Monday, December 29, 2014

Technical Support For All At Reasonable Prices

Plenty of users are looking for technical support online either to get their latest software installed or to get a solution for any of the problems they come across while working on the computer. Since the demand for technical support is high, there are plenty of technical service providers available. After testing OmniTech support statistics, you will see that it is one of the tech support providers that have been in the industry for more than ten years. They continue to provide quality services even today; hence, they have many regular customers. There are plenty of services that you can avail with the help of OmniTech support desk.

Customers can either sign up for six month or a twelve month subscriptions. As long as the subscription is valid, customers can get one issue resolved per month without having to pay for the same. Apart from the subscriptions, some of the other services available with OmniTech support are PC fine tuning, virus removal, Windows support, support for all Microsoft products, wireless internet connection help, support for hooking up wireless devices such as printers, keyboards, mouse and many more.

Customers looking for technical support can get in touch with the support team by dialing the toll free number 18666124220. OmniTech support has a set of certified technicians; one of them would pick up the call and fix the issue at the earliest. Since they are well versed with computers, the technicians will be able to come up with the best and easiest workarounds.

The technician might have relevant questions related to the issue, for which it would be all the more helpful if the customer explains in detail. If required, the technician might have to connect to the customer’s computer remotely. This will be done only when the customer accepts to establish a remote connection. OmniTech support makes use of a secure connection to get connected with the customer; hence customers will not have to worry about security of the service.

Customers have an alternative option; they can get in touch with one of the technicians through chat. You just need to click on the Chat Now link on the official website. This will connect you to one of the technicians. The best part about the tech support company is that they render support at affordable prices. The next time you have an issue with your computer, try testing OmniTech support services and subscribe to one of their service plans.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Steps To Change Email Password In Outlook Express

If you are using the operating systems like Windows 98 or Windows XP, you might be still using the email program Outlook Express to send and receive emails. This simple email program enables you to manage your email accounts efficiently. Now, as you have configured Outlook Express with your internet email address, any change made to the internet email should be carried out on Outlook Express too.

In order to enhance the security of your email program, it is advisable to change your email password regularly. Now, when you change the email password on the webmail, you need to change it with Outlook Express too. Otherwise, you will receive error messages while trying to send or receive emails. Now, in this post, we will find out how to change the email password in Outlook Express.

Steps Involved
  • Press the Windows key and open the Start menu. 
  • Choose the option All Programs and then click Outlook Express. 
  • When Outlook Express comes up, select the option Tools from the menu bar. 
  • Choose the option Accounts. 
  • In the window for Internet Accounts, choose the e-mail account with which you had changed the password. 
  • Choose the button Properties. 
  • In the window for Properties, choose the tab Server. 
  • In the section for "Incoming Mail Server", delete the password present at the "Password" field and type the new password in its place. 
  • In the section for "Outgoing Mail Server", choose the option "My server requires authentication" if it is not selected. 
  • Choose the option "Settings" and in the window for Outgoing Mail Server, mark the option Use same settings as my incoming mail server. 
  • Choose the button OK. 
  • In the window for Properties, select the button OK. 
  • Close the window for Internet Accounts. 
Once you finish the above steps, select the button Send/Receive. If you are able to send and receive emails without troubles, it means that the password has been successfully saved in the program. If you receive error messages, it means that the password you entered may not be correct. Enter the password again to fix this issue.

If you have any queries regarding the steps mentioned above, you may contact Omni Tech Support. Omni Tech Support has the best technicians in the industry and they provide high quality technical support for all your computer related issues.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Time Is Up For The Windows XP Users

Many Windows XP users are still using the unsupported OS, waiting for Microsoft to release the next generation Windows operating system, Windows 10. But, time is running out for these XP users. Recent reports indicate that the hacking attacks and virus infections on XP systems have slowly increased in the last few months since Microsoft officially ended their tech support services for this thirteen-year-old OS.

What are the options available for the XP users?

According to these reports, the number of such malware and virus attacks is set to increase in the few months. So, the XP users need to figure out a solution to deal with these problems, if they want to continue using the same OS. One of the options here is to sign up for a quality third party tech support service like OmniTech Support.

OS security updates are essential when using an outdated OS like Windows XP. Sophisticated hackers would have already figured out many of the security vulnerabilities of the XP OS by now and you need to keep the OS updated to deal with these issues. Since Microsoft has stopped providing this service, you need to look for third party tech support service providers.

