Microsoft Expression Tips and Tutorials

Tips and tutorials for learning and working with Microsoft Expression illustration software (formerly from Creature House). Learn how to create natural-media digital art that is vector based and fully scalable.

A Bigger Splash
This is a re-creation of David Hockney's famous paintinting 'A Bigger Splash' made in the vector art program Expression 2.

Maggie & Doggie

"The other day, I browsed through a magazine and saw a picture of a little dog with its mistress. I thought that could make a good piece of computer graphic so I started to sketch them in Expression."

Nelson's Sheep Tutorial
How this adorable sheep greeting card was created in Expression 2.

Pen & Ink Portrait Tutorial
A commentary on drawing a portrait in pen & ink style using Expression 2.

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DriverMax! : Helping you find the best device driver

Click here to download DriverMax!

DriverMax is a new tool that allows you to download the latest driver updates for your computer. No more searching for rare drivers on discs or on the web or inserting one installation CD after the other. Just create a free account, log in, and start downloading the updates that you need.

You can also export all your current drivers (or just the ones that work ok) to a folder or a compressed file. After reinstalling Windows you will have everything in one place!

Most of the situations when Windows is running slower are caused by faulty driver installations. Windows stores all versions of older drivers just in case you want to go back; sometimes it messes up older versions with more recent ones. The Export Wizard will only export the drivers you select by copying the needed files to a folder or a compressed ZIP file.

After reinstalling Windows all drivers will be back in place in less than 5 minutes - sparing you of searching, inserting disc after disk and losing precious time. The Import Drivers wizard allows you to install all the drivers that you exported earlier. The entire operation might take up to 5-10 minutes.

Just one single computer restart will be required after all drivers are reinstalled!

DriverMax is able to display a complete report of all drivers (versions, release dates) installed on your system. This feature can also be very useful when you want to analyze the differences between the drivers installed on different machines.

Click on the button at the top of the page to download DriverMax!

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Increase your cable modem or DSL speed in XP

This tweak is for broad band cable connections on stand alone machines with winXP professional version - might work on Home version also. It will probably work with networked machines as well but I haven't tried it in that configuration. This is for windows XP only, it does not work on win2000.

In the "My Network Places" properties (right click on the desktop icon and choose properties), highlight the connection then at the menu bar choose "Advanced" then "Advanced Settings". Uncheck the two boxes in the lower half for the bindings for File and Printer sharing and Client for MS networks. Click OK

From the windows XP cd in the support directory from the support cab, extract the file netcap.exe and place it in a directory on your hard drive or even in the root of your C:\ drive.
next,

open up a command prompt window and change directories to where you put netcap.exe. then type "netcap/?". It will list some commands that are available for netcap and a netmon driver will be installed. At the bottom you will see your adapters. You should see two of them if using a 3Com card. One will be for LAN and the other will be for WAN something or other.

Next type "netcap/Remove". This will remove the netmon driver.
Open up control panel / system / dev man and look at your network adapters. You should now see two of them and one will have a yellow ! on it. Right click on the one without the yellow ! and choose uninstall. YES! you are uninstalling your network adapter, continue with the uninstall. Do not restart yet.

Check your connection properties to make sure that no connection exists. If you get a wizard just cancel out of it.

Now re-start the machine.

After re-start go to your connection properties again and you should have a new connection called "Local area connection 2". highlight the connection then at the menu bar choose "Advanced" then "Advanced Settings". Uncheck the two boxes in the lower half for the bindings for File and Printer sharing and Client for MS networks. Click OK.

Choose connection properties and uncheck the "QOS" box

Re-start the machine

after restart enjoy the increased responsivness of IE, faster page loading, and a connection speed boost.

Why it works, it seems that windows XP, in its zeal to make sure every base is covered installs two seperate versions of the NIC card. One you do not normally see in any properties. Remember the "netcap/?" command above showing two different adapters? The LAN one is the one you see. The invisible one loads everything down and its like your running two separate cards together, sharing a connection among two cards, this method breaks this "bond" and allows the NIC to run un-hindered.

