Corel PSP X3

Windows 7 and PSP have not been friends. Earlier PaintShopPro Photo Versions 11, 12 and 12.50 had "white screens of death." Although these can be resolved (see previous articles, listed at the end of this posting), I decided to quit fooling around and upgraded to x3. This post briefly describes the software and my experiences.
Corel PaintShop Pro X3 "PSP"

Cost New: $70 to 80.00
Upgrade Cost: $50.00
Upgrade Cost from 12.x series: $25.00


Overall Impression:

• A very capable and affordable photo editor; which for the most part looks and feels the same as the 12.x versions
• Not quite Photoshop, but close and a lot cheaper
• There are probably a hundred different editing tools
• I use this for all of my photo and illustration editing

New features (improved from version 12.x)

• Supports multi-core processors
• SmartCarver / cut objects from background is now built in
• Windows 7 compatible (finally)
• Express-Lab for quickly editing multiple photographs
• Better RAW support
• Text editing now happens directly on the image (a minor change)

The default editor workspace features a gray work-area so it does not compete with your photographs. It includes standard tools, such as dodge, burn, soften, straighten, contrast and color adjustments. Wizards include red-eye, blemish-removers and other such tools. Most everything works intuitively.

If you are in full-editor mode (the default view), layers and groupings are supported, with merging and blending between layers. Each layer can be vector or pixel-based. As with all editors of this caliber, learning how to use these takes some practice.

The Express-Lab that actually is useful: Pick a folder or memory card and all the photos appear in a list. You can quickly crop, adjust or discard the photos without bothering to individually edit each picture. There is also an "Organizer" which displays thumbnails and allows you to annotate and group photographs into categories; I admittedly have not used this feature.

PSP is weak in certain areas:

• There are rectangular, irregular, and 'magic-wand' selection tools, but no round-selection or diagonal-selection tools. You cannot rotate a selection-tool without rotating the pixels underneath.
• The magic wand tool (for irregular selections, usually to pull a subject off the background) is challenging to use and I have mixed results. But, in the same breath, I've never been happy with other vendor's magic-wand selectors either.
  
  

• Although the program supports graduated (gradient) fills, I failed every time I've wanted to use them. To begin, the setting is hidden in the Materials pallet and it seems to ignore all foreground and background color selections. I may have to read the online help.

• PSP treats Text differently than I'm used to and frankly, it is a bit weird -- but workable. For most illustrations, I follow these steps for the best-quality text:
  
  See this keyliner article:  PSP Fuzzy Text
  
  The drawback is as soon as you are done with the text, you have to flip the fore/back colors back. Click image for larger view, Back to return. These images have been compressed for this blog.
  
  
• With versions 10 through 13, I still see an occasional bug where (typically the line-draw tool) is selected, but it does not work. Click another tool, and back, and the tool springs to life. This happens infrequently, but is noticeable. I keep hoping this anomaly will get fixed.
• Occasionally, the editor hangs with a "white-screen of death".  See related Keyliner articles below for a suggested fix.  I no longer have this problem.
• In an unrelated problem, new users will get frustrated when other tools appear to stop working (this is different than the bullet-point above). This is not a bug. If you have an area highlighted, all tools only work within that marquee. If you attempt to use a tool elsewhere, the tool "hesitates" and will not work. De-select the other area (which may not be visible if you have scrolled); then everything will work -- but all new users struggle with this. The "hesitation," which you can almost feel in the mouse, is actually a nice feature and it is your clue to look for a lasso. Press ctrl-D to de-highlight.
• If you have technical problems, Corel's support site is weak, with few technical details. For example, the issues I had with version 11/12 and Vista were never adequately explained and ultimately, I had to talk with at techie to get the real answer. Their search-engine is flawed. This may explain why my previous post garners several hundred hits a month.

On the Plus Side:

Although that was a lengthy negative-list, I cannot help but brag about how nice the program is to use. Almost all of the wizard-like features are easy and straight-forward. You will have no problems with blemish and red-eye removers, and other such tools. Red-eye tool also works with dog and cat eyes.

The masking features, background removers, and the people-remover (Carver), are a hoot to use. The program comes with a "thinify." However, with that said, I don't require these features with the work I usually do.

With the fancy tools aside, I spend a vast majority of my time editing illustrations manually, using the standard run-of-the-mill editing tools. I find that PSP is a capable product and it gets the work done.

Typically, my illustrations are a mixture of Raster and Vector-based layers in all of my illustrations. Because some of the tools are nuisance to get to, I always build a custom toolbar, putting my most common, out-of-the-way tools at my finger tips. Here is an illustration of the new toolbar; this has really made the program a joy to use:



Conclusions:

I have liked PSP for years and now use it exclusively. Almost all of the editing in this blog has been done with one version or PSP or another. For example, the DC-3 airplane illustrations in this blog are from plastic model advertisements, where I've manipulated the backgrounds, adding text, clouds, blurred props, deckled edges, etc.

It has been frustrating to get the software to run on newer Microsoft operating systems (the jump from XP to Vista was particularly traumatic). Starting with Windows Vista, Corel has come out with a series of paid upgrades (abandoning WordPerfect's long history of issuing free maintenance releases). So far the price has been tolerable, with most "technical" upgrades costing $25.00.

