Geeks in Phoenix

Windows 7 Geek Tips

Welcome to Geeks in Phoenix, your go-to place for all things Windows 7! Our team of experienced computer geeks is here to hook you up with the latest and most practical tips to supercharge your Windows 7 experience. Whether you're a pro or just getting started, our Geek Tip collection is about helping you get the most out of your Windows 7 system. We'll cover everything from fixing common problems to boosting performance. Stick around as we spill all our Windows 7 Geek Tips to ensure your computer runs like a dream.

The following is a complete list of our Windows 7 Geek Tips

How to get a free Windows 10 upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1

Many people took advantage of the Get Windows 10 upgrade promotion, and some did not. If you are one of those people that did not get your version of Windows 7 / Windows 8.1 ...

Check your e-mail and more with Mozilla Thunderbird

Looking for an e-mail program that has a ton of features? One that has a calendar, task scheduler and can handle multiple e-mail addresses? Then look no further than Mozilla Thunderbird.

How to make your computer look and run like brand-new

For most people, there is nothing better than a brand-new computer. But of course, you cannot get a new computer every few months. But you can get that same feeling. Here is ...

What you can do with an ISO file

Have you ever downloaded an ISO file and did not know what to do with it? More and more software companies are now distributing their software using ISO files. Here is what you can ...

How to handle a tech scam

It happens to all of us. You get a pop-up on your computer screen or a phone call telling you that your computer is infected. More than likely it is bogus. So here is how to handle a ...

Understanding long folder and file names in Windows

Did you know that there is a limit to how long a file name can be? Did you know that the folder name is also include in that limit? And what about the path? Let's take a look at long folder ...

My four favorite free programs I always recommend

Being a computer repair technician, I get asked allot of questions. Quite a few of them are about what software do I recommend. And since I am frugal, I will usually suggest ones that are ...

My digital toolbox 3

When it comes to repairing computers, every technician has what I call a digital toolbox. It is software that they use for specific tasks, like finding information on hardware or cloning drives. So here ...

How to get to and use the Run dialog box in Windows

There may be a time when you need to run a program in Windows that does not have a shortcut to it. Usually it is a program that is not used that often. So here is how start a ...

Security and your computer

With the recent outbreak of data encrypting malware, keeping your computer secure is a major issue. There isn't just one thing that you can do to secure your computer, but multiple ...

Use the Microsoft Update Catalog to find and install Windows drivers and updates

Are you having problems finding Windows drivers for your older hardware? Or have you had an update to Windows recently fail to install and want to manually install it? Then the ...

Manage Mac disks inside of Windows with MacDrive

Even though we primarily work on Windows based computers, there are times when we need to access Mac formatted disks. And being able to do that from inside of Windows is ...

See what your drive contains with Space Sniffer

Got a video or music library and want to see how large it is? Maybe you downloaded a really big file and cannot remember where it is? If so, Space Sniffer may just be what you need.

How to quickly free up space on your hard drive

Are you getting a low disk space warning in Windows? Or maybe you have been prompted to delete a previous version of Windows to gain some disk space? If so, here's how to quickly ...

How to create ISO files from your software disks

So over the years you've been purchasing software on CD's / DVD's and now have quite the collection. So what do you do with all of the media you are no longer using? How about creating ...

How to use DOSBox to run old DOS games and programs

Sometimes it is fun to go back and play the DOS video games I grew up with. But it can be tough since Windows doesn't utilize DOS anymore. But you can still run your old DOS games ...

Manage your Windows computer with the Microsoft Management Console

The Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is a program that is used to create, save, and open collections of administrative tools, called Consoles. Consoles contain items such as snap-ins ...

Using special font characters in Windows with Character Map

Have you ever wanted to insert a letter or symbol into a Windows document that was not shown on your keyboard? Maybe a copyright, trademark or tolerance symbol? You can do just that ...

Create your own Windows font character with Private Character Editor

Do you have a company logo or a simple graphic that you would like to use often in a Windows program, like Microsoft Word or Excel? Maybe your line of work has special characters that you ...

Eliminate spam from your inbox with MailWasher Pro 7.5

When it comes to communication, e-mail is by far the fastest and easiest way to exchange thoughts and ideas. But it can also be one of the fastest ways to spread viruses / malware too. But you can protect yourself and your ...

Harden / Mitigate the security of your Windows programs with Microsoft EMET

Let's face it, some of the software we use on a daily basis has become subject to security vulnerabilities and exploits. Software manufacturers do their best to develop and test fixes / patches ...

Should you upgrade your computer to Windows 10?

With Microsoft giving away free Windows 10 upgrades to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users, the one question that I keep getting asked is "Should I upgrade to Windows 10?" The real ...

Troubleshooting Windows Update problems

When it comes to repairing Windows based computers, there seems to be a couple of problems that I get allot of requests for help with. One of them is when a computer cannot get updates ...

