window 7 tips

8/8/2019 Window 7 Tips

1/12

Window 7 tips

2010-10-18

Connecting a Windows7 Workstation to a Windows2000 Server - Added 7/23/10General File Cleanup - Added 10/21/09

Changing the Action Center Alerts - Added 10/19/09Resource Monitor- Added 10/19/09Problem Step Recorder- Added 10/19/09Changing the Desktop Icon Size - Updated 10/16/09Automatically Logging On - Added 10/16/09Installing Google Chrome - Added 10/16/09Changing the Taskbar- Added 5/6/09Changing the Action Center AlertsWindows Disk Image Burner- Added 5/6/09Restoring Gadgets After Disabling User Account Control - Added 5/6/09New Calculator Functionality - Added 5/6/09Hide Empty Drives - Added 5/6/09Sticky Notes - Added 5/6/09

Fixing Pin to Taskbar Disabled - Added 6/7/09Changing the Control Panel Icon Size - Added 6/7/09Windows Explorer Single Click - Added 6/7/09Always Show Menus - Added 6/7/09Using Check Box to Select Items - Added 6/7/09Changing the User Account Control - Added 6/7/09Changing Power Options - Added 6/7/09Turn off Windows Animation - Added 6/7/09Speed up Boot Time - Added 6/7/09Turning off Hibernation - Added 6/7/09External Projector Display - Added 6/7/09Quick Ways to Show the Desktop - Added 6/7/09Changing the Explorer from Libraries to Computer View - Added 6/7/09Using Jump Lists to Access Files and Directories - Added 6/7/09Minimizing All But One Window - Added 6/7/09Maximizing, Restoring and Moving Windows - Added 6/7/09Running a Program in Compatibility Mode - Added 6/8/09

Connecting a Windows7 Workstation to a Windows2000 Server

Added 7/23/10

To connect a Windows7 computer to a Windows2000 server, you will either needto make a change using the Group Policy Editory (Win7 Pro) or the Registry (Win7Home)

Windows7 Pro

1. Click on the Start icon2. Entergpedit.msc


2/12


3/12

4. I typicallyonlydelete emporary Internet filesand istory. I usually leaveCookiessince theyoftencontain information forwebsites I frequent that idon't want toenterinevery time.

irefox

. ools

. Clear ecent istory Ctrl Shift Del

. ClickonDetails4. Select theTi

e ran

e to clear. Checkonly those itemsyouwant toclear. Clickon theClearNowbutton

GoogleChrome

. Clickon the tools iconon theupperright handcorner

. Select ClearBrowsin

Data Ctrl Shift Del

. Checkwhat youwant toclear

4. Select theperiodof timeyouwant toclearthedata. Clickon theClearBrowsin

Data button

WindowsTEMP Directory

. Start the indows Explorer

. Go toC:\ indows\ emp

. PressCtrl A tohighlight everything in theright handpanel andpress ShiftDelete.

4. hisdeletes thempermanentlyanddoesn't send them to the ecycle Bin

The Recycle Bin

. ight clickon the ecyclebin

. Select Empty RecycleBin

OtherProgram's ache Directories

hereareotherprograms like Adobe Photoshopand ightroomwhichcache thethumbnailsof thegraphic filesyouedit. hismayspeedup theprogramsomewhat,but overtime I'veseen it addgigsofextra files that you maywant tocleanonaregularbasis. Seeeach individual program forthespecificsonwhere those filesarekept and theeasiest way todelete them.

Changingthe ActionCenterAlerts

Added10/16/09

ormally the ActionCenterwill showmessagealerts fo rthings like indows pdate,Internet Security Settings, etwork irewall, serAccount Control and Virus


4/12

Protection.Ifyouwant to turn thesealertsoff:

. Start / Control Panel

. Go to ActionCenter/ Change ActionCentersettings

. romhereyoucanuncheckany item that youno longerwant messagealerts

for.