To get this $25 technical upgrade price, I had to call Corel's 800 sales line and plead with them, using this legitimate excuse: "You said 12.5 would fix all of my problems; it didn't and I am still am still fighting this (see this link: 12.5 White Screen of Death)... can I get this for free?" This plea works if you are within 90 days of a purchase, outside of that, you will have to pay, but $25 wasn't horrible.

If you are buying for the first time, it is often on sale for $70; still a bargain for what this program offers. Full retail has crept up to $100, which is a cause for concern. If you already own the product, pay the upgrade fees, keeping the software current -- consider it as maintenance.

The X3 version has incremental improvements over 12.x, and this initial review shows it working (more) properly in Windows 7. Even with two paid upgrades in the past 4 months, I am still pleased and am not having any serious problems. The editor solves real needs and does real editing work, despite my negative comments. Would I like to use a program like Photoshop? Of course, but I'm also cheap.

Hopefully, future maintenance will be actual updates rather than under the guise of a new version. With normal maintenance releases, the product will have a chance to mature and won't feel as rushed.

TeamViewer Remote Control

Review: TeamViewer allows you to remote control any PC on the Internet with a super-easy-to-use program that works through all routers and firewalls. Free for personal use; inexpensive for business use.Sometimes it is nice to remote-control someone else's PC. I was on a call with a friend and he wanted me to see what was on his screen. I downloaded and ran TeamViewer and 20 seconds later, I was looking at his computer.

Another good example might be tech-support for a family member, again, in 20 seconds, you can see what they are seeing (and if needed, control their mouse and keyboard). Finally, you can use it to reach your home computer from the office.

The Product:

All-in-one TeamViewer Full Version
www.TeamViewer.com
Free for personal use

• Team Viewer can remotely control any PC anywhere on the Internet
• No installation is required
• A novice can start a session in about 60 seconds
• It works through all Firewalls and Routers!
• It works with any screen resolution
• Transmissions are encrypted
• It is fast, easy and free for non-commercial users

The Design:

To use the software, both sides of the connection need to run the program (a single executable, about 2MB). For a quick, one-time session, double-click the downloaded program and click "RUN".

Then decide if you are going to host the session or if you want to connect to another person's session.

If you are hosting a session (you as the presenter), the system generates a session-ID and password. Via Email or over the phone, tell the other person(s) the codes, which they type into their program. When they click Connect, they immediately see your screen and can have control of the mouse and keyboard. With a click, the session can be flipped around, making you the presenter. All of this works easily and transparently.

Detailed Steps:

These instructions probably appear more involved than they really are. Be aware when you start the program, you can choose to install the software or you can simply "run" it. Use "Run" for those one-time connections; use Install if you frequently need to connect to the same machine. 

1. Download the TeamViewer program.

a. Goto www.TeamViewer.com; click the download tab.

b. Download "All-in-one: TeamViewer Full Version".
(Both sides of the connection need to download this same software)

c. Save the file (TeamViewer_Setup.exe) to the desktop or other known location.

(If you are setting this up for a student or parent and they would never need to remote-control your computer, they can download the "TeamViewer QuickSupport", which runs immediately, again without installation, and does not require administrative rights to run.)

2. Double-click "TeamViewer_Setup.exe" and choose RUN if you want a quick, one-time connection with the other person.

Note: Although the program is called "_Setup.exe", it does not "have to be" installed, see below.

a. Windows 7 and Vista will prompt for permission; look on your task bar for permission.

b. When prompted to "Install or Run," most should click RUN.


If you plan on using the program often, consider installing and setting up more advanced options. You must 'install' if you need to connect to your machine unattended. However, for occasional remote-control sessions, the RUN option will work well.

3. The login screen appears next:

It is split into two halves:


Decision:

• If you are trying to remote-control someone else's computer, have them tell you their semi-permanent Session ID. You type their session ID in the ID box and click "Connect to Partner". You will be prompted for their password.
• If you want the other person to remote-control your computer, tell them your Session-ID and password, as displayed on the left of the screen.

4. You are connected and you should see their screen. You are done!

Do this: On the top tool-bar banner-menu, click "View, Show Remote Cursor" (so you can see their mouse move). I've noticed when you click any of the banner-menus, the session temporarily disconnects; click "Connect" to re-connect.

If you are the person being remote-controlled, your wallpaper will turn gray (as an indication your computer is being remotely controlled) and there is a pop-up window on the bottom-right of your screen, showing the status of the connection.

While Remote Controlling:

You can see and click anywhere on the other person's screen and you have full keyboard and mouse control. If the remote person moves the mouse at the same time as you, they win all conflicts.

One-time per session you will see a small nag screen offering to buy the product. The software is unabashedly free for personal use, but they want to remind you of this. The nag does not cause undue problems.

Other Features:
Without getting into details, you can upload and download files directly to their computer, choosing any directory. And it almost goes without saying, you can launch their copy of Windows Explorer and copy, move and delete files on the remote machine, as if you were there.


While on the Road - Connect to Home

If you install the full client (as opposed to Run-only), you can reach your computer while traveling. As long as your computer is on and you know the Session-ID and password, you can make an unattended connection to your own computer.

