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Showing posts with label WINDOWS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WINDOWS. Show all posts

Sunday, March 20, 2016

How to fix Microphone if it makes you sound like a Robot/Alien (Windows 10)

Posted by Aamir
In this tutorial, I am going to show how to fix your Microphone if it makes you sound like a Robot/Alien. I own a latest Lenovo laptop which has Conexant SmartAudio HD device for audio. I have been facing this problem from past 2 days. Finally, after a lot of research and troubleshooting, I was able to fix it. This has been an ongoing issue mainly with the latest Lenovo laptops which come with Windows 10 and ConeXant SmartAudio HD device. So if you own any of the latest Lenovo laptops and have been facing this Microphone issue, follow this tutorial to fix the problem.

How to fix Microphone if it makes you sound like a Robot/Alien (Windows 10)

How to fix Microphone if it makes you sound like a Robot/Alien (Windows 10)

1)  First make sure that all the audio drivers are installed. Then right click on the speakers menu  (speakers menu is at the far right of the Windows taskbar in the notifications area).


How to fix Microphone if it makes you sound like a Robot/Alien (Windows 10)-step 1

2) And, then select Recording devices.

How to fix Microphone if it makes you sound like a Robot/Alien (Windows 10)-step 2

3) Once you click on the Recording devices, a window will show up which looks like the one below.

How to fix Microphone if it makes you sound like a Robot/Alien (Windows 10)-step 3

4) Now, again right click on the Microphone and select properties. Once you click on the properties it will open a window with microphone properties.

How to fix Microphone if it makes you sound like a Robot/Alien (Windows 10)-step 4

5) Now, click on Advanced in the Microphone properties window and uncheck enable audio enhancements option in signal enhancements.

How to fix Microphone if it makes you sound like a Robot/Alien (Windows 10)-step 5

6) Once you uncheck the Enable audio enhancements, click on OK. Now, your Microphone should be working fine.

I am sure that following the above steps will help you fix your Microphone. If the problem persists even after following the tutorial, let me know in the comments so that I can provide you with an alternative solution to fix it.


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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Bitdefender Internet Security - One of the best security suites for Windows

Posted by Aamir 2 Comments
Recently, I have published an article 5 Best free antivirus to download for Windows PC wherein I suggested to go for Bitdefender Internet Security if looking for a paid antivirus software, as it is rated as the best antivirus by AV-TEST labs. AV-TEST is an independent IT security lab which conducts tests on various security solutions, whose results focus on three parameters: performance, protection and usability. Based on the Experimental results carried out by AV-TEST labs Bitdefender Internet Security 2015 was rated as the best antivirus for Windows 8.1.


Source : AV-TEST labs

Features of Bitdefender Internet Security

  • Active Virus control - Detects known and unknown viruses by monitoring the live processes.
  • Rescue mode - Restarts computer in a trusted environment which is used for restoration and clean up.
  • Virtualized browser - Isolates the browser form operating system to a Bitdefender protected environment where you can work on confidential data.
  • Vulnerability scanner - Checks for unsafe system settings and outdated security software.
  • Anti spam - Stops unwanted e-mail.
  • Two way firewall - Monitors your internet connection and keeps it safe.
  • Parental control - Helps parents remotely monitor their children's online activity and provides options to block inappropriate content.

Why Bitdefender Internet Security stands out among antiviruses?

1. Best Performance

Performance is the main criteria which one looks for when searching for antivirus software. There are many antiviruses which run in background and hamper your computers's performance. However, Bitdefender Internet Security provides the best performance without affecting your computer's speed.

2. Best Protection

Protecting a computer from threats is another important ability of an antivirus software. There are many antiviruses which have higher false detection rate which is not the case with Bitdefender Internet Security. Bitdefender provides the best protection to your computer.

3. Usability

Many antivirus software keep giving annoying notifications and warnings which impacts computer's usability. However, Bitdefender Internet Security tops the usability tests.

4. Best Customer Support

This is one of the best services provided by Bitdefender Antivirus. The company provides 24/7 technical support to their customers, where most of the players do not offer any service to their customers. If you are experiencing any software errors, issues with viruses or bugs, their highly skilled tech geniuses are available 24/7 to resolve your issue.