Enterprise users can make use of Microsoft’s paid tech support service, which the average XP users might not be able to afford. But, third party service providers like OmniTech Support offer very affordable annual and half-yearly packages for all users. You can also make use of their tech support services on an ad hoc basis, before you decide to sign up for the subscription.

Such tech support services will offer the latest malware protection tools, antivirus programs and other such applications to beef up the security features in your system. And, you may call their tech support personnel to help you fix any OS issues or tech problems. All these services are included in the package.

But, you need to look at this as a stopgap measure. It is not at all safe to keep using an OS that is more than 12 years old. The obsolete XP OS has now become a soft target for hackers and malware coders. It is not smart to stick to using such an OS, no matter the reason.

It is time the XP users upgraded to one of the new generation operating systems. The recently released Windows 10 Preview version is worth checking out.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

How To Use Internet Safely? Some Useful Tips

Internet is the most useful thing in the world when it is used properly. And at the same time, it can turn out to be quite a dangerous thing if you don’t know how to use it with care. Reports indicate that thousands of ignorant children turn out to be victims of cyber crimes every day. This calls for a serious thinking. Both parents and children need to be informed about the hidden dangers while using internet and be taught about taking adequate precautions to evade such dangers.

Beware of online scams

Online scams are created by hackers. Recent reports on Omni Tech support Fraud indicate that even some of the most trusted websites are targeted by hackers. Omni Tech support is the most popular PC support service in the world. Hackers who were threatened by the perfect PC and internet safety solutions offered by Omni Tech support planned out Omni Tech support scams and Omni Tech support fraud reports to spoil the trust people have on the service. But, effective intervention by the company diffused this plan.

Don’t share personal details with anyone

While using certain web services, you may be prompted to provide your personal details. Never divulge your personal information unless you are sure that it is a trustable web service. If you are a student or kid, ask your parents whether it is safe to provide the web service with your personal details. Information such as your home address, last name, telephone number, school name, ZIP code etc should not be shared unless there is an actual need.

Keep your passwords safe

Hackers access personal information about you such as your last name, zip code, bank account details etc through your email account. Therefore, make sure that your email account password is safe. Make sure that you log out of your email account if you happen to access it from a public PC.

Never share your photos or videos online

Today, social networking sites have become part of most of our lives. Many share their photos and videos online. You need to be extremely careful while sharing your photos or videos online because there are more chances that they can be misused.

Internet is becoming more accessible and handy day by day. And the risks associated with it are also on the rise. Do frequent researches about using internet safely. Parents should keep a constant eye on the online behaviour of their children.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Procedure To Change The Windows Live ID Associated With GamerTag

Microsoft, the world’s supreme software maker, is involved in the manufacture and licensing of a variety of software products, electronic devices and gaming consoles. The software giant offers many services for their users and customers. Using these services, it is possible for users to access various online and offline applications and features. Keeping the convenience of users in mind, Microsoft has created an all-purpose username. This is called the Windows Live ID.

Using this unique ID or username users can tie all their Microsoft accounts together, thereby having a universal log-in available for use across multiple Microsoft products and devices. For example, if you intend to create your own Xbox Live GamerTag on your Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming console, you need to link an existing Windows Live ID or else you would have to create a new one. After creating the ID, you can manage your GamerTag on the official Xbox website or you can transfer the GamerTag to any other Xbox console.

Another great thing is that you have the amazing option of choosing a different Windows Live ID for associating with your account by managing your GamerTag on your Xbox gaming console. This tech support article will help you out in changing the Windows Live ID associated with GamerTag. You might have read the OmniTech Support reviews to begin with. We, here, will provide you the necessary guidance for changing the Windows Live ID associated with GamerTag.

Instructions to follow:

  • First, you need to turn on your Xbox 360 and then, log in to your GamerTag
  • Thereafter, go to the ‘My Xbox’ section in the Dashboard menu.
  • After that, you need to scroll right and select your avatar.
  • Then, scroll right to the ‘Account Management’ area.
  • Thereafter, you need to select ‘Manage Account.’
  • The next step involves scrolling right to the ‘Your Information’ area.
  • Then, select ‘Windows Live ID.’
  • Next, select ‘Change Windows Live ID,’ then, click on ‘Yes, I do’, which indicates you have another Windows Live ID that you want to use.
  • After that, type in your current Windows Live ID password and click on ‘Sign in.’
  • Then, type in the email and password associated with the new Windows Live ID. Then, select ‘Sign in.’
  • Click on ‘Yes, Change’ for confirming the Windows Live ID change and then, click on ‘Done’ to complete the process.
This should change the Windows Live ID associated with GamerTag. Hope these instructions were helpful. You can read some of the OmniTech Support reviews here to know about the support features provided.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Internet Explorer 8 Support To End In 17 Months

According to recent announcements, Microsoft is ending support for Internet Explorer 8, giving users time duration of 17 months to migrate to other web browsers. Internet Explorer 8 is one of the most popular version of web browsers released by Microsoft so far. Our Windows tech support team has been receiving tons of calls from irate customers who wished to confirm about the same.

