[How To] Rename Favorites In Windows 7 Navigation Pane

Favorites in Windows 7 navigation pane

Earlier this month, we had covered in an article about how to remove “Favorites” from the Navigation pane in Windows 7. Sometimes you don’t want to remove them completely, all you want is to customize them by renaming “Favorites”. Fortunately, this can be done with simple tweaks in Windows 7. Let’s get started on how you can rename “Favorites” in the Windows 7 explorer.

Steps:

1. Type regedit in the Start menu search bar and open “regedit.exe”. Click Yes when prompted by the UAC.

regedit result from programs

2. Navigate to the following path in the Registry Editor:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}

3. Right-click on {323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E} folder and choose “Permissions…

permissions for folder in regedit

4. Click on the Advanced button in the Permissions window. It will now open another dialogue box.

renaming favorites using registry edits

5. Go the Owner tab in the dialogue box. Select your Administrator account. Click OK to save the changes.

renaming favorites using registry edits

6. In the Permissions window, select your username from the list and check against Allow button right next to “Full Control” option. Click OK button to close the window.

permissions for key in regedit for favorites renaming

6. On the left hand side pane, double click on the “LocalizedString” registry key.

renaming favorites through registry edits

7. Type the new name which you want to set for Favorites in the Value data field, thus changing it from the default value @%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21796

default string value

new string value in renaming favorites

You can give it any name that you wish, be it “PC Locations”, “Personal Favs”, “Important Folders”..etc., whatever .

8. Click OK to save the settings. Close the Registry Editor. Restart the Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) process to see the change.

Favorites renamed successfully

You can see how “Favorites “being renamed to “My Locations” in Windows 7 explorer’s Navigation pane in the above screenshot.

To set the back the defaults, just go to step 7 and change the Value data field to the default value “@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21796”.

[Download] Windows 7 Update KB2028551

XPS icon

Along with the updates KB2284742 and KB2388210, Microsoft has also released another update for Windows 7 based systems, KB2028551. The update resolves issues with printing from XML Paper Specifications (XPS) based applications to print drivers that are based on Graphical Device Interface (GDI).

The update resolves issues that you may encounter while printing an XPS that contains visual brushes, where certain elements in the document gets clipped when printing on a GDI-based printer device. The update contains improvements for the XPS  to GDI converter, which finally improves the performance of the printing when you print from XPS-based applications to GDI-based drivers. Microsoft has also mentioned that installing this update is also essential to support some of the features included in Internet Explorer 8 platform preview build. Download the update KB2028551 for Windows 7 from the links added below.

Download Links:

Windows 7 (32-bit) file size: 282 KB

Windows 7 (64-bit) file size: 452 KB

[How To] Select Multiple Files Using Check boxes In Windows 7

Windows 7 logo

What do you do when you want to select multiple files at once in Windows ? Traditionally, we have been accomplishing this task by holding down CTRL or SHIFT keys while selecting the files to select multiple files at once. Even though we have got used to this, yet there can be instances when we accidentally click on the blank space resulting in deselecting all the items that you gathered with much effort. Our hand or keyboard may tease you at times, causing these type of annoyances, but a mouse cannot. That is why many people prefer to use mouse over keyboard particularly when doing this kind of multi-selection.

Keeping this in mind, the folks at Windows 7 development team included a pretty nice option to select multiple items using check boxes (this kind of selection method is incrementally getting popular with smartphone devices now!) using a mouse without needing to hold any key on the keyboard. By default, this options would be turned off in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. Follow the steps to learn how to select multiple items all at once in Windows 7 (and Vista)  using the check boxes:

Steps:

1. Open Windows Explorer (Or use Windows + E shortcut).

2. Click on Organize button to expand it’s dropdown menu items. Select Folder and search options.

Organize button in explorer

Folder_search_options_win7

3. Go to View tab in the Folder Options window. Scroll until you find “Use check boxes to select items”. Just check against this option.

Checkboxes option in folder options

use check boxes option selected

4. Click OK to apply the changes to Folder Options and close the window.

5. Now go to any explorer window and you will now be able to select multiple files using the check boxes:

select multiple files with check boxes

[Download] Windows Update KB2388210 For Application Compatibility Issues

Windows Update

Microsoft has released a new update Application Compatibility Update KB2388210 (for October 2010) to address various known application compatibility issues that users experience in Windows XP Pro x64, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Embedded Standard 7, Windows Server 2008 R2.