ResourceMonitor

Added6/19/09

Ifyouwant toseewherepossiblebottlenecksmaybe inyourcomputer'sperformance, the indows esource onitor isasystem tool that allowsyou toviewinformationabout theuseofhardware CP , memory, disk, andnetwork)andsoftware filehandlesandmodules)re sources inreal time.

. Clickon theStartbutton

. ype inRESMONandpress the Enterkey

Problem Step Recorder

Added10/19/09

Youcanuse Problem Steps ecorder toautomaticallycapture thestepsyou takeon

acomputer, includinga text descriptionofwh ereyouclickedandapictureof thescreenduringeachclick calledascreenshot). nceyoucapture thesesteps, youcansave them toa file that canbeusedbyasupport professional orsomeoneelsehelpingyouwithacomputerproblem.

. ostart the Problem Steps ecorder, clickon the Start buttonand type inPSRthenpress the Enterkey

2. ClickStart Record. Go throughall thesteps toreproduce theproblem

4. ClickonStop Record. heprogramwill thencreatea ip file.. Saveandsend this file toyoursupport personso theycanview thesteps

taken. Screenshotsalongwith thedescriptionof thestepswill be included.

Changingthe Desktop Icon Size

Updated10/16/09


5/12

Windows nowsupportsbrowser-styleresi ingcontrol of text and iconson theDesktop too?! ust holdCTRL, andscroll themousewheel

Theupdated tipwassubmittedbyChris ack

Added6/7/09

. Bydefault, the iconson thedesktoparea little large 2. Right clickonanopenareaof thedesktop . Select View

4. Select Small Icons

Automatically LoggingOn

Added10/16/09

Ifyouare theonlyuseron thecomputerandarenot worriedabout someoneelsehavingaccess to it, youcanconfigureWindows7 toautomatically logyouon.

. Clickon the Start button2. Type innetplwizandpress the Enterkey. ncheckUsermustenter a user name andpasswordto use thiscomputer

4. Clickon theApplybuttonat the lowerright corner. Youwill thenbeshownadialogboxwhereyoucanenterin thenameand

passwordof theaccount youwant tohaveautomatically logon.. Simply fill it with thecorrect information

7. Clickon the K button

Installing GoogleChrome

Added10/16/09

Ifyouaregettinganerrormessagewhen trying to install GoogleChromewithWindows7, asimpleRegistryedit maysolve theproblem

1. Start Regedit2. Go to

KEY_LOCAL_ ACHI E\SOFTWARE\ icrosoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\State

. Rename thekey ImageState to ImageSta te1 I prefertorenameakeyratherthandelete it whenpossible just incaseyoumaywant it backagainat somepoint)


6/12

Runninga Program inCompatibilityMode

Added6/8/09

Ifyouhaveaprogram that doesn't run innativeWindows7, try:

1. Right clickon the icon2. Select Properties. Clickon theCompatibilitytab

4. CheckRun thisprogram incompatibilitymode for:. Select oneof theoptionssuchasWindows XP Service Pack ). Right now

thereare tendifferent optionsyoucanchooseranging fromWindow95 toVista Service Pack2).

Maximizing, RestoringandMovingWindows

Added6/7/09

Youcanquicklymaximi eawindowbysimplydragging it to the topof thescreenordoubleclickingon it'sborderat the top.

Doubleclickingon thewindowwill restore it to theoriginal si e

Tomoveawindow toadifferent monitor, even ifmaximi ed, youcansimplydrag itto theothermonitor. Youdon't need tomake it smallerfirst.

Minimizing All ButOneWindow

Added6/7/09

Ifyouwant tominimi eall theoneparticularwindow, have that be theactivewindowand just shake it with themouse. Yourotherwindowswill beminimi e d. Shake itagainand theywill return to thesi eand location theywerebefore

Using Jump Liststo Access Filesand Directories

Added6/7/09

From theTaskbar, Windows7hasaquickway toaccess filesyouhaverecentlyused inaprogram. Simplyright c lickon theprogram's icon in the taskbar. A list ofrecentlyused fileswill beshown.


7/12

Youcando thesame forwebsitesyouhavevisted. Right clickon the IE iconandalist ofrecent siteswill beshown.

