Cool Tips 9

By default Internet Explorer stores a user’s temporary internet files within a user profile typically located under C:\Users or C:\Documents and Settings. This setting can be easily be changed within Internet Explorer.

Configuring Temporary Internet Files in Internet Explorer:

When Internet Explorer is open, click on Tools and then select Internet Options. On the General tab, under Browsing history, click the Settings button.

Click Move folder…

Then select the new drive and folder you want to use and click OK to exit the property pages.

Here is a quick time saver that I use all the time: Hold down the Shift key and right click on any folder in Windows 7 and select Open command window here. A command prompt will open with the current directory set automatically.

Check your local weather conditions and forecast right on the taskbar in Windows 7 with WeatherBar.  Start up the free utility and the application icon and background will indicate the current conditions. Right click on the icon to show the jump list and see the forecast for the next few days.

 

Once WeatherBar is downloaded, click the pencil icon and set your location.

 

 Download WeatherBar for Windows 7

Aero Snap is one of the best features in Windows 7 because it makes managing Windows much easier. Now users of Windows Vista and XP can join in the fun with the help of AquaSnap by Nurgo Software. The free utility expands on the features offered by Microsoft’s Aero Snap by allowing users to not only snap windows on both sides of the screen, but also in corners and add multi-monitor support.

AquaGlass is another useful feature that makes a window transparent when it is moved.

 Download Now

Alt+Tab Tuner makes it easy to customize the size and layout of the thumbnails on the native Alt+Tab window switcher in Windows 7.  Slide the settings to the perfect value and click Apply. Make sure to enable the Autorestart Explorer check box for instant results. Otherwise you will have to reboot your computer.

 Download at the developer's site WinReview.ru or Softpedia

Windows 7 Media Center does not include native theme support but that has not stopped a determined group of users armed with resource hackers and custom tools to make customizing Windows Media Center easy.

To get started I’m going to show you how to use a free utility called Media Center Studio to create and install your own theme. The Media Center Studio will allow you to customize all of the colors, fonts and images used in Windows Media Center.

First, download and install Media Center Studio.

After the software is installed and running click the green New button on the ribbon.

Now you will see all of the items that can be customized. It is best to set the name and author sections first.

Navigate through the sections on the left to customize each component. Most users like to change the background image so I’m going to cover that first. Navigate through Images, Common and Backgrounds. There are two items under Backgrounds that you will need to replace to change the Windows Media Center background.

Select COMMON.ANIMATED.BACKGROUND.PNG and click Browse.

Browse and select the new background file and then click the Open button. You may need to change the file type drop down box to JPG if your replacement picture is not a PNG file.

You should now see your new image shown. Now select the next item, COMMON.BACKGROUND.PNG, and repeat as you did for the last item.

After both items are replaced with your new image you are ready to finalize your theme. First, save your progress by clicking Save.

 Navigate back to the Biography section list on the top of the navigation list. One of the last steps is to create a thumbnail shot for your new theme. 

On the Biography screen click the play camera button.

Windows Media Center will load with all your settings loaded. While Media Center is still running, switch back to Media Center Studio and click the new picture camera button.

Click the stop camera button and the preview image will be saved and Media Center closed.

Now that the picture was saved, while selected, click the up arrow to set the preview picture as the default thumbnail for your theme.

Then hit the Save button once more and your theme is completed.

To apply switch over to both Themes tabs and select your theme and hit Apply.

Did you ever wonder why the taskbar in Windows 7 does not have a shadow effect like every other part of the OS?  Did the shadow product manager at Microsoft forget about the taskbar?  Thanks to a helpful developer, shadow aficionados have a solution.

The fix is provided by SweatyFish on devientART is called Taskbar Drop Shadow. Download the file and run either the bottom or top application file depending on where your taskbar is oriented.  Options can be found by right clicking on the shadow and selecting preferences.  There you will have access to change the opacity of the shadow, the color and configure the application to start with Windows.