Using Virtual Hard Disk Files in Windows 7
Windows 7 all versions

Windows 7 allows you to create and manage virtual hard disks files that work as if they were real drives. For example: If you make the virtual drive big enough you can install a different version of Windows to it.

To create a virtual disk file, press the Windows Key, right-click on Computer, then go to Manage, right-click on "Disk Management" and chose "Create VHD". From there you can specify the location and size of your virtual hard disk file. We suggest you choose "Fixed Size". For this tip we chose 4000 MB (about 4 GB).

To attach the virtual disk file, press the Windows Key, right-click Computer, then go to Manage, Disk Management, Action, "Attach VHD". Now browse to the file you created in the step above. Now choose if you want the virtual disk to be "read only" or not. We suggest that you that you leave the "Read only" box unchecked.

In order to use the virtual disk file, you have two more steps to go. First you have to initialize it:

To initialize a virtual hard disk, press the Windows Key, right-click on Computer, go to Manage, Disk Management, Action, Attach VHD, specify the location, click Ok, then right click on the virtual disk file and choose "Initialize Disk".

Just one more step: Select the partition style you want to use and then right-click on the unallocated space and click "New Simple Volume" and follow the instructions wizard. We suggest that you choose NTFS as the file system and assign a drive letter to it.

All done. You'll that a new hard drive appears in Windows Explorer and you can use it as if it were a real partition.

Kirsten reminds us of a tip we wrote about keeping your desktop clean
Windows XP, Vista, and Seven

First I'd like to join everybody who loves what you are doing and say thank you so much!

Regarding John's tip about keeping the desktop clean, I just wanted to mention that one of the tips you've given I've used for years now because it works so well.

Actually I copy what I'd like to remember from you newsletter and save it in a Word document with an index. Then I can search and find what I need, when I need it! Here is the "clutter free desktop tip":

"Sometimes when we have lots of projects going on at once. In this situation, we keep everything on our desktops - folders, images, programs, shortcuts, etc. This results in a very unprofessional and cluttered looking desktop. However, you have to agree, the Desktop is convenient when you need to find things fast. Until our projects are over and we can move all the projects off our desktop into other folders we can have our cake and eat it too! Yes, we can leave our junky desktop and no one will ever see it (including us!).

Your desktop will look like that of a computer professional, you'll be the envy of all your less-savvy friends, and you'll win a million dollars in the lottery. Well, not really, but at least your desktop will look like a million bucks!

1. Right click your desktop
2. Chose "Arrange icons by" and uncheck "Show Desktop Icons"
3. Right-click on your taskbar
4. Select "Toolbars" and check "Desktop"
Now, your desktop is totally clean and professional. Not an icon can be seen. Yet, you still have easy access to your desktop from your new Desktop toolbar in your Windows taskbar. If you ever want your icons back again, Just go back through the steps above - when you get to step #2, check the box that says "Show Desktop Icons". See? It's easy!"

Thank you again, Kerstin - for reminding us of this very useful tip. We use it on all our computers, that way if people see our desktops we look like professionals, you know. We don't want people to see our real clutter!

TC's uncluttered Windows 7 desktop.

Accessories
All Versions of Windows

Accessories has a lot of features that you may not be familiar with, so lets take a closer look at all these freebies Microsoft includes for you. To get to Accessories, click Start, then click Accessories. This tip features accessories found in Windows 7, so if you are using older versions of Windows you will see some variations or accessories that are not available in your version.

We will be featuring some of the more complex or less common accessories during the next few weeks and go in to more detail. In this issue we cover Windows Mobility Center and Math Input Panel. In the meantime, be sure to take some time and explore the many options available in your accessory menu; you can hover over any of them when you click Start/Accessories, and you will see a short description.

• Calculator: Performs basic arithmetic tasks with an on-screen calculator

• Command Prompt: Performs text based (command line) functions

• Connect to a Network Projector: Display your desktop on a network projector

• Connect to a Projector: Connect your computer to a projector using a display cable

• Getting Started: Learn about Windows Features

• Math Input Panel: Opens the Math Input Panel to write and create math equations

• Notepad: Create and edit text files using basic text formatting

• Paint: Create and edit drawings, or edit images and pictures

• Remote Desktop Connection: Use your computer to connect to a computer that is located elsewhere and run programs or access files

• Run: Opens a program, folder, document or website

• Snipping Tool: Capture a portion of the screen so you can save, annotate or share the screenshot.

• Sound Recorder: Record sound and save it to your computer

• Sticky Notes: Create short handwritten or text notes

• Sync Center: Sync files between your computer and network folders

• Windows Explorer: Display files and folders on your computer

• Windows Mobility Center: Opens the Windows Mobility Center so you can adjust brightness, volume, power options and other mobile (laptop) options

• Word Pad: Create and edit text documents with complex formatting

• Windows Mobility Center

What are we doing about Windows 8?
All computer users

Some of you by now have seen blogs and news articles touting the new Windows 8. And you're probably wondering if we've fallen out of the loop or something because we're not jumping on the Windows 8 bandwagon.

