Why Installing Windows 8 In Your Old Computer Is A Good Idea

Post the release of Windows 95, Windows operating systems have introduced many changes to the way people used computers. The Windows 8 operating system is designed in such a way that it can adopt to the latest GUI, which is also called Metro UI. The interface has been developed in such a way that it supports both desktop and touch interfaces.

You can download Windows apps from Windows Store, which is an app store for Windows computers. Though Windows 8 is designed to perform better with the latest software and applications, they are capable of running software supported by its predecessors. When it comes to security, Windows 8 has the one of the best security features ever.

Windows 8 can perform well when compared with other Windows versions. Some of the features that have been improved with the OS are booting speed, sleep time, file operations and many more. Microsoft did keep its promise of releasing an operating system that is able to perform well with the help of minimal hardware requirements.

To run Windows 8 on your computer, you just need 1 GB of RAM for a 32-bit system and 2 GB RAM for a 64-bit system. It is enough if you have 1 GHz processor; a processor higher than that will work better. When it comes to graphics requirements, the system needs DirectX 9 graphics device along with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver.

You might be wondering if it is really possible to run Windows 8 on your old computers. One of the best things about Windows 8 is that it has evolved enough in order to run on old computers. Hence, you will be able to revive the old computers with Windows 8. They will be able to work faster and perform better. This is an advantage to people running businesses. They need not invest on a new computer while planning for a migration to Windows 8. Though the touch screens will not be functional, all the other features will be functional on old computers.

Hence, we can say that it is very much worth the upgrade. Get rid of the old operating system and install Windows 8. This will also help you in preventing security threats from Omni Tech Support scams pages. Omni Tech Support scams are alleged scam services that make use of the popularity of our genuine tech support company to fool users. Users should be aware that OmniTech Support is not responsible for such online support scams.

Regaining Access To Your Windows 7 Computer When You Forget The Login Password

While setting a password for Windows 7, there is an option to create a password reset disk. This is one proactive way that would help you recover a password when you forget the current password, says an Omni tech support review. In case you are not aware how to create a password recovery disk, follow these simple instructions to create the same.

Instructions To Create Windows Password Recovery Disk

• Take a blank DVD/CD and insert in the computer. You can utilize a USB drive as well. 
• Run the software and from this, choose one of the options to recover the password. There are two options to choose, one is Reset Windows Domain Administrator Password, while the other is Reset Windows Local Account Password. 
• You need to note that this option to create a password recovery disk is available only in Windows 7 Enterprise Version. 
• You need to choose the Disk that you have inserted in order to burn the CD to use it as a password recovery disk later. 
• In case you are using a USB flash drive, this is available only in Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 7 Professional versions. 
• Click on the Burn button to start burning the CD. 

Instructions to reset the password

• Enter the most probable Password that you might have chosen. In case the password is wrong, it will display a message saying The Username or Password is incorrect; click on the Reset option to reset the password. 
• Insert the password reset disk in the computer. Click on Reset Password. This will open the Password Reset Wizard. To continue the process, click on Next. 
• From the drop down menu, you have to select the Password Reset Disk. Click on Next to go to the next step. 
• In this screen, you have to Enter a new password. You will have to type it Twice in order to confirm that the password you have chosen is right. 
• Now click on Next button and then the Finish button. This will Close the password reset wizard. 
• In the login screen, type the New password. 

Omni tech support review suggests that it is necessary for people to create a password recovery disk so that it comes handy when you lose the password or forget it. In case you need more help on this regard, call up the Omni tech support desk.

Retrieving Your Email ID And Password For Xbox Live

While creating an Xbox live account, users are also asked to create a Windows Live ID. Users do not have to do much other than entering the email ID and the password. This Windows Live ID lets the users access the account settings in Xbox.com. Apart from that, the Windows Live ID lets the user to change the game tag to another console. There are chances of forgetting the password and the email id for the Windows Live ID over time. In case you have come across such issues, here are some easy do-it-yourself instructions from support guides of Omni tech guides to retrieve the email and password.

Instructions

• Turn On the console and Sign In to the Xbox Live account.
• Press the Guide button on the console to bring up the Home Menu on the console.
• In the pop-up menu, you would find the Settings tab, scroll down to the same.
• From the resulting list of settings, choose Account Management with the help of the console. With this, the account management screen will open, closing the pop-up menu.
• From the Account Management menu, choose the Windows Live Id with the console.
• From the right hand pane of the resulting menu, save the Windows Live ID Email Address.
• On the computer, open the Xbox.com page. Select the link that says Sign in, which is located to the top right corner of the page.
• This leads you to the page where you can sign in with the Windows Live ID.
• Click on the blue link that says Forgot My Password. This would lead you to the page, which would allow you to retrieve the Windows Live ID password.
• Into the corresponding text fields, enter the Email Id after which you have to type the Security Characters and then click on Continue.

You have two options to reset the password. You can change the password from the link sent to your email id, or by answering the security question. When you choose to reset via email, a link will be sent to your email. When you click on the link, it leads you to the page where you can put in a new password for the Windows Live ID. On the other hand, when you choose to reset the password by answering the security question, the actual password would be disclosed to you.

The support guides from Omni tech support desk advice you to go with the second option, as it would retain the original password as such. 

How To Setup Outlook 2007

Outlook program from Microsoft is one of the best and most used email client programs. The steps to setup Outlook 2007 in your PC are simple. The OmniTech Support tips that are shared below will offer an insight to the steps to be done. One of the best features of the Outlook 2007 program is that it allows the users to receive and send email messages from the computer without the need to log into the web based email program. To do this, the user should be having an email account that is already created in the Control Panel. If you have not already done this, you will need to do it by following the steps that are discussed below.

OmniTech Support provides many guides that help users troubleshoot technical issues on their own. Many of the rival support services are referring to Omnitech support as OmniTech Support scams. There is no reality to this label. You will understand that the label OmniTech Support scams is completely wrong after reading through the below steps. You may also check out the user reviews available online.

Instructions

• In your computer, open the Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 program.
• In the program window, select Tools, then select Account Settings. 
• You will now have to click on the New button that is located at the top left corner. 
• Choose POP3, HTTP, IMAP or Microsoft Exchange.
• Now, you will need to click on the Next button that is located on the bottom right corner of the window. 
• Type in the necessary details and then check the box that is located near to Manually configure server settings or additional server types. After that, click on the Next button that is located on the bottom right corner.
• Click on Next again to start the configuration process.
• Fill in the fields that are displayed on the screen. Recheck to make sure that you have entered the details correctly.
• Click More Settings button and then provide a name for your email account from the General tab. 
• In Outgoing server tab, check My outgoing server requires authentication.
• Select Connections tab to choose the type of Internet connection that you use.
• Lastly, you can click on Next and then on the Finish button. Outlook setup is now complete on your computer.

These are the Outlook setting steps to setup Outlook 2007 program on your computer.

Getting Outlook Express To Work Again

Outlook express is a handy email client that comes pre-installed in certain versions of Windows operating system. In general, relying on an email client program is better than using web mail services that work from the web browser. The major benefit of using an email client service is that you can easily store emails with yourself and keep backup copies of them handy if you are using your email account to access work related emails.

However, problems arise when Outlook Express does not work the way it is intended. At times, you will not receive emails because of issues with the email server. Fortunately, these errors can be easily rectified if you know how to do the same.

Check your Mail server connectivity

The standard server ports that are used for getting emails using the POP3 or IMAP protocols are port 110 and port 143. If the ports are set wrong, look into appropriate support guides or contact our tech support services to troubleshoot the issue. Be careful not to fall for malicious Omni Tech Support scams and rely on proper support services to troubleshoot the issue.

If the port settings are correct, make the following changes to correct your mail client settings:

• Incoming mail server should be set to: mail.yourdomain.com 
• Outgoing mail server should be set to: mail.yourdomain.com 
• Your full email address must go inside the username tab. 
• Type in your password using correct casing in the password column. 

Check Email Quota

Individual servers have their size limits. If the memory of the server has filled due to excess emails, the server will no longer accept new email. In such circumstances, you will have to look into increasing the size quota of your email account or remove some of the pre-existing emails.

Check the account’s disk usage from:

• Click on Control Panel and then click on Email Accounts. 
• From inside this option, click on the Current Accounts section. 
• This will display a column with email usage settings which will detail the space usage of each email account and how much is left. 

In order to change the email quota, here’s what you have to do: 

• Click on Control Panel and then select the Email Accounts. 
• Click on Current Accounts and then open the Functions column. 
• Click on Change quota in order to view the MX record. 
• If it has been configured incorrectly, your domain name registrar can be sent with a request in order to change the record with a correct one. 

If following these steps did not bear any fruit, try contacting our tech support team. Be careful not to fall for any Omni Tech Support scams.

Start Preparing For The Next Operating System Demise

The popular Information technology research and advisory firm Gartner has advised all major enterprises and other companies to prepare in advance and have a functional plan to upgrade their PC system online well in advance to the 2020 end-of-support deadline of Windows 7. The firm highlighted the plight of most firms, completely unprepared for the Windows XP upgrade and the mismatch between different departments when the upgrades where finally put in place.

The Windows XP OS enjoyed 13 years of updates from Microsoft before it was finally decided to be out-dated. According to statistics, Windows XP OS was working in almost 53 percent of computer terminals even after the end-of-support deadline. Although most systems have successfully upgraded to the newer operating system, Gartner has advised the firms to create a full-fledged advanced plan for upgrading their systems. Meanwhile, do not fall for online scams that claim to provide third-party support for Windows 7.

Gartner said the following in an official statement, “Organizations that have already deployed some Windows 8 PCs, or that decide that Windows 8.1 Update 1 provides an attractive platform, should not shy away from deploying new devices with the OS. However, we expect that by the time an organization is ready for a broad rollout, Windows 8.1 Update 2 will have entered the market. Shifting deployment to Update 2 should be relatively straightforward for most organizations, and in that case, Windows 8.1 Update 1 should be seen as a pilot for that ultimate deployment.”

This statement raised some eyebrows since Microsoft itself has never mentioned about any Update 2 yet. Microsoft said that it has no plans to release a second update system online at the moment. The Gartner Vice-president suggested the following course-of-actions to help ease with the Windows transition.

• The first option would be to immediately upgrade to the Windows 8 OS, since the Windows 8 operating system has a deadline of 2023. However, it is highly doubted that any organization would follow this advice. The cost involved in upgrading does not justify the benefits received. 
• Any computers purchased from now on should have Windows 8 or higher versions. This will help gradually phase out the Windows 7 operating system. This option might see a lot of takers since this will not be a huge burden for most organizations. 
• The last and the final option advices the firms to wait and download a later version of Windows operating system. This means the organizations should skip the Windows 8 operating system altogether. 

Although these are by no means strictly enforced guidelines, Gartners’ advice to maintain an update plan should be followed by all organizations and business ventures. Refrain from falling for any Online Scams and rely only on reputed tech support firms.

Fixing Launch Problems In Outlook

Outlook’s Cannot Start error is surely something you’ve already seen. This is a common problem, faced by many users. What happens is that the email client application doesn’t launch when you open the shortcut to it. Usually, you have the Invalid XML error too, which is one of the causes for this. You generally call a technical support service, when you encounter something like this.

Running the inbuilt Office Diagnostics tool doesn’t suffice to get rid of the problem for you, and neither would you find any errors in this way. The best way to handle the situation involves relaunching the program, this time using the /resetnavpane switch. Alternately, you could try deleting the <profile_name>.xml file and then, running Outlook.

The latter will cause Outlook to create a new XML file, for which it will also set up a default navigation pane folder structure. Any customization you previously had on the navigation pane would be lost, of course, including the favorited folder items. You may face the same problem in XP, if Outlook is being run in the compatibility mode. Keep in mind that this setting is totally unnecessary in any version of Windows, you run the email client in.

Using the /resetnavpane switch

• Close the program.
• Go to the Start Search if you’re on Vista or Windows 7, and type in Run. Hit the Windows key + R combo, and paste the following in the field shown there: outlook.exe /resetnavpane.
• Hit the Enter key.

Removing the Navigation pane configuration file

You might face problems while using the switch, in which case you can find and delete the navigation settings, or the XML file containing it. Go to the Run command in the Start menu, and paste the following in the text field: %appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook

Hit Enter and you’ll have an explorer window pop open, showing the folder, where the configuration files for Outlook are saved. Find the file, which has the configuration settings for your profile, and delete it.

For fixing other such problems in Outlook, try launching it in safe mode, which means that the customizations and add-ins will be disabled. You can do this by holding down the Ctrl key, when you click on the Start Menu shortcut. Alternately, you can type outlook.exe /safe into the Run command box.

If the above procedures can’t fix the problem for you, call Omni Tech Support for assistive troubleshooting. You will get the best quality services at Omni Tech Support, and at the most economical price.

How To Recover A Deleted Outlook Distribution List

Microsoft Outlook is an email management program developed to enhance convenience in communication and overall productivity of businesses. This does not mean that Outlook is only used for business purposes though; there are many individual users using the email client application too.

Outlook is the most popular email applications developed up till now. There are many features for enhancing emailing experience in Outlook, that most users are heavily dependent on the application for their day-to-day tasks.

One the best thing about Outlook is the ability to allow multiple email accounts configuration. This way, you will be receiving all your important emails at one place. Another productive feature is the distribution list, which helps to create a list of contacts to which you wish to pass on a message collectively. Let us check out this distribution list feature in brief.

Using Outlook Distribution List

Though Outlook provides such an impressive feature, which helps to streamline the routine messaging tasks easily, it is not fully guarded against accidental deletions. Users need to take care of that.

It is a common problem, when users delete some of the contacts in the distribution list or the entire list accidentally. Once deleted, you have no other option but to check it out in the Deleted Items folder. The procedure is same as recovering any other deleted items in Outlook. But in case you are using a personal account, the list will be completely deleted once you empty the Deleted Items folder. It will also be deleted if you close the email client.

However, there no need to panic. Even if the email program deletes the list and empties the Deleted Items folder, it keeps the data saved up to 30 days on the server. This is a safety mechanism Microsoft Outlook has, for helping users with possible accidental deletions. Here is how you can recover the deleted items in Outlook.

• First, open the Outlook email client. Then, click on the Deleted Items link located on the left-hand column. Thereafter, click on Tools and then select Recover Deleted Items.
• Then, you need to choose the Outlook distribution list that you want to recover. Click on Recover Selected Items after the list is highlighted.
• When done, go back to the main menu. You can now drag and drop the recovered distribution list into the Contacts folder.

This is how you can recover the distribution list from the Deleted Items folder, in case you accidentally delete it.

Steps To Import The Outlook Address Book

When you buy a new computer, you may feel lost without your contact information. You need not worry as this article discusses the steps to Import the Outlook Address book without encountering any errors. By following the below explained steps, you will able to import the Outlook Address book into Windows Mail or into another instance of Outlook program.

Importing the address book from the Outlook program is not at all difficult. First, you will have to export the address book from the Outlook program on the original PC and then, you can import the data into the Outlook program that is installed on another computer. The users will also be able to import their address book into Outlook or Windows Mail. To do these steps, you will need a USB flash drive or any other removable media.

Import Into Outlook

After exporting and saving the file to a removable media, you can start importing the address book from the Outlook program.

• Open the Outlook program, navigate to File menu and then choose Import and Export. This will open the Import and Export wizard. 
• Choose Import from Another Program or File and then click on the Next button. Select the Comma Separated Values (Windows) option and then click on the Next button again. 
• Click on the Browse button and then locate the *.csv file into which you had exported the address book. Choose the file and then open it. Select it if you wish to have duplicates allowed, ignored or replaced and then click on the Next button again. Map any custom fields if needed and then click on the OK button followed by the Finish button.

Import Into Windows Mail

If you are using Windows Mail on XP or Vista, you can follow the steps discussed below to import the address book from the Outlook program.

• Open Windows Mail program and then go to the File menu. Choose Import and then choose Windows Contacts. 
• Select CSV (Comma Separated Values) option and then click on the Import button. Select the Browse button and find the *.csv file to which you had exported the address book. 
• Select the file and click on Open. Click the Next button and then choose the fields that you wish to import.
• After doing these steps, click on the Finish button.

These are the simple and easy to follow steps to import the address book of the Outlook program.

Know The Quickest Way To Restart/Shutdown Windows 8

Microsoft’s new operating system Windows 8 is known to have integrated a slew of brand new features like the user friendly Metro UI (User Interface), minimum hardware requirements, touch screen friendliness and many more. Despite these new features, the operating system lacks many traditional features. Microsoft’s decision to remove the traditional Start button stirred up much controversy. Thankfully, there are a couple of third party apps that claim to offer the missing Windows features in Windows 8.

Windows 8 suffers absence of direct shutdown/restart option

Although Windows 8 lacked many good features, what I found most disappointing was the absence of a direct shutdown/restart option. If you have used Windows 7 prior to using Windows 8, you would realize that Windows 7 has a much simpler and direct option to restart/shutdown the PC. Why isn’t there a direct option to reboot Windows 8? Did Microsoft deliberately exclude this feature in Windows 8?

In fact, the absence of a direct shutdown/restart option has surprised many users who gave Windows 8 a try. Well, if you are an advanced PC user, you wouldn’t find this a problem because you will find out alternative solutions immediately. But what about the average PC users? Are they supposed to continue using their Windows 8 machine without a quick restart/shutdown option?

