UP
MENU

Digital Citizen

+

Windows

Tutorials, how-to guides, and blog posts about using Windows. How to use laptops, tablets, PCs, and other gadgets with Windows.

Is the Windows 8 Start Screen an Improvement vs. the Start Menu?

  • misc
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 14.06.2012
One of the biggest changes in Windows 8 is the fact that the Start Menu has been replaced by the Start Screen and now you have a very different way of launching applications. While the Start Screen is great for making instant searches and launching...

Download Windows 8 Release Preview Themes for Windows 7

  • misc
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 01.06.2012
Since Windows 8 themes are not compatible with Windows 7, we would like to return with new themes for Windows 7, inspired by the new Windows 8 Release Preview. The first theme includes the desktop wallpapers used in Windows 8 Release Preview, while the second...
Files

How to Change the Metadata Stored in Executable Files in Windows

  • tutorial
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 28.05.2012
In another article about the metadata included in files, we showed how to view a file's metadata and how to change it for common files such as documents or images. But what about the metadata included with executable files (.exe,.dll or.ocx)? With the help of...

How to Delete Troublesome & Invalid Shortcuts from the Games Panel

  • tutorial
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 21.05.2012
The Games panel in Windows 7 is pretty awesome but it does have one issue: after you install and uninstall a few games, you can end-up having leftover shortcuts that are no longer valid and cannot be removed with ease. If you encounter this problem,...
Games

What is the Games Folder & How to Use It?

  • tutorial
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 15.05.2012
The Games folder is a Windows 7 feature that few people are aware of, let alone understand its complete functionality. This article will try to demystify it and explain in detail what it is, how it works and how it can be customized. [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] What...

Internet Explorer on 64-bit - Is Browsing Possible and Working Well?

  • tutorial
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 14.05.2012
As promised, I would like to continue our series of articles on 64-bit browsing with Internet Explorer. I've used it for a couple of days, tried to find the plugins and add-ons I needed, and evaluate if I can actually make the switch from the...
Dual-monitor

Dual-Monitor Annoyance: Mouse Pointer Drifting to The Other Screen

  • tutorial
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 04.05.2012
Having a dual-monitor configuration gives you a pretty good productivity improvement but introduces a few annoyances you don't have when working on a single monitor. For example, it is more likely for your mouse cursor to slip to the second screen when all you want...

How to Burn Labels on the Back of your DVDs with LabelFlash

  • tutorial
  • Marte Brengle
  • 25.04.2012
In our previous disc-labeling tutorial, Ciprian mentioned the two types of label-burning technologies: LightScribe and LabelFlash. He covered only LightScribe as such drives are much more widely available. I happen to have a LabelFlash drive and I was able to use this technology a couple...

Speech Recognition: Afterthoughts on Its Strengths and Weaknesses

  • tutorial
  • Marte Brengle
  • 20.04.2012
I have to admit that I hadn't used any kind of speech recognition in a long time when I was asked to do the tutorials. The last time I had tried speech recognition, it was with Dragon Dictate, which was new when Windows 98 was...

Troubleshooting Common Speech Recognition Problems

  • tutorial
  • Marte Brengle
  • 12.04.2012
In the previous tutorials about Speech Recognition you learned how to set up this application and the basics of using it. Speech Recognition does work surprisingly well "right out of the box," and it's quite sophisticated for a built-in application. However, this is not to...
DVD

How to Burn Labels on the Back of Your Discs (CDs & DVDs)

  • tutorial
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 10.04.2012
Have you wondered if it is possible to burn a label on the back of your discs? Due to technologies such as LightScribe and LabelFlash, it is not only possible but it is also very easy. In this tutorial, I will show how to burn...

Working with Speech Recognition: Commands, Dictating Text & Browsing the Web

  • tutorial
  • Marte Brengle
  • 06.04.2012
The speech recognition software in Windows 7 is surprisingly sophisticated. Microsoft built into it a lot of features that, at one time, were only available in expensive third-party speech recognition software. Speech Recognition is easy to use, but as with all sophisticated software, you'll need...

Working with Speech Recognition: Setup and Configuration

  • tutorial
  • Marte Brengle
  • 29.03.2012
Computer speech recognition has been around for a long time, and many people have heard of programs like Dragon Naturally Speaking. What many people may not know is that Windows 7 includes its own, very capable, speech recognition program. We plan to cover it in...

Windows 8 Apps Don’t Connect to Your Google/Gmail Account?

  • tutorial
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 09.03.2012
Do you have troubles with any of these Windows 8 apps: People, Messaging, Calendar or Mail? You can't get them to connect to your Google account and access your contacts, email or calendar? This tutorial will help you solve this problem. [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] IMPORTANT NOTE: As...
Shut Down

How to Stop the Shut Down Procedure from Completing

  • tutorial
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 08.03.2012
Does it happen that sometimes, you remember that you need to do one more thing, just as soon as you hit the shut down button? Would you like to find a way to stop the shutdown procedure from completing? Luckily, we have some solutions that...

How to Backup and Restore Windows Vault Passwords

  • tutorial
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 15.02.2012
One way to use the Credential Manager is to export your Windows credentials to another Windows computer, or to back them up and import them after you reinstall Windows, so that you don't have to manually type them again. This can be useful in some...

5 Internet Explorer Features Other Browsers Should Adopt

  • tutorial
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 07.02.2012
Even though not many websites cover Internet Explorer extensively and write interesting articles and tutorials about it, this browser still manages to hold the title of the most used browser. One of the reasons for it is that it provides some interesting functionality that other...

Top 7 Windows Media Player 12 Skins in 2012

  • misc
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 30.01.2012
In the past we covered Windows Media Player 12 extensively and we've shown almost anything you can do with it, including changing its looks by using skins. We would like to resume the discussion about this application and share with you some good looking skins...