Open the Playing Audio troubleshooter
If your computer is having problems playing sound, try using the Playing Audio troubleshooter to fix the problem. It checks for common problems with your volume settings, your sound card or driver, and your speakers or headphones.

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Open the Set up TV tuner troubleshooter
If you're having trouble watching or recording TV on your computer, try using the Set up TV tuner troubleshooter to fix the problem. It makes sure that your computer is receiving a TV signal, and that your TV tuner is connected and configured properly.

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Open the Performance troubleshooter
To optimize Windows performance, try using the Performance troubleshooter to automatically find and fix problems. The Performance troubleshooter checks issues that might slow down your computer's performance, such as how many users are currently logged on to the computer and whether multiple programs are running at the same time.

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Open the System Maintenance troubleshooter
To perform common maintenance tasks in Windows, such as cleaning up unused files and shortcuts, try using the System Maintenance troubleshooter to automatically find and fix problems. For example, the System Maintenance troubleshooter looks for unused files and shortcuts that you can clean up or remove so that your computer can run faster.

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Open the HomeGroup troubleshooter
If your computer is having problems viewing computers or shared files in your homegroup, try using the HomeGroup troubleshooter to fix the problem. It makes sure that your computer's different network services are running correctly, and that your computer is a member of a homegroup.

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Open the Printer troubleshooter
If your computer is having problems printing, try using the Printer troubleshooter to fix the problem. It makes sure that a printer is connected to your computer, and it checks for common issues such as whether the printer has enough paper and toner to complete printing your document.

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Open the Search and Indexing troubleshooter
If you're having problems locating specific files, folders, or other items on your computer, try using the Search and Indexing troubleshooter to fix the problem. It makes sure that the Windows Search service is running, and checks to see whether you have the correct permissions to search all the directories on your computer.

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Open the Aero troubleshooter
If your computer is having problems running the Aero desktop experience, which includes effects such as transparency, try using the Aero troubleshooter to fix the problem. It checks for common compatibility issues with running Aero, such as your computer's color, theme, and power settings and your computer's video card.

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Open the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter
If your computer is having problems with a recently installed device or other hardware, try using the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter to fix the problem. It checks for common issues and makes sure that any new device or hardware attached to your computer was installed correctly.

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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.

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Resolve recording conflicts in Windows Media Center
When recording TV shows in Windows Media Center, you'll run into a recording conflict whenever you have more scheduled recordings than available TV tuners on your computer for any given time. For example, if you only have one TV tuner, but two shows scheduled to record at the same time, Media Center will notify you of the recording conflict and you can choose which show you want to record.

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Using the Network troubleshooter in Windows 7
Lots of people use networks, but most people don't have the time or inclination to become networking experts. Instead, we often rely on someone more knowledgeable to troubleshoot our network problems. But what if you don't have someone available to help you? The Network troubleshooter in Windows 7 provides a way for anyone to diagnose and repair network problems.

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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.

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Change bass, stereo, and other audio effects in Windows Media Player
In Windows Media Player, you can optimize bass, stereo, and other audio effects by turning on SRS WOW Effects. You can also use the graphic equalizer to adjust the levels of certain frequencies in your music or select Dolby Digital audio settings for different types of playback scenarios.

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Tips for solving problems with Internet Explorer
If you can open Internet Explorer but can't get to sites on the Internet, or you find that web browsing is very slow, you should first make sure that you have a good connection to the Internet. Windows provides a built-in troubleshooter that can automatically find and fix some common problems with Internet Explorer.

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AutoPlay: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about AutoPlay. I set a default action for a device or type of media but now I don't like that action. How do I change it? How can I stop AutoPlay from asking me what program I want to use? How can I make sure I'm asked each time for the action I want to choose? How can I run or install a program from a device or disc? Why does AutoPlay behave differently when my media program is open? What is an enhanced audio CD or an enhanced DVD movie? What does "software and games" include? What would keep a device from appearing under "Devices" in AutoPlay? How can I open AutoPlay, even if the default setting doesn't open it?

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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?

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Rip music from a CD
You can use Windows Media Player to copy songs from audio CDs to your computer. This process is called ripping. During the ripping process, the Player makes a copy of each song, stores it on your hard disk as a Windows Media Audio (WMA), MP3, or WAV file, and then adds it to your Player Library.

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Play an audio or video file: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about playing audio or video files in Windows Media Player. What can I do about audio problems, such as popping, crackling, or sound that plays too fast or too slow? What can I do about video problems, such as lines appearing in the video, flickering or choppy video, and so on? Why does the Player display a visualization instead of the video (or display an error message) when I play a video file? How do I make Windows Media Player the default player for a file type? Why do I get an error when I try to play streams from certain servers? Why does Windows Media Player frequently become unresponsive or close unexpectedly? How do I prevent videos from automatically playing in full-screen mode?

