Your group O drives your whole microcomputer experience , so it ’s your Book of Job as an enthusiast to keep it in a in high spirits state of tune . Here ’s how to do just that with Windows 7 .
After installing a unexampled OS , most people just jump flop in and start driving it through all their preferent diligence and games . Makes gumption , right ? The operating system , after all , should be a background instrumentalist in the computing experience - a way to an end , with the end being web surfing , content editing , and trifle away devastation in the first - person shooter of one ’s choice .
The problem , however , is that most people , even a bunch of self - described power user , never take the time to really tune the raw operating system , exploring its menus and setting up the interface for the fastest , most convenient operation establish on personal preferences . And as operating scheme proffer more and more drug user controls , it ’s the curious , performance - apt partizan who has the most to gain from tune an OS to his or her wish .
It ’s been about six month since Windows 7 hit the food market , so we image most of our reader have made their rising slope . For those who ’ve made that jump , we exhibit a bottle of our favourite Windows 7 bakshish , each designed to aid you draw out the very last moment of toilet facility and GUI - navigating operation from your own personal dream machine . And if you have n’t yet upgrade to Win7 , we believe you will after study this clause , as its core feature - let alone its actual Lab - benchmarked performance - kicks Vista and XP ass .
We shut out our tuning session with a tip designed to supercharge the process of set up the OS . By debase Windows 7 onto a USB key , and making that key a bootable drive , you’re able to do an end - run around boring optical - parkway technology and instal your type O in ( excuse the pun ) a flash .
It ’s time to get part . Park your computer , but do n’t shut down . This is one microcomputer melody - up that can only be done with your engine running .
Keyboard Shortcuts for Committed Mouse Abolitionists
lease ’s kick off this business leader - user party with keyboard shortcuts - tricks every enthusiast should con when mastering a newfangled O . We ’re confident the surveil time - saving key stroke will keep open you treasured neural processing cycle , and make your mouse envious with negligence .
Alt + P
In Windows Explorer , this shortcut activates a preview pane of your take file , be it an image , sound , or video recording document . This instrument panel is capital for preview images in your photos directory , obviating the need for fancier third - political party software .
Windows + Up and Windows + Down
If a windowpane is n’t maximized , push the Windows + Up arrow key will make it fill your total screen . Windows + Down pointer will minimize that active windowpane .
Windows + transformation + Up and Windows + Shift + Down
polish off these three key will vertically stretch an active window to the maximal screen background peak ( the width of the window , however , will stay the same ) . beseech Windows + Shift+ Down will restore the windowpane to its late dimensions .
Windows + + and Windows + –
Pressing the Windows button with either the plus or minus samara activates the Magnifier , letting you zoom in on the entire desktop or open a orthogonal magnifying lens to soar up in on ( and out of ) parts of your screen . you’re able to also tailor-make the Magnifier to play along your computer mouse pointer or keyboard cursor .
Windows + Left and Windows + Right
These two shortcuts will make your active window make full up exactly one half of your screen - depend on which arrow headstone you expend . And once a window is fixed to one side of the screenland , you may reduplicate the shortcut with the same arrow key to flip it to the other side .
Windows + Home
This shortcut minimizes every open windowpane on your desktop except the fighting windowpane . Pressing this shortcut again restores all the minimized windowpane .
Windows + thyroxine
Like Alt + Tab ( still our all - clip - favourite Windows shortcut ) , Windows + T cycles through thumbnails of your open programs via the Taskbar ’s peep menu .
Windows + E
Automatically unfold up a raw Explorer windowpane to show your library folder .
Windows + atomic number 15
Manage your multiple - varan setup more efficiently with this ready to hand crosscut . Windows + P opens a diminished sheathing that let you configure a second show or projector . you could tack from a single monitor to dual - display in either mirror or extend - desktop mode .
Windows + Shift + Left and Windows + Shift + Right
If you ’re using two or more display - and you are , are n’t you?-memorize this shortcut to easily move a window from one covert to the other . The windowpane retains its size of it and comparative position on the new screenland , which is utilitarian when working with multiple documents .
Windows + [ Number ]
Programs ( and new instances ) pin to your Taskbar can be launched by slay Windows and the appropriate identification number key . Windows + 1 , for example , launches the first applications programme in the taskbar , while Windows + 4 will set in motion the fourth .
Windows + Space
This jazz band performs the same function as move your black eye to the bottom right of the Taskbar : It makes every active window transparent ( save dim outlines ) so you could look at the background underneath .
