In this post, I describe how I fixed an issue whereby my Windows 7 virtual machine did not boot after I installed VMware Tools v12.4.5. Cause The issue was caused by driver signature enforcement and a lack of SHA-2 code signing support in my Windows 7 VM. According to this post from Broadcom (who now own VMware), some driver packages updated in VMware Tools version 11.1.0 are signed by Microsoft using SHA-2.  My Windows 7 VM was previously running VMware Tools v11.0.0. This issue could also occur on Windows Server 2008 R2. Resolution In order to be able to boot the virtual machine: 1. During the boot sequence, keep pressing the F8 key to enter Advanced Boot Options 2. Select Disable Driver Signature Enforcement This should allow the VM to boot but it is not a permanent fix. 3. To permanently fix the issue, once Windows has loaded, install the following updates: - SHA-2 code signing support update -  Servicing stack update The driver signature verification should now pass and the virtu

In this post, I summarise how to use Google Trends for Google and YouTube SEO.  This post summarises the Google Trends for SEO video posted by Google Search Central . Introduction Goal: Produce content inspired by search interest. SEO focusses on: Helping search engines understand your content (in-page optimization) Helping users find your site by improving your presence in search results (off-page optimization) No special secrets that will rank your site first on Google!  But there are best practices that can make it easier for search engines to crawl, index and understand your content.  The most important SEO techniques are in the SEO starter guide . SEO techniques involve: Technical or policy requirements (see Search Console Training ) Content optimization Google Trends helps SEOs: Stay up-to-date with rising topics and terms Perform keyword research Create a content calendar Plan video strategy on YouTube Staying up-to-date with rising trends One of the important aspects of SEO i

In this post, I describe how to show the Recent Places from Windows 7 Favorites on Windows 10. Bonus : I also describe how to show Recent Items which displays recent files and folders. Resolution To show Recent Places on Windows 10: 1. Copy and paste the following text %windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{22877a6d-37a1-461a-91b0-dbda5aaebc99}   into a Run prompt then press OK: 2. Recent folders  is shown (this is the same as Recent Places ): 3. Left click drag and drop the Recent folders text from the address bar over Quick access in the tree view on the left to pin Recent folders to Quick Access: Bonus To show Recent Items in Windows 10: 1. Copy and paste the following text  Recent items   into a Run prompt then press OK: 2. Recent Items is shown: 3. Drag and drop the Recent Items text from the address bar to Quick access to pin Recent Items to Quick Access. 4. Click the Date modified column header to sort the items and show the most recently modified files and folders at the top.

In this post, I describe how to silence the Bedtime mode notification on Android version 14. When Bedtime mode turned on, I got a notification which included a sound.  This was not desirable as I was going to bed and my wife was already in bed and I did not want to disturb her! Resolution Fortunately, silencing the notification was straight forward. 1. Drag down from the top of the screen on your phone to view your notifications 2. Find the  Bedtime mode is on  notification 3. Press and hold the  Bedtime mode is on  notification to open the sound settings. 4. Select  Silent  to silence future notifications:

In this post, I describe how I fixed the error: The file system on the system storage is corrupted and will be restored. This error occured when turning on my Playstation 3.  The restore process took hours and when I returned to check it, the same error appeared. Resolution To resolve the issue: 1. Hold the Playstation 3 power button down until it beeps once, then once again, then twice.  Release the power button when following message is shown: 2. Connect the controller using a USB cable, and then press the PS button to enter Safe Mode : 3. I was happy to lose my data so I selected 5. Restore PS3 System .

 In this post, I describe how to delete duplicate custom notification sounds or phone ringtones in Android v14. This issue can occur if you've used  Add notification  to add a custom sound and added the same sound more than once. Resolution To delete duplicate sounds: 1. Open the  Files  app. 2. Find the duplicate files (mine appeared in  Recent  as I had added them recently): 3. Press the  3 vertical dots button  in the bottom right of each the duplicate file then select  Move to bin . 4. The duplicate sounds are now removed from the list in  Settings : Related Posts -  Add custom phone ringtone or notification sound to Android v14

In this post, I describe how to add a custom phone ringtone or notification sound to a phone running Android version 14. Resolution To add a custom phone ringtone or notification sound: 1. Go to Settings then press Sound and vibration : 2. Press Phone ringtone or Notification sound : 3. Scroll down to the bottom of the list then press  Add notification : 4. Once you have selected the custom notification sound you would like, this is not automatically selected .  You need to find the sound you added in the list then select it in order for this sound to be used. 5. Press OK to apply your change. Related Posts -  Delete duplicate custom notification sounds or phone ringtones in Android v14

In this post, I describe how to add a filter to more than one column in Microsoft Excel. If you just select one column then press Filter , Excel will only apply a filter to that column: Resolution To apply a filter to more than one column: 1. Ensure there is no filter currently applied and that only a single cell is selected: 2. Go to the Data tab on the ribbon then press the Filter button.  A filter is then added to every column: 3. Use the drop down arrows to apply a filter to each column:

In this post, I describe how to take a full screen screenshot of a webpage using the web browser Google Chrome. A full size screenshot is useful if you want to capture the whole page rather than just the part that you can see due to the constraints of the size of the browser window. Resolution To take a full screen screenshot in Google Chrome: 1. Open Google Chrome and navigate to the webpage you'd like to take a screenshot of 2. Open Developer Tools , either by clicking the 3 vertical dots button at the top right of Google Chrome then selecting More tools then Developer tools or by pressing F12 on the keyboard. 3. Open the Device Toolbar , either by selecting the device icon at the top of the Developer Tools window or by pressing Ctrl + Shift + M 4. Take a full size screenshot by pressing the down arrow icon then Capture full size screenshot .

In this post, I describe how to add a Bcc (blind copy) to an email in Microsoft Outlook so that you can specify people who will receive the email secretly. Resolution To add a Bcc to an email in Microsoft Outlook: 1. In the new email window, press Options on the ribbon at the top: 2. Press the Bcc button: 3. The Bcc field is now shown below the To and Cc fields: Once the option to show the Bcc field is toggled on, it will also show for future emails. Keyboard Shortcut You can also access the Bcc button via the keyboard by pressing ALT + P : Then press the B key.

In this post, I describe how to search along the route  when you are getting directions using Google Maps. Resolution (mobile app) As per the screenshot above, to search along the route in Google Maps in the mobile app: 1. Press the 3 vertical dots button to the right of the first direction location 2. Press Search along route  from the context menu The following text box is shown: Resolution (computer browser) If you're using a computer and browsing to  https://google.com/maps then you can simply click into the Search along the route text box: