Changing picture on the Welcome Screen and Start Menu

Question：When I click change picture in User Accounts and browse for the picture I want, once I click the picture, it will not change in the Start Menu, however, it does change on the Welcome Screen.  Was hoping someone might know how to address this.

Answer 1：

Hi DivaMaggie,

Thank you for using the Microsoft Answers Forum.  I have a couple of questions for you.  Which version of Vista are you using?  If your picture does not show up in the box on the menu what is in the box?  Is it blank?  If you change back to the default photos does it show up in the Start Menu?  This information will help us assist you with this problem.

Thanks,

Jack

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Jack



Answer 2：Hi Jack

I'm using Vista Home Premium.  The picture that shows in the startup menu is of a flower.  I can switch between the default photos, just not add my own.

Answer 3：

Hi DivaMaggie,

Lets try this.  I'd like for you to go into the Control Panel, User Accounts, and create a new account for yourself.  Try and use the same picture that you have been having trouble with.  If you are able to log into the new account and the picture shows up correctly then use this information in this Knowledge Base article to transfer all of your documents and settings into the new account:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928634/

 

If the picture still doesn't show up on the new account let us know and we can try something alse to resolve this.

Thanks,

Jack

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Jack

How do I open Internet explorer and sites always in full screen?

Question：80% of the time I open IE or a site it in a small screen that I have to always maximize to see.  Getting very annoying.  I feel that somewhere in my brain I know this answer but I can't think of it and it' been a month like this and I've had enouge.  HELP ME! 

Answer 1：
Hi truenorthdc,

In order to open the Internet Explorer always in "Maximized mode", follow these steps:

1. Right click on the "Internet Explorer" shortcut, select Properties
2. Select "Shortcut" tab.
3. In the drop down menu next to "Run", choose "maximized"
4. Click OK and it should be done.

Hope it helps!

Thanks and Regards,
Gulrez

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[Answer]window aero

Question：

Aero ran just fine on my laptop until the battery died last night.  Now, when I turned on the computer, the appearance was set to Windows Standard.  When I try to change the appearance to Windows Aero or even Windows Vista Basic, I get "Applying Visual Styles Error: The visual styles could not be applied."  When I click on those options, the little preview screen turns black, even though when I click on other options, the preview screen shows the windows and appearance preview.  I have tried changing the power settings to "Balanced."  I checked that the Desktop Window Manager Session Manager was "Started" and "Automatic."  I've read answers to Aero questions on this forum.  But I still can't get Aero to run on any user accounts.
Any more suggestions?  Thanks.

Answer 1：

Hi Lars81,

Thanks for posting your question.

Mentioned below are the steps that can solve the windows themes and Windows aero issue.

Step 1:

Click on the Start button and in the Start Search bar, type "services.msc" and click ok. Scroll through your services and make sure that "Themes" is started and the startup type is set to Automatic.

Step 2:

Try to manually start the service responsible for the aero feature. This can be done by typing "net start uxsms" in an elevated command prompt

(Start->accessories, right click on command prompt and run as admin).

More information on how to"Troubleshoot problems with Windows Aero".

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/c33fe91a-9e6f-41f4-ae82-3ed2d5fa2fbf1033.mspx#EAJAC

Regards,

Avash M

and let us know what you think

[Answer]Web site icons

Question：I have short cuts to different web sites on my desk top.  On my old system I could use the web site icon, i.e. the New York Times uses their logo as an icon.  Normally I save the site as a favorite and then drag it to the desk top and the icon would come along with it.  On my new system, when I drag the site from Favorites the icon reverts to a generic Explorer icon.  How can I cstop this from happening?

Answer 1：Hi xintec,

 

Thank you for using the Community Forum for Vista.

 

Another user has had this same issue. Here is the link to that post which has the answer that worked for them.

 

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistaappearance/thread/dc8b375e-07ae-4dfe-8458-64b42701a87d

 

Please let us know if we can do anything else.

 

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Matt Hudson



Answer 2：Matt,
The link you provided is a dead end.  Is there a typo?
Xintec

Answer 3：Does this thread help?

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MCDST
MCITP - Enterprise Support Technician - Charter Member
MCTS - Vista Configuration - Charter Member
MCTS - Volume Licensing Specialist, Small and Medium Organizations - Charter Member
MCITP - Consumer Support Technician
MCTS - Windows Server 2008, Active Directory Configuration

screen saver pictures

Question：how do I get my pics to be screen size & not just the little icons in the folder. vista doesnt allow the luxury of changing size.
some of these icons are also PDF files & they wont become desktop background & if they do become the background they are tiled & I only want the one pic.
any help here is appreciated.