In summary:

This is a slick program and is better than previous software that I've used (including VNC and Ultra-VNC). It works over Port 80, passing through TeamViewer servers, and this is how it can tunnel through firewalls.

For personal use, it is free. For commercial use, see their website for costs. If you pay for a license, it is a one-time, perpetual license with all new versions and you can use it for presentations, demos, technical support, etc.

Setting up home wireless network

Setting up home wireless network – Introduction

Thinking of setting up home wireless network?
Everyone has gone digital today with all our music, photos and videos stored on our home PCs.
We can do so much more today with our PCs such as video editing, creation of photo collages, playing online games etc.

Setting up a home wireless network gives us the opportunity to ‘share it all’ with our friends and family.
Setting up a home wireless network needn’t be intimidating and the benefits are enormous.

Setting up home wireless network – Router

If you already have a broadband internet connection, adding a wireless router will allow you to not only share your internet connection with all of your home PCs and laptops but also the built in router switch and wireless access point will allow your home PCs to communicate directly with one another allowing the instant sharing of all of your music, video, photos and other media.
Not only that but the wireless routers built in hardware firewall and wireless data encryption will protect all of your PCs and laptops from online threats and anyone trying to break in to your wireless home network.
Wireless allows our entire home PCs, laptops and other digital wireless devices to link up wherever we are in and around our home - all without the mess and nuisance of wires.
Setting up a home wireless network will also enable you to build a wireless home media network allowing you to stream video and music around your home and to your home TV!

Setting up home wireless network – Printer sharing

Another use for your home wireless network is the sharing of a wired or wireless printer connected to one of your home PCs or even better, direct to your router via a print server which will not require you to leave a PC on.
A wireless printer could be placed anywhere allowing you to situate it conveniently for all to use or to keep your home neat and tidy by tucking it out of the way.

Setting up home wireless network – Easy backup

The addition of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device can act as a file server so that anyone on your home network can access files and media at any time without relying on one or more PCs being permanently powered on by backing up all files to one convenient place.
These babies are much cheaper to run than a PC and can be left powered up on your network with all of your PCs and laptops etc having direct access to files and media via your home wireless network.
Hey, you can also get them with a built in print server!
A NAS will allow you the freedom and convenience of storing all of your music and video in one accessible ‘on demand’ place with a music or video streaming device connected to your home entertainment system and your wireless network providing instant access to your media.
A NAS will also make the process of file and data backup a snap!

Setting up home wireless network – Wireless gaming

Connect up your games consoles too!
Xbox 360, Wii, Playstation – these can all be connected up to your home wireless network very simply and the Xbox 360 and Playstation are capable of streaming music and video ‘as is’ with very little setting up to do.

Setting up home wireless network – It’s so easy!

On this site you will find all you need to know for setting up a home wireless network that need not cost the earth and is extremely quick and easy to do – the advent of wireless has made it all so much easier for anyone to set up a home wireless network.
You’ll find help here with setting up, troubleshooting, security etc and all in simple terms with clear instructions and accompanying pictures.

Most PCs and generally all laptops today will come with built in network capabilities.
Laptops should all have wireless capabilities built in and desktop PCs will generally have on-board wired Ethernet LAN capabilities and sometimes wireless capabilities too.
Older laptops may not have these wireless capabilities built-in but not to worry, its easy to add this function and we show you how on this site with clear simple instructions.
Likewise we show you how to add wireless capabilities to a desktop PC enabling every PC and laptop in your home to join in the fun!
Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 are all geared towards the simple set up of a wireless network (Windows XP will need Service Packs 2 and 3 installed and Windows Vista should have Service Pack 1 installed prior to setting up) and you will find all you need to know to set up your wireless router and wireless network adapters within this site.

Installing a wireless router

Installing a wireless router - Introduction

Installing a wireless router and setting up a home wireless network doesn’t cost the earth, can be accomplished by anybody using the simple steps and know how available in the guides you will find here at PC Tips and Tricks.
Do you want to be able to sit comfortably in your living room or maybe outside on the patio in the sunshine whilst surfing the internet with no wires to worry about?
How about sharing a common printer wirelessly from any room in your house?

Installing a Wireless Router – Broadband connection sharing

Your home broadband connection can be used to provide internet access for more than one PC, laptop or gaming console etc.
There are a number of ways of providing this access for your home computers and other devices but the easiest and safest way is by installing a wireless router which will allow all of your PCs etc to connect to the internet independently and also allow file sharing between PCs and laptops connected to your home network.
Why do we need a router? Well, we need a router if we want to connect a number of PCs, game consoles etc through to the Internet via one ISP (Internet Service Provider) without having to pay for a full broadband subscription for each device.
Why is it safer to use a router? Well, your router will have a built-in hardware firewall which, when configured correctly, will help provide protection against hackers and the like trying to infiltrate your home network and wreak havoc perhaps obtaining sensitive information such as passwords and credit card details etc.
A hardware firewall will provide greater security than a software firewall on its own and a combined hardware and software firewall setup will provide excellent security against online threats.
With a wireless router all of your PCs will be able to access the internet at the same time and with your home wireless network you will be able to share printers and files, use wireless capable gaming consoles and your Apple itouch or Apple iphone devices etc.

