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10 Word Defaults You Can Customize

Takeaway: Change a few key default settings in Word and you won’t have to make the same tweaks over and over.

Word does a good job of assuming how the average user works, but some of Word’s default settings can be annoying and inefficient. Some users don’t know they can permanently change these settings, so they continue to reset them for each new document or just struggle along. Users should consider resetting the following defaults to work more productively. Of course, there are more defaults to set.

1: Line spacing

The default line spacing setting in Word 2007 and 2010 is 1.15, not 1, as it is in 2003. Microsoft believes 1.15 is more readable online. If you’re not generating Web content, adjust the style(s) you use in Word’s template (Normal.dotx), as follows:

  1. Click the Home tab.
  2. Right-click Normal in the Styles Quick gallery and choose Modify.
  3. Choose Paragraph from the Format list.
  4. In the Spacing section, change the At setting from 1.15 to 1, as shown in Figure A.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Check the New Documents Based On This Template option.
  7. Click OK.

Figure A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This change will adjust all Word styles based on Normal, so be sure that’s what you want.

2: Smart quotes

If you generate Web content or other published material, you probably have to undo Word’s smart quotes in favor of straight quotes. You can do so quickly enough by pressing [Ctrl]+Z, but that becomes tedious after a while and you might forget. If you use straight quotes more than smart quotes, disable smart quotes as follows:

  1. Click the File menu and choose Options under Help. In Word 2007, click the Office button and click Word Options. In Word 2003, choose Auto Correct Options from the Tools menu and skip to step 4.
  2. Choose Proofing in the left pane.
  3. Click AutoCorrect Options in the AutoCorrect Options section.
  4. Click the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
  5. Deselect the Straight Quotes With Smart Quotes option in the Replace As You Type section, shown in Figure B.
  6. Click OK.

Figure B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disable smart quotes for all new documents.

3: Paste special

Word’s paste special feature retains the source formatting. If you’re pasting from foreign sources, you probably reformat it once it’s in your Word document. If you do this a lot, change the Paste Special default as follows:

  1. Click the File tab and choose Options. In Word 2007, click the Office button and then click Word Options.
  2. Select Advanced in the left pane.
  3. In the Cut, Copy, and Paste section, choose Use Destination Styles from the Pasting Between Documents When Style Definitions Conflict drop-down.
  4. Choose Keep Text Only from the Pasting From Other Programs drop-down, as shown in Figure C.
  5. Click OK.

Figure C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Several paste settings make this a flexible feature; choose the setting that’s most efficient for you.

This feature is significantly different in Word 2003. From the Tools menu, choose Options, and click the Edit tab. In the Cut And Paste section, click the Settings button to display the options shown in Figure D.

Figure D

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Word 2003 is more specific, but it allows some control.

4: File Location

Word saves your documents in My Documents. If you find yourself resetting the save location a lot, reset the default as follows:

  1. Click the File tab and choose Options. In Word 2007, click the Office button and then click the Word Options button. In Word 2003, choose Options from the Tools menu.
  2. Select Save in the left pane. In Word 2003, click the File Locations tab.
  3. Specify the new folder in the Default File Location field shown in Figure E. Or click Browse and locate it that way. In Word 2003, highlight the Documents item and click Modify. Use the Modify Location dialog to specify the new folder and click OK.
  4. Click OK.

Figure E

 

 

 

 

 

Word will save documents to the specified folder instead of My Documents.

5: Spacing between paragraphs

When you press [Enter], Word increases the line spacing to add a bit more white space between paragraphs. This extra space isn’t the same as a blank line, so you can’t delete it by pressing Backspace. To eliminate this extra spacing, do the following:

  1. Click the Home tab. In Word 2003, select Paragraph from the Format menu.
  2. Click the Paragraph group’s dialog launcher (the small arrow in the lower-right corner). In Word 2003, click the Indents And Spacing tab.
  3. Check the Don’t Add Space Between Paragraphs Of The Same Style option.
  4. Click Set As Default, as shown in Figure F. (Not available in Word 2003, but you can change this format for the current document.)
  5. Click OK.

Figure F

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eliminate the additional white space between paragraphs.

6: Mini toolbar

When you select text, Word displays the mini toolbar, which hosts several formatting options. Even though it’s dimmed, it still annoys some users. You can press [Esc] to hide it or you can permanently disable it, as follows:

  1. Click the File menu and choose Options. In Word 2007, click the Office button and then click Word Options.
  2. Choose General in the left pane (if necessary).
  3. In the User Interface Options section, uncheck the Show Mini Toolbar On Selection option, shown in Figure G.
  4. Click OK.

Figure G

Uncheck this option to disable the mini toolbar.