Well, if you are bothered about the lack of a quick option to reboot Windows 8, I have an easy solution for you. Read the steps carefully and work out. For any concerns, you can always get in touch with our technical support desk.

Instructions

• Turn on your Windows 8 PC. When the PC is turned on, you find yourself in the Metro User Interface. 
• Navigate your mouse pointer to the right-corner of the window. This will display the Charms bar. Select Settings from the Charms bar. 
• In the Settings screen, you will see the Power button. When you click this button, you will see options such as Shutdown and Reboot. Choose the appropriate option to proceed. 

The above instructions must have helped you quickly access restart/shutdown options in your Windows 8 PC. If you have any other concerns regarding your Windows 8 operating system, get in touch with our technical support desk or visit the Windows 8 support forum.

The Advanced Bamboo Paper App For Windows 8 By Wacom

Wacom Co., Ltd. is considered as one of the highly reputed and leading manufacturers of digital interface solutions, interactive computer applications, digital pen displays, and the likes. The prime motto of this tech company is to minimize the distance between people and technology in a noteworthy manner. In a way, we can say that Wacom makes use of natural and intuitive interface technologies to bring people and technology closer, and create outstanding results.

Numerous advanced equipments and tools enable you to express your creative fluency on the digital format, in the same way as trying your artistic skills with ink and paper. If you are such a creative person, you will be glad to know that Wacom is planning to offers their drawing app known as Bamboo Paper for Windows 8. Read along to know more about the project.

Bamboo Paper apps for Windows 8

There is a great deal of buzz these days around the Wacom popular Bamboo Paper apps going multiplatform. The digital note-taking app is highly compatible with laptops, tablets, and desktop PCs that run on the latest Windows operating system.

You can see that the Bamboo Paper app is developed by Wacom, based on the company’s 30 years of legacy in the arena of top-notch digital pen input technologies. With this app, you get the natural drawing and writing experience on your mobile devices and PCs just as the way you enjoy on paper or canvas. Your creative thinking and visual expression will soar at great heights with the wide range of sophisticated technical features of the Bamboo Paper apps.

The company recently specified that they are working on a detailed computer language as well. This will in turn ensure that the Bamboo Paper app will work in a similar way on all the major platforms and that too regardless of the capabilities of the OS or system hardware configuration. The name given to this project by Wacom is Wacom Ink Layer Language or WILL.

With project WILL, it will be much easier to share your drawings, sketches, and notes between your own gadgets and to other devices. This will certainly be a great beneficial factor, as you will be able to collaborate with others to create artistic works in real time.

As for now, the Bamboo Paper app is available for free on Windows Store, Google Play, and the Amazon Appstore. Go get it now!

Procedure To Uninstall Inbox Toolbar

Not all productivity enhancing toolbars are useful. In fact, most web browser toolbars are annoying to the user. A toolbar usually comes bundled with other software download. During the software installation process you may forget un-checking the toolbar installation. So, you unwittingly install the additional undesirable toolbar in your computer. Most toolbars take valuable browser space, meddle with the default search engine settings, and alter the home page. These unsolicited changes make browser toolbars such annoying.

Inbox Toolbar is one such annoying toolbar you may not prefer glued to your browsers. If you are wondering how to remove toolbars like Inbox toolbar, this article will guide you through the process. These steps will give you an idea on how to remove toolbars from your computer.

Removing Inbox Toolbar from Internet Explorer

• Launch Internet Explorer browser, open Tools menu, and select the Manage add-ons option from the dropdown menu.
• Then, select the Inbox Toolbar icon listed there and click on the Disable button.
• Click on the Disable button on the confirmation box, if prompted. This will remove the toolbar from your IE browser.

Removing Inbox Toolbar from Mozilla Firefox

• Launch Mozilla Firefox, open Tools menu and click on the Add-ons option.
• Locate Inbox Toolbar in the Extensions page, and click on the Remove button against it. 
• Confirm your action if prompted and follow the on-screen instructions to get rid of the toolbar completely. 

Removing Inbox Toolbar from Google Chrome

• Click on the Inbox Toolbar icon on Google Chrome and select Disable from the pop-up menu. This way you can hide the toolbar and you can enable it back anytime you need it.
• Alternatively, you can go to Extensions section in Google Chrome to disable the Inbox Toolbar. Just click on the Settings icon located in the upper right corner of the browser window, select Tools, followed by Extensions. You can locate the Inbox Toolbar there. 
• Un-check the Enabled button to disable it temporarily. You can also click on the Trashcan icon against it or use the Remove from Chrome option to delete it from the browser completely.

This way you can successfully remove or uninstall Inbox Toolbar from within your web browsers. Stay tuned to learn how to remove toolbars from the Control Panel utility in a Windows computer.

How To Use The Troubleshoot Video Display Problems In Windows 7, Vista And XP

Video Display Troubleshooter utility in Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 help you with fixing problems with the computer’s monitor. Such problems are common and the inbuilt troubleshooter is always handy to deal with them.

For Vista and Windows 7, you will find the utility in the Properties box for your display adapter. To run it, go to the Properties dialog box, and then open the Troubleshoot section. Here, click on the Change Settings button, and then follow the steps mentioned on the screen. Sometimes the Change Settings button cannot be clicked though, and you will not be able to troubleshoot from the Properties dialog box. In such an event, get in touch with an expert.

Another way to get around the issue is to go to the Start menu and access the Control Panel utility. Click on the search box, type troubleshooter, and hit on the Enter key. Select Troubleshooting on the search results page. Click on the View all option present on the left, and then select Display Quality. If you are asked for password or confirmation, provide it.

In XP, display troubleshooting requires a few more steps to get underway. Follow these instructions if you are using Windows XP.

Steps to follow

• Go to the desktop screen, right-click on an empty space, and choose Properties from the context menu that appears.
• When you are in the Display Properties dialog box, go to the Settings section on the top. Click on the Troubleshoot button there. You will see the Video Display Troubleshooter pop up.
• You will be asked questions here. Follow the instructions to fix your problem. When you are finished with that, close the dialog boxes that are still open, and reboot the computer.

With the troubleshooting steps mentioned above, you can deal with many display problems in your Windows XP computer. Some of these problems include flickering or jumbled display, problems with installing the monitor, issues with videos and animations, or the cap for your resolution setting is 640 X 480 with 16 colors, and it cannot be raised.

Make sure that you follow the respective instructions to fix your display issues. If it is a virus problem, which is playing havoc with your video drivers, do a clean reinstall of the OS and install the driver all over again. Call our Windows 7 help team for help with that.

Numerous Benefits Of Configuring Outlook With Your Email Account

Most of you might have multiple email accounts with different service providers. If all your email accounts are active and you use them regularly, then it would be a tedious task to view the emails in these accounts. This is because you will have to logout from account in your browser and then login to the other in the internet browser. However, this problem can be resolved if you configure any of the email programs like Microsoft Outlook with these email accounts. Let us find out in detail about the benefits of Outlook email setup.

Easier to view emails

If you wish to view the emails in your email accounts, simply launch the program by double-clicking its shortcut icon and it will display all the emails in the account. If you wish to view the emails in a different account, all you need to do is simply click the mailbox for the corresponding account and it will show the emails in the second account.

Downloading emails

This is one of the major advantages of using Outlook. When you add an email account to Outlook, it starts to download emails to the computer. The advantage of this method is that you will have the copy of your emails in your computer. By this, you can view the emails even in the absence of an internet connection. Keep in mind that you will need to login to the internet email account for viewing your emails.

Backing up files

Outlook saves the emails to the file called Outlook.pst. You may simply copy this file and it will act as a backup of your emails. Thus, you do not have to worry about loss of emails even if the program becomes corrupted.

Configuring Outlook

Outlook email setup is a simple process and it involves only a few simple steps. Outlook helps you to add email accounts manually as well as automatically. With automatic configuration, you just need to enter the basic information like your name, email address, password for the email address etc. to setup the account. However, automatic Outlook email configuration works only with major email programs in the market like Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo mail etc.

With numerous advantages of Outlook, it is one of the best email programs in the market to manage your emails. Outlook comes as one of the programs in Microsoft’s Office Suite package along with other applications like Word, PowerPoint etc.

You Can Update XP Using An OS Hack

Are you are still using Windows XP and do not have enough funds to buy a new system? It is obvious that with the Windows tech support for XP having officially ended, you can no longer update your OS either, which means you are doomed with an outdated operating system. But, as it turns out, if you know a little bit of computer programming, you can use a hacking trick and update your officially-retired Windows XP OS.

How does this work?