Installing a Wireless Router – Other options

As we said earlier, the wireless router isn’t the only way to share an internet connection but it’s certainly the most tidy, inherently safe and convenient way.
A simple wired router will allow you the same functionality and protection with an in-built firewall but you will then have to install unsightly CAT 5 cabling around your home. Agreed, you can hide these cables away within cupboards and behind wall boards etc but it is so much easier installing a wireless router for your home network.
Another option that is open to you is the Windows ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) method where you can allocate one of your computers to be the main ‘gateway’ to the internet and your other computers would then access, again using Cat 5 cabling between PCs, the internet via your main PC. This would mean that your main PC would need to remain on all of the time that your other computer users want to access the internet. Inconvenient and a great waste of electricity – let’s get green now guys and girls!

Installing a Wireless Router – What is a router

So, what exactly is a router and what does it do?
Ok, a router – in simple terms – is a device that sends data between networks in the form of data packets (small chunks of data).
It is connected between at least two networks - in our case between our home network, which is called a LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet, which is on the WAN (Wide Area Network) side of the router.
The router acts as a gateway between these two networks.
Hey, it’s all quite simple really; your wireless router basically acts as an interface between your broadband internet connection and your home PCs either wirelessly or via Ethernet cabling.
Your router will incorporate a switch, which acts like an intelligent hub, and controls data transfer between all PCs and devices connected to the router Ethernet RJ-45 ports (on our LAN side of the router) or router wireless access point - WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) allowing you to share files and data between devices on your home network.
The router takes note of which computer or computers are addressing particular sites on the Internet and ensures that data to and from the Internet is tracked back and forth to the correct computer on your network.
The router does all this using various protocols, headers and tables etc to allow correct communication between devices and between each device and the Internet.
NAT (Network Address Translation) allows all of your computers to share a single IP address on the Internet by combining the traffic from your PCs and laptops etc individual IP addresses into one single internet IP address.
So, from the outside, your individual computers appear as one. Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) does not need to provide individual IP addresses for each of your PCs – that would be very expensive!
Your router communicates with your ISP via a single IP address and has an internal ‘switch’ which assigns each PC or device on your network with a unique IP address allowing all to share the internet connection. The switch also provides communication between your PCs etc across your home network.
Your wireless router provides a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) to provide the same function for all your wireless connected devices such as laptops, wireless desktop PCs and wireless enabled game consoles etc.

Installing a Wireless Router – Recommended setup

Although we are discussing installing a wireless router setup here you should probably still configure your main PC using a permanent wired Ethernet connection.
Why? - Well initial setup will be carried out using a wired connection and we would recommend, especially if you have a PC situated close by your router, that you retain one PC with a direct connection as trouble shooting etc will be much easier using this connection.
Wireless signals can be greatly affected by the surrounding environment – microwave ovens, walls, floors, cordless phones etc can all have an impact on your signal. It is far easier to troubleshoot when you don’t have to worry about whether the problem is just down to a poor wireless signal.
Wireless signals can be greatly affected by the environment (microwave ovens, walls, floors cordless phones etc) can all have an impact on your signal.

Installing a Wireless Router – Typical wireless router and connections

Here is a typical router:

Connections at the rear

Note the various inputs and outputs as follows:
A port to plug in your telephone line if you have a DSL type router, or Ethernet input for a cable modem if you have a cable ISP service.
A number of Ethernet RJ-45 ports, typically four, to allow connection of your wired LAN (connection for each wired computer or device on your home network).
The remaining connector is the jack socket to allow connection of DC input power from the mains adapter.
Status Led’s giving you information on ISP, Wi-Fi and Ethernet port status etc.
A wireless capable router may also have one or two antennae attached to provide for your WLAN although on some makes the aerial may be integral to the device.

Installing a Wireless Router – Choosing a wireless router

To setup for Windows Wireless Networking as discussed you will need either a WAP (Wireless Access Point) and a separate router or a router with an integral WAP.
When installing a wireless router we would recommend that you choose a combined type of wireless router – by this we mean that your router has an integral switch, wireless access point and modem (DSL type ISP).
This will be easier to set up and there will be one less power cord and interconnection cable to contend with making for a far neater solution.
If you have a cable modem then you will need to connect this to your router via an Ethernet Cat 5 type cable. You will need to select a router that is suitable for use with a cable modem / set top box.
If you have your ISP provided via a phone line then you will have a DSL type modem and again you will need to select a router that is suitable for this type of ISP connection.
As we said, buy a combined DSL / Wireless router if possible and ditch your old modem.
Linksys, Netgear, Vigor and D-Link will all provide excellent results – our recommendation would be the Netgear DG834 combined wireless router for DSL type setups simply because we have had years of excellent service and trouble free operation.
Netgear’s WGR614 provides another excellent product with an input for cable modem users together with four Ethernet ports and 802.11g Wi-Fi.
When choosing your wireless router you should consider whether you will need a number of Ethernet ports for permanent or temporary hard wired cable connection as discussed earlier in this article.
Also look at the routers supported wireless standards. What does your chosen router support and is it compatible with your PC and laptop adaptors?

