running a system well into its antiquity where driver support is going to become an issue.
Microsoft has useful online tools that can scan your system and external peripherals and give you an outlook of what's currently supported and what's not. A few useful links:
- Windows Vista Compatibility Center
- Windows 7 Compatibility Center (not yet available)
- Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Did you know?
Retail versions of Windows 7 will include both 32-bit & 64-bit discs on the box in case you are undecided or prefer to make the jump to the 64-bit version of the OS at a later time.


Credit from: http://www.techspot.com/guides/177-windows-install-32bit-64bit/

 

K2Know - IT || EP.68 No apps left behind: A backup checklist before reinstalling

No apps left behind: A backup checklist before reinstalling

Whether you're upgrading or repairing your computer, at some point in time you'll be faced with the task of reinstalling your operating system, especially in the Windows world. As I can personally attest, most of the frustration with starting fresh comes from losing your installed programs and customized settings with them. Sure, you can create tweaked installation discs to automate the process and have all your drivers, programs and settings already in place. The problem is that most people won't reinstall Windows more than once or twice a year. When the time comes to use your customized OS disc, new versions of your programs and drivers will have been released.
Despite serious attempts to be organized, almost every time that I reinstall my OS I manage to forget something. It's a phenomenon that forever haunts me, and I know I'm not alone. But being the clever guy that I am, after years of curiously skimming my programs folder trying to determine what's missing, I've decided to create a checklist. Never again will my stomach knot up on the first Windows boot after realizing that I overwrote a year's worth of saved games.
Sadly, the mind behind this list is the same flawed creature responsible for my troubles to begin with; so please, if you have something to add, share it with us in the comments.

The Checklist

• Typical user folder data:
  All your documents, pictures, music, videos, downloads, contacts and so on.
  If you are a tiny bit organized most of these files should reside in Windows' Documents folder.
• Email data and Address Book:
  All your emails, address book, rules, accounts, etc.
  Gmail is a godsend but call me old fashioned, I still like to have my local copy of emails stored in Outlook. Luckily it's super easy to save all your emails to a .pst file. Whether you use Outlook, Thunderbird, Eudora or any other email client, there's additional data you may want to save like your address book, email rules, or even the mail accounts themselves.
• Game data:
  Saved games and configuration files.
  Many modern Windows games will save your sessions within the My Documents folder or your user profile's folder. If not, you will have to travel to each game's folder and figure out which are the files needed to be saved.
• Browser-related data:
  Bookmarks/Favorites, custom settings, and add-ons.
  This can be done painfully easy by a number of Firefox add-ons (scroll down to our Did you Know? tip for a link). For other browsers you may have to resort to less automated processes. Many users will also tell you that you are better off using web-based bookmarking services like delicious.
• Instant Messaging:
  Sent/received files and chat logs.
  Although logs may not be as important (in fact, wiping them doesn't sound like a bad idea), IM programs tend to save received files at odd locations. With that in mind we suggest you check those folders for potentially unsaved data.
• Others:
  Every shred of data you may need from financial applications, password manager data, OPML file from your RSS reader, media player library information and playlists.

Other things to consider

• Take a few screenshots for your reference:
  I have learned over time that it's a good idea to take screenshots to make the reinstall process a breeze. I suggest taking screenshots of your desktop, Start menu, and installed programs list (from the Control Panel). Also anything with a lot of settings (e.g. firewall with a ton of exceptions), and a screenshot of all your Firefox add-ons, despite of having them backed up already.
• Download installers in advance:
  Backing up may take a long while depending on where you are moving data, so downloading the latest versions of your hardware drivers and software applications in advance will save you time after reloading your OS to a clean state.

Did you know?
FEBE can back up and restore your Firefox bookmarks, cookies, extensions, passwords, preferences, themes and just about anything else. It is a must-have if you're running Firefox beyond a vanilla install.


Credit from: http://www.techspot.com/guides/183-app-backup-checklist/

 

K2Know - IT || EP.67 Deciphering unknown fonts with 'WhatTheFont'

Deciphering unknown fonts with 'WhatTheFont'

I might be alone on this one, but I can't tell you how many times I've found an interesting font while browsing around only to be clueless about what it is. With tens of thousands of font types out there, trying to figure out exactly what you've come across can be a nightmare. There is no end to the list of "crafty" things I've tried while looking for an unknown font. I'm sure someone that's into graphic design or art in general can relate, as they're forced to decipher obscure fonts all the time. You know the common "tricks": pasting the text into a word processor in hopes that the formatting sticks, skimming the page's source code for a hint and so on. Sometimes they work - but often times the font you're after is in an image.
MyFonts.com hosts a service appropriately named "WhatTheFont" which can read and interpret an image of your mysterious font.
Ideally, the service suggests that characters in your image shouldn't be touching, they should have a distinct shape, be about 100 pixels tall and as horizontal as possible. After you upload the file, WhatTheFont will ask you if it chose the right characters for the letters in your image.
The next screen will present you with a few likely candidates to compare with the original image. Even if it doesn't find the identical font, it will show you some others that look close. If you like something you see, click on the image for more information, to play with some sample text in that style, or to buy the font.
Although it has yet to fail me, if WhatTheFont lets you down, the site has a forum full of font geeks ready and willing to identify your cryptic text.
Did you know?
Released by Microsoft in 1995, Comic Sans is so disliked today that there's even a movement to ban its use. Check out this great Wall Street Journal article about the font's history and its creator, Vincent Connare.