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Blue windows wallpack (Merawindows)

Hello friends this is rahul manekari editor of this wallpack.

if u like this wallpack pls mail to : rahul.manekari@live.com

For those who likes the blue color

If u want any changes in this Wallpack, pls feel free to tell me.

Download now..
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Namastey Merawindows Wallpack

Hi friendz this is Rahul Manekari Editor of this Wallpack.

The background Image of this edited wallpaper is from www,wallpaperstock.net

If u like this Wallpack plese mail to: rahul.manekari@live.com


Download here
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MeraWindows Wallpack

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Improve management of the RAM In Vista(Great perfomance)

If you are user of Windows Vista you can very easily improve management of RAM memory with these tricks. Just fallow steps and you can do it without any problems.


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Click on “Starting”, “Run…” then type “regedit” and click on “OK”

Go to the key: “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Session Manager \ Memory Management \”

Create or modify value DWORD “IoPageLockLimit” and enter one of the following values (into hexadecimal) according to the quantity of your RAM:

* For 128 MB of RAM: “0001C000”
* For 256 MB of RAM: “0003C000”
* For 512 MB of RAM: “00070000”
* For 1024 MB of RAM: “000F0000”

If you have another quantity of RAM, you can find the value added by laying down the following rule:

* If you have 64 MB of RAM or less, to withdraw 7 MB from your quantity of RAM before converting into hexadecimal.
* If have between 64 and 512 MB of RAM, to withdraw 16 MB from your quantity of RAM before converting into hexadecimal.
* If you have more than 512 MB of RAM, to withdraw 16 MB from your quantity of RAM before converting into hexadecimal.

Example for 192 MB of RAM:

* 192 - 16 = 176 (subtraction of the quantity of RAM)
* 176 * 1024 = 180224 (conversion into kilobytes)
* 180224 = 2C000 (conversion into hexadecimal)


To convert into hexadecimal, open the computer of Windows, in the TAB “Posting” select “Scientific”. Check that “Decimal” is selected then type your number. It is enough for you to select “Hexadecimal” to convert the number.

The value which it is necessary added is thus “0002C000”.

Resolve : 16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem error message

If when you start any program or when you try to install something on you computer you receive one of next few messages:


Error 1:
16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem
path to the program that you are trying to start or install
C:\Winnt\System32\config.nt The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.


Error 2:
16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem
path to the program that you are trying to start or install
config.nt The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.


Error 3:
16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem
path to the program that you are trying to start or install
C:\Windows\System32\Autoexec.nt The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.

you can fix this on few ways:



Way 1 (he is shorter and you don't need Windows XP installation CD)


1. Click Start and choose Run...,


2. In Run... type c:\windows\repair, and click OK (new windows will open with content of that folder),


3. Right mouse click on "autoexec.nt" and choose Copy,


4. Don't close any windows, than choose Start --> Run... and type c:\windows\system32 and click OK (Enter)


5. Right mouse click on empty spot inside that open window and choose Paste,


6. Find file Autoexec.nt which you did paste, right mouse click on that file and choose Properties,


7. Setup file so he become read-only and click OK,


8. Now try to run programs or installations,



Way 2 (he is longer and you need to have Windows XP installation CD)


1. Insert Windows XP installation CD in CD-ROM,


2. Go to Start and choose Run...,


3. In Run... windows type cmd and click OK,


4. In command prompt type next commands and after every command press enter:
expand CD-ROM Drive Letter:\i386\config.nt_ c:\windows\system32\config.nt
expand CD-ROM Drive Letter:\i386\autoexec.nt_ c:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt
expand CD-ROM Drive Letter:\i386\command.co_ c:\windows\system32\command.co
exit


5. Try to install any program or to run any application. If everything is OK you don't need to continue but if programs and installation again don't work continue to next steps,


6. Because command.com was not repaired you need to unpack him from Windows XP installation CD,


6. Go to Start and choose Run...


7. In Run... window type Notepad and press OK (Enter),


8. Type next commands in Notepad window:
dos=high, umb
device=%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\himem.sys
files=40



