Sunday, August 31, 2014

How to Install Windows from USB Disk?



Install Windows from USB device



Today I'm gonna share a very useful tip with you. In this post, you will learn - how to create a bootable USB disk (pen drive) for Windows/ Linux. And this is the easiest way to install Windows from USB disk. Earlier, I wrote about creating bootable Windows disk


If your PC doesn't have a DVD drive, or if your DVD drive is not functioning properly, you can use your pen drive to install Windows. And notebooks don't have DVD drive usually. To install Windows there, you must require a bootable pen drive. 



This post applies to:
  • Windows 7
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 8.1

I haven't tested this technique for Windows XP. Maybe this will also work there. But I'm not 100% sure about XP. 


In order to install Windows from USB Flash Drive, you need the following tools:
  • A USB Flash Drive/ Pen Drive (8 GB Recommended)
  • Rufus - to create bootable USB disk

Step 1 - Get Windows ISO Image

Hopefully, all of you got an 8 GB pen drive. Now your task is to get an ISO image of your Windows. If you have a Windows Installation disk, you can prepare the ISO file using ISO Creator or by Infra Recorder


Step 2 - Create Bootable Disk

Now you've to create a bootable flash drive by Rufus. And then you're ready to install Windows from pen drive! Download Rufus from this link. It's just 616 KB. 

  1. Insert your pen drive. Back up the necessary files  of it (if any). And perform a quick format. 
  2. Run Rufus from your PC just by double click. 
  3. Device - Your pen drive, Partition Scheme - for BIOS and UEFI, File System - NTFS, Cluster Size - Default, Type your Windows Name in Volume > Choose Quick Format > Create a Bootable Disk using ISO Image > Hit on the CD icon and locate your ISO file > Select Extended Labels and Icon Files > Hit on the Start button to launch the operation.
  4. This may take a few minutes. Then you will get a confirmation message. Done! 

You can follow the image below:


Rufust - Creates bootable usb disk



Step 3 - Boot from USB Flash Drive

Restart your system. To access BIOS settings, you need to press F1 in case of Intel Mainboard. Gigabyte users will press Del key. And most other mainboards use F1 key to access to the BIOS utility. 

Now depending on your BIOS version, there could be different interface styles. But the basic option you need to find is - The Boot Priority or The Boot Order

To install the Windows from a USB disk, you need to select - Boot from USB Drive. Now Save and Exit from BIOS. Restart your PC. Now you will see the following message - 


Press any key to boot from USB...


Now press enter to start installing Windows from USB disk! If you face any problem, please leave a comment . . .




Wait a Minute!


When your PC copies files from the disk and restarts, the installation process may start again. If this happens to you, simply remove your pen drive and continue the installation process.




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Saturday, August 30, 2014

Download Portable ISO Creator - 256 KB Only!


Free ISO Creator


Most of you are familiar with ISO file. It's a digital image of an optical disk. An ISO file can be burnt through Nero, Infra Recorder or other image burning tools. You can back up your Windows disk as an ISO image and later you can burn it to a CD or DVD. 


Suppose you have a notebook or tiny laptop which have no DVD drive. Or you desktop PC may not include a DVD drive. Or your DVD drive may not by functioning now. But you or your friend have a Windows disk. You can back up this disk image as ISO. And later you can install Windows from this ISO disk trhough burning it to a USB or DVD disk. 


There are different tools for creating ISO files. Earlier I discussed about Infra Recorder which is capable of creating .iso file and burning it to a disk. But today I would like to share a Portable ISO Creator which is just capable of creating .iso file only. 



Features

With this ISO Creator, you can create iso image of any Windows Disk, files or folders.
  • ISO Creator is fast, simple, and portable
  • Lightweight - 256 KB Only!
  • 100% Free + Open Source
  • Easy and Simple Interface



Procedure:
  1. First, Download the Portable ISO Creator - it's a 100% free link. 
  2. Now unzip and store it in your desired location.
  3. Open the folder and double click on IsoCreator.exe to run the software.
  4. Select your ISO File path - It's your ISO file destination. i.e. Windows 8.iso
  5. Type Volume Name - i.e. Windows 8
  6. Select Folder Path - your source drive/ DVD drive
  7. Launch the operation by hitting the Start button.
  8. Within few minutes your task will be finished and you will get a confirmation message!