TheWindows Explorerwill showrecent foldersy ouhaveaccessed

ChangingtheExplorer from LibrariestoComputerView

Added6/7/09

Normallywhenyouclickonashortcut to theWindows Explorer, thedefault view is toshow theLibrariesview.Ifyouwant tochange that toshow theComputerview, simplychange the target to:

%windir%\explorer.exe::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

Tochange it toopenup to yDocuments, change the targe to: %windir%\explorer.exe::{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}

Ifyouhave theWindows Explorerpinned to theTaskbar, andwant tochange it'sview:

1. Right clickon the icon2. Right clickonWindows Explorer3. Select Properties4. Paste inwhichever target youwant touse

QuickWaysto Showthe Desktop

Added6/7/09

Thereareseveral ways toquicklyshowandacce ss thedesktop.

1. Press theWin+Spacebarkeys. Let upon thespacebarbut hold theWindowskeydown. Whenyou let upon theWindowskey, youwill return to thepreviousopenapplication

2. Next towhere the timeanddateareshownon thesystem tray, ther e isasmallrectangularbox. Clickingon thisoncewill show thedesktop. Clickingon it againwill

returnyou toyourpreviousopenapplication

External ProjectorDisplay

Added6/7/09


8/12

Ona laptop, normallyyouneed torememberthespecial keys necessary tochangeyourdisplay toanexternal projector, ortohaveboth the laptopandprojectorat thesame time.

Tomake that mucheasier, withWindows7, simplypress theWindowskey+ P.

Thiswill bringupadisplaywhereyoucanselect Computeronl y, Duplicate, orProjectorOnly

Turningoff Hibernation

Added6/7/09

1. Ifyouhavesomething likeadesktopanddon't needhibernationenabled, youcanturn thisoff2. Start / CMD3. Thiswill openacommandprompt4. Type inpowercfg-hoff

Speed up BootTime

1. Bydefault,Windows7waits30secondsbefore it starts to load the operatingsystem.2. Todecrease this time, Right clickonMyComputer3. Clickon Advance Syste m Settings

5. nderStartupandRecovery, clickon the Settingsbutton 6. Decrease the time from30seconds tosomething like3 7. Youcanalsochange thesettings forwhat happens incaseofa System failure

TurnoffWindows Animation

Added6/7/09

1. Normally I don't reallycare tohave thewindowsanimatewhen theyareopenedorclosed. It seems tomake thingsslower.

2. To turn thisoff, right clickonMyComputer3. Select Properties4. On the left side, clickon Advancedsystemsettings 5. In theperformancesection, clickon the Settingsbutton 6. ncheck Animatewindowswhenminimi ingormaximi ing


9/12

Changing PowerOptions

Added6/7/09

1. Bydefault,Windows7 isconfigured to turnoff thedisplayafter10minutesandputthecomputertosleepafter30minutes

2. Tochange that, go toControl Panel / PowerOptions 3. ClickonChangeplansettings 4. Fromhereyoucanchange them towhateveryou like

ChangingtheUserAccountControl

Added6/7/09

Ifyouwant tochange the serAccount Control s etting forwhen tobenotifiedabout

changes toyourcomputer:

1. Go to theControl Panel / ActionCenter2. On the left side, clickonChange serAccount Control settings 3. Thedefault setting for serAccount Control is toNotifymeonlywhenprogramstry tomakechanges tomycomputer4. Ifyouarecareful withwhat youdowithyourcomputerinregards tovirusandspywarerisks, andwant to lower thissoyouarenot promptedsooftenwhenchangesaremade to thecomputer, youcandisable thesewarning s5. Simplyslide thebarto thebottom -Nevernotify6. Clickon theOK button7. Reboot thecomputer

UsingCheck Boxto SelectItems

Added6/709

Sometimes it canbedifficult todeterminewhat filesareselected in the Explorerwhenyouwant tocopy, moveordelete files. Tomake theselectionmoreobvious:

