Get Your Language Specific Characters!
If your Windows 7 edition does not support additional languages and you need to type characters in a different language, then you can enable your preferred Input Method Editor (IME) and get your language specific characters. IMEs are programs that allow users to enter characters and symbols not found on their input devices. On the other hand, language packs provide a translated version of Windows dialog boxes, menu items, and help content.
Categories: Utilities Tags: IME, Input Language, Input Method Editor, keyboard, Language Packs
Migrating a Power Plan in Windows 7
Windows 7 Power Plans control how the computer uses energy, where users can select a plan that meets their needs without having to elevate privileges. The command-line tool Powercfg.exe allows users to manage and migrate power plans between computers. In the following steps we will be using the import and export options of the Powercfg command-line utility:
Categories: Management, Utilities Tags: command, energy, Export, GUID, Import, power, Power Plan, Power Scheme, powercfg, Scheme
Enabling BitLocker
To enable BitLocker on your computer you need administrator privileges and your computer has to have the appropriate TPM hardware or the appropriate Group Policy if TPM is not present. A check is performed after you enable BitLocker and an error is displayed in case your computer does not support BitLocker. Go here for more information.
Categories: Security, Utilities Tags: BitLocker, decrypt, encryption, password, Smart card, unlock
Windows Easy Transfer
Windows Easy Transfer is a utility that comes with Windows 7 that you can use to transfer user profile data such as documents, music, pictures, email and other data from one computer to another. You may find this tool very handy when you are migrating to a different computer and need to move your data to the destination computer. In the process of moving your files you can use an external hard disk or USB flash drive. Other transfer mediums exist such as, network shares and special USB cables.
Categories: Backup & Restore, Utilities Tags: Easy, Easy Transfer, Export, Import, Migrate, Migration, profile, Transfer, User porfile
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security (WFAS) Basics
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security (WFAS) allows you to create rules based on port addresses and services, unlike the basic Windows Firewall where you can create rules based on programs. The basic Windows Firewall should be enough for the normal safe operation of your computer but advanced users can use WFAS to:
Categories: Security, Utilities Tags: advfirewall, command prompt, configuration, Export, Firewall, firewall rules, Import, netsh, traffic, WFAS, windows firewall, WinRS
Windows Resource Monitor
The Resource Monitor is a Windows system tool that allows you to view information about the use of hardware (CPU, memory, disk, and network) and software (file handles and modules) resources in real time. As for the basic functionality it is quite similar to Windows Task Manager but Windows Resource Monitor can help you track down the cause of application hangs.
Software crashes do happen but how many times we manage to get a clue of the root problem! And such crashes can be really annoying if they happen too frequently. Windows 7 Resource Monitor includes a feature that may help you with the troubleshooting of software problems. To start Resource Monitor (resmon):
Categories: Troubleshooting, Utilities Tags: application freeze, application hang, monitor, resmon, resource, Resource Monitor, Task Manager
Internet Explorer 9 (IE 9)
On Monday 14, 2011 Microsoft launched IE 9 which attracted more than 2.35 million downloads in just 24 hours! This is the most modern browser and is expected to regain some of the lost market share by its main competitors, Mozilla’s Firefox and Google’s Chrome as you can see from the graph below:
Categories: Utilities Tags: browser, GPU, hardware acceleration, IE 9, IE9, Internet Explorer, Internet Explorer 9, jumplist, pinning, tab
