Drivers.com

follow us:

facebook twitter

How to switch off unwanted, unused Windows features and programs

By on

Not all of us use all features present in Windows by default. In fact, some of us will be more than happy to permanently switch off unused Windows features. We don’t do so mainly because we don’t know how to switch them off. However, from now on, this will no longer be the case. Shared ahead are the steps that allow you to switch off Windows functions such as Windows Media Player, the Internet Explorer, and many others.

Disable Windows Functions

  1. Open Control Panel
  2. Click Programs and Features
  3. Click the Turn Windows features on or off button (located in the left pane). The Windows Features window will now open. It contains the name of all installed Windows features.
  4. Browse through the list, deselect the features you want to switch off, and then click the OK button. Wait while Windows make the requested changes.
  5. Next, click either the Restart Now or Restart Later button.

Some, not all, programs can be safely switched off. One program that you should never disable is your antivirus tool, which keeps you protected from computer viruses and other malicious programs. Other features that you should never switch off include firewall, Windows update, and other security features.

Add Desktop Gadgets to Windows 8

By on

Some users who upgrade to Windows 8 may miss desktop Gadgets that were available in Windows 7. Microsoft no longer provides support for Gadgets in its new operating system. But there is a workaround which you can use to run Windows 7 desktop Gadgets in Windows 8.

For this purpose, you would need to install 8Gadgetspack, which is a free utility that creates a gadget sidebar on your desktop. You may place your gadgets on this sidebar or directly on your desktop. In case you don’t like the look of this gadget sidebar, simply close it and place the gadgets on your desktop.

Microsoft has cited security reasons for stopping support for desktop Gadgets in Windows 8. However, you don’t really have to worry about it if you use a reliable antivirus tool. To keep your pc secure, it is necessary that you keep your antivirus tool up-to-date and run regular scans.

In addition to an antivirus tool, you should also consider a third-party firewall. While Windows 8, like previous Windows versions, has a built-in firewall, the default utility is not as good as some free third-party firewall tools.

How to run WhatsApp on a Windows PC

By on

WhatsApp is an Android application that is very popular with smartphone users. Besides Android phones, WhatsApp versions are available for Blackberry, Symbian, Windows, and iOS phones. However, at present, there are no versions available for Windows and OS X operating systems. That said, it is possible to run many Android applications, including WhatsApp, in Windows desktop operating system.

To run WhatsApp and other Android applications in Windows pc, you would need to install an application called BlueStacks App Player. Although, at present, this application is in its beta stage, it is good enough to run Android applications in Windows.

Once you’ve installed BlueStacks App Player, you will then have to install WhatsApp and complete the normal verification process.

When installing WhatsApp in your pc, one thing you need to remember is that you would need to register with a different phone number. This is because you cannot have two WhatsApp account with the same phone number.

Another thing you need to know is that your contacts list will not be automatically uploaded in your pc’s WhatsApp account. A simple workaround to this issue is to export your Gmail contacts into a CSV file and save the file on your computer. BlueStacks App Player will automatically import the file.

You can use WhatsApp to chat as well as for sharing files. Before opening a file shared through WhatsApp, scan it with your antivirus tool to ensure it is safe.