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Windows OS
How To Connect Windows 7 Media Center To an Xbox 360 and Stream Media
Feb 3rd
If you’re new to Windows 7 and own an Xbox 360, you might want the ability to watch the Media Center Content from Your Xbox. Here we take a look at how easy it is to set it up using Media Center Extenders.
The cool thing about Windows 7 Media Center is you can access your movies, music, and other digital media from it with your Xbox. Here we’ll walk you through the process of adding media to the Windows Media Center (WMC) Libraries then setting up your PC and Xbox to talk with each other so your Xbox 360 can access those Libraries.
How to Configure Windows 7 Updates
Jan 20th
If you’ve been a Windows user since XP, you probably know the importance of keeping the OS up-to-date. If you’re new to Windows or more specifically Windows 7, here we’ll take some time to go over the importance of making sure you have Windows Updates configured properly.
If you want to help make sure that your PC is is more stable and less vulnerable to malicious attacks, the 2 main things to keep up-to-date is your Antivirus software and Windows Updates. The 2nd Tuesday of each month Microsoft has what’s called “Patch-Tuesday”. This is the day when Microsoft releases patches to improve stability, fixes to known vulnerabilities, and zero-day attacks. Let’s take a look at the process if you’ve just re-installed Windows 7.
Windows Update
To check to make sure your Windows Update settings are on…click on Start>>All Programs and scroll to Windows Update.
![sshot-2011-01-20-[00-16-18]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/sshot-2011-01-20-00-16-18.png)
Getting Started with Windows Live Photo Gallery 2011
Dec 30th
![Copy of sshot-2010-12-30-[16-42-52]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Copy-of-sshot-2010-12-30-16-42-522.png "Copy of sshot-2010-12-30-[16-42-52]")
Over the past few weeks we’ve been covering the different offerings available in Windows Live Essentials 2011. Another program we’ll take a look at this week is Live Photo Gallery 2011. Photo Gallery is a set of tools for organizing, sharing, touching up you photos and publishing them online. It has a lot of features not included in previous versions such as the ability to create Panoramas, movies, slideshows, and actually has an interesting search feature using Facial Recognition.
Install & Setup Live Photo Gallery 2011
Installation is simple and very similar to any of the other Live Essentials programs you may have installed already. Right-click on the Windows Live Installer file and click install as Administrator.
![sshot-2010-12-30-[15-57-56]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sshot-2010-12-30-15-57-56.png "sshot-2010-12-30-[15-57-56]")
Remember that you aren’t required to install everything in the Live Essentials Suite…only what you want.
![sshot-2010-12-30-[16-00-48]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sshot-2010-12-30-16-00-48.png "sshot-2010-12-30-[16-00-48]")
As we mentioned in our previous post about Live Movie Maker, the two install together.
To The Cloud! How Do You Really Do That?
Dec 25th
What does that really mean? In a very catchy ad campaign, Microsoft touts some of it’s newest technologies (and some old one’s too!) in an attempt to impress you enough to move “to the cloud!”
The only problem is that they don’t really tell you how to do it! Our crack team of technologist get to the bottom of each commercial and tell you how it’s done. We have imbedded each one for you to review. Software applications needed are listed below each video.
Sharing a Youtube Video (Most likely made with Windows Live Movie Maker) through Windows Live Messenger
Sharing Windows Live Office documents on SkyDrive or sharing Office documents using Windows Live Mesh.
Windows Live Mesh to pull up the screen of the PC at home and simple copy and paste to the local laptop to view with Windows Media Center. Window Media Center was also used to record the TV content at home.
Create and Edit Home Videos with Windows Live Movie Maker
Dec 21st
Over the past few weeks we’ve been taking a closer look at the apps in Windows Live Essentials 2011. For this week’s tutorial we’ll take a look at getting started with Windows Live Movie Maker 2011.
Installation and Setup
Download the Windows Live Essentials 2011 Installer file and kick off the process.
![sshot-2010-12-17-[12]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sshot-2010-12-17-12.png "sshot-2010-12-17-[12]")
Again, it’s worth noting that you aren’t required to install all of the apps in this suite, only the ones you want. Since we’re covering Live Movie Maker make sure to select Photo Gallery and Movie Maker then wait while it installs.
![sshot-2010-12-17-[23-31-37]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sshot-2010-12-17-23-31-37.png "sshot-2010-12-17-[23-31-37]")
Note: You will need to install Photo Gallery and Movie Maker together, but we’ll just be covering Movie Maker in this article.
![sshot-2010-12-17-[23-33-10]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sshot-2010-12-17-23-33-10.png "sshot-2010-12-17-[23-33-10]")
When installation is complete a restart is required.
![sshot-2010-12-17-[23-37-24]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sshot-2010-12-17-23-37-24.png "sshot-2010-12-17-[23-37-24]")
When you come back from the restart you’ll find Live Photo Gallery and Movie Maker in the Start Menu.