Though Microsoft officially shut down Windows tech support for Windows XP, it seems that XP support is still available for some of the embedded OS versions. It is interesting to note that some Windows XP embedded platforms were released a few years after the official release of XP platform and they are still in their extended support period.

For example, Windows XP embedded POSReady 2009 OS, as it is evident from the name itself, was released in 2009. The ten-year Microsoft tech support is available for this OS at present, which means that the Windows XP embedded POSReady 2009 OS will receive official security updates until 2019.

Interestingly, you can install Windows XP Embedded OS updates on Windows XP desktop OS too. This can be done if you use an OS hack to change the registry file indicating the OS version you are using. After you have made this change, you can go to the Windows Update server online and check for the latest security updates available.

The Windows Update server will then recognize your system running on Windows XP Embedded POSReady 2009 OS and will release the latest Microsoft security updates available for it. You just have to download and install them in your system manually. Be reminded that you cannot use the Windows Update function for installing these updates directly.

Microsoft is aware of this loophole and they have issued a statement warning XP users not to use this option for getting security updates for their computer. Of course, hacking your OS like this is never a smart idea. In addition, according to Microsoft, those security updates are designed for the XP Embedded operating systems alone and if you install them in your XP desktop OS, it might lead to many OS errors and problems.

So, this so-called clever idea might not be that clever after all. You should just upgrade to a new generation OS instead.

Windows 8 Upgrade Guide

This article discusses the steps to do the Windows 8 upgrade. If you are a Windows 7 user, you can follow the simple steps that are explained below to upgrade to the latest Windows operating system.

Instructions

• Download the Windows8 Upgrade Assistant program.
• After the download completes successfully, you can run the Upgrade Assistant program on the Windows 7 computer in which you want to upgrade to Windows 8 OS. In the User Account Control prompt, click on the Yes button to proceed.
• The Upgrade Assistant program will start scanning your computer for all the installed devices and programs. After a few minutes, you will be able to see the compatibility report. You can click on See compatibility details button to see all the compatible and incompatible devices and programs. 
• Click on the Next button. Here the user can select what to keep during the upgrade process. If you are upgrading from Windows 7 operating system, you will be able to keep all the installed programs that are compatible, Windows settings, and personal files. After that, choose Windows settings, apps and personal files, and then click on the Next button to continue.
• In the next screen, you have to order your Windows 8 Pro upgrade license. You can click on the OK button to proceed.
• Select Windows DVD option in the next screen if you wish to purchase the upgrade DVD by providing more money. You can click on the Checkout button to continue.
• The Upgrade Assistant program will connect you to the Microsoft Store and will ask you to give the billing address. Type in your name, email address, and then select the Next button. Ensure that the information that you provide here matches with the billing address for the payment that you are going to use. Select the Next button to proceed.
• Select the payment method, type in the necessary information and then select the Next button. 
• Check the box named I agree to the terms and conditions, type in the promo code if you have one, and then select Buy to get your Windows 8 upgrade product key. If you wish to print out the receipt, you may click on View receipt and then select the Print button.

These are the simple and easy to follow steps to upgrade to Windows 8 OS. If you have any doubts, you can contact our tech support team.

Effective Email Search In Outlook

Microsoft Outlook continues to be better than ever, with newly released versions having effective productivity applications that help make our work a piece of cake. The built-in Outlook 2010 Instant Search feature is many times faster than its predecessors are, and even faster than some of the available third party extensions.

However, you have to open the entire Outlook application before you can search for a single email in Outlook, wasting valuable time. Outlook users would prefer searching e-mail even when Outlook is closed. Even though the built-in Instant Feature does not support this feature, Outlook Mai Finder, a third party application lets you search through your e-mails in seconds!

This lightweight (less than 1MB) freeware application lets you search through the indexed e-mails in an extremely short time. It does so by indexing all the emails in your folder beforehand. This application is highly customizable, letting you index only the folders whose contents should be displayed. Simply head over to the Search index options, from the left sidebar, and select the folders you want to archive.

Moreover, you can schedule this feature such that it is automatically indexed on a predefined time. It is recommended to index your mails every day, keeping the search feature up-to-date and saving time as well.

Outlook Mail Finder indexes your emails into a Microsoft Access Database file (flat file) automatically, but this can be changed into a MySQL database file upon your will. The ability to customize the way you want it makes this application the best suited search program.

Once you have configured all the settings and indexed the emails in your folder, click on the Outlook Search tab and type in the keyword you want to search. Search in the subject, Mail body, or attachment file name to bring relevant search results. You can narrow down your search list by choosing to search by Sender or Receiver. Searching for email in Outlook will be instantaneous!

Outlook Mail Finder is able to index a large folder in surprisingly short time. The time taken to index would depend on the number of folders you selected and the item inside those folders. However, if you need to recreate an index, you would have to delete the existing index, and then start from scratch. It is compatible with Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server, Windows Vista, Windows 2008 Server, and Windows 7 and runs on all versions of Office. The best part is, it even works on the Microsoft Exchange Server!

Use Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant For A Smooth Transition To The New Windows OS

For those, who want to know how to upgrade to Windows 8, Microsoft has released the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant to guide you through the process. Whenever Microsoft releases a new Windows OS versions, there often emerges reports about OS upgrade errors and other problems. This time around, Microsoft planned to reduce the number of users getting affected by such errors.

So, how to upgrade to Windows 8 using this Upgrade Assistant?

You just have to go to the Microsoft Windows 8, where detailed instructions about upgrading to Windows 8, its OS system requirements and other details will be mentioned. There, you will find the link for downloading the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant application, and some instructions to install and use it.

There is nothing to it really. Just install and run it like any other application in your OS. When you run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant application, it will scan the hardware and software components in your system to find out which of them falls short of Windows 8 system requirements. This information will be presented to you in the form of an OS compatibility report.

You need to go through this report to find out, which all hardware and software components you need to replace in order to make your system compatible with the new OS. You need to make all these changes before you upgrade to Windows 8. In some cases, it might be possible to install Windows 8 on a system that does not meet the system requirements in full. But, you would sooner or later encounter problems in your new OS.

To avoid such errors, follow the instructions of the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant as you upgrade to the new OS. If your system indeed meets the Windows 8 system requirements, then you will be given the online link for purchasing the recommended Windows 8 OS version for your needs. Of course, Windows 8 is not a freeware OS. Here, you need to choose an online payment method and pay for the Windows 8 version you want to download.

With the successful transaction of the amount, you will receive the product key for activating the Windows 8 OS. Now, download and install the Windows 8 OS in your system and activate it using the product key. If you have any doubts regarding this, just visit the Windows 8 website for more information.

Windows 8.1 Users Have To Update Their OS To Continue Receiving Support

When Microsoft introduced the Windows 8.1 as a free Windows 8 update, many Windows 8 users started downloading Windows 8 OS update and upgraded it to Windows 8.1. But then afterwards, Microsoft issued a statement saying there are security flaws in the new Windows 8.1 OS, which can be fixed by installing the Windows 8.1 Update 1.

Microsoft to end support for the Windows 8.1 OS

Since the Windows 8.1 Update 1 files are too big – about 2 GB for the 64-bit Windows 8.1 OS – many users did not bother with the update. This means that these Windows 8.1 systems are vulnerable to hacking attacks and security problems. Microsoft has not made it clear what exactly these problems are. But, they are very keen on making sure that all the Windows 8.1 users update their OS using the Windows 8.1 Update 1 files.

So, how can you make all those Windows 8.1 OS users comply with this request? Microsoft has decided to end the tech support for Windows 8.1 OS. Tech support will only be available for the Windows 8.1 Update 1 operating systems. Microsoft hopes that this will force the Windows 8.1 users to update their operating systems, fixing all its security problems.

But, to the surprise of the Windows 8.1 OS users, all Windows 8 users are spared from this new end of support deadline from Microsoft. So, by downloading Windows 8 OS update and upgrading their OS to Windows 8.1, what they got was an operating system that has many security flaws, while the old Windows 8 OS has none of these problems.

Microsoft will in the next few months end the support for Windows 8 and ask them to upgrade to Windows 8.1, which is available for free to the Windows 8 users to continue receiving tech support. This is very similar to what Microsoft has done in the past. After a few months of releasing an OS Service Pack update file, Microsoft will stop supporting the old un-updated operating systems, and release updates that can be installed only after the installation of the Service Pack update file in the OS.

But, Microsoft considers Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 as different operating systems that share a common Metro UI architecture. So, the Windows 8 users will get more time for considering the upgrade. But, the Windows 8.1 Update 1 will be considered as an essential OS security patch that every Windows 8.1 user must install.

Not many Windows 8.1 users have installed the update, so Microsoft might have to extend the deadline yet again.

