On 5/16/10, Sanjay <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Whether you run Windows 7, Vista or XP, these tricks will make your PC > faster, > safer and even more fun to work with. > > Rick Broida is your guide > > Windows 7 is being lauded as Microsoft's best operating system (OS) to date. > It's stocked with genuinely handy interface upgrades such as Aero Snap, > offers > long-overdue networking improvements in the form of HomeGroups, and adds > touchscreen support and the best Windows Media Center experience yet. > > Windows 7 was made publicly available as a downloadable beta for most of > 2009, > giving plenty of scope for people to critique it and develop add-ons and > tweaks. > The result is an OS that's more modest in its hardware demands than Vista, > more stable than Me and more secure than XP. But while the OS doesn't need > many outright improvements, there's certainly room for refinements. > > Over the following pages we've assembled more than 50 such tips and tweaks. > Most of these are designed to work with Windows 7, but many have equivalent > workarounds for use in XP and Vista. In many cases, the suggestions we > offer > will give your system a bit of a fillip, either because they tame the > programs > and services Windows deems fit to run by default, or because they prioritise > what happens when rather than having everything clamouring for processor > cycles. > > Windows 7 isn't as much of a resource hog as its often maligned predecessor, > Vista, but there are certainly ways and means of making it leaner and > cleaner. > > But our tips aren't just about changing how Windows works; they also explain > how to achieve common tasks quicker using shortcuts and key combinations > that > fast become second nature. Experienced PC users will recognise some > long-standing favourites in our run-through of best ever tips on the final > two > pages. Here, we've brought together the best of the best of Windows tips > across the board. Together, these tips can help you make Windows faster, > easier, safer and more fun. > > GO FASTER > > Is Windows 7 really speedier than Vista or XP? Various tests have yielded > different results, and ultimately your Windows 7 experience depends on your > hardware and the applications you run. In fact, with just a few simple > tricks, > you can wring better performance from any machine. > > Go 64bit > > Works in: Vista, Windows 7 > > Windows loves RAM. The more memory you supply, the less the OS has to rely > on > the hard drive. But if you want Windows to get the benefit from more than > 3GB > of memory, you'll have to run the 64bit version. If you're buying Windows 7 > as an upgrade, you should find a 64bit installation disc in the box; ignore > the > 32bit disc entirely. > > In addition to recognising more memory, the 64bit edition of Windows makes > better use of your PC's processor, giving you the best possible Windows > experience. > > Turn off the eye candy > > Works in: Vista, Windows 7 > > Everybody loves bells and whistles, but Windows' fancy graphics come at a > price - particularly on older PCs with single-core CPUs or minimal RAM. If > you're more concerned with zippy performance than you are with transparent > windows and animated controls, consider turning off visual effects. > > Open the Control Panel, type visual in the Search field, then click 'Adjust > the appearance and performance of Windows'. Choose Adjust for best > performance, then click Apply. After a few seconds you'll see a decidedly > starker Windows interface and enjoy a much snappier response. > > If the look is too plain, choose the Custom option and select any effects > you > want to restore. The more you enable, the more performance will suffer. > > Boot up quicker > > Works in: XP, Vista, Windows 7 > > Windows 7 boots up a little more rapidly than other Windows versions. Even > so, > the more programs you install, the slower your PC will start up (something > that's true of all Windows editions). Many apps force Windows to run them > at > startup, a situation not unlike a dozen cars trying to merge into one lane, > slowing down everything in the process. > > Startup Delayer (tinyurl.com/b8ypj) is a great tool that tells the > lower-priority programs you select to sit tight, be patient and run a little > bit > later, after some of the traffic has cleared. The end result is that your > computer boots up much more quickly. > > The utility presents you with a list of all the programs that launch when > your > system does. To set a delay for any of them, just drag the item to the > white > bar at the bottom of the window. You'll see a line representing the > application; drag it left or right to decrease or increase the delay. > > Startup Delayer is free and one of the best ways we know of to speed up a > slow-booting PC. Even one that runs Windows 7. > > Tweak the