If you are experiencing any software errors, issues with viruses or bugs, you can reach out to Bitdefender's highly experienced tech support team.

Conclusion

Bitdefender Internet Security is one of the best Internet security suites. It does not hamper your computer's performance while protecting against different malware.
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Monday, June 23, 2014

Best Things to do With Your Old Computer

Posted by Aamir
Have you bought a new computer and wondering what to do with the older one which is very slow. Well, there are many creative things that you can do with your old computer. Below I have shared some best things that you can do to make good use of your old computer.

Best Things to do With Your Old Computer

1. Install Linux OS

You can make good use of your old computer by installing lightweight Linux OS. There are many free Linux distributions available which can be installed on your old computer with low configuration. For those of you who are not aware about Linux OS, it is an operating system which has almost same features like windows operating system but available for free. Below are some of the free Linux OS which can be installed on computers with low configuration.

1. Puppy Linux
Puppy Linux is one of the best lightweight Linux OS which requires very less memory resources, making it suitable for computers with low configuration. The entire operating system just requires 130 MB of space and can run from RAM , which makes it unusually fast even in old computers. You can live boot Puppy Linux from CD's, DVDs, USB flash drive and other portable media. It includes wide range of applications like word-processors, lightweight internet browsers, multimedia player and many other utilities.

You can download latest version of Puppy Linux from the following link

To know how to install puppy Linux go to the following link

2. Lubuntu
Lubuntu is another fast and light weight operating system from Linux. Same like puppy Linux, Lubuntu is intended to support Computers with low configuration. It can be installed from pendrive or CD. Lubuntu also comes with wide range of applications like mp3 player, PDF reader, Word processor and many other utilities.



You can download latest version of Lubuntu from the following link
Download Lubuntu

To know how to install Lubuntu go to the following link
Installation instructions for Lubuntu

2. Use it as a Home Server

You can also use your old computer as a home server that can can keep your data safe. To Setup your old computer as a home server you need to install a network operating system like Windows Home Server which costs 100$. If you are looking for a free alternative you can go for FreeNAS which is an open source network attached storage system. It turns your PC into network attached storage device.



Hardware Requirements for FreeNAS:
Bootable Drive or USB key
RAM: 128MB
Free Disc space: 32MB
Motherboard with 32 bit processor
A keyboard and a monitor during installation of FreeNAS, You won't need them after installation.

Steps to download and install FreeNAS:
1. Download the FreeNAS iso disc image from freenas.org .
2. After Downloading FreeNAS iso disc image burn the disc image into a CD.
3. Now boot your PC from the CD and follow the quick installation steps. After installation configure the network and set the box's IP address.
4. Now you can access the FreeNAS box via web browser from another PC on the same network .
click here for Detailed installation steps 
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Saturday, April 5, 2014

10 Must-Have free Software Programs for Windows PC

Posted by Aamir
This article deals with the most useful and much needed software programs for Windows PC. It may be difficult for you to pick the best software program from innumerable software programs available on the internet. To make it easy for you I have compiled a list of best free software programs for windows PC. It is better to install a single media player with all the best features bundled in it rather than installing two different media players with limited features.
So, if you have purchased a new PC or re-installed Windows OS on an old one, consider installing the following list of the Best and Must-Have free software programs for Windows PC. It is a list of free software programs that I install and run as soon as I format my PC.
must have free software programs for windows pc

All the free software programs mentioned below support all versions of Windows including Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Must-Have free Software Programs for Windows PC

1. Antivirus - Avast Free Antivirus

If you have purchased a new PC or freshly installed Windows OS on an old one, Antivirus software will be the first software program that must be installed on your computer. Antivirus software helps you in removing various threats like Spyware, Malware, etc. and it also helps you to stay safe online.
avast free antivirus

There are many best antivirus programs available on the internet.  If you are not aware of  best free antivirus programs read my previous article on 5 best free antivirus programs for windows PC. Among them Avast free antivirus is recommended as one of the best free antivirus software by different sources. It provides effective protection against various computer threats.

