Tech Troopers: The Swag Mug

Native VHD Boot is available in all versions of Windows 7

In an article published last week titled Upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate with Anytime Upgrade and in a previous article titled Dual-boot Windows 7 and Windows 8 using a VHD, I told you that the ability to boot from VHD, a feature called Native VHD Boot, was only available in Windows 7 Ultimate and Windows 7 Enterprise. I was mistaken and I apologize for any inconvenience caused by this error. It turns out that the ability to boot from a VHD is actually available in all versions of Windows 7 and that only Windows 7 Ultimate and Windows 7 Enterprise can boot off of a VHD. Read more

Upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate with Anytime Upgrade

In this article, I’ll walk you step by step thru the entire procedure of using Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade to upgrade a Windows 7 Home Premium system to Windows 7 Ultimate. Read more

Remove Windows 8 from a dual-boot configuration

In the last couple of blog posts, I’ve shown you how to set up Windows 7 and Windows 8 Release Preview in a dual-boot configuration. In Dual-boot Windows 7 and Windows 8, I showed you how to set up a dual-boot configuration by repartitioning your hard disk. In Dual-boot Windows 7 and Windows 8 using a VHD, I showed you how to set up a dual-boot configuration by using a VHD (Virtual Hard Disk).

At some point in time before October 26, 2012, you’ll need to stop using the Windows 8 Release Preview as it will stop working. Not exactly sure what will happen, but if it is like most of Microsoft’s free evaluations, one or all of the following will occur: the desktop background will turn black and you will see a notification indicating that the system is not genuine, or the PC will automatically shut down every hour without allowing you to save any work in progress. As such, you’re going to want to remove Windows 8 Release Preview from your system. Read more

Tech Troopers: Hacking The Rebel Alliance

Dual-boot Windows 7 and Windows 8 using a VHD

In my last blog post, Dual-boot Windows 7 and Windows 8, I showed you how to configure your Windows 7 system to dual-boot Windows 8 from a partition on your existing Windows 7 hard disk. You can use that technique in all versions of Windows 7. However, you can take advantage of the Boot from VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) and install Windows 8 on a VHD. Read more

Dual-boot Windows 7 and Windows 8

Since the Windows 8 Developer Preview hit the streets back in September 2011, I’ve written a bunch of articles on the new operating system covering such topics as the improved Windows Explorer, Windows 8 shortcut keys, Storages Spaces, and File History, just to name a few. However, I was recently reminded that there is one topic that I haven’t covered for Windows 8 and that is how to set up a dual boot machine.

Up until recently, I had a machine dedicated to testing Windows 8 and just never got around to setting up a dual-boot configuration. I say recently, because just the other day that test PC died. I did some troubleshooting to try and figure out just what went wrong, but my findings were inconclusive - it could be the power supply, it could be the CPU, it could be the motherboard, or it could be the video card. Rather than stressing about it, I just decided to get another test system - I’ll figure it out later.

Fortunately, my local computer store was having a clearance sale and I picked up and HP P2-1124 with Windows 7 Home Premium for around $300. I normally build my own systems, but this time I bought one off the shelf. So now, I had the perfect opportunity to explore dual-booting Windows 7 and Windows 8 Release Preview. Read more

Tech Troopers: The CPU Upgrade Proposal

Tech Troopers: Working with Darth

Gain a productivity advantage with Windows 8 and multiple monitors

Up until recently, I have been using Microsoft Windows 8 Release Preview on a system with a single monitor. In that type of configuration I was constantly confronting the Metro Start Screen and feeling like my familiar desktop was playing second fiddle. However, when I installed Windows 8 on a system with a multiple-monitor configuration, I definitely began seeing the operating system in a totally different way. Read more

Disable the Lock screen in Windows 8 forever

In last week’s blog post, Make the Windows 8 Start Screen work like the Start Menu, I showed you how to get rid of all the tiles on the Start Screen and populate it with application shortcut icons so that you can essentially use the Start Screen as a replacement for the Start Menu. What I didn’t tell you was that I had initially begun my search for reviving the Start menu in the Local Group Policy Editor. Alas, there is no setting for disabling the Start Screen or enabling the Start menu.


However, I did find a setting that will allow you to do away with another possibly annoying feature designed for touch screen tablets and not necessarily for desktops - the Lock screen. Read more

Microsoft Metro Bob

 

Has Windows 8's new Metro user interface got you flummoxed?

Well then you need Microsoft Metro Bob!