7: Drawing canvas

Word’s drawing canvas is a distinct layer for drawing. Objects placed in a canvas have an absolute position and remain together as a group. Most users find the canvas layer difficult to work with and frankly, most users don’t need it. If you’re still using Word 2003, disable the canvas layer as follows:

  1. From the Tools menu, choose Options.
  2. Click the General tab.
  3. Uncheck Automatically Create Drawing Canvas When Inserting AutoShapes in the General Options section.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Word 2007 and 2010 disables the canvas layer by default. If you happen to be working with the drawing canvas enabled, disable it as follows:
  6. Click the File menu and then choose Options. In Word 2007, click the Office button and then click Word Options.
  7. In the left pane, choose Advanced.
  8. In the Editing section, uncheck the Automatically Create Drawing Canvas When Inserting AutoShapes option, shown in Figure H.
  9. Click OK.

Figure H

The drawing canvas is annoying enough that Microsoft finally disabled it by default in the Ribbon versions.

8: Normal.dotx

Word bases new documents on Normal.dotx, but the template’s settings might not fit your needs. If you have just a few changes, customize Normal.dotx. A common customization is to change the font and size. To make the change at the template level, do the following:

  1. Open a new document and click the Home tab.
  2. Click the Font group’s dialog launcher (the arrow in the bottom-right corner). In Word 2003, choose Font from the Format menu.
  3. Make the necessary font changes. For instance, you might choose Arial, 12.
  4. Before closing the dialog, click the Set As Default button. In Word 2003, click Default.
  5. In the resulting confirmation dialog, select the option to set the default for all documents based on the Normal template, as shown in Figure I.
  6. Click OK twice.

Figure I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make a font change at the template level.

Other template customizations you might want to make include margins and styles. Use a custom template, rather than Normal.dotx, to meet requirements that are more complex.

9: Word selection

When you select part of a word and then part of the next, Word selects the whole word for you — whether you meant to or not. To disable this selection option, do the following:

  1. Click the File tab and choose Options. In Word 2007, click the Office button and then click Word Options. In Word 2003, choose Options from the Tools menu.
  2. Choose Advanced in the left pane. In Word 2003, click the Edit tab.
  3. In the Editing Options section, deselect the When Selecting, Automatically Select Entire Word option, as shown in Figure J.
  4. Click OK.

Figure J

Ridding yourself of this annoying selection behavior is easy.

10: Spelling, grammar, and formatting

Word identifies misspelled words, grammatical errors, and formatting inconsistencies, as you type:

  • A red line indicates a word not found in the dictionary (possibly misspelled).
  • A green line indicates a possible grammatical error.
  • A wavy blue line indicates an inconsistent format.

I recommend that you get used to the display and not disable these features — they’re a helpful indication that something might be wrong. On the other hand, if you find them distracting, you candisable them. To disable the red and green lines, do the following:

  1. Click the File tab and then choose Options. In Word 2007, click the Office button and then click Word Options. In Word 2003, choose Options from the Tools menu.
  2. Select Proofing in the left pane. In Word 2003, click the Spelling & Grammar tab.
  3. In the When Correcting Grammar and Spelling In Word section, uncheck the first three options: Check Spelling As You Type, Use Contextual Spelling, and Mark Grammar Errors As You Type, as shown in Figure K. (There’s no contextual spelling option in Word 2003.)
  4. Click OK.

Figure K

You can disable Word’s spelling and grammar indicators.

To rid documents of the wavy blue line, do the following:

  1. Click the File tab and then choose Options. In Word 2007, click the Office button and then click Word Options. In Word 2003, choose Options from the Tools menu.
  2. Select Advanced in the left Pane. In Word 2003, click the Edit tab.
  3. In the Editing Options section, uncheck the Mark Formatting Inconsistencies option under Keep Track Of Formatting. In Word 2003, deselect the Mark Formatting Inconsistencies check box in the Editing Options section.
  4. Click OK

Even the most competent users make an occasional error and these features identify potential problems. Adjusting to them will probably serve most users better than turning them off.

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Two great laptops for Windows

For those infatuated with the 11-inch MacBook Air’s svelte form factor but still tethered to Windows, I’ve got two nice alternatives that are worth considering: The Sony Vaio X1 and the Acer Timeline X. I’ve put together a gallery of unboxing and product photos of both machines, along with some comparison shots next to the 11-inch MacBook Air.

While the Sony Vaio X1 and the Acer Timeline X are both worthy competitors to the 11-inch MacBook Air, they are two very different machines that will appeal to different sets of users. Here’s my quick take on the two of them.

Sony Vaio X1

Sony is known for its stylish PC hardware, but it often comes at a premium price tag — similar to Apple. However, in this case, the 11-inch MacBook Air and the Sony Vaio X1 have similar price tags to the Acer Timeline X. All three systems have a base price of roughly $1000. At that price, the three of them have remarkably different hardware profiles.