9. Now go to File... menu than choose Save As...,


10. For file name type Config.nt and click Save. Close Notepad,


11. Now again open Notepad,


12. Type next rows:
@echo off
lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\mscdexnt.exe
lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\redir
lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\dosx
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 P330 T3



13. Again choose File... and Save As...,


14. For file name type "Autoexec.nt" and click on Save. Close Notepad,


15. Now open Windows Explorer (Start -->Run... type explorer and press OK), find file which you did made in last few steps,


16. Mark both files and choose option Copy,


17. Go to Windows directory than open "System32". Right mouse click on empty spot inside that folder and choose option Paste,


18. Those same steps you need to do with command.com file. You need to find him and use Copy command than go to System32 folder and there use command Paste,


19. Restart your computer and try to install or run any program.


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Portable Firefox 3.0 Final / 2.0.0.14

Portable Firefox description

A fully functional package of Firefox optimized for use on a USB key drive

Portable Firefox is a fully functional solution of Firefox optimized for use on a USB key drive.

Portable Firefox has some specially-selected optimizations to make it perform faster and extend the life of your USB key as well as a specialized launcher that will allow most of your favorite extensions to work as you switch computers.

Portable Firefox will also work from a CDRW drive (in packet mode), ZIP drives, external hard drives, some MP3 players, flash RAM cards and more.
get it now.......(7.99 MB)

AVG Free Edition 8.0 Build 100.1323

AVG Free Edition description
A free antivirus tool for protection against computer viruses

AVG Free Edition is the well-known anti-virus protection tool. AVG Free is available free-of-charge to home users for the life of the product!

Rapid virus database updates are available for the lifetime of AVG Free Edition, providing a high-level of detection capability that millions of users around the world trust to protect their PCs. AVG Free is easy-to-use and will not slow your system down (low system resource requirements).

What's New in This Release:

· Improvements :
· Small improvements in installation process.
· Improvements in Resident Shield scanning.
· Fixed Bugs :
· Fixed problem with missing help in Rescue Disk Wizard (Windows 98 and ME only).
· Fixed problem with displaying Resident Shield notification windows in some cases.
· Fixed wrong saving of proxy_host value in advanced AntiSpam settings.
· Fixed problem with default Resident Shield extension list settings after installation.
· Fixed problem with cleaning files with read-only attribute.... [ read full changelog ]

Download Free (46.5 MB)

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Build 5512 FINAL

Windows XP SP3 description
Microsoft periodically combines updates, fixes, and other improvements into a single package - Service Pack

Microsoft develops updates, fixes, and other improvements that address issues reported by the company’s customers and partners. To make it easier for customers to get these updates and enhancements, Microsoft periodically combines them into a single package, and makes that package available for all Windows customers.

These packages are called service packs", Microsoft revealed in the introduction of the Overview of Windows XP Service Pack 3. With the Release Candidates of Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 heading to increased testing pools the past week, and with Microsoft cooking the first public build of the first refresh for its latest Windows client, the official overview for XP SP3 is the only crumb from the service pack fiesta over at the Redmond company. The Release Candidate of XP SP3 in a pre-final stage has already shipped to MSDN and TechNet subscribers.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 - ISO-9660 CD Image File

Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system. This update also includes a small number of new functionalities, which do not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system.

This file is a CD image file for users who wish to create an update CD for Windows XP Service Pack 3, for example for offline installation by administrators.

Note: Customers running Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) are advised to install a hotfix for a Microsoft Dynamics RMS issue prior to installing Windows XP SP3.


Windows XP Service Pack 3 MUI Pack Update

Install this package to get the Microsoft Multilingual User Interface Pack (MUI) Update for Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3). The best way to ensure you get Windows XP Service Pack 3 is by turning on the Automatic Updates feature in Windows XP.

Download Now (316 MB)

SP3 UxTheme Patcher 1.2

SP3 UxTheme Patcher description
This little patch will enable the user to have his own unsigned themes ready to use on the new Service Pack 3 install.