You can also follow the image below:

Free ISO Creator


If you face any problem while creating ISO image of any disk, please knock me . . . 




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Monday, August 25, 2014

How to Get Facebook Numeric ID?



How to Find Numeric Facebook ID



Whether you're using Facebook or Google Plus, you have an unique numeric identity number. If you're a Google Plus user, you must notice a number in your profile URL unless you haven't got a username from Google. But Facebook automatically gives you a username after opening account. And thus your numeric ID is hidden from Facebook Profile URL. But you may often need to use the numeric ID of your Facebook account. 


If you are an apps developer, or using social plugins for your site, you may need to use your numeric ID. Today I'm gonna share an easy way to find out the numeric ID of your Facebook account. 


In this way, you can find any person's profile ID number and Facebook page ID number. Follow the instruction below:


  • Go to this URL - http://graph.facebook.com
  • And type your username as - http://graph.facebook.com/username
  • For example - http://graph.facebook.com/jolley.roberts

Now you will get the following details - 

"id": "100004080544971", "first_name": "Jolley", "gender": "male", "last_name": "Roberts", "link": "https://www.facebook.com/jolley.roberts", "locale": "en_GB", "name": "Jolley Roberts", "username": "jolley.roberts"

As I mentioned earlier, you can also look up your page ID number. Suppose, the Facebook Fan Page of Marks PC Solution is - 


https://www.facebook.com/markstips

You have to type http://graph.facebook.com/markstips to get this page ID. And this page will show you the following details:


"id": "550920454928744", "about": "Your Ultimate Choice for Computer, Internet, Blogging, SEO & PC Troubleshooting Tips!", "can_post": false, "category": "Computers/internet website", "checkins": 0, "has_added_app": false, "is_community_page": false, "is_published": true, "likes": 109, "link": "https://www.facebook.com/markstips", "name": "Marks PC Solution", "parking": { "lot": 0, "street": 0, "valet": 0 }, "talking_about_count": 1, "username": "markstips", "website": "http://www.markspcsolution.com", "were_here_count": 0


There are many other sites where you just need to submit your username and they will show you the details. But sometimes, if their server is down, you may not be able to use them. And there is also a little chance to get trapped by phishing sites! So, I think, using the graph is better. 


I'm familiar with a site which you can trust - Find your Facebook ID. In this site, you have to input your username. Then hit on the button - Lookup Numeric ID. Finally, it will display your name along with the numeric ID. 





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Sunday, August 24, 2014

Windows 9 Preview is on the Way!!


Windows 9 Desktop


Many Windows OS users haven't tried Windows 8 yet. Even some of them are using Windows XP and thinking to swich to the Windows 7. And Microsoft is still passing a hard time to encourage users to use Windows 8. In this situation, Windows 9 (Threshold) Preview is gonna be released at the end of Septemeber, maybe 30th September. And to be honest, I'm just waiting for it. 

Because you know, I try all the preview versions of new Windows. Because I've to inform my visitors about new way of using the Windows. And as soon as I'm getting Windows 9 Preview, I will start exploring it. 



So, What's New? 

Nobody can give you any straight answer. Because the changes will only be visible after the release. But information gets leaked easily. I've searched information from different sites. So far, I've got the following changes to be experienced in the next version of Windows - 
  • Windows Charm could be vanished. Many users get puzzled while turning off the PC from charm! 
  • Windows Icons could be changed a lot as you can see in the image. 
  • New Windows could be responsive to device types and screen sizes. It maybe capable of adapting itself with tablets, mobiles and desktop. 
  • Return of Start Menu with different look.
  • Current start menu might take the form of mini start menu
  • More Metro Apps with reduced OS size
  • Better support for high resolution screens
  • Improved Power Management

These expected changes are just based on rumors. The facts will be revealed after the release of Windows 9 Preview. :)



What about the Final Version?

Maybe the final version of Windows 9 will be released within April 2015. And Microsoft is planning to provide Windows 9 for those users who will stop using Windows XP, Vista or 7 and upgrade this to Windows 9! 


I can't wait for the New OS. :)



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Saturday, August 16, 2014

SPlayer - The Smartest One!