The post released by Microsoft in its official blog includes a list of operating systems and browser version combinations that will continue to receive service support. The list does not mention Internet Explorer 8 anywhere. Roger Capriotti, director of Internet Explorer, mentions in the blog post that, "After Jan. 12, 2016, only the most recent version of Internet Explorer available for a supported operating system will receive technical support and security updates. For example, customers using Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 9, or Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 7 SP1 should migrate to Internet Explorer 11 to continue receiving security updates and technical support."

This news will hit several users, especially business users who have not upgraded their systems to Windows 7 or Windows 8 and are continuing to use old and even outdated systems. In order to run the newer version of Internet Explorer, users will have to upgrade their OS and PC systems as well. According to the post, Microsoft will only support IE9 on Windows Vista, IE10 on Windows Server 2012 and IE11 on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.

Losing updates and technical support from Microsoft will not translate to unavailability of the operating system itself. Users can continue to work on the systems they have been already installed in. However, this affair might be risky, as Capriotti mentioned in his blog post, "Running a modern browser is more important than ever for the fastest, most secure experience on the latest Web sites and services.”

However, several users are aghast when they came to hear about this latest development since previous support policy states that Microsoft will continue to support a version of IE as long as an operating system was able to run it. This meant, Internet Explorer should have continued to receive updates until 2020, when Windows 7 is supposed to retire.

As mentioned before, IE8 is the most popular web browser, since it is used by 37 percent of Internet Explorer users, which is a lot higher than the latest Internet Explorer 11, which runs in merely 29 percent of PC systems. In order to know more details about the same, you may contact our Windows tech support team.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Accessing SkyDrive From Windows 7 Explorer

Windows Live SkyDrive is Microsoft’s service that allows the users store any file on a virtual online folder that can be as large as 25 GB, available free of charge, and then access these files from anywhere from any web browser, Mac or Windows computer. While the implementation of Microsoft works fine, there is no clear way to get access to those files from Windows 7 Explorer, but it is not impossible. The Windows tech support tips that are shared below will help you to know more on the steps to use or access SkyDrive from Windows 7 explorer.

This method works by mounting the user’s SkyDrive as a network drive from within the Windows 7 Explorer by obtaining a specific URL. Of course, the users could get a SkyDrive alternative that integrates right into the Windows Explorer, as well as Linux and Mac OSX, like Dropbox. However, Microsoft’s services has the advantage of integrating right into the Windows Live Account. To do these steps, you will need the following.
  • A computer that is running on Windows 7 OS. It may work on the previous versions of Windows OS, even though we have not tested it. 
  • A working Internet connection. 
  • Windows Live ID. 
  • If you do not have Windows Live Essentials installed in your computer, you will need the Windows Live Online ID Provider. 
  • SkyDrive Simple Viewer for WebDav. 
Once you got what it takes, you will just have to do the following steps.

Instructions

  • Before starting, get your unique SkyDrive ID. In order to do this, open SkyDrive Simple Viewer for WebDav, and then type in your Windows Live credentials. 
  • You will now see a list of the folders that are stored on your SkyDrive. Choose the one that you want to mount on your hard drive and then copy the URL that is shown on the right side. 
  • Click on Start button, right click on Computer and then choose Map Network Drive option. Paste the URL that you copied before and then adjust the settings to your wish. Click on the Next button and the SkyDrive folder that you have picked will now show up as hard drive inside Windows 7 Explorer. This can be managed like any other drive or directory. 
These are the simple steps to access SkyDrive from the Windows 7 Explorer. For further assistance, you can contact our Windows tech support team.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Epicor Now Available For Windows OS 8

Epicor Retail Store Edition is now available for Windows OS 8 according to the latest announcements from Epicor Software Corporation. This solution will give retail shop owners and users the highly intuitive Point of Sale solution on the Windows OS 8. As can be expected, this solution uses the Windows OS 8 to empower store associates to deliver an efficient, personalized and thoroughly inspired customer experience.