power settings > > Works in: Vista, Windows 7 > > Using Windows' power-management features to save energy makes sense, but you > shouldn't do it at the expense of productivity. > > If you're working on a PC or on a laptop plugged into the mains, you don't > need your hard drive to turn off after 5 minutess, your processor to > throttle > back when idle or your video playback to be optimised for power saving. > Since > you're not attempting to preserve battery life on this machine, you should > crank up the performance settings. > > By default, both Vista and Windows 7 come configured with a 'Balanced' power > plan. To crank up performance, click Start, type power and select Power > Options. Choose the 'High performance' plan. (If you don't see it > listed, click 'Show additional plans'.) Now your machine will run with > desktop-optimised power settings. > > If you want to tweak individual settings, such as how long the hard drive > should > sit idle before shutting down, click 'Change plan settings', 'Change > advanced power settings'. > > Get an efficiency report > > Works in: Windows 7 > > If you're using Windows 7 on a laptop, you can check that it's running > efficiently and that its battery will last as long as possible. > > First run a command prompt. Open the Start menu and type cmd in the search > box. > When the cmd icon appears, right-click it and choose 'Run as administrator'. > > At the command line, type powercfg --energy -output > \Folder\Energy_Report.html > (where \Folder represents the folder where you want the report to be > placed). > > Be patient while Windows examines the behaviour of your laptop. It will > analyse > this and create a report in HTML format in the folder you specified. > Double-click the file to view the report. Follow its recommendations for > ways > to improve power performance. > > Remove unwanted extras > > Works in: XP, Vista, Windows 7 > > Many PC manufacturers insist on stuffing their new systems with free and > trial > software that consumes precious hard-drive space and slows down the > machine's > startup. > > We're talking about security suites you may not require, games you might not > want and vendor-branded utilities that are more nuisance than necessity. > > To get rid of this bloatware, go to the Start menu and open the Control > Panel, > then click 'Uninstall a program'. Alternatively, use one of our favourite > free utilities, Revo Uninstaller ( revouninstaller.com), to make a clean > sweep; > the tool not only uninstalls software, but also removes leftover files and > Registry entries. Just make sure you don't uninstall anything important, > such > as Adobe Flash Player or Microsoft .Net Framework. > > Switch to Chrome > > Works in: XP, Vista, Windows 7 > > The web browser is probably the most frequently used program on your PC. > Switching to a faster browser can therefore speed up your Windows > experience. > > Google Chrome loads pages faster than Firefox 3.5, Internet Explorer 8.0, > Opera > 10.0 and Safari 4.0 (see bit.ly/7cXHIB). The advantage may amount to only a > second or two, but every second counts. > > Run Performance Monitor > > Works in: Windows 7 > > If you like charts, numbers and data sets, Windows 7 has just the tool for > you. > Performance Monitor tracks your PC's hardware and applications in real time, > generating all kinds of data that you can review and compare. It's aimed at > system administrators rather than everyday users, but it can help you > discover > which programs are sapping system performance. > > Press the Windows key, type perfmon and press Enter. Start assessing your > system by expanding the Monitoring Tools folder and clicking Performance > Monitor. From there you'll probably need to delve into the built-in help > files, as the tool isn't exactly userfriendly. For more, check out the > Microsoft Developer Network blog post on using Performance Monitor at > bit.ly/7FEwaJ. > > EXPERT TIP: ELIMINATE THE AERO PEEK DELAY > > Aero Peek, one of Windows 7's most celebrated enhancements, temporarily > turns > all your windows transparent when you hover the cursor over the Show Desktop > button. If you accept the default settings, the effect takes nearly a full > second to kick in. However, a simple Registry hack will enable > instantaneous > transparency. > > Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, type regedit in the search box > and > press Enter. Navigate to Hkey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ > CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced. > > Right-click an empty area in the right pane, then choose New, Dword (32bit) > Value. In the field, enter DesktopLivePreviewHoverTime. By default, > Windows > assigns a value of 0, which is exactly what you want. Restart the PC. Next > time you hover the cursor over Show Desktop, you'll be peeking at light > speed. > > EXPERT