The update KB2388210 resolves the compatibility issues like “The application is installed incorrectly”, “The application causes system instability”, “The functions of the application do not work correctly”..etc. When you see these sort of alerts too frequently, it’s high time that you should install this update.

Download the appropriate update file from the direct download links given in the table below and install them to resolve the compatibility issues with games, applications and firmware etc.

Download Links:

OS x86 x64
Windows 7 download (2.7 MB) download (2.8 MB)
Windows Vista download (3.4 MB) download (4.0 MB)
Windows XP download download (1.8 MB)
Windows Embedded Standard 7 download (2.7 MB) download (2.8 MB)

[Download] Windows 7 SP1 Release Candidate

Windows 7 SP1

Microsoft has released the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Release Candidate to testers, available as a free download from Microsoft website. Microsoft initially released the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Beta(update KB976932) in July 2010. With the release of the Release Candidate (RC), Microsoft is gearing up for the final release of the Windows 7 SP1 which is expected to happen somewhere during the beginning of 2011. Now that the Release Candidates for both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 are available for download, those who have already installed the beta versions of the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 must uninstall the same before going ahead with installing the SP1 RC. Please note that you must have an RTM (Release To Manufacturing) version of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 installed on your PC before you can install the Release Candidate.

The Release Candidate includes the previous updates that are delivered via Windows Update along with continual updates to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system platforms.

Windows 7 sp1 download

The download size for Windows 7 SP1 RC  (build version 976932) for 32-bit version is 514.7 MB (windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe), where as it is 865.4 MB for the 64-bit version (windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe) of the OS. You need to validate your Windows before you can proceed to the download page.

Download Windows 7and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RC

[Download] Cumulative Update For Media Center For Windows 7- KB2284742

Windows Update

A new October 2010 Cumulative Update for Windows Media Center in Windows 7 (KB2284742) has been released by Microsoft. The update rollup addresses various issues related to Windows Media Center in Windows 7.

This October 2010 Cumulative Update resolves the following issues in Windows 7’s Windows Media Center:

  • Scheduling performance issue
  • Issues in Dr Watson, occurring in some upgrade scenarios resulting a program crash when you try to open the Windows Media Center
  • Another significant issue in Dr Watson occurring during a typical database maintenance process, finally resulting in the Mcupdate.exe crash.

This update applies to all the Windows 7 editions i.e, Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprises and Ultimate. This update also includes some of the previous related updates released by Microsoft, including KB981078, KB977863, KB981129, KB981130 and a Hotfix KB2266287.

Download:

Download the update package KB2284742 from the links below. The file size of this update package is approximately 5.1 MB and 6.3 MB respectively for the 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Windows 7 32-bit versions

Windows 7 64-bit versions

[How To] Remove “Libraries” From Windows 7 Navigation Pane

As part of tweaking the Navigation pane in Windows 7 explorer series, we have already discussed about removing “Favorites” from the windows explorer navigation pane. If you don’t use the “Libraries” much, you might also want to hide this from showing up. Now let’s look into how to remove “Libraries” from the windows 7 explorer.

Libraries in windows 7 navigation pane

Method-I

Steps:

1. Press Start button + R to open the run command bar. Type “regedit” in the filed and hit enter to open the registry editor.

regedit run command

2. Navigate to the following address in the Registry Editor.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4DC3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}\ShellFolder

ShellFolder for libraries in registry editor

3. You need special permissions to change the values inside this folder. To get permissions, right-click on the “ShellFolder” and click Permissions.

ShellFolder permissions for libraries reg entries

4. In the next step, check under the Allow option right next to Full Control for the user name “Administrators”. Click OK to close the window and you would be back in your Registry Editor.

ShellFolder permissions options

5. Double click on the Attributes registry DWORD.

Attributes reg values in libraries shellfolder

6. Change its value data from the default b080010d to a new value: b090010d.

Attributes reg values shellfolder default Dword

Attributes reg values shellfolder new Dword

7. Click OK to save the changes and close the Registry Editor.

8. Open the Task Manager, go to Processes tab, end the process explorer.exe. All your active explorer windows will now be closed.

End process explorer in task manager

9. Go to File > New Task (Run..) in the Task Manager and type explorer to run the explorer.exe again.

New task from Task manager

Now you would find that the “Libraries” link from the Navigation pane disappeared as shown.

Navigation pane without libraries

If you want to get it back, just go back to the step 6 and change the value data back to the default b080010d .

Method II: The Easy Way

If you don’t want to go through all the above hassles, we have a much simpler solution for you. Just download the following file:

Disable Libraries In Explorer

Once you download the above .reg file, right-click on it and choose “merge” and that’s it, restart the explorer by following the step 8 and step 9 and you will no longer see the Libraries in the Navigation pane.

