Tutorials

How to Restore Default File Extension Type Associations in Windows 8 and 8.1 This tutorial will allow you to restore the default registry entries and program associations for the file extension type and protocol of your choice in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1. This can be helpful for example when a file extension type opens with the wrong program by default, has the wrong icon, or is missing or corrupted in the registry. Downloading the .reg file for the selected file extension below, will restore that file extension back to default for all of these items above. Default program associations for file extensions are a per user setting by default, so you will need to be logged on to the effected user account to...

How to Restore Default Services in Windows 8 and 8.1 This tutorial provides you with registry downloads that will completely restore any of the default services and their settings you want in Windows 8, Windows 8.1,and Windows 8.1 Update. This can be handy if a service was deleted by mistake, is missing, or had it's properties set improperly. You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. Services are located in the registry location below. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services If you did not delete a default service, then you might consider doing a full scan of your system at boot with a program like Windows Defender Offline to help make sure that your system is clean...

How to Use BitLocker Repair Tool to Recover a Drive in Windows 7 and Windows 8 The BitLocker Repair Tool (Repair-bde) is a command-line tool included with Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7, Windows Server 2012, and Windows 8. This tool attempts to repair or decrypt a damaged BitLocker-encrypted volume using the supplied recovery information to reconstruct critical parts of the drive and salvage recoverable data to another volume. This tutorial will show you how to use the BitLocker Repair Tool to recover your data from a damaged encrypted operating system (OS) drive, fixed data drive (ex: internal volume/drive), or removable data drive (ex: USB drive) in Windows 7 and Windows 8. You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to...

How to Add Safe Mode to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8 Safe mode is a troubleshooting option for Windows that starts your computer in a limited state. Only the basic files and drivers necessary to run Windows are started. The words "Safe Mode" appear in the corners of the display to identify which Windows mode you are using. This tutorial will show you how to add a Safe Mode cascading desktop context menu with options to restart in normal mode, safe mode, safe mode with networking, and safe mode with command prompt in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1. You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to add, remove, and use the Safe Mode context menu. Normal Mode = (Default) This starts Windows normally...

How to Turn On or Off Auto-unlock of BitLocker Encrypted Data Drives in Windows 8 Once a data drive has been protected with BitLocker, access to the drive is authenticated before the contents are displayed. A fixed data drive that has been encrypted by BitLocker will either automatically be unlocked, or prompt for a smart card or password depending on how you configured it before being unlocked. Encrypted fixed data drives can be configured to automatically unlock when you sign in to Windows 8 after the operating system drive has been unlocked. To be able to automatically unlock fixed data drives, the OS drive that Windows 8 is installed on must also be encrypted by BitLocker. When removable data drives encrypted by BitLocker are...

How to Change an User Account Type in Windows 8 and 8.1 This will show you how to change the account type of an user account to be either a standard, administrator, guest, or other group type of your choice in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1. You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to change an account type. Guests - A guest account allows people to have temporary access to your computer. A guest account has the same access as a "standard (Users)" account, but is further restricted by not being able to install software, hardware, or change settings. Standard (Users) - A limited unelevated standard "users" account that can use most software and change system settings that do not affect other...

How to Require Users to Sign in with User Name and Password in Windows 8 and 8.1 This tutorial will show you how to require users to enter both a user name and password to sign in to Windows 8 instead of the last user displaying. You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial. When set to have users enter a user name and password to sign in, you will see "Other user" listed with a user name and password field like below. You can click/tap on the Sign-in options link to select to sign in to either a local or Microsoft account. You will not be able to sign in to a local account if you have Microsoft selected. You will not be able to sign in to a Microsoft account if you have local selected...

How to Create a System Image in Windows 8 and 8.1 A system image is an exact copy of a drive. By default, a system image only includes the drives required for Windows 8 to run, and also Windows 8 and your system settings, programs, and files. You could also select to include any other drive in the system image as well. When you restore your computer from a system image, it's a complete restoration; you can't choose individual items to restore, and all of your current programs, system settings, and files are replaced with the contents of the system image. This tutorial will show you how to create a system image backup in Windows 8 and 8.1 to be able to use to restore the contents of your computer back to the state it was in when the...

How to Hide or Show Intel Rapid Storage Technology Notification Area Icon in Windows The Intel Rapid Storage Technology software package provides high-performance SATA and SATA RAID capabilities for supported operating systems and requirements. The notification area (also called the system tray) is located on your desktop. The taskbar contains the notification area icon for Intel Rapid Storage Technology. The icon provides storage system status and notifications such as volume and disk events based on a change of state. The notification area icon will automatically display in the notification area once Intel Rapid Storage Technology is installed. Both administrators and standard users can change the system notification settings...

How to Turn On or Off Bing Desktop Wallpaper Toolset in Windows Bing Desktop helps you stay informed with easy access to—search results, Facebook newsfeed, weather, news—and the beauty of the Bing homepage on your PC desktop each day. The Bing Desktop 1.3.395.0 version introduces a new wallpaper toolset feature that is at the top right corner of your desktop when turned on. The wallpaper toolset is 3 buttons that act as shortcuts to quickly search on Bing, change desktop wallpaper, and open Bing Desktop wallpaper settings. This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off the wallpaper toolset for Bing Desktop in Windows. EXAMPLE: Bing Desktop Wallpaper Toolset To Turn On or Off Wallpaper Toolset in Bing Desktop Settings 1. Open...

How to Add "Take Ownership" to Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1 This tutorial will show you how to add Take Ownership to the context menu of all files, folders, and drives for all users in Windows 8. This will allow you to be able to instantly take ownership of a file, folder (and all contents), or drive (and all contents) by changing the owner to the current user and grant the Owner_Rights SID (current owner) full access permission. You must be an administrator to be able to add, remove, and use the "Take Ownership" context menu. Application files (ex: EXE, CMD, MSI) will continue to have Run as administrator instead of Take Ownership in their context menu. . When you right click or press and hold on a file, folder, or drive, and...

List of Keyboard Shortcut Keys for Windows 8 and 8.1 This tutorial will show you a list of all keyboard shortcuts in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1. See also: Keyboard shortcuts - Microsoft Windows Help Shortcut Description Windows Key :winkey: Toggle between the Start screen and the last-opened Windows Store app or the desktop. :winkey: + 1, :winkey: + 2, etc.... Switch to the desktop and launch the “nth”application in the taskbar. For example, :winkey:+1 launches whichever application is first in the list, from left to right. :winkey: + SHIFT + 1 :winkey: + SHIFT + 2 etc. Launch a new instance of the application located at the “nth” position on the taskbar. :winkey: + B Switch to the...