Ask Leo!: Windows User Interface

How do I know when it's safe to allow programs that cause the User Account Control (UAC) notification to occur?

leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:34:35 -08:00

With Vista and now Windows 7, I get prompted to allow or dis-allow programs looking to access my computer - to give my permission for that or to deny. I have no idea how to know what is legit, illegitimate, or grey area (like manufacturer of my laptop collecting info on my computer use to try to sell me more stuff). Any ideas?

]]> What you're seeing, of course, is Windows "User Account Control" or UAC - a feature not unlike that present in both Linux and the Mac operating systems. The basic premise is that before software does anything that would (or could) potentially install software or otherwise harm your computer, the system simply asks first.

The knee-jerk reaction is "if you're not sure, say no". However, there are some things you can keep in mind that will let you be a little more sure a little more often, and as a result allow you to make a more informed decision.

How do I move an off-screen Window in Windows 7?

leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:39:15 -08:00

My Windows Media Center suddenly popped up too high so can't get to controls to pull it down to close/max/minimize screen. Your answer about alt+space, m doesn't work with media center. Desperate to get it back under control!

]]> You didn't indicate whether or not you were using Windows 7, but given that Windows Media Center is part of it, and it does indeed not pay attention to ALT+SPACE like it should, I'll show you "the other way".

The problem is that "the other way" changed from Windows XP to Windows 7, and many people that used to use it are also somewhat lost searching for it.

What's called the "System Menu" used to be accessible in a single click from the task bar. In Windows 7, there's an additional step.

The volume indicator has disappeared from my system tray, how do I get it back?

leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -08:00

My sound icon has disappeared. How can I find where to make it show back up on my tray at the bottom of my computer screen?

]]> Not to be confused with an on-screen volume indicator, what we're discussing here is a small icon that sits in the system tray, typically on the right hand side of the screen from which you can adjust the sound output volume.

The good news is that it's typically a simple system setting to display it or not.

How do I find a file on my computer in Windows XP?

leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:11:34 -08:00

This is actually a composite of many questions I get where people are unable to locate a file on their computer. Most common is Microsoft Outlook's PST file, which can be buried in a non-obvious place, but I also get this question relating to everything from downloads to pictures do documents that took hours of work, were saved and then apparently vanished.

In many cases, the tools you use can tell you where the files were placed (for example, you can use Outlook to tell you where its PST file is located). On the other hand, for various reasons, you can't and just want to locate the file yourself.

So, we'll search.

What does it mean when a window turns white?

leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:29:49 -08:00

About 5 minutes after booting up Vista, the taskbar turns white. It does the same thing after rebooting. Changing the settings to Aero under appearance settings will sometimes return it back to its "glass" state, but it turns white after another 5 minutes.

]]> First the "Blue Screen of Death", then the "Black Window on Boot", and now... a white window?

When an application's window turns all white, that actually tells us something about what's happening to that application. And I can tell you that what's happening usually isn't good.

The other thing to know is that the Windows taskbar is just another application. A special application, perhaps, but when push comes to shove, it's an application just like any other.