Credit from: http://www.techspot.com/guides/186-deciphering-unknown-fonts/

 

K2Know - IT || EP.66 Understanding Windows 7 upgrade paths

Understanding Windows 7 upgrade paths

Windows 7 has already earned itself a blue ribbon, and it isn't even in stores yet. Many Vista users will migrate to Redmond's latest and greatest operating system in search of greener pastures, and countless Windows XP laggards will be lured from the woodwork by Windows 7's polish. Microsoft will be granting both XP and Vista users the right to buy "Upgrade" versions of Windows 7 which run for considerably less money. For example, the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade is $120, versus its full version counterpart that will sell for $200. Similarly, Windows 7 Professional ($200/$300) and Ultimate ($220/$320) will be sold as Upgrade and Full versions.
Now, in terms of how you can perform an upgrade on a machine already running Windows, for some the in-place upgrade option will make the experience seamless; all your programs, files and settings will remain untouched coming from certain versions of Vista. However, for another significant portion of users, installing from scratch will be the only route available (and a recommended one at that).
Microsoft has released a chart to help users figure out what upgrade paths are open to them. Unfortunately, the chart is so cluttered and dysfunctional that it makes the whole process seem much more complicated than it really is. In an attempt to smooth things out for our readers, we've created a condensed, easy-to-digest reference with all of the potential upgrade paths.
Note that if your desired path isn't included in the table below, you will have to run a fresh install -- this includes Windows XP and Windows Vista Starter users.
Also realize that you can't mix architectures if you want to upgrade without a clean install. In other words, if you are presently running a 32-bit copy of Windows, you must upgrade to a 32-bit version of Windows 7 (likewise with 64-bit).

Installed version of Windows Vista	Upgrade paths to Windows 7	Price
Vista Home Basic	Windows 7 Home Premium, Ultimate	$120, $220
Vista Home Premium	Windows 7 Home Premium, Ultimate	$120, $220
Vista Business	Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate	$200, $220
Vista Ultimate	Windows 7 Ultimate	$220

There are a couple more things worth noting here. While you can't perform a direct update from Windows Vista Home Basic or Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional, there is simple a workaround: You can run an in-place upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium, and then use Windows Anytime Upgrade to move up to Professional for an additional $90. The total upgrade cost amounts to $210, which is $10 more than a direct upgrade but still better than buying a full Professional license at $300.
Windows XP users are not limited in the version of Windows 7 they can upgrade to via a clean install. Additionally, users of XP may have a possible path to Windows 7, if absolutely necessary, though it's less than recommended. It's been suggested that one could upgrade to Vista using a spare or borrowed disc, skip activation altogether, and then run an in-place upgrade to Windows 7. This approach might take more work than just installing fresh, and results will surely vary. If anything, make sure to backup any precious data before having a go at it.
Did you know?
If you're 'stuck' without an upgrade path, don't fret. Use our backup checklist to ensure that your data is safe, and then look at our top applications to install after a fresh OS installation as a quick reference on what you should have installed after a reformat.


Credit from: http://www.techspot.com/guides/192-windows7-upgrade-paths/

 

K2Know - IT || EP.65 Place a Fully Functional Recycle Bin on your Windows 7 Taskbar

Place a Fully Functional Recycle Bin on your Windows 7 Taskbar

I'm not exactly sure when it became cool to abandon the use of your operating system's desktop, but a growing number of people these days prefer the "clean" look. Recent releases of Microsoft Windows seem to encourage this. By default, Windows Vista and 7 strip the desktop of all icons but the Recycle Bin. Try as you may, ignoring this lone icon is impossible. Sure, you can hide it in just a few seconds, but at the cost of losing quick access to deleted files. You could also drag the Recycle Bin icon to the taskbar, but then it will appear pinned under Windows Explorer -- requiring an extra click to open and offering half the functionality.
In this tip, we will show you one method of bringing a fully functional Recycle Bin to your Windows 7 Taskbar, so you can clear off your desktop once and for all with little to no compromise.
To get started, we'll have to bring out the Quick Launch bar. Rest assured, it will not replace the new Windows 7 Superbar -- in fact you won't even know Quick Launch is there. Right click on the Windows 7 Taskbar, hover over Toolbars and click New toolbar.

When prompted to provide a folder directory, enter the following string of text: %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

After doing so, a labeled Quick Launch bar should appear near the clock. Odds are it will have several icons onboard, but since we won't be using this bar for anything apart from hosting the Recycle Bin I would just delete all of the shortcuts.

