Aspirin not required, part one (or, "How to beautify your blog")

Windows Live Writer

DISCLAIMER: There's the possibility that your computer and network are set up differently than mine, which might mean that you get some additional screens, different screens, or not the same screens that I got. Unfortunately, once installed on a computer, Windows Live knows that (darn cookies!), so I couldn't go through the same process twice. The following is, I hope, complete. If it's not, email me or ask a question in this blog and I'll help you.

1. First, let's download Windows Live Writer. It's FREE!. If you've already downloaded it, you can skip this blog entry and wait for "Aspirin not required, part two," which will be available shortly after this one, so make sure you subscribe to my blog or come back. Go to http://www.windowslive.com/explore/writer.
2. Click on Get it now. Your cursor should default to the Sign In box: "Windows Live ID"
3. You'll need to create a Windows Live account. If you have an MSN Hotmail, MSN Messenger, or Passport, you can use that as your Windows Live account and you can simply sign in and skip to item xxx here. Otherwise, click on Sign up at the left, under Windows Live.
4. Since I'm sure you have an email address, type yours in the yellow box and then tab through all the other requirements and complete them. Once you've done all that and submitted it, you'll receive an email with a link in it to confirm that you are whom you say you are. Follow the instructions in the email. Once you've confirmed everything, you'll get a pop-up window with a link in it to continue to Windows Live. Click on it to get to the following screen, and once there, click on Download now.
   
    
   
5. See following two pictures. It will ask you if you want to run or save the file. I always save it to my computer so that I don't have to download it again if something goes wrong. Click on Save, twice.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. See following picture. Once download is complete, click on Run. Depending on how your computer is set up, you might get some more boxes and various security warnings. As long as what they are asking you to do is run WLinstaller.exe, click on run. If they ask you to do anything else, click on Cancel or Close and start again.
   
   
   
7. As with all software, you'll have to accept Microsoft's terms of use.
8. Next you should see a screen like the following:
   
   
   
   Because I've spent a few centuries getting my computer and network working properly, I never let any software set itself up as "default" anything on my computer, so I unchecked the first box, and I've found that if I agree to various surveys and data collection, I get a gazillion bazillion emails shortly thereafter, so I unchecked the second box, too. Let them wreck some other sucker's life; I've got a business to run.
   
   
9. You might see a couple more progress screens before the following screen appears. We're only interested in Writer, so click that box. If you click any other stuff right now, then you're on your own. :)
   
   
   
   
10. Once download and installation is completed, you'll get a box that says "You're done!" and has a link to Start Writer (see picture). Click on Start Writer.
    
    
    
    
11. You'll have to tell Live Writer where you blog (see picture). You'll be tempted to click "I already have a blog set up" since you blog at ActiveRain, but don't do that because ActiveRain is not a choice and you'll be lost. I'm not a search and rescue team, so if you get lost here, make sure you have lots of food, water, and aspirin with you. Instead, leave it at the default radio button, "I don't have a weblog, create a new Windows Live Space for me."
    
    
    
    
12. The next screen asks you to create a Login. Fill in the two boxes.
    
    
    
    
13. If you're successful, your final installation screen will look like the following. Click on Finish.
    
    
    
    
14. After you click on Finish, you should see the following Windows Live Writer screen. At this point you can begin playing around with Windows Live Writer on your own since it is in the WYSIWYG mode. The best way to play around is to actual write a blog, so do that. See what you can do between now and when I return with a Windows Live Writer tutorial. As you have fun, click on "Save Draft" occasionally. Apparently, there is no way to create more than one blog at a time (kind of against the definition of a blog, I guess), so there is no "file save as" or anything like that. However, if you're like me and you actually do like to create blogs in advance for ActiveRain, my next tutorial will also show you how to do that.