The Sony Vaio is the lightest of the three machines, and it’s also the most lightly powered. It runs a 2.0GHz Intel Atom processor, the same one that powers many netbooks (compared to the speedier 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo that powers the 11-inch MacBook Air). Here are some of the additional specs of the model we tested (VPCX131KX/B):

•2GB of RAM
•11.1-inch display with LED backlight and 1366×768 resolution
•Integrated Intel graphics
•64GB of flash storage
•2 USB ports, VGA port, Ethernet port, SD card slot
•3 hours of battery life (standard battery) or 12 hours battery life (expanded battery)
•Weighs 1.6 pounds (with standard battery)

The Vaio X1 is even a little smaller than the 11-inch MacBook Air. A business professional could easily slip it into a padfolio. Its portability and weight (or lack thereof) are its greatest assets, and it’s a solid machine for email, Web, and basic business apps. The tradeoffs are that it’s not a very fast or powerful machine and it feels a little overpriced for what you get.

My other concern with this machine is durability. Unlike the MacBook Air, which is made almost entirely of aluminum, the Sony Vaio X1 is totally plastic and not an especially durable blend. That makes it light, but also makes it feel very flimsy. I had the sense that I could have almost broken it in half with my bare hands if I twisted it hard enough.

Still, if you’re not too concerned about performance and you need a super-portable system, then the Vaio X1 is pretty impressive and worth a look.


Acer Timeline X

The Acer Timeline X can’t match Sony or Apple for style or thinness, but it packs a lot more power under the hood. The model we tested (1830T-68U118) was running an Intel Core i7 processor (1.46GHz) and offered very zippy performance for just about any task. The rest of the specs for the Timeline X included:

•4GB of RAM
•11.6-inch display with LED backlight and 1366×768 resolution
•Integrated Intel graphics
•500 GB hard disk storage
•3 USB ports, VGA port, HDMI port, Ethernet port, SD card slot
•8 hours of battery life

The Timeline X can keep up with a lot of desktop machines. It’s that fast. This is the system for someone who needs to pack a lot of performance but wants to do it in as small a package as possible. The Timeline X is certainly a little more heavy and bulky than the MacBook Air of the Vaio X1, but it is far smaller than most of the other laptops in its power class.

My beefs with the Timeline X are mostly qualitative. The touchpad is just too small to be very useful. The 11-inch MacBook Air is literally about three times the size of the Timeline X — and although I’m not a fan of touchpads in general, the one on the Air is one of the few that are useful in a pinch. With the Timeline X, make sure you have a good notebook mouse and plan to use it most of the time. On a related note, the keyboard on the Timeline X is not great either. The keys are huge but they are very close together, which makes it easy to hit the wrong key. The keys are also stiff and shallow, which isn’t very friendly for typing. This is one of the main areas where the Timeline X doesn’t match up very well with the MacBook Air, and to a lesser extent, the Sony Vaio X1.

However, if you want a lot of power in a small package and you want it to run Windows, the Timeline X is one of your best bets.

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10 ways to keep your messages out of spam filters

Takeaway: Legitimate messages that get snagged by spam filters can lead to big problems — such as derailed job searches, hard feelings, and lost business. These tips will help ensure that your messages reach their intended targets.

Most spam filters use a scoring system. Each offense has a value. The higher the sum of a message’s offenses, the more likely a spam filter will reroute the message (or not delivered at all). A lone offense usually isn’t enough to flag a message as spam; it takes a combination of violations to score high enough to meet the level of true spam. But the system isn’t perfect, and sometimes overzealous filters flag legitimate messages as spam. Applying the following do’s and don’ts will help you ensure that your legitimate messages pass the spam filter test and reach their intended Inboxes.

1: Do curtail your excitement

Specific words and phrases are the number one hook for spammers, and that makes them the best tool for catching spam. Discussions of large sums of money and amazing breakthroughs top that list. Offering a money back guarantee or a way to save money — Why pay more? — may be part of a legitimate offer, but it will set off spam alarms. Your message might excite you, but multiple exclamations points will also excite spam filters. All uppercase characters might convey your enthusiasm, but they’ll also set off spam filters. Just using the word urgent is enough to put a spam filter on alert.

Avoid using words and phrases that trigger spam filters. You don’t have to memorize a long list, just visit a few of the Web sites that maintain lists of spam keywords. Use the phrase “spam keywords” in your favorite search engine and you’ll get plenty of hits. Look for current lists, as the keywords are updated regularly. It’s okay to share good news and special offers with associates and clients. Just bypass all the hype.