Getting Started with Windows Live Writer
Dec 17th
![Copy of sshot-2010-12-16-[9]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Copy-of-sshot-2010-12-16-9.png "Copy of sshot-2010-12-16-[9]")
Recently we showed you how to setup Windows Live Essentials 2011. We also took a closer look at one of the apps – the Bing Bar, and today we will take a look at Windows Live Writer which is a valuable program for bloggers.
Installing Windows Live Writer
If you haven’t installed it already just download and kick off the Windows Live Essentials installer. Remember you don’t need to install everything in the suite and when the install kicks off, select Choose the programs you want to install.
![sshot-2010-12-11-[1]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sshot-2010-12-11-1.png "sshot-2010-12-11-[1]")
Now select the programs you want to install. In this example we’re just going to install Windows Live Writer (WLW).
![sshot-2010-12-11-[2]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sshot-2010-12-11-2.png "sshot-2010-12-11-[2]")
![sshot-2010-12-11-[3]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sshot-2010-12-11-3.png "sshot-2010-12-11-[3]")
After installation is complete you’ll find Live Writer in the Start Menu.
![sshot-2010-12-11-[4]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sshot-2010-12-11-4.png "sshot-2010-12-11-[4]")
Windows Live Essentials 2011 Bing Bar
Dec 5th
During last week’s inaugural podcast we talked about Windows Live Essentials 2011. One of the features in the suite is the Bing Toolbar. Even though none of us on the show use it (or any toolbar for that matter), it doesn’t mean the average user might not find it useful.
There are some interesting things you can do with the Bing Bar and it does allows you access to information online quickly. Here we’ll take a look at what you can expect from the Bing Bar, and hopefully provide enough information so you can make your own decision on whether you want to use it or not.
Installing the Bing Bar
Like we talked about on the podcast and showed you in our overview of Live Essentials 2011, you don’t need to install everything in the suite right away. So in this example we already have Mail and Photo Gallery & Movie Maker installed. All you need to do is run the Live Essentials installer again and select what you want.
Install the Old Version of Windows Live Essentials on XP
Nov 28th
If you’re an XP user, unfortunately you won’t be able to install and upgrade to Windows Live Essentials 2011. XP users can still install the previous version through Windows Updates, and we’ll take a quick look at it.
2011 on XP – Sorry No Love from Microsoft
If you try to install Windows Live Essentials 2011 on XP which we’ve previously covered for Vista and Windows 7, unfortunately you’re out of luck. You can download the installer file, but when you try to run it, you’ll be greeted with a similar error.
![sshot-2010-11-28-[19-43-28]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/sshot-2010-11-28-19-43-28.png "sshot-2010-11-28-[19-43-28]")
Install Windows Live Essentials on XP
The good news for XP users is you can still download the previous version through Windows Updates…which you should be running regularly anyway…but it’s not an essential update. To install it, launch Windows Update from the Start Menu…
![sshot-2010-11-28-[20-39-52]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/sshot-2010-11-28-20-39-52.png "sshot-2010-11-28-[20-39-52]")
Or through Internet Explorer from the Tools Menu.
Reinstall Applications on Your Home Computer Easily with Ninite
Nov 27th
Have you recently needed to reformat your home computer’s hard drive? You saved your data, but the idea of reinstalling all the applications seems daunting. Enter ninite.com…which is a simple web service that will reinstall popular freeware apps with just a few clicks.
Using Ninite
Using ninite.com couldn’t be easier, just navigate to the website and select he apps you want to install. Everything on the page is separated into easy to find categories from browsers to music, to plenty of other utilities.
![sshot-2010-11-27-[1]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/sshot-2010-11-27-1.png "sshot-2010-11-27-[1]")
These are only a couple shots of what it available on the site. For more on what is available, head over to ninite.com
![sshot-2010-11-27-[2]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/sshot-2010-11-27-2.png "sshot-2010-11-27-[2]")
After you select the apps you want to install, head toward the bottom of the page, and get your installer. One of the cool things to keep in mind is, they don’t install any crapware such as toolbars or other wanted spyware with the apps.
Getting Started with Windows Live Mail on Windows 7
Nov 22nd
Previously we showed you the basics of Windows Live Essentials 2011 and the programs it includes. Today we’ll take a closer look at getting started with Windows Live Mail on Windows 7.
Install & Setup Your Live Mail
If you haven’t done so already, download and install the Live Mail from the Windows Live Essentials 2011 Suite.
![sshot-2010-11-18-[16-29-54]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/sshot-2010-11-18-16-29-541.png "sshot-2010-11-18-[16-29-54]")
After it’s installed you’ll find Live Mail in the Start Menu, just click to launch it.
![sshot-2010-11-20-[22-36-58]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/sshot-2010-11-20-22-36-58.png "sshot-2010-11-20-[22-36-58]")
Setup Live Mail with Live or Hotmail Account
Here we’ll setup a Live account, but you can also setup Gmail and many others. We’ll be taking a look at setting up other accounts in the future where you might need to manually configure the settings. The first time you launch Windows Live Mail you’ll be prompted to setup your email address then click Next.
