Windows 7: Tips and Tricks - Page 4

Remove The Windows Live Messenger Tab In The Taskbar

Lock The Screen

It seems easier, in case you don’t forget the short key.

Create A Screen Lock Shortcut

Simply create a new shortcut to C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation and place it whenever you want.

Enable Run Command In Start Menu

Right-click an open area in Start Menu, go to Properties -> Start Menu ->Customize and check “Run Command.

Now you should be done.

Improve Desktop Window Manager For Nvidia Graphics

Press the Windows Key, right-click on Computer, go to Properties -> Advanced System Settings -> Performance -> Settings and clear “Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing”. Click OK to finish.

Change Default Save Location For Files

Press the Windows Key, Click your username and double-click on
the folder you wish to change.

Then you will see Includes: 2 library locations. Click on that text, right-click on the folder you wish to set like default and click “Set as default file location”, then click Ok.

Make 64bit Windows Media Player Default ( only for X64 users )

To do this, press the Windows Key, type “command”, right-click on Command Prompt and hit “Run as administrator”, then type “unregmp2.exe /SwapTo:64?.

After that, press the Windows Key, type “regedit”, go to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\wmplayer.exe\, double click on value and change “%ProgramFiles(x86)” to “%ProgramFiles%”.

Now you should be using the 64bit Windows Media Player.

Open Multiple Instances Of Windows Explorer Via The Taskbar

Then press the Windows Key, go to Accessories, right-click Windows Explorer, go to Properties and change the shortcut path to %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /root,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} ( if you want it to default to My Computer )

or %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /root,::{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5} ( if you want it to default to Libraries ). Now reopen Windows Explorer to your Taskbar and you’re done.

All that is required for opening more instances of it is just a click of the middle mouse button. If you aren’t pleased with what you’ve done, change the shortcut path back to %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe.

Make The System Tray Clock Show The AM / PM Symbols

Internet Explorer 8 Compatibility Mode

To do it, open Internet Explorer, go to Tools -> Compatibility View Settings and check “Display all websites in compatibility view”, then click Ok.

Problem Steps Recorder

It's frustrating, but Microsoft feels your pain, and Windows 7 will include an excellent new solution in the Problem Steps Recorder.

When any app starts misbehaving under Windows 7 then all your friends need do is click Start, type PSR and press [Enter], then click Start Record.

If they then work through whatever they're doing then the Problem Steps Recorder will record every click and keypress, take screen grabs, and package everything up into a single zipped MHTML file when
they're finished, ready for emailing to you.

It's quick, easy and effective, and will save you hours of troubleshooting time.

Burn images

Just double-click the ISO image, choose the drive with the blank disc, click Burn and watch as your disc is created.

Create and mount VHD files

Click Start, type diskmgmt.msc and press [Enter], then click Action > Attach VHD and choose the file you'd like to mount.

It will then appear as a virtual drive in Explorer and can be accessed, copied or written just like any other drive.

Click Action > Create VHD and you can now create a new virtual drive of your own (right-click it, select Initialize Disk, and after it's set up right-click the unallocated space and select New Simple Volume to set this up).

Again, you'll be left with a virtual drive that behaves just like any other, where you can drag and drop files, install programs, test partitioning software or do whatever you like.

But it's actually just this VHD file on your real hard drive which you can easily back up or share with others. Right-click the disk (that's the left-hand label that says "Disk 2" or whatever) and select Detach VHD to remove it.

The command line DISKPART utility has also been upgraded with tools to detach a VHD file, and an EXPAND command to increase a virtual disk's maximum size.

Don't play around with this unless you know what you're doing, though - it's all too easy to trash your system.

Troubleshoot problems

These are simple wizards that will resolve common problems, check your settings, clean up your system and more.

Startup repair

And that's very bad news if you downloaded Windows 7, as you've no CD or DVD to use for re-installation.

Which is why you need to click Start > Maintenance > Create a System Repair Disc, right now, and let Windows 7 build a bootable emergency disc.

If the worst does happen then it could be the only way to get your PC running again.

Take control

AppLocker is a new Windows 7 feature that ensures users can only run the
programs you specify.

Don't worry, that's easier to set up than it sounds: you can create a rule to allow everything signed by a particular publisher, so choose Microsoft, say, and that one rule will let you run all signed Microsoft applications. Launch GPEDIT.MSC and go to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Application
Control Policies > AppLocker to get a feel for how this works.

Calculate more

And if you're clueless about bitwise manipulation, then try the Options menu instead. This offers many different unit conversions (length, weight, volume and more), date calculations (how many days between two dates?), and spreadsheet-type templates to help you calculate vehicle mileage, mortgage rates and more.

Don't take any Windows 7 applet at face value, then - there are some very powerful new features hidden in the background. Be sure to explore every option in all Windows applets to ensure you don't miss anything important.

Switch to a projector

(This will have no effect if you've only one display connected.)

Automatic PC clean up

Leave them alone for too long and they'll mess up your settings, install dubious programs, delete important files and cause all kinds of havoc.

But Microsoft feels your pain, and Windows 7 will include a possible solution: PC Safeguard. This lets your less technical users log on, play games, use the browser or chat on an instant messenger, say, just as normal.

But when they log off, any settings they've changed are undone, and any files they've saved are deleted. Which means it's much more difficult to mess up your PC.

This isn't a new technology. Microsoft have made their Shared Computer Toolkit (aka Windows SteadyState) freely available for years, and this does exactly the same thing (it's more configurable, too).

This is the first time it's been fully integrated with Windows, though, which makes it much easier to use.

To give PC Safeguard a try, go to Control Panel > User Accounts and Family Safety > User Accounts > Manage another account > Create a new account. Enter an account name, click Create, then click the account, select Set Up PC Safeguard > Turn on PC Safeguard > Apply.

Log on as that user, try downloading and installing a program, then restart and log on again to confirm that the software has gone.

Understanding System Restore

Click the new button to 'Scan for affected programs' and Windows will tell you which (if any) programs and drivers will be deleted or recovered by selecting this restore point.

More Windows 7 Tips>>