Answer 1：

Hi Tang258,

Welcome to Microsoft Vista answers Forum!

You may follow the steps in the link below to change the size of the icons: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/8b0b5b04-d31a-41c9-9599-a5165ce1b06d1033.mspx

You may refer the link below to change the resolution of the picture: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/29459a7a-9466-49a7-bac4-816e74542dbb1033.mspx

 

Hope this information is helpful.
Let me know if this worked.
All the best! 

Thanks and Regards:
Swathi B  - Microsoft Support.

Mouse click issue getting worse

Question：

A while back I posted about how mouse clicks would stop working. If I am working in a window, I can't click other icons like items in the toolbar at the bottom of the screen. If I have multiple windows open and visible, frequently this also happens where I can't switch between panels. I have to do ctrl+alt+del, cancel out of that to be able to do anything.

Now, sometimes things stop working even on the window in question.

I was told once to try a kind of scan, which I did but it had no effect. Using older restore points doesn't work either.

Any suggestions that might work?

Answer 1：Could I get a little more about your specific system, right click on my computer > properties, I want to know the Processor/Ram , Thanks.

Answer 2：

The processor is: IntelCore (TM)2CPU 6300@ 1.86Ghz  1.86Ghz

RAM is: 2GB

The computer had run fine for a long time. This problem is fairly recent as in the last month or two.

Answer 3：Go here

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm

Run the Full Service Scan and post back the results.

Also if  you can, you can run windows defender to scan for spyware,

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx

Directory Detail Fields are automatically changed by Vista from Name, Date and Size to: Artist, Album, Tracks, Genre and Rating.

Question：

My (Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit, with Service Pack 2) directory settings are automatically changed by Vista from a detailed view including: Name, Size, Date, Type and Folder Path to Date Taken, Tags and Ratings, because I added a JPEG map image.  It does the same sort of thing when I add a personal audio file, changing the Details listing to: Artist, Album, Tracks, Genre and Rating.  In fact, I do want all my same "Detail Fields" displayed the same way for every directory even if it contains photos or audio files, and I did make the universally setting for all my directories.  Now, every time I open many of my directories I have to manually change all the settings so I could figure out what's in the directory.

This is unbelievably bizarre, unless I was a pre-teen addicted to media drivel.  Unfortunately, it's very labor intensive having to change all my directory settings 25 times a day.  However, I have found literally hundreds of such idiosyncratic bugs in Vista that I learned to stop documenting and just struggle with, noticing that such problems rarely if ever get considered or fixed. 
 

Thanks for any thoughts, if there is a way to control Vista.

September 7, 2009

I found something by James- Support Engineer MSFT Moderator from May 6, 2009, then Right clicked my top Directory folder, selected properties, then Customize tab, chose Documents and checked Apply this template to all subfolders, then the Apply button and OK, which reset the Details Settings for the subdirectories.  While I used a different path previously to apply the settings, however I could see if this method helps retain the settings against the inclusion of image and audio files.

 

Answer 1：Hi,

Go through this article http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/813711. It has a FIXIT tool that automatically wil fix the issue.

Try that out.

Cheers

How do I set my monitor in a normal (vertical) direction?

Question：By error, I put my monitor in a horizontal direction.  How do I put it back to the normal (vertical) direction?

Answer 1：Try pressing Ctrl + Alt + UP Arrow Keys.

Cheers.

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Mick Murphy - Microsoft Partner

[Answer]Hy all

Question：So listen guys , i have a problem with my vista recently, it's working very slow , ive made a backup ive reinstaled it ... and steal the same problem , i need to downgrade my vista to xp , ive looker over allmost all the forum's on the google ... i didn't find ONE who can help me ... so ive tryed to instal windows without reformating pc , that doesn't work ... it tell's me that THIS OPERATION CANNOT PROCEED . so if anyone can help me pls answer 

Answer 1：Has to be a clean install.

XP Installation instead of Vista:

 

First, go to your computer manufacturer's website and check to see if your model computer has XP Drivers available for it..

If XP Drivers are not available for your Model, forget the idea.

If it has, download them and save to Flash drive or CD.

Next, buy an XP disk and Licence.

Save all your Data, as it will be lost during installation of XP.

Then follow the steps below to do a clean install.

 

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

Once installed, reload ALL your other Programs from original Media, or download again.

 

Reload all Drivers and Utilities for your Motherboard.

Cheers.

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Mick Murphy - Microsoft Partner

[Answer]Microsoft Vista

Question：hi  im using vista home basic in spanish and i would like to change its language to english how could i able to do...plz help me

Answer 1：You can't install an additional language in Windows Vista Home Basic. If the operating system came preinstalled with your computer, contact the manufacturer; they may provide you with a copy of Windows Vista Home Basic in English.

