I recently got an e-mail asking if I knew why the installation of software that was downloaded would fail on Windows 7. This issue is part of Windows 7's User Account Control. Let's say I was surfing the web with Internet Explorer (IE) and clicked to download a file. When the IE download prompt comes up, I can 'Run' or 'Save As' the file. If I select 'Run', I am running the application as a standard user, even if I have administrator privileges. Let me explain.

By default, standard users and administrators access resources and run applications in the security context of standard users. When a user logs on to a computer, the system creates an access token for that user. The access token contains information about the level of access that the user is granted, including specific security identifiers (SIDs) and Windows privileges.

When an administrator logs on, two separate access tokens are created for the user: a standard user access token and an administrator access token. The standard user access token contains the same user-specific information as the administrator access token, but the administrative Windows privileges and SIDs are removed. The standard user access token is used to start applications that do not perform administrative tasks (standard user applications), such as Internet Explorer. The standard user access token is then used to display the desktop (Explorer.exe). As a result, all applications run as a standard user unless a user provides consent or credentials to approve an application to use a full administrative access token.

The best way to be sure you are running a downloaded application with the administrator token is to open Windows Explorer, navigate to the directory you downloaded the file to, right-click on the file and select 'Run as Administrator'.

I recently had an issue with the Gallery application on my Google Android 2.1. I would get an error message every time I started the Gallery app telling me, "Sorry! The application Gallery (process com.collliris.media) has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again.". Selecting 'Force Close' just put it into a loop. The only way to get out was to press the 'Return' key as the Galley app restarted.

I used SyncToy and backed up the contents of my Android. I then found several articles and tried a few of the suggestions. The following is the final process I went through to fix this issue:

1. I mounted my Android to my PC via the USB cable, created a SyncToy backup, and copied the folder to another drive (I am going to modify the backup before restoring it, so I want a copy of the original backup)
2. I umounted my Android from the PC.
3. On my Android, I went to Settings>SD card and phone storage> and selected 'Unmount SD card'
4. I then selected 'Format SD card'. Once reformatted, you will want to remount the SD card (my Android remounted the SD card automatically)
5. In the backup on my PC, I deleted the contents of the \Android\data\com.cooliris.media and \DCIM\.thumbnails directories
6. I then mounted the Android to my PC, recreated the folder pairing in SyncToy, and restored my data to the Android

After syncing my applications a couple of times, all of my settings were back. And now, the Gallery application works perfectly fine again.

In this article, I thought I would share my top five favorite Windows 7 features I find most useful.

Calculator

You can use Calculator to perform simple calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Calculator also offers the advanced capabilities of a programming, scientific, and statistical calculator. You can perform calculations by clicking the calculator buttons or type calculations using your keyboard. You can also use the numeric keypad to type numbers and operators by pressing Num Lock.

Command Prompt Here

Command Prompt is a feature of Windows that provides an entry point for typing MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) commands and other computer commands. In Windows 7, Microsoft has integrated the ability to open a Command Prompt from within Windows Explorer. If you have ever had to navigate to a folder or file in DOS, you will love this feature. To do this, hold down the Shift key while right-clicking on a folder in Windows Explorer and select Open command windows here from the context menu.

Aero Shake

Using Aero Shake, you can quickly minimize all open windows on the desktop except the one you want to focus on. Just click the title bar of the window you want to keep open and drag (or shake) the window back and forth quickly, and the other open windows are minimized. To restore the minimized windows, shake the open window again.

Note:

• Some windows, such as open dialog boxes, cannot be minimized using Shake.

To minimize windows using Shake

• For the window you want to keep open, drag (or shake) the title bar back and forth quickly.
  To restore the minimized windows, shake the open window again.

Geek Tip:

• Press Windows logo key + Home to minimize all windows except for the currently active window. Press Windows logo key + Home again to restore all windows.

Aero Snap

You can use Aero Snap to arrange and resize windows on the desktop with a simple mouse movement. Using Aero Snap, you can quickly align windows at the side of the desktop, expand them vertically to the entire height of the screen, or maximize them to fill the desktop. Snap can be especially helpful when comparing two documents, copying or moving files between two windows, maximizing the window you’re currently working on, or expanding long documents, so they’re easier to read and require less scrolling.

Aero Flip and Aero Peek

With Aero Flip 3D, you can quickly preview all of your open windows (for example, open files, folders, and documents) without clicking the taskbar. Flip 3D displays your open windows in a stack. At the top of the stack, you'll see one open window. To see other windows, you can flip through the stack.

You can use Aero Peek to take a quick look at other open windows without clicking away from the window you're currently working on. Peek makes it easy for you to preview the contents of open windows and switch to the one you want just by pointing to a program or thumbnail on the Taskbar.

When I changed over to the Android, one of the functions I wanted was to use its 3G data connection with my netbook. I found this great program from June Fabrics Technology called PdaNet. It allows you to tether your Android's 3G without having to do any hacking.

Once the installation is complete on both PC and Android, you will find connecting to be easy. Just connect the USB cable from the Android to the PC, start the PdaNet app on your Android and then use the tray icon in Windows to connect. Here's a quote from their website:

PDA.net has been one of the most popular software for Windows Mobile phones, Palm OS phones, and iPhones. It is now ported to the Android system! PdaNet provides you with FULL Internet access, so all your email, instant message programs will work without any setting changes. Supports both USB Tether and Bluetooth DUN.

PdaNet does NOT require root access or hacking your phone's firmware in order to work. It is just a regular Android application that works on all Android phones as-is. Tethering is fast, secure, and USB mode will also charge your phone at the same time. Your phone can either connect to 3G data, WiFi, or even through VPN, and PdaNet will share the connection with your computer.

If you are looking to connect to the internet on your computer through your smartphone, I recommend you go over to June Fabrics site and take a look at their line of PdaNet products. BTW: If you use Windows 7, you can create a WiFi hot spot with PdaNet and Virtual Router.

In my recent change to the Google Android from a Palm, I required two main functions. The second one was to be able to synchronize my Android to Microsoft Outlook. I have been using Outlook as a PIM (Personal Information Manager) for years now, as it's the 'de facto' standard in the corporate world. I was pleasantly surprised to find DejaOffice by CompanionLink.

Being on the Palm platform for years, I became kind of pampered when synchronizing data with Outlook. This really was one of Palm Pilot's strong points. So when I found DejaOffice, it was just the perfect replacement for the conduits from Palm. With the ability to sync Contacts, Tasks, Calendar, and Notes, this is a 'must-have' if you use Outlook. Here's a quote from their site:

Data from the PC sync to DejaOffice, a mobile office application suite for Android. DejaOffice features robust contacts, calendar, tasks, and notes apps that provide enhanced functionality over the native Android applications. Contacts and calendar automatically sync with the native Android databases to allow for full functionality with other apps.

I highly recommend you give this program a try. It's available from the Android page at CompanionLink.