Internet Gateway in XP

In Windows XP operating system, the Internet Connection Sharing, ICS allows the users to use their computers as an online gateway. Once the system has been set as a gateway machine, it can host Internet connection devices. This will allow other machines in the network to use this connection to access websites online. This is much more convenient in configuring small home networks. The operating system has network configuration settings built into them. Once the configuration is done, and after the rebooting, the system will register the system automatically as the gateway for the internet connection of the client computer.

This article will help you in setting up the gateway configuration for your operating system. Configuring the system as an Internet Gateway for connecting devices and setting small home networks with Windows XP is very easy. The instructions given in this article will help the users in setting the ICS gateway connection with a few mouse clicks. Follow the steps closely if you want your XP operating system as gateway computer.

Instructions

The instructions from Windows online support will help the users to create an Internet Gateway in their Windows XP operating system. The steps are given below. Follow them carefully.

ñ Click the Windows XP Start button.

ñ Click Control Panel.

ñ In the Control Panel window, select Network and Internet Connections.

ñ Click Network Connections.

Internet Gateway in XP

ñ Right-click on the network adapter button and select Properties.

ñ Click the Advanced tab, in the opened window.

ñ In the Internet Connection Sharing Section, check the box labeled Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.

ñ Click OK to save the settings.

ñ A window opens explaining that the computer’s IP address changes to 192.168.1.1.

ñ Click Yes to confirm the changes.

ñ Reboot the computer.

ñ After the reboot of the host ICS server, you must reboot the client computers, so they detect and connect to the Windows XP gateway computer.

These instructions by the Windows online support can help you in setting up the online gateway using the Internet Connection Sharing feature. The steps are very easy and simple. If you face any issues in completing the procedure, contact Windows support and get assistance.

Hope this article will help you in the purpose.

Fixing problems with Windows update

Windows Update is a program that comes preinstalled in Windows operating systems. This program allows users to automatically download and install updates as and when they are released. At times, you might encounter problems with Windows Update, most of which are occurred while installing updates. This article contains instructions for resolving the same.

Tech support instructions

What you can find below are the instructions recommended by the Windows online support team which will assist you in the process of resolving Windows update problems.

1. Start off with this procedure by reviewing the installation history. To do this, click on the Windows “Start” button, select the option labeled “All Programs” from the Start menu, and click on the option “Windows Update” from the Start menu. Select the option titled “Review your update history”. Updates indicated by a red “X” mark are the ones that are failed to update. Simply click on the “X” mark to see the installation error code in a new dialog box. Note it down in a piece of paper.
2. Go to the main window of Windows Update. Select the option which says “Go to knowledge Base articles”. Enter the error code that you have noted down before in the search box and press the “Enter” key. Click on the link appeared on the search result. You will now be directed to a Knowledge Base article available on the website of Microsoft. Simply follow the step by step instructions mentioned in the redirected website for fixing that specific failed update.
   

   Fixing problems with Windows update

3. Make use of “Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool” for scanning your computer. To do run this tool, click on the Windows “Start” button, select the option which says “Run” from the start menu, enter “MRT” without quotes in the run text box and hit the “Ok” button. Now click on “Next” to get the welcome screen. Select the option labeled “Full scan” and wait for the program to scan your computer for malware that might be interfering with your Windows update program. Remove any detected malwares by following the on-screen prompts.
4. Run a complete scan of your computer using the antivirus program installed on your computer. If you haven’t installed it one yet, you can download a free version of AVG or Avast.

That’s all with the instructions for fixing problems with Windows update. Have a nice day!

MSN password retrieved

The only available option to protect unauthorized persons from being able to access your email account is to keep your password as private as possible. Hotmail now features a password recovery link in order to keep your privacy as intact as possible.  Though you will not be able to get your old password back, you will be able to create a new password in a matter of minutes. Just follow the instructions given below which have been devised by the Windows online support team.

