Windows 7 Tips and Tricks Guide

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    Windows7ismuchbetterthanthelatestversionofWindowsVistaanditcomeswithalotofnewfeatures.Unfortunately,someofthemarentsoeasytofigureout,soIcreatedalistofthemostimportanttipsandtricksandastep-by-stepguidethatwillhelpyouapplyallofthesegreattipsandtricks.

    1.PCSafeguard

    IrarelyletanyoneusemyPCbecauseImafraidhewillmessitup,butitseemsMicrosofthasbeenthinkingatmeandcamewithasolution.ThePCSafeguarddoesntletanyonemessyourPCsettings,becauseaftertheuserlogsoff,theconfigurationsareresetbacktonormal.Ofcourseitwillnotrestoretheconfigurationschangedbyyou,butonlytheonesdonebyotherusersyoudefine.

    TousePCSafeguard,gotoControlPanel->UserAccountsandcreateanewaccount,thenselectSetUpPcSafeguardandswitchiton.Thenyoucanstayrelaxedwhenothersuseyourcomputer,becauseyouwontfindanythingchanged,includingconfigurations,downloadedsoftware,installedprograms.

    2.ScreenCalibration

    Fortunately,Windows7comeswithadisplaycalibrationwizardthatletsyousetupthescreenbrightnessproperly,soyouwonthaveanyproblemsviewingphotosortext.TheproblemwasthatononePCaphotocouldlooksharpandbrightandonanotheritlooksawful.NowtheproblemcanbefixedbypressingtheWindows

    logokeyandthentypingDCCW.

    3.AppLocker

    Ifyouareusuallysharingyourcomputerwithsomeoneelse,thenyoumightwanttorestricttheiraccesstoyourapplications,filesordocuments.UsingtheAppLockertool,youhaveafewoptionstodothisbyblockingotheruserstoaccessExecutables,WindowsInstallers,Scripts,aspecificpublisherorpath.

    YoucansimplydothisbypressingtheWindowskeythentypingGpedit.msc.ThengotoComputerConfiguration->WindowsSettings->SecuritySettings->ApplicationControlPolicies->AppLocker.Rightclickononeoftheoptions(Executables,Installers,orScript)andcreateanewrule.Thatshouldsaveyoufromalo

    tofheadaches.

    4.BurnImages

    WeallhadtroublewithimageburninginWindows,becauseitcouldntdoititself,astandalonesoftwarebeingneeded.WithWindows7thiswillnotbeaproblemanymore.Allyouhavetodoisdouble-clicktheISOimageandburnitontheCDorDVDthatsinsertedinthedrive.

    5.DisplayEmptyRemovableDrives

    Windows7willnotshowemptydrivesbydefault,soifyouconnectanemptydrivetoyourPC,dontworry,justgotoTools->FolderOptions->ViewanduncheckH

    ideemptydrivesinthecomputerfolder.Thisdoesntseemlikeagoodideaanditshouldnotbedefaultsetting,becauseitwillbehardforinexperienceduserstofigureitout.Ibetalotofuserswillreturntheirnewlyboughtdrivethinkingitsbroken.

    6.DockTheCurrentWindowsToTheLeftSideOfTheScreen

    Thisnewfeatureseemsusefulbecausesometimesitsdisturbingthatwindowsseemstofloatlikecrazyonthescreenanditshardtoattachthemtoonesideofit.Nowthiscaneasilybedoneusingakeyboardshortcut.PresstheWindowskey+

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    Leftkey(arrow)todockittotheleftsideofthescreen.

    6.1DockTheCurrentWindowsToTheRightSideOfTheScreen

    PresstheWindowskey+Rightkeytodockittotherightsideofthescreen.

    7.DisplayOrHideTheExplorerPreviewPanel

    PressALT+Ptohideitthenonceagaintodisplayit.

    8.DisplayGadgetsOnTopOfOtherWindows

    PressALT+G

    9.BackgroundPhotoSlideshow

    Ifyouarelikeme,lazyandbored,thenyouwillwanttochangethebackgroundfromtimetotime,wastingalotoftime.Nowyoudonthavetodothisanymore,becauseyoucansetupaslideshow.

