Windows Archives

How to restart Windows via RDP

When you’re connected via RDP to a remote Windows machine, the Restart and Shutdown options are not there. Instead they’ve been replaced with only a lonely disconnect option to end your session. To restart or shutdown your remote machine we’ll have to use the command line’s shutdown command. Here’s how.   At the Command Prompt … Read more

How to auto-start programmes in Windows

Remember the humble Autostart folder in Windows 3.1? You could simply add shortcuts to your favourite “apps” or documents to it which would automatically launch when Windows started. Except we didn’t call them “apps” in those days. It’s still possible to use this handy feature in Windows XP, Windows 7 and even Windows 8.1 – … Read more

What are the credentials to your AirPort Time Capsule

There is something I keep forgetting time and time again: the credentials to my AirPort Time Capsule. It serves as my router, Time Machine Backup disk and even as shared storage for internal use, thanks to an attached USB drive. All our Macs connect to both drives automatically and without fail – but every once … Read more

Workaround: Parallels Desktop is not seeing my DVD Drive in Mountain Lion

Today I wanted to install Windows 7 using Parallels Desktop 7 on my Mac, but sadly I always got an error message every time I tried. It was saying it could not connect to my DVD drive – which clearly my Mac could.

Doing some research it turns out that several people had this problem, however I didn’t understand the instructions given by Parallels very well. Getting frustrated I decided to write my own, and give you some pointers where else to look for help.

For this scenario I’m using a DVD copy of Windows 7 Home Premium and the latest version of Parallels Desktop 7.0.15107. Parallels Desktop 8 is already out but I’ve decided not to upgrade at this point.

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