SPlayer - Shooter Player



SPlayer is a really fast and smart media player for any format. Starting from 3GP to MKV, SPlayer is my first choice. It can play any video or audio file. It's start up time is super fast. And the control is very easy. You can operate this better than any other media player. 


My visitors often ask me for a good media player. They ask which one is best, or which is capable of running with minimum configuration. And my answer is always same - SPlayer! 


Important Features/ Advantages

  • 100% Free + Open Source (No Ads)
  • Low Resource Consumption - Fast Start up, Low CPU Consumption
  • Easy Interface - Ease of use, easy controls
  • Auto Matching Subtitle
  • Portable Version Available


Let's this this out - 
  1. Download SPlayer 3.7 from this link. It's less than 8 MB. You can also try the Portable Version.
  2. Now install SPlayer on your system. It takes less than 20 MB hard disk space. And it's compatible with any running version of Windows.
  3. After completing the installation, you will get the icon on Desktop or Start Menu.


Manual

It's really easy to operate. There is no confusing control.
  • To play a video, Run SPlayer > then click on Open File > Locate and select your desired file.
  • You can also play a video by directly clicking on it. But if that file format is not selected by SPlayer by default, then you must right click on file and choose SPlayer as default media player for that format.

SPlayer Top Control Bar


SPlyaer Bottom Bar


  • You have two bars in the screen. One is at the top which allows you to control screen size, brightness & contrast etc. And the other is at the bottom which allows you to play/ pause, open files, show play list, control volume etc. You can get these bars simply by moving your mouse pointer. 
  • You can download subtitle by right click on the player. Right click on it > Choose Subtitle > Select your subtitle if any > If not available then choose Smart Subtitle Matching > Select Smart Subtitle Finder > Subtitles will be downloaded automatically if available. 


Mouse & Keyboard Controls
  • Press Enter to play Full Screen or Exit Full Screen (You can also use double click for this purpose)
  • Press Space to play or pause the song/ movie. Or simply click by mouse. 
  • Press Ctrl+T to keep the player on top. Press again to exit on top mode. 
  • Press Up/Down Arrow to increase or decrease volume. You can also use Mouse Scroll Button to control the volume. 
  • Press Left/Right Arrow to move forward or backward. But if you need to move more, then use Ctrl + Left Arrow/ Right Arrow. You can also use the progress bar and use your mouse to navigate. 
  • Press C to adjust the video size. 

These are the basic controls for SPlayer. And you can find more just by right click on the player and then get the shortcuts with each option. Such as - 

  • Open File - Ctrl+Q
  • Play video from URL - Ctrl + U
  • Capture Image - Alt + I
  • Capture Snapshot - Ctrl + C

There are many other shortcuts. But these are not essential for a basic user. I'm not gonna discourage you to explore more from SPlayer. Hope you will enjoy this player. 




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Thursday, August 07, 2014

IDM 6.21 Portable!!


Free Download IDM 6.21 Portable


Today I'm gonna share IDM 6.21 (Portable). You don't need any serial key or crack to run it. It's only 6.24 MB. Even you don't need to install it. All you need is just to download and unzip the folder. And your IDM is ready to serve you! 

Couple of weeks ago, I shared IDM 7.2 Portable. But it has some features disabled. But this IDM 6.21 has all features enabled. And it's pre activated! 

As I always said, IDM is a very easy to use download manager. It's the most trusted downloader all over the world. Follow the instruction below:
  1. Download IDM 6.21. (It's completely free of spam, virus or ads)
  2. It's a zipped folder - unzip it first.
  3. Now open the folder and double click on IDMan.exe to run IDM. 
  4. Now start downloading!
Note: If you copy any download link, IDM will automatically take the URL from clipboard.


This version also contains a tutorial. If you need any tips, directly go to the Help menu and choose tutorial to view tips. 


IDM 6.21 Start Screen


Customizing the Settings

If you need to adjust the settings, simply hit on the options button. From here you can customize the IDM settings. 
  • General - Browser/ System Integration
  • Save to - Set save location
  • Download - Default download settings
  • Connection - Set connection type

There is nothing more to say about IDM. If you face any problem, please inform me . . .




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Tuesday, August 05, 2014

Creating Custom Brush in Illustrator


Creating Custom Brush in Adobe Illustrator


Adobe Illustrator can be compared to a programming tool in that sense, it provides a lots of ways to customize your graphics works. It provides so many designing options which you hardly get in other graphics tools. In this lesson, you will learn how to create amazing brushes within few minutes! 


Today I'm gonna talk about how to create custom brushes - Scatter Brush, Art Brush & Pattern Brush. After creating these brushes, you can use them as borders for different shapes such as triangle or oval etc. 


Note: This tutorial applies to all versions of Adobe Photoshop. However I've prepared this tutorial using Illustrator CS6. 


Okay let's start - 


Illustrator Tools Panel
Run Adobe Illustrator from your PC. Now look at the tools panel and find the Paintbrush Tool (See the image on the left). I will create two little objects with this tool which later will be used to create awesome brushes. 


Go to the File Menu > New > Create a new document of any size. 


Hit on the Paintbrush Tool and draw an object (I sketched something like a leaf) as shown in the image below. 



Black Leaf
  • Now select it through selection tool 
  • Press Alt key and drag it to create a copy of it. 
  • Now select the second leaf again and rotate it, place it over the first leaf so that they look like attached. 
  • Again select the first leaf > Double click on Fill Color from the bottom of tools panel > Choose Red.
  • Similarly, select the second leaf and choose green color for it. 
  • It should look like as below
Red and Green Leaves

Now the first but the difficult part has been completed. Now you're ready to have fun in the next step. 


Creating Brushes

You will be able to create brushes from the above leaves. First, make sure the brush window is open on your document. Or go to the Window menu and choose Brushes. 
  • Select both leaves through selection tool
  • Go to the Brushes window and click on New Brush Icon (Look at the image below)

How to Create New Brush

  • Choose Scatter Brush > Rename it if necessary > Change the values of different fields if necessary > Hit OK 
  • Again choose New Brush (Leaves must be selected) > Choose Art Brush > You can change the size and direction > Hit OK
  • Click on New Brush again > Choose Pattern Brush > Hit OK
  • Now you've three custom brushes. Let's apply them :)


Applying the Brushes to Shapes

Before creating shapes, make sure your fill color is white. So that you can clearly understand the effects of different brushes. 

Now choose Ellipse Tool (Oval) from the shape. Press Shift key and draw a circle. Now go to the brush window and Apply your newly create Art Brush. The circle will look like as below!

Adobe Illustrator Art Brush Effect
Create another circle. And this time you should test the pattern brush. 

Adobe Illustrator Pattern Brush Effect
How is it? :)


In this way, you can also apply this trick to different shapes such as triangle, star, rectangle etc. 


Here I've just illustrated a simple example of customizing the brush. In this system, you can create numerous brush designs. And can you imagine how much designing options are available in whole illustrator? Simply I've no idea. There could be millions!!!


It takes my whole evening to prepare this tutorial. Please inform me whether you like it or not. :)




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Friday, August 01, 2014

How to Change Office 2013 Theme?


Office 2013 Logo


Just 2 days ago, I shared Office 2013 Activator. And from now, you will get tips on Microsoft Office 2013. I'm gonna start with a little trick - customizing the office theme. Microsoft Office has 3 themes - Dark Gray, Light Gray and White. And you can choose one which you prefer.


By default, you will get the light gray or white theme. But I don't like them at all. Because both of them looks somewhat like blue. My choice is dark gray. And I really like it. Because this will protect your eyes from light. But in light gray, you may feel too much light. 


You can also change the theme if you want. It takes less than a minute. Simply look at the image below:


Changing Office 2013 Theme


Hope you've understood the procedure from the above image. Again I'm gonna clarify it. Remember that, you can change the theme from Word, Excel or PowerPoint. But I'm using Word Now. Follow the steps below:
  1. Run Word 2013
  2. Click on the File button from the upper left corner
  3. Now choose Account as shown in the above image
  4. Click on the drop down menu under Office Theme
  5. Choose your desired theme
You're done!


You can also change Office 2007, 2010 theme. But in these versions, you will not find the term Theme. You will get Color Scheme there. Find out more . . . 




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