Interesting Surface Pro 3 Features

So, Surface Pro is all set to debut on June 20 and is certainly one of the most anticipated devices of 2014. As it was mentioned in the Microsoft support page, Surface Pro 3 tablet will run Windows 8.1 and has some interesting features to look forward to.

Higher-resolution screen

• As compared to the earlier versions, Microsoft has ensured that this time around, the screen size is actually bigger. With a 12-inch display, the 2160x144- pixel screen offers a slightly denser resolution as compared to Surface Pro 2.
• According to sources, Surface Pro 3 can display almost 6% more content that MacBook Air, making the former an outright winner.

Flexible kickstand

• In the first version i.e. Surface Pro, the kickstand supported only one position. This didn’t go well with most users. Although the company modified it to a two-step kickstand in Surface Pro 2, still some users find it not so convenient to use.
• In Surface Pro 3, Microsoft has ensured that the kickstand supports a range of positions. Thus, Surface Pro 3 aims at being more user-friendly as compared to its predecessors.

Surface Pen

• Microsoft has modified the note-taking and drawing options in Surface Pro 3 by including the advanced Surface Pen. This Surface Pen is well-integrated into the OS and is also sensitive.
• As soon as you touch the Surface Pen to the screen, it will open up the OneNote application. Several users had certain questions regarding the availability of this Surface Pen. To clear off such confusions, the company has mentioned about the features and availability of this accessory in the Microsoft support page.

Powerful Processors

• This is one aspect where Surface Pro 3 scores big over other tablets in the market. This advanced device can be configured with up to an Intel i7 processor.
• The inclusion of such powerful processors only adds up to the faster running of apps and programs on the tablet.

Improved battery life

• The battery life of Surface Pro 3 is claimed to be up to 9 hours. The tablet running on i7 processor will have an improved battery life as compared to those using the i5 processor.

These are some of the advanced and useful features that Microsoft has included in the latest Surface Pro 3. With the company touting that this device can actually replace the laptop, it would be interesting to see the user response to Surface Pro 3.

About The Xbox Live Online Network

Over the years, Microsoft has developed their Xbox Live service in to cool online gaming network, which also has many entertainment options and services. Though initially designed mainly for the Xbox console users, Microsoft has since opened the gaming platform for the PC gamers as well. Microsoft has a different online gaming platform called Games for Windows Live for the Windows users.

About the Xbox Live subscription packages

It is reported that Microsoft will soon shut down the Games for Windows Live service and might focus on the Xbox Live as the sole gaming platform for all Windows operating systems and Xbox consoles. Of course, the old operating systems like Windows XP and Windows Vista might not be offered this service.

Microsoft already discontinued the Xbox Live service for the original Xbox console back in 2010. The Xbox Live gaming network is currently available for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One gaming console users as well as for the Windows 8 and Windows Phone users. Those who were using the Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 operating systems can access the service through the Games for Windows Live network.

The Xbox Live network is currently available in two subscription packages – Xbox Live Free and Xbox Live Gold. The Xbox Live Gold is a paid service that requires the users to pay a monthly or annual subscription fee. However, The Xbox Live is a free service that anyone using any of the genuine Microsoft products mentioned above can use by signing up for an account.

The Xbox Live network facilitates multi-player gaming with other gamers on the network as well as Microsoft Live chat session with them. You can also download the latest television shows, music concerts, live sports events, etc all through the Xbox Live network.

You can also purchase some of the coolest game titles for your Xbox console or the Windows PC. Of course, many of the features mentioned above are not available in the free Xbox Live subscription. You have to upgrade to the Xbox Gold service to gain access to all the cool options and features Microsoft has introduced in Xbox Live.

For example, the Microsoft Live chat options available for the Xbox Live Free and Xbox Live Gold services are different. The Party Chat option is only available to the paid users. Similarly, you will get many more options when you upgrade to Xbox Gold. Visit the Xbox Live website online to find out more.

Removing Ask Toolbar From Your System

Ask toolbar is a browser add-on that has been developed and marketed by the popular search engine Ask.com. The function of the toolbar is to provide fast search results from ask.com to its users. However, due to the excessive browser memory and internet bandwidth usage, you may feel like removing the toolbar from your system. Follow the instructions given above for removing it from your computer.

Instructions To Remove From internet Explorer

• Start the Internet Explorer web browser by double clicking on its icon found in the desktop or by clicking on its tab in the Start menu. 
• When the browser window appears on the screen, click on the small gear shaped icon found at the top right corner of the window. This will open a drop down menu with many options, click on the option labeled as Internet Options. 
• The Internet Options dialog box will now appear on the screen with options for configuring internet related options. Click on the Advanced tab found in the dialog box and then click on the Reset button for setting the browser back to its factory settings. 
• Now close the web browser by clicking on the small X shaped button found in the upper right corner of the web browser. Re-launch the browser for making the changes to come onto effect. However if you are still seeing Ask toolbar on your web browser, use an Ask toolbar removal tool for removing the toolbar from your Internet Explorer web browser. 

Instructions To Remove From Google Chrome

• Click on the Settings menu button that is denoted by three parallel horizontal lines on the top right corner of the web browser. 
• From the drop down menu that appears on the screen, click on the Tools tab and then on the Extensions tab from context menu that appears on the screen. 
• The program will now show you all the extensions and toolbars you have installed with the Google Chrome web browser. Look for Ask toolbar in the list and then click on the Recycle Bin icon found beside it for removing it from the web browser. 
• If the system asks you for confirmation on the removal, confirm it by clicking on the Yes button. If you are still seeing the toolbar in your web browser, try using some Ask toolbar removal tool. 

If you follow the simple instructions given above, you will be able to remove the Ask toolbar from your web browser.

About The Microsoft Outlook Not Opening Error

Even the most well designed software application can suffer from unexpected errors. Why is this? The obvious reason is that we cannot think of every possibility no matter how hard we try to make things perfect. Some or the other error crops up and you never know when. Outlook is in no way an exception to this fact. One of the most frequently encountered Outlook problems is the problem of Outlook not opening at all. When you are trying to launch the email client, the program takes more than half a minute to open. Some other issues include “Out of Memory” errors, Microsoft Error reports, etc. Fortunately, you need not rack your brain, as there is a simple solution that usually fixes these Outlook problems.

Usually the issue can be attributed to a corrupt OUTCMD.DAT file in your Outlook email program. What does OUTCMD.DAT do? It stores the custom changes you make to your toolbar buttons. If the problem is fixed when you rename the file, you need to make the changes in the custom toolbar button again. You may think that this is a file of trivial importance considering the fact that it is only monitoring the changes made to your toolbars. But, when you look at the number of spyware and adware that changes toolbars and add toolbars, etc, it is clear that this file can get corrupted easily, causing booting trouble in your Outlook program. It affects the normal launching of Outlook.

Now, this gives us valid reason to remove the OUTCMD.DAT file. Search your system for the file and then shift-delete it. When the Outlook email program is launched again, it will automatically recreate the file. This way, you will be removing the corrupted file and bringing in a new uncorrupted file. Here are the steps:

• First, you need to ensure that Microsoft Outlook is completely closed.
• Then, you need to click on the Search button in the Start Menu. Then you need to click on the “Files or Folders”.
• Ensure that “Look in” is set to the drive where the program is installed in (C:\).
• Now, in the “Named’ or “Search for…” box, you need to type “OUTCMD.DAT” and click Search or Find Now.
• You need to remove or delete any instances of “OUTCMD.DAT” and the close the search box. You will usually locate this file in the “Application Data/Microsoft/Outlook folder”
• Then re-launch the email program and you should find it working normally

The above steps should fix most of your problems concerning “Outlook not opening” or Outlook taking time to open, etc.

Banks In USA Upgrades ATMs With Windows 7

Microsoft’s recent decision to put an end to the support for Windows XP operating system from April 8, 2014 onwards elicited worldwide clamour. It is believed that end of support for XP will mostly affect financial institution that still depend on Windows XP powered self services. The decision has caused apprehension among folks who use ATMs on a regular basis to withdraw money.

That over 50 percent of the ATMs in America and Europe are still running XP makes things appear worse. Experts opine that since Windows XP is not supported, it is quite easier for hackers to penetrate into the vulnerable operating system. Since most ATMs are running XP, hackers do not have to work out brilliant plans in order to attack XP machines.

Popular banks to migrate to Windows 7

There is a good sign lately that many banks in USA are planning to replace the OS of their ATM machines, which is currently Windows XP or Vista, with Win 7 or other third party programs. First Federal Bank is one of the first banks to put such plans into practice already. In a recent meeting, the management of First Federal Bank of Louisiana decided to replace Windows XP on all its ATMs with the latest Win 7 operating systems. To expedite the process, it has contacted Dieobold Inc., a popular firm that installs ATMs and other self service financial services for different banks in the USA.

