The blog of Rob Margel - Windows Help

Installing the Welsh Windows 7 LIP – Step by Step Guide

Following on from yesterdays announcement of the availability of the Welsh Windows 7 Language Interface Pack I have publish a quick step by step guide for how to install it:

How to install the Welsh Windows 7 Language Interface Pack

In the article I cover:

• Pre installation recommendations
• A simple step-by-step guide on how to install the LIP with screenshots
• A list of other articles you might be interested in

Do let me know what you think of it here or in the feedback section at the bottom of the article.

Rob

PS this article is probably applicable to all LIPs from step 3 down, although there may be some differences in pre-requisites.

A handy hint if you are struggling with your homegroup password

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows7/Where-can-I-find-my-homegroup-password

“If you receive an error message when you try to print the homegroup password, do one of the following:

• Select the password, right-click it, and then click Copy. Open a new document or e‑mail message, right-click an empty area, and then click Paste. Print the document or e‑mail message.

• Type the password into a new document or e‑mail message, and then print it, or just write the password on a piece of paper.

• Temporarily set Internet Explorer 8 as your default browser, and then try printing the password again. For information on how to set or change your default browser, see Change your default web browser”

Personally I would never write a password down on paper EVER but there you go.  If you do make sure you write it somewhere where others cannot see it.

Some more information on homegroup

• What is a homegroup?
• HomeGroup from start to finish - Help & How-to - Microsoft Windows
• HomeGroup: frequently asked questions

Rob

Parental Controls in Windows 7 and Windows Vista – Safer Internet day (#SID)

As it is safer Internet day (#SID) today i thought I would highlight some of our top content about Parental Controls in Windows (7 and Vista):

1. Set up Parental Controls
2. Using Parental Controls -Video
3. Kids and computers
4. Choose which games children can play.
5. Keeping tabs on my teens: Finding peace of mind with parental controls

1. Set up Parental Controls.
2. Video: Use Parental Controls to manage your child's computer time
3. Kids online: A parent's guide to monitoring computer use.
4. Staying safer online: How to help protect your family and you
5. How to tell if games are appropriate for children

Find more content about Parental Controls in Windows

Rob

Welsh Windows 7 LIP now available

If you like you Windows 7 in Welsh then download the latest Language Interface Pack (LIP) now.

Click here to download the Welsh Windows 7 LIP

Please note that the Welsh Windows 7 LIP can only be installed on a system that runs an English version of Windows 7.

Rob

Icelandic Windows 7 LIP now available

If you like you Windows 7 in Icelandic then download the latest Language Interface Pack (LIP) now.

Click here to download the Icelandic Windows 7 LIP

Please note that the Icelandic Windows 7 LIP can only be installed on a system that runs an English version of Windows 7.

Rob

Download IE8 by CEOP for safer browsing

Now this really is something really worth your attention.  You can get a version of IE8 that has been optimised by CEOP ( Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) at http://www.ceop.police.uk/ie8/

With this version you can get a number of addons that can help you have a safer browsing experience.

Such as the CEOP Web slice (available at http://www.ieaddons.com/gb/details/sharing/Click_CEOP_Button/) that provides instant access to internet safety information for children and parents

Search 2 different  search providers with good links for child safety information in IE8

Add CEOP Search to your toolbar
Add Internet Safety and Security Search to your toolbar

Plus updates to your favorites bar with “links to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre website and its "thinkuknow" advice areas – making accessing them as simple as possible.”

All this comes in one handy download

Rob

7 Windows 7 productivity tips from Monsters and Critics

Spotted this little article today  Windows 7 productivity tips - Monsters and Critics  which covers some great productivity tips in Windows 7:

• Projector mode

• CTRL and click the taskbar icons
• Sticky Notes

• Search for programs in Start Menu

• Key Board shortcuts
• ClearType Text Tuner

• Search the Internet from the Start Menu using Group Policy

Rob

Adding a new Favorite folder in Windows 7 in 3 steps

So if you have ever wondered how to add a folder to your Favorites section in Windows Explorer then read on.

1. Navigate to the folder you want to include in the Favorite section in Windows Explorer, such as Desktop
2. Scroll up to the Favorite section in Windows Explorer, and right click your mouse, and select “Add current location to Favorites’”
3. Now the folder Desktop is in your Favorites section which makes navigating to it when you do things such as opening or saving documents that much easier.

Hope this little tip helps.