To get back the Libraries into your Windows 7 explorer, download the following file,

Enable Libraries In Explorer

Right-click on it and select merge. The Libraries will again start to appear once you restart the explorer.

[How To] Remove Favorites From Windows 7 Explorer

Windows 7 Navigation pane shows Favorites folder, which contains links to your favorite folders on the computer. You can add any folder to the Favorites simply by dragging the folder to the Favorites in the Windows 7 explorer or even by placing the shortcut to that particular folder in the following locations:

C:\Users\(Username)\Links

favories links folder

However, if you don’t use them much, you might want to remove this from the Windows Explorer.

Steps:

1. Press Start button + R to open the run dialog box. Type “regedit” in the text filed and press OK to open the Registry Editor.

2. Navigate to the following path in the Registry Editor:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\ShellFolder

3. Right-click on “ShellFolder” and select Permissions [Since you need special permissions to change the DWORD value of “Attributes”].

ShellFolder permissions

4. A new window will open up. Select Administrators from the user names and check against the Allow option on the right to the Full Control click OK to apply changes and close the window.

ShellFolder permissions options

5. Double click on the Attributes and change the Value data field to a9400100 from the default value of a0900100.

Modifying DWORD value to remove Favorites from Windows 7

6. Click OK and close the Registry Editor.

7. Restart the Windows Explorer (Go to Task Manager, end explorer.exe, then go to File > New Task, type explorer and click OK).You should now see the change, the “Favorites” in Navigation pane would disappear from the explorer.

Favorites disabled in Windows 7 navigation pane

If you want to get “Favorites” back, just go back to the step 5 and change the DWORD value data back to a0900100.

Related: You might also want to disable the entire Navigation pane in Windows 7 explorer.

[How To] Enable Or Disable Navigation Pane In Windows 7

Windows explorer in Windows 7 looks great, showing the drives and other devices on the most prominent right side pane and quick links to important locations on your computer in a relatively thinner pane, known as “Navigation Pane”. This Navigation Pane contains the following icons in general:

  • Favorites
  • Libraries
  • Homegroup
  • Computer
  • Network

Navigation pane in windows 7

While it is highly handy to have quick access to different locations through this navigation pane, there are few people who might like the Windows 95 version of the Windows Explorer, where we don’t have such a pane in the left sidebar. Follow the steps mentioned below to disable or enable the navigation pane in your Windows 7.

Steps:

1. Open any Windows explorer window (or use Start button + E shortcut).

2. Click on Organize dropdown menu button. Expand “Layout” options as shown:

Organize options

3. To disable the Navigation pane, deselect the “Navigation pane” option from the list as shown:

Navigation pane option deselected

4. And once you have done that, the Windows 7 Navigation pane would be disabled (or hidden):

Navigation Pane Disabled

To enable the Navigation pane again, just check the “Navigation pane” option in the step 3.

[How To] Change Fonts In Windows 7

Change windows 7 fonts

Windows 7 lets you change the font in any part of Windows including menus, Active Title Bar, Icon, Inactive Title Bar, Message Box, Palette Title, Desktop, Selected Items etc. Please note that changing these Windows fonts doesn’t change any program fonts, which means that these are the settings for changing the outer view of any program window rather than the look that we see inside the program which depends on the fonts and styles adopted for that particular program.

Follow these steps to change the default Windows 7 fonts

Steps:

1. Go to Start menu and type “window colors” in the search box:

Window colors start menu search

2. Click on “Change window colors and metrics” link from the search results in “Control Panel” section:

change window colors start menu search result

3. A new “Window Color and Appearance” window opens up *:

window color and appearance

4. Choose the part of the Windows for which you want to change fonts in the Item list.

Items list in window colors

Once you select the item from the list, you will be able to change its fonts and color settings:

Window colors & fonts change

You can change the fonts parameters like the font type, size of the font, color etc.

Click on B icon to make the font bold or click on I icon to italicize the font as shown:

Repeat these steps for each item in the list for which you want to make changes.

Window fonts bold and italic

5. Click OK to apply the changes and close the window.

You are done!

[*] Alternatively, you can launch the Window color and Appearance settings from these steps:

Right-click on vacant space on the desktop and select Personalize.

Personalize in desktop context menu

Click on the Window Color link found at the bottom of the Personalization window.

Windows color link

windows color appearance window

It will open the same Window Color and Appearance Settings window as shown in the step 3.