Showing posts with label Windows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Windows. Show all posts

Monday, January 19, 2009

How to disable that annoying PC speaker beep

I've had the pleasant experience more than once where I'm sitting in a meeting quietly using my computer (with my sound muted) and there will be a windows warning that pops up causing a "Beep" sound on my computer. The sound doesn't come from my speakers, but from the speaker on the motherboard itself.
Definitely annoying and I wonder why Microsoft didn't disable this sound as well when you hit mute, but here is how you do it:
  1. Right-click on "Computer" or "My Computer" from the start menu and select "Manage"
  2. From the left bar, find the "Device Manager" node and select it.
  3. From the top menu bar, select "View" and then "Show hidden devices". This will cause a new node named "Non-Plug and Play Drivers" to be displayed in the main area.
  4. Expand the new node "Non-Plug and Play Drivers"
  5. Right-click on the node named "Beep" and select "Properties"
  6. Select the "Driver" tab and change the Startup Type to be "Disabled"
  7. Click OK.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

How to move an off-screen window back on-screen

With anybody who hooks up external monitors or uses multi-monitor displays, I'm sure you have encountered the situation when the window / program you are trying to access is outside of the visual display area. I've figured out a way over the years to quickly bring the window back in the display area. Here is how you do it:
  1. Right-click on the window you are trying to access and click "Move"
  2. Hit any one of the arrow keys on the keyboard. (This will lock the window to your mouse cursor)
  3. Move your mouse around to bring it back within the display area.

I'm not sure why hitting an arrow key on the keyboard has this effect, but it does work and is alot faster than resizing your desktop or restarting your computer.