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.

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.

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. 

Microsoft To Launch Windows 8.1 RTM For Hardware Partners

As they have promised before when they announced about the upcoming Windows 8.1 operating system, Microsoft released the Windows 8.1 RTM version for their hardware partners for test purposes. Windows 8 installation of the RTM version was a bit complex for the manufacturers as they had to make certain changes in the hardware for the operating system to function smoothly. Therefore, Microsoft promised its hardware collaborates that they will be able to test the new Windows 8.1 operating system before the public gets access to the operating system.

A company official was heard stating, “Unlike past RTM moments, this milestone represents progress in Microsoft’s new rapid release cycle and optimizes the overall customer experience, while highlighting the handoff to OEM partners and wide array of devices expected this fall.” The company also stated that it hopes that since the developer version is now released to the manufacturers, more Windows devices will roll on in the next holiday season. The company intends to recapture the lost tablet and smartphone industry with the launch of the Windows 8.1 operating system.

One of the company officials was spotted saying, "Over the next several months we’ll see beautiful, powerful devices, from the smallest tablets to the most lightweight notebooks to versatile 2-in-1s, as well as industry devices designed for business.” Well the release of the developer version of the operating system this fast is not surprising as Microsoft’s chief marketing officer Tami Reller had announced that the operating system will be released to the hardware partners in early August at their Worldwide Partner Conference. However, it will take a little longer for normal customers to lay their hands on the new Windows 8.1 RTM OS. It will be a good idea for you to adhere to Windows 8 installation steps for getting the new operating system.

If you happen to have a Windows 8 RTM device, then you can download the Windows 8.1 RTM for free from the Windows Store. Microsoft has scheduled October 17 as the release date for the new advanced Windows 8.1 operating system, so you will be able to get the OS from that day onwards. According to sources in Microsoft, the new operating system has fixed all the important bugs that were found in the Windows 8 operating system and will provide better performance than its predecessor in every way.

One of the important features of the new operating system is the re-entry of the Windows Start button that was removed from the Windows 8 operating system previously. 

Creating A Signature In Outlook 2010

Are you looking for the steps to add a digital signature to all your email messages or business cards that you send from your Outlook email client? If yes, this article will surely help you. Microsoft Outlook 2010 gives users the ability to add digital signatures to all the email messages that they send. It saves the users from the typing hassles and a great deal of time. The users will not have to manually type in their identity every time they send a mail or attachment. The Outlook email setup to create a default signature in the Outlook 2010 program is explained below.

Instructions

• Open the Microsoft Outlook program and click on the File tab. From the File tab, select Options. From the Options window, select  the Mail tab on the left side, click on Create or modify signatures for messages and then click on the Signatures button. Highlight the E-mail Signature tab in the Signatures and Stationary window and select New. Provide a name to the signature in the New Signature box and then press the OK button. You will now see that the name appears under the box Select signature to edit.
• Now you can edit the signature under Edit signature field. Users have the option to choose from a variety of font styles, make business cards or add images. When done, you can click on the OK button. Click on OK twice to close all the windows and save the changes.
• If you have more than one email account and want to make signatures for all of them, navigate to the Signatures and Stationary window with the above mentioned procedure and you may then select the email account from the drop-down menu on the right hand side under the name Choose default signature. When you are done, you can exit the Options window.
• You will now be able to see a default Signature option in the compose window, every time you compose an email message. You may click on the drop-down menu near to Signature tab to add a desired signature to the email messages that you create.

These are the Outlook email setup steps to include a default signature to all the email messages that you create. If you have any more doubts, you can contact our technical support team for further help. They will clear your doubts and will help you to complete the steps successfully.

Not Able To Expand The Folder In Outlook

It is useful to add your email account to Microsoft Outlook, the one and only email application included in Microsoft Office Suite. This email application helps one to send and receive email messages, consolidate all email messages, prepare calendars, schedule tasks, set reminders, recall messages, prepare distribution lists, prepare invitations and other  tasks.
Microsoft Outlook is normally included in the Office Suite of Microsoft and it is also available as a standalone version if you wish to install Outlook alone. It is worth trying, as you would prefer it over the other email applications that are currently available online. This does not mean that Outlook is free from any errors or bugs.  Just as problems are identified in software applications, Outlook also encounters some error messages or problems.
One of the features in Outlook is its ability to share folders so that you could view the shared calendars, email messages, notes, tasks and others and this is accessible only if you are using an organization shared mail service. If you wish to share all the above information, it is essential to give permission for accessing the same. If you have an Outlook tree added to the mailbox of Outlook user and if you receive ‘Microsoft Outlook is Unable to Expand the Folder message - Invalid XML’ message or some other error message while trying to open the mailbox that is shared, you need to follow the below mentioned instructions in order to get them fixed.
People contact Outlook Help and Support when they encounter the Invalid XML error message. Let us check the instructions given below.

Instructions

• You need to click on the Start button on your desktop and click on All Programs and select Microsoft Office and choose Microsoft Outlook.
• When Outlook opens, you need to right click on Mailbox and then select the Properties menu.
• In the Permissions tab, choose Folder Visible and click OK.
• Now select Options that you find below Tools menu.
• Now on the Delegates tab, select Add and select the individuals who could access the folder that is shared.
• In the Delegates Permissions dialog box, select the permissions that you want to apply to the people who access the folder and click OK button.
• Now double click on the mailbox or any other folder in the mailbox of the delegate to open.

These are the different steps that you need to follow for setting permissions for opening and accessing a folder in a network.

Resetting The Windows Vista Password

The Windows Vista operating system has many security features and these features help to prevent unauthorized access to your computer. There is an option to set a log in password for the Windows Vista operating system. Without typing in the log in password, no one will be able to use your computer. There are chances that you may forget the log in password of Windows Vista and you may need to reset the same.
Microsoft gives its users two simple methods to reset the log in password of Windows Vista operating system. They are changing the password through an administrator account and changing the password through the Vista password reset disk. The Windows tech support tips shared below will help you know the steps to reset the Vista OS password.

Through An Administrator Account

• Log into an alternate administrator account in your computer and then click on the Start button, which is located on the bottom left corner of the screen. From the Start menu, choose Control Panel and then select User Accounts.
• Select the Manage another account option. You will be able to see the account for which you need to reset the password. Click on this account.
• Select the Change password option. Type in the new password two times and make sure that you add the password hint that will help you to remember your password in the future. After doing these steps, click on the Change password button. You have now reset the log in password from the administrator account.

Through A Password Reset Disc

• Type in any password in the Windows log on screen and click on the OK button to see the Reset password option. Click on this option.
• Insert the Windows reset disk to your computer and the Password Reset Wizard will open. Click on the Next button and select the drive that contains the reset information.
• Type in your new password two times and add a password hint that may help you to remember the password in the future. Click on the Next button followed by the Finish button. Performing these steps will make sure that you have reset the log in password of the Windows Vista operating system.

These are the general methods to reset the log in password of Windows Vista operating system. If you have more doubts, you may contact our Windows tech support team for further clarifications.