2: Do use plain text

An email that consists of all HTML or all images and links will trip a spam alarm. HTML is certainly okay, as long as it’s good code and it doesn’t comprise the entire message. Sloppy HTML code is also an easy giveaway for spam.

Go ahead and use good HTML code but also include as much plain text as possible. That’s a clue to the spam filter that the email is legitimate. Besides, you’ll want to accommodate recipients who choose to view the message in plain-text format.

3: Don’t include attachments

Avoid attachments when possible. Spam often contains destructive attachments, so filters tend to overreact to an attachment. Links are a better alternative, if feasible.

4: Do check your sender score

A sender score grades your reputation as a sender. Your average business or personal account probably isn’t going to learn much from this score. Businesses that rely on frequent email campaigns will. If that includes you, check your sender score often and be proactive about repairing damage. A bad reputation can result in email being filtered, regardless of content.

5: Don’t send spam!

If you maintain a large list, for marketing — for any purpose really — make sure the members of your list want your email. Sending spam will get your domain and your business blacklisted and it’s difficult to get off those lists. Once you’re on a blacklist, most spam filters will snag your mail, regardless of its content. Remember, your reputation is important as your message (#4).

Hint: Exchanging business cards is not an invitation to send spam unless that condition is made clear during the exchange.

6: Don’t use colored fonts

Black type seems boring, but in truth, it’s easy to read and looks professional and clean. Don’t be fooled into thinking that colored fonts will create eye-catching opportunities to promote your message. They might, but they’ll also excite spam filters.

7: Do test your recipient list

When you send an email or newsletter to a list, test the message in as many client applications on as many operating systems as possible. Simply send the message to yourself or to a test account and retrieve it on several machines using different operating systems and email clients.

8: Don’t use the word test in your test message

When testing an email or newsletter (#6), don’t use the word test in the subject line. Most server filters will snag the message, regardless of the message’s content. You’ll waste time trying to fix the content when that single word may be the culprit.

9: Do compose a succinct subject

Your subject line should be as specific as possible. Smart filters assume that spammers can write a reasonable subject line. What they’ll lack is detail. The more specific your subject is the better. For example, the subject Tomorrow’s Project Meeting is reasonable but generic. A better subject might mention the time, the meeting room, and so on. Don’t go overboard, but include details if possible.

10: Do rely on professional experts

For most of us, a legitimate message that’s snagged by a spam filter can mean lost business or at the very least, hard feelings. These tips aren’t meant for professional online marketing operations. If you’re considering an online marketing campaign for your business, don’t wing it! You could inadvertently damage your company’s reputation. Hire a professional who specializes in online marketing to keep you on the right side.

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Ribbon Hero 2: Clippy’s Second Chance

It’s a fun game! No, it’s an Office Tutorial! No, it’s both!

Welcome to Ribbon Hero 2!

You’ve tried games that test your card playing, your imaginary farming skills, and your ability to hurl small birds. Finally there’s a game that will make you better at your job.

Do you feel like you’re using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote the same way version after version, or have you avoided using one of these apps because you don’t know how? And you know there’s so much more Office could be doing for you if only you knew how to access it? No more! Straight from the secret lairs of Office Labs we present Ribbon Hero 2: Clippy’s Second Chance.

Yes, we turned Office into a game! If you’re going to spend time immersed in the inner workings of Office, by golly it should be fun. In Ribbon Hero 2, you’ll hop on board Clippy’s stolen time machine and explore different time periods. With each time period, you get to explore a new game board with challenges you must complete to get to the next level. Each challenge takes you into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote to complete a task. Discover new Office features by actually using them, with a hint button to fall back on in case you get stuck. Race for a high score with colleagues, classmates and friends, or even put your score on your resume to show off your Office skills!

For those of you who have been paying attention, we’ve done this before. That’s how we got the “2” on the end of the title. So what’s different? *deep breath* Clippy, comic strips, colorful graphics, surprise animations, multiple levels, time travel, upside-down Clippy, space ships, Greek Gods, bow-and-arrow battles, and a ton of useful Office features.

Need more convincing? Get a sneak peek of Ribbon Hero 2 in this video:

Have FUN!

Microsoft Surface: iPad knockoff for enterprise?

As I’ve said many times, I barely have any use for the new iPad. Most technologists I know feel the same way about tablets. However, most of us understand that we’re an anomaly. For tens of millions of people, using a tablet like the iPad is infinitely easier and less frustrating that dealing with a Windows laptop. That’s why tablets are eating the bottom out of the PC market, and the trend is accelerating.

Microsoft knows this. It also knows that an alarming number of companies are allowing their employees to use iPads and some are even running trials to hand out the new iPads to lots of highly mobile employees. What’s even worse for Microsoft is that most of these employees are loving it and are gladly chucking their Windows laptops aside.