Instructions to Retrieve an MSN Password

1. Start off with these instructions by going to the Hotmail homepage. Click on the “Forgot your password?” link. This is usually located at the right-hand side of the log-in page. You will see a new page which is entitled “Reset your Password.”As soon as this page loads, you have to enter your Windows Live ID.
2. Following which, you have to type the six characters which you see in the picture box. This security feature helps MSN verify the request that you have put forward and stop automated services from falsely attempting to gain unauthorized entry to email accounts. Click the “Continue” tab.
3. It is then required that you select an email address to which you wish to have your password sent. In case you do not have an email address on file along with MSN, enter any other email address that you have.
   

   MSN password retrieved

4. Proceed to review the password set instructions. Then click “OK.” Head over to the alternate email account. Open the email which is entitled “Reset your Windows live password.” Click on the link which is provided in the email. Cut and paste the web address into the address bar. Click “Enter.”
5. Finally, confirm your Hotmail email address. Select a new password. Click “Continue.” Select a question as well as the secret answer. Click “Continue.”

That concludes the instructions to be followed in order to get an MSN password back in a jiffy. Feel free to contact the Windows online support team if you need further technical support. Also visit the corresponding website if the information contained in this article does not suffice.

I hope this article has been of assistance to you. Thank you for your time.

Remote Assistance invitation

When you cannot find the proper fix for an error that is troubling your system, you may have to depend on others to get you out of the mess. It is not always necessary that only a technical person can help you. Even your friend, who isn’t the kind of guy you’d probably ask for computer repair tips, might be able to get things fixed. Windows online support executives says that if you are a Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 user, you can use the Remote Assistance feature of XP and get help from others. The procedure recommended by the Windows online support is being discussed here.

Instructions by Windows online support executive

Follow the steps given below, depending on your operating system:

In Windows XP

• Click the Start menu button of the desktop window.
• Select Help and Support from the menu.
• Under Ask for assistance in the Help and Support Center window, click on the Invite a friend to connect to your computer with Remote Assistance link.
• Click Invite someone to help you in the Remote Assistance window.
• Select Save invitation as a file option.
• Type your name in the field under From in the Remote Assistance - Save Invitation window.
• Click the drop-down menu of Set the invitation to expire to set a time limit on your invitation. Click Continue.
• Check the box beside Require the recipient to use a password.
• Provide a password in the field provided and in the Confirm password field, click Save Invitation.
• Type a file name in the File name field in the Save As window. Click Save.
• Send this invitation file attached to an email, via instant messenger or by placing it in a shared folder.

In Windows 7 and Vista

• Click Start.
• Select Maintenance and Windows Remote Assistance if you are using Windows Vista.
• Click Start, type Remote Assistance in the Search box and click Windows Remote Assistance if you are using Windows 7.
• Click Invite someone you trust to help you option.
• Select Save this invitation as a file.
• Click the Browse button. Type a name for the file in the File name field. Click the Save button.
• Type a password in the Password field.
• Retype the password in the Confirm the password field. Click Finish.
• Send the invitation file by attaching it to an email, via Instant Messenger or by placing it in a shared folder.

Once the recipient of the invitation accepts it and enters the connection password, the Remote Assistance session begins then and there.

Windows online support for resolving unidentified problems with Firewall settings

The Windows firewall provides protection to your computer against malicious programs which will harm your computer or compromises the security of your documents. Sometimes, you might receive an error message saying “Unidentified problem” from Windows Firewall. This means that the Firewall service has failed to start and your PC is vulnerable to external threats. Fixing this problem as soon as possible is critical in securing your computer.

Scope of this problem

This problem will occur only in those systems running on Windows XP operating system and has been upgraded with SP2 (service pack 2). Other versions of Windows operating systems and SP1 and SP3 upgrades for Windows XP are immune to this problem.