TIP: CLEAR YOUR DESKTOP OF CLUTTER > > If you often run several programs at once, your desktop can get extremely > cluttered. This can get annoying if you're working on one program and want > to > minimise all the other windows. In previous versions of Windows you had to > minimise them individually, but with Windows 7's 'shake' feature you can > minimise all except the window you're currently working in. > > Click and hold the title bar of the window you want to keep on the desktop, > then > shake it quickly back and forth until all the other windows minimise to the > Taskbar. Then let go. Shake the title bar again to make the other windows > return onscreen. > > Admittedly, you can accomplish the same thing by pressing the Window key, > Home > key combination, but it's not nearly as much fun. > > Preston Gralla > > PROTECT YOURSELF > > Still looking for a good reason to trade in XP for Windows 7? Security is > the > top reason. The new OS is inherently better at fighting infections, > blocking > hackers and thwarting phishing attempts. And with the extra tools described > here, you can lock it down like a digital Fort Knox. > > Install MS Security Essentials > > Works in: XP, Vista, Windows 7 > > Windows 7 comes equipped with some solid security tools, including a robust > firewall and the spyware-blocking Windows Defender. > > On top of that, you need a good antivirus program that works in the > background > and won't bog down your system. > > Microsoft's Security Essentials (download it from tinyurl.com/kwsxcu) > provides > real-time protection against viruses and other malware, and its impact on > performance is negligible. Our recent tests found it holds its own against > other free antivirus utilities. In other words, it's a great alternative to > paying an annual fee for virus protection. > > Install Web of Trust > > Works in: XP, Vista, Windows 7 > > The seemingly innocent act of clicking a web link - even one that's at the > top of a Google search results page - can result in 'drive-by downloads' > infecting your computer. Even seasoned users can have trouble knowing which > links are safe to click. For an extra layer of security, try using Web of > Trust > ( mywot.com), a browser add-on that will warn you of unsafe sites. > > The plug-in adds colour-coded icons to every link that your search engine > produces: green for safe, yellow for risky and red for dangerous. You can > also > right-click any link, such as one that appears in an online forum, and > choose > 'View WOT scorecard' to perform a manual safety check. > > Web Of Trust is free and available for both Firefox and Internet Explorer. > Although its rating icons add a little clutter to some web pages, we > recommend > it for anyone who is concerned about security. > > Create a system repair disc > > Works in: Windows 7 > > Before you do anything with your PC, you should have a plan of action in > case > something goes wrong. Dig out the box it came in. Do you see a Windows 7 > disc > or a system recovery disc? They're less common these days, so the chances > are > it falls to you to create your own. And it's vital that you do so, because > if > your system ever becomes unbootable, a recovery CD or DVD might be your only > recourse. > > Thankfully, Windows 7 makes the task exceedingly easy. Just pop in a blank, > recordable CD or DVD (you'll need a burner, of course), click Start, type > repair and choose Create a System Repair Disc. Follow the instructions from > there, remembering to label the disc when you're finished. > > If you ever run into trouble, boot up your system with the repair disc. It > includes a variety of recovery and diagnostic tools, and also lets you > choose a > System Restore point to help get your PC back to a previous, working state. > > Make this disc now. If you wait until after you have a problem, it's too > late. > > EXPERT TIP: TWEAK USER ACCOUNT CONTROL > > You remember User Account Control (UAC), right? Incessant annoyance? > Symbol of > everything that was wrong with Windows Vista? Yep, that's UAC. It's back > in Windows 7, and its heart remains in the right place: it's still meant to > protect you from accidentally running dangerous software on your machine or > from > malware being able to make unauthorised changes to your system. > > UAC can still be annoying, though. Fortunately, Microsoft now gives you > control > over when and why UAC issues warnings. To tweak the settings, click Start, > type > account and select 'Change User Account Control settings'. You'll see a > slider with four notification levels. By default, UAC is now a little less > intrusive than it was in Vista, notifying you only when programs attempt to > make > changes and not when you make changes to Windows yourself. Want UAC to take > a > hike altogether? Drop the slider down to 'Never notify'. > > MAKE THINGS EASIER > > When is an OS easy to use? When it works the way you want it to. Here's > how > to make using Windows simpler and more productive. > > Close all your apps in a flash > > Works in: XP, Vista, Windows 7 > > Finished work for the day? Close all your apps at once with a click of the > Close All Windows icon. Unlike the Show Desktop function, which merely > minimises all open windows, Close All Windows (get it from ntwind.com) > terminates each running program. If an open document needs saving, the > program > will prompt you to do so. > > To make the best use of the app, pin it to your Taskbar. XP and Vista users > can > add the icon to the Quick Launch toolbar. > > Move the Taskbar > > Works in: Vista, Windows 7 > > Widescreen monitors are great for watching films and organising windows side > by > side, but much of the time that generous screen area goes to waste. One > option > is to move the Taskbar to the side where it will be accessible but not in > your > way. This may sound an odd thing to do, but since web pages, Word documents > and > the like run top to bottom, the more vertical space you can give them, the > better. > > Right-click an empty area of the Taskbar and remove the tick by 'Lock the > Taskbar'. Next, left-click and hold on an empty area of the Taskbar, and > drag > it to the left (or right) side of the screen. Once you get close, you'll > see > it lock in. Now release the mouse button. > > Vista users may want to extend the width of the Taskbar (by clicking and > dragging the right edge) to better see the labels for currently running > programs. But Windows 7 users can keep the Taskbar narrow, as the new OS > doesn't use Taskbar labels anyway. > > Reload programs after a reboot > > Works in: XP, Vista, Windows 7 > > Windows XP, Vista and 7 have at least one thing in common: they always urge > you > to reboot after installing new updates and patches. You'd think the OS > would > be courteous enough to restore your running programs, much as Firefox and > Internet Explorer restore tabs after a crash or restart, but, alas, it > doesn't. > > Thankfully, the free Cache My Work ( cachemywork.codeplex.com) can reopen > your > apps after a reboot. It's particularly handy for those times when you step > away from your PC only to discover upon your return that Windows has > restarted > without your permission. > > Install apps quickly > > Works in: XP, Vista, Windows 7 > > If you've just made the move to a Windows 7 machine and need to install all > your software, try Ninite ( ninite.com). This excellent free service > automatically downloads and installs popular apps. Just scroll through its > list > of 70-plus free programs, checking off what you want. It offers current > versions of nearly every major freebie, including Firefox, iTunes, Microsoft > Security Essentials, OpenOffice, Picasa, Skype and Steam. > > Tweak the Taskbar > > Works in: Windows 7 > > With Jump Lists, program pinning and rich thumbnail previews, the Windows 7 > Taskbar offers some nice amenities. However, since it's your Windows, you > may > as well make it work the way you want it to. > > The 7 Taskbar Tweaker (download it from rammichael.com) offers six > adjustments, > including one that replaces the Jump List with the old window menu when you > right-click a running app. Our favourite tweak reassigns the middle mouse > button to close or focus a window instead of opening a new instance of the > app. > > EXPERT TIP: MAKE YOUR PC A WI-FI HOTSPOT > > Imagine you've got a broadband card in your laptop, but no way to share its > wireless connection with your iPod touch or another PC. Or maybe you've > paid > for a hotel's Wi-Fi service, but you don't want to pay again just to connect > other devices. > > You need Connectify ( connectify.me), a clever utility that turns your > web-connected computer into the equivalent of a Wi-Fi hotspot. Although > it's > still an early-stage beta, it worked quite well on our test systems. After > installing the program, just click the Connectify icon in the system tray, > choose the connection you want to share, then enter a name and password for > your > wireless network. > > Now fire up your other devices and look for the new connection. Join it, > enter > the password and you'll be connected. Keep in mind, however, that because > Connectify is still in development, it may not work perfectly with every > device. > > On the plus side, the utility is free while it stays in beta, and it may > remain > an ad-supported freebie once it's finished. > > HAVE MORE FUN > > If you're looking for entertainment, Windows 7 has a couple of tricks up its > sleeve: media sharing and Windows Media Center. The latter is available in > the > Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate editions of the OS; only Starter > doesn't have it. Here's how to get more enjoyment out of your Windows > entertainment applications. > > Autorotate your wallpaper > > Works in: Windows 7 > > Wouldn't it be nice if Windows greeted you with a new wallpaper every time > you > started up your PC or at regular intervals throughout the day. Consider it > done. > > Press the Windows key, type background, then click 'Change desktop > background'. > > By default, Windows will show you its stock background art, but you can > peruse > different images by clicking the Picture location drop-down menu or choosing > Browse to pull images from a folder on your hard drive. > > Tick the box next to each image you want to add to the rotation, then click > 'Change picture every' and set the interval to a length of time of your > choice. Save changes. > > Download themes > > Works in: Windows 7 > > Microsoft has stocked Windows 7 with some stunning Aero themes - packages of > wallpapers, sounds and a pervasive colour palette. To access the array of > choices, press Windows, type theme and click 'Change the theme'. You can > browse what's there or click 'Get more themes online' to tap into > Microsoft's Personalization Gallery (head to bit.ly/8QqQF4). > > The gallery is home to about a dozen branded themes, plus 20 international > themes. You'll also find instructions on creating or customising a theme. > > Watch TV without a tuner > > Works in: Windows 7 > > Although Windows Media Center offers pretty good digital video recorder > (DVR) > features, you typically need at least one TV tuner to watch and record live > programming. If your PC doesn't have a tuner, however, you can stream a > selection of shows on-demand in the Windows 7 version of Media Center. > > Stream media to other PCs > > Works in: Windows 7 > > Windows 7 lets you stream music, photos and videos (including recorded TV > shows) > from your home PC to other Windows 7 machines. > > It's a neat trick if you're on the road with your laptop or netbook and you > want to see the football match you recorded at home. What's not so great is > the number of hoops you have to jump through. > > Launch Windows Media Player and click Stream, 'Allow Internet access to home > media'. Click 'Link an online ID' and select 'Add an online ID > provider'. On the web page that appears, choose either 'Download for > 32bit' or 'Download for 64bit', depending on which version of Windows 7 > you're using. Save and then run the downloaded file, which installs the > Windows Live ID Sign-in Assistant app. > > Having done this, return to the Link Online IDs window and, under Online ID > Provider, click 'Link online ID'. Enter your Windows Live ID username and > password. (Click the link in the box to sign up if you don't already have a > LiveID.) Finally, click ok. > > Return to Windows Media Player and click 'Allow Internet access to home > media'. > > That's one PC done. On the second system, you'll need to repeat the > procedure. You'll then be able to browse the Other Libraries section in > Windows Media Player to find the media you want to view from afar. > > EXPERT TIP: DOWNLOAD WEB VIDEO TO A TV > > YouTube is all very well, but sometimes you want to be able to watch TV > programmes and other video content in its original broadcast quality. For > this, > there's always BBC iPlayer and its ITV, Channel 4, Five and Sky equivalents. > But if you're after a broader selection, you'll need to look to the web. > > Blinkx ( blinkx.com) is a good starting point, aggregating video content > from > around the web and letting you create watch folders based on keywords so you > don't have to initiate a new search every time to you want to locate an > episode of 'True Blood' or 'Glee', for example. To view programmes for > free in a full-screen web browser pane, you're taken to a third-party > service > such as VuReel. This is ad-supported, but you can pay a monthly > subscription of > $5.49 (around ukp3.37) to skip the adverts and to be able to download > content > for viewing on a TV or a portable entertainment device. > > For additional ease of use, beam your favourite programmes to a TV and use a > GlideTV ( glide.tv) remote control to select what you want to watch. > > OLD FAVOURITES > > Superb shortcuts > > Toggle between apps: Use Alt, Tab to switch open programs without touching > your > mouse. The oldest (and still the best) Windows timesaver. > > Navigate app windows: Press Ctrl, Tab to cycle through an application's > windows (or through a web browser's tabs). This is probably the most > underrated tip around. > > When in doubt, type it out: If you don't want to hunt through nested menus > and > the like, you can access most functions, applets or files by entering their > details into the Search box. Type Calculator, Control Panel, or even the > name > of a piece of music on your hard drive and press Enter. > > Unobtrusive updates: Keep your OS current by opening Windows Update > (Automatic > Update in XP) and setting it to 'Download updates but let me choose whether > to > install them'. To access this option, press the Windows key and type > Windows > Update. Now you won't have Windows urging you to restart when you don't > want to - or, worse, triggering a restart when you're away from the PC with > an unsaved document open. > > Tweak your Taskbar: Right-click the Taskbar and choose Properties to find > options for switching to the old Start menu, choosing which icons show in > the > notification area, setting default programs to appear in the Start bar menu > and > more. > > Folder reveal: In Windows Explorer, click Folder Options to reveal hidden > files, > show the full path in the title bar, display file extensions and more. > > Partition, partition, partition: Make backups and restores easier by > partitioning your hard drive and keeping one partition for the OS and the > other > for your data. > > Make your text special: Need a special character such as (copyright) or a? > Press the > Windows key and type character map in the field to bring up an app that will > let > you copy and paste the characters you need. > > Use sticky keys: Holding down two keys at once, such as Ctrl, C to copy, can > be > tricky. Press the Shift key five times to start Sticky Keys and you'll be > able to initiate a keyboard shortcut simply by pressing Shift, Ctrl, Alt or > Windows, instead of holding down that particular key. Press Shift five more > times to toggle Sticky Keys off. > > Simple screen capture: Take a screenshot by pressing the Print Screen > (PrtScrn) > button at the top right of your keyboard. This copies an image of your > entire > screen to your clipboard so you can paste it into Paint or your preferred > image > editor. To capture only the active window, use Ctrl, Alt, Print Screen. > For > more finely tuned controls, try Screenshot Captor ( bit.ly/7U4f8G). > > Take a shortcut: Right-click on any application icon, bring up the > Properties > menu and click the Shortcuts tab. You can specify a keystroke combination > to > start your application here. What's more, making a shortcut for Windows 7's > Snipping Tool makes screenshots much easier. > > Line 'em up: To arrange two (or more) windows side by side in XP or Vista, > hold down Ctrl and click on the desired windows in the Taskbar; then > right-click > the Taskbar and select Tile Vertically. In Windows 7, you can simply drag > any > open window to the edge of your screen and then let go. > > Take control: Windows' old Control Panel conveniently displayed all of its > items at once. To revert to this sensible approach in Windows XP and Vista, > open the Control Panel and select 'Switch to Classic View'. In Windows 7, > click the View by drop-down menu in the upper-right corner and select your > preference. > > Speedier service > > Process Explorer: Windows' Task Manager (press Ctrl, Alt, Del and click Task > Manager) is great for seeing what your system is up to, but for more detail > try > Process Explorer (download it from bit.ly/6zwhms). Its additional > information > can help you find a memory leak or troubleshoot a pesky DLL problem. > > Index options: The Windows Search indexer speeds up built-in search > functions, > but the indexing process itself can consume system resources at inconvenient > times. > > Open Indexing Options in Control Panel (or press the Windows key and type > Indexing Options). The resulting dialog box will let you specify which > folders > or types of data are indexed to avoid needlessly bogging down your PC. > > Clean up your startup: If your machine drags its feet during the startup > process, press the Windows key and type msconfig to open the System > Configuration utility. Check in the Startup tab to see what your machine is > loading. It might be loading services or apps that you don't need or want > to > use on startup. > > Nudge your network: If you have network problems, try opening the command > prompt > (enter cmd in the Start menu's search box) and typing ipconfig /renew to > reset > your network connection. > > Better sharing: For a little assistance in tracking your shared folders, > right-click My Computer (or Computer in Windows 7) and click Manage to bring > up > the Computer Management tool. Then click Shared Folders to see a list of > all > your machine's shared folders, file-sharing sessions and open files. > > Essential add-ons > > Go mouse-free: XP users should grab Launchy ( launchy.net), a free > keyboard-driven launcher application that allows you to access programs, > files > and websites with just a few keystrokes. Vista and Windows 7 users get the > same > functionality from the Start menu's search tool. > > Cleaner than ever: To make sure your programs uninstall completely, use Revo > Uninstaller ( revouninstaller.com). It's often more thorough than the > programs' own