Change a picture's file type (file format) using Paint
Although digital pictures come in a variety of file formats, many of the pictures on your computer probably use the common JPEG format. This is the file format most digital cameras use to save good-quality images without creating large files. In addition, many programs can open pictures that are saved in the JPEG format. However, you might have pictures (or drawings) that you want to convert and save as a different type of picture file. When you save a picture in a different format, the original picture isn't replaced; instead, a new picture file is created and saved.

---

Convert a hard disk or partition to FAT32 format
Before you begin, note that the FAT32 file system has size limitations. You can't create a FAT32 partition greater than 32 gigabytes (GB). Also, you can't store a file larger than 4 GB on a FAT32 partition. If the partition you want to format is larger than 32 GB, the NTFS format might be a better option.

---

Convert a hard disk or partition to NTFS format
The NTFS file system provides better performance and security for data on hard disks and partitions or volumes than the FAT file system used in some earlier versions of Windows. If you have a partition that uses the earlier FAT16 or FAT32 file system, you can convert it to NTFS.

---

Managing recorded TV shows in Windows Media Center: frequently asked questions
With the right setup, you can use Windows Media Center to watch and record live TV on your computer. Here are answers to some common questions about managing recorded TV shows in Media Center. How do I change the settings for recording TV shows? What's the best way to delete recorded TV shows? What happens to shows that are recorded as part of a TV series? How do I cancel recording a series? What is copy protection and how does it affect me?

---

Formatting disks and drives: frequently asked questions
Hard disks , the primary storage devices on your computer, need to be formatted before you can use them. When you format a disk, you configure it with a file system so that Windows can store information on the disk. Hard disks in new computers running Windows are already formatted. If you buy an additional hard disk to expand the storage of your computer, you might need to format it. Here are answers to some common questions about formatting disks and drives. When do I need to format a disk or drive? What do I need to do to format a hard disk? What file system should I use? What's a quick format? What are partitions and volumes? How do I create more partitions? How do I add a new hard disk? What does reformatting my hard disk do? Why do I get an error when I try to reformat my hard disk?

---

Burn a CD or DVD in Windows Explorer
If your computer has a CD or DVD burner, you can copy files to a writable disc. This process is called burning a disc. Windows burns discs in the Live File System format or in the Mastered format, depending on which disc format you choose.

---

Make older programs run in this version of Windows
Most programs written for Windows Vista also work in this version of Windows, but some older programs might run poorly or not at all. If a program written for an earlier version of Windows doesn't run correctly, you can try changing the compatibility settings for the program, either manually or by using the Program Compatibility troubleshooter. Watch this video to learn how to make older programs run in this version of Windows.

---

Codecs: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about codecs. What is a codec? Which codecs are included with the Player? Why do I get a message that says my computer is missing a codec? How do I find a codec? What is a DVD decoder? Why can't I play a file at work that I can play at home? I installed a missing codec, but I still can't play the file. Why? How do I tell which codecs are installed on my computer? How do I tell which codec was used to compress a file and what format a file is in? Are codecs and file formats the same?

---

Open the Program Compatibility troubleshooter
Most programs written for Windows Vista also work in this version of Windows, but some older programs might run poorly or not at all. If an older program doesn't run correctly, use the Program Compatibility troubleshooter to simulate the behavior of earlier versions of Windows.

---

Which CD or DVD format should I use?
Which disc format you should use is determined by the computer or device that you plan to use the disc in after it's burned. The following sections explain how to determine which format to choose when using Windows Explorer to burn a data disc (a type of disc that is useful for storing, archiving, and sharing files among different computers and devices).

---

Format a CD or DVD
Before you can burn files to a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray Disc, the disc must first be prepared using a process called formatting. There are several ways to format a disc. Your choice of format determines which computers and other devices will be able to read the disc.

---

What is Encrypting File System (EFS)?
Encrypting File System (EFS) is a feature of Windows that you can use to store information on your hard disk in an encrypted format. Encryption is the strongest protection that Windows provides to help you keep your information secure.

---

What is the XPS Viewer?
An XPS document is any file that is saved in the XML Paper Specification, or .xps, file format. You can create XPS documents (.xps files) by using any program that you can print from in Windows; however, you can only view XPS documents by using an XPS Viewer, such as the one included in this version of Windows.

---

Copy and paste a file
When you copy and paste a file , you're making a duplicate of the original file that you can then modify independently of the original file. If you copy and paste a file to a different location on your computer, it's a good idea to give it a different name so that you'll remember which file is new and which file is the original. Watch this video to learn how to copy and paste a file.

---

Convert your handwritten notes to text by using Windows Journal
In Windows Journal, you can convert the ink that you write with your tablet pen to typed text, which can be used in other programs or in a note.

---

How to Convert a Basic Disk to a Dynamic Disk
A disk is a separate physical hard drive. This will show you how to convert a basic disk to a dynamic, also known as "software RAID", disk in Windows Disk Manager or in a command prompt without losing anything on the disk. By default Windows uses Basic disks. Basic and dynamic disks both support using MBR and GPT partition (volume) styles. When you convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk, any existing partitions or logical drives on the basic disk become simple volumes on the dynamic disk.

---

Open a file or folder
You can open a file or folder in Windows to perform a variety of tasks, such as editing the information in a file or making a copy of a file or folder. To open a file, you must have a program that is associated with it. Typically, this is the same program that was used to create the file.

---

Watch TV in Windows Media Center
If your computer has the necessary hardware, you can use Windows Media Center to watch, pause, and rewind live and recorded TV programs on your PC.

---

E-mail your handwritten notes using Windows Journal
To send notes to someone, you can attach the Windows Journal file, or you can convert ink to typed text and automatically insert the text into an e-mail message.