Symptoms of this problem  

Resolving unidentified problems

When you encounter this problem, you won’t be able to open the Windows Firewall, which is its major symptom. You will be getting an error message saying “Due to an unidentified problem, Windows cannot display Windows firewall settings” while trying to access the Windows firewall settings. One other error message related to this problem is “Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)”. This particular problem is caused by a missing SharedAccess.reg system file which is responsible for controlling the Windows Firewall service.

How to troubleshoot this problem

Thanks to Microsoft that the troubleshooting procedure for resolving this problem is readily available on their support website. You can fix this problem by reinstalling firewall from within the operating system with the help of the command prompt tool. This will replace the system files that are missing or corrupted which is causing the problem. Another way to resolve this problem is to create a registry file and add it to the registry of your computer for essential system files.

Check if the problem is resolved

Once you have completed the troubleshooting process, now you need to make sure that the Windows Firewall is working properly for ensuring that your computer is secured against virus attacks. To do this, click on the Windows “Start” button, select “Run”, type in “services.msc” and hit the “Ok” button. Check to see whether the status of “Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) is displayed “Started”. If you are still facing the same problem, try reinstalling Service Pack 2 upgrade for Windows XP. You can also consider installing SP3.

That’s all with the information provided by Windows online support team regarding an unidentified problem with Windows Firewall settings.

Remove desktop icons

The icons on our desktop are shortcut keys for accessing those programs. Manipulating with them will not affect the actual program in any way. These are the convenient way for locating the program and launching them. These icons can be tweaked for a customized look. Windows online support says that the size and the image of some icons can be changed according to the wish of the user. For resizing the icons users can follow the steps given below:

• Right-click the desktop, point to View.
• Click Large Icons, Medium Icons, or Classic Icons.

Alternatively, the user can just scroll the wheel of the mouse while simultaneously pressing the Ctrl key. This will resize the icons according to direction to which the wheel is scrolled.

If the user wants to hide the icons, Windows online support says that he can do the same by following the steps:

• Right-click the desktop, point to View.
• Uncheck Show Desktop Icons.

Hiding these icons does not delete them. They are just hidden from the visibility of the user. To make the hidden shortcut keys available, follow the same procedure and tick the check box of Show Desktop Icons.

Removing the icons completely

Windows online support says that hiding the icons will only reflect for the current account, not to the other accounts. So if the desktop icons have to be removed completely for all users, follow the below procedure.

• Log in into the administrative account.
• Click the Start button and select Computer to open Windows Explorer.
• Click Tools in the top menu.
• Select Folder Options.
• Check Show hidden files, folders, and drives on the View tab.
• Click OK to view system folders.
• Navigate into C:\Users\Public\Desktop in Windows Explorer.
• Hold the Ctrl key and click X. The icons will dim.
• Navigate into C:\Users\ADMINISTRATOR\Desktop, replacing ADMINISTRATOR with the administrator username.
• Hold the Ctrl key and press V to move the previously selected shortcuts into the administrator account.

This makes the desktop icons inaccessible to all the other users. Though these desktop shortcut keys are, at times, inaccessible, the programs can be accessed from Start menu or from the drives where they are installed.

Hope this will help you in managing the desktop features.

Learning to Change the Name of a Microsoft Windows Network

Now, changing the name for your Microsoft Windows Network allows you to link your desktop and laptop successfully to a single network. And as such, you can easily share files, folders and drives or even create a multimedia server. While Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems both share a common means of changing the network name, the procedure will vary when it comes to Windows XP.

So in getting on with our article, given below is a guide as formulated by the Windows online support team in helping you change the name of the Microsoft Windows Network for your computer based on the version of Windows operating system you have installed. Let us take a look shall we?

Changing the Name of a Microsoft Windows Network with Windows Online Support

To begin with, the team first suggests that you close all applications and programs that might be still up and running on your computer. This is to provide you with maximum system efficiency and performance while carrying on with the task at hand.

You can now continue with the steps based on the version of Windows operating system you have installed on your computer.

For Windows 7 and Vista users:

• Get on Windows “Start” menu and then type “System” in the “Start Search” field.
  