As a critical customer engagement solution using Windows OS 8, it provides access to rich value-added customer service and enhanced product information. Moreover, it offers a personalized and consultative shopping experience that includes recommendations in the form of suggested products from a theoretically endless aisle.

The prime benefit of running the Epicor Retail Store Edition is improved flexibility that enhances both associate engagement and productivity at the same time. This is bound to boost the number of units sold and the metrics involving the “dollar per transaction”. Moreover, overall operational effectiveness can also be expected to grow from running this solution.

In order to boost the sales using this solution and to cater service to a wide population, Epicor Retail Store Edition for Windows OS 8 can be run on all devices that run on this operating system. Apart from standard desktop computers, it is even compatible with tablets and Windows OS 8 mobile devices. The software provides a sleek and compact design and does not look like a third party application!

This gives retailers the opportunity to sell products outside of the store, in a safe digital environment. Retailers benefit from the solution’s "store in a box" flexibility for off-site events with no additional implementation costs, maximizing their profits.

Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president, Microsoft Corporation, remarked, “Epicor and Microsoft have a strong history of working together. With the Epicor Retail Store Edition for Windows 8 offering, retailers can take advantage of the Windows 8 platform to deliver efficient, compelling and rewarding experiences to both customers and associates.”

Noel Goggin, EVP and general manager, Epicor Retail, said, “With solutions deployed in 100,000 stores and on over 300,000 devices worldwide, Epicor is very much in tune with today's next-generation customer engagement needs and requirements in the retail sector,” during the launch of the solution. He further added, “Retailers recognize that point of sale is a very strategic platform that can aid omni-channel retailing and customer engagement/customer experience initiatives. Our Retail Store Edition for Windows 8 gives retailers the ability to go beyond transactions to promote a more engaging experience which translates into greater customer satisfaction and higher spending at check-out.”

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Troubleshooting In Safe Mode In Windows 8

Safe Mode is the strip-bared version of any operating system, allowing for the resolution of conflicts, errors, and the like with minimal interference. If you have a hardware problem that is caused by lack of the required Windows 8 drivers, or if an update is causing your computer to crash often, you can run it in Safe Mode and fix the problem easily.

How Safe Mode allows this is by barring the use of external devices, as well as a lion’s share of your internal hardware. You will notice, for instance, that in Safe Mode, even your video resolution drops to minimum. You can get to the Safe Mode holding the Shift key down, and pressing F8 right until you see the boot message. From the recovery screen, select See Advanced Repair Options, and then click Troubleshoot.

Getting to the Troubleshoot button is all the easier if you still have access to the Charms bar. In that case, select the Settings icon and then press and hold down Shift key on your keyboard. Choose Power, followed by Restart, and then release the Shift key. You will see a Troubleshoot button on the screen; click that and then follow the instructions as follows.

Using Safe Mode
  • When you are on the Troubleshoot screen, select Advanced Options. From the screen that appears, choose Startup Settings. After that, hit Restart to reboot the system and bring you back to this same screen.
  • Here you have to select standard Safe Mode by pressing 4, or if you want Safe Mode with Networking mode, skip this step. 
  • You will see Safe Mode at all corners of the screen, and of course, the display will be of lower resolution. A Help window will pop up on the screen, telling you all about Safe Mode and how to use it. 
  • Use of external devices is not supported in this mode, and you cannot access any of the advanced features either. All you can do from here is check the system files and fix the issues with them.
  • For Safe Mode with Networking mode, press 5. In this mode, you will have the network drivers and services loaded, enabling logging on to the network. Where the standard Safe Mode does not, this one lets you copy to and paste from network drives.
This is how to get to and use Safe Mode in Windows 8. There is enough allowance in it that lets you to access files using File Explorer, and troubleshoot the errors caused by missing Windows 8 drivers and the like.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

How To Restart Your Windows 8 PC?

By running your computer on Windows 8 operating system, you will be able to access a variety of advanced and sophisticated options. But then, some users do experience issues in their Windows 8 systems, the most common one being the inability to shut down and restart Windows 8.

