Very Useful Windows 7 Tips and Tweaks

Windows 7 are known as just the cosmetic upgraded version of Vista. But we will now look into various new and more improved features that deliver high performance and output for much better troubleshooting and powerful security and lot more.

Here are few tips and tweaks for Windows 7 that will make a remarkable difference to your PC:

Problem Steps Recorder

This is indeed of great help if someone from your family or friends have asked your help in troubleshooting their PC problem. If you are not physical present, then it would be tough for you to understand as what’s going on in the other side. It may be frustrating for both of you. So Microsoft comes up with the cool troubleshooting solution that is – Problem Steps Recorder.

If there is any application that is creating problem in Windows 7, asks your friend to click on Start, and type PSR and then press [Enter], then click on Start Record. Now tell your friend to start that application again, and the Problem Steps Recorder will then start recording each and every clicks and keypresses your friend will do. They can take the screen shots and make a single zipped file in MHTML when finished. It is now ready, and your friend can e-mail you the same. It is very easy and yet very effective method, saving several hours of your time for troubleshooting.

Burn images

New Windows 7 has introduced a feature that most of the other operating systems already had for many years and that is the ability to burn the ISO images to DVDs and CDs. This is indeed very easier to use, you just have to double-click on the ISO image, then choose the drive with a blank disc, and click on Burn. Your disc will create in few moments.

Create and mount VHD files

The virtual PC of Microsoft creates the hard drives of virtual machine in a VHD files. Now Windows 7 can set those files directly making it accessible in the host system itself. Just click on Start, and type diskmgmt.msc, and the press [Enter], then click on Action > Attach VHD. Now choose the file that you would like to mount and it will be visible as the virtual drive in the Explorer. Now it can be accessed, copied, and also written in the same way like any other drive.

Click on Action > Create VHD and then you can create your own virtual drive. Right click it and select the Initialize Disk. After the set up is complete just right-click the unallocated space and choose the New Simple Volume to set it up. Once more you will have a new virtual drive same as the other one, and again you can drag and drop the files, install the programs, and test the partitioning software and lot more. This is actually same as the VHD file on the real hard drive; however you can take a back up or share it with others too. You can also remove the VHD file by right-click on the disk and by selecting the ‘Detach VHD’ to remove it.

Troubleshoot problems

If some section is behaving in a strange fashion of a Windows 7 and you are not able to find out why, then click on the Control Panel > Find and fix problems. This is a way to access the new troubleshooting package. These are very simple to use wizards which are very helpful in resolving common problems like performing checks of the settings, system cleaning and all.

Take control

Are you tired from your kids installing suspicious software or runs an application if they are left alone? AppLocker is a solution. New Windows 7 features AppLocker which basically assures that users can only run the specified programs. It is very easy to set it up and even you can create rules which allow everything to be signed by a specific publisher. So launch the GPEDIT.MSC and go to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Application Control Policies > AppLocker and see how does it works for you.

Calculate more

At first sight, Windows 7 calculator looks similar to Vista’s version; however by exploring the Mode menu, you will find new and more powerful Statistics and Programmer views. And if you are not familiar to the bitwise manipulation, then you can also try the Options menu as well. It offers various unit conversions (weight, length, volume and more), date calculations (like days between two dates), and spreadsheet like templates which is helpful in calculating the mileage, or the mortgage rates and lot more.

Switch to a projector

New Windows 7 provides a very standard way for switching the display from one monitor to other, and even to a projector. You just have to press Win+P or run DisplaySwitch.exe and then you can choose your favorite display.

Automatic PC clean up

If some novice PC users access your system, you might land up in some problems. Leaving them alone with PC can cause change in a settings, or installation of any dubious programs, or they might delete very important files of yours and many other havocs to your PC. In Microsoft’s Windows 7 there is a solution to this problem, which is PC Safeguard. This will let your inexperienced users to log on, use the browser, play games, or chat on an instant messenger. When they log off, any change to the settings or any files they have saved can be undone and deleted. So it is very difficult for anyone to messing up your PC.

To give it a try, go to Control Panel > User Accounts and Family Safety > User Accounts > Manage another account > Create a new account. Now enter an account name, click on Create, and then click the account, now select the Set Up PC Safeguard > Turn on PC Safeguard > Apply. To confirm whether the PC Safeguard is working or not, log on as that user, and try to download and install any program. Now restart and re-log on and see whether the software has already gone or not.