1. Open theControl Panel2. Go toFolderOptions

3. Check Scroll doownandcheck secheckboxes toselect items 4. Click ApplyandOK

Always ShowMenus

Added6/709


10/12

Whenusingprograms like theWindows Explorer, the topmenu isnot displayedbydefault. Tochange that:

1. Open theControl Panel2. Go toFolderOptions3. Check Alwaysshowmenus

4. Click ApplyandOK

WindowsExplorerSingleClick

Added6/709

1. Open theControl Panel2. Go toFolderOptions3. Check Single-click toopenan item4. Check nderline icon titlesonlywhen I point at them 5. Click ApplyandOK

ChangingtheControl Panel Icon Size

Added6/7/09

1. Bydefault, the iconson thedesktopareshownbyCategory. Mypreference is toViewbyLargeorSmall icons. Thiswayyoucanmoreeasilyseeall theoptions 2. Open theControl Panel

3. On the topright, clickon Viewby:Category 4. Change it toLargeorSmall icons5. Nowall theoptionsshowup foryou.

Fixing PintoTaskbarDisabled

Added6/7/09

If theoption topin to the taskbardoesnowshowupwhenyouright clickonan icon,perhapsyoualsohave theshortcut arrowdisplay turnedoff . Toenable it again

1. RunRegedit2. Go toHKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ lnkfile3. Createt anew String Valuewith thename IsShortcut4. Reboot thecomputer


11/12

ChangingtheTaskbar

Added5/6/09

Ifyouwant tochangesomeof thoseoptions:

1. Right clickonanopenareaof the taskbar2. Select Properties3. Fromhereyouhaveoptions to:

Lock theTaskbarAuto-hide the taskbar

sesmall iconsWhetheryouwant the taskbaron the Bottom, Left, Right orTopof thescreen Several options forthebuttons

Windows DiskImage Burner

Added5/6/09

WithWindows7, youcannowdirectlyburn ISO images

sing theWindows Explorer, doubleclickon the ISO file

Ifyouhaveanothersoftwareprogram that letsyouview thecontentsofanISO filelikeWinZip), right clickon the fileandselect Openwith Windows Disk Ima

eBurner

Restoring Gadgets AfterDisablingUserAccountControl

Added5/6/09

Ifyouhavechangedyour serAccount Control settings toNever notify, bydefaultGadgetswill not bedisplayedon thedesktop.Fortunatelyasimpleregistrychangewill solve theproblem

1. Start Regedit2. Go toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \

CurrentVersion \ Sidebar \ Settings3. Right-clickon theright panel andcreateanewDWORD 32 -Bit) Valuenamed

AllowElevatedProcess.

4. Doubleclickon thisandgive it avalueof1

NewCalculatorFunctionality


12/12

Added5/6/09

ThenewWindowsCalculator, while it hasamuchnicerinterface, alsohasgreaterfunctionality.

Therearenow 4 options for:

y Standardy Scientificy Programmery Statisticsy nit Conversionsy DateCalculationy Mortgagey VehicleLeasingy Fuel Economy

HideEmpty Drives

Added5/6/09

Ifyouwant tohaveemptydrives likeemptymultiple-cardreaderdrives), showupgrayedout in theWindows Explorer

1. GoTools / FolderOptions / View tab 2. CheckHideemptydrives in the Computer folder

Nowyou canmoreeasilydeterminewhichdrivesactuallyhavesomethingon them.

StickyNotes

Added5/6/09

Youcannow leavestickynotesasremindersdirectlyonyourdesktop.

1. Clickon the Start logo2. Start typing instickandyouwill likelyseeStickyNotesshowing.3. When it ishighlighted, press the Enterkey 4. Youwill nowhaveastickynoteon thedesktopandyoucan type inwhatever

you like

5. Right clickandyoucanchange thecolor6. Clickon the+ tocreateanewnote 7. Clickon the X todelete thenote thiswon't showagainwhen theprogram is

restarted)8. Press Alt-F4 tocloseanoteyouwant tokeep 9. There isnoneed tosave thenote. Evenafteryouclose it, whenyouopen the

programagain, thesamenotewill be there.