Hints for Windows
We get lots of questions about Windows. Here is a simple checklist for a trouble free PC.
- Backup and folder synchronization
- Bootcamp, or If You Must (Windows on an Apple)
- General Windows Troubleshooting
- Print to a Mac network printer
- Screen Magnifiers
Backup and folder synchronization
Microsoft's SyncToy is a useful utility for copying only files that have changed. This is useful for making backups to an external drive.
Bootcamp, or If You Must (Windows on an Apple)
If you are forced at gunpoint to use Windows (or some other equivalent like Wine isn't working), and you are using bootcamp. Here are a few hints.
Windows Explorer (the default shell) is quite bloated, slow, and unreliable. You can use an alternate shell such as GeoShell or LiteStep. This makes a noticeable difference in speed.
If you need to take a screen shot with a MacBook, you may notice a lack of PrintScreen button. To take a picture of the screen Function+F11 or Function+Shift+F11 should work. To take a screen shot of just one window add Option to that keystroke.
General Windows Troubleshooting
- Did you try rebooting?
- Is it turned on?
- Is the power light glowing?
- Is it plugged it?
- Have you tried reinstalling Windows?
- Go to xubuntu.org or opensolaris.com to get a better operating system.
Print to a Mac network printer
If you have to use Windows, but need to print using a printer connected to a Mac, use Apple's Bonjour Print Services for Windows.
Screen Magnifiers
Microsoft still doesn't have a proper screen zoom feature built into Windows. If you can't just use a Mac or Linux, some free Windows applications are listed at magnifiers.org.