Right click on the Taskbar and uncheck Lock the taskbar if it isn't already. Now, right click on your Quick Launch bar and uncheck Show text, as well as Show title. Finally, right click and hover on View to select the size that your Recycle Bin icon will be -- I chose large to match my Superbar icons.

With the Quick Launch bar configured, all you have to do is drag and drop the Recycle Bin onto it. Feel free to grab the dotted lines and drag the Quick Launch bar to your preferred location. I would recommend either pulling it all the way to the left near the Start menu, or all the way right near the clock.

When you are satisfied with the position of your Quick Launch bar, relock the Taskbar and hide the Recycle Bin on your desktop by right-clicking an empty space and selecting Personalize, then clicking Change desktop icons in the left column of the Personalization window and un-checking the appropriate box.

Did you know?
Apple sued to prevent other software companies from offering graphical user interfaces similar to its own. The company lost most of its claims but courts agreed Apple's Trash icon was original and protected by copyright. Non-Apple software must use other metaphors for file deletion, such as Recycle Bin, Smart Eraser, or Shredder.


Credit from: http://www.techspot.com/guides/196-recycle-bin-on-windows-7-taskbar/

 

K2Know - IT || EP.64 Get the Most Out of Your Google Search Results

Get the Most Out of Your Google Search Results

With Bing slowly but steadily rising in popularity Google is facing more pressure than ever to rejuvenate the search experience it has to offer. Sure, they still hold a clearly dominant share of the market at about 64.6% (versus 19.3% for its closest rival, Yahoo), but then again Google has proven to know better than to just rest on its laurels. Over the years, the Mountain View-based company has been enhancing its search engine not only to provide quality and relevant results, but also let users be more particular about their searches with dozens of special features and operators. Despite this, I am willing to bet that most people just use the vanilla search as is.
Fair enough. I mean Google is supposed to be easy to use, so why complicate it? Well, for starters, these functions are meant save you a lot of time and effort. I'm sure the more inquisitive of you know all about the basics, like quoting your searches to find exact matches, and then some -- but that's truly just the tip of the iceberg. Today we'll be highlighting some of our favorite Google search tricks.

Special Features

Beyond the standard word search capability, Google can quickly display things like the current time or weather of a particular city; it can be used to track packages; as a calculator for basic and fairly advanced math operations; and can convert things like currency, weights and measures.
Time and weather
To find the time in another corner of the globe simply enter "time" and then the name of a large city or country -- time Berlin for example. Likewise, weather humidity, temperature and forecast can be viewed by typing the word "weather" followed by the desired location.


Calculator and package tracking
Use Google for math equations by entering them as a query -- 3*2 will work, but so will a more complex calculation like 94/36*(sqrt 34)^3. Most symbols and integers can be swapped with written words, too. Typing the tracking number for your UPS, FedEx or USPS package directly into the search box will get you quick links to easily track the status of your shipment.


Unit conversions
Conversions are just as easy. Simply enter a number followed by something like USD to GBP, mm to inch, Fahrenheit to Celsius. Be it teaspoons, microseconds, bytes or kilometers, Google's conversion calculator is quite featured, and can be used for just about any unit that comes to mind.

Other tweaks
While all of that is handy and easy to use, things get much more intricate. By using the proper strings of text, you can even use Google search in place of a P2P program to find songs, video clips, and other media. There are also plenty of minor hacks and tweaks. For instance, Omgili shows how to tinker with a Google search URL to get real-time results. This is particularly useful for finding news related to current events; here's the latest on IDF (in progress as of this writing) within a 30 minute timeframe, by the way.

Query Refinements

Finally, below is a table of a few functions that we have found to be useful -- but they only scratch the surface, really. We would love to hear about the small search adjustments you make to refine or otherwise improve your Google results in the comments.

Function	Purpose	Example
+	Includes specified words.	netbook +11.6 +ion
-	Excludes specified words.	gaming keyboard -logitech
*	The standard wildcard symbol. Used as a placeholder for unknown words.	traditional * food
~	Searches for words similar to the one it's paired with.	first computer build ~help
..	Searches for a numeric range -- especially useful for dates or prices.	halo pc $0..$15
define:	Can be used for various things, including words, acronyms, and phrases to offer specialized search results.	define:monkey see monkey do
filetype:	Filters out results by specified file type.	filetype:torrent ubuntu
related:	A great way to find sites that have similar content.	related:techspot.com
site:	Search for site-specific content.	Lynnfield site:techspot.com
Combining operators	You can use most of these search functions in a single query to further enhance your results	+microsoft +yahoo ~talks "Matthew DeCarlo" site:techspot.com

Did you know?

Google is cooking up an innovative personal communication and collaboration tool dubbed Google Wave. In short, it is a web-based service, computing platform and protocol designed to unite email, IM, wiki, and social networking. Based on recent information posted on its blog, it appears like Google Wave may be entering the public beta phase next week.


Credit from: http://www.techspot.com/guides/199-get-more-out-of-google-search/