How to clean up and reset Mozilla Firefox

When it comes to computer repair, the most common problem I find is browser corruption. Malicious web sites with infected flash ads are the most common way a browser can get corrupted.

How to clean up and reset Google Chrome

Internet browsers are prone to getting compromised. It can happen by opening an infected e-mail to viewing a malicious ad on a web page. But knowing how to get your browser back ...

How to clean up and reset the Internet Explorer

In repairing computers for a living, the one thing I find myself doing constantly is cleaning up and resetting web browsers. Removing adware, malware and viruses can really screw up ...

7 things to do before and after upgrading to Windows 10

With the release of Windows 10 comes the inevitable upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, And with the upgrade being free for the first year, why not upgrade to Windows 10? But before ...

Toughen your computer security with EMET 5.1

Keeping your computer secure has always been tough. It seems like every week there is another exploit making the rounds. Nobody can predict what kind of attack hackers will use next. But you can protect your computer from the ...

How to safely remove external drives

External storage devices like flash drives or hard drives are so convenient for carrying data between computers. Just plug and play, as they say. But did you know it's not the same for when you unplug your drives? Here's how to safely ...

The correct ways to shut down your Windows based computer

Doing computer repair, I see allot of different issues. But there is one problem I am seeing over and over again, start up corruption. This most commonly occurs when the computer is not turned off properly. And it appears that laptops are ...

Strengthen your computer security with EMET 5

It seems like every day a new software exploit or vulnerability is found. Software vendors' work hard at keeping their software secure, but it can take time to test and deploy patches. So what can you do to protect your ...

How to safely optimize your solid state drive

When it comes to getting the best performance out of your computer, nothing can beat a Solid State Drive (SSD). Right out-of-the-box they are extremely faster reading / writing data than a Hard Disk Drive (HDD). But there are a ...

Create great graphics with Paint.NET 4.0

One of the things I like to do besides repairing computers is creating graphics. Over the years I have used many different image editing programs, including Photoshop and CorelDraw. Recently, one of my favorite freeware image ...

How to upgrade your computers hard disk drive to a solid state drive

Most computers (laptop & desktop) nowadays come with a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) as standard equipment with a Solid State Drive (SSD) as an option. Each drive type has its pros and cons: HDD's are cheaper and have more storage, ...

How to use layered security to protect your computer

It seems whenever I tell someone that I repair computers for a living, I almost always get asked the question "What do you recommend for anti-virus software?". I tell them that I use a layered approach to security, not relying on just one ...

Check the protected system files in Windows with System File Checker

There may come a time when your Windows based computer starts to run improperly. Installing and uninstalling software, viruses and malware are just a few things that can corrupt the integrity of system files. When it comes to ...

How to open a Command Prompt with Administrator privileges in Windows Vista and Windows 7

At some point in time, you may need to run a program or command from a Command Prompt with Administrative privileges. Some of the best features inside of Windows Vista and Windows 7 are only accessible through an ...

Mix static and dynamic video elements with Microsoft Research Cliplets

As many of you know, when I'm not working on computers, I like to work with photos and videos. And some of the coolest software I've found for doing panoramic photos has come from Microsoft Research. I have written about ...

Manage e-mail, sync files and more for free with Windows Live Essentials 2011

Are you looking for a program to manage your e-mail? Or maybe one to write a blog with? Want to remotely connect computers and sync files between them? How about creating a photo gallery or movie? You can do all of these and ...

Access your programs, files and websites quicker with Pin and Jump Lists in Windows 7

If you use a program or visit a website on a regular basis in Windows 7, you may want to pin it to the Start menu or taskbar for quicker access. When you pin a program or website to the Start menu or taskbar, you can always see ...

Quickly adjust the settings on your Windows 7 laptop / netbook with Windows Mobility Center

Have you ever needed to change a setting on your Windows 7 laptop / netbook quickly? Maybe change the screen brightness or turn on/off your wi-fi? You can do just that and more with Windows Mobility Center inside ...

Free up more disk space with Windows 7 Disk Cleanup

During the normal use of your computer, you will accumulate a number of unnecessary files (temporary setup / internet files, recycle bin, etc.). You can remove these files with the built-in Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) utility ...

Be more productive in your office for free with OpenOffice 3

A client recently asked me if I knew of any alternative to Microsoft Office. As a firm believer in open source software, I told him about OpenOffice.org 3 from Oracle. It is a complete office software suite with a word processor, ...

Improve the performance of Windows 7 and Windows Vista with ReadyBoost

I am always looking at different ways to improve the performance of Windows. One of the ways is to use ReadyBoost that is built into Windows 7 and Windows Vista. ReadyBoost can speed up your computer by caching files ...

