Installing software is only one part of software management. Often after you install software, you’ll need to make configuration changes to your computer or the software itself. You may want files of a certain type to open in the software when you click or double-click the files in Windows Explorer. You may need to reconfigure, repair, or uninstall the software. Alternatively, you may need to resolve problems with the way the software starts or runs. I discuss all of these tasks in the sections that follow.
Assigning Default Programs
When you install productivity applications, such as Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop, the installation process may configure your computer so that certain types of files automatically open in the application when you click or double-click it in Windows Explorer. The installation process may also configure your computer so that when you insert media containing music, video, or pictures, the media is opened and played automatically using a particular application.
Associating an application with particular file types and running an application for certain types of media are separate features. You make files with a specific extension or type open in a specific program by associating the file extension or type with the program. You make media on CDs, DVDs, or portable devices open and play in a particular program by making a program the default for AutoPlay.
You configure file associations and default programs either only for yourself or globally for all users of your computer. Your individual default settings override global default settings. For example, you might want Apple iTunes to be your default audio player, but the global default for all users could be set to use Windows Media Player.
Setting your default programs
You can configure your default programs by completing the following steps:
Click Start and then click Default Programs.
Click “Set your default programs.”
As shown in Figure 4-7, select a program you want to work with from the Programs list.
If you want the program to be the default for all the file types and protocols it supports, click “Set this program as default” and click OK. Skip the remaining steps.
If you want the program to be the default for specific file types and protocols, click “Choose defaults for this program.”
As shown in Figure 4-8, select the file extensions and protocols for which the program should be the default.
Click Save.
Figure 4-7.Selecting the program you want to work with
Figure 4-8. Configuring file extensions to associate with the program
You can configure global default programs—default programs for all the users of your computer—by completing the following steps:
Log on to your computer using an account with administrator privileges.
Click Start and then click Default Programs. Click Set Program Access and Computer Defaults.
As shown in Figure 4-9, choose a configuration from one of the following options:
Microsoft Windows
Sets the currently installed Microsoft Windows programs as the defaults for web browsing, sending and receiving email, playing media files, instant messaging, and Java Virtual Machine support.
Enables access to other programs. If you’ve installed other programs, you can configure your computer to use the currently installed program for a particular task. For example, if you installed Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook is configured automatically for use as your default email program. To change this, you would click the “E-mail program” list and choose Windows Mail or another program.
Non-Microsoft
Sets the currently installed non-Microsoft Windows programs as the defaults for web browsing, sending and receiving email, playing media files, instant messaging, and Java Virtual Machine support.
Removes access to Microsoft Windows programs if you’ve configured non-Microsoft Windows programs as the defaults. For example, if you installed Mozilla as your web browser and set this as the default, the Non-Microsoft option removes access to Internet Explorer.
Custom
Enables you to choose programs as the defaults for web browsing, sending and receiving email, playing media files, instant messaging, and Java Virtual Machine support.
Each program available to use as a default has a related “Enable access to this program” checkbox. If you clear this checkbox, you remove access to the program when a viable alternative is installed.
Once you install software, you can manage its installation using the Programs and Features page in the Control Panel. More than any other version of Windows, Windows Vista takes advantage of the features of the installer program used with your software. This means you’ll have more configuration options than you otherwise would.
Figure 4-9. Choosing your computer's global defaults
For example, previously, most software allowed you to rerun Setup to uninstall the program but didn’t necessarily allow you to rerun Setup to change or repair the software. Windows Vista surfaces these features to make it easier to manage your software.
You can use the Programs and Features page to reconfigure, repair, or uninstall software by following these steps:
Click Start -> Control Panel.
In the Control Panel, click Uninstall a Program under Programs.
In the Name list, click the program you want to work with and then select one of the following options on the toolbar:
Change, to modify the program’s configuration
Repair, to repair the program’s installation
Uninstall, to uninstall the program
Uninstall/Change, to uninstall or change a program with an older installer program
Software Explorer is a handy tool for working with your computer’s programs. You can start Software Explorer by clicking Start -> All Programs -> Windows Defender. On the Windows Defender toolbar, click Tools -> Software Explorer.
As shown in Figure 4-10, you can use Software Explorer to view and manage your computer’s currently running programs and processes by selecting Currently Running Programs on the Category list. In the Name list, Software Explorer lists programs by name according to the software publisher. The process ID number of the main process under which the program is running follows the program name.
Figure 4-10. Viewing currently running programs
You can use Software Explorer to work with your running programs in several ways. You can view details about a running program’s configuration by clicking the program in the left pane. Table 4-1 provides an overview of the summary details provided for running programs.
Table 4-1. An overview of configuration details for running programs
Configuration aspect
Description
Auto Start
Lists whether the program is configured as a startup program
Classification
Lists the classification of the executable file as either permitted or not permitted
Date Installed
Lists the date and time that the file was installed
Description
Lists a description of the application
Digitally Signed By
Lists the company that digitally signed the program’s executable file
Display Name
Lists the application name that Windows Vista uses
File Name
Lists the executable filename
File Path
Lists the complete file path to the executable file
File Size
Lists the size of the executable file in bytes
File Type
Lists the type of file listed in the File Name field, such as whether a file is an application file or an application extension file
File Version
Lists the version and revision numbers of the executable file
Process ID
Lists the ID number of the main process under which the program is running
Publisher
Lists the company that published the software
Ships with Operating System
Lists whether the executable file ships with the operating system
User Name
Lists the name of the user or system account under which the program is running
You can also use Software Explorer to stop a program, which may be necessary, for instance, if a program is not responding and you want to quit the program. While you can view and work with currently running programs you started, you must have administrator permission to view and work with running programs started by other user or system accounts. To view currently running programs for other users and the operating system, click “Show for all users.” When prompted, provide consent or credentials. You’ll then be able to view and work with all running programs and processes.
When you select a program or process in the left pane, you can terminate the process by clicking End Process and then clicking Yes when prompted to confirm the action. When you click the Task Manager button, Windows Vista opens Task Manager. You can also open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete.
As Figure 4-11 shows, Task Manager has two tabs for working with running programs:
Applications
Lists applications you are currently running by name and status, such as Running or Not Responding. To exit a program, click the program in the Task list and then click End Task.
Processes
Lists all programs and processes you are running on the computer by image name, your username, and resource usage. To stop a process, click the process and then click End Process.
Figure 4-11. Accessing processes in Task Manager
By default, Task Manager’s Processes tab shows only your running processes. To see running processes for all users, you must click “Show processes from all users” and provide consent or credentials when prompted. You’ll then see all processes running on the computer. You will also be able to right-click processes and select from an extended list of management options, including:
Open File Location Opens the folder containing the executable file for the process in Windows Explorer
End Process Tree Stops the process and all dependent processes
Create Dump File Creates a memory dump file for the selected process
Properties Opens the Properties dialog box for the executable file
Please check back next week for the conclusion to this article.
Managing Programs and Features in Windows Vista
