TechGazing

It has been around for a while now and has definitely become our favourite version of Windows at Techgazing, but there is a lot that we still do not know about Windows 7. While there are any number of guides on the OS on the Internet, we felt that the easiest way to get up to speed with how to best make use of Windows 7’s features was to contact Microsoft, the company that made it.

We did so, and the folks at Microsoft (bless them!) responded by sending us no fewer than SIXTEEN tips and tricks about the coolest Windows of them all. And we think that all of them are worth trying out.

1. Managing Your Windows: Windows 7 simplifies document and program management by allowing you to “dock” a window or manipulate its size with one mouse maneuver or a simple keystroke. To dock your window on one half of the screen, drag it to the left or right and it will change its size to fit that half of the screen. To manipulate the vertical size of a window, you can drag the window to the top to maximize it, or double-click the window’s top or bottom border to maximize it vertically while keeping the same width.
2. Live Clutter-Free. We live with enough clutter in our lives. Windows 7 gets rid of all the superfluous windows behind your active window. Just hit Win+Home to minimize all inactive windows. To restore the windows when you’d like them, just press Win+Home again.
3. Sticky Notes Avoid Sticky Situations: Even the best minds are liable to forget something. Instead of wasting all those color-coded bits of paper, use Windows 7 Sticky Notes. Enjoy the variety of seven fun Sticky Note colors by right-clicking the note. Need another reminder? Click the + sign in the top left corner of the existing note to create a new one. To access Sticky Notes, run StikyNot.exe or click Start ? All Programs ? Accessories ? Sticky Notes.
4. Jump Hurdles to Find What You Need: We’ve all been there: “I just worked on that document last week! Where did I save it?” With Jump Lists, it’s easier to find the files, folders and links you’ve used most recently and most often. Jump Lists are automatically populated, so, you’ll spend less time looking and more time doing what you want to do. Jump Lists appear in a couple of places: from the Start menu, hover over a program name and a Jump List will appear, or right-click an icon on the Taskbar for a Jump List.
5. Put a “Pin Up” of the Folders & Files You Use Most: Windows® 7 allows you to “pin up” the folders you use most on your taskbar. Simply hold your mouse over the favorite folder, right click, and drag it onto the taskbar. Windows 7 automatically pins itself to the Explorer Jump List. To open the folder, right click on the Explorer icon and select the folder you want. What’s more you can even “pin up” files that you want easy access to. Say, you have that ever important presentation with the client tomorrow you can simply pin up your PPT file for a two click access.
6. Shuffling Through Program Windows: If you’re running a number of files from the same program, such as multiple documents in Microsoft Word, Windows 7 allows you to switch through these windows with ease. Simply hold down the Ctrl key while repeatedly clicking the icon from the taskbar. Each click will change the window to the next in the sequence, in the order that you opened them.
7. Clean Your Desktop! And Order It Too: You’ve always been able to auto-arrange your desktop icons by right-clicking on the desktop and choosing “Sort By.” Now Windows 7 makes it even easier. To auto-arrange the desktop icons according to your default settings simply press and hold F5. Order is instantly accomplished.
8. Aero Peek Your Desktop: A lesser-known versatile tool on the taskbar is Windows 7’s new “Aero Peek” - the small rectangle in the lower right hand corner. It allows you to peek at any of the icons or gadgets on your desktop. The keyboard shortcut Win+Space performs the same function.
9. Shake It Up: Remember the Etch-a-Sketch where you would shake it to make things disappear? Windows 7 uses the same shake concept to help you manage your windows. Windows 7 Aero®Shake allows you to clear the inactive windows from your desktop by “shaking” over the window you’re working. Hover your mouse over the title bar of your active window, left-click and shake from side to side, and all your inactive windows will disappear. To bring them back, repeat the procedure and shake everything back into view.
10. Aero Snap: This is a swift new way to resize an open window; simply drag it to the edges of your screen. Aero Snap can make it expand vertically, take up the entire screen, or appear side-by-side with another window. This feature allows you to read, organize and compare information more conveniently and quickly.
11. Change the Scenery: Windows 7 allows you to personalize your desktop background to suit your many moods with a new shuffle feature for your desktop. You can program your desktop background to shuffle through your favorite images and get a change of scenery as often as you like. To enable the shuffle feature, right-click on your Desktop and select “Personalize,” then “Desktop Background.” Choose the folder where your favorite images or photos are stored and select as many as you like. Make sure you check the “Shuffle” box, and choose how often you’d like your images to shuffle. It’s a simple way to keep your desktop looking fresh and fun.
12. Unveil Your Hidden Drives: Want to see the drives that aren’t currently in use when you open My Computer? To display empty drives, click Computer ? Alt to see the toolbar ? Tools ? Folder Options ? View (tab) ? Uncheck “Hide empty drives in the Computer folder.” And they magically appear!
13. Instant Results with Visual Search. While we’re on the subject of Internet Explorer 8, we should tell you about the new search capabilities with Visual Search. Internet Explorer 8 is partnering with top search providers like Bing, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, and others to help deliver immediate answers along with available imagery as you type your search query. For example, start typing “Isaac Newton” and Bing will show you a preview of related articles directly in the Search Box drop-down. In addition, Search will use your browsing history to narrow the suggestions. If you see what you’re looking for, you can go to the link without finishing your request.
14. Change with the Times: Windows 7 and Internet Explorer® 8 introduce new web features to help you be more efficient in the digital world. Web Slices let you monitor changes to your favorite Web sites and instantly see changes from the last time you viewed the site. Whether you’re the type to monitor the stock exchange, sports sites, or entertainment gossip, Internet Explorer 8 delivers updated information to a Web Slice in your Favorites Bar, so you can see it right away. To find available websites for “slicing”, visit: www.ieaddons.com/en/webslices, or visit a favorite site and look for a green Web Slices icon in the upper-right hand corner of the browser.
15. Go Go Gadgets! With Windows Vista, we got hooked on Gadgets-for time keeping, for weather updates, for just about anything! Windows 7 makes Gadgets even easier to use, enabling you to position them anywhere on the desktop and at the size you like best - larger or smaller. If you like to keep your Gadgets at the edges of your screen, they’ll snap into place as if they were magnets. To change your Gadget options, right-click on the desktop and select Gadgets.
16. Entertains on the go: You’ve got all your favourite songs, videos and pictures saved on your home PC. Wouldn’t it be nice to take them with you wherever you go, even on a vacation? Right now, people have to copy files onto their laptop, which means having to be organized; but this could also cause unnecessary stress if you’d forgotten to copy that one file you wanted. With Windows 7, this is no longer necessary. The remote media streaming feature allows access to files residing on your home PC, no matter where you are, as long as you have an Internet connection. All you need to do is network your home PC and laptop using a feature called HomeGroup. Use Windows Media Player to listen to your music playlist, view pictures or videos saved at home while you’re out for a coffee with friends or sunbathing on your holiday.