windows

The new themes manager as part of Appearance & Personalization in Windows 7 is a fantastic new way of managing your desktop images, sounds and effects, but there's an awkward flaw. It doesn'tt make it obvious how you alter themes without getting a chaotic My Themes section as a result. You can't actually delete the active theme, which is annoying because if you make a mistake it apears you can't delete it. Turns out you can, but you have to right-click on other themes to delete them rather than an active theme, whether it is saved as a My Theme or not. Aero and the Basic and High Contrast default themes cannot be deleted in this way. Remember, that when you pick a theme and make any change, even adding a screensaver, a new My Theme will be created.

If you've got a bit of spare time over the Christmas and New Year break, why not give your PC a refresh by reinstalling Windows? If it sounds like too much of a hassle, try following the easy guide below to learn how to reinstall your copy of Windows including all the latest updates so it takes no longer than about 30 minutes! One of PC Answer's specialties over the years has been showing you how to declutter Windows. Back in the days of Windows 98, we showed you how to remove Internet Explorer, and other applications, using 98lite. Since then we've covered nLite, which enables you to customise your Windows XP install and now, there is vLite, for Windows Vista. Vlite follows in the footsteps of nLite, and in fact looks, feels and operates in a very similar manner, and you can even slipstream Service Packs into the bargain. ... read more »

If you dual boot with another version of Windows or Linux you may find that at some point the boot loader becomes corrupt and causes you problems. Thankfully, there is an easy fix, even if it's Linux's GRUB loader that has caused the problem and interrupts your Windows boot. Follow these simple steps to fix your Master Boot Record (MBR) through a clever console command: ... read more »

Microsoft is encouraging people to sign up and throw house parties to mark the Windows 7 launch on 22nd October – with those who are selected earning themselves free signature edition of Windows 7 Ultimate.

Microsoft will plough through the millions likely to be breaking out the party hats and HD webcams to pick out those that will get free Windows 7 Ultimate edition.

"Apply online to host a Launch Party. Choose a day from October 22-29 and if you're selected, you'll not only receive a special Signature Edition of Windows 7 Ultimate but your very own Windows 7 Party Pack," says Microsoft.

Join a Setting up with Ease party! ... read more »

You can make things happen faster with these speedy Windows shortcuts - try them today!

1: Get straight to the desktop by hitting Windows key + M, and back to where you were with the same key + Shift.

2: Go up one folder level in Windows Explorer with ALT + Up, and backwards with ALT + Left.

3: To rename a file quickly, select it and press F2

4: Make a window go full screen by double clicking its title bar instead of going for the maximise button

5: Use ALT + F4 to close the active program.

6: F5 is the refresh key. Use it to refresh the active Web tab and also Windows Explorer when files have changed.

7: F11 toggles full screen mode in a Web browser

8: Use CTRL + F to find things in Web pages and documents ... read more »

Windows 7 is complete. After previews and beta versions and then the Windows 7 Release Candidate, the Windows 7 team has decided that Windows 7 is ready to release. It is now on MSDN and TechNet, and is already with PC makers.

Windows Technical Beta Program members will be getting their free Windows 7 in the next few days.

This isn't the exact version of Windows 7 Ultimate that you'll get on a new PC, because there are still content deals for Media Center to lock down and it doesn't have the Windows 7 web browser ballot screen that users in Europe are likely to see when they set up a Windows 7 PC (new or upgraded).

PC builders and laptop manufacturers will create their own Device Stage interfaces for some PCs and many more peripherals will have Device Stage interfaces by October. ... read more »

When you install a service pack for Windows, you would expect the software to be a well-managed affair. This turns out not to be the case, at least with Vista SP2. All sorts of detritus is left behind when you run the latest service pack: bits of old Vista and back-up files from Service Pack 1. Not only does this make for a disorganised Operating System, it also results in reduced disk space thanks to the gigabytes of clutter.

We shouldn’t really be surprised. Vista’s been an all-round disappointment, with its many flaws being put into sharp relief by the rave reviews Windows 7 is receiving. Why should a service pack for the maligned OS be any different? ... read more »

Microsoft has released news on the forthcoming Windows 7 family pack and has detailed the phased release of the client code in the run up to the official launch in October.

The key news is that Windows 7 release to manufacturing (RTM) has now happened.

RTM basically means that Microsoft considers the OS finished and ready for mass-production on CDs and distribution to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for them to install Windows 7 on new PCs. ... read more »

Windows 7 has now gone on pre-sale to UK customers at a special introductory price, before the offical street date of October 22.

To say thanks to its loyal customers and enthusiasts, especially those who have taken part in the Beta and Release Candidate (RC) programmes, Microsoft will be offering pre-order copies of Windows 7 at one-off promotional prices of £49.99 for Home Premium and £99.99 for Professional.  This is a great opportunity for PCAnswers readers to get their hands on the best Windows Operating System of all time and save plenty of money in the process. 

To pre-order a discounted copy of the final version of Windows 7 you need to contact Microsoft's selected retail partners listed below or go to www.microsoft.com/uk/win7preorder. ... read more »

If your PC feels like it's going in slow motion, and taking an age to get to the desktop, then follow these tips to really claw some speed back on your machine. There are various reasons why your Windows PC will have slowed down over time and there's dozens of apps that claim to help you out. But, really all you need to know is the following tips that can all be done for free using Windows itself.

1: Monitor Startup list

MSConfig is the classic Windows way of reducing startup clutter. Type 'msconfig' into Vista's search bar or just Run > MSconfig in Xp to launch. Head over to the Startup tab and uncheck any items that you don't want to start. Remember programs like iTunes and Quicktime add themselves to Strtup everytime there's an update to them!

2: Turn off indexing ... read more »