    RightclickonthedesktopthengotoPersonalize->DesktopBackgroundandholdtheCTRLkeywhilechoosingtheimages.Thenyoucanchoosethetimeintervalsbetweenimagesandopttodisplaythemrandomlyorinarow.

    10.MakeTheTaskbarSmaller

    Ifyoufeellikethetaskbarisusingtoomuchofyourscreenspace,youcanchoosetomaketheiconssmaller.Todothis,right-clickontheStartbutton,thengotoProperties->TaskbarandsetittoUsesmallicons

    11.CombineTaskbarIcons

    Whenyouhavemorewindowsorapplicationsopened,thetaskbarsspacemightnotbeenoughforthemall,soyouneedtocombinethem,justlikeyouwouldinWindowsXPorVista.Todothis,right-clicktheStartbutton,thengotoProperties->TaskbarandcheckCombinewhentaskbarisfull.

    12.Multi-threadedFileCopy

    Ifyouareamoreadvanceduser,youveheardalreadyaboutRobocopy.NowitsincludedinWindows7andletsyouperformmulti-threadedcopiesfromthecommandline.Youcanchoosethenumberofthreadslikethis/MT[:n],whichcanbefrom1to128.

    13.MaximizeOrRestoreTheForegroundWindow

    PressWindowsKey+UpKey.

    14.MinimizeTheActiveWindow

    PressWindowsKey+DownKey

    15.ActivateTheQuickLaunchToolbar

    TheQuickLaunchToolbarinWindowsXPandinVistaseemsaverygoodideathatyoumightmisswhenusingWindows7.Fortunatelythough,youcangetitbackinaquickfewsteps.

    Rightclickthetaskbar,gotoToolbar->NewToolbarandtype%UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\InternetExplorer\QuickLaunchintothefolderbox,thencl

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    ickSelectFolder.

    TomakeitlooklikeitwouldinWindowsVista,rightclickthetaskbar,uncheckLocktheTaskbar,thenrightclickthedivideranduncheckShowTitleandShowTeThenrightclickthetaskbarandcheckShowSmallIconsandyoushouldbedone.

    16.PreviewPhotosInWindowsExplorer

    WhileinWindowsExplorer,PressALT+Pandapreviewshouldappearontheright.

    17.DesktopMagnifier

    PresstheWindowsKeyandthePlusKeytozoominorWindowsKeyandtheMinusKeytozoomout.Youcanzoomanywhereonthedesktopandyoucanevenconfigureyourmagnifier.Youcanchoosetoinvertcolors,followthemousepointer,followthekeyboardfocus,orthetextinsertionpoint.

    18.MinimizeEverythingExceptTheCurrentWindow

    PresstheWindowsKey+HomeKey.

    19.TroubleShootPowerManagement

    Windows7cantellyouhowmuchpoweryoursystemusesorprovidedetailedinformationaboutthepowerusageandissuescausedbyeachapplicationanddevice.Thiswayyoucanoptimizethewayyourbatteryisused,makingItlastlonger.

    PresstheWindowsKeyandtypePOWERCFGENERGYOUTPUT,anditwillreateafilecalledenergy-report.htmlinthefolderspecifiedbyyou,afterobservingyourPCfor60seconds.

    20.WebSearchesFromYourDesktop

    Windows7letsyousearchforonlineresources,byaddingaconnectorthatbedownloadedforfree.

    Forinstance,gotohttp://www.istartedsomething.com/flickrsearch/anddownloadtheFlickrconnector.Afterthat,youshouldseetheFlickrSearchinyoursearchesfolderandyouwillbeabletodoitdirectlyfromyourdesktop,withoutneedingtovisittheirwebsite.

    21.AddVideosToYourStartMenu

    Ifyouwerelookingforafasterwaytoaccessyourvideos,thenWindows7hastherightanswerforyou.

    RightclicktheStartbutton,thengotoProperties->StartMenu->CustomizeandsettheVideostoDisplayasalinkandyouredone,youwillnowfindthemintheStartMenu.

    22.ShiftTheWindowFromOneMonitorToAnother

    Ifyouareusingtwoormoremonitors,thenyoumightwanttomovetheWindowsfromonetoanother.Thereisaverysimplewaytodoit.

    AllyouhavetodoispresstheWindowsKey+ShiftKey+LeftorRightKey,dependingonwhatmonitoryouwanttomoveitto.

    23.CustomPowerButton

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    ThereisanoptiontoreplacetheShutDownbuttonwithanotheraction,ifyourarelyshutdownthecomputer,butyoumoreoftenrestartitorputitonsleep.

    RightclicktheStartButton,gotoPropertiesandchoosethePowerBootActiontodowhateveryouwant,fromthegivenoptions.

    24.EasilyAddANewFont

    Addinganewfontitsnoweasierthanever.Justdownloadthefontyouwant,doubleclickitandyoushouldseetheinstallbutton.

    25.StretchTheWindowVertically

    YoucanstretchtheactivewindowverticallytothemaximumdisplayheightbypressingtheWindows+Shift+Up(arrow)keys.PressWindows+DownKeysifyouwanttorestoreit.26.OpenWindowsExplorer

    PresstheWindowslogokey+EtoopenanewinstanceofWindowsExplorer.

    27.CreateANewInstanceOfTheFirstIconInTheTaskbar

    PressWindows+1Keystoopenanewinstanceofthefirsticoninthetaskbar.

    Thiscouldprovereallyusefulinsomecircumstances.

    28.WindowsActionCenter

    WindowsActionCenteroffersyouimportantinformationaboutyourPC,liketheAntivirusStatus,updates,troubleshootingandprovidesabackupschedulingfeature.

    Toaccessit,gotoControlPanel->SystemAndSecurity->ActionCenter.

    29.WindowsTroubleshootingPlatform

    Thisplatformcanhelpyousolvealotofissuesyoumayencounter,liketheint

    ernetconnection,hardwaredevices,poorsystemperformanceandmore.Youcanchoosewhattotroubleshootanditwillcomewithsomepossibleexplanationsfortheproblemthatmightreallyhelpyou.

    Therearealotofoptions,guidanceandinformationavailablethere,sogiveitatrybytypingtroubleshootorfixafterpressingtheWindowsKey.

    30.TurnOffSystemNotifications

    Systemnotificationsareusuallydisturbingandarentalwaysuseful,soyoumightwanttoturnsomeofthemoffand.

    ThiscanbedoneinWindows7bydoubleclickingtheNotificationAreaIconsin

    Controlpanel.ThereyoucanchangenotificationsandiconsfortheActionCenter,Network,Volume,WindowsExplorer,MediaCenterTrayApplet,WindowsUpdateAutomaticUpdates.

    31.TurnOffSecurityMessages

    ToturnoffsecuritymessagesyouhavetogotoControlPanel->SystemandSecurity->ActionCenter->ChangeActionCenterSettingsandyoucanturnoffthefollowingnotifications:WindowsUpdate,InternetSecuritySettings,NetworkFirewall,Spywareandrelatedprotection,UserAccountControl,VirusProtection,W

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    indowsBackup,WindowsTroubleshooting,Checkforupdates.

    32.CycleThroughTheOpenProgramsViaTheTaskbarsPeekMenu

    ThisworksjustlikeAlt+Tab,butopensthemenujustabovethesidebar,doesntseemveryuseful.GiveitatrybypressingTheWindowsKey+T.

    33.RunAProgramAsAnAdministrator

    YoucaneasilyrunaprogramasanadministratorbypressingCtrl+Shiftwhileopeningit.

    34.SameProgramWindowsSwitching

    Ifyouhavemoreinstancesofaprogramrunning,simplyholdCtrlwhileclickingonitsiconanditwillcyclethroughalltheinstances.