  Changing the Name of a Microsoft Windows Network

• Following which, highlight “System” from the results and click on it.
• Click on “Change Settings” in the “Computer Name, Domain and Workgroup Settings” section.
• Click on the “Change” button.
• Now enter the name you wish to give your new Microsoft Windows network in the “Workgroup” field.
• Finally, click on “Ok” twice and then “Close“. Note that you need to perform a fresh reboot of your system for the changes you have just made to take effect.

For Windows XP users

• Get on Windows “Start” menu, and then right click on “My Computer” followed by left clicking on the “Properties” option.
• Following which, click on the “Computer Name” tab in “System Properties” box.
• Click on “Change“, then enter the name you wish to give your new Microsoft Windows network in the “Network” text field.
• Now click on “Ok“.

(NOTE: All computers on your Microsoft Windows Network must share the same workgroup name in order to share files, folders and drives)

This successfully completes our guide. Ciao!

Help with issues in XP

Knock Knock

Who’s there?

It’s XP!

XP who?

Windows XP!

Ever heard this one before?

I’m sure you haven’t. Well, you can thank my wife for that. No, not that she came up with this; on the contrary, she’s the one who put an end to all such jokes (yeah, it was me!). So yeah, there’s your savior!

Anyhow, you must be wondering why I came up with such a horrible joke?

Well, there’s no particular reason, I just felt like it! So anyways, let’s look at what this article is about.

Windows online support solutions

Although Windows XP is pretty robust, there are times when it errs. And the funny thing is, this happened only during the wrong time. I mean, the time when I needed my computer to work properly, the most! Sadly, no! This used to bother me at times; I never liked towing my computer to the repair shop. But not anymore! You see, Windows online support is all you need to get rid of any XP problem that you might face.

You can get Microsoft trained professionals to handle your queries via phone or text chat. Or else, you can just ask for repair tips at the XP community website. But this can take some time as, you know, they’re pretty busy people; they wouldn’t like to be bothered!

But before you do search for online solutions, check out the inbuilt Help and Support feature. You might be in for a surprise!

Just follow the steps given in the next section to learn how to get support tips for XP.

Support instructions

1. Click Start and then open the Help and Support feature from the context menu.
2. Under Ask For Assistance, click on the Get Support or Find Information in Windows XP Newsgroups.
3. In the subsequent screen, select any of the options listed in the left side of the window. In case you’ve got a friend who can help you out, click Ask a Friend to Help. This will let him connect to your computer.
   For getting Windows online support, just click on the Get Help from Microsoft option.
   To check out solutions given by other XP users, click on the Go to a Windows website Forum option.

Learn how to Chat on your Live Account

Learning how to use the Windows Live Messenger, or Messenger in the case of Mac, in chatting with your friends from your Live account is a fairly easy task. And as such, you can chat with existing friends or even make new ones online with the help of an instant messaging client.

Now, Windows Live Messenger is the chat and instant messaging client for Microsoft Windows and it offers a range of versatile features so as to enhance one’s online chat experience. Additionally, Windows Live also refers to services and softwares offered by Microsoft in helping its users stay in touch and in keeping their online lives organized in one place. Their products and services can also be used on the web, on your PC and even on your mobile device. Windows Live Messenger or Messenger for Mac are products specifically designed so as to help you keep in touch with others through chatting and can be accessed using your Live account.

So in getting on with our article, let us now take a look at the guide that the Windows online support team has formulated in easily helping you through the steps in chatting while on your Live account.

Learning how to chat

Learning how to Chat on your Live Account with Windows Online Support Guide

The steps are as follows:

1. To first begin with, you will need to get on Windows Live Messenger’s website and then download then install the latest version of the same for your computer. Note that this program can only be used on a Windows operating system. And so for those of you on Mac operating system, you need to download and install Messenger for Mac instead.
2. Now, enter your Windows Live Account username and password so as to sign into Live Messenger.
3. You can now finally, start chatting with your friends, family or colleagues at work using Windows Live Messenger.