2. Web Browser - Google Chrome

When it comes to web browsing on your PC, there are many web browsers available to browse the internet. But installing the best Web Browser will enhance your Browsing experience with fast speeds. Google Chrome is considered as one of the best web browsers which loads complex web pages at lightning speeds. Google chrome uses less memory resources and also has an easy to use interface which helps users to navigate easily and quickly.
google chrome for windows pc

3. CCleaner

CCleaner is one of the best system maintenance tool for windows. It keeps your computer faster and secure by cleaning potentially unwanted programs and invalid Windows Registry entries. It also cleans Browsing History, Cookies, log files and other unwanted data from your computer.

ccleaner to clean computer

4. VLC media player

VLC media player is a must-have for those who constantly watch movies. It is one of the best media player which supports almost all video and audio file formats.  VLC media player comes bundled with every feature you'd ever want. You can also stream online videos using VLC media player. Moreover, the best part is that you can also Edit videos (convert, cut and re-size) in VLC media player. It also has a feature to Download subtitles automatically when watching movies. All these features make VLC a must-have media player for windows PC.
vlc media player must have software for windows pc

5. 7-Zip

7-Zip is one of the best and must-have application to compress and extract files. It supports a number of compression and non-compression archive formats both for packing and unpacking the files which include ZIP, RAR, 7z, XAR and many more. It also has an ability to unpack archives with corrupted file names.

7zip must have for windows pc

6. Apache OpenOffice

OpenOffice is a free and must-have office suite, which can be installed as an alternative to Microsoft office. It comes with everything that you expect from a world class office package. OpenOffice is available in many different languages. The packages that come with OpenOffice include Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Presentation Package, Groupware Client, Database Management System and Drawing. OpenOffice comes with a host of special features which makes it a strong competitor with the market leaders. In OpenOffice you can read and Write Microsoft office files. Users can open and save Word, Excel and PowerPoint files in Openoffice.
apache openoffice must have for windows pc

Click Here to Download Apache OpenOffice for Windows

7. doPDF

doPDF is a freeware program that can convert any type of printable document to PDF file. It comes bundled with many good features. In this application you can select the predefined page size for resulting PDF such as A4, A5, A6. It also allows the custom page size and custom graphic resolution settings from 72 to 2400 dpi. You can also set the page orientation to be landscape or portrait.

must have software programs for windows pc dopdf

8. IrfanView

It is a must-have freeware image viewer program for Microsoft Windows. Using this program you can edit, view and convert image files and you can also play audio/video files. This software program is easy to use and also supports a wide variety of graphic file formats. The program is compact (basic installation occupies just 1.6 MB) and does not require high memory resources. It supports viewing and saving of numerous file formats. Moreover, the best feature of IrfanView is that you can create slideshows and screensavers from collection of images with accompanying mp3 audio.

must have software for windows pc irfanview

9. ImgBurn

ImgBurn is a must-have free software program which allows recording of CD, DVD and Blu-ray images  to recordable media. It supports a wide range of file formats which include ISO, DVD, IMG, MDS and many more. ImgBurn is a lightweight program occupying only 1.8 MB for all its installed features.

imgburn must have software for windows pc

Free Download Manager is a must-have download manager for Microsoft Windows. It is one of the best free download accelerator and manager. It helps you in increasing speed of your downloads and resuming the broken downloads. It also has a BitTorrent support which enables you to download torrents.

must have free software for windows pc free download manager

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Saturday, March 15, 2014

Automatically Download Movie Subtitles in VLC media player

Posted by Aamir 3 Comments
VLC media player is one of the best media player which supports almost all audio and video file types. Many people use VLC media player for watching movies because of its support for multiple audio/video file formats. You may need movie subtitles when watching movies in a language which you are not familiar with. Anyhow, there are many websites like moviesubtitles, opensubtitles to manually download subtitles for movies. But it will be simpler Downloading movie subtitles automatically when watching movies. In this article, I will show How to Automatically Download Movie Subtitles in VLC media player.

