10 Amazing Tips For Microsoft Windows Home

Introduction

The Microsoft Corporation commonly develops and releases several editions of the Windows operating system, including the Home edition. Many of the most recent versions of the OS, such as Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, including a Microsoft Windows Home edition. The average household computer user may not notice any difference between Home and other editions, such as Professional and Ultimate. In fact, the Home edition commonly lacks features and functions, that are available in more advanced and expensive editions. Nonetheless, Microsoft Windows Home editions still have some amazing features and functions that may impress many users.

Step 1

Create multiple user accounts in Microsoft Windows Home for each member of the household, instead of sharing a single login. Open the User Accounts utility and select Create A New Account. Each user is able to make personalized changes to the desktop that do not affect other users.

Step 2

Protect the privacy of your personal files in Microsoft Windows Home if you share a PC with other members of your household. Find the "Documents" folder in the left pane of the Computer window. Right-click on the folder and then select "Share With" from the drop-down menu. Click on "Nobody" to prevent other user accounts from having access to the files and folders on your user account.

Step 3

Sync your cell phone or smartphone with your Microsoft Windows Home PC. Obtain a USB data cable from your cell phone provider or a local electronics store. Connect one end of the cable to the power/data port on your cell phone and the other end to a USB port your PC. Be prepared to have to install hardware device drivers. Open the Windows Media Player application.  Click the "Sync" tab. Wait while WMP detects your cell phone. Transfer your music between your PC and phone.

Step 4

Automatically download pictures from a digital camera to the computer's hard drive in Microsoft Windows Home. Connect the camera to the PC via USB cable. Windows will automatically open a dialog box that asks if you want to retrieve the pictures.

 

Step 5

Use the Windows Media Center in Microsoft Windows Home application to download free movies and TV shows from the Internet. Open the Windows Media Center application. Click on "TV" and then the "Internet TV" link in WMC. Browse through the selection of video. You need a broadband Internet connection.

Step 6

Use Windows as a DVR or digital video recorder. Obtain an external USB TV tuner; make sure it has DTV or digital capabilities. Connect the coaxial cable TV cord to the tuner. Open the Windows Media Center application. Click on "TV." Select "Live TV Setup." Follow the instructions to set up the tuner.

Step 7

Turn a single computer into an Internet router using Microsoft Windows Home. If you only have a DSL or cable modem that connects to a single computer, you can use the Internet Connection Sharing, or ICS, function to connect a second a computer to the modem. Connect the modem to the host PC via a USB cable, instead of Ethernet cable. Connect the Ethernet cable between the host and other client computer. Open the Network and Sharing Center. Select Change Adapter Settings. Right-click on Local Area Connection. Select Properties. Click the Sharing tab and follow the instructions.

Step 8

Use the System Restore utility to undo any changes to your Microsoft Windows Home PC. The changes include reversing Windows Updates or any manual settings that caused your PC to malfunction.

Step 9

Download and install the Microsoft Security Essentials program for free as a Microsoft Windows Home owner. This is an antivirus program that is available to all Windows users, including Home edition. It protects your PC from viruses, worms and spyware.

Step 10

Use the Microsoft Windows Home recovery partition on the hard drive if you need to reinstall the operating system. Many people are used to install Windows from software CD or DVD. However, most manufacturers include a partition that contains Microsoft Windows Home installation files.

Tips

• Many of the tips in this articles require that you log in under an "Administrator" level account in Microsoft Windows Home.
• Quickly find many of the Microsoft Windows Home applications and programs mentioned in this article using the search box on the Start menu. Reveal this menu by clicking on the circular Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the desktop.

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