And just for your future reference, you can also actively add new friends you wish to chat with simply by entering their email addresses into the “Find Contacts” search box. Once your program locates them, you can very well send an invitation to the same person to chat with your on Windows Live Messenger.

This completes our guide. Hope it was useful to you.

windows online support for outlook

Windows and Outlook are both well known to be popular Microsoft programs. Operations and techniques which repair Windows also repair Microsoft Outlook files. The conditions for successful repair of Outlook making use of the Windows System Restore are not all that hopeful but may depend on what is wrong with Outlook in the opinion of the Windows online support team.

The Problem

System Restore is known to take a snapshot of your Windows registry entries. This has the ability to restore drivers as well as software settings. It does not save or restore user-created data. System Restore is able to restore “system” files. It is not your entire computer data collection. It is not as comprehensive as a hard drive data backup program. System restore never makes minute backups of Outlook “profile” or .pst files. This may seem baffling; it is true that Outlook sometimes seems not to fully integrate itself into the Windows world. This is a fact which was made obvious the first time that you perform a full “My Documents” data backup in Windows- and find nothing from Outlook saved. You must not assume that System Restore or any other “restore” utility will restore our Outlook data files.

The Solution

Make use of System Restore, for some Outlook software problems can, in fact, be over killed even if it worked. In case your Outlook program does not function as you wish, you need to do online research which includes visiting Microsoft support online and attempt to fix your specific Outlook problem at the source. There happens to be a wealth of information on the web related to Outlook breakdowns as well as manual repairs.

Alternatives

In case none of these discreet Outlook software solutions helps, you need to break out of your authentic Outlook or MS Office setup disc and proceed to reinstall Outlook, instead of relying on System restore. This happens to be a sure fix for 99 per cent of all Outlook problems. Make a backup copy of your current data (.pst) files prior to installing Outlook. After that, you need to create regular backups, manually of your Outlook .pst files in order restore emails, addresses, and calendars from these archives with confidence in the future.

By now, you should be able to fix Outlook using the Restore feature in Windows with Windows online support. Contact the Windows online support team for more help.

                                                                                                        Deleting a windows  live calendar

Apart from providing the most competitive operating systems in the world, Microsoft has always sought to cater to our multifarious online needs as well. The Windows Live Essentials package can be seen as a unique example in this regard. Be it for messaging, chatting, sharing documents or even watching Live TV, Windows Live Essentials is an indispensability for most of us. Moreover, as the Windows online support team says, managing our schedules and sharing them with colleagues and friends can be done all the more easily by means of the Windows Live Calendar.

However, in order to set a new Calendar, you would have to delete the old one. And if the ‘how’ of this affair seems confusing to you, there’s no reason to worry, as you’ve knocked at the right door for assistance. In this post, we give you a comprehensive account on how to delete a Windows Live calendar.

Windows Live Calendar

A digital calendar is by all means useful, as it allows you to schedule your events according to the right time. In Windows Live, you can even share your calendars with others. Moreover, you can use the Windows Live Mail app to view and edit your calendar in addition to accessing them via the Windows Live website. However, as mentioned above, you have the option to delete your old (primary) calendar when you create a new one. Let’s see how this can be done.

Windows live calendar deleted

How to Delete a Windows Live Calendar?

According to the Windows online support team, the following steps are in order for deleting your Windows Live calendar:

1. Commence the procedure by launching your Windows Live Calendar page and signing in.
2. On the left pane of the window, select the calendar that you wish to delete. In case you want to delete your default calendar, click on “Options” in the toolbar and select a different calendar under “Primary calendar” on the “Calendar options” page.
3. Click on “Save” to set it as the new default calendar.
4. As the Windows online support team says, you may now navigate to the “Calendar Settings” page and click on “Remove Calendar”, followed by “Remove”.

The above account would surely prove helpful in deleting your Windows Live calendar.

In the unlikely event that you haven’t been able to effect the deletion, do get in touch with Windows online support.