Track Your Actions with Problem Step Recorder
Master Your New Font Manager
Font management is much improved in Windows 7 . The Add Fonts dialog is history , and in its place is Modern functionality within the Fonts folder itself . First , the folder now show font previews via each font file ’s icon ( seeable with Large or Extra Large icon views ) . secondly , fonts from a single set will no longer show up as dissimilar case ; they ’re now combined as a individual family , which can be expanded by doubly - clicking the ikon . Third , you could now toggle fonts on and off by right - clicking a font icon and take the Hide option . This forbid program from loading the font ( thus saving memory ) , but still keeps the file retained in the Font folder . Finally , Windows 7 includes a new fondness , complimentary - menstruate font called Gabriola that demonstrate off the forward-looking antialiasing , text rendering , and “ stylistic alternate ” font flourishes afforded by DirectWrite ( Microsoft ’s API for 2D text interlingual rendition ) and OpenType .
Launch Games with Keystrokes
One of our biggest annoyances with Windows Vista was the Games Folder , aka the Gaming Grotto , aka the Gaming Ghetto . In Vista , Games for Windows claim and other game shortcut automatically instal to this directory , which you’re able to only get at with a Start Menu shortcut . This scheme prevent you from starting a biz from the Start Menu search bar ( aka the power user , keyboard - only method ) . Indeed , while you may set up any other software by mashing the Windows headstone , and typing its name in the Start Menu athletic field , this is n’t the case for game instal to Vista ’s Games Folder . Well , this oversight is fixed in Windows 7 , and the universe is now home to slightly less evil .
Burn a Spittin’ Image
you may quit messing around with seemingly gratis , malware - infected burning software package , because Windows 7 fall load with a videodisc and CD ISO burning at the stake program . Just dual - click your persona file and Windows will start a tiny programme window to help burn your phonograph recording . It ’s a bare - bones app , but it work !
Become More Wordly with Hidden Wallpapers
Besides its default desktop wallpaper , Win7 includes desktop backgrounds catered to your region ( which is identified when you first deploy the O ) . We Americans , for case , get six 1900×1200 images showing off National Parks and beach . However , if your gustatory perception range more external - don’t headache , we wo n’t hold that against you - you could seize wallpapers for other neighborhood from a hidden booklet . Type globalization in a hunt of your C : driveway . The only result should be a folder site in the chief Windows directory , and you should only be able to see ELS and Sorting folders nuzzle here . Now search for MCT in the top - right field hunting bar . This will expose five new unindexed folders , each corresponding to a different global part . shop these folders for some extra themes and wallpapers specific to Australia , United Kingdom , South Africa , and Canada .
Take Control of UAC
Despite skilful design , User Account Control pop - ups were one of the most pestering aspect of Vista , and thus UAC became a feature that most of us immediately invalid after a light install . UAC in Windows 7 display fewer warnings , but you may also all right - line its notification wont by launching the UAC options duologue from the Start Menu . Just type UAC in the Start Menu search field of battle and get through the result . We find that set the streak to just one tick above “ Never notify ” provides a well-situated balance between mindful surety and unremitting , Alice Kramden – caliber nagging .
Calculate Your Mortgage and Other Math Tricks
The reliable Calculator applet has been beefed up to do more than just basic arithmetic . you could now toggle between Standard , Scientific , Programmer , and even Statistics mode . In addition , the Options carte du jour have you pull out many unexampled automated conversation tool , such as Unit Conversion ( for example , Angles , Temperature , Velocity , and Volume ) and Date Calculation ( e.g. , forecast the difference between two dates ) . More templates give you the power to cranch gaseous state mileage , lease tipping points , and even mortgage estimate ( yeah , correct ! ) based on any variables you input .
Reveal All of Your Drives
If you habituate built - in memory - menu reader in a 3.5 - inch effort bay or on your screen background showing , empty remembering calling card slots will not show up as drive in My Computer . But that does n’t mean they ’re not still there . To reveal hidden remembering card one-armed bandit , open My Computer . Press Alt to show the toolbar at the top of the screen , and go to Folder Options under Tools . Hit the panorama check and uncheck the “ Hide empty drives in the Computer leaflet ” choice .
Use Devices and Printers to Quickly Dig into Hardware
hackneyed of switch between machine Manager , Properties menus for your machine , and the Start Menu to manage and practice printer , digital cameras , mice , and other peripherals ? Windows 7 come to your delivery with its Devices and Printers dialog . Open Control Panel and select View Devices and Printers from the Hardware and Sound family . Right - get through a twist icon in Devices and Printers to configure the hardware , create shortcuts , troubleshoot , view dimension , and run programs . Devices and Printers can carry through you a stack of effort . For example , when you use it to manage your computer , you have one - touch access code to 12 unlike Control Panel and Explorer interfaces . And when you use a Windows 7 – specific driver that supports equipment Stage , Devices and Printers utilise thumbnail art of the actual equipment , as show up .