If you face any issues in restarting your Windows 8 computer, you can follow any of these following methods:

Using Charms bar
  • At first, you can move the pointer of the mouse to the right bottom corner of the desktop and open the Charms bar. Here, you can search for the Settings option, and then click on it.
  • Once you click on the option, you will be able to see the Settings sidebar opening up on the screen. Look closely and you will be able to see the Power icon in the side bar.
  • In the next step, you can click on the Power icon and you will get three options to choose from, i.e. Shutdown, Restart and Sleep.
  • Depending on what you’d like to execute on the system, you can choose the specific option. For example, if you are looking to restart Windows 8 computer, simply click on the Restart option.
Using keyboard hot hey
  • The second method involves pressing the keyboard hot key. You can press the Windows and I keys together, to access the Settings side bar in your Windows 8 system. Once you see the Settings sidebar on your computer, you can click on the Power button, and then select either of the options to restart or shut down your system.
  • As compared to the first method, this one is more convenient because here you can open the Settings bar even when you are in the desktop mode by simply pressing the shortcut buttons. In short, you do not have to return to the Start menu for shutting down or restarting your system.
Creating a desktop shortcut
  • This is the easiest method of the lot. To perform functions such as shutting down and restarting your Windows 8 computer, you can create a desktop shortcut.
  • So, next time when you want to shut down or restart your computer, you need to just click on this desktop shortcut.
These methods can help you in restarting your Windows 8 computer. For more information on the Windows 8 features, feel free to contact our technical support team.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Reasons To Switch To Windows 8.1

Adieu to all the old Windows versions as Microsoft had already rolled out its Windows 8.1 upgrade. Windows 8, the modern interface representative, has already occupied the desktops and laptops of millions of computer users. Following its habit of introducing new upgrades every year, Microsoft has released Windows 8.1 upgrade for Windows 8 users. The new platform is equipped with plethora of features. They are designed with least errors, as Microsoft had given adequate preference to the concerns of users and have tried to design their new platform in a brilliant way.

Supposedly, the Microsoft new operating system, Windows 8.1, is expected to run smoothly on your computers without displaying errors, unlike its predecessors. If you have an earlier version of Windows running on your system, it is better to switch to Windows 8.1 that offers excellent protection.

How to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1

Before you initiate downloading Windows 8.1, it is essential to take a complete backup of your personal data. Ensure that your hard drive has 3 GB or more space on it. Only with this, the operating system installation will take place successfully.

You can open your Microsoft account. For this, you can go to the Microsoft Store, choose the Charms menu, click Settings, select Your account, and enter your username and password for it. Now choose the words Update to Windows 8.1 for free. Waiting for some time will display the link for downloading Windows 8.1.

How to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1

Microsoft’s Upgrade Assistant comes handy when it comes to upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1. However, purchasing the Microsoft new operating system would cost 119.99 dollars, whereas Windows 8.1 Pro would cost 199.99 dollars. Depending upon your convenience, you could purchase either the downloadable version or the disc from a retail store.

In order to get your system ready for the upgrade, it should have atleast 1GHz processor, 1GB RAM for 32-bit or 2 GB RAM for 64 bit, 16 GB of free hard drive space for 32 bit and 20 GB of space for 64 bit. All your Windows settings along with apps and personal files are saved during the transition.

Upgrading to Windows 8.1 from Windows 7 and Windows 8 is quite easy. However, you cannot upgrade directly from Windows XP to 8.1. The users should try a clean installation by purchasing a disc of Windows 8.1. It is better to begin with 8.1 at the earliest.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Removing Bing Search Override From Web Browser

DivX Browser bar can be useful if you are DivX browser fan but it may not be necessary for all and thus takes unnecessary display space. Many a times (mostly) it is installed unwittingly, while installing some other software from third party websites. Even with Bing toolbar, it is the same issue. You then start searching for help on how to remove Bing toolbar.

In the latest update, there is an option to install the DivX Browser by Conduit and it is powered by Bing search. If you accept the offer/option or if the boxes to accept are checked by default, then you would have to uncheck them in order to opt out. Then this will automatically change the default search to Bing.

Now, you can disable DivX Plus Web Player HTML 5 extension only through the Firefox Add-ons menu. Therefore, in order to remove it, you need to uninstall the DivX Plus Software, and this includes the DivX Plus Web Player. But the thing is, this extension is completely unrelated to the DivX Browser Bar or the Bing Search override by Conduit. So, unnecessarily even the DivX Plus Web Player, which you might be using for viewing and listening to Multimedia, will get uninstalled. So, uninstalling DivX Plus Software might not be actually desirable.

