Microphone is not working while using Skype and Yahoo Messenger Chat

When your in a hurry and communicating with friends using Yahoo and Skype Chat, this article may help you figure out and fix the problem instead of going to the shopping malls and changing the microphone that you bought recently.

Works with Windows 7 and Vista!

Go to the Control Panel and Sound icon, we’ll check if there are unknown devices installed. Tap the Recording tab and say something to checked if the the Microphone Level is working.

You’ll noticed that the indicator level on the right portion doesn’t work and there are two devices installed, so let’s disable the first one and check if its working or not.

The good thing is, it will automatically switch to the other device and set that as default. If the microphone voice level indicator is now moving as shown. You can check now the device through Yahoo messenger Preferences and Skype Call menu.

If not, Go to the Properties right-click option to increase the microphone sensitivity.

Make sure the the boost and microphone levels are high.

That’s it! Afterwards, go to the Audio settings of Skype, Preferences of Yahoo Messenger and check the level indicator as shown below: 

Skype Messenger

Yahoo Messenger

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Turn on your Computer in Safe Mode and Advanced Startup options

Safe mode starts Windows with core drivers and services. It loads all the basic things that is happening to your computer. It is the limited state that you can use for troubleshooting options and only the necessary drivers are being run.

Quick Tip: How to enter Safe Mode in Windows - press F8 when the computer restarts after the BIOS information and when the Advanced Boot Options appears, Choose the proper Menu option to start troubleshooting your computer.

Alternatively, you can configure your computer to go to safe mode using msconfig tool > Boot Tab > Boot options and click to check “Safe boot”.

Log into Safe mode if:

• Your computer is not starting correctly
• If a recently installed program, or device is causing the problem and prevents windows from starting, start the computer in safe mode and uninstall the program. or  use System restore if the function is enabled.
• Your computer was invaded by worm viruses and all your files are already infected. You can start your computer in safe mode with Command Prompt and use mcafee virusscan in command line.
• Another way is to run safe mode and patch the Welcome Screen using WinBubble and start cleaning your computer.

Alternative to Safe mode

- Use the System login through the Welcome screen and try troubleshooting your computer such as running a command line Virus Scanner. Read the articles below for more information:

Administering your computer using Hidden backdoor

How to Create System Repair Disk for Windows 7

Finding scan.exe for McAfee VirusScan Command Line

Quick Tip: You can launch the Taskmgr.exe at Welcome screen and activate the shell “explorer.exe” for more recovery solutions.

Devices drivers that runs in safe mode

• Floppy drives and USB (Internal and External devices)
• DVD-ROM and CD-ROM ATA and SCSI Drives
• SATA, SCSI and ATA Hard disk drives
• USB, PS/2 and Serial Keyboards
• USB, PS/2 and Serial Mouse
• PCI and AGP Display Cards

Windows services that runs in safe mode

• Plug and Play for devices
• Event logs
• Remote procedure call
• Microsoft Windows Defender
• Cryptographic Services
• Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)

System Advanced Boot Options

Repair Your Computer
Displays the list of system recovery utilities that you can use to repair startup problems, diagnostics, and system restoration.

Safe Mode
Everything runs in minimum state including drivers and services.

Safe Mode with Networking
Runs Windows in safe mode that includes the drivers in the network and services that is needed to access the Internet or other computers plus networking support.

Safe Mode with Command Prompt
This option is intended for System Administrators.

Enable Boot Logging
Creates a file called ntbtlog.txt for the drivers list installed during Windows startup.

Last Known Good Configuration
Launch Windows with the latest Windows Registry and driver settings that worked successfully.

Directory Services Restore Mode
Runs Windows domain controller running Active Directory to restore directory service. This advance boot feature is for administrators only.

Debugging Mode
Runs Windows in an advanced troubleshooting mode intended for administrators and IT stuff.

Start Windows Normally
Starts Windows in its normal mode.

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Android – Tips to increase Phone Battery Performance

Android is a new mobile operating system that was bought by Google last 2005. There are many smartphones in the market nowadays using the operating system. One of the usual problem that we encounter is how to prolong the battery and maximizing its usage and features.

Here’s some Basic and Easy ways to perform Battery optimization and tweaks by adjusting the System Settings:

The settings icon have a lot of function that you can use everyday. It is accessible via the main desktop and Home menu.

Same with Desktops, laptop and tablet PCs – the Display accounts for the highest power consumption of the device, the easiest way to improve or save battery consumption and extend the battery life is to reduce the brightness level: Settings Icon –> Display settings and Brightness Level.

Your always in a hurry and sometimes you got angry because of the Vibrate feature eating up your battery usage after a text message, then go to the Settings Menu –> Sound –> Vibrate menu to disable the function. You can also reduce the Volume of the device afterwards.

To access the hardware control for Network connectivity and Software features like Wifi, Bluetooth, GPS or Global Positioning System, Sound and Auto rotation chip, just slide down the uppermost corner of the device.

You’ll be able to control its function if not needed, you can turn them off to conserve battery and more energy for the device.

There is a similar function at built-in widgets called Power control. The widget is very handy for saving energy and more control of the Mobile Phone OS.

Now let’s go to the software side of the device - usually for the overall improvements and power saving except those software with hardware interfaces – this is not highly recommended.