Diebold’s Agilis 3 software will improve security features of ATMs

In addition to providing the upgrade service for the ATMs, Dieobold offers its own security application called Agilis 3 software. This software will install advanced Encryption PIN Pads (EPPs) on the ATMs, enabling the banks to meet the security requirements of the recent PCI PTS version 3.1.

It is hoped that many banks in USA and Europe will follow the steps of First Federal Bank of Louisiana. Meanwhile, experts suggested that a few banks changing their ATM operating system will not contribute much to the security as a whole. However, if a single bank upgrades all its ATMs from the old Windows XP OS to the latest Windows 7 OS could certainly boost up the security of the particular bank.

Meanwhile, Diebold said that it would support all banks who contact them for the ATM upgrade service. Diebold currently holds the status as the number one ATM service provider in USA.

Creating A Signature In The Microsoft Paint Program

A signature shows a bit of your personality. This is the case when you are doing it with a pen on a piece of paper. In a computer, it cannot be done as the fonts do not show characters, but there is still a way to make a signature using the computer. The Microsoft help line tips that are shared below will help you to know more on the easy steps to make a signature with the Microsoft Paint program. The signature can be used with mails, however, we are stressing on creating game signatures here.

Instructions

• Turn on your PC and decide the game that you are going to use to have your game related signature. You can search for a starting image within the game.
• Open the Microsoft Paint program. You may then copy and paste the image to the program. If this particular image is saved in your PC, you can right click on the image and then select to open the image in Microsoft Paint.
• Choose the area of the image that you wish to use as your signature. It needs to be rectangular and the width should be greater than the height of the image. You can make use of the rectangular icon to select the area by clicking on the top left corner and then dragging to the bottom right.
• You can then copy this area by holding down the Control key and then pressing C. Open up a new page in the Microsoft Paint program and then press Ctrl and V keys together.
• As the next step, choose a font to use for the signature that you have selected. You will be able to find numerous free fonts at 1001freefonts.com website. You can install these fonts in the Fonts folder of your computer.
• You may then type your name anywhere on the image. It is always advisable to put it in an area where there are not many distractions. Highlight your signature and then select the font that you have installed.

These are the steps to make a signature with the Microsoft Outlook program. If you have any confusions in any of the steps that are discussed above, you can contact the Microsoft help line team. They will be able to clear all your doubts and will help you make a signature successfully without encountering any error messages.

Tips To Uninstall Default Tab Search Bar From Windows

A toolbar is a kind of browser add-on that may get installed in your computer without your knowledge and is meant for providing easy access to some of the functions offered by the specific toolbar. Sometimes, these toolbars will be very helpful, however, as the time passes, it will slowly decrease the efficiency of your computer by taking large amount of system resources. Moreover, it will also make your system very slow. Therefore, these toolbars are needed to be removed from your computer. Well, given below are some easy instructions on how to remove Search Here toolbar, which will help you to uninstall Search toolbar from your Windows computer.

Instructions

• Move the mouse pointer towards the lower left corner of your Windows taskbar and locate the button that is labeled Start. After that, click it. Now, a Windows Start menu will be available on your screen. From the Windows Start screen, you need to select the option called Control Panel. Now, the Control Panel window will open up in your screen. From that window, you need to select the option called Uninstall a program. 
• However, this is completely different, if you are using a computer loaded with Windows 8 operating system. If you are having a Windows 8 computer, you need to move your mouse pointer towards the right part of your screen and from the list that is available, you need to select Search followed by searching for Control Panel. Or else, you can select the Control Panel option by right clicking on the left bottom corner, and then selecting the option called Control Panel. From this Control Panel window, you can choose the option called Uninstall a program. 
• Now, the Uninstall or Add/Remove programs window will appear on your desktop screen. This window will display the list of programs and applications installed in your computer. From the list, find out the option called Search Bar and click it. Now, a pop up message saying Uninstall will appear on your screen. Click it and again click the option called Yes to confirm your action. If you need to install other applications, you can follow the same procedure. 

The above said instructions will help you to uninstall Default Tab Search Bar from your Windows operating system. To know more about how to remove Search Here toolbar, contact our customer support desk.

Windows Support Scam Calls Increase Following EOS Of Windows XP

Cases of criminals and frauds claiming to be calling from Windows to offer users computer remote support are on the rise. These calls, usually originating from Philippines or India are scams that are aimed at installing malicious software programs to steal financial and personal data or to scare users into software that they do not need. This news was confirmed after contacting the Windows support number.

These scam callers usually introduce themselves as being from Windows remote support and claim that they have found that the computer of the user being called is at risk of infections. These callers encourage the person being called to switch on their computer and then direct them to log off the Windows operating system. Here they play on the lack of advanced knowledge of the computer user, suggesting that the harmless entries on the log are in fact serious problems and encourage the user to either buy software programs to fix the issues or to allow the bogus remote support caller to access their computer to fix these fake issues.

Many of these calls at the moment are being targeted at the UK customers, where the software used to block calls on the telephones cannot be used to block international calls. In one such case, a man, aged over 80 years received about six calls in one week from someone who claimed to be calling from Windows, despite him never owning a PC. Even though the Federal Communications Commission in US has attempted to track down, charge and stop those making these fake calls, there is little that can be done to stop them.

The best advice to the users is that if someone ever calls telling you that you need to turn on the remote desktop support software for them to help you, you should simply disconnect the call. As the support of Windows XP is scheduled to end on April 2014, there is a concern that big volumes of these calls will be made and people will be conned by these Windows support scammers. Just as banks advice the users that they will never phone or mail them for the log in details, Microsoft also makes it clear that they do not make calls to the users, offering Windows assistance to fix errors and security issues.

Microsoft Updates Organizing Tools Of Outlook

Celebrating “National Clean Out Your Inbox Week,” Microsoft has added some updates to the email de-cluttering and organizing tools in the Outlook program. In addition to improving and enhancing the Sweep-to-delete features, the service has also upgraded the option to search for and categorize the messages, together with many other improvements. Microsoft notes that the average user of the Outlook program gets more than 10,000 personal emails a year and that eighty percent of these email messages are commercial mails, like newsletters, updates, and promotions. This made the company make tools that allows users to more easily access the other 20 percent —personal email messages.

One of the much popular tools of Outlook is Sweep, which is used about 7.5 million times a week. This feature allows users to clean out their inboxes, making use of the bulk delete function. With the sweep upgrade, users will be able to see a simpler interface that will need only a few clicks. Another update makes it easy for the users to organize their email messages by category. Even though the email messages are filed away under categories, the users will still be able to find them with the search tool. The Search function has also been updated with more search criteria, a simpler interface, and filters.

Mike Schackwitz, who is the Outlook principal group program manager, wrote in one of his blog posts that, "We provide a set of default categories based on the most common types of e-mail, such as newsletters and social updates, but you can also easily create your own categories based on your inbox activity." "With your email organized the way you want it, you can use the updated Search tool to quickly find email regardless of the category or folder it's in. One of the most commonly-searched criteria is for people, so we now show your contact names and pictures together when you're looking for them," he added.

In addition to updating categories, Sweep and search, Microsoft has also added more keyboard shortcuts, improvements to video, smooth Web-to-mobile email synchronizing, and enhancements to video and chat capabilities on different platforms like Facebook, Skype, Twitter, Google and LinkedIn.

If you wish to know more on the Microsoft Outlook tools, you can contact the Outlook support team. You can also visit the Outlook help modules posted on the official Microsoft website to know more on the Microsoft Outlook tools.

Getting Tech Support For Your Internet Explorer Problems

One of the benefits of using Microsoft operating system is that you would get a slew of Microsoft applications like the Internet Explorer browser, the Skype instant messenger, Windows Media Player, etc. along with it. Also, Microsoft has put in place an excellent tech support network to take care of all the problems pertaining to any of these applications as well as the operating system itself.

Accessing the Microsoft tech support for your IE browser problems

Though Microsoft has many channels for providing tech support like the Microsoft Help forum, Microsoft Support website, Microsoft chat support, etc., not many Windows users are aware about how to access them online. Typically, whenever there is an error in the Windows OS or any of the Microsoft applications, you would get an error message with an error code and some details about the problem.

Now, these specific error codes are assigned to the various problems in Microsoft software applications so as to make it easier for the tech support personnel to identify them and then, rectify the problem easily. Indeed, you can make use of the Microsoft tech support facilities to find the solution yourself.

Go to the Microsoft Support webpage and type in the error code into the search box you would find there. Now, the displayed results would take you to the troubleshooting page for that particular problem. If you follow these steps correctly, then you would be able to rectify the problem yourself without contacting the Microsoft tech personnel.