Understanding System Restore

In the previous versions of Microsoft’s Windows the System Restore was something like a gamble. There were no ways to tell which drivers or applications might get affected. You have to try it to see. But now with Windows 7 the case is completely different.

You right click on Computer, select the Properties > System Protection > System Restore > Next, and then choose the restore point which you would like to use. Next you click on the new button to ‘Scan for affected programs’ and then your Windows will tell you which programs (if there is any) and drivers will be recovered or deleted once the restore point is selected.

Set the time zone

Tzutil.exe utility command in system administrators will let you set the time zone of your PC from the scripts. For example, if you want to set a Greenwich Mean Time in your PC you can use this command:

tzutil /s “gmt standard time”

The command “tzutil /g” shows the present time zone, “tzutil /l” lists down every possible time zones, and “tzutil /?” will show you the details about working of these commands.

Calibrating the screen

The screen colours of your PC differ depending on the settings of your graphics cards, monitor, lighting and others. However, most people are using the default Windows colour profile. This also means that digital photo which is looking just perfect for you might not be same for somebody else. Windows 7 is offering a Display Colour Calibration Wizard and this helps you to set up the proper brightness, colour settings, contrast and a ClearType tuner for more crisper and sharper texts. Want to try this, just click on Start, and type DCCW and then press [Enter].

Right-click everything

Windows 7 has striking similarities to Vista, but in most cases you can easily see the differences by just right clicking on things.

Well, if you right click on an empty section of the desktop, for example, you will find a menu entry to set the resolution of your PC screen so there is no need to go for browsing through display settings as of now.

For faster access to your folders like Pictures, Documents, Windows folder, and others just right-click on the Explorer icon on your taskbar.

But if you are not planning to use the Internet Explorer then most probably you do not want this icon to be permanently displayed on your taskbar. Instead, you can right click on the icon, and select ‘Unpin this program from the taskbar’, and then go ahead and install the Firefox.

Desktop slideshow

Windows 7 has very attractive new wallpapers, that sometimes it becomes really difficult to decide which one is the best. In that case, you can choose few types of wallpaper and let your Windows display all of them as a slideshow. To apply, just right click on an empty part of the desktop, and select Personalise > Desktop Background, then hold the Ctrl button as you keep on clicking other images that you like. You can also choose the timings of the display image.

Recover screen space

The tasks bar of new Windows 7 will be like a huge quick launch toolbar that will hold most of the program shortcuts that you like to have. You need to right-click one and then select Pin To Taskbar.

Restoring Quick Launch Toolbar

Due to any reasons, if you do not like the new taskbar, then you can always go back to your old Quick Launch Toolbar anytime.

Custom power switch

Windows 7 shows a plain text of ‘Shut down’ button at Start menu, however you may change it if you don’t need it. This feature is essential for those who reboot their computer several times in a day.

Auto arranging the desktop

If the icons in your Windows 7 desktop has scattered here and there, you might need to rearrange it. In case of Vista, the rearranging was made by just right clicking and by selecting the View > Auto arrange. Here in Windows 7 you just have to press and hold down [F5], and icons will be rearranged automatically in your Windows.

Disable smart window arrangement

One of the interesting feature in Windows 7 is cleverly re-arranging of windows, so that when you drag your window to the top of your screen, it gets maximize. It is really good, but in case somebody don’t like it and find it to be more distracting, then they can easily disable it. You just have to run REGEDIT, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop, and set the WindowArrangementActive to 0, then reboot. Now your window is set as you like it to be.

Remove ‘Send Feedback’

Windows 7 has been released by Microsoft to get the public’s feedback, so it is good to take its advantage. So if you believe that something is not good and you have a better idea, then click on Send Feedback and let them know what you want to say. You could make a difference. Once you have sent the feedback and don’t want to keep that Send Feedback links on the windows, it is easy to do that too. Launch REGEDIT, and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop, then set the FeedbackToolEnabled value to zero and reboot your PC. In case you want this link to be enabled just put 3 instead of 0.

Display your drives

When you click on Computer in Windows 7, you might see there is a lack of drives, but do not get frightened, the drives are there but in case the memory card reader is empty, it will not be displayed. However, if you don’t like it, it is easy to get your empty drives back. Just launch the Explorer and click Tools > Folder Options > View and clear ‘Hide empty drives in the computer folder’, and its all done.

