When I open a new tab in IE7 I expect it to show something. By default, however, it loads a blank page (about:blank).

To me, opening a blank page just feels like a bug somehow, even if it does get the tab opened quicker and the chances are the first thing you're going to do is put a URL in the address bar or do a search from your Google toolbar.

So if, like me,  you don't like getting the about:blank page, here's what to do:

1. Choose Tools > Internet Options.
2. In the Tabs section of the General tab, choose Settings.
3. Select the Open home page for new tabs instead of a blank page check box.
4. Click OK.
5. Click OK again on the Internet Options dialog box.
6. Try opening a new tab. You should see you first-choice home page.

7-Zip is an open-source alternative to WinZip. It has a Windows user interface, but the reason I came across it is that it has a command-line interface that allows you to include it in a DOS batch script to create scheduled backups to zip.

As well as zip file, you can also create tar file.

Website: http://www.7-zip.org/

User interface:

There's a new release of the brilliant Windows Live Writer program that provides the best way to update your blog.

The new release is available at:

http://writer.live.com/

The new version allows you to add tables:

maps:

and ariel photos:

Here's a puzzler. I'm working in Remote Desktop as usual, driving my office PC from my home PC. Suddenly, Explorer dies. My Windows Explorer windows disappear, as does the Windows task bar. What do I do? 

Whenever this happens on the local machine I simply Ctrl+Alt+Delete, fire up Task Manager, kill any explorer.exe process that's hanging around and start a new explorer task, at which point the Windows task bar reappears and I can open up a new Windows Explorer window.

But what happens when you're using Remote Desktop? You need to fire up Task Manager but there's no task bar and pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete displays the Task Manager for the local machine.

The answer is simple. Press Ctrl+Alt+End. This displays the Windows Security dialog box, which contains a Task Manager button. Problem solved!

A tip for IE7 users:

If on opening a new tab you see the "about:tabs" page and checking the "Don't show this page again" check box has no effect, you can modify your Registry to fix the problem (looks like something Microsoft forgot to put in there).

Note: Don't attempt the following unless you're familiar with editing the Windows Registry and are aware of the inherent dangers in doing so. Always export a copy of the Registry (or the bit of it you're changing) before making any changes.

1. Go to:
   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing]
2. Add a new DWORD called
   ShowTabsWelcome
   with a value of 0
3. Restart IE7.