Enrich your Desktop with Windows 8 Transformation packs!

So you are missing the required configuration for Windows 8, or you might be in dilemma to which version to choose, or you might not want to pay for an upgrade to Windows 8. We, at TechSiddharth.com, brings you the spectrum of various transformation packs & themes available for Windows se7en , Windows Vista & the most widely used, Windows XP.

These packs will change the entire appearance of your current desktop from boot screen to icons. Try any one of them & post your reviews in Comment box!

 1. Windows 8 Transformation Pack 6.5 by ThememyPC.com

2.Windows 8 Transformation Pack by windowsx @ deviantart

HIREN's Boot CD - One step solution to all major boot problems!

By Siddharth

Boot-up problems are sometimes really confusing and we usually end up messing the programs or system codes. Most of the times we just format our PC or Reinstall Windows operating system because we don't really have any other solution.
HIREN's Boot CD is one of such powerful tool which gives you an alternative to format your PC. This ultimate boot-able CD which contains almost all necessary softwares to recover or troubleshoot your Windows operating System.
It is that invaluable tool which you should always store in your USB drives or CD Bag.

Link to Official Webpage - http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd

Download Link - http://www.hirensbootcd.org/files/Hirens.BootCD.15.2.zip
Filesize: 592.5 MB (621283886 bytes)

Benefits of using Sleep Mode in Windows

This is our first post on the custom domain. :)


We try almost everything to boost-up our PC's performance. All of us hates the long long booting time of windows. But the fact is, though we use several software, several techniques like defragmenting or disc clean-up, we still can't get the appropriate results most of the times. I have personally used other operating systems such as Ubuntu Version 12.04 and earlier versions, and found their boot time is little less then windows operating system,

As an Alternative, we have an option of Stand-by mode in Windows XP, and Sleep mode in other higher versions. The sleep mode reduces the power consumption of the computer system & it takes very very little time to wake up and to get a truly usable desktop.

As per the data collected from Tech Hive, we have following approximate results-

For Windows 7-

Shutdown Time: 0:16 secs
Boot TIme: 1:06 secs
While,
Sleep TIme: 0:18 secs
Wake-up Time: 0:02 secs

Talking about the power consumption in sleep mode, in most of the computer system, the power consumption is under 10Watts, which is not a big deal.
So rather than booting up your computer systems, try keeping your desktop on sleep mode, so that the long boot time of more than 1 min. is reduced to wake up time of 2-3secs.


Comment below if you have any queries or suggestions.

Different ways to Log-off | Shutdown PC

Different ways to Log-off | Shutdown PC

To log off your computer:

1.Press window key ;Press log off ;Again press log off
2.Press window key ; Press ‘l’ alphabet of keyboard ; Again press ‘l’ alphabet of keyboard
(In short press window key ; Press two times “l” alphabet of keyboard)
3.Right click on your desktop and select new;shortcut option. It will ask you to browse the shortcut. Browse “C:\WINDOWS\system32\logoff.exe” and give name to shortcut. Click on finish. When you want to log off your computer just double click on that shortcut.

To Shut down your computer:

1.Press window key ;Press shut down ; From windows dialog box select shut down option and click OK.
2.Press window key ; Press ‘u’ alphabet of keyboard ; Again press ‘u’ alphabet of keyboard OR From windows dialog box select shut down option and click OK.(In short press window key ; Press two times “u” alphabet of keyboard)
3.Right click on your desktop and select new;shortcut option. It will ask you to browse the shortcut. Browse “C:\WINDOWS\system32\shutdown.exe” and give name to shortcut. Click on finish. When you want to shut down your computer just double click on that shortcut.

Restore Default Desktop Icons

You can restore the all windows default desktop icons, if you accidentally deleted them from your computer desktop.

List of windows default icons.

• My Computer
• Internet Explorer
• My Documents
• My Network Places
• Recycle Bin

Fellow the given steps to restore the windows default icons:

• Go to Start Button and open Run
• Type the given command to open windows Desktop items dialog box.
  Control desk.cpl,,@Web
• Click OK
• Now Select Items that you want on your Desktop
• Click Ok

CD/DVD Drive Not Detected?

Before Windows can see your Drive, it first has to appear in the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). When getting error messages from Windows that state the CD or DVD drive is not detected, check to make sure it appears in the BIOS. Here's how:

1. Boot up your PC.

2. At the first logo screen, press F1 repeatedly until you see the BIOS setup screen.

3. Using the left and right arrows to navigate, select Main (usually at the top left).

4. The CD or DVD Drive name should be listed next to Primary Slave, Secondary Slave or Secondary Master.

5. Navigate to Exit and exit without saving changes.

CD/DVD Drive Not Detected?

If it is listed in the BIOS but the CD/DVD Drive no longer functions, then a ribbon cable could have come loose. If that is not the case either, try uninstalling the device in Device Manager. Here's how:

1. Go to Start; Control Panel; System; Hardware tab; Device Manager button.

2. In Device Manager, locate and expand the entry titled "DVD/CD-ROM drives".

3. Right click the appropriate drive and select "Uninstall" from the resulting menu.

4. When prompted, confirm that you would like to remove the selected device.

5. At the "Action" menu, select "Scan for hardware changes".

6. Click out of the Device Manager and the Control Panel.

If none of the above has worked, it is likely that your CD or DVD Drive no longer functions. Replace the drive with a compatible drive. See your manufactures web site for details.

Keyboard Shortcuts

cmd = Command Prompt

iexplore + "web address" = Internet Explorer

compmgmt.msc = Computer Management

dhcpmgmt.msc = DHCP Management

dnsmgmt.msc = DNS Management

services.msc = Services

eventvwr = Event Viewer

dsa.msc = Active Directory Users and Computers

dssite.msc = Active Directory Sites and Services

Windows key + E = Explorer

Windows key + Break = System properties

Windows key + F = Search

Windows key + D = Hide/Display all windows

[Alt] and [Esc] Switch between running applications

[Alt] and letter Select menu item by underlined letter

[Ctrl] and [Esc] Open Program Menu

[Ctrl] and [F4] Close active document or group windows (does not work with some applications)

[Alt] and [F4] Quit active application or close current window

[Alt] and [-] Open Control menu for active document

Ctrl] Lft., Rt. arrow Move cursor forward or back one word

Ctrl] Up, Down arrow Move cursor forward or back one paragraph

[F1] Open Help for active application

Windows+M Minimize all open windows

Shift+Windows+M Undo minimize all open windows

Windows+F1 Open Windows Help

Windows+Tab Cycle through the Taskbar buttons

Windows+Break Open the System Properties dialog box]

Right SHIFT for eight seconds........ Switch FilterKeys on and off.

Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN....... Switch High Contrast on and off.

Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK....... Switch MouseKeys on and off.

SHIFT....... five times Switch StickyKeys on and off.

NUM LOCK...... for five seconds Switch ToggleKeys on and off.

explorer shortcuts

END....... Display the bottom of the active window.

HOME....... Display the top of the active window.

NUM LOCK+ASTERISK....... on numeric keypad (*) Display all subfolders under the selected folder.

NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (+) Display the contents of the selected folder.

NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (-) Collapse the selected folder.

LEFT ARROW...... Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder.

RIGHT ARROW....... Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select first subfolder.

Run commands

Type the following commands in your Run Box (Windows Key + R) or Start Run

devmgmt.msc = Device Manager

msinfo32 = System Information

cleanmgr = Disk Cleanup

ntbackup = Backup or Restore Wizard (Windows Backup Utility)

mmc = Microsoft Management Console

excel = Microsoft Excel (If Installed)

msaccess = Microsoft Access (If Installed)

powerpnt = Microsoft PowerPoint (If Installed)

winword = Microsoft Word (If Installed)

frontpg = Microsoft FrontPage (If Installed)

notepad = Notepad

wordpad = WordPad

calc = Calculator

msmsgs = Windows Messenger

mspaint = Microsoft Paint

wmplayer = Windows Media Player

rstrui = System Restore

netscp6 = Netscape 6.x

netscp = Netscape 7.x

netscape = Netscape 4.x

waol = America Online

control = Opens the Control Panel

control printers = Opens the Printers Dialog

More XP Shortcuts.

Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin. SHIFT+DELETE

Create shortcut to selected item. CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item

Rename selected item. F2

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word. CTRL+RIGHT ARROW

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word. CTRL+LEFT ARROW

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph. CTRL+DOWN ARROW

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph. CTRL+UP ARROW

Highlight a block of text. CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys

Search for a file or folder. F3

View properties for the selected item. ALT+ENTER

Close the active item, or quit the active program. ALT+F4

Opens the shortcut menu for the active window. ALT+SPACEBAR

Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously. CTRL+F4

Switch between open items. ALT+TAB

Cycle through items in the order they were opened. ALT+ESC

Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop. F6

Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer. F4

Display the shortcut menu for the selected item. SHIFT+F10

Display the System menu for the active window. ALT+SPACEBAR

Display the Start menu. CTRL+ESC

Display the corresponding menu. ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name

Carry out the corresponding command. Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu

Activate the menu bar in the active program. F10

Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu. RIGHT ARROW

Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu. LEFT ARROW

View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer. BACKSPACE

Cancel the current task. ESC

SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive Prevent the CD from automatically playing.