    35.AutoArrangeDesktopIcons

    YoucannowforgetabouttheRightClick->Autoarrange.AllyouhavetodoisholdF5pressedforabitandtheiconswillautoarrange.

    36.EncryptRemovableUSBDrives

    EncryptinganUSBdrivehasneverbeeneasier.NowyoucanrightclickontheremovabledriveandthenontheTurnonBitlocker.

    37.TurnOffSmartWindowArrangement

    IfyoudontlikeWindows7snewfeaturesthatarrangeyourwindowsintelligently,theresaneasywaytoturnitoff.

    PresstheWindowsLogoKey,typeregedit,gotoHKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\DesktopandsetWindowArrangementActiveto0.Afteryourebootyoursystemthesmartarrangementswillbeturnedoff.

    38.CreateASystemRepairDisc

    Windows7featuresatoolthatletsyoucreateabootableSystemRepairDiscthatincludessomesystemtoolsandthecommandprompt.Tocreateit,presstheWindowsKeyandtypesystemrepairdisc.

    39.Hard-LinkMigrationStore

    TheHard-LinkMigrationstoreisonlyavailablefornewcomputersandcanmigratefiles,settings,anduseraccounts.ThenewHard-LinkMigrationStoreusesmorelessdiskspaceandtakeslesstime.

    40.TurnOffSendFeedback

    Ifforsomereason,yourestillusingtheBetaversionofWindows7andifyoufeeldisturbedbySendFeedbackbutton,thereisawaytoturnitoff.PresstheWindowsKeyandtyperegedit,thengotoHKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\DesktopandsetFeedbackToolEnabledto0.Afteryourestartthecomputer,itshouldntbethereanymore.Also,ifyouwanttoturnitonagain,settheFeedbackToolEnabledto3.

    41.ImprovedCalculator

    Windows7featuresanimprovedcalculatorthatcandounitconversion,datecalc

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    ulation,gasmileage,lease,andmortgage.AlsoyoucanchoosebetweenStandard,Scientific,Programmer,andStatisticcalculator.

    42.OpenAFolderInANewProcess

    Windows7opensallfoldersinthesameprocessinordertosaveresources,butthismeansifonefoldercrashes,theyallcrash.Soifyoufeellikethatsariskyoudonthavetotake,thenyouhavetoopenthemallintheirownprocesses.

    Todothis,holddownShiftbutton,right-clickthedriveandOpeninNewProcess.Nowyouwillbesafe.

    43.ProblemStepRecorder

    TheProblemStepRecorderisagreattoolthatcanbeusedinmanycircumstances.YoucanturnitonbypressingtheWindowsKey,thentypingPSR.exeandclickRecord.NowitwillrecordallyourmovesandsavethemasaHTMLdocumentthatyoucanvieworwritedescriptionstoit.Thiscanhelpyouwithtroubleshootingorwhenwritingaguidanceortutorial.

    44.FreeCodecsPack

    Unfortunately,WindowsMediaPlayerstillisntabletoplaymanyaudioandvideofiles,soyouwillstillneedsomecodecs.Butwiththefreecodecspackyoucan

    downloadhereyoushouldnthaveanyproblems.

    45.StartWindowsExplorerFromMyComputer

    WindowsExploreropensintheLibrariesdirectorybydefault.MostofusareusedtoseetheMyComputerpageinstead.

    TochangeittoMyComputer,presstheWindowsKey,thentypeexplorer,selectPropertiesandintheShortcuttabtype%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe/root,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}.Nowyouhavetoright-clicktheExplorericonintheTaskbarandhitUnpinthisprogramfromthetaskbarandthendragitbackfromtheStartMenu.

    46.ClearTheDesktop

    Iftherearetoomanywindowsonthedesktop,youcanclearitbyshakingawindowfromlefttorightandallotherswillminimize.Torestoretheotherwindowsyouhavetoshaketheactiveoneagain.

    47.UseGadgetsWithUACTurnedOff

    MaybeyounoticedthatonceyouturnoffUACyoucantusethegadgetsanymore,asasecuritymeasure.Butifyouwanttoriskusingthem,thereasimplewaytodoit,evenwithUACturnedoff.

    PresstheWindowsKey,typeregedit,gotoHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\W

    indows\CurrentVersion\Sidebar\SettingsandcreateaDWORDvaluenamedAllowElevatedProcessandsetitsvalueto1.Nowyoushouldbeabletouseyourgadgets.Ifnot,thenrebootyourPCandyoushouldbedone.

    48.FixTheMediaPlayer&MediaCenterMP3Bug

    IfyouhavethefinalversionofWindows7,thengoaheadandskipthisone,sinceitappliesonlytoBetaandRCversions.

    BothWindowsMediaPlayerandWindowsMediaCentercomewithabugthatcandama

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    geyourMP3sbyfillingmissingmetadataautomaticallyonimportedMP3files.Thiscancutafewsecondsfromthebeginningofthetracksandcanprovereallydisturbing.ThisproblemwasfixedbyMicrosoftusingthefixthatyoucandownloadhere.

    49.SearchEverythingInYourComputer

    Windows7offersthepossibilitytosearchallfiletypes,includingunknownonesandthiscouldhelpyouinsomecases.

    Thoughitisnotrecommended,becauseitsmuchslowerthannormalsearch,youcangiveitatrybydoingthefollowing:LaunchWindowsExplorer,gotoTools->FolderOptions->ViewandcheckTrytosearchthecontentofunknownfiletypes.Ifyoudontneeditanymore,dontforgettoclearitforanincreaseinspeed.

    50.MouseGestures

    Windows7hasnotonlybroughtgesturesforthosewhousetouchscreendevices,butformouseuserstoo.So,insteadofright-clickingaTaskbaricontoaccessthejumplist,youcanholdleft-clickanddragupwardstosmoothlycallitup.Inaddition,clickinganddraggingdowntheaddressbarinInternetExplorerwillopenthebrowsinghistory.Theremightbemoregesturesyetnotdiscovered.

    51.ConfigureYourMusicFavorites

    TheWindowsMediaCentercreatesalistoffavoritesongsbasedonhowoftenyouplaythem,yourratingsanddateyouveaddedthem.Ifyouarentcomfortablewiththewaytheythoughtitout,changethewayitsortsyourfavoritesbygoingtoTasks->Settings->Music->FavoriteMusic.

    52.TurnOffRecentSearchQueriesDisplay

    Windows7holdsanddisplaystherecentsearchqueriesbydefault.Thiscanoftenprovetobeirritating.Noneedtostressthoughbecauseitcanbedisabled.

    PresstheWindowsKey,typegpedit.msc,thengotoUserConfiguration->AdministrativeTemplates->WindowsComponents->WindowsExploreranddoubleclickonTur

    noffdisplayofrecentsearchentries.

    53.AdvancedDiskDefragmentation

    Fortunately,Windows7offersmuchbetterdefragmentationthanVistaandalsoletsyouconfigureitabitfromthecommandline.

    Todoit,presstheWindowsKeyandthentypeCMD.

    Youcandefragmentyourharddiskfromthecommandlinebytypingdefragandyouhavethefollowingoptions:/rwilldefragmultipledrivessimultaneously,-aperforsadefraganalysis,-vprintsthereport,-rtreatsfileswithatleast64Mbofagmentslikearenotfragmented,-wwilldefrageverything.AnexampleisdefragC:

    -v-wtodefragthewholedriveC.

    54.HowToMakeInternetExplorer8LoadFaster

    IfyouwantInternetExplorer8toloadfaster,youneedtodisabletheadd-onsthatslowitdown,sogotoTools->ManageAdd-onsandchecktheloadtimeforeachone.Youcanchooseforyourselftheonesyoucanlivewithoutandonesthatwouldincreasetheloadspeed.

    55.MediaCenterAutomaticDownload

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    WindowsMediaCenter12allowsyoutoscheduledatadownloads,soitcanbedonewithoutdisturbingyou.Todoit,gotoTasks->Settings->General->AutomaticDownloadOptionsandyoucanconfigureittostartandstopthedownloadwheneveryouwant.