See more detail

The new enhanced Windows 7 magnifier provides easy way to zoom in on the area of the screen. If you launch it, you will find a scale factor as well as the docking position.  Once it is activated it can able to track your keyboard and focus on the screen. Just press [Tab] when you move over a dialog box and it will zoom in on the current active control automatically.

Customize UAC

The User Account Control in Windows Vista was good idea, but unfortunately due to so many alerts it was not liked much by the users. New Windows 7 show less warning signs by default; it will let you to fine-tune the UAC to suit your requirement of balancing the security as well as a pop-up free life. Go to Start > Control Panel > Change User Account Control Settings.

Usage of Sticky Notes

The Sticky Notes app is very simple and useful tool in Windows 7. Just launch the StikyNot.exe and you will be able to type the notes at the keyboard. You can change its colour just by the right-clicking that note. Click on the + sign on the note title bar for adding another note. For closing the note window, click the note and press [Alt]+[4]. The notes will be saved automatically.

Open folder in new process

Windows 7 opens up the folders in the same process by default. This is good because it saves your system’s resources. However, if one folder crashes it will bring down all shell. In case your system is not very stable, or if you are doing something in the Explorer that cause crashes, you open up the Computer, and hold down the shift, and right-click on your drive and select the Open in New Process. Now your folder will launch in a different process, so there will be a rare chances of crash.

Restore your gadgets

With Windows 7 you cannot run gadgets if the UAC is turned off. The security features has been tightened in Windows 7. This security features will not allow any damages to your system by any malicious and unsigned gadgets. You can always go back to normal anytime. The only things you need to do is to Run REGEDIT, and Go to KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Sidebar\Settings, then create a new DWORD value which is called AllowElevatedProcess and set that number to 1. All of your gadgets should begin working in the same way.

New WordPad formats

WordPad will save your documents in Rich Text Format by default, same as it was before. But you also have more options, just browse the Save As Format list, you will find that you can also save, or open files in OpenDocument .odt or Office 2007 .docx formats.

Protect your data

USB flash drives are very suitable, portable, and convenient to use drives, but there are very high chances to loose it as well. You may land up in a big problem if there is any sensitive data in it. There is a solution for it in new Windows 7- just encrypts all your sensitive documents with a Microsoft’s BitLocker technology extension. Now it can be open up only by those who are having the password. To turn this on, right click your USB flash drive, and select Turn on BitLocker and then follow the instructions sets to protect your private and most sensitive files.

Configure your favourite music

Listen to your favorite music in Windows 7 Media Centre. By default, it will keep changing the music from the list of songs based on the ratings that you have given, and how often you play that song, and also when they were added to your list.

Search privacy

Windows 7 will able to remember your entire PC search queries by default settings and this will show you the most recent examples when you search in a Windows Explorer. In case you want little privacy and do not want anybody to see your search results, you can launch GPEDIT.MSC, and go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Explorer, then double-click the “Turn off display of recent search entries…” and click on Enabled > OK.

Tweak PC volume

Windows 7 will now reduce the PC sounds volume automatically in case it detects that you are receiving or making any phone calls through PC.

Keyboard shortcuts

Windows 7 provides supports to various useful new shortcuts for the keyboard.

Alt+P
Display or hide the Explorer preview pane

Windows Logo+G
Show gadgets in front of the other windows

Windows Logo++ (plus key)
Zoom in, where it finds appropriate

Windows Logo+- (minus key)
Zoom out, where it finds appropriate

Windows Logo+Up
Maximize the present window

Windows Logo+Down
Minimize the present window

Windows Logo+Left
Snapping to left hand side of the Windows screen

Windows Logo+Right
Snapping to right hand side of the Windows screen

Windows Logo+Home
Minimize or restore entire thing but not the current window

Speedy video access

Do you want to access your Videos folder faster? Now new Windows 7 will let you adding the same in the Start menu. So just right-click on the Start orb, click on Properties > Start Menu > Customize, and then set the Videos option to “Display as a link”. For example, if you have a TV tuner which works with Windows 7, then there is a new option which will show you the Recorded TV folder on the Start menu, as well.

Run web searches

The search tool of Windows 7 can also able to search the online resources. For adding the Flickr support, for example, just visit I Started Something, click on Download the Connector, and choose the Open option. It will only take few moments to download. Now “Flickr Search” option is added in your Searches folder, so you will able to search images right from your desktop.

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Tags: Computer, microsoft, PC, windows, windows 7, Windows Explorer