 

While a lot of these employees will still periodically use Windows machines for some of their work, they’re using them less frequently and that means slower PC upgrades and less urgency to jump to Microsoft Windows 8. We’re still only talking about a fraction of the market — iPad will sell 60 million units in 2012 versus 400 million PCs, according to Gartner. Nevertheless, it has Microsoft freaked out because it’s been just a little over two years since the iPad debuted.

That’s a lot of disruption in a short period of time.

Of course, that brings us to the announcement of the Microsoft Surface tablet this week. Microsoft turned a lot of heads by revealing that it is going to build its own line of Microsoft Windows 8 tablet devices, à la Zune and Xbox. The hardware design for the Surface that Microsoft showed off on Monday was impressive enough to pique the interest of the tech press and the public.

The tablet itself looks a lot like the new iPad and many of the high-end Android tablets, but there were a pair of features that stood out. The first was a sturdy built-in kickstand that stealthily pops out from the back of the tablet. The second is the magnetic cover that doubles as a keyboard and touchpad. When you put these two features together you suddenly have a tablet that easily doubles as a laptop. That eliminates the need for someone to have two devices.

Sure, the hardware of the Microsoft Surface Tablet echoes the iPad. But, Microsoft did use a special magnesium body that makes it light, thin, and durable. Sure, the cover of the Surface is a copy of the iPad’s Smart Cover, but Microsoft did innovate by adding a keyboard on the inside.

There’s plenty about the Microsoft Surface Tablet that screams, “iPad knockoff!” and the failure of Android tablets and the tablet debacles at RIM and HP show that trying to build an iPad competitor for the enterprise can be a brutal business.

Still, the Microsoft Surface Tablet has something going for it that the BlackBerry PlayBook, HP TouchPad, and the parade of Android tablets don’t — it’s going to automatically drop into the Windows networks that most Fortune 500 companies as well as a lot of small and medium businesses already have in place. That’s going to mean a lot fewer worries about compatibility, security, and data protection. In other words, it means a lot less work for IT on the backend and a smoother transition for many users

That doesn’t mean the Microsoft Surface Tablet is a slam dunk. There is still a big question about whether users are going to find the Windows 8 interface as easy to use as the new iPad. And, will spyware and malware become a big problem on the Surface since it’s running the full version of Windows? Above all, how much is it going to cost? The Pro version of the Microsoft Surface Tablet that most businesses are going to want is expected to cost about the same price as an Ultrabook — in the $800-$1000 range.

Ultimately, if you want to think of the Microsoft Surface Tablet as an iPad knockoff with a few key innovations and additions that make it a legitimate option for businesses, that’s fine. A lot of companies will be happy to pay a premium for an iPad look-alike that automatically fits into their current networks and is guaranteed to work with their existing applications.

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Change and customize Windows 7’s Logon screen wallpaper

In this edition of the Windows Vista and Windows 7 Report, we show you how to change Windows 7’s Logon screen wallpaper.

While experimenting with several Microsoft Windows 7 systems recently, we spent a lot of time staring at the Logon screen. During that time, we began to think about changing the Logon screen wallpaper. Now, we have changed the Logon screen wallpaper in just about every version of Windows we’ve used, so we know that there had to be a way to do so.

When we began to investigate the procedure in Windows 7, we discovered that changing the Logon screen wallpaper in the newest version of the Windows operating system is easy, once you know the steps — and you don’t even need any third-party software to do it.

In order to make it easy for OEMs to customize Windows 7, Microsoft built the ability to change the Logon screen wallpaper right in to the operating system. In this edition of the Windows Vista and Windows 7 Report, we’ll show you how to change Windows 7’s Logon screen wallpaper.

A Registry tweak

The process begins with a very minor Registry tweak. Even for those who would not normally feel comfortable editing the Registry, this one’s a piece of cake. To begin, click the Start button and type Regedit in the Search box. Then, select the appropriate result and press [Enter]. When you do, you’ll see the User Account Control, shown in Figure A, and will need to click the Yes button.Note: Editing the Windows Registry file is not without its risks, so be sure you have a verified backup before making any changes.

Figure A

You will encounter a UAC when you launch the Registry Editor.

Once the Registry Editor launches, locate and right-click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key and select the Find command. When you see the Find dialog box, type OEMBackground in the text box and make sure that only the Values check box is selected, as shown in Figure B.

Figure B

Type OEMBackground in the Find dialog box.

When the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background key opens, locate and double-click the OEMBackground value. When you see the Edit DWORD dialog box, change the value data from 0 to 1, as shown in Figure C. (If the OEMBackground value doesn’t exist in the Background key, you’ll need to pull down the Edit menu from that key and select New | DWORD (32-bit) Value).