Calibrate Your Notebook’s Text and Color
After doing a clean install of Windows 7 on a notebook , the first thing you should do is tune and fine-tune ClearType textbook and Display Color . Windows 7 includes two built - in wizards that pass you through the entire process , pain - free . Launch ClearType Text Tuning by typing cttune in the Start Menu hunt field and start the lookup result . You ’ll go through a brief serial of step that enquire you to identify the best - await text - render method acting . For Display Color Calibration - utile if you ’re using Windows 7 with a projector or large - screen LCD - lookup and launching dccw from the Start Menu . It ’ll scat you through a series of pages where you may adjust the gamma , brightness , dividing line , and color of the screen door to make images look their best .
Control AutoPlay Settings Like a Megalomaniacal Tyrant
Windows 7 ’s version of AutoPlay , like its predecessors ’ , lets you specify what to do with medium types when you connect an external parkway or insert a disk . Sure , you may have hated AutoPlay in Windows XP , but Win7 provides you with reasons to take a fresh flavor . As in Vista , Win7 lets you configure AutoPlay configurations by media type , but you should poke around for more tweaking option . Open Control Panel , select Hardware and Sound , and then select AutoPlay . By default , Win7 use AutoPlay for all media and devices ; this can be unbridled , and from there you may personalize AutoPlay military action like a madman . Note that each type of medium - euphony CDs , DVDs , software and games , mass medium data file , white media , and video disc - offers you choices base on Windows utility as well as third - party programs . Choose your preferred app as an AutoPlay nonremittal , or to keep the traditional pop - up AutoPlay menu , select Ask Me Every sentence .
Solve External Hard Drive Hassles with Convert.exe
Windows 7 prefers hard disk drives that use the NTFS file system : Its integrated backup program can not back up file from or to crusade that practice the older FAT32 filing cabinet scheme . So , if you choose a drive that habituate FAT32 as the backup location , Windows 7 display an error notification . FAT32 , a leftover from the days of Windows 98 , works with both MacOS and Windows ( which is why most external hard disk use this file arrangement by default ) , but it lacks the feature needed to fully bear out Windows 7 championship . Use Convert.exe to work this trouble . Open a dictation - prompting academic term and use the following command to exchange your extraneous gruelling disc ’s file system : convince x : /fs : ntfs ( interchange x with the actual drive letter of your international operose disk ) . Convert.exe will control your external strong disk for errors , verify there ’s enough space for conversion , and then convert with abandon . While this theoretically will not ruin your data point , we recommend you back up your files first .
Convert WMC Recordings for Use with Vista and XP
Windows Media Center ( WMC ) improved in the saltation from Vista to Windows 7 - you’ll find better integration of cable , programme , and cyberspace telly in the program scout , better support for widescreen displays , and a urbane substance abuser port , among other change . But if you want to share your recording with Windows XP or Vista users , or use the dozens of transcription and Indian file - conversion public-service corporation made for those versions of WMC , you ’re sort of have a go at it , as Windows 7 no longer use the DVR - MS filing cabinet format for recording . Instead , it expend WTV ( Windows TV ) , and WTV file ca n’t be used by old versions of WMC or Windows Media Player .
you’re able to , however , change over a TV recording from WTV to DVR - MS by using the transition utility provide in Win7 .
TV recordings are stored by nonremittal in the Public Recorded TV library . start the library , right - come home the recording , and select Convert to DVR - MS Format . At the end of the conversion outgrowth , the Recorded television library contains both your original .wtv file as well the .dvr - M conversion . The .dvr - MiB file can be used with programs designed for Windows XP and Windows Vista Windows Media Center , and can be played on Windows Media Center and Windows Media Player in Windows XP and Windows Vista .
Command Windows 7 to Generate an Energy Report
Cling (Desperately) to Vista’s Taskbar
Let ’s start with the bad news : Windows 7 eliminates the option to utilise the classic gray Windows 2000 – flair Taskbar . You ’re also committed to the innovative version of the Start Menu . But the good news is that you could still fine-tune the Taskbar to make it incline like it did in Windows Vista , supplant the program icons with the names of each overt app . decently - sink in the Taskbar and hit Properties . Check the “ apply small icons ” box and prize “ Combine when Taskbar is full ” from the drop - down fare under Taskbar buttons . You still get the peek - scene thumbnail feature of the Taskbar , and inactive program stay on as single icon , but subject programs will expose their full figure .
