Essential Tweaks For Windows

Sorry for the halt. I am currently undergoing an attachment, which is basically I need to go to work (real office) and dedicate there as a part for my graduation requirement. But here I am now, to give you a very quick update on my latest find.

So there is this one time, I apply the Vi-Start in my laptop. It has been very popular among advanced XP users to tweak their Operating System theme. You can actually check it out at Lee-Soft.com. It alters your Start Menu look to what in Vista and there are also other small applications which you can also find in there. Not only will it just change the appearance, but it will also give you exactly what you can experience from the Vista Start Menu.; the quick search feature, the elegance and the buttons. You can find all Vista Start Menu features are supported in Vi-Start.

So I started using the Vi-Start, for a few days only apparently. I stopped using it because for the latest release of Vi-Start, ViStart_Beta6, it was less stable than the previous release. It always broke down and resulted to my Explorer.exe crash too. It was not that serious I know but it happened randomly and quite annoying after crashes by crashes.

Then I tried to Google this issue, as always, and found out that it was the Vi-Start problem, not my laptop compatibility issue. I also managed to gather some useful information you could do to minimize the crash probability if you are using the Vi-Start right now.

There are two ways to do the optimization or tweaks you can say. First, the easiest way is to install Tweak Manager. It gives 30 days trial with limited feature but still can perform the necessary tweaks.

The manual way is to change via regedit.

Here are the steps:

1. Navigate to: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]. Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, named "SeparateProcess" and set it "0x00000001 (1)" (without quotes).

2. Navigate to: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\BrowseNewProcess]. Create a new String value, or modify the existing value, called "BrowseNewProcess" and set to "Yes" (without quotes).

3. Navigate to [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]. Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called "DesktopProcess" and set it "0x00000001 (1)" (without quotes).

For more information, you can visit here:

www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/769/
www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/964/
www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/950/

It is said that after you perform this tweak, it will minimize the chance for explorer crash and when Vi-Start crashes, it won't take Explorer.exe down together. However after I had tried the tweaks, I still somehow felt there wasn't much improvement. So I decided to just unloaded Vi-Start.

After all, I already use WindowBlinds plus other Stardock and WinCustomize product to tweak my OS display.

<div style="text-align: justify;">Sorry for the halt. I am currently undergoing an attachment, which is basically I need to go to work (real office) and dedicate there as a part for my graduation requirement. But here I am now, to give you a very quick update on my latest find.<br /><br /></div><table style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top">So there is this one time, I apply the Vi-Start in my laptop. It has been very popular among advanced XP users to tweak their <a href="http://premiumtricks.blogspot.com/2009/03/official-windows-xp-theme.html">Operating System theme</a>. You can actually check it out at <a href="http://lee-soft.com/vistart/" target="new">Lee-Soft.com</a>. It alters your Start Menu look to what in Vista and there are also other small applications which you can also find in there.<br /><br />Not only will it just change the appearance, but it will also give you exactly what you can experience from the Vista Start Menu.; the quick search feature, the elegance and the buttons. You can find all Vista Start Menu features are supported in Vi-Start.<br /></td><td><img src="http://i39.tinypic.com/hwe4w8.jpg" title="" style="margin: 10px;" height="191" width="150" /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">So I started using the Vi-Start, for a few days only apparently. I stopped using it because for the latest release of Vi-Start, ViStart_Beta6, it was less stable than the previous release. It always broke down and resulted to my Explorer.exe crash too. It was not that serious I know but it happened randomly and quite annoying after crashes by crashes.<br /><br />Then I tried to Google this issue, as always, and found out that it was the Vi-Start problem, not my laptop compatibility issue. I also managed to gather some useful information you could do to minimize the crash probability if you are using the Vi-Start right now.</div><br /><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: justify;">There are two ways to do the optimization or tweaks you can say. First, the easiest way is to install <a href="http://www.pctools.com/tweak-manager/" target="new">Tweak Manager</a>. It gives 30 days trial with limited feature but still can perform the necessary tweaks.<br /><br />The manual way is to change via regedit.<br /><br />Here are the steps:<br /><br />1. Navigate to: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]. Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, named "SeparateProcess" and set it "0x00000001 (1)" (without quotes).<br /><br />2. Navigate to: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\BrowseNewProcess]. Create a new String value, or modify the existing value, called "BrowseNewProcess" and set to "Yes" (without quotes).<br /><br />3. Navigate to [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]. Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called "DesktopProcess" and set it "0x00000001 (1)" (without quotes).<br /><br />For more information, you can visit here:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/769/" target="new">www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/769/</a><br /><a href="http://www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/964/" target="new">www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/964/</a><br /><a href="http://www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/950/" target="new">www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/950/</a><br /><br />It is said that after you perform this tweak, it will minimize the chance for explorer crash and when Vi-Start crashes, it won't take Explorer.exe down together. However after I had tried the tweaks, I still somehow felt there wasn't much improvement. So I decided to just unloaded Vi-Start.<br /><br />After all, I already use <a href="http://premiumtricks.blogspot.com/2009/03/internet-explorer-8-issue.html">WindowBlinds</a> plus other Stardock and WinCustomize product to tweak my OS display.</div></span>