Security made easier with Microsoft Security Essentials Version 2

In a previous article, I discussed Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). I like the easy of use, the integration with Windows Update and the small footprint it has, especially on my netbook. Recently, Microsoft has released ...

Upgrading to Windows 7 from Windows XP

As more and more people are moving from Windows XP to Windows 7, I thought I would spotlight a series of articles that I wrote.

Resetting your network adapter in Windows 7

Network shell (Netsh) is a tool an administrator can use to configure and monitor network devices on Windows based computers at a command prompt. A common use of Netsh, is to reset the TCP/IP stack back to default ...

Managing Virtual Memory / Pagefile in Windows 7

Your computer has two types of memory, Random Access Memory (RAM) and Virtual Memory. All programs use RAM, but when there isn't enough RAM for the program you're trying to run, Windows temporarily moves information ...

My five favorite Windows tips for maintaining your computer

In this article, I share my five favorite tips for maintaining your Windows 7 computer.

Simple security with Microsoft Security Essentials

In this article, I am going to spotlight Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). This is not Microsoft's first venture into the ant-virus market, but it is probably the best. Having used the some of the more well know anti-virus software ...

Windows 7 User Account Control (UAC) and Failed Installations

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 actually part of Windows 7's User Account Control. Let's say I was surfing the web with Internet ...

My top five favorite Windows 7 features

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

Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts

Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts (based on Windows 7)

Using Virtual Machines to run old programs in Windows 7 (Video)

I this article, I an going to show one of the uses for Virtual Machines in Windows 7. More and more often I am asked 'How can I get an old program to run on Windows 7?'. I ran into this issue a few years back when one of my ...

Image Resizer Powertoy Clone for Windows 7

One of applications you can integrate into Windows Explorer is Image Resizer. With a right click on a picture, you can quickly resize a photo without ...

RAW Image Viewer for Windows 7

When I migrated from Windows XP to Windows 7, one of the things I have missed is the Microsoft Powertoys. A couple of the functions have been integrated into Windows 7 (Open Command Window Here and Power ...

List everything contained in the Control Panel in Windows 7 in one folder

In this article, I show how to list everything contained in the Control Panel in Windows 7 in one folder. I had read couple of articles concerning the Windows 7 'GodMode' and I thought I would take look into. The way it works is you ...

Search and find a file or folder in Windows 7 (Video)

Windows 7 provides several ways to find files and folders. There isn't one best way to search—you can use different methods for different situations ...

Using search filters and keywords when searching in Windows 7

Searching in Windows 7 can be as simple as typing a few letters in the search box, but there are also advanced searching techniques that you can use ...

Perform faster searches using indexing options in Windows 7

Windows 7 uses the index to perform very fast searches on your computer. Here are some advanced indexing settings you can change ...

Migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 (Part 1)

I am currently planning my migration from Windows XP to Windows 7. Since there is no way to do an 'in-place' upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7, I normally would need to back-up my current system ...

Migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 (Part 2 - Drive Imaging)

Having my new system built, I am ready to start my migration from Windows XP to Windows 7 ...

Migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 (Part 3 - Hardware / Software Inventory)(Video)

It's time to find out what type of hardware and software we have installed. We also want to collect any software licenses, too. I have found two programs very useful ...

Migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 (Part 4 - Windows 7 Installation)(Video)

Now that we have performed the basic procedures (drive imaging and software / hardware inventory and downloading drivers) I normally do before a clean install, it's time to get into the installation details ...

Migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 (Part 5 - Applications and Settings)(Video)

With our installation of Windows 7 complete, it's time to move on to the applications and settings ...

Migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 (Part 6 - Epilogue)

In the course of writing this series of articles about migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7, I have been slowly moving my production time from my old system to the new one ...

How to use the Command Prompt and Open Command Window Here in Windows 7 (Video)

In this article, I am going to show how to use another one of my favorite applications, Command Prompt and Open Command Window Here ...

Default locations for user files in Windows 7 (Video)

Default locations for user files in Windows 7.

Modifying the default locations of user files and library properties in Windows 7 (Video)

In this article, I am going to show how to change the default locations of user files and modify the library properties in Windows 7 ...

Use your computer without a display in Windows 7 (optimize for blindness)

Windows 7 has many features that allow you to use your computer without a display ...

Make it easier to focus on tasks in Windows 7

You can reduce the amount of information on your screen so that it's easier to read, and you can set up your keyboard to make typing easier ...

Make your mouse easier to use in Windows 7

You can change the mouse pointer and turn on other features that can help make it easier to use your mouse on the Make the mouse easier to use page ...

Make your computer easier to see in Windows 7 (optimize visual display)

If you sometimes have trouble seeing items on your screen, you can adjust the settings to make text and images on the screen appear larger, improve the contrast between items on the screen, and hear on-screen text read aloud ...

