I got this tip from a colleague (David Weeks) and I thought I would share with you all on how to see your Windows Live SkyDrive storage in Windows Explorer, something I have tried and failed to do in the past.

1. Visit SkyDrive (http://www.skydrive.com) and login with your Live ID.

2. If you have not used SkyDrive before click on the My Documents folder.

3. Now look at the address bar. You should find your unique ID there in the URL (http://cid-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.skydrive.live.com - see the screenshot below; it’s in the greyed out area and is unique to you). Copy this ID to the clipboard, as we’ll need it shortly. Use the back button in IE if you don’t see the ID right away.

4. Now, open your Computer in Windows Explorer (either go Start menu / Computer, or just press WindowsKey +E to go straight there), and you’ll see “Map Network Drive” in the menu. Click that.

5. In the new dialog box that choose your drive letter using the dropdown. I will be choosing S: for mine (Sky Drive). Now in the Folder field (just below the Drive dropdown) type, \\docs.live.net@SSL\your_skydrive_id\^2Documents (replacing “your_skydrive_id” with the ID you copied in Step 1). Press Finish  and wait a little while, and you’ll get a logon box… enter your Windows Live ID and press OK. You won’t see all folders in your SkyDrive storage – you could try changing ^2Documents to the name of another folder name which you can see in the web view, if you want to upload to that too.

Hint: it’s also possible to browse straight to your SkyDrive storage without having to map a drive – if you simply paste \\docs.live.net@SSL\your_skydrive_id\^2Documents into the dialog at Start / Run (or WindowsKey+R), you can jump straight to the folder.

6. You’ll now have mapped your Network Drive, and might notice that you have your Unique ID included in the name. So for security, just right mouse click on the name within Windows Explorer, choose rename from the drop down and call it anything you want.

Now that your Skydrive account is configured, you can  copy all the documents you wish to upload to your Skydrive account to this newly created network drive. You can also create folders here, too, all of which will be Private by default. To change their sharing option log in to your Windows Live account using your browser and change it from there.

Of course, there are other ways to put stuff on SkyDrive. Windows Live Mesh can sync up to 5Gb of data from elsewhere, it is possible to drag & drop multiple files into the browser view, and it’s possible to save straight from within an Office 2010 app (eg in Word, go to Save & Send on the File menu, and choose Save to Web – see here).

All of which proves, there are many ways to do the same thing. Choose whatever one works for you best…

Rob

Hot on the heels of my previous post is another great book from Microsoft Press which should help any one new to Windows 7 get the most out of the operating system.

Microsoft Press : New book: Windows 7 Step by Step (Microsoft Press, 2010; ISBN: 9780735626676; 544 pages)

also don’t forget

“…the Microsoft Learning Windows 7 Training Portal, where you can download free sample chapters (previews) as well as learning snacks and online clinics.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/training/windows.aspx”

Rob

I have recently been playing around with the new Windows Live Group feature and have found it very easy to use.

But first you may be asking what a Windows Live Group is…

Well it enables your selected group of contacts in Windows Live Messenger to have a group conversation with and also you get your own mini website for just your contacts to share photo’s and files, a calendar and even have your own mini discussion forum…

Setting up your group couldn’t be simpler, start by logging into Windows Live Messenger

1. From your messenger window, choose the menu option on the right hand side and select Contacts – and the Create a Group  to start the process off
2. Choose a name for your group, remember to make it obvious so that everyone in the group knows what it is for.  Press Next
3. Enter in the contacts you want to join your group, either there email addresses, or far easier is to choose Select from your contact list  , which lets you choose who from your current contact list you want. They will appear in the bottom of the window and press OK. Then I strongly suggest you add a message to include in your invitation, describing why you want them to join and what you will share.  Press Next Note you can only have 20 members in any one group
4. and that's pretty much it for getting it setup, your contacts will get an invite via email and hopefully they will accept.  Done
5. Now you should be able to see the group in Windows Live Messenger, and who has joined and there status
6. Getting to you group web site is simple as well.  Right click your group and select Go to group website

Hopefully i will write up another entry on doing things such as adding photo galleries etc

Rob

Do you fancy becoming one of 40 Windows Brand Ambassadors? Because Microsoft is looking for you to help share your experiences with Windows across the web.

‘Create a photo, video or blog that showcases why you use a PC and / or should be a windows Brand Ambassador.

the windows Social Media Team will select 40 Windows Brand Ambassadors to carry-out weekly challenges from Microsoft;…’

And there is a competition to win a trip to the Microsoft main campus in Redmond, WA plus goodies to be won.  I have not looked at the T’s and C’s yet but suspect this is a US only competition..

Brickfish Social Media: Windows® Brand Ambassador

Thanks to @seattleGirl for the tip and more on her blog

Rob

After the announcement of the first Windows 7 Language Interface Pack (LIP) hot on the heels is the 2nd one for Catalan.

Click here to download the Catalan Windows 7 LIP

Please note that the Catalan Windows 7 LIP can only be installed on a system that runs a Spanish or French version of Windows 7.

Click here for more information about the Catalan language.

Update 04 March 2010 - 64 Bit version available at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=a1a48de1-e264-48d6-8439-ab7139c9c14d&displaylang=ca

Rob

Just in case you hadn’t seen the latest advise and how to get the update

Microsoft Out-of-Band Security Update for Internet Explorer - January 2010

“On January 21, 2010 Microsoft released an out-of-band security update for all supported versions of Internet Explorer on Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.

See the latest security update bulletin for more information

Security Bulletin MS01-002 - addresses vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer (KB 978207)”

You are likely to get this automatically via Windows Update (if it is turned on), or you can get it directly from http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=21129

Rob

Just highlighting this kb (2438651) that has been updated recently.

If you receive any of the following error messages

• The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed.
• Windows Installer Service couldn’t be started.
• Could not start the Windows Installer service on Local Computer. Error 5: Access is denied.
  

Then KB2438651 (How to troubleshoot problems that may occur when you install, uninstall, or upgrade a program on a Windows-based computer) may be of use to you.

Rob

If so then head over to our updated Windows Live SkyDrive Help Center where you will find

• Solutions to general SkyDrive questions
• How to articles on getting the most out of SkyDrive
• Plus additional resources for help, feedback and status

Find out more about Windows Live SkyDrive

Rob

I have mentioned Microsoft Fix it solutions many times in the past ad I just wanted to highlight the Fix it Solution Center

http://support.microsoft.com/fixit/

Where you can find and search all the Microsoft Fix its that are available

You can search by product problem area or text search.

Rob

across 74 markets…

Middle East (Arabic) - Bulgaria (Bulgarian) - Middle East (Arabic) - Spain (Catalan) - Czech Republic (Czech) - Denmark (Danish) - Austria (German) - Switzerland (German) - Germany (German) - Greece (Greek) - Australia (English) - Canada (English) - UK (English) - Indonesia (English) - Ireland (English) - India (English) - Malaysia (English) - New Zealand (English) - Philippines (English) - Singapore (English) - US (English) - Middle East (English) - South Africa (English) - Argentina (Spanish) - Chile (Spanish) - Spain (Spanish) - Mexico (Spanish) - US  (Spanish) - LATAM ROR (Spanish) - Estonia (Estonian) - Spain (Basque) - Finland (Finnish) - Belgium (French) - Canada (French) - Switzerland (French) - France (French) - India (Gujarati) - Israel (Hebrew) - India (Hindi) - Croatia (Croatian) - Hungary (Hungarian) - Indonesia (Indonesian) - Italy (Italian) - Japan (Japanese) - India (Kannada) - Korea (Korean) - Lithuania (Lithuanian) - Latvia (Latvian) - India (Malayalam) - India (Marathi) - Malaysia (Malay (Malaysia)) - Norway (Norwegian - Bokmål) - Belgium (Dutch) - Netherlands (Dutch) - Poland (Polish) - Brazil (Portuguese (Brazil)) - Portugal (Portuguese (Portugal)) - Romania (Romanian) - Russia (Russian) - Slovakia (Slovak) - Slovenia (Slovenian) - Serbia (Serbian (Cyrillic)) - Serbia (Serbian - Latin) - Sweden (Swedish) - India (Tamil) - India (Telugu) - Thailand (Thai) - Turkey (Turkish) - Ukraine (Ukrainian) - Vietnam (Vietnamese) - China (PRC) (Chinese (Simplified)) - Hong Kong (Chinese (Traditional)) - Taiwan (Chinese (Traditional))

Rob