Windows 7 Archives | Ricmedia PC Help

Set custom DNS servers on Windows (all versions)

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38P8qD8ps1s]

Setting custom DNS servers on your Windows PC can improve performance, increase your privacy and thwart Geo-blocking for some websites and services, and I will show you how to do it in this guide.

Normally your ISP sets your DNS servers via your modem or upstream connection, but you don’t have to use these, and it’s highly recommended you change to free, public DNS servers that don’t necessarily track you.

Before changing DNS servers you’ll need to find a third-party DNS provider, there are plenty of good (and free) services available too. I recommend Google DNS which is what I use and have never had an issue. I will list here the most popular DNS providers:

GOOGLE
Primary IPv4: 8.8.8.8
Secondary IPv4: 8.8.4.4
Preferred IPv6: 2001:4860:4860::8888
Alternate IPv6: 2001:4860:4860::8844
OPENDNS
Primary: 208.67.222.222
Secondary: 208.67.220.220
Preferred IPv6: 2620:0:ccc::2
Alternate IPv6: 2620:0:ccd::2
DNS.WATCH
Primary: 84.200.69.80
Secondary: 84.200.70.40
LEVEL3
Primary: 209.244.0.3
Secondary: 209.244.0.4
NORTON
Primary: 199.85.126.10
Secondary: 199.85.127.10
COMMODO
Primary: 8.26.56.26
Secondary: 8.20.247.20
VERISIGN
Primary: 64.6.64.6
Secondary: 64.6.65.6
MORE SERVERS…
See: Free and Public DNS Servers
See: Public DNS Server List (extensive)

These instructions apply to Windows XP, VISTA, 7, 8.1 and Windows 10. Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

How to set custom DNS servers on Windows

Click Start > and search for "Control Panel", then click the "Desktop App" result For Windows XP/Vista/7 go to Start > Control Panel
Click Network and Internet
Now click Network and Sharing Center
Click on Local Area Connection or Wireless Network Connection (it might named something else, but click on anyway)
In the Status window, click on Properties button
Click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then click on Properties button
Select Use the following DNS server addresses option, then enter your custom IPv4 DNS server IP addresses, then click OK
(optional) Click on Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), then click Properties
Select the Use the following DNS server addresses option, then enter your custom IPv6 DNS server IP addresses, then click OK
Click on OK to close the Properties window
Click the Close button to exit the Status window
Type "CMD" in your desktop search box, then right-click on Command Prompt result and choose to Run as Administrator
Click Yes to allow the app to run
At the command prompt type: ipconfig /flushdns then hit Enter key
You should see a success message, you can now close the Command Prompt window
Your DNS servers are now set, congrats!

Rollback Windows 10 to Windows 7 or 8

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvxslZeuew4]

If you’ve recently taken the free upgrade to Windows 10 and for one reason or another, wish to rollback or revert to your previous operating system (Windows 8 or Windows 7) then I will show you how to do so here. It’s actually a pretty easy process too.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Rollback Windows 10 to Windows 7 or Windows 8

Backup your data before attempting a rollback
Click on the Windows Start icon
Click the Settings menu item
Now click the Update & Security icon
Click on the Recovery menu item
Look for the Go back to Windows 7/8 item
Click the Get started button and follow the prompts
Windows will then rollback to your previous OS version
You PC may restart several times, please wait for the final confirmation message
All done!

Show hidden files & folders in Windows

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=106uBxh0AC4]

Sometimes you need to view, edit or even delete hidden files and folders on Windows, but by default, Windows hides some system files (applications can also create hidden files). But there is a way to show these hidden files/folders and I’ll show you how in this guide.

Works for all version of Windows.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Show hidden files & folders on Windows (all versions)

Depending on your version of Windows:
1. Win XP/Vista/7: Click the Windows Start icon
2. Win 8/8.1: Search for "Control Panel" & click the Control Panel result
Click on the Control Panel menu item
Depending on your view settings:
1. (In Category view) Click the Appearance & Personalization icon, then click the Folder Options icon
2. (In icon view) Click on the Folder Options icon
Click on the View tab
Under the Hidden files & folders item, select the "Show hidden files, folders & drives"
(optional) Uncheck the "Hide empty drives in the Computer folder" checkbox
(optional) Uncheck the "Hide extensions of known file types" checkbox
Uncheck the "Hide protected operating system files" checkbox
Click Yes to Alert Warning
Now click on Apply, and then OK to save settings
All done!
NOTE* I recommend setting the "Hide protected operating system files" back to hidden after you have finished working with hidden files/folders

Perform a Disk Check on Windows (all versions)

Sometimes it’s necessary to run a Disk Check on Windows if your hard drive and/or system is throwing up errors, crashing/freezing or constantly accessing the hard drive (and therefore slowing the system down). It can take a while but it will be well worth your time and solves many issues. It’s also pretty easy and I will show you how in this guide.

Perform Disk Check on Windows – Choose Version

Perform a Disk Check on Windows 7

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjEWlTfiq58]

Sometimes it’s necessary to run a Windows 7 Disk Check if your hard drive and/or system is throwing up errors, crashing/freezing or constantly accessing the hard drive (and therefore slowing the system down). It can take a while but it will be well worth your time and solves many issues. It’s also pretty easy and I will show you how in this guide.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Perform Disk Check on Windows 7

Click on the Start Menu icon bottom-left
Click on the Computer menu item
Look for "Local Disk (C:)" under Hard Disk Drives
Right-click on the drive icon and choose Properties
Click on the Tools tab
Click the Check Now… button under Error Checking, then Continue
Check the "Automatically fix file system errors" checkbox
Check the "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" checkbox
Now click the Start button, if an alert pops up, click Schedule disk check
Restart your computer (do not press any keys or "skip disk check")
It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours so be patient
Your PC will return to logon screen when completed
All done!