Using the Microsoft Help forum

One of the most popular Microsoft tech forums online is the Microsoft Answers website. This website, as the name suggests, would help you get answers to all your Microsoft product-related queries. You can get in touch with other Microsoft users, who had the same problem, and find solutions easily.

Just phrase your problem with all its details and post it at the Microsoft Answers website using your Microsoft Account. The Microsoft tech support personnel would be keeping track of all the posted questions and they would give you a reply that would detail all the troubleshooting steps required to fix the problem.

Microsoft Fix It

Using the Microsoft Fix It solutions is yet another way of solving the problem. When you search for the solution online at the Microsoft tech support page, you would be provided with a link for downloading the Microsoft Fix It application. Install and run this application to solve your IE problems.

About Windows Anytime Upgrade Experience In Windows 7

Windows 7 is the most popular operating system released by Microsoft and still, majority of the people use the OS for personal as well as business purposes. It is because of its rich features and characteristics that it became so popular among the techies and day by day, its popularity is increasing. Microsoft has already ended their support given to the 12 year old operating system Windows XP. Therefore, more users are expected to migrate from Windows XP to Windows 7.

If you are upgrading from a lower edition of Windows 7 to a higher edition of Windows, then it requires to follow some step-by-step processes. The systematic experience of upgrading the OS from a lower version to a higher version are neatly explained in the below given paragraphs. For more, read the full article.

Step 1

A customer is presented with two options, when he/she launches the Windows Anytime-Upgrade (WAU) from their Windows 7 computer. Then you need to enter the product key for the Windows Anytime Upgrade (WAU) that you purchased from the retail store or you can get the product key online. After getting the product key, proceed with the upgrade, and you need to choose the option called 'Enter an upgrade key'.

Step 2

As a second step, a customer needs to enter the product key for Windows Anytime-Upgrade in the appropriate space.

Step 3

Next, Microsoft will verify the product key that is entered by the customer to check whether it is valid or not. Those who have purchased the product key online do not need to accomplish the steps 2 and 3. For them, they can directly move on to the step 4. You are given the ability to print out a receipt, when you make a purchase of Windows Anytime Upgrade online. Moreover, you also will receive a copy through email.

Step 4

To proceed to the next step, you need to agree to the license terms of the Company. Without accepting this, you will not be allowed to move forward.

Step 5

Now, the machine will ask the customer to shut down all the opened programs and to save the existing work. To move on to the next step, you need to click the button called Upgrade.

Step 6

Now, the machine will start upgrading their OS to a higher version. Reboot your Windows 7 PC.

When the upgrade finishes, the customer can use the latest version of Windows 7 and thereby enjoy all its features. For more assistance on Windows, contact the Windows support number.

Microsoft Reminds Users About Windows XP EOS Through Pop-Ups

About a year ago, Microsoft made an announcement that broke many computer lovers' hearts; they announced to end the support for their thirteen-year-old operating system Windows XP from April of 2014. Until Microsoft announced the end of support for the operating system, it was the second most popular Windows operating system in the industry. The operating system was widely accepted mainly due to its simple design and ease of access. The funny fact is that even after the company released the end of support for the operating system through their Microsoft tech support blog, people are still refusing to upgrade from the operating system.

The operating system still holds about thirty percent of the overall computer market share while the latest operating systems from Microsoft like Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 together hold a share of just 10.36 percent. However, with the end of support for the operating system now in place, we can hope that the numbers of Windows XP operated computers will be getting low in few days. However, the market leader in the operating system field is Microsoft’s own Windows 7 operating system, which is the successor of the Windows Vista operating system.

The company has announced through their Microsoft tech support forum that they will be reminding users of Windows XP who have not upgraded to the new operating system from the thirteen year old operating system that is nearing its end. However, this popup message will be only shown to users who have Windows XP Professional or Home installed in their computers. According to the company, they will be showing the message from March 8, exactly a month before the end of support date of the operating system.

However, the message can be viewed by only users who have their automatic update option for the operating system turned on. In addition, the users will see the message only if they are connected to the internet. The company but failed to mention whether they will be providing the popup message only on March 8th or will continue to display the message throughout. If you are not sure whether you are running the Windows XP operating system or not, you can know that by checking the System Properties option in the My Computer window.

It is better to upgrade to Windows 8 as soon as possible and enjoy the many attractive features that come along with the latest OS from Microsoft.

One Of The Microsoft Support Scam Leaders In UK Caught, Sentenced

At least some of you might have heard about the Microsoft support scams that have been going on for the last few months. A few of you might have even been at the receiving end of a few such fraud tech support phone calls. This has been going on for many months now taking different phones.

One such Microsoft tech support scam teams busted in UK

The good news is that one such tech support scam team was recently busted by the National Trading Standards eCrime Team in UK. They successfully apprehended Mohammed Khalid Jamil of Luton and his members, who were busy fooling naive Microsoft team customers into believing that they were actually official Windows tech support personnel trying to help them with tech problems for a small fee.

The operation was called Smart Support Guys and they used overseas call centres to make phone calls to such Microsoft customers in UK claiming that they were the Microsoft certified tech support personnel. After convincing these customers about their credentials, they would then gain remote access to their systems with their permission.

Once, they gained control the customer’s system in this manner, they would began installing some malware that would slow the system down considerably. They would then point this problem out to the naive customer and make him pay a ‘small fee’ to fix this problem.

Of course, I should also mention here the fact the tool these ‘Microsoft tech support personnel’ would then use to fix the problem is actually available for free at the Microsoft support website online. It was reported that they used charge such gullible customers anywhere between £35 and £150 for such ‘tech support services’.

Recently, the leader of the group, Mr. Jamil was sentenced to a four month suspended sentence and above £24,000 in fine. Part of this would go towards the courts costs – about £13,929 and about £5,665 would go to the victims.

The chairman of the National Trading Standards Board, Lord Toby Harris made the following statement to the press, “This is a landmark case, as we believe it may be the first ever successful prosecution of someone in the Microsoft scam in the UK. Now that one of the many individuals who been operating this scam have been brought to justice, it’s a stark warning to anyone else that they can be caught and prosecuted.”

Few Guidelines To Safeguard Windows XP Machines

Those of you who are using Windows XP are already aware about the end of support for the operating system. According to Microsoft help forum, Windows XP computers will no longer receive any form of support from the software giant. The last day for Windows XP support from Microsoft was April 8, 2014. Since then, Microsoft has stopped release of updates, security patches, bug fixes etc. for the operating system.

Now, a new rootkit malware has been detected in some Windows XP operating systems, named as Alureon. As you all know, a rootkit is a dangerous virus that is designed to steal important information like your credit card number, passwords etc. With something like this, a hacker would find it easier to intrude into your computer system. Now, since Microsoft has stopped Windows XP support, users cannot expect a fix from the software giant. So, what are the other measures that you could take to avoid this type of virus? Let us find out in detail.

Install a good antivirus program

It is always good to take precautions to safeguard your computer. A good antivirus program will ensure that your computer is working fine, free from viruses and other threats. Keep in mind that most of the major antivirus programs in the world still work on Windows XP operating system, and they’ve not stopped support for it. So you may download any of these programs off the internet and run it occasionally. Now, you can go for either a free version of the antivirus programs or a paid version. However, trial versions do not have all the features necessary for complete protection of the computer. Since Microsoft no longer supports your operating system, it is a good strategy to buy a premium version.

Avoid unwanted emails

One of the easiest ways in which your computer could be infected is through malicious emails. Therefore, it is important that you avoid the emails from unknown sources. It is important to delete suspicious emails and make sure that you do not click on the links found in such messages.

Scan USB flash drives

Since viruses can be transferred through pen drives, it is important that you scan them with the antivirus program before using it.

Even though the above-mentioned steps could restrict viruses to a certain extent, there is still no guarantee that your operating system would work smoothly for the coming years. According to Microsoft help forum, an upgrade to any of the newer Microsoft operating systems is the best option available for Windows XP users.

Why Did Microsoft Release The Windows XP Security Patch

Recently, the tech giant Microsoft came up with shocking news to end the Windows support given to the Windows XP operating system, a 12-year-old operating system from Microsoft. Even after so much years of its release, it is still being employed in many organizations and it holds the second place in the computer market share. With the end of support, the Windows XP users will no longer receive any security updates or support and your machine will become susceptible to viruses and cyber criminals.

Microsoft claims that their decision to end the support given to the XP was not just threatening and in fact, they have been planning this for years and those users who are not upgrading the Windows XP systems will make your machine more prone to cyber attacks. Moreover, the efficiency of the machine will also be decreased.

Microsoft’s official blog said, “After April 8, 2014, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for Windows XP. Security updates patch vulnerabilities that may be exploited by malware and help keep users and their data safer. PCs running Windows XP after April 8, 2014, should not be considered to be protected, and it is important that you migrate to a current supported operating system – such as Windows 8.1 – so you can receive regular security updates to protect their computer from malicious attacks.”