    56.RemoveTheSidebar

    Windows7doesntseemtofeaturethesidebaranymore,butitstillexistsandrunsinthebackground,beinglaunchedautomaticallyatstartup.Soifyouwanttogetridofit,therearetwoways.

    TheeasieroneistopresstheWindowsKey,(orclickStart),inthesearchbox,typeMSCONFIG.EXE,clicktheStartuptabandcleartheSidebarbox.ThehardwayistopresstheWindowskey,typeregedit,findanddeletetheregistrykeyatHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.ThiscansaveyousomeRAMconsumedwithnouse.

    57.VolumeTweaking

    DontyoulikethatWindows7automaticallyreducesthevolumewhenitdetectsPCcalls?Youcanturnoffthisfeaturebyright-clickingthespeakericoninthetaskbar,gotoSounds->Communicationsandgetridofit.58.RunAProgramAsAnotherUser

    Windows7comeswiththepossibilitytorunaprogrambothasanadministratororanotheruser,byrightclickingontheexecutableorshortcutwhileholdingdowntheShiftkey.ThenyouhavetoselectRunasanotheruser.

    59.HowToUseVirtualHardDiskFiles

    YoucannowcreateandmanagevirtualharddisksfilesinWindows7asiftheywererealdisks.ThiscanallowyoutousealiveWindowsinstallationonthevirtualdiskwithouttheneedtobootthevirtualComputer.TocreateavirtualdiskyouhavetopresstheWindowsKey,right-clickonComputer,thengotoManage->DiskManagement->Action->CreateVHD.Thereyoucanspecifythelocationandsizeofyourvirtualharddiskfile.

    Toattachthevirtualdiskfile,presstheWindowsKey,right-clickComputer,thengotoManage->DiskManagement->Action->AttachVHDandyouhavetospecifythelocationandifitsreadonlyornot.

    Toinitializeavirtualharddisk,presstheWindowsKey,right-clickonComputer,gotoManage->DiskManagement->Action->AttachVHD,specifythelocation,clickOk,thenrightclickonthevirtualdiskandclickonInitializeDisk.Selectthepartitionstyleyouwanttouseandthenright-clickontheunallocatedspaceandclickNewSimpleVolumeandfollowtheinstructionswizard.Now,anewharddriveappearsinWindowsExplorerandyoucanuseitasarealpartition.

    60.RemoveTheWindowsLiveMessengerTabInTheTaskbar

    TogetridoftheWindowsLiveMessengerTabandputitbackinthesystemtray,whereitbelongs,gotoC:\ProgramFiles\WindowsLive\Messenger,right-clickmsnmsdgr.exeandsetitscompatibilitymodetoWindowsVista.

    61.LockTheScreen

    ThereisnoLockScreenbuttonintheStartMenuanymore,soyouhavetopresstheWindowsKey+Ltolockit,now.Itseemseasier,incaseyoudontforgettheshortkey.

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    62.CreateAScreenLockShortcut

    Incaseyoudontlikeshortkeysoryoukeepforgettingthem,theresanotheroptionforscreenlock.

    SimplycreateanewshortcuttoC:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exeuser32.dll,LockWorkStationandplaceitwhereveryouwant.

    63.EnableRunCommandInStartMenu

    IfyoumisstheoldRunCommandbuttoninXP,thentheresanoptiontogetitbackinWindows7.

    Right-clickanopenareainStartMenu,gotoProperties->StartMenu->CustomizeandcheckRunCommand.Nowyoushouldbedone.

    64.ImproveDesktopWindowManagerForNvidiaGraphics

    SometimestheanimationsforDesktopWindowManagerdontlookverywellandarentsmoothenoughandthisiscausebecauseDesktopWindowManagerrenderseffectswithnotransparencyandblurring,butyoucanturnoffanimationsformorepleasantgraphics.