Installing a Wireless Router – Wireless standards

Generally the faster the better here, common standards for wireless networks today are as follows:

• 802.11a - 54Mbits/second at 5GHz operating frequency
• 802.11b - 11Mbits/second at 2.4GHz operating frequency
• 802.11g - 54Mbits/second at 2.4GHz operating frequency
• 802.11n - Up to 300Mbits/second at 2.4GHz

If starting your network from new you should only be concerned with the 802.11g and 802.11n standards really.All of the above standards are generally compatible with each other with the exception of the 802.11a standard which runs at a different frequency to the others and cannot communicate with them (note that there are variants of the 802.11n that run at both 2.4GHz and 5GHz; look very closely at the specifications when selecting your router and adapters).
If you have devices with wireless adaptors that use the old 802.11b standard then 802.11g routers and some 802.11n routers are generally backwards compatible with these older 802.11b devices.
The 802.11n routers are theoretically capable of up to 300M bits/second data transfer rates but in practice you will be lucky to reach anywhere near this transfer rate! Typical maximums will be up to say 150Mbits/s.
For all standards the achievable data transfer speed will typically be up to one half the manufacturers stated speeds at best.
For across network transfer rates, your slowest device will dictate the transfer speed so if for instance you have a laptop with an 802.11b adapter fitted which only operates at 11Mbits/s maximum then this is all you will achieve even if your router is capable of working much faster.
As we said earlier, distances, barriers such as floors and walls, interference from mobile phones and microwave ovens etc will all act to slow down your wireless network speed – a wireless network will throttle back the transfer speed as your wireless signal strength decreases!

Installing a Wireless Router – Wireless router security

Check that the wireless router you select has adequate security features otherwise anyone within range of your wireless signal will have the opportunity to hop on to your network and surf the web for free not to mention gaining access to your home network with all of your files and data!
Ok, so you may not get hacked into but it’s quite likely that freeloaders or neighbors, maybe unknowingly as your signal is not encrypted, may make use of your internet connection for free thereby hogging your ISP bandwidth.
Check that your router supports as a minimum WEP encryption security and preferably WPA or WPA2 level security. To use WPA type security you will need to be running Windows XP Service Pack 2, Vista or Windows 7.
Check that your router can act as a DHCP server, which basically means that it can automatically assign IP addresses to your entire network PCs and devices allowing for much easier setting up. All new routers should be capable of doing this for you.

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Visit the following pages for more information on setting up, configuring and securing your home wireless network

Windows Anytime Upgrade

Windows Anytime Upgrade – Introduction

Just what is Windows Anytime Upgrade?
Well, its Microsoft’s offering allowing you to upgrade your operating system to a higher function if after purchasing Windows 7 you should decide at a later date that you wish you’d purchased a different edition.
As your computing needs change, you may decide that you require the extra functions that say Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate has over Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium for instance.
You may have decided to go for the cheaper edition whilst you evaluate whether or not Windows 7 is all it’s cracked up to be?
So, are you ready to make the move from Microsoft Windows 7 Starter to Home Premium or Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate?
Do remember though that this is a ‘one way ticket’ – there’s no going back once you’ve made the jump except by reinstalling from your original DVD and software key.
Also, please bear in mind that you can only upgrade to the same ‘version’, i.e. if your present setup is using a 32 bit version then you can only upgrade to a higher edition in the same 32 bit format.
Sorry folks, no upgrading from 32 bit to 64 bit.
So how does all this work exactly?
Well, when you install Windows 7 for the first time, you’re actually installing all of the features from all of the Editions of Windows 7 but, depending upon which version you bought, some of these features may not be available to you – they will effectively be locked out.
The great thing about Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade is that you will not need to reinstall Windows 7 should you decide to go for an upgrade – it’s already installed!
No worries over losing files, finding drivers etc., your original installation is all left untouched. Windows just ‘unlocks’ the extra features for the Edition you wish to upgrade to!
So, how do we go about doing all of this?
Hey it’s as easy as one, two three!

Windows Anytime Upgrade – Step One

First off you need to run the Windows Anytime Upgrade program which you can locate by going to the ‘Start’ button, clicking on it and then typing in the command box ‘upgrade’ and hitting ‘return’.
After a short delay a ‘Windows Anytime Upgrade’ window will pop up with two options plus a link to allow you too check if your computer is capable of upgrading to Windows 7 which of course you already know as you already have Windows 7 installed!
Ok, so now there are basically two options…
‘Go online to choose the edition of Windows 7 that’s best for you’ which takes you directly to the Microsoft website and details the options and pricing for purchasing your upgrade key online for the relevant upgrades available to you.
Here you will be presented with a table of the different versions available for you to purchase plus the added features that each Edition will offer.
Do be aware that there have been some reports that if you choose this upgrade route Microsoft can take a little while (maybe a few hours!) before sending you the upgrade activation key.
You may well be better off purchasing an upgrade pack from one of the many stores or retailers stocking the Windows Anytime Upgrade pack.
So the second option is to ‘Enter an Upgrade key’ which allows you to enter an upgrade key that you have purchased as part of a Windows Anytime Upgrade retail box.