How to automatically download movie subtitles in VLC media Player


Follow the Steps given below  to Automatically Download Movie Subtitles in VLC media player

How to Automatically Download Movie Subtitles in VLC media player

You need to install an extension called VLSub to automatically download subtitles in VLC media player.
  1. You can download the VLSub extension from following link for free.                             Download VLSub extension for VLC Media player
  2. Extract the downloaded zip file of VLSub extension.
  3. Now create a folder with name extensions in following directory                                              C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\
  4. After creating the folder, copy the extracted vlsub.lua file to the folder extensions which was created in previous step. (vlsub.lua file should be copied to  C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\extensions)
  5. Now play any video in VLC media player and then open VLSub from View->VLSub.                    
    VLSub to automatically download movie subtitles in VLC media player
          
  6. When you click on VLSub a Dialog box opens like the one shown below from which you can search for subtitles using two options Search by Hash and Search by Name. The option search by hash is recommended because using this you can get more precise results. Whereas by searching using second option search by name you get many subtitles from which you have to select one and download it.                                                                                                                                            
    VLSub Dialog box
  7. VLSub will  automatically recognize the movie name. You can even change it in the title box. Now click on Search by hash or Search by name and select the subtitle which looks precise, then click on download selection.
  8. Now you can see subtitles while playing a movie in VLC media player.
  9. If subtitles are not syncing properly go to Tools -> Track Synchronization and vary the values of subtitles to sync it with the Video and click on refresh.
Also  see : How to edit videos in VLC media player

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Tuesday, March 4, 2014

10 Best free Themes for Windows 8

Posted by Aamir 4 Comments
Are you bored of the regular Windows 8 Theme? Try 10 Best free Themes for Windows 8 provided below and refresh the look of your Windows 8 screen. Changing Themes in windows 8 every now and then makes it look good. Anyhow we cannot apply third party Themes in Windows 8 without modifying three Windows 8 system files. Below i have provided a way to enable third party themes in Windows 8.


10 best free themes for windows 8

Enable third party themes in Windows  8

In order to apply third party themes in windows 8 you need to modify three system files called themeui.dll, UXInit.dll,  and uxtheme.dll. You can modify these files in Windows 8 using a software called UltraUXThemePatcher. Download the software and install it to modify three system files  in Windows 8.
Restart your Computer after installing the Software.

Now you can apply a third party theme by copying the downloaded .theme file and its folder to C:\Windows\Resources\Themes and double clicking copied file to personalize.

location where the theme should be copied


You can Download the Software from following link


Below is a list of 10 Best free Themes for Windows 8 which you can download and apply in Windows 8 using the method shown above.

10 Best free Themes for Windows 8

1. Chromium (by Raymon Visual)

Using this theme you can transform look of your Windows 8 computer to Google chromium OS style.

chromium theme for windows8

You can download this theme from the following link

2. Platinum (by ZEUSosX)

Its a OS X style theme for windows 8. It transforms your computers windows 8 look to OS X style. It comes with a new navigation pane with selected text colours.

OS X theme for windows 8

You can download this theme from following link
Download Platinum theme for Windows 8

3. Base (by link6155)

Base is a theme for windows 8 which offers a nice set of Metro icons and dark style icons. It is a pixel perfect quality Windows 8 dark theme.

base theme for windows 8

You can download this theme from following link

4. Elune (by neiio)

It is one of the best windows 8 theme which has a full support for Windows 8 auto colorization features.

elune theme for windows 8


You can download the Elune theme from following link

5. Aero By Design (by LiveorDieTM)


aero by design theme for windows 8

You can download this theme from following link

6. Simplex (by link6155) 


simplex theme for windows 8

You can download the Simplex theme for windows 8 from following link

7. Space


space theme for windows 8


You can download this theme from following link

8. WhiteDior (by RidKurn)


Whitedior theme for windows 8

You can download the WhiteDior theme for Windows 8 from following link

9. Gray8 new red (by gsw953onDA)



You can download this theme for Windows 8 from following link

10. Vista 8 Modern Mix (by MrGRIM01)


vista 8 modern mix theme for windows 8

You can download this theme for Windows 8 from following link
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Saturday, March 1, 2014