Now, in case you do not want the search override and you want to leave the DivX Browser Bar installed on IE, then you can uninstall the program called Search Protect from your computer. Here are the instructions that will guide you to do this.
  • At first, you need to go to your computer’s Control Panel. 
  • Then, go to Programs and Features (Add/Remove Programs) if you are on Windows XP. Then you need to find Search Protect in the list of programs and remove it. 
  • Finally, you need to reboot (or restart) your computer for the changes to take effect. 
Now, if you want to uninstall both the search override and the DivX Browser Bar, then you can follow the steps mentioned above to remove Search Protect. Then you can follow the same steps to remove or uninstall DivX Browser Bar from your browsers. Again the steps are same for how to remove Bing toolbar. Not all browsers function the same way. So, since each web browser is a little different, the toolbar has to be installed from each one individually. Or help with that, call our tech support and they’ll walk you through the procedure.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Microsoft Adds Office 365 Email Enhancements

Microsoft is planning to improve their Outlook Web App email experiences by adding two new features to their commercial Office 365 service offerings. There are many new features that are expected to arrive later this year. They include one that will help decrease email clutter together with a collaboration enhancement for the Outlook Web App, which is the browser enabled email client of Microsoft. In addition to this, Microsoft has indicated that it will release an Outlook Web App for the Android-based smart phones by the end of this year.

Groups Integration

Microsoft also has plans to integrate its Groups capability that was introduced as a SharePoint feature before a few months, broadly across its Office 365 services. Groups show public and private groups for the employees to join, together with the individual conversations in Yammer like social networking style. Their idea is to support a collaborative and user-friendly business environment. This was confirmed after contacting the Microsoft help team.

Steve Chew, who is the senior product-marketing manager in the Exchange group, wrote, “Conversations that happen in public groups can lead to better information sharing, and free exchange of ideas connects people and makes the org more productive.” This is an idea that may or may not be welcomed by the users in today’s work environments, but it reflects Microsoft’s acceptance of Yammer enterprise social networking solution that was purchased more than a year ago. At the time of purchase, they had indicated that they planned a broader integration of Yammer across Office 365, and they are now forecasting that the integration will start to take place this year.

Outlook Web App Features

An upcoming “Clutter” Outlook Web App feature aims to unburden the Outlook users from their less relevant email messages. This makes use of the new Office Graph technology to learn what the users value and what they do not value in their email inboxes. The important and valued mails get displayed in the Outlook Web App, while the rest of the email messages get archived at the bottom of the window in a link that is named Clutter. The user can right click here to change the status of a message if it was incorrectly marked as clutter. The name Clutter is considered to be a code name. Microsoft may call it some other name when it is released.

If you wish to know more on the Outlook Web App email, you can contact our Microsoft help team.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Start Menu Reviver Adds The Start Menu To Windows 8

Windows 8 is the latest operating system released by Microsoft. It came with some new changes in the user interface and does not have the traditional Windows Start button. This led to the development of many third party tools, which would help you get the original Windows Start button back. One such third party tool is Start Menu Reviver. If you are expecting a Windows Start menu just like in Windows 7, then it is best for you to go with applications like Iobit's Start Menu 8 or Stardock's Start8. However, the Start Menu Reviver gives a blend of both Windows 8 UI and Start menu.

When comparing Windows 7 vs Windows 8, one thing that the Windows 8 lacks is the Start menu. The Start Menu Reviver opens with the large size icons by default, when you first install the Start Menu Reviver. This will be more useful with touch screen devices. However, when installed in PC or desktop monitors, it looks very big and consumes much of the screen space. However, it is possible to customize the Start Menu Reviver according to the aspect ratio of your computer screen. This Start Menu Reviver can be seen a little bit right of the location where the original Start button should be seen. Like the other third party tools, it is possible to change the icons according to your taste.

Generally, the common Windows programs like Network, Task Manager, username and Run are seen in a column on the left side of the Start Menu Reviver. Likewise, the right part of the Start Menu Reviver shows Internet Explorer, link for the modern UI, and My Computer. This will also show the tiles corresponding to the modern UI and legacy applications.

The Search box in the Start Menu Reviver is similar to the traditional one. However, the fields or sections in the Start Menu Reviver are not neatly organized when compared to the traditional Start menu. It allows a faster way of navigation only when it is used with both keyboard and mouse. Besides these advantages, there are some disadvantages too. The switching between desktop and the modern user interface is not that smooth and is difficult.