Deleting Windows Live Calendar

Apart from providing the most competitive operating systems in the world, Microsoft has always sought to cater to our multifarious online needs as well. The Windows Live Essentials package can be seen as a unique example in this regard. Be it for messaging, chatting, sharing documents or even watching Live TV, Windows Live Essentials is an indispensability for most of us. Moreover, as the Windows online support team says, managing our schedules and sharing them with colleagues and friends can be done all the more easily by means of the Windows Live Calendar.

However, in order to set a new Calendar, you would have to delete the old one. And if the ‘how’ of this affair seems confusing to you, there’s no reason to worry, as you’ve knocked at the right door for assistance. In this post, we give you a comprehensive account on how to delete a Windows Live calendar.

Windows Live Calendar

A digital calendar is by all means useful, as it allows you to schedule your events according to the right time. In Windows Live, you can even share your calendars with others. Moreover, you can use the Windows Live Mail app to view and edit your calendar in addition to accessing them via the Windows Live website. However, as mentioned above, you have the option to delete your old (primary) calendar when you create a new one. Let’s see how this can be done.

How to Delete a Windows Live Calendar?

According to the Windows online support team, the following steps are in order for deleting your Windows Live calendar:

1. Commence the procedure by launching your Windows Live Calendar page and signing in.
2. On the left pane of the window, select the calendar that you wish to delete. In case you want to delete your default calendar, click on “Options” in the toolbar and select a different calendar under “Primary calendar” on the “Calendar options” page.
3. Click on “Save” to set it as the new default calendar.
4. As the Windows online support team says, you may now navigate to the “Calendar Settings” page and click on “Remove Calendar”, followed by “Remove”.

The above account would surely prove helpful in deleting your Windows Live calendar.

In the unlikely event that you haven’t been able to effect the deletion, do get in touch with Windows online support.

Windows online support to Fix Outlook

Windows and Outlook are both well known to be popular Microsoft programs. Operations and techniques which repair Windows also repair Microsoft Outlook files. The conditions for successful repair of Outlook making use of the Windows System Restore are not all that hopeful but may depend on what is wrong with Outlook in the opinion of the Windows online support team.

The Problem

System Restore is known to take a snapshot of your Windows registry entries. This has the ability to restore drivers as well as software settings. It does not save or restore user-created data. System Restore is able to restore “system” files. It is not your entire computer data collection. It is not as comprehensive as a hard drive data backup program. System restore never makes minute backups of Outlook “profile” or .pst files. This may seem baffling; it is true that Outlook sometimes seems not to fully integrate itself into the Windows world. This is a fact which was made obvious the first time that you perform a full “My Documents” data backup in Windows- and find nothing from Outlook saved. You must not assume that System Restore or any other “restore” utility will restore our Outlook data files.

The Solution     

Windows online support for Outlook

Make use of System Restore, for some Outlook software problems can, in fact, be over killed even if it worked. In case your Outlook program does not function as you wish, you need to do online research which includes visiting Microsoft support online and attempt to fix your specific Outlook problem at the source. There happens to be a wealth of information on the web related to Outlook breakdowns as well as manual repairs.

Alternatives

In case none of these discreet Outlook software solutions helps, you need to break out of your authentic Outlook or MS Office setup disc and proceed to reinstall Outlook, instead of relying on System restore. This happens to be a sure fix for 99 per cent of all Outlook problems. Make a backup copy of your current data (.pst) files prior to installing Outlook. After that, you need to create regular backups, manually of your Outlook .pst files in order restore emails, addresses, and calendars from these archives with confidence in the future.

By now, you should be able to fix Outlook using the Restore feature in Windows with Windows online support. Contact the Windows online support team for more help.

Resolve Windows Explorer .Exe Problems

To begin with, “Explorer.exe” or Windows Explorer as you know it acts as the file manager system for your version of Windows operating system. It helps you manage, organize and even navigate between the data you have stored on your machine.