How to remove Toolbars and Adware search Engines from browser

Posted by Aamir
You may have many unknown Toolbars and Adware search Engines like Ask toolbar, Babylon toolbar, iLivid , Conduit Search engine, Smart bar installed which keep annoying you whenever you open your browser. You may not even know how these potentially unwanted programs got installed on your PC and It is not even easy to remove these annoying Toolbars and Adware Search Engines manually. But there is a tiny tool called Junkware removal tool which can remove potentially unwanted programs like Toolbars and Adware search engines automatically. This tool searches for and removes common Adwares, Toolbars and other potentially unwanted programs from your computer automatically.

remove toolbars and adware search engines

Junkware removal tool to remove Toolbars and Adwares

Junkware removal tool is available for windows xp, vista, 7, 8  and has the ability to remove following types of potentially unwanted programs
  1. Ask Toolbar
  2. Babylon Toolbar
  3. iLivid
  4. Conduit search engine
  5. MyWebsearch
  6. Web Assistant
  7. Searchqu
  8. IncredibiBar
  9. Delta and many more
When you run this tool, It will remove all the traces of the unwanted programs including registry keys, files and folders.
Junkware removal tool has a simple command line interface where you have to give yes or no confirmation to search and remove the annoying toolbars and adware search engines.

junkware removal tool (JRT)
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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

How to - Speed up your Windows Computer and boost internet speed

Posted by Aamir
Here i have mentioned few tips and tricks on how to speed up your windows computer for better performance and how to boost internet speed. By following this tips and tricks you can get best out of your Computer, from boosting Windows start up time to improvement in internet speed.
How to speed up your windows computer and how to boost internet speed

Tips and Tricks to Speed up your Computer

Boost Windows Startup time

 Windows 8 has the faster boot time when compared to previous versions of Windows. However, We can use some  tweaks in Windows 8 to boot it more faster than it is. The recommended step is to rely on Hibernate option as we do in Smartphones and Tablets. However, if you are a user who prefers to shut down the computer for a fresh start every time you log on, Here are some tips you can follow to improve start-up time of your windows PC. Most of the tips provided here can also be used in Windows 7.

1. Deselect the Start up programs

Deselect the start up programs which you don't need when windows starts. There are many Unwanted start up programs which start automatically when you Start your Windows PC. These programs slow down your Boot speed. It would be better to deselect these unwanted start up programs to improve start up speed of your computer.
You can deselect unwanted start up programs in windows 8 by going to Task manager. To go to Task Manager press Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys together and select Task Manager. In Task manager go to Startup tab and disable the unwanted programs. Windows 7 users can configure Start up programs by typing msconfig in Run dialog box [ press windows + R key and type msconfig ]

disable unwanted startup proggrams

2. Disable Animations

1. Disable the Transitions and effects in windows interface, if you are not too attached to them. To disable animations press Windows + X key and click on system from the menu.

open system menu

2.In system menu click on Advanced System settings in left pane, and access the performance settings in the system properties window.

advanced system settings

3. Now disable the effects that you consider irrelevant and click on OK

disable unnecessary effects

4. Disabling username and password helps in improving start up time. Access user accounts menu by typing netplwiz in Run dialog box and uncheck 'users must enter a username and password option to use this computer'. In Windows 7 switching from Aero mode to classic mode helps in improving start up time. 


3.Windows Registry Tweak

There are many Windows processes which slow down your computer. A simple registry tweak will take care of them. Copy the following code in notepad and save it as speedystartup.reg, run the file and restart your computer.


[HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl
PanelDesktop]
“AutoEndTasks”=”1”
“HungAppTimeout”=”1000”
“MenuShowDelay”=”8”
“WaitToKillAppTimeout”=”
2000”
“LowLevelHooks-
Timeout”=”1000”
[HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl
PanelMouse]
“MouseHoverTime”=”8”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControl]
“WaitToKillService-
Timeout”=”2000”

4. Software solution

There are many software's available which can find errors in your computer by performing overall check. Soluto is a cloud based PC management service which finds the applications hindering performance of your computer. Create account in Soluto by going to following link.

Soluto

Here is another software called Anvi Startup booster which boosts the start up time of your computer. It checks the programs from start up, system settings, network and disables unnecessary programs and removes harmful programs from your computer. It has a simple user interface and the best feature is that it has a restore option. The software is available for free and can be downloaded from following link.