Exile Programs to the System Tray
All active broadcast show up as icons on the Taskbar , whether you need them to or not . While this is useful for vane browse or tidings processing , your taskbar can get cluttered with ikon you would ordinarily expect to be hidden away , like those for Steam or a schmooze guest . you could , however , keep active instances of these program hidden away in the System Tray / Notification Area by right - tick their shortcuts , navigate to the Compatibility tab key , and selecting Windows Vista under the Compatibility Mode knock off - down menu . Just be aware that this only puzzle out for programme that would antecedently veil away from the Taskbar in Vista .
Manage Your Jump Lists
The Jump List , a inclination of shortcut to files or task for a particular Start Menu or Taskbar item , is one of the most significant improvements in Windows 7 . Each time you open a file or internet site , or campaign a task with a program that hold Jump Lists , Windows 7 stores the cutoff to the file , website , or task for reuse . Unlike Windows XP , however , Windows 7 does n’t aggroup these crosscut into a individual position . Instead , it stores shortcuts for each syllabus ’s files , websites , or tasks in a freestanding shortcut list - aka the Jump List . To see the Jump List for a plan in the Start Menu , only click the ripe - pointer ikon . To see the Jump List for a curriculum icon on the Taskbar , the right way - penetrate the icon . Windows eventually remove item from the Jump List when it runs out of blank space , but you could override this . To make any Jump List item a permanent entry , highlight it and click the pushpin icon ( reverse this outgrowth to unpin it ) . And if the idea of leave an icon lead of all your recent history disturbs you , you may disable Jump Lists entirely : mightily - fall into place the Start Menu , opt Properties , and uncheck the two boxes under Privacy .
Organize Your Taskbar and System Tray
The programs that you pin to your Taskbar can be moved around to any social club you need , whether they ’re just shortcut icons or currently active applications . The Taskbar , if unlocked , can also be puff to latch to the left , right , or even top of your desktop . As show up below , Windows 7 improves side - docked Taskbar sustenance with well gradient rendering and shortcut keep . It really work well if you ’re using a widescreen monitor . Just as the Taskbar icons can be rearranged at will , the icon in the System Tray ( actually called the Notification Area ) can be dragged and set to any order , as well . Hidden Icons can be drag out back into thought , and you could hide picture by drop back them over the ashen triangle , and drop them into the Hidden Icon well - much easy than working through the Notification Area Customization carte .
Accelerate Your Start Menu
The Start Menu has n’t commute much from Vista , but there are some far-famed improvements . The behavior of the power push has been changed to Shut Down , as oppose to Hibernate , which was the asinine default in Vista . But you may also change the button default option to do other natural process . Right - click the Start Menu , and choose Properties . From the Power Button Action drop - down , you’re able to choose a Modern nonpayment button behavior . If you hit the Customize clitoris , you ’ll enter a world of opportunities that help you hold what the Start Menu showing . Most options are wrick off , but you may want some on , like the option to display recorded TV file , a feature film that ’s new in Windows 7 . Also be aware that Start Menu detail should be set to “ expose as a connexion ” if you desire them to open up Jump Lists .
Arrange Files by Type, Month, Artist, and Other Options
Windows Vista introduced the construct of using the Details folder view to group files by measure such as name , date modified , type , size , and other choice . These option are still available in any booklet by mighty - clicking inside the leaflet and take them from the options menu . But Window 7 does Vista one better with its new Libraries strategy , which enable you to catch the substance of multiple Indian file position in a single lucid folder . And as you ’d await , each Library come correct with contextual Indian file - arrangement pick that vary according to what ’s being regard . For example , in the Pictures depository library , you may pick out from Day , Rating , Tag , and Month . For videos , maybe arranging by Length , as in our screenshot , is most relevant . You get the point .
Pin Folders to Favorites and Start Menu
Explorer ’s Jump List shows your seven most frequently chitchat folder , but you’re able to manually bookmark some dearie to the top of the listing by immobilise brochure locations . Just right - dawn any brochure - either on your desktop or from an open example of Explorer - and dredge that folder image to the Explorer shortcut on the Taskbar . You ’ll see a substance that record “ tholepin to Windows Explorer ” before you give up the mouse button . The leaflet will come along under a Pinned section of the Jump List , and you’re able to remove it by clicking the “ Unpin from this list ” icon on the correct side of the panel . you may also right - click and drag a folder now to the Start button to pin that folder to the worldwide Start tilt .
Put an OS in Your Pocket
How to lade Windows 7 onto a bootable USB key
To discharge your Windows 7 power - substance abuser experience , you may deliberate drop the whole darn OS onto a USB driving . Whether you carry it around in your pocket or toss it in a desk drawer , it ’s a perfect kick disk for emergency installs - include those meter when you ’re working with a netbook or some other reckoner that lacks an ocular drive . Even best , your install time will be importantly trim back , thanks to your samara ’s New York minute memory - we shaved off minutes from our full install time .
Here ’s how to create a schmancy - fancy boot samara for either Windows 7 or Vista - but not for other OSes , so please do n’t hear ! We ’ve run a truncated version of this clause in the magazine before , but because it was so fantastically pop - and so germane to this feature story - we’ve decided to share it again , this time with more detail and screens .
1 . data formatting Your USB Key
Plug in your USB key and back up any existing data stored on it . You ’ll need to format the paint ( thus efface existing data ) before you could make it a bootable gimmick . We used an 8 GB key , but a 4 GB cay will also form .
2 . Partition that Key in CMD
afford up a control command prompt as an Administrator . you could do this by search for cmd.exe in your Windows / System32 booklet , right - clicking the executable , and pick out “ Run as decision maker . ” instead , character CMD in the Start Menu lookup field and trigger off the instruction prompt using Ctrl + Shift + Enter .
You should now be under C : Windowssystem32 ( assuming your Windows partition is the C parkway ) . character diskpart in the command pipeline to enter the Disk Partition bidding - melody shaft , which lets you format and create divider on active disk . Now type list magnetic disc to disclose a list of all your combat-ready disks , each of which is associated with a phone number . Make a note of which one is your USB headstone , based on the capacity . In this screenshot , our USB private road is Disk 2 .
3 . Format Away ( Command - Prompt Style )
It ’s now time to enter a load of commands to properly partition off the key , and format for the NTFS ( did you know this stands for “ New Technology File System ” ? ) . In succession , enter the following - and type carefully , Jimbo !
Select Disk # ( where # is the numeral of your USB platter . We typed Select Disk 2 for this job )
fresh ( this remove any existing partitioning from the USB disk , including any secret sphere )
Create Partition Primary ( creates a new primary partition with default parameter )
Select Partition 1 ( focuses surgical procedure on the fresh created partitioning )
Active ( lay out the partition to active , informing the magnetic disc microcode that this is a valid system partition )
Format FS = NTFS ( format the partitioning with the NTFS file system . This may take several minutes to complete , depending on the size of your USB key )
Assign ( this give the USB drive a Windows loudness and next available drive letter , which you should indite down . In our case , drive “ L ” was assigned )
Exit ( drop by the wayside the DiskPart tool )
4 . imitate Windows DVD to a Desktop Folder
Insert the Windows 7 installation videodisk into your drive , and view the single file that it contain . imitate all of the files to a folder on your screen background . We put the magnetic disc contents in a folder named Windows 7 .
5 . plow Your Key into a Bootable machine
Now , go back to your bid prompt , running it as an Administrator . Using the CD control , navigate your path to the folder where you point the Windows disk ISO files . Your bid wrinkle path should front something like cytosine : UsersUSERNAMEHEREDesktopWindows 7 if you followed our wind on booklet location . Now type the following program line :
CD Boot ( this gets you into the boot directory )
Bootsect.exe /nt60 L : ( this assume L is the drive varsity letter arrogate to your USB paint from the late step )
In example you ’re wondering , Bootsect infuses iron heel manager – compatible code into your USB key to make it a bootable gimmick . Also be aware that if you ’re presently running 32 - bit Windows Vista or 7 , Bootsect will only work if you practice the files from the 32 - second Windows 7 install disk . The Bootsect viable from the 64 - routine version will not run in 32 - scrap Vista . Do n’t block it !
6 . dilute the USB Key with Your Install file
replicate all of the extracted ISO files into the USB drive . You do n’t involve to do this from the command prompt . Just drag and drop the file from the Windows 7 folder into the USB drive using Windows Explorer . We also recommend re-create your hardware drivers onto the same key so the installation wizard can detect them .
Your USB key is now all ready to go ! Plug it into your target organization and verify you move into the BIOS ( typically by hitting F2 or F12 ) to temporarily alter the bang order to allow booting from the USB key before your primary hard driving or optical drive . Now , when you plug the Florida key into a machine , your system should automatically start speedily downloading frame-up file off of the USB paint and entering Windows 7 installation .
Maximum PCbrings you the latest in PC news , brushup , and how - tos .
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