Hex Color Code Generator

From the early of my blog, I have stated that the reason I make this blog is firstly, as my own archive or future reference of the fix-es I have found out or anything I believe they are necessary for me to post. Another reason is obviously to help every daily till advanced computer users in case they have similar problems I have ever encountered. Other than those, it is just my newest hobby, i.e. to blog.

Having said that, today, I am sharing this wonderful site that some of you may find it useless or even do not understand why I post this. I believe bloggers will find it more useful than ordinary computer users. For bloggers like me, this site is pretty useful. It generates hex color codes! Oh well I know we can easily google and get a working hex color code generator but this one my friends, is different. I find it very easy and convenient to give me the exact color I want. This site is one of my bookmarks.

This site has all it needs and you can get your own color code from a very customized and detailed flash embedded on the site.

Here are some screenshots from the site:



It is the flash that can generate you any color you want. For example if I want a customized blue color with a specific hue, saturation and brightness, I just drag the pointer to any blue I want:



See? How easy it is to generate your own color.

Most bloggers like me use this color code generator to customize the template design or the look of the blog via CSS. While some others use these codes for programming. I am not sure whether there are some other sites having the same flash like what this site has but if you have your own favourite ones, do share with us!

Have a go at: www.2createawebsite.com/build/hex-colors.html

Happy programming!

<div style="text-align: justify;">From the early of my blog, I have stated that the reason I make this blog is firstly, as my own archive or future reference of the fix-es I have found out or anything I believe they are necessary for me to post. Another reason is obviously to help every daily till advanced computer users in case they have similar problems I have ever encountered. Other than those, it is just my newest hobby, i.e. to blog.<br /><br />Having said that, today, I am sharing this wonderful site that some of you may find it useless or even do not understand why I post this. I believe <a href="http://premiumtricks.blogspot.com/2009/06/upload-image-to-tinypic-with-single.html">bloggers will find it more useful</a> than ordinary computer users. For bloggers like me, this site is pretty useful. It generates hex color codes! Oh well I know we can easily google and get a working hex color code generator but this one my friends, is different. I find it very easy and convenient to give me the exact color I want. This site is one of my bookmarks.<br /><br />This site has all it needs and you can get your own color code from a very customized and detailed flash embedded on the site.<br /></div><br /><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: justify;">Here are some screenshots from the site:<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/29nvzfs.png" title="Screenshot 1" width="450" height="448" /></center><br /><br />It is the flash that can generate you any color you want. For example if I want a customized blue color with a specific hue, saturation and brightness, I just drag the pointer to any blue I want:<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i40.tinypic.com/6ghp2t.png" title="Screenshot 2" width="450" height="450" /></center><br /><br />See? How easy it is to generate your own color.<br /><br />Most bloggers like me use this color code generator to customize the template design or the look of the blog via CSS. While some others use these codes for programming. I am not sure whether there are some other sites having the same flash like what this site has but if you have your own favourite ones, do share with us!<br /><br />Have a go at: <a href="http://www.2createawebsite.com/build/hex-colors.html" target="new">www.2createawebsite.com/build/hex-colors.html</a><br /><br />Happy programming!</div></span>

'Get Started With Office Live' Issue

During my vacation in my hometown, one of my friends tried to consult about his Microsoft Word problem: whenever he opened Microsoft Word, the Office Live Add-in window kept pop-ing out though he had ticked the 'Do not show this message again'.