Download Anvi Startup Booster

How to boost internet Speed

Internet is one of the most important part of daily life. It has become an integral part of our lives. Internet connectivity depends on many factors. Bad internet connectivity may be because of some problem in Hardware or Software of your Computer. Internet Service Provider may also be responsible for Bad internet connectivity but it is not completely under our control. Here are some tips to boost internet speed of your computer.

1. Connectify Dispatch

Connectify is well known for turning your Computer into a Wi-Fi Hot spot. Connectify dispatch combines the resources of all the available connection and prioritizes the usage to fit the right one. For example, if you are Streaming a Video and downloading some software, Connectify dispatch prioritizes video streaming to connection with High speed and Software downloading to low speed connection for the duration of software download. This software will be useful only if you have more than one internet connection. Connectify Dispatch is available for free and paid premium upgrade is also available. Go to following link to download Connectify Dispatch.


how to boost internet speed




2. DNS Servers

The main function of DNS server is to translate the Computer host names to IP addresses. Most of the time DNS servers of Service provider are not optimized. Because of this, DNS servers are incapable of handling traffic at peak hours, which leads to slow internet speed. But this problem has a fix. There are several free public DNS servers available which handle traffic, if one goes down the other server closest to you is ready to back it up. If you are not satisfied with the speed you are getting from free servers, you have a option to upgrade to premium at a price. The premium servers are less crowded which helps in making connection more reliable and faster.

list of free DNS servers


If you have any Queries related to Optimizing your Computer for better Performance, feel free to comment below.


More Related  Posts

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Monday, February 17, 2014

How to Edit Videos in VLC media player (Re size, Convert and Cut)

Posted by Aamir
VLC media player is one of the most popular media player which supports almost all audio and video file formats. VLC media player includes many features like streaming live videos, playing HD videos and many more. Not only for playing videos,  You can also use VLC media player to edit Videos. You can Re size, Convert and Cut or Crop Videos using VLC media player. If you are not familiar with any Video editing tool and looking for an easy way to edit videos, then this article is for you. Below I have described how to edit videos (Cut or Crop, Convert and Re size) in VLC media player.

If you don't have VLC media player, you can install the latest version of VLC media player from following link

Download latest version of VLC media player


How to Edit videos using VLC media player(Resize, Cut and Convert)

How to Edit videos in VLC media player (Re size, Convert and Cut)

How to Cut or Crop Video Files using VLC media player

1. Launch VLC media player and activate Advanced controls which can be found in view menu.
  Go to  view->Advanced controls and activate it.

Edit+videos+using+VLC+(Resize,+Cut+and+Convert)

2. After activating advanced controls you will get four extra buttons above normal play, pause buttons. These buttons are used to cut the video. After activating these controls add video from the media menu.

Edit+videos+using+VLC+(Resize,+Cut+and+Convert)


3. Now while playing video press the record button at the point where you want to start recording it and again press record at the point where you want to stop recording.

Edit+videos+using+VLC+(Resize,+Cut+and+Convert)

4. Your cropped video file will get saved in my videos folder.

How to convert video files using VLC media player

1. Launch VLC media player and go to media->convert/save.

Edit+videos+using+VLC+(Resize,+Cut+and+Convert)

2. Now add video file that you want to convert by clicking on add and then click convert/save.

Edit+videos+using+VLC+(Resize,+Cut+and+Convert)

3. Now add the destination folder where you want your converted file to be saved  and click start. Wait for some time and your file will get saved in destination folder after conversion. 

Edit+videos+using+VLC+(Resize,+Cut+and+Convert)


How to Re size video files using VLC media player

1. Follow steps 1, 2 and 3 of How to convert video files using VLC media player but don't click on start button, instead click on settings icon to open a window where you will give desired height and width for video.

Edit+videos+using+VLC+(Resize,+Cut+and+Convert)

2. Go to video codec tab and give desired height and width of video in scale section and click on save.

Edit+videos+using+VLC+(Resize,+Cut+and+Convert)

3. Now start the process by clicking on start as you did in How to Convert video files using VLC media player.


More related Posts


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