From the above statement, it is clear that Microsoft really intended to stop all support for Windows XP. However, an issue in its Internet Explorer made them to reconsider the decision to stop support. For this reason, Microsoft was forced to release a patch to fix the issue found in its internet browser. The company’s general manager of trustworthy computing, Adrienne Hall, wrote on the Microsoft’s official blog saying, “We decided to fix it, fix it fast, and fix it for all our customers.”

An upgrade is imminent

The company officials said that Microsoft was forced to release an update since the issues with its IE occurred soon after they officially announced to end the support. This issue in the Internet Explorer made many organizations and companies switch to other browsers. Therefore, they released a security patch soon to ensure customer retention and to fix the issues that were seen in its Internet Explorer.

In the month of April, according to the studies conducted by StatCounter, Windows XP desktop computers constitute nearly 17.2 percent of the computer market share. When comparing the stats, this is a lower number, where a year ago, it was around 22.8 percent. This itself makes clear that most of the Windows XP users have started migrating to other OSs because of the end of Windows support for Windows XP. For more news on this, contact Windows customer care.

Removing The WhiteSmoke Toolbar From Your Computer

Whitesmoke toolbar has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the major advantages of the toolbar is that it helps users in translating web pages to a different language and checks the grammar in it. Now, not all of you might have installed the program knowingly as it comes bundled with other programs. In such conditions, you might find the toolbar annoying. If you are one among them, then this post would help you. Here, we will go through the steps involved in WhiteSmoke toolbar removal.

Removing WhiteSmoke from Chrome browser

• Launch Google Chrome browser and click on the wrench icon found at the right top corner of the window.
• From the drop down box, select the option Settings.
• The above step opens a new tab in the browser with the title Settings.
• Select Extensions found at the left pane of this window and this shows the extensions installed in the browser. 
• Uncheck the Enabled option next to the WhiteSmoke toolbar.
• If you wish to delete the toolbar, select the Recycle bin icon near it.
• Close the Settings window and then Chrome browser. 
• Launch the browser again and you will find that the WhiteSmoke toolbar has been removed from the browser successfully. 

Removing WhiteSmoke from Internet Explorer

• Run Internet Explorer and select Tools from its menu bar.
• Click Manage Add-ons and this launches the Manage Add-ons window.
• From the different Add-on Types, select the option Toolbars and Extensions.
• From the list of toolbars in the browser, locate WhiteSmoke toolbar and choose the button Disable located at the bottom of the window. 
• Select the button Close and then close the internet browser. 
• Launch the browser again and you will find that WhiteSmoke is no longer present in it.

Removing WhiteSmoke from Control Panel

• Open Control Panel window and double-click on Add or remove programs.
• In the window for Add or Remove programs, you can locate WhiteSmoke toolbar in the last section, since the programs are sorted in alphabetical order by default.
• Select the toolbar and click on the button Remove.
• Restart your computer to finish the removal process.

The above steps would help you with the WhiteSmoke toolbar removal process. Once this toolbar is removed from the computer, you will find that the internet browser no longer redirects you to unwanted pages and runs faster than before.

Accessing Outlook.Com Email Accounts Using Imap

In Outlook, Microsoft has enabled the IMAP support in order to improve the connectivity of the email application. Earlier, users only had the option to enable POP3 connectivity or use the Exchange ActiveSync on those devices, which supported the feature. While getting connected to the POP3, the Outlook users could be connected to clients such as Thunderbird or Mac Mail. But then some users prefer using IMAP support instead of opting for the services of these clients. According to Outlook tech support, Microsoft included IMAP support to the Outlook email setup to improve support especially for those devices that do not support Exchange Active Sync.

As compared to POP3, IMAP does not need to be enabled on Outlook’s website before you can make use of it. In POP3, you’ll first will require enabling the feature under Options > Managing your account > Connect devices and apps with POP. For configuring the email client to use IMAP to connect to Outlook.com, you need to configure the following settings in the Outlook email setup:

Incoming IMAP

• This includes configuring Server as imap-mail.Outlook.com, Server port as 993, and Encryption as SSL.

Outgoing SMTP

• Here, Server needs to be configured as smtp-mail.outlook.com, Server port as 587 and Encryption as TLS.

For configuring Outlook.com in Mozilla Thunderbird, you need to follow these steps:

• In the first step, you need to launch the Thunderbird email client in your system. Now, click on the File option, followed by New, and then on Existing Mail Account. Now, you need to type in the required information such as your name, the Outlook.com email address and password on the page.
• Once you have filled in the information, you can click on Continue, and then select the Manual Config option on the next page. Here, you will see the POP3 option set as default, so you need to add the information manually to change it to IMAP.
• For this, go ahead and choose IMAP under incoming and change the server hostname to imap-mail.outlook.com, the port as 993 and SSL at SSL/TLS.
• Similarly, you need to change the outgoing server hostname to smtp-mail.outlook.com and select the STARTTLS and port 587 options.

These steps would help you to successfully access Outlook.com email accounts using IMAP. For more information regarding the features of Microsoft Outlook, feel free to dial our 24/7 Outlook tech support number.

Running Android Applications On Your Computer

In this era of advancing technology where everyone has a smartphone, the app developers are having a good time as the number of users for smartphones is on a rise. However, with more and more applications and games being developed for Android smartphones daily, which are well accepted by users all over the world, some of the users have wondered if there is any way to run Android apps on PC. Well this thought has given rise to the development and deployment of emulators. If you have one of the emulators installed on your computer, you will be able to run all the applications that were previously only available for smartphones on your computer.

Now you will be able to access and run popular Android apps like WhatsApp, Fruit Ninja, Vector, WeChat and Where's My Water for free on your computer. One of the best Android emulators is known by the name Bluestacks and can be used for downloading and running the apps on your desktop or laptop computers. The best feature of the emulator is that it provides the users a mouse friendly interface such that they will get ease of access when using the emulator for running and downloading the Android apps.

One of the greatest features that make the Android users go head over heels on the Bluestacks emulator is that the application can be easily synced with your phone accounts, so that you will be able to play the paid apps installed in your mobile phones on the laptop as well. However, there is a slight disadvantage in this way of playing games, as you will not be able to get the same comforts while you run Android apps on PC when compared to playing on smartphones, as most of the games are touch optimized and it will be a difficult task for the player to play it with just the mouse.

However, with some of the guides available in the internet, you will be able to score high scores in the games even while playing it using the computer. You can use the tips given in the guide for setting new high scores for the games. The best thing is that since the Android operating system is completely open source, you will be able to get high quality emulators that are free of any legal issues that usually come with downloading of games for Apple and Windows.

The Quickest Method To Uninstall Fast Browser Search Toolbar

One of the most frustrating problems some browser users face is the presence of annoying toolbars. Fast Browser Search toolbar is an example for this. This toolbar affects most web browsers like Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome or Opera. In this article, we look at the steps for removing the Fast Browser Search toolbar from Internet Explorer as well as Mozilla Firefox.

How to remove toolbars from Internet Explorer

There is no specific method for removing the Fast Browser Search toolbar from Internet Explorer. The common method of toolbar removal can be used for the removal of Fast Browser Search toolbar as well.

Steps

• Launch IE and locate the Fast Browser Search toolbar in the window.
• ress the down arrow button beside the main search button in the toolbar.
• A list of options would be displayed now. Locate and press the Help option to proceed. In the resulting options, you will find a button titled Uninstall. Click on this button and follow the prompts to remove the Fast Browser Search toolbar from your IE.

You have now successfully removed Fast Browser toolbar from your IE. Occasionally, some users would see the toolbar returning to the browser. To ensure that the toolbar does not return, clean your Windows registry and uninstall the toolbar from the Control Panel. You need to use a standard Registry Cleaner program to clean up your Windows Registry.

About the Fast Browser Search toolbar removal from Mozilla Firefox

Removing the Fast Browser Search toolbar from Mozilla Firefox is comparatively easier. Here are the steps.

Steps

• Launch your Firefox web browser.
• Go to the Tools menu, which is located at the top of the window.
• Select Add-ons from the resulting dropdown menu. A new dialogue box with a list of all the installed add-ons and plug-ins will be displayed now.
• Browse through the list to locate Fast Browser Search toolbar in it. Once located, highlight it and press the Uninstall button. Follow the directions to complete the removal of the toolbar.
• Once the toolbar is successfully removed, restart your web browser.

You have seen the simple steps on how to remove toolbars from IE and Firefox. Once the removal of the toolbar from the browsers is done, you need to clean up your Windows Registry and uninstall the toolbar from the Control Panel. For any additional help, contact the Windows tech support personnel.