How to use Windows Movie Maker

Description: This article will walk you through your first time use of Windows Movie Maker for a new Powerspec computer.
Windows includes a basic tool for making videos and slides from photos. This will introduce this tool and the initial steps in using it.

1. Open the Start button, then select all programs, then Windows Live Movie Maker
   
   


2. When you first open this you will be asked to accept the user agreement
   
   


3. After accepting this, you will see the opening page. We will create a simple slide movie by adding some photos together.
4. Click on the button "Add Videos and Photos". We will add several photos.
   
   


5. Select the photos by clicking on "Pictures" in the left column
   
   


6. The photos go into the editing section of Movie Maker on the right and appear in the video presentation section on the left.
   
   


7. You can add a title, caption or credits. These can be placed between video or photo clips.
   
   


8. Double clicking on a photo will bring up the duration the photo will play. This defaults to 7 seconds.
9. The final basic step will be to save the movie. Clicking this button will give several options for saving your movie or slide in the right size and format for what you want.
   
   


10. More information can be found from Microsoft at http://explore.live.com/windows-live-movie-maker

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Creating a Personalized Desktop Background Slideshow in Windows 7

You want to have a desktop background that changes like a slideshow from your own pictures.

1. Right-click on your desktop then select Personalize.
   
   
   
   
   
2. In the lower left of the Change the visuals and sounds of your computer window click on Desktop Background to open the Choose your desktop background window.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. If the pictures you want to use are not displayed, click the Browse button to navigate to the location of the folder containing the pictures. Once you have the correct folder selected, click OK. The pictures will be displayed in the Choose your desktop background window.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. If you want to use all the pictures in the folder click the Select all button.
   
   
   
   
   
5. If you only want to use certain pictures, click the box to the upper left of the pictures you want to use.
   
   
   
   
   
6. In the lower left of the Choose your desktop window is the Pictures position selections. This determines how your pictures will be displayed. For pictures, you will generally want to choose Fit. You can use Center if the pictures are all the correct size for your desktop.
   
   
   
   
   
7. To the right of Picture Position is the Change picture every: drop down list. Click the currently selected time interval and choose the time interval the background should change at.
   
   
   
   
   
8. If you want to display the pictures in a random order, click the box next to Shuffle to place a check in it.
   
   
   
   
   
9. If you want to change the background color, click Change background color. For any unfilled space around the picture, this will be the color displayed. Click OK after selecting your background color to return to the Choose your desktop background window.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. If you are satisfied with your changes, click Save changes.