Figure C

Change the value data from 0 to 1.

To complete this part of the operation, click OK to close the Edit DWORD dialog box and then close the Registry Editor.

Creating folders

In the second part of the operation, you’ll need to create a couple of folders. To begin, launch Windows Explorer. Then navigate to the C:\Windows\System32\Oobe folder. Once you access the Oobe folder, click the New Folder button in the Windows Explorer toolbar. You’ll see a confirmation dialog box, like the one shown in Figure D. When you click Continue, the new folder will be created and you can name it info.

Figure D

When you click the New Folder button, you’ll encounter a confirmation dialog box.

Then, open the info folder, click the New Folder button again, work through the confirmation dialog box, and then name the second new folder backgrounds.

Configuring the wallpaper

You can use any image that you want for your new Logon screen wallpaper. However, the image has to be in JPG format and you need to name it backgroundDefault.jpg. When you copy your file to the Windows\System32\Oobe\info\backgrounds folder, you’ll encounter and will need to work through a confirmation dialog box similar to the one shown in Figure D.

Two other things to keep in mind: First, the actual file size of backgroundDefault.jpg cannot exceed 256 KB. Second, you’ll want to use an image whose dimensions match the screen resolution that you are using. If you use a file whose dimensions are smaller, the image will be stretched and may appear distorted.

Altering shadows

As you know, the button and the text used to identify your user account on the Logon screen have shadows behind them to give them a 3D-like look, and these shadows work well with the default Logon screen wallpaper. Depending on what image you use for your new Logon screen wallpaper, these shadows might not work so well.

In addition to making it easy to change the Logon screen wallpaper, Microsoft also made it easy to adjust or disable the text and button shadows to accommodate your particular image.

To alter the shadows, launch the Registry Editor again as described above and access the

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI folder

Once you open the LogonUI folder, you’ll create a new DWORD value called ButtonSet, as shown in Figure E. You can then configure the shadow by setting the value data to one of the following numbers:

  • 0 — Light shadow
  • 1 — Dark shadow
  • 2 — No shadow

Figure E

The ButtonSet value allows you to adjust or disable the text and button shadows.

Have questions?

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Cheaper Is Not Always Better In IT!

Are we allowed to mention cheaper is not always better?

Takeaway: IT in general becomes a better value with improving technology every single year, but that does not equate to cheaper being best.

The register has published a couple of articles recently that have been gnawing away at me. Brid-Aine Parnell reports that just 5 percent of UK CIOs surveyed by the Corporate IT Forum consider Google a credible supplier to business, citing “missing features” when compared with mainstream offerings from companies like Microsoft.

For the last couple of years it’s seemed that talking disrespectfully about any element of cloud computing was corporate suicide. I’ve sat in meetings where organizations with anywhere from 40 to 100 users have asked us why they can’t use Google docs rather than Office with a fileserver, why we recommend laptops and workstations when PC World or Comet have alternatives for sale that may be hundreds of pounds cheaper, and why, on one occasion, we were recommending a phone system that was costly when Skype did everything an office phone did and cost nothing.

On the September 3, Rik Myslewski commented on Net Applications’ monthly ‘Net Market Share’ survey, which calculates Desktop Operating System Market Share based on internet usage reported by 40,000 websites worldwide.

Microsoft Windows 7 has just overtaken XP with 42.76% of the market share against 42.52% for XP. That’s over 85% of worldwide desktop computers running either Windows 7, the version of Windows currently in the shops and that a number of IT departments have, possibly reluctantly, upgraded their workforce to, or Windows XP, the version that shipped on PC’s between 2003 and 2007 and that plenty of large IT departments still choose to deploy.

Of the remaining 14.72 percent, Vista, reviled by users and IT departments everywhere, claims 6.15%. All flavors of OS X account for 7.13% (the largest single contributor was Lion, with 2.45%) leaving Linux with 1.10%.

Most IT pros have used Linux at some point; its appeal is too great not to. It’s powerful, stable and incredibly configurable, and costs either nothing or very little. Linux is fun to get working and to work with. So why 1.10%? It most likely comes down to the fact that most PC users are not prepared to put much learning time into using their operating system, and Linux is far enough removed from Windows that, other than for standard tasks, navigating the OS will demand at least some investment. Also, the variety of builds and hardware, support (professional or otherwise) has to be more awkward. It’s easy to overlook that one of Apple’s greatest strengths is the benefit of designing both the hardware and software and knowing they function well with the other. Support is simplified.

Most people, particularly those making IT purchasing decisions, will have used a PC. Discussing whether Linux is a good fit for them, especially in a corporate environment, would be fairly straightforward. So why do we struggle with convincing people that Skype is not an alternative to a fully-featured phone system, or that Gmail can only be compared to Microsoft Exchange in the most basic of functions?