The SP3 UxTheme application was designed to be a little tool that will help the user create his own unsigned themes ready to use on the new Service Pack 3 install.

Requirements:

· Windows XP SP3 RTM version 5512

What's New in This Release:

· Language independent
· Better detection of patched or unpatched file.
· More safety checks
· "Lost hope" key to restore the original file.... [ read full changelog ]

Download Free (282 KB)

Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility 9.0.0.1008

Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility description
The Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility installs Windows* INF files to the target system

The Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility will install Windows INF files to the target OS. These files outline to the operating system how to configure the Intel chipset components in order to ensure that the following features function properly:

· Core PCI and ISAPNP Services
· AGP Support
· IDE/ATA33/ATA66/ATA100 Storage Support
· SATA Storage Support
· USB Support
· Identification of Intel(R) Chipset Components in the Device Manager

Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility can be installed in three modes: Interactive, Silent and Unattended Preload. Interactive Mode requires user input during installation; Silent Mode and Unattended Preload do not.

This software also offers a set of command line flags, which provide additional installation choices. The command line flags are not case sensitive.

Download Now (2.17 MB)

Firefox 3.0 Final / 2.0.0.14 / 1.5.0.12

Mozilla Firefox Final description

The browser provides virus, popup and spyware protection in a simple, easy to use tabbed interface

The Firefox project (formerly Firebird, which was formerly Phoenix) is a redesign of Mozilla's browser component, written using the XUL user interface language and designed to be cross-platform.

Firefox is a small, fast and very easy to use browser that offers many advantages over other web browsers, such as the ability to block pop-up windows and the tabbed browsing.

Requirements:

· Pentium 233 MHz (Recommended: Pentium 500MHz or greater)
· 64 MB RAM (Recommended: 128 MB RAM or greater)
· 52 MB hard drive space


Visit Firefox website | View release notes | Download free (7.14 MB)

Ready for the new Windows Server 2008

New Ways to Find a Windows Server 2008 Partner Near You

Microsoft has just released new and exciting ways for you to find a partner both locally and globally to assist you in awareness, migration, and deployment services.

• Just Released: Speak with a Microsoft Representative Live

  Begin an online chat with a Microsoft representative who, after asking some qualifying questions about your project and environment, can match you with suitable partners.

• Have an Infrastructure Partner Contact Me

  By taking a short self-assessment, you can enable Microsoft to match you with suitable Windows Server 2008 partners for your specific needs.

• Microsoft Solution Marketplace

  You can search the Solution Marketplace for solutions and services offered by our Windows Server 2008 Partners that can meet the needs and requirements for your IT projects.

• Windows Server Catalog

  The Windows Server Catalog is the Microsoft single online source for finding hardware and software that are compatible with Windows Server 2008.

Want Microsoft to Pay a Partner to Help Your Deployment?

With each qualifying purchase, Microsoft may pay you partner subsidy dollars to use toward the purchase of additional services and products from a partner to enrich and help with a successful deployment of the solution in your small or medium-sized business. Learn more at http://www.microsoftincentives.com/bigeasy/.

• Looking for information about Windows Server 2003? Click here.

• Outside the United States? See Windows Server 2008 sites worldwide.

Office Accounting Express 2008

Office Accounting Express Overview

Microsoft® Office Accounting Express is an easy to use accounting package that works with other Office applications you already know.

• Save time on everyday tasks

  • Get started in minutes with a step by step interview wizard
  • Create invoices, track time and expenses and bank online
  • Enter data once and share it seamlessly with other Microsoft Office system programs
  • Manage payroll and accept credit cards with affordable add-on services that save you time and money

• Get a complete view of your business

  • See customer, vendor, employee and financial data in one place
  • Get business insights with customizable reports
  • Easily share your books with your accountant through Office Live

• Grow your business online

  • List items on eBay, manage sales and download transactions
  • Email invoices and get paid faster with PayPal
  • Process credit card payments directly in Office Accounting

Download FREE | Download Datasheet