Make your keyboard easier to use in Windows 7

You can use your keyboard to control the mouse and make it easier to type certain key combinations ...

Use text or visual alternatives to sounds in Windows 7

Windows provides settings for using visual cues to replace sounds in many programs. You can adjust these settings on the Use text or visual alternatives to sounds page ...

Use your computer without the mouse or keyboard in Windows 7 (alternative input devices)

Windows 7 has two features to help you use the computer without using a mouse or keyboard ...

Use Speech Recognition to operate windows and programs in Windows 7

You can use your voice to work with windows and programs. Usually, you can just say the command that you want to perform ...

Type without using the keyboard with On-Screen Keyboard in Windows 7

Instead of relying on the physical keyboard to type and enter data, you can use On-Screen Keyboard. On-Screen Keyboard displays a visual keyboard with ...

Make items on the screen appear bigger with Magnifier in Windows 7

Magnifier enlarges different parts of the screen. This is especially useful for viewing objects that are difficult to see, but also for seeing the whole screen more easily ...

Hear text read aloud with Narrator in Windows 7

Windows comes with a basic screen reader called Narrator that reads text on the screen aloud and describes some events (such as an error message appearing) that happen while you're using the computer ...

Using Task Scheduler in Windows 7

If you use a specific program on a regular basis, you can use the Task Scheduler Wizard to create a task that opens the program for you automatically according to the schedule you choose ...

How to reset Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in Windows 7 (Video)

One of the components of the Internet connection on your computer is a built-in set of instructions called TCP/IP. TCP/IP can sometimes become corrupted ...

Using Disk Defragmenter in Windows 7 (Video)

Fragmentation makes your hard disk do extra work that can slow down your computer. Disk Defragmenter rearranges fragmented data so your hard disk can work more efficiently ...

Check your hard disk for errors in Windows 7 (Video)

You can help solve some computer problems and improve the performance of your computer by making sure that your hard disk has no errors ...

Back up your files in Windows 7 (Video)

To make sure you don't lose the files that you create, modify, and store on your computer, you should back them up regularly. You can manually back up your files any time or set up automatic backups ...

Beta testing Windows 7 (Part 1)

I finally got around to installing the Beta release of Windows 7. Did the first install into a VM (virtual machine), just to get the feel for the new OS. I installed a copy of Sun xVM VirtualBox, version 2.2.2, which has predefined settings for ...

Beta testing Windows 7 (Part 2)

Since my last post, Windows 7 RC1 has been released. I am now assembling a production system to use for the installation of RC1. I have changed my mind on how I wanted to test this new OS from Microsoft. My original idea was to use ...

Beta testing Windows 7 - (Part 3)

Well, I went shopping and here is what I came up with. I like to utilize local vendors when ever possible, but this system had a processor requirement that I could not find cheaply from my favorite vendor. I wanted a Quad-core ...

Beta testing Windows 7 - (Part 4 - Antec cases)

Antec cases have always been a great investments, as I have owned several. They range from ...

Beta testing Windows 7 - (Part 5 - BIOS and installation on test system)

I finished assembling the Windows 7 test system in about three hours. The wring for the Antec Skeleton case proved to be a challenge. But I was ready for it, as the Antec P-180 I have also has a unique wring layout (the power supply ...

Beta testing Windows 7 - Part6 (software overview)(Video)

In this article, I give an overview of the key features that I built the Windows 7 test system to evaluate, Quad-cores, 64-bit operating systems / applications and Virtualization Technology (Virtual Machines).

Beta testing Windows 7 - Part7 (Photoshop Benchmark)

With the Windows 7 test system running, it's time to see what it can do. Keep in mind that the total cost for just the hardware (less the Antec Skeleton case) was around $525. I went over to Adobe and downloaded the 64-bit trial version of ...

Free computer diagnostics

Repairing a PC can sometimes be expensive, and that is why we offer free basic in-shop diagnostics. Give one of our professional and experienced technicians a call at (602) 795-1111, and let's see what we can do for you.

Check out our reviews

Geeks In Phoenix LLC, BBB Business Review

Customer service is #1

Here at Geeks in Phoenix, we take pride in providing excellent customer service. We aim to give the highest quality of service from computer repair, virus removal, and data recovery.

Bring your computer to us and save

Repairing a computer can be time-consuming. That is why we base our in-shop service on the time we work on your computer, not the time it takes for your computer to work! From running memory checking software to scanning for viruses, these are processes that can take some time.

Contact us

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at (602) 795-1111  and talk with one of our Geeks. Or you can send us a message from our contact page , and one of our Geeks will get back to you as soon as possible. Or you can stop by and see us. Here are our hours and location.

Like Geeks in Phoenix on Facebook

Follow Geeks in Phoenix on Twitter

Watch Geeks in Phoenix on YouTube