Rob

PS Apologise for my British readers but I have spelt Favorite the American way as that is how it is spelt int he product and not the correct way Favourite

3 more Windows 7 Small business videos

Really like this series of videos from the Microsoft UK Small business team, really telling some great stories about how Windows 7 can help a small business.

“Matlock Town Council was formed in 1983 and as the Councils responsibilities grew, so did its dependence on technology. By deploying the Microsoft Windows 7 Professional operating system, Matlock Town Council has achieved a more solid, intuitive PC experience for its users, and the gains in system speed and responsiveness have resulted in a significant overall productivity boost.”

“Based in Aberdeen, Scotland, Reflex Marine is increasingly on the lookout for cost-effective IT solutions that can help their 20 employees get more done so they can continue to create cutting-edge solutions. By deploying the Microsoft Windows 7 Professional operating system, Reflex Marines employees were able to work more efficiently and productively, which gave them more time to develop the solutions on which their customers rely”

“Peak Support Services is a Microsoft Small Business Partner, specialising in small business hardware and software support. Peak Support customers wanted to communicate maintenance issues better and reduce stoppages and boot times. With the Windows 7 Professional operating system, Peak Support sped up boot and resume times for hardware, easily located and organised information across the network, and reduced support case resolution time. “

thanks to @microsoftSB for putting the videos up.

Rob

Follow English Premier League teams on IE8

OK so it will be a few years before my football team (Leeds United)  make it to the premiership but you can now follow any English premier league team in IE8 via a web slice from Buzztap.

Such as this for West Ham

“The buzztap team-based web slice add-ons allow you to keep up to date on the latest buzz for a given team without leaving your current brower page. Click on one or more of the teams listed below to add the web slice(s) and be automatically notified when updates are available. Then simply click the web slice to view the fresh buzz from buzztap.”

Thanks to Matt on msn for the spot

Learn more about Web Slices with our Web Slices: frequently asked questions

Rob

Download Forza Motorsport 3 Theme pack for Windows 7 – Featuring the Audi R8

(Click on image or here to get the theme pack)

Featuring 3 pictures of the Audi R8 in action

Find more Windows 7 themes

Rob

What should I do if I'm running the Release Candidate (RC) version of Windows 7?

Last week I posted about the dates for the Windows 7 RC (Release Candidate) expiration, and now we have some additional help.

What should I do if I'm running the Release Candidate (RC) version of Windows 7?

Which includes the dates and what will happen as mentioned last week, as well as how to tell if you are running the RC, removing the RC and installing the final release of Windows 7

Hope it helps

Rob

Latest Windows Help articles: Windows Media Player Errors (C00D1059 and C00D10DA), XP mode and Windows Mobility Center

Just wanted to point out some of the latest Window help content that has recently been added or updated

• Windows Media Player error C00D1059

“If you're attempting to play a copy-protected file, make sure you're using the correct video card driver. If necessary, update the driver.” Check out our audio/video driver FAQ for Windows 7 or our troubleshooting guide for Windows Vista

• Windows Media Player error C00D10DA

“Windows Media Player can't burn the selected files to the CD. “ Try our disk burning tips for Windows 7 or our Windows Vista disk burning FAQ

• Install and use Windows XP Mode in Windows 7

“Using Windows XP Mode, you can run programs that were designed for Windows XP on computers running Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate editions that also meet certain hardware requirements.”

•  Using Windows Mobility Center

“If you use a laptop, you can quickly access settings (for example, speaker volume, wireless network connection status, and display brightness) in Windows Mobility Center. All of these settings are in one location, so you save time and don’t need to remember where each setting is located. This is especially helpful when you need to quickly adjust laptop settings in different places—such as traveling from your desk to a meeting, or going from home to the airport. “

Rob

Amharic Windows Vista LIP now available

If you like your Windows Vista in Amharic (the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia) then you can download the latest Windows Vista Language Interface Pack (LIP) now:

Ø Click here to download the Amharic Vista LIP .

and

Ø Click here to view the Amharic Download page. For more Amharic downloads.

Please note that the Amharic LIP can only be installed on a system that runs an English version of Windows Vista.

Rob

Sky Player in Windows Media Center now available in Ireland

Remember the Sky Player add-in for Windows Media Center that was announced at the launch of Windows 7, and went live shortly after.  This was only available at the time but is now available to Ireland customers as well.

Read more at http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/skyplayer/

If you are looking for more info on Windows Media Center then try the following:

• Windows Media Center in Windows 7
• Getting started with Windows Media Center
• Optimize your home network for Windows Media Center Extenders

Rob