---

Set recording options in Windows Media Center
You can customize how TV shows are recorded in Windows Media Center. For instance, you can prioritize certain recordings over others, or change the recording quality for future recordings.

---

Close or finalize a CD or DVD
Before you can use a recordable disc (such as CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-R DL, or DVD+R DL) formatted with the Live File System format in other computers, you need to close the current disc session to prepare the disc for use.

---

Change your keyboard layout
You can customize your keyboard for a specific language or format by changing the keyboard layout. The layout controls which characters appear on the screen when you press the keys on your keyboard. Some input languages have several keyboard layouts; others have only one. For example, you can change your keyboard layout from the English QWERTY format to the English Dvorak format. After you change the layout, the characters on your screen might not correspond to the characters on your keyboard keys.

---

What happened to Windows Import Video?
Windows Import Video is not included in this version of Windows. To import live or recorded video from a videotape in a digital video (DV) camera, you will need another video program from Microsoft or another company.

---

What is a hidden file?
Although you usually can't see a hidden file, it's an ordinary file in all other respects. You can choose whether a file is hidden or visible by changing its properties. Here's how to do this:

---

How to Manually Sync Your Offline
When you make a network file, or all files in a network folder, available offline, Windows creates a copy of the file or folder on your computer. This is called an offline file. The next time you disconnect from the network, you'll still be able to open, modify, and save the file the same way you would if you were still connected. And when you do connect to the network again, Windows will automatically sync the offline file on your computer with the corresponding file on the network for the latest changes.

---

How do I prevent a file from syncing to a device in Windows Media Player?
If your device syncs automatically with Windows Media Player and you want to exclude a particular file from syncing to the device, you can choose to skip the file. You have several options for skipping files: deleting the file from the device, removing the file from a playlist that automatically syncs to the device, and removing a file that has an error condition.

---

Rename a file
One way to rename a file is to open the program that was used to create the file, open the file, and then save it with a different name. However, there's a quicker way:

---

Change the properties for a file
File properties are details about a file, such as author names, tags, or the date when a file was last modified. Properties make your files easier to find and organize. For example, you can search for a file by one of its properties. You can also use libraries to arrange files by a property. If you're browsing the Documents library, for example, and you want to see the most recently changed files first, you can arrange the files by the Date modified property.

---

How to Convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk
A disk is a separate physical hard drive. This will show you how to convert a dynamic, also known as "software RAID", disk to a basic disk in Windows Disk Manager or in a command prompt. By default Windows uses Basic disks. Basic and dynamic disks both support using MBR and GPT partition (volume) styles.

---

How to Convert a MBR Disk to a GPT Disk
A disk is a separate physical hard drive. This will show you how to convert a MBR (Master Boot Record) disk to a GPT (GUID - Globally Unique Identifer) disk in Windows Disk Manager or in a command prompt. By default Windows uses MBR disks. While all Windows can boot from a MBR disk, you can only boot from a GPT disk if you have a operating system (see below) that supports GPT and your motherboard has a EFI BIOS and is enabled.

---

Enable or Disable the Use Of Offline Files
If you work with files on a network, you can make the files available offline so you can access them even when your computer is not connected to the network. This is especially useful if you use a laptop to connect to a workplace network. When you make a network file, or all files in a network folder, available offline, Windows creates a copy of the file or folder on your computer. This is called an offline file. The next time you disconnect from the network, you'll still be able to open, modify, and save the file the same way you would if you were still connected. And when you do connect to the network again, Windows will automatically sync the offline file on your computer with the corresponding file on the network to update it.

---

Working with files and folders
A file is an item that contains information-for example, text or images or music. When opened, a file can look very much like a text document or a picture that you might find on someone's desk or in a filing cabinet. On your computer, files are represented with icons; this makes it easy to recognize a type of file by looking at its icon.

---

Why can't I delete a file or folder?
Here are answers to some common questions about problems you might encounter when deleting files and folders. What might prevent me from deleting a file or folder? What does it mean if I try to delete a file and I see an error that the file is in use? Sometimes after I delete all the files in a folder, the folder still remains. How do I delete the folder?

---

Print a document or file
The quickest way to print a document or file is to print using Windows. You don't have to open any programs or change any settings. Watch this video to learn how to print a document or file.

---

Find a file or folder
Windows provides several ways to find files and folders. There isn't one best way to search you can use different methods for different situations. Learn: To find a program or file by using the search box on the Start menu; To find a file or folder by using the search box in a folder or library; To find a file by using search filters; To expand a search beyond a specific library or folder.

---

Turn your screen saver on or off
A screen saver is a moving picture or pattern that appears on your computer screen when you haven't used the mouse or keyboard for a specified period of time. Screen savers were originally used to save older, monochromatic monitors from damage, but now they're mainly a way to personalize your computer or enhance its security by offering password protection. Watch this video to learn how to turn your screen saver on or off.

---

Working with the Scanner and Camera Installation wizard
The Scanner and Camera Installation wizard is primarily designed to install drivers for older scanners and cameras-and some networked scanners-that aren't automatically recognized by Windows. Before using the wizard, connect your scanner or camera and turn it on. If Windows recognizes the device and installs the appropriate driver, you're all set. There's no need to run the wizard.

---

Save a file
While you're working with a file in a program, you should save it frequently to avoid losing data unexpectedly due to a power failure or other problems.

---

What is program compatibility?
Program compatibility is a mode in Windows that lets you run programs written for earlier versions of Windows. Most programs written for Windows Vista also work in Windows 7, but some older programs might run poorly or not run at all.

---

How much disk space does System Restore require?
To store restore points, you need at least 300 megabytes (MB) of free space on each disk that is 500 MB or larger. System Restore might use between three and five percent of the space on each disk. As the amount of space fills up with restore points, System Restore deletes older restore points to make room for new ones.

---