Go to the Settings Icon again and touch “Application” icon. You’ll be able to access some software controls of the device.

• Running Services – View, stop and start running services
• Memory Usage – View application memory usage
• Battery Use – Monitor what portion is using up your battery

Disable Apps in a Background

Next, Go to the Program Monitor (Active Application) Widget or Task Manager to see what application is active. You can end the application by pressing the “End” button.

Afterwards, Try clearing the memory by going to the RAM Tab as shown below:

Note: Clearing RAM would finish some of the running applications. Save data before you clear the RAM.

For Global Positioning System options, go to the Location and Security Menu and configure the two settings:

• The location is based on Wi-Fi and Mobile Networks data
• Use GPS satellites to locate street level Accuracy – This function if used frequently can eat up your battery usage, do not use to conserve Battery.

Hope this helps!

How to Enable UAC to Prompt for credentials (with username and password)

User Account Control (UAC) is a security feature in Windows 7,  Vista and newer version of Windows that prevents non-administrator changes to your computer to be executed. It will asks you before making any changes to you computer and because of that, actions that help malicious softwares and spywares to overcome all security features are prevented.

Activating Prompt for Username and Password Permission

When software requires an administrative functions or elevation of privilege, the user is prompted to enter administrative credentials with or without secure desktop.

Secure desktop is also a security to stop viruses from invading your computer by replicating the elevation User interface. This won’t happen if secure desktop is on along with the elevation UI.

Using WinBubbles

If your using the starter or home edition of Windows, you don’t want to mess with your Windows Registry and you need an easy way to activate the security feature. Go to the Security Tab of WinBubble and click to check “Prompt for credentials” and press the Apply Button or Alt-A.  That’s it!

Using Windows Registry

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin = 1 (enable prompt for credentials for secure desktop -username and password)

ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin = 3 (activating prompt for credentials only)

You need to backup or memorize the initial registry value of ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin so that you can restore the previous settings of UAC like the following default value:

ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin = 5

Using Gpedit.msc or Group Policy Editor

Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options

User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode

The policy options controls the behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators approval.

The configuration options are:

• Elevate without prompting: Allows privileged accounts to perform an administrative operation without requiring consent and credentials.

• Prompt for credentials on the secure desktop: When an software operation requires administrative options, the user is prompted with username and password and the secure desktop is on.

• Prompt for consent on secure desktop: When the program operation requires administrative privileges, the user is prompted on the secure desktop and select either Allow or Deny (Yes or No).

• Prompt for credentials: When the software operation requires elevation of privilege, the user is prompted to use administrative logins like username and password. Note: Secure desktop is not turned on.

• Prompt for consent: When the software requires administrative privileges, the user is prompted to select either Allow or Deny (Yes or No). Note: Secure desktop is not turned on.

• Prompt for consent for non-Windows binaries: (Default) When program operation for non-Microsoft application requires elevation of rights, the user is prompted to select either Allow or Deny (Yes or No) and secure desktop is on.

 

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How to show up Send To hidden items

The Send To lists can be expanded for more options.

Quick tip
You can access the Menu by using the Shift key.

To customize more options go to the Send to folder and add or remove some features.

C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo

If something happens like you’ve deleted something on the folder, you can restore the missing items by creating the files below:

Send to Folders	Text configuration
Compressed (zipped)Folder.ZFSendToTarget	Zip
Desktop (create shortcut).DeskLink	desktop
Documents.mydocs
Fax Recipient.lnk	not applicable – shortcut
Mail Recipient.MAPIMail	mail

That’s it!

Not working? What-to-do after Windows Registry patches

After editing something from group policy editor (gpedit.msc), patching some configuration and adding some value names and data for Windows registry - the registry settings doesn’t work.

There are many possible ways to enable your patches or make it work.

Here’s how:

Using WinBubble Admintools to refresh your desktop

In just few seconds the tool refreshes your Windows desktop easily. After editing something from Windows registry, the all-in-one tool combines all the procedures below including Desktop Refresh.

How? just go to the path where the tool is located and add /refresh option

"C:\Program Files\WinBubble\WinBubble 2\Tools\AdminTools.exe" /refresh

Restarting your Windows Explorer

Go to your start menu and use CTRL + SHIFT + right-click and choose Exit Explorer

Once explorer.exe exits, press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC to launch the Task Manager. Next, go to the File menu then new task (Run…) and type “explorer”

Another way to restart explorer.exe to enable your windows registry settings is to go to the Processes Tab of Task Manager and use the End Process button and repeat the steps above (Task Manager Run and type “explorer”.

 

Using gpupdate to update group policy settings

gpupdate /force reapplies all policy settings – most of the time this method is the usual way after applying Windows registry patches from the group policy.

Cool?!

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Android Phone - How to Turn the Vibration On or Off

When your in a hurry then suddenly the battery level is getting lower then suddenly a text message was received – afterwards, the cellphone vibrates?!?

Here’s how to turn on or off the Vibration of your cell phone

Go to the settings icon, Sound and touch Vibrate menu

There are four options for Vibrate:

• Always
• Never
• Only in Silent mode
• Only when not in Silent mode

Choose Never to disable the feature and other options to access depends on the situation.

Android OS is a linux based operating system that runs on different platforms like ARM and PC. Google is the main company of Android Inc. and it was acquired on August 2005 where the original founders stayed after the acquisition.