However in getting on with our article and the task at hand, chances are sometimes you might face problems with your Windows Explorer feature working the way it should.

“Explorer.exe” problems and errors are most common in older versions of the Windows operating system, such as Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98 just to name a few. And software conflicts may cause the version of Windows installed on your computer to crash and display “Explorer.exe” error messages.

Windows online support also points out that upgrading your version of Windows operating system to Windows XP with Norton CleanSweep installed or by downloading invalid Service Pack installations are also common causes for Explorer.exe errors and problems.

So in light of such issues, we now take a look at some of the workarounds as suggested by the Windows online support team in getting rid of Windows Explorer or Explorer.exe problems as such.

Let us take a look shall we?

Windows online support workarounds for resolving Windows Explorer .Exe Problems

1.      Uninstalling CleanSweep

Follow the steps as given below in effectively uninstalling CleanSweep from your computer:

• First, click on your Windows “Start” menu then “Control Panel“.
• Select “Classic View” from the left column of the resulting control panel window.
• Click on “Add/Remove Programs” option.
• Locate “CleanSweep” from the list of programs and applications installed on your computer and double click on it.
• Follow the on-screen prompts to initiate the uninstallation process for the same program.
• Restart your computer.

2.      Removing files after a failed XP Service Pack 2 Update

• Get on Windows “Start” menu then click on “Control Panel“.
• Select “Classic View” from the left column of the resulting control panel window.
• Click on “Add/Remove Programs” option.
• Locate “Windows XP Hotfix — KB834707” from the list of programs and applications installed on your computer and double click on it.
• Follow the prompts on-screen to remove the file the click “Finish” and allow Windows to restart.
• Return to Add/Remove Programs after your computer reboots by following Steps 1-3.
• Double-click on “Windows XP Service Pack 2” and follow on-screen instructions to remove the service pack.
• Restart your computer.
• Visit Windows Update website using your web browser.
• Finally, reinstall Service Pack 2.

That’s all you need to do to get your OS fixed.

If you are still experiencing issues with explorer, visit Omnitechsupport’s Internet explorer support page for more guidance.

Understanding Windows Live Messenger Web Activities with Windows Online Support

Windows Live Messenger as we all know is an instant messaging application developed by Microsoft to help us send online messages to family and friends. However, know that its functionality is not limited to messaging alone.

The software also supports parental controls and you can use it to play games with friends, send messages even when offline and obtain real-time updates for your Microsoft email account so as to keep track of your email messages.

Given below are some of the added features and activities that you can make use of as pointed out by Windows online support while on Windows Live Messenger.

Windows Online Support explains Windows Live Messenger and its Web Activities

Chat

Windows Live Messenger’s primary function is to serve as an instant messaging interface. And as such, you can add friends and family with Windows Live email addresses to your list of contacts and exchange real-time instant messages with them whenever you are online. You can also personalize your account by adding a display picture or a video for your contacts to see.

Videos    

Windows Live Messenger Web Activities

The online support team also points out that Windows Live Messenger can be used for HD video calls and conferences with your contacts. And to do so, install a webcam with your Windows Live messenger application along with a microphone or a headset.

Games

When you are online with Windows Live messenger, you can actively play games with or against your friends. Simply open a conversation window, click on “Games” and select a game to play. Click “Start Game” and an invitation for the same will be sent to your friend. However note that you both must have Internet access for the duration of the game; otherwise, chances are the game will be terminated.

Parental Controls

The Windows online support team also points out that parents with children, who use Windows Live messenger, can proceed to set up parental controls so as to help make the online experience a lot safer for their kids.

Using Family Safety filter, Family Safety website and other Windows parental controls, you can limit a child’s web access, manage their contacts list and use the activity reporting feature in updating you with what your child is doing online. You can also block your child’s access to certain websites and turn on general Web filtering controls.