Windows Anytime Upgrade – Step Two

The next step is to enter your upgrade key that you purchased direct from Microsoft or via a Windows Anytime Upgrade retail box purchase.
Type in the upgrade key and click ‘Next’ – your upgrade will be verified by Microsoft and you will need to accept the license terms and conditions by clicking on ‘I accept’.
You will now be told to close all applications and save your work and you can then click on ‘Upgrade’ and Windows Anytime Upgrade will set about reconfiguring your operating system to make available all of the features of the Edition that you have purchased.
This does take a little while to perform!

Windows Anytime Upgrade – Step Three

Windows Anytime Upgrade will check to see if there are any updates available for Windows 7 and once completed it will proceed with the upgrading of your present edition of Windows 7 to your newly purchased edition.
Finally Windows will perform a restart and you will now be presented with your new edition of Windows 7 complete with a welcome screen and helpful link to investigating the new features you have installed within this new edition of Windows 7.
And all in around ten minutes or so!
Do remember that you will need to activate your new edition of Windows 7 even though you may have already done this previously for your original edition.
You have up to 30 days to activate so no need to do this immediately.

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Windows Anytime Upgrade first appeared along with the introduction of Windows Vista which also provided the same options to upgrade to the higher functionality editions of Vista such as Home Basic to Home Premium or Vista Business etc.
The trouble with the Vista incarnation of Windows Anytime Upgrade was that it required the purchaser to have the original installation DVD and users had to wait for Microsoft to mail a copy of the upgrade disc before the actual upgrade could take place!
Thankfully that’s not the case for Microsoft Windows 7!
Everything you need is already installed during the original Windows 7 installation – it just requires unlocking.
So, what exactly are your upgrade options for your current edition?
Windows Starter Edition – This is the entry level edition of Windows 7 and it is possible to upgrade from this version to Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate.
Windows 7 Home Basic Edition – This edition is only available in certain countries and can be upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate
Windows 7 Home Premium - The version supplied as standard on most new PCs and laptops and the version most people will opt for when upgrading from previous versions of the Windows operating system. You can choose to upgrade to Professional or Ultimate from this edition of Windows 7.
Windows 7 Professional – The version favoured by businesses and I.T. specialists due to the included features. You only have the option to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate from this edition.

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A few reasons why you may wish to upgrade your version of Windows 7?
Well let’s see…..
Backing Up over a network is a nice option to have and is available with both the Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate Editions
Remote Desktop is also a must for a lot of us and again you’ll need Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate for full control here.
Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) booting, BitLocker, DirectAccess and AppLocker are all only available with Windows 7 Ultimate.
BitLocker is a great utility for securing data on removable storage such as a USB stick/flash drive etc.
VHD allows you to use your PC as if you have multiple booting set up but without having to create multiple partitions on your hard drive to store them.
DirectAccess gives mobile workers seamless and secure connection to their corporate network without the need to set up a VPN.
AppLocker restricts the use of specified applications across a network.
I’m sure you’ll see that with Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade it has become one heck of a lot easier to perform an upgrade – no clean install, file backup, program and driver reinstallation etc, just enter your upgrade key and around 10 – 20 minutes later you are good to go!

How to hide drive from my computer in XP

In this article we would cover following tips and tricks of XP

• How to hide drive from my computer
• How to show icon on my computer
• How to change the location of Desktop, My documents, program, start menu
• How to disable auto play of drive
• How to add program in auto play menu
• How to hide drive letter
• How to hide option from control panel

We need Power Toy Software for these tips. We have installed power toys in our previous article.
Launch power toys tweak UI
Start ==> program ==> power ==> toys Tweak UI

To Show My computer icons.

With this option you can choose which options should appear in my computer. You can show or hide control panel options in my computer. As well as you can also choose whether "Files stored on this computer" should appear in my computer or not.
Select the icon which you want to display in my computer.

If you select these options
both icon will display in my computer

If you uncheck these options
Both options will remove from my computer

To hide any drive from my computer

Following option would be helpful if you want to hide any drive from my computer.
Just uncheck the drive you want to hide

We hide c drive for example, result you can see in my computer

To change the location of Desktop, My documents, program , start menu

If want to change the locations of Desktop, My documents, program , start menu. This option can do it for you. Choose special folder sub key from my computer main key. Select the folder from left side which location you want to change.
Select special folder and click on change locations

To disable auto play

Whenever you attach external drive with system it would try to play it. This feature is called auto play with this trick you can stop any particular device form auto play to removable media.
Uncheck the drive on which you do not want auto play facility.

If you just want to disable auto play for CD DVD or Removable media uncheck these options despite of above options

To add program in auto play menu

Whenever you insert any CD DVD or removable media in computer XP try to play it. After reading its content XP opens a auto play menu. With this trick you can add any special program which you want to handle the removable devices.
Use create button to select the new program

To hide drive letter

With these option you can show all drive letter after the label, show all drive letters before the label, show network drive letters before the label, and show local drive letter after the label, or never show drive letters.
To choose customized drive latter select the radio button of you choice.

To hide option from control panel.

Sometimes you want hide some particular options form control panel so other user can not access these options. With this trick you can remove options from control panel.
To remove option from control panel remove the trick.

