From the category archives:

Tips

Running multiple Messenger logins on the same machine

December 23, 2008Link

Thanks be to A-Patch!
The awesomeness that is A-Patch is now out with a version for Windows Live Messenger 9 (the Wave 3 RC version released last week). It’s actually a cut down list of options this time, in order to get it out quickly. But I’m not complaining. I’m really happy. Here’s why:
As well as [...]

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TIP: Outlook keyboard shortcut to switch between email, calendar, etc

September 15, 2008Main

I can’t believe I didn’t know this – you can easily switch between the different functions in Outlook (Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, etc) using Ctrl+1, Ctrl+2, Ctrl+3, etc.
Yet another reason why you should be reading the Outlook Team Blog. See their other keyboard shortcuts here.
Here’s the full list:

Mail
Ctrl + 1

Calendar
Ctrl + 2

Contacts
Ctrl + 3

Tasks
Ctrl + [...]

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That useless Windows Shutdown dialog

August 2, 2008Link

Rick Strahl explains how to get rid of the Windows Server Shutdown Event Tracker dialog – you know, the annoying one that asks you to put in a reason every time you reboot. I have to admit I had no idea you could even get rid of it (but then again I never looked). One [...]

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TIP: Mouse issues running Windows 2008 under Virtual PC 2007

May 26, 2008Main

This is exactly the same issue I mentioned in my VPC: Mouse issues running W2K3 under Virtual PC 2007 almost a year ago. But this time it’s with Windows 2008.
Solution: Set Hardware Acceleration to Full
Problem: My mouse movement was really sluggish in a VPC running Windows 2008 (and 2003, but other OSes are fine) [...]

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TIP: Introducing people who already know each other

April 28, 2008Community

No doubt you’ve done this at some point:
You’re at an event or user group and find yourself chatting with someone new. A friend of yours strolls over and joins the conversation. Being the polite person you are you introduce your friend to the new person. They reply with ‘oh yes, we already know each other [...]

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TIP: SQL Server 2008 – changing default ‘Edit Top 200 rows’

April 22, 2008Link

Brad Marsh alerts us to this handy option in SQL Server 2008 – how to change the default result set sizes. They default to 200 for Edit and 1000 for Select, but can be increased to… everything if desired. Proceed with caution though – there’s a reason Microsoft put these new limits in.
Technorati Tags: SQL [...]

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TIP: Hiding the Office 2007 Ribbon

April 6, 2008Main

A simple one. Sorry if you all know this already – but I keep coming across people who’ve missed it – so please read on.
You can easily hide the ribbon in any of the Office 2007 programs simply by double clicking on the tabs.
Thus

becomes

with just a double-click on the Home tab (or any tab).
Oh, [...]

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TIP: Dates in Outlook

April 3, 2008Main

I don’t know if you read the Outlook Team Blog, but if not I recommend it – there’s stacks of goodies over there.
Take this one for example, on entering dates in Outlook. I didn’t realise you could enter a date as easily as ‘next tue’ and Outlook would work it out for you automatically:

Gets [...]

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TIP: Fixing IE so it doesn’t go mental with lots of tabs open

March 27, 2008Main

This one has bugged me for ages – you open up stacks of tabs in IE and after a while weird things start happening. Perhaps its the menu not appearing on some tabs, another tab has missing toolbars, etc.
And it affects other programs as well including File Explorer, shortcuts, and in my case SharePoint Designer [...]

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TIP: Repairing Outlook .ost and .pst files

March 24, 2008Main

I’ve had issues recently with Outlook crashing when I shut it down. Initially I thought this was due to a rogue Outlook Addin (eg I’ve got Xobni, ClearContext, OutTwit and others installed). So I went through systematically getting rid of them. Put the problem persisted.
Finally I found the issue was to do with the actual [...]

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TIP: How to uninstall IE8

March 9, 2008Main

If, like me, you rushed out and installed Internet Explorer 8 last week, then you may, like me again, be regretting it.

IE8 has been slow, unstable and ugly. By ugly I mean that most of the sites I viewed looked really bad (or didn't render at all). The price of progress you may say? After [...]

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TIP: How to create a Microsoft LiveID with your own domain name

March 6, 2008Main

This one crops up from time to time. You need a Microsoft LiveID for use with say Windows Messenger. But when you go through the sign up process, you only have options for a .hotmail.com or .live.com domain on your alias.

If you have registered your own domain name, then ideally you want your LiveID profile [...]

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TIP: The Top Mistake of public speaking

March 6, 2008Main

I mentioned in a previous post that I was really nervous when I presented at the Microsoft Launch last week.

This actually caught me by surprise, because I am usually pretty comfortable presenting in front of groups.

At home that night I was wondering why I had suddenly tensed up. Was it the large crowd (the room [...]

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TIP: Fixing the annoying Vista Windows Explorer View quirk

March 5, 2008Main

Like many people I was hoping that Vista SP1 would fix the issue with Views in Windows Explorer changing randomly. But alas, it didn't. Gee, must be a big bug.

Anyway, there is a registry hack that fixes it – sort of. It doesn't actually fix it, rather it just sets all the folders undefined, which [...]

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TIP: How to access SQL Server Developer edition over a network

February 25, 2008Main

This one has caught out people for ages, so I thought I'd clarify that it IS possible to connect to SQL Server 2005 Developer edition over a network.

The problem is that the Express and Developer versions of SQL Server 2005 turn OFF remote access by default (Standard and Enterprise have it ON by default). That's [...]

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TIP: Using Jungle Disk and Amazon S3 for backups

February 14, 2008Main

You've all heard of Amazon's Simple Storage Service by now. If not then check it out and sign up for own Web Services account.

Amazon S3 gives you access to scalable storage for 15c per GB per month, with a 10c per GB data transfer cost.

Assuming you just use the service to upload data for backup [...]

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TIP: Problems with hidden Adobe download install files

February 9, 2008Main

PROBLEM: Adobe Download Manager hides files on your hard disk. As a result your install doesn't work, and further you can't find the hidden files to delete them.

SOLUTION: Find the hidden files underneath the \Temporary Internet Files\ directory

DETAILS:

If you've downloaded an Adobe product lately using their Download Manager you might have got frustrated because you [...]

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TIP: Changing Vista Desktop icon sizes

February 8, 2008Main

It's easy to change the icons on your desktop in Vista if you have a mouse with a scroll wheel.

Simply hold down your CTRL key and scroll your mouse.

Forward to larger, back for smaller.

Technorati Tags: Tip, Vista, Desktop icon size

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TIP: Wikipedia Search from IE7

February 6, 2008Main

Another one I didn't realise existed… IE7 has a simple way of adding other Search engines to the Search box.

Just choose the Find more providers… option.

The one I use the most is the Wikipedia option – it's very handy to search for a term on Google (my default engine) and the also check it out [...]

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TIP: Compressing Virtual PC images

January 24, 2008Tips

If you’ve got a stack of Virtual PC images clogging up your hard drive(and who doesn’t these days?), here’s how to compress (or compact) them.
1. With the Virtual PC image running, choose Capture ISO Image… from the CD Menu

2. When the dialog opens, find the Virtual Disk Precompactor.iso image (it’ll be in your [...]

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