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Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience

[Answer]Desktop appearance

Question：I seem to have two desktops.  One has gadgets and a big white square in the middle of the screen.  The other has no gadgets and  no white square.  Both screens show icons I've created.  Why does the white square appear?  How can I get rid of it?

Answer 1：Hi Bob002,
 
Since when are you facing the issue?
 
Did you make any changes to the computer before this issue occured?
 
You can try a System Restore to the point when the issue was'nt there, to do a System Restore follow the steps below:
 
Try to restore to the date or point when the desktop was working fine.
 

1. Click Start , type system restore in the Start Search box, and then click System Restore in the Programs list.
2.  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type your password or click Continue.
3. In the System Restore dialog box, click Choose a different restore point, and then click Next.
4. In the list of restore points, click a restore point that was created before you began to experience the issue, and then click Next.
5. Click Finish.
   
   The computer restarts, and the system files and settings are returned to the state that they were in at the time that the restore point was created.

 
You can also refer the link below:
 

How to repair the operating system and how to restore the operating system configuration to an earlier point in time in Windows Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936212

Hope this information is helpful.

Regards
Rehman - Microsoft Support

configuracion media center do sintonizadores

Question：hola
me gustaria saber si es posible configurar el media center para poder tener en la guia de programas canales digitales y analogicos
simultaneamente teniendo dos sintonizadores

Answer 1：Hola:

Este es un foro en inglés. Para consultas en español, acude a este foro: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/es-ES/wcvistaes/threads

Translation:

Hi:

This is an English forum. For questions in Spanish, go to this forum: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/es-ES/wcvistaes/threads

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Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience

help im so lost i have tryed every thing my recycleing bin was deleted and now i cant restore it

Question：my recycling bin was deleted and i cant restore it further more i have needed to remove items from my computer and now they are sent to the recycling bin so i imagen its full and now my computer is running so slow i think thats the reason as my comp is only 6 months old

Answer 1：http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810869

How do I make the Recycle Bin appear on my desktop in Windows Vista or in Windows XP?

To fix this issue in Windows Vista, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Appearance and Personalization, click Personalization, and then click Change desktop icons.
3. Click to select the Recycle Bin check box, and then click OK.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://ask-leo.com/i_accidentally_deleted_my_recycle_bin_in_vista_how_do_i_get_it_back.html

Cheers.

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Mick Murphy - Microsoft Partner

Answer 2：Just for future reference for other users incase you have ever accidentally deleted your Recycyle BIn.
It's no big deal,just go in and put the icon back on the desktop.But it is kinda dumb having the option to delete it there in the first place,at least in my opinion.
Well,here is a fix for it if anyone is interested.
How to hide the "Delete" command from Recycle Bin context menu in Windows Vista

Answer 3：

Thank you!!! :-)

EXPLORER 8 ADDRESS BAR

Question：Hi
Does anyone know how to remove the favorites and history that appear in the address bar
Every time I surf it looks like a complete mess
I just want the typical address window that only contians the sites I typed in

Help pls!

Answer 1：Right-click a blank spot next to the Favorites and un-check Favorites Bar .

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Steve Winograd, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience)

Answer 2：

Wrong question
In explorer 8
Whenever I type a URL, underneath is a lisy of all favorites and history
previous explorers only show the URLS
this version also shows history and favorites
I need this gone.

Answer 3：If I understand your question, you're asking about what happens when you start to type in the address bar. 

To change the behavior, go to Tools > Internet Options > Content > AutoComplete > Address bar and un-check Browsing history and Favorites .

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Steve Winograd, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience)

Vista loses mouse setting

Question：When I reboot Vista, the mouse settings revert to the default speed, rather than the fast speed on which I left.

Answer 1：

Hi claredb2,

Thank you for visiting Microsoft Windows Vista answers forum.

You may want to update the mouse driver by downloading it from the manufacturer's website.

If the above step, does not fix then you may want to run the System File Checker Tool to make sure that all the system files are intact.

Please follow the steps as below to the System File Checker as the first steps:

1. Click Start and then type cmd in the Start Search box. 2. In the results area, right-click cmd.exe, and then click "Run as administrator". You will be prompted to type the password for an administrator account. Click Continue if you are the administrator or type the administrator password. Then, click Continue. 3. At the command prompt, type sfc /scannow, and then press ENTER. (You also may run sfc /scannow from Task Manager>> New Task.) Note: The scan may take some time, so be patient. Windows will repair any corrupted or missing files that it finds. If information from the installation CD is needed to repair the problem, you may be prompted to insert your Windows Vista CD. For reference you may visit the following KB Article link: "How to repair the operating system and how to restore the operating system configuration to an earlier point in time in Windows Vista": http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936212

 

Sometimes third party programs running on the computer may conflict with the settings of the mouse. You may also try performing a clean boot on the computer and check if the mouse setting is lost after restart.