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Using Quick Tabs in Internet Explorer
When you have multiple webpages open at once, each one is displayed in a separate tab. These tabs make it easy for you to switch between open websites. Quick Tabs provides a miniature visual view (called a thumbnail) of all your open tabs. This makes it easier to find the webpage that you want to view. How do I open Quick Tabs? How do I open a webpage from Quick Tabs? How do I close a webpage from Quick Tabs? What does the arrow next to the Quick Tabs button do? How do I close the Quick Tabs view?

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Connect a microphone, music player, or other audio device to your computer
You can connect a microphone, portable music player, or other audio device to your computer by using one of the jacks on the front, back, or side of your computer. These jacks directly connect to your computer's sound card or sound processor.

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Playing music in Windows Media Center: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about playing music and other audio files in Windows Media Center. How do I make my music appear in Media Center? Why doesn't album information (such as cover art) display? Why isn't there sound? Why doesn't a music file play? How do I play an audio CD or DVD in Media Center? Is there a graphic equalizer in Media Center so I can fine-tune the way my music sounds?

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Preview an open window on the desktop using Aero Peek
When you open multiple windows on the desktop, it can sometimes be a challenge to view separate windows and switch between them. 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. Watch this video to learn how to preview an open window on the desktop using Aero Peek.

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Using Jump Lists to open programs and items
Jump Lists are lists of recently opened items, such as files, folders, or websites, organized by the program that you use to open them. You can use a Jump List to open items, and you can also pin favorites to a Jump List, so you can quickly get to the items that you use every day. Watch this video to learn how to use Jump Lists to open programs and items.

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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.

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Add or Remove: Open With Context Menu Item
This will show you how to remove or restore the Open with right click context menu item of all files in Windows 7 and Vista. Removing Open with from the context menu can make it easier to prevent all users on the computer from accidentally have a file extension type assigned a wrong default program to be opened with by default.

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Why is my Internet connection so slow?
No matter how fast your Internet connection is, there are times when things will slow down to a crawl. This article will help you sort out what kinds of things can go wrong, learn what you can do about them, and discover how to get the most from your Internet connection. Windows provides a built-in troubleshooter that can automatically find and fix some common connection problems.

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How do I watch or record TV on my computer?
To watch or record TV on your computer, you need three things: A TV tuner; A TV signal connected to your computer; Software for watching and recording live TV.

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Tips for fixing common sound problems
Here are solutions to some common sound problems on your computer. These solutions can also help if you don't hear any sound from your speakers, portable music player, or other external audio device connected to your computer. I can't hear sound from my computer. Sound from my speakers is crackling or distorted. I have a sound card in my computer, but Windows doesn't recognize it. I found a new driver for my sound card, but I'm not sure how to install it. I'm having trouble installing my sound card and wonder if it's compatible with Windows 7. I'm having trouble getting a portable music player, microphone, or other audio device to work with my computer. I've tried all the solutions here and still can't get my sound to work properly.

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Record TV in Windows Media Center
With Windows Media Center, you can record live TV shows and movies directly onto your computer. You can even schedule a recording in advance or automatically record new episodes of your favorite TV series.

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Tabbed browsing: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about tabbed browsing. What is tabbed browsing? How do I open a new tab? How can I tell which tabs I opened from links on a webpage? How do I close a tab? Can I reopen tabs I've already closed? How do I open a new tab to my home page? How do I save a group of tabs? How do I open a group of tabs that I've saved? Can I turn off tabs so that they no longer appear? What keyboard shortcuts can I use when working with tabs? Can I choose whether pop-ups are displayed in a new window or on a new tab?

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Minimize windows on the desktop using Aero Shake
You can use Aero Shake to quickly minimize every open window except the one you're shaking. This feature can save you time if you want to focus on a single window without minimizing all your other open windows one by one. You can then restore all of those windows by shaking the open window again. Watch this video to learn how to minimize windows on the desktop using Aero Shake.

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Why didn't my TV show record in Windows Media Center?
If a TV show in Windows Media Center doesn't record, and the show has already finished airing, there's no way to go back and record it again. However, you might be able to change your settings or your hardware configuration to prevent recording failures from happening in the future.

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Minimize all open windows to view the desktop
There are different ways to minimize all of your open windows at once.

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Install or remove a sound card
Most new desktop computers come with a built-in sound card that you can replace. If your computer doesn't have a sound card installed or you want to upgrade the sound playback or recording capabilities of your computer, you can install a sound card.

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Play an audio or video file
You can use Windows Media Player to play digital media files that are in your Player Library, on your computer or a network folder, or on a website.

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How do I open a file if I get an access denied message?
If you get a message denying access when you try to open a file, here are some options you can try:

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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:

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Listen to music in Windows Media Center
Most people think of watching and recording TV when they think of Windows Media Center, but did you know that Media Center is also a great way to listen to music? You can use Windows Media Center to play your favorite songs, create playlists for parties, and even watch a slide show of your pictures while the music plays.

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Manage multiple windows
If you like to have a lot of programs open at once, it's a good idea to understand how your program windows are organized on the taskbar and how you can quickly sort through them. Learning to manage multiple windows makes it easier to get to a window quickly and to arrange open windows in a way that makes the most sense to you.

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