He said he had just recently encountered this problem and it never happened before that day. After I had tried to investigate for a few minutes, I found out that the problem started when he had created another new administrator profile in his computer. Feeling curious, I also tried to create a new profile and I also had this Office Live Add-in window pop-ing out everytime I run Microsoft Word.

After some research, it apparently, happens everytime a user creates a new profile. It is a known issue from the add-in as it was installed under another active administrator account. And the Office Live registry key necessary for the log is not created for other administrator profiles.

If you also have this issue, don't worry, the fix is very easy but it involves regedit modification. Remember to backup (export) your registry first before you follow these steps:

1. Close or save and exit all Microsoft Word windows.

2. For XP users, from Start > Run, type regedit. For Vista users, you just need to type regedit on the search box.

3. Navigate to this subkey: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft. To navigate, just expand the arrow on the left panel until you reach the text: Microsoft.

4. From the Edit menu select New > Key. Type OfficeLive and press Enter.

5. Close the Registry Editor.

6. Open Microsoft Word again to get the prompt. Check 'Do not show me this message again' and click Continue.

7. Close all Microsoft Word windows, the registry DWORD values should be created under the OfficeLive key you have just created.

You do not need to open all of the Microsoft Office products to tick the 'Do not show me this message again'. It applies to all of the products if you have ticked the box from any Microsoft Office products.

Some people may just uninstall the OfficeLive add-in and yes that also can fix the problem.

<div style="text-align: justify;">During my vacation in my hometown, one of my friends tried to consult about his <a href="http://premiumtricks.blogspot.com/2009/02/read-text-of-any-files.html">Microsoft Word</a> problem: whenever he opened Microsoft Word, the Office Live Add-in window kept pop-ing out though he had ticked the 'Do not show this message again'.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i39.tinypic.com/2s0e52u.jpg" width="450" height="277" /></center><br /><br />He said he had just recently encountered this problem and it never happened before that day. After I had tried to investigate for a few minutes, I found out that the problem started when he had created another new administrator profile in his computer. Feeling curious, I also tried to create a new profile and I also had this Office Live Add-in window pop-ing out everytime I run Microsoft Word.<br /></div><br /><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: justify;">After some research, it apparently, happens everytime a user creates a new profile. It is a known issue from the add-in as it was installed under another active administrator account. And the Office Live registry key necessary for the log is not created for other administrator profiles.<br /><br />If you also have this issue, don't worry, the fix is very easy but it involves <a href="http://premiumtricks.blogspot.com/2009/05/improve-windows-xp-search-function.html">regedit</a> modification. Remember to <a href="http://premiumtricks.blogspot.com/2009/05/lock-folders-using-notepad.html">backup (export) your registry</a> first before you follow these steps:<br /><br />1. Close or save and exit all Microsoft Word windows.<br /><br />2. For XP users, from Start > Run, type regedit. For Vista users, you just need to type regedit on the search box.<br /><br />3. Navigate to this subkey: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft. To navigate, just expand the arrow on the left panel until you reach the text: Microsoft.<br /><br />4. From the Edit menu select New > Key. Type OfficeLive and press Enter.<br /><br />5. Close the Registry Editor.<br /><br />6. Open Microsoft Word again to get the prompt. Check 'Do not show me this message again' and click Continue.<br /><br />7. Close all Microsoft Word windows, the registry DWORD values should be created under the OfficeLive key you have just created.<br /><br />You do not need to open all of the Microsoft Office products to tick the 'Do not show me this message again'. It applies to all of the products if you have ticked the box from any Microsoft Office products.<br /><br />Some people may just uninstall the OfficeLive add-in and yes that also can fix the problem.</div></span>