To perform a clean boot on a computer that is running Windows Vista:

1. Click Start, type msconfig in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.  If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue. 2. On the General tab, click Selective Startup. 3. Under Selective Startup, click to clear the Load Startup Items check box. 4. Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All. 5. Click OK. 6. When you are prompted, click Restart. 7. Restart the computer twice. 8. After the computer starts second time, check if the issue is fixed. If your issue is resolved after performing Clean Boot and then installing the updates, then follow the steps mentioned in the following KB article to narrow down the exact source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135 Also, see the section on how return your computer to a Normal startup mode by following the steps under "Reset the computer to start as usual", after performing the clean boot troubleshooting.

 

Please let us know if it helps.

Thanks and Regards,
Santosh

Unable to unpin an updated application

Question：Possible shell bug - Not at MS anymore so I don't have access to PS anymore.

Installed build 7100, yes, it's old but it works flawlessly!

Intstalled multiple programs, including Microsoft Worldwide Telescope (for the kids, right? :-))  And created an app shortcut for WWT on the taskbar.
WWT asked me to upgrade a few days ago, so i did.  Today, i finally needed to reboot.  After doing so, the updated application WTT works like a champ, but the shortcut on the taskbar no longer works, it's a default (read:bad) icon now, and when clicked, states the parameter is incorrect.  Moreover, when navigating to the newly installed WWT, through program files, the app launches correctly.

The issue is, i can no longer right click on the icon on the taskbar to remove it!  Left click works, but again gives me the bad parameter error.

This seems like a major bug to me.

Expected behavior is all icons, no matter their status should be right-clickable so they can be removed.

Feel free to contact me for further info if this is indeed new.  I;ll keep the bad icon up for a while in case this is new.

Cheers,
Steve
stevesu_@hotmail.com

Answer 1：Navigate to 'C:\users\your_user_name\appdata\roaming\microsoft\internet explorer\quick launch' (replace your_user_name with your account name ;) )
There delete the WWT shortcut and create a new one.
Hope this solves the issue.

Answer 2：Yes, that did the trick for removing the dead shortcut.  Hopefully the issue was fixed in a newer build.

Cheers,
Steve

resolution got changed

Question：Running windows xp professional on an in-car computer.  An employee went into desktop personalization and chenged the resolution to the maximum setting when it at 600x800.  Now on the log on screen the display is shaky, the mouse pointer is all over the place, and it's not logging in.  Thanks for any help.

Answer 1：

XP Newsgroups:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups/reader.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windowsxp.general

Above link is to XP Newsgroups.

There is a list of the various XP Newsgroups down the left-hand column there.

You will get the assistance that you need there.

These are Vista Forums.

Cheers

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Mick Murphy - Microsoft Partner

Lost "Search" on Right side of Start Menu

Question：

The Search feature on the right portion of the Start Menu is gone.  (The book shows it below "Games" and above "Recent" but it's not there now.)  When I modify to switch to use the old format for the Start Menu it shows up (as FIND).  I don't know when I lost it or if it was ever there.  How do I get it to display?  I looked for the program itself to make it a shortcut or 'pin' it to the Start Menu but couldn't fine it.  I can only seem to get to it via HELP. I've got VISTA Home Premium.

Two strange things have happened.  When I used Easy Transfer to move my favorites over from my old laptop, Favorites appeared in the right part of the Start Menu but Search didn't.  I was able to delete that (and now I can't get it back) so I assume it was a function of Easy Transfer.  I tried to do a restore from before I moved Favorites over but it failed.  I really don't want to go back to an earlier restore point because I don't really know when I lost Search.

Thanks for any help--you'd be my hero if you can tell me how to get Search back :-)

Answer 1：Ms Jeanne:

Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista removed the Search option from the Start menu, and from other places. I suppose the pictures of the book you're reading were taken from a Windows Vista Gold (that is, without any Service Pack installed).

This KB article explains the situation and offers some workarounds:

Overview of Windows Vista desktop search Changes in Windows Vista Service Pack 1
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941946/en-us

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Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience

Answer 2：Daniel you are my hero!  I got my answer---didn't like it but at least I know it wasn't my fault for deleting Search from the Start menu.  (I sent my two cents back to MS when I read the paper from the link you provided.  Poor customer relations deleting it.)  Plus, you kept me from going through wasted restores.  This is the first time I've tried this forum and I again thank you for showing me how valuable the community is.

Answer 3：You're welcome.

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Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience