How to fix and control AutoPlay in Windows 7 ̵...

AutoPlay is the function of any operating system that controls what happens when you plug something into the computer. Whether it be a CD, DVD, digital camera, camera memory card, USB drive, MP3 player or other item, your computer reacts to it based on a preset of instructions. For reasons that number in the dozens, these instructions can change, be ignored, or simply don’t do what you want them to do. This short tip...

Windows 7 – 4 month report

Technically, I’ve been using Windows 7 (in beta and final form) for more than a year, but for today’s discussion I want to review what I’ve seen with it since its public release in October.  Since then, I have helped many computer users setup their new Windows 7 laptops, desktop, and netbooks (probably around 125-150 new systems in total). I also helped around a dozen or so computer users upgrade from XP or...

Early thoughts on Windows 7

Although I’ve been testing, using and writing about Windows 7 since last year, it has only been on the market 2 weeks. In those two weeks, I have setup 8 or 10 new machines already. The setup is much faster than Vista, but I’m already getting that same ‘ol, same ‘ol feeling about it as I did with Windows Vista and Office 2007. I don’t doubt that Microsoft went back to the drawing board and...

Fun night at Windows 7 Launch Party

My radio show co-host, Adam Cochran, sponsored a Windows 7 launch party tonight, and I helped out. We both setup our laptops and projectors and showed off some of the Windows 7 features and answered general questions about upgrading, buying new computers, what software was included, and more. We talked about the new taskbar, increased search abilities, demonstrated the Home Groups feature by sharing some folders back and...

Computer Help Show Podcast – 10-21-09

Once a month has been good for our show. We have lots to talk about and not seeing each other as often, I think our enthusiasm for what we do comes across better than ever. We hope you feel the same. Listen to this month’s show where we talked a lot about smart phones and Windows 7. Remember, Adam Cochran and I record the show live at our monthly radio show at KAFM 88.1 FM in Grand Junction, CO. We are live every month...

PC World columnist says don’t upgrade from X...

PC World columnist, David Coursey, writes this week that the hassle of upgrading a Windows XP computer to Windows 7 isn’t worth the time and price. It pretty much mimics the exact advice I gave to Windows XP users when Vista came out 2 1/2 years ago. Software developers build software for the future, so older computer simply cannot run the newer software as efficiently. Especially when talking about operating systems...

HP to offer Free upgrade to Windows 7

Starting today through the release of Windows 7 in October, HP is offering a free upgrade to any customer who buys a new desktop or laptop through their web site. Currently, only certain systems qualify for the upgrade, so look at the product description. If you decide to take advantage of this offer, make sure you get a new computer with at least 3GB of RAM for best performance with Vista and then Windows 7. HP Offers Free...

Microsoft announces Windows 7 pricing

Yesterday, Microsoft announced the upgrade and normal pricing for Windows 7 which goes on sale October 22. Starting on Friday, June 26-July 11, a limited number of Windows 7 Home Premium upgrades will be sold for $49 and Windows 7 Professional for $99. Upgrade prices will be $119 for Windows 7 Home Premium, $199 for Professional, and $219 for Ultimate when released in October. Normally, I recommend not upgrading to a new...

Keyboard shortcut to launch applications in Window...

I ran across this tip yesterday at Lockergnome and someone suggested that a video should be made…so here it is! The new Windows 7 taskbar, dubbed superbar, allows you to add any application you want there and then the same icon also acts as the taskbar icon as well. To quickly launch any application on the taskbar using your keyboard, hold down the Windows key plus the number of the location of the icon. In my video...

Microsoft Promises greater compatibility with Wind...

Windows Vista was hammered from its beta versions all the way through to its release and even to this day for lack of compatibility with hardware and software. Today, Microsoft announced that more than 10,000 hardware and software vendors are working with Microsoft during the development phase of Windows 7 to help assure a quality launch of Windows 7 later this year. Will Windows 7 be better prepared for the public than...

Comparison of Windows 7 vs. Ubuntu 9.04 install

I had the opportunity today to install both Windows 7  RC 1 and Ubuntu 9.04 on my Toshiba laptop today. The laptop has an Intel Core2Duo processor, 4 GB of RAM and 160 GB hard drive. Here are the results: Windows 7 RC1 Ubuntu 9.04 Install time 21 minutes including 2 reboots 19 minutes no reboots Boot time 54 seconds 36 seconds Shut down time 20 seconds 8 seconds Post install  work required Approximately an hour...

Windows 7 released by August?

Before I left for my work saving and fixing computers, I started the massive download for Windows 7 RC 1. The download is nearly 2.5 GB! This weekend, I will install it on my laptop and give you a full report in the upcoming weeks. This news story indicates that we might see the commercial release of Windows as early as August of this year. I want to see Microsoft release a quality product, but I also think it would be a good...

7 Days with Windows 7 – Day 7

I reached the end of my week with Windows 7. I hope you enjoyed reading the coverage and watching the videos. If you haven’t caught all of them scroll down to the end of this article to link up to them or go back to the home page and scroll further down the page to see them. Overall, I think Windows 7 does a nice job, but feel that they should have waited on Vista and put this version out instead. In many ways, Vista...

7 Days with Windows 7 – Day 6

Today, I demonstrate for you a brand new feature in Windows 7 called the Problem Steps Recorder. An interesting feature designed to help users record steps they take when walked through something by tech support so they can re-trace their steps. It can also be used to make a recording to help others. It’s a little rough and takes a web geek to edit (if needed), but an interesting feature new to Windows 7. Next up, I...

7 Days with Windows 7 – Day 5

On Day 1, I briefly pointed out some differences in the new Windows 7 taskbar. However, after using Windows 7 for a few days, the taskbar changes are significant enough that I wanted to focus on it for today’s video. The major changes, that I think work quite well, include: Revamped program launcher that includes the new Windows 7 Quick Pick List The new program launcher also doubles as the taskbar indicator when the...