Microsoft has decided not to include the Start button in the new Windows 8 operating system. However, by using tools like Start Menu Reviver, it is possible to put back the Windows Start menu in the Windows 8 OS. You can download the Start Menu Reviver free and start enjoying the traditional Windows Start menu.

For more discussions and Windows 7 vs Windows 8 comparisons, visit our Microsoft support posts online.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Microsoft Commits Yet Another Blunder

Microsoft released an Office 2013 non-security update as part of the massive Patch Tuesday, but the update has created more issues than it’s solved. This update is responsible for blanking out folder panes in Outlook which invited a lot of criticism over the Microsoft support page forum. On Wednesday however Microsoft acknowledges that a serious flaw existed within the patch and has removed the original one from the Microsoft support forum. Urging users to uninstall the update immediately, Microsoft also claimed that they are working on a workaround for the issue.

Identified as KB2817630, the objective of the update was to remove the stability and performance issues prevalent in many if the Office suite applications like Excel, SharePoint Server and Lync. These issues would cause Office to freeze when any document was opened in the Protected Mode. However the fix ended up emptying the folder pane. Kick starting a long support thread was a comment by Trevor Sullivan stating, "I can't view my list of e-mail accounts, folders, favorites, etc.," soon the thread got flooded with similar complaints from other users. On the same thread another user commented, "Same problem on multiple fully-updated Windows 7 Enterprise Edition, Windows 8 Enterprise Edition and Windows 8.1 Enterprise Edition workstations... all with Office 2013 32-bit."

However within a short span people stated reporting that the folder pane gets restored as soon as you uninstall the update. But this did not fix everything, and Microsoft failed to comment on that. Users commented that the original update has been yanked off the Windows Update and Windows Server Update services. While the former is used by small businesses or customers as a patch service the latter is a Microsoft provided patch delivery and management tool typically used by major or large companies.

This incident is a real embarrassing one for Microsoft, but it is definitely not the company’s first faux pas. It was in the month of August that the software giant had to pull out the Exchange securities update claiming that the patches had not been tested properly. Earlier in April another update designed for Windows 7 ended in crippling many systems around the world. The April update notoriously known as Blue Screen of Death, caused a lot of issues in thousands of machines prompting the Redmond-based company to pull it out immediately. The update was later released two weeks earlier.

These strings of events have ended in a public outcry asking the company to be more accountable. Comments from Triple Helix which said "Yeah, another Microsoft Update Tuesday Blunder" followed by "Someone on [Microsoft's] update testing team needs to get fired," added by The Computer Butler" have added salt to Microsoft’s wounds. More on the update can be found on Microsoft support page.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Various Available Windows 8 Password Reset Software And Methods

Microsoft has been providing an excellent feature to protect your precious data from malevolent persons. But, being human means you have a helpless habit of forgetting things, especially important things like passwords. So once in a while you’d need to reset or recover a Windows 8 password. In case you are having difficulty with that, remember that most Windows 8 problems or issues are resolvable by the user, and there are many efficient methods for resetting Windows 8 password. This article will guide you in detail, no matter whether you are familiar with your computer or not. There are two methods given, and you can choose whichever you feel best to put into practice.

Change your password to reset it

Most of the time we set a simple password when we create a user account. Though this is easy to remember, it is also easier for your password to be guessed by others who don’t exactly wish you well. Following is one of the best ways to resolve your Windows 8 problems concerning the password reset. Here some simple steps:

  • Initially, you need to press down Ctrl+Alt+Delete, and then click on Change a password, for opening the related screen.
  • Then you need to type in the old password, new password, and also password hint, and then click on the Next button.
  • In case you get the message The password has been changed, then it means that you have changed your password successfully. After that, you need to click on the OK button to close the screen.

Reset password using computer management

In case you are still able to log on to your computer, then you can reset the Windows 8 password with your account, or other local user accounts.

  • You need to point the mouse to the bottom-left corner, then right-click on the Start button, and then you can select Computer Management.
  • Then, on the left you can expand the Computer Management panel: System Tools\Local Users and Groups\Users.
  • After that, double-click on Users for opening the user list, and then right-click on the target user account name, and then select Set Password…
  • You can read about the prompt, in case you decide to change the password this way, and then click on Proceed.

You can enter and reenter the new password, and then click on the OK button to save the change.
Do the above and you shouldn’t have any problems with the password reset operation in your Windows 8 system.