    PresstheWindowsKey,right-clickonComputer,gotoProperties->AdvancedSystemSettings->Performance->SettingsandclearAnimatewindowswhenminimizingandmaximizing.ClickOKtofinnish.

    65.ChangeDefaultSaveLocationForFiles

    Windows7isabitdifferentfromVista,becauseitsavesDocuments,Pictures,VideosandMusicunderthePublicfolderinsideC:\Users.Youmightnotwanttosaveyourdocuments,pictures,videosormusictothislocation,butcreateyourownlocationsandyoucandoitquiteeasy.

    PresstheWindowsKey,clickyourusernameanddouble-clickonthefolderyouwishtochange.ThenyouwillseeIncludes:2librarylocations.Clickonthattex

    t,right-clickonthefolderyouwishtosetlikedefaultandclickSetasdefaultfilelocation,thenclickOk.

    66.Make64bitWindowsMediaPlayerDefault(onlyforX64users)

    Windowscomeswiththe32bitversionofMediaPlayerbydefault.Ifyouareax64user,youcankeepthesystemcleanerbyonlyinstallingonesetofcodecs.

    Todothis,presstheWindowsKey,typecommand,right-clickonCommandPromptandhitRunasadministrator,thentypeunregmp2.exe/SwapTo:64?.Afterthat,pressthWindowsKey,typeregedit,gotoHKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppPaths\wmplayer.exe\,doubleclickonvalueandchange%ProgramFiles(x86)to%ProgramFiles%.Nowyoushouldbeusingthe64bitWindowsMediaPlayer.

    67.OpenMultipleInstancesOfWindowsExplorerViaTheTaskbar

    IfyouwanttorunmoreinstancesoftheWindowsExplorerjustbyhittingthestartbar,youcandoitbyfollowingthesesteps:

    UnpinWindowsExplorerfromtheTaskbar,thenpresstheWindowsKey,gotoAccessories,right-clickWindowsExplorer,gotoPropertiesandchangetheshortcutpathto%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe/root,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}(ifyouwantittodefaulttoMyComputer)or%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe/root,

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    ::{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}(ifyouwantittodefaulttoLibraries).NowrepinWindowsExplorertoyourTaskbarandyouredone.

    Allthatisrequiredforopeningmoreinstancesofitisjustaclickofthemiddlemousebutton.Ifyouarentpleasedwithwhatyouvedone,changetheshortcutpathbackto%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe.

    68.MakeTheSystemTrayClockShowTheAM/PMSymbols

    BydefaultWindows7doesshowthetimein24hourformat,soifyouwanttogettheAM/PMsymbols,presstheWindowsKey,typeintl.cpltoopenRegionalandLanguageOptions,gotoAdditionalSettings->TimewhereLongTimeissettoHH:mmandchangeittoHH:mmtt,forexample,wherettistheAMorPMsymbol(21:12PM).Tochangeittothe12hourformat,youneedtotypeitlikethishh::mmtt(9:12PM).

    69.InternetExplorer8CompatibilityMode

    Ifyourwebsitesdontrendercorrectly,youmightneedtoenableInternetExplorer8displaythemincompatibilityview.Thisissueisbecauseoftheupdatedrenderingengine,whichcausesalotoftrouble.Todoit,openInternetExplorer,gotoTools->CompatibilityViewSettingsandcheckDisplayallwebsitesincompatibilityview,thenclickOk.

    Thatsit!Thereyougo70veryusefultipsandtricksforMicrosoftWindows7.MaybeyouknewsomeofthesebutImsuretherearesomethatyoudidnotheardof.TheycanproveveryusefulandcansaveyoualotoftimewhileusingWindows7.

    Imsureyoureaskingyourselfwheresthetipnumber70?Ok,thetiporadvicethatwillhelpyouworkfasterandmoreefficiently,withlessfrustrationis

    70.JustDontUseWindowsVista

    Yes,thisisveryusefultipanditisstronglyrecommended.Infact,Ishouldhaveputthisoneonthetopofthelist,soyoubetterapplyitforyourowngood.

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