How to Install Windows 7

Comprehensive Guide to How to Install Windows 7

How to Install Windows 7 - Introduction

There are three main versions of Windows 7 and this guide covers how to install Windows 7 in any of these variants.Actually there is a fourth version, Windows 7 Starter, but this is only available pre-installed on netbooks etc and it is limited in its capabilities compared to the other versions on offer.
If you are building a new PC then you can purchase an OEM version of Windows 7.You will find this a much cheaper alternative to the full retail version, the only difference being the lack of telephone or any technical support.
Mountains of support is available on the internet for any problem you are likely to come up against though and unless you really want to pay for this we would strongly recommend that you stick with the OEM version.
We would recommend the ‘Windows 7 Home Premium’ version as the most suitable for home users.The ‘Windows 7 Home Premium’ option gives the best features verses price trade off.
The other thing to consider is whether to opt for the 32 bit or 64 bit version. If you have a 64 bit processor installed in your PC then you will most likely want to purchase the 64 bit version to ensure you make full use of the extra performance available to you. A 64 bit processor and operating system will also allow you to access RAM above 4GB.
Do be aware though that some of your software may not be 64 bit compatible and it is worth checking this out before deciding.Ok, so you are probably going to opt for the OEM version but remember that the OEM version will not come with a pretty box or manual although you will save a truckload of money over the retail version.
If you are constructing a new PC then you will already be performing a clean installation but if you are simply upgrading we would still always recommend a clean installation of Windows 7 rather than an upgrade or re-install over your current Windows Vista installation.
Note that Windows XP users will only have the option to perform a ‘Clean’ install; the upgrade option is only available to Windows Vista users.
Any problems you may have with your current installation may still be there after you re-install / upgrade and some applications may not work correctly requiring you to re-install these anyway.
A clean installation will require that you back up all your files and folders as a clean install will wipe your hard drive of everything including your settings and programs.
You can make use of Windows Easy Transfer (available from the Microsoft site or on the Windows 7 installation DVD) to help you with this. Windows Easy Transfer will help you to copy your data together with your program settings, email, photos etc to an external hard drive, USB drive or on to a DVD.
Windows Easy Transfer can be used for migration of files and settings whether you are currently running Windows XP or Windows Vista.
Even with this facility available to you do please ensure that you have separately backed up any documents photos and music files etc that you simply cannot afford to lose to a safe medium that you are sure you can restore from. See our page on Data Backup to avoid any potential disasters.

How to Install Windows 7 – Installation

You can boot directly from your Windows 7 DVD. Insert the Windows 7 Installation DVD into your optical drive and the installation should begin.
Note that you may need to enter your PC BIOS to change the order of boot devices if you are upgrading from Windows Vista or re-installing otherwise your PC may simply start up with your current version of Windows.
The BIOS can be accessed at start up by pressing the Del, F1, F2 or ESC key dependant upon your BIOS version and manufacturer. Once you are in the BIOS look for the ‘Boot Order’ sub menu which you will find listed under one of the main menus – probably listed as ‘Advanced’.
You will need to use the arrow keys and enter/return key to navigate around the BIOS instead of your mouse which will not work.
Now make the CD/DVD drive top of the boot order list by using the + and – keys to sort the boot order of the listed drives.The first screen you will see informs you that Windows is loading files – just sit and wait for Windows to finish, it doesn’t take long.

Windows has now loaded all the setup files into memory and you will now see the ‘Starting Windows’ screen.

When the ‘Starting Windows’ screen disappears you will be asked to select your ‘Language to install’, ‘Time and currency format’ and ‘Keyboard or input method’. Select and then click ‘Next’.

Once you’ve clicked on ‘Next’ you will be presented with a screen inviting you to ‘Install Now’.

Click the ‘Install now’ button and your Windows 7 installation will begin. You will now see a ‘Setup is starting’ screen.

Followed closely by the software license terms which you should read and then tick the ‘I accept the license terms’ box and then click ‘Next’.

Now you have an option of ‘Upgrade’ or ‘Custom (advanced)’. The ‘Upgrade’ option may be grayed out if you have bought an OEM installation disk that is for installation on a new PC only and which will perform a ‘Clean’ installation by default on your hard drive.

The next screen asks you where you wish to install your copy of Windows 7. We only have one option as we have a brand new hard disk drive.
Note that if you are installing on and old drive with data already on it you will get the option to install on one of the logical drives (maybe more than one logical drive if the drive has been partitioned). There will also be options available to allow you to format the drive thus erasing all of the data on it or to create, delete or expand partitions etc. Once again, do make sure you have backed up all of your data!
Select the unallocated drive and then click on ‘Next’ and wait while Windows 7 installs itself on your brand new drive.

By the way, to make a clean installation over an old one there is no need to delete or format the drive first. Windows will move the older version to a folder called Windows.old thus preserving your data for access later if you should wish. Note though that this version of Windows will then no longer be bootable.
That’s it for now, you’re in for a bit of a wait while Windows gets on with installing itself on your hard drive. Time to get a coffee perhaps!

Your PC will restart itself several times during the installation and this is quite normal.
After a long wait (may be an hour or longer depending upon your setup) you will be greeted with a ‘Welcome’ screen and ‘Windows is finalising your settings’ screen.

Windows will then invite you to ‘Choose a user name for your account’ and to ‘name your computer’. This name will be used for identifying the PC if it is connected to a network for instance.

There is a password option but if the PC is purely for family use you may not require this.

The next screen will ask you to enter your ‘Product Key’. Enter and tick the activate Windows automatically option if you want Windows to activate itself when you go online for the first time.

The next screen gives you three different security options. The choice is yours. Most people should go for option one and use recommended settings. We will choose option two and ‘Install important updates for Windows only’ as we will be installing our own Internet Security software and do not wish to report problems to Microsoft.

You now have the option to set date and time but you shouldn’t need to do this as you have probably already set this up in the BIOS.
Tick the ‘Automatically adjust clock’

If your computer is connected to a network the Windows 7 installation program will detect this and ask you to select the type of network, Home, Work or Public.

Windows will now configure your settings for the network – sit back and relax for a few minutes.

You should now be greeted with a ‘Preparing your desktop’ screen and you’re almost all done!

Windows will now personalize your settings.

Voila! – You have now installed Windows 7!

If you have used Windows Easy Transfer to back up your data you can re-instate files by going ‘Start’ > ‘All programs’ > ‘Accessories’ > ‘System tools’.
Now click on ‘Windows Easy Transfer’ to run the program and then click on ‘Next’.Click on the option ‘An external hard drive or USB flash drive’ and then click on ‘This is my new computer’ and you can now proceed to re-instate your backed up files, settings and folders from the backup file you created earlier.

How to Install Windows 7 – Setting up your New Computer

Your new computer is up and running but there is a number of things that you need to do before you can put your PC to good use.

How to Install Windows 7 – Drivers

First off we need to install the correct drivers for the motherboard, graphics card etc.
Windows 7 will scan your system to see what hardware you have installed and then install the relevant drivers for these drivers. If it recognises your hardware correctly then this shouldn’t be a problem, but driver updates are pretty frequent and also depending upon what you have bought, you may not have the correct versions of drivers i.e. it may be a Windows 98 or XP driver that has been supplied on your disk and this will not work with Windows 7.
The best advice is to see if you can go to the motherboard, graphics card etc manufacturer web site and then search for your model number. When you get to the details for your device there should be an option to download the latest drivers for your particular operating system. Download these and burn to a disk or copy to a USB stick ready for installation on your new PC.
To confirm that all of your drivers have been installed correctly go to ‘Start’ > ‘Control Panel’ > ‘System and Security’ > ‘System’ > ‘Device Manager’.

You will now be shown a list of all of your installed hardware devices. Click on the ‘+’ sign next to each item of hardware to see full details and look for any yellow exclamation marks that would indicate if the driver is not installed or working correctly.
If you find any exclamation marks then simply double click on the device and then select ‘Driver’ where you will be given the option to update the drivers for this device.

How to Install Windows 7 – Anti Virus Protection

Before you go anywhere on the Internet you will need to install some form of anti-virus software. The Internet is rife with Viruses, Trojans, Spyware etc and you would be surprised at how quickly your PC will become infected if you do not have any protection.
We at PC Tips and Tricks use Norton Internet Security which is a package containing anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware and hacker protection all in one package.
There are other companies providing similar packages such as Kaspersky, Bit Defender, McAfee and Panda to name but a few.

How to Install Windows 7 – Firewall

It is a sad fact that the Internet is a haven for malicious individuals who would delight in causing havoc and damage to your PC if the opportunity arose.
Windows 7 comes with its own firewall protection and if you do not have another product installed providing you with protection then you should ensure that the Windows Firewall is turned on. It should automatically be on by default but it is worth checking.

How to Install Windows 7 – Recommended Protection

Again, as stated earlier, we at www.pc-tips-and-tricks.com use Norton Internet Security, which in its latest guise provides excellent all round protection.
There are also a number of free anti-virus and firewall providers available and many people have found them to give extremely good performance. A very popular firewall protection program that can be obtained for free use is Zone Alarm.
For anti-virus protection you could look at AVG Anti-Virus.

How to Install Windows 7 – Before Connecting to the Internet

So, you have been warned! Do not connect to the internet without installing an anti-virus program and ensuring that you have a firewall set up to protect you from hackers and the like.

How to Install Windows 7 – Internet First Stop

When you do connect to the Internet, the first thing you must do is visit Microsoft Update. Here you need to download the latest patches and updates for your operating system, especially the security updates!
You can access this easily from your Start menu. Go Start > All programs > Windows Update to be taken directed straight to the Windows Update webpage.
Here you will be invited to check your PC for the latest updates. You should set your PC to allow Automatic Updates so that you are automatically kept up to date with the latest software patches and security updates.

How to Install Windows 7 – Anti Spyware

Spyware programs install themselves silently on your PC without you realizing just by paying a visit to the right (or wrong!) website.
These programs will monitor your browsing habits and history and other details and report back to their user. Some programs will install automatic pop-up adverts, which will become highly annoying and disruptive to your Internet usage.
We at PC Tips and Tricks recommend the use of Spyware and advert blocking / destroying software provided by the following two companies.
Spybot Search & Destroy ( www.safer-networking.org )
Ad-aware ( www.lavasoftusa.com )
Both of these are free to use and should be used as part of your on-line protection arsenal together with your anti-virus (mandatory) and firewall (also mandatory!).