supplied uninstaller routines. > > Annoyance buster: If you're tired of UAC dialog boxes popping up all the > time > in Vista, but you don't want to disable the security feature completely, > grab > TweakUAC (visit tinyurl.com/24hw7u) to set it to Quiet Mode. Windows 7 has > its > own UAC controls, but can still benefit from TweakUAC. > > Better browsing: Optimise your web browsing with Greasemonkey for Firefox > (head > to greasespot.net). This add-on lets you choose scripts (see > userscripts.org) > for blocking adverts, changing the layouts of popular sites and more. > Variants > also exist for Internet Explorer, Chrome and Safari. > > Windows key workout > > Lock it up: Stepping out for a minute? Remember to press Windows, L to lock > your computer screen so no one can nose around without entering your account > password. > > Run, Windows, run: To access the Run command easily, press Windows, R. > > Keyboard explorer: Want to open a new Windows Explorer window without > leaving > the keyboard? Press Windows, E. > > Declutter your desktop: Access your desktop instantly by pressing Windows, D > to > hide all open windows. Press Windows, D again to return to where you were > before. > > HASSLE-FREE PC > > Fix compatibility issues in Windows 7 > > Windows 7 is far easier to get along with than Vista, but it still has > issues, > writes Rick Broida > > Like every other technology upgrade, Windows 7 suffers from its share of > mismatches with existing programs and devices. Here, we'll show you how to > make all your old stuff work with your new operating system (OS). We'll > also > describe how to retrieve your media when it gets jammed in an optical drive. > > Compatibility issues > > Windows 7 has the same core code as Vista, so, in theory, application > compatibility shouldn't be an issue. Unfortunately, that's not quite the > case. We recently tried to apply a firmware update to a Blu-ray drive, but > the > installer was designed for Vista and produced an error in Windows 7. > > Meanwhile, ongoing problems getting an iPhone to sync with iTunes has been > causing grief, even though it worked fine in Vista. > > As much as we like Windows 7, at times like these we wish we could turn back > the > clock and run Vista or even XP. Actually, we can. Windows 7 has a feature > for > troubleshooting program compatibility. > > Right-click the icon of the application that isn't working properly and > click > 'Troubleshoot compatibility'. Windows will try to detect compatibility > issues. If it finds any, it'll give you two options: 'Try recommended > settings' and 'Troubleshoot program'. Choose the first option. If it > doesn't work, you can always go back and try the second option (which gives > you the opportunity to specify the Windows OS with which you want to achieve > compatibility). > > After Windows applies the settings, click Start Program and see whether the > change has solved the problem. Click Next and Windows will make the changes > permanent. Alternatively, try using different settings. > > This tool solved both of our problems. For iTunes, we let Windows choose > the > settings (it chose XP with Service Pack 2) and the iPhone synchronised > properly. > For the firmware updater, we chose Vista with SP1 (the installed OS before > our > Windows 7 upgrade), and again it worked. Compatibility problems can be > vexing, > but for once Microsoft has supplied a simple workaround. > > Eject your discs > > The next problem is about a media centre PC, but could happen to any > machine. > It has an annoying glitch: the Blu-ray drive's Eject button doesn't work. > Discs stay trapped in the drive unless we minimise Windows Media Center, > open > Computer, right-click the drive icon and choose Eject. > > Tech support offered a few ways to resolve this issue, but we've found an > easier solution: a freeware app called EjectCD. > > After extracting the program from the .zip file, we pinned it to the Windows > 7 > Taskbar. Vista users can accomplish the same result by enabling the Quick > Launch toolbar and dragging it there. > > Now a click of the EjectCD icon opens the drive, and this can be made > simpler > still with a keyboard shortcut. Every icon in the Taskbar (and in the Quick > Launch toolbar) is automatically assigned a numerical value, beginning with > 1 > for the icon situated closest to Start, then 2 for the one next to it and so > on. > Pressing the Windows ( . ) key and the appropriate number launches the > program. > > We pinned EjectCD in the first position and press . Windows 1 to open the > drive. > > We haven't been able to locate the origin of this application, but you can > grab it from tinyurl.com/y8p2xwm. > > > To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with > the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >
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