OK. We're a little jaded. We have the developer's edition of Windows 8. It's a pre-beta version with the ugliest desktop we can imagine - unless you like the smartphone look. Now smartphones have a reason for those big tiles, but a 17" screen, not so much.

We're jaded because the developer's edition of Windows XP and Windows Vista didn't look much like the versions the public saw when those versions were released. So we're not going to comment on the "look" of Windows 8, we're going to comment on the substance. We just installed it and have not had much time to play around with it. We want to know how it works. We want to know how older programs work in it. We want to know what's different and what's the same under the hood. You know, the really important stuff.

Articles with a zillion screen shots are nice if you want to show off that you have a copy of the new Windows 8 developers edition and others don't. But what really matters to us are the things that really matter to you - how well does it work. How well will it run older programs. How much different is the control panel. How steep is the learning curve?

In this world where image seems to matter more than substance, everyone is taking screenshots and writing articles trying to grab some attention. But we need time to test it, to work with it, to learn it and to get under the hood and see what is good and what is bad in it. And you can't do that with a bunch of screen shots - or a one-hour hands-on demo.

In the coming weeks we'll be giving you the straight scoop on Windows 8 - the way we see it. We'll let you know what we think. It's hard to believe, from what we've seen so far, that Windows is placing its biggest bet ever on an operating system which is mostly based on Windows Phone 7. Windows 7 Phone 7 has been a flop in cell phone market place which is dominated by Apple's iPhone and Google's Android operating system. We're not going to rush to judgment, though. If Windows 8 fails, it may well be the last version of Windows. Microsoft has too long left the leadership to Apple and now Google. Now can they ever catch up? Windows 8 may be Microsoft's last hurrah - or it may be a Microsoft renaissance. We will see. And we'll let you know about substance --not image.

Stay tuned.

What is the Math Input Panel?
Windows 7 SP1
32bit and 64bit

I'll admit, I struggled with algebra I and plane geometry in high school. (And some of you are thinking I must have had a hard time with English too, right?) And I absolutely died in stats class in college. So the Math Input Panel is something I'd never use. I don't even know what some of this stuff is. I'm sorry, I'm a math dummy. But some of you get a kick out of equations - and I suppose some of you love shoveling snow, going to weddings, and cutting grass too - and those kinds of fun things.

If you're into self-flagellation, masochism, pain, sorrow, or blood, sweat and tears, and you really like figuring out equations with funny symbols and weird checkmarks, then you'll love The Math Input Panel available for the first time on Windows 7 SP-1. If you don't have SP-1 installed, of course you won't have the Math Input Panel either.

Because I know nothing about advanced math (I can add and subtract. I can multiply and divide. I can subtract well enough to know we don't have any money!) I have had to stoop to plagiarizing Microsoft for the rest of this article. But I do give you a reference, a citation, if you will. So that makes it legal right? If I didn't do it this way, it would be worse goop than my stuff usually is and even the math geniuses among you would be scratching their heads.

So without further ado, I admit that the lovely prose above is all, 100%, mine. The prose below is not. It's from Microsoft and we're publishing it for your amusement only. And to be completely legal - here is the source :-)

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Use-Math-Input-Panel-to-write-and-correct-math-equations

"Use Math Input Panel to write and correct math equations

If you use your computer to solve math problems or to create documents or presentations that have typed mathematical expressions in them, Math Input Panel makes the process easier and more natural.

What is Math Input Panel?
Math Input Panel uses the math recognizer that's built into Windows 7 to recognize handwritten math expressions. You can then insert the recognized math into a word-processing or computational program.

Math Input Panel
Math Input Panel is designed to be used with a tablet pen on a Tablet PC, but you can use it with any input device, such as a touchscreen, external digitizer, or even a mouse.



To use Math Input Panel

Open Math Input Panel by clicking the Start button . In the search box, type Math Input Panel, and then, in the list of results, tap Math Input Panel.

Write a well-formed math expression in the writing area.

The recognized math is shown in the preview area.

Make any necessary corrections to the math recognition...

...Tap Insert to put the recognized math into your word-processing or computational program.

This includes the following:

Numbers and letters

Arithmetic

Calculus

Functions

Sets

Set theory

Algebra

Combinatorics

Probability and statistics

Geometry

Vectors and 3-D analytic geometry..."

Mathematical logic

Axioms, theorems, and definitions

Applied mathematics

A quick Windows tip
Windows all versions

Did you know, if you copy a large amount of text, a large image, etc. and paste elsewhere, the information remains in your clipboard (means you can paste over and over again)? Yes, it's nice to have something on your clipboard to paste over and over again. But while it is nice, if it is something large, it can slow your computer down. When your clipboard contains hundreds of megabytes of data (say when you're copying an install file from one location to another) all that data is being store in your memory. (Well, not your memory so much as your computer's memory.) If you want to get rid of all that data on your clipboard, get into the habit of copying one single word (any word) when you're done and watch your computer's speed increase. When you copy a single word, everything else in your clipboard cache is removed. One word contains only a few bytes and a few bytes won't affect your computer at all.

Pretty nifty tip! Thanks, EB.

PS: If you want to create a shortcut to clear the clipboard, see this tip:
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/new/?p=1720