Part of the answer lies in the hype of the cloud, promoted as all things to all men (at least IT-wise) while saving money too. Has a concept, gadget, or major software release ever generated the same buzz? The triumvirate of new, technically advanced and cheap is an extremely powerful lure. The cloud will change how we work and will have relatively low-cost elements, but is not an entity in its own right. Gartner industry analysts report that cloud computing has passed through the hype stage and is now entrenched in the “trough of disillusionment.” This is not a comment on the state of IT in 2012, it’s the expected reaction to the hype created by those intent on making a buck in the short term. In the middle of difficult trading conditions, it was easy for decision makers to be seduced by the promise of better and cheaper, without needing to test a product in action.

This last point is pertinent in the small- and medium-sized business (up to perhaps 500 workstations) marketplace. We can tell our clients where we think cloud solutions will suit them and where they won’t. Actually giving them a working demonstration is significantly harder; there are numerous difficulties to moving an office, department or team over to Gmail, or certain folders off the file server to Google docs. We’ve done it and it’s awkward and clients don’t want awkward from their IT; they want the additional benefits and lower costs advertised.

There’s also an issue with IT departments being reluctant to say no. In those meetings where decision makers are pushing for Skype and Gmail, or cheap laptops and workstations, we want to be as helpful as possible and it’s absolutely our duty to recognize the benefits of lower cost and to either provide an agreed solution (specification and features) at the lowest price, or to be perfectly clear about the different feature sets at different price points. It’s rarely our place to set the budget, but we must be able to deliver the best option at any price point or to demonstrate why a cheaper option may be of lesser value.

That can be a more obvious problem during a recession when companies are receiving dozens of calls every week from IT providers pitching for business offering what they claim is both better and cheaper. We’re in no doubt that the cloud will continue to be a huge benefit at a huge number of price points. A $1,600 workstation will be better value to some users than a $320 netbook, while plenty of users will find Gmail does exactly what they need at a fraction of the cost of Exchange 2010. IT in general becomes a better value with improving technology every single year, but that does not equate to cheaper being best.

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Misunderstanding Cloud Computing

Cloud1Takeaway:  Understanding Cloud Computing for technological infrastructures.

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing resources as a service over the Internet.  The varieties of services offered are Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS) Desktop as a Service (DaaS) and Network as a Service (NaaS).

Scalability, fast provisioning and agility help all organizations, big and small, reach monetary growth.  

There are a few major misunderstandings associated with joining the Cloud Computing revolution, such as:

It’s A Trend:

Cloud computing is a credible and efficient tool with longevity.  If you use social media, eBay, Gmail or Online Banking, you are already using Cloud Computing.

It’s not as Secure:

Cloud computing is a significantly safe way to store, share and secure your data.  Client’s are highly recommended to use the Cloud’s host-based firewall.  Also available are host-based intrusion protection programs specialized for virtual machines and Cloud Clients

(Example –  Trend Micro Deep Security or Symantec O3). 

It’s Costly:

Even with the move to the cloud and monthly costs, organizations could save money long term on IT Management Services.

It’s Complicated:

There are many different types of Cloud Computing to choose from that should make executing hassle-free.

It’s only for Large Organizations:

The Cloud is not reserved for Large Organizations only.  Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (SaaS or DaaS) can be a cost-effective solution for organizations of any size. 

Changes are not strategic:

Plans are setup to acquire full benefits offered by Cloud Computing by integrating corporate strategy and technology with the advantage of using internal resources.

Cloud is inoperable if the Internet goes down:

Having another provider with a secondary connection is a logical setup for all companies.  Most organizations already operate with a connectivity “safety net”.

 

To migrate your business to Cloud Computing, please visit BigBeagle.com

 

 

Microsoft Releases Emergency Fixes for Windows Server, VPN bugs

Microsoft has released emergency out-of-band (OOB) updates to address multiple issues caused by Windows Updates issued during the January 2022 Patch Tuesday.

January 2022 Patch Tuesday

This update addresses issues related to VPN connectivity, Windows Server Domain Controllers restarting, Virtual Machines start failures, and ReFS-formatted removable media failing to mount.

All OOB updates released are available for download on the Microsoft Update Catalog, and some of them can also be installed directly through Windows Update as optional updates. You will have to manually check for updates if you want to install the emergency fixes through Windows Update because they are optional updates and will not install automatically.

Windows 10 – KB5010793
Details Here

Option 1: Run Windows Update, KB5010793 will appear under optional download.

Option 2: Download the patch from there: Microsoft Update Catalog
Please download the matching Windows 10 Version.

Windows 11 – KB5010795 or KB5008353 (may vary based on Windows Edition)
Details Here

Option 1: Run Windows Update, KB5010795 will appear under optional download. Select and install.

Option 2: Download the patch from there: Microsoft Update Catalog

If you have any questions, please email us at support@sjtechies.com or call us at (856) 745-9990.

 

How Microsoft rebounded to outshine Apple

As more consumers grow disenchanted with Apple, Microsoft has taken the opportunity to cash in on the growing popularity of Surface devices.

Microsoft claims that more people are switching to Surface devices from Macs than ever before. That’s a concept that would have been hard to picture when Microsoft first released the Microsoft Surface RT and Surface Pro in 2012 and 2013, respectively. The Surface RT suffered from a watered-down version of the new — and generally disliked — Windows 8 operating system and, while the Surface Pro featured the full desktop version, it came with hardware limitations and a high price tag.

In a sea of clam shell notebooks, all vying to be thinner and lighter than the last, the Surface clumsily debuted as a confusing mashup of a tablet and a laptop. And people didn’t like it. RT users complained of the limited functionality and never-ending bugs, while Surface Pro users were forced to pay a high price just to avoid Windows RT. In fact, the Surface RT did so poorly that Microsoft had to take a $900 million dollar write-down after drastically cutting the price of the device.

The backlash even made some question whether or not we were witnessing the end of Microsoft. It might seem dramatic now in 2016, but in 2013, people really missed the Start menu. Instead, Microsoft listened to consumers’ complaints to find a balance between the company’s vision and what consumers wanted. And it worked — Microsoft has regained credibility and popularity by creating new products that didn’t simply mimic or improve upon what was already out there.

Apple’s identity crisis

For a company once targeting modern, creative professionals, it’s hard to tell who Apple makes products for anymore. Apple’s devices now feel tailored to a low-tech crowd, or people who like new tech, but just aren’t that interested in specs. They want a reliable, easy-to-use device that just works. But where does that leave the original fan base of creative workers who need high-performance and cutting edge features? Apple hasn’t left this industry with many options — and at this point, you can get more for your money in graphics and performance on a Surface Book than a Macbook Pro. Plus, with the newly announced Microsoft Studio, there is finally a strong alternative to the iMac — with a touch display, no less.

Apple’s compromise is the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, which features a dynamic touch bar replacing the row of function keys on the keyboard. The display changes depending on settings and the app you’re using; it’s a cool feature, and certainly useful, but it’s a confusing message. If the iPad Pro is competing with hybrid notebooks like the Surface Pro 4, but Apple doesn’t think people want touch-displays on a notebook, then does that make the iPad Pro a giant iPad?

Microsoft is focused on touch-based input — in fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find even a mid-ranged PC that doesn’t at least offer the option of an upgrade to a touch display. The two companies have taken different stances, but in siding with touch, Microsoft has more to offer in each of its devices. If you want a notebook that can sometimes be a tablet, or a tablet that can sometimes be a notebook, you can purchase just one device instead of two.

Microsoft has focused on developing a family of Surface devices that can suit a wide range of users. It starts with the lower-end Surface 3, which is a great device for anyone who just wants a computer to surf the web and use basic apps. The Surface Pro 4 acts as a step up in size and hardware, with configurations for anyone from light users to those who need more performance. And now, with the Surface Book and Surface Studio, even those who need the highest end configurations for heavy-duty video or image editing have an option.

The Surface in pop culture

Remember when Windows users were the boring, out of touch, suit-wearing nerds in commercials, and a Mac user was the hipster CEO of a startup — that guy in 2006 who wore hoodies and scootered to all his meetings? That landscape has changed a lot since then, and now Microsoft is the one calling out Apple on selling outdated hardware and falling behind the curve.

Microsoft has clearly made a push to get the Surface in front of consumers anyway possible — CNN commentators used the devices in this year’s debates, but it was later discovered they were using them to hide their iPads. Hulu’s The Mindy Project also features Mindy Kaling’s character using a Surface Book, with one very obvious instance of product marketing, where she very purposefully ejects the display from the keyboard. And what New Englander can forget when the Surface Pro 4 made headlines after Patriot’s coach, Bill Belichick, became so frustrated with the technology that he spiked it onto the field.

These might not be the most positive representations of the brand, but the visibility of the device seems to be working. In places where it used to be a sea of aluminum notebooks, featuring the familiar, backlit Apple logo, we’re starting to see some diversity.

Just as it wasn’t the end of Microsoft in 2013, it’s now Apple’s chance to step out of the spotlight and make some changes. But there’s nothing like a little healthy competition to help spark new, creative designs and that’s exactly what motivated Microsoft to step back, refocus and come back strong.

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