None of us need be told about User Profiles in Windows operating systems. Your PC would have a number of user accounts created in it, each according to the specifications of respective users. However, owing to some grave issues, it wouldn’t be long before one of them gets corrupted. And that can be the most frustrating issue that you could ever encounter. In this post, the Windows online support team gives you a comprehensive account on how to fix corrupted user accounts in Windows PCs.

Creating a New User Account

Windows User Account

The Windows online support team prescribes the following steps for creating a new User Account in Windows:

1. Login to the concerned Windows PC via the Administrator account.
2. Click on “Start” and select “Control Panel”.
3. In Windows XP, select “User Accounts”, followed by “Create a New Account”. In Windows Vista and 7, choose “User Accounts and Family Safety“, followed by “Add or remove user accounts” and then “Create a new account”.
4. Assign a name for the new account. Select the account type as either “Administrator” or “Standard User”, and then click on “Create Account”.
5. Repeat the same to create a separate dummy user account.

Transferring Corrupted Users’ Files    

1. Login via the dummy user account. Do not login via the new account or the corrupted one.
2. Go to “Start” in Windows XP; select “All Programs“, followed by “Accessories” and then “Windows Explorer”. In Windows 7 type “Windows Explorer” in the search box and hit “Enter”.
3. Select the “Tools” menu, followed by “Folder Options” and then “View”.
4. Click on the option “Show Hidden files and folders” and checkmark the option “Hide protected operating system files“. Choose “OK” or “Yes”.
5. Now, double click on the primary drive of your PC. Open “Documents and Settings” in Windows XP to expand it. In Windows XP, Vista and 7, as the Windows online support team says, open “Users”. Open the corrupted Windows user’s folder to reveal its contents.
6. Select all the items in the folder except the ones “Ntuser.dat” “Ntuser.dat.log” and “Ntuser.ini“. Copy the rest of the items to the new User folder you just created, which would be located in the “C:” drive.
7. Log off from the dummy account and login via the new user account.
8. Finally, delete the corrupted account as well as the dummy account.

Well, that’s it! You’ve successfully created a new user account in Windows.

Resolving Issues in Windows Vista

Many of us would criticize Windows Vista for some reason or the other. But never should we overlook the fact that, the concept of an ‘impressive GUI’ was brought in by it. Till the launch of Vista, Windows upgrades were enhancements in terms of performance, seldom addressing the need for a pleasing interface. The ‘desktop gadgets’ and ‘exploding icons’ indeed set a new beginning for Windows platforms. Vista’s proud successor- Windows 7 came in with almost the same sort of interface, but with a great deal of responsiveness and user-friendliness. Hence, hats off to Windows Vista first of all.

However, as the Windows online support team says, there are quite a few issues with Windows Vista. But none of them need be painfully endured, rather be easily resolved by means of the various offline and online options Microsoft provides. In this post, we acquaint you with some of such options that would help you resolve your Vista problems easily.

Microsoft Help & Support

Search for feasible resolutions in the Microsoft Help and Support center, which can be accessed from the right pane of your Start menu. Most of the frequently encountered issues are listed here; and all you need to do is access them via the Table of Contents or Troubleshooting sections. In most cases, the solutions provided herein would suffice to resolve your problems. Else, you may seek for some authentic online assistance.

The Windows Vista Support Page

Maintained by Microsoft directly, the Windows online support team says that, this webpage gives you access to a full-fledged library of problems and solutions for Windows Vista. There are a plethora of options in this website, that direct you to sure-shot solutions, and moreover you could type in keywords

Winodws Online Help

in the “Search Microsoft Support” box at the top of the screen. If fortunate enough, you could even directly connect to some of the official Microsoft techies.

Other Online Options 

Apart from the official websites hosted by Microsoft, there are quite a few independently owned web pages that offer meaningful help content. As the Windows online support team says, there are many forums out there, offering solutions to issues faced by you and other fellow-users. All you need to do is, post your queries and wait for the right answers.

The above account would surely prove helpful in resolving your issues with Windows Vista.

For any further assistance, do get in touch with Windows online support.