Tips and guides for Microsoft's latest operating system from the team at PC Utilities magazine
How to: change the look of Windows 7
by David Nield on November 23, 2010
Through each edition, Windows has offered the user more and more customisation options for changing the look of the operating system and its interface. It’s now possible to take almost full control over the colours, graphics and sounds used by Windows, and each user can have his or her own desktop design associated with the relevant user account. If you’ve never modified the look of Windows before, it isn’t difficult to do, and your changes can be easily undone if required. Below we’ve looked at the three main customisations you can make; these can be saved together as themes if you want to be able to access them quickly again later on.
Change the desktop wallpaper – You’ll be spending a lot of time staring at the desktop wallpaper, so it makes sense to have something that you’re comfortable with. Any image can be used as a background, and Windows will either tile or stretch it to fit the space – alternatively, you can resize and crop the picture using a photo editor to exactly fit the dimensions of your screen. New in Windows 7 is the ability to have a slideshow of photos that automatically change after a set interval of time. It is possible to change the logon and shutdown wallpapers too, but this requires some third-party software. Visit Control Panel/ Appearance and Personalisation/ Personalisation/ Desktop Background to make the changes.
Adjust window colour and transparency - when you first install Windows 7, a blue ‘Sky’ colour will be assigned to the application and folder windows, which will be semi-transparent. This colour and transparency can be changed via Control Panel/ Appearance and Personalisation/ Personalisation/ Window Colour and Appearance – the advanced settings dialog gives you even more control over the design and colour of the Windows interface.
Change the icons on the desktop - If your Windows desktop is too cluttered, then you can hide some of the system icons that appear. Click the Change desktop icons link on the left of the Control Panel/ Appearance and Personalisation/ Personalisation screen and you can choose to show or conceal icons for Computer, the current user, Network, Recycle Bin and Control Panel. If you’d like to, you can stop any installed themes from overriding these settings.
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 4th Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
Change the desktop wallpaper – You’ll be spending a lot of time staring at the desktop wallpaper, so it makes sense to have something that you’re comfortable with. Any image can be used as a background, and Windows will either tile or stretch it to fit the space – alternatively, you can resize and crop the picture using a photo editor to exactly fit the dimensions of your screen. New in Windows 7 is the ability to have a slideshow of photos that automatically change after a set interval of time. It is possible to change the logon and shutdown wallpapers too, but this requires some third-party software. Visit Control Panel/ Appearance and Personalisation/ Personalisation/ Desktop Background to make the changes.
Adjust window colour and transparency - when you first install Windows 7, a blue ‘Sky’ colour will be assigned to the application and folder windows, which will be semi-transparent. This colour and transparency can be changed via Control Panel/ Appearance and Personalisation/ Personalisation/ Window Colour and Appearance – the advanced settings dialog gives you even more control over the design and colour of the Windows interface.
Change the icons on the desktop - If your Windows desktop is too cluttered, then you can hide some of the system icons that appear. Click the Change desktop icons link on the left of the Control Panel/ Appearance and Personalisation/ Personalisation screen and you can choose to show or conceal icons for Computer, the current user, Network, Recycle Bin and Control Panel. If you’d like to, you can stop any installed themes from overriding these settings.
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 4th Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
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Tips and guides for Microsoft's latest operating system from the team at PC Utilities magazine
Tips: snap windows
by David Nield on October 28, 2010
In previous versions of Windows, if you wanted to have two documents open side-by-side on the desktop then you had to laboriously resize each window pixel-by-pixel using the mouse. With Windows 7, this can be done much more easily by dragging a window’s title bar to the left or right edge of the screen.
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 4th Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 4th Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
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Tips and guides for Microsoft's latest operating system from the team at PC Utilities magazine
News: Windows 7 Handbook 4th edition now on sale
by David Nield on October 22, 2010
We’re proud to announce that the latest edition of our best-selling bookazine is now on sale online and in newsagents. It features revised and updated content and a freshly compiled cover DVD that offers 400 freeware tools that are fully Windows 7-compatible. Covering a broad range of topics and guides, the handbook can help you:
- get the most out of Windows 7
- customise the desktop and your user account
- improve system security
- browse the Web with ease
- access hidden Windows 7 features
- manage music, photos and video
- set up a home network
- and much more!
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Tips and guides for Microsoft's latest operating system from the team at PC Utilities magazine
Tips: burn ISO files in Windows 7
by David Nield on October 5, 2010
With Windows 7, the operating system now supports burning ISO files natively. The .iso format is used by many developers to distribute software and other content. Simply double-click on an ISO file to launch the Windows Disc Image Burner. If another program has associated itself with the format, you can use the Open With option on the right-click menu.
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
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Tips and guides for Microsoft's latest operating system from the team at PC Utilities magazine
How to: get started with Internet Explorer 9
by David Nield on September 29, 2010
The next-generation Internet Explorer 9 is now available in beta form – you can download it from the official page created by Microsoft, which is looking to claw back some of the ground it’s lost to the likes of Firefox and Chrome. New features included in the beta of IE9 include a faster rendering engine, support for hardware acceleration, compatibility with the latest Web standards and a minimalist interface. Windows 7 users can also pin certain websites and online applications to the taskbar, and while the software will also run on Vista, the older XP is not supported. As this is a public beta release, you can expect a certain number of bug fixes and revisions to appear before Internet Explorer 9 is made officially available.
The ‘Beauty of the Web’ website put together by Microsoft showcases a number of the latest HTML5 technologies and related websites that show off the capabilities of Internet Explorer 9. You can read about some of the new features that have been introduced and stay up to date with incremental releases as and when they appear. There’s also information about how Internet Explorer 9 integrates more closely with Windows 7.
The first change you’ll notice is a stripped-down interface, with more emphasis given to the actual webpage being viewed. The search box and address bar have been combined and placed alongside the page tabs, with the forward and backward buttons displayed more prominently. To launch a search (using Bing, naturally), simply type your keywords into the address bar at the top of the screen.
Tab management is handled in a similar way to Internet Explorer 8. Open up the new tab page and you’ll see thumbnails of the sites you’ve visited most frequently. Other links can take you to tabs that have been recently closed, and you can activate IE9′s private browsing mode from here too. One of the key ways in which IE9 integrates with Windows 7 is by enabling you to pin particular websites (or Web apps) to the taskbar. If the site has been customised to support this functionality (Twitter is one example), then you should see quick links appear on the icon’s jump list.
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
The ‘Beauty of the Web’ website put together by Microsoft showcases a number of the latest HTML5 technologies and related websites that show off the capabilities of Internet Explorer 9. You can read about some of the new features that have been introduced and stay up to date with incremental releases as and when they appear. There’s also information about how Internet Explorer 9 integrates more closely with Windows 7.
The first change you’ll notice is a stripped-down interface, with more emphasis given to the actual webpage being viewed. The search box and address bar have been combined and placed alongside the page tabs, with the forward and backward buttons displayed more prominently. To launch a search (using Bing, naturally), simply type your keywords into the address bar at the top of the screen.
Tab management is handled in a similar way to Internet Explorer 8. Open up the new tab page and you’ll see thumbnails of the sites you’ve visited most frequently. Other links can take you to tabs that have been recently closed, and you can activate IE9′s private browsing mode from here too. One of the key ways in which IE9 integrates with Windows 7 is by enabling you to pin particular websites (or Web apps) to the taskbar. If the site has been customised to support this functionality (Twitter is one example), then you should see quick links appear on the icon’s jump list.
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
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Tips and guides for Microsoft's latest operating system from the team at PC Utilities magazine
Tips: adjust Windows 7 performance settings
by David Nield on September 10, 2010
Windows 7 comes with a host of performance settings that you can customise to suit your own particular hardware setup. Visit Control Panel/ System and Security/ System and click the Advanced system settings link. Select the Settings button under Performance and you can change everything from window animations to font smoothing. By default, Windows will choose the settings that it thinks are best for your computer.
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
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Tips and guides for Microsoft's latest operating system from the team at PC Utilities magazine
How to: take screen shots with the Snipping Tool
by David Nield on September 8, 2010
Windows 7 comes with its own built-in screen capture program, known as the Snipping Tool. You can find this on the Start menu under the Accessories menu (alternatively, find it using the search box). Despite its straightforward interface and simple feature-set, it offers most of the functionality that you’re likely to need from a screen grabber – the images that you take can be used to share PC problems or new software with others.
When you launch up the program for the first time, you’ll be asked to drag a window out over the area that you’d like to capture. If you’d prefer to tweak the utility’s settings first, click Options. It’s possible to copy screen grabs straight to the clipboard, for example, and switch off the screen overlay and instruction text if you don’t need them.
Using the New menu you can grab the whole screen, a window, or a user-defined section of the display – screen captures taken by the program are known as ‘snips’. Once a snip has been captured, it will be shown on screen, and you then have the option to add annotations or highlighting to the image using the tools at the top.
When it comes to saving your snip to disk, you can store the file in PNG, GIF or JPEG format. There are also options to email the screen grab or copy the image to the Windows clipboard. A new snip can be captured via the New button.
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
When you launch up the program for the first time, you’ll be asked to drag a window out over the area that you’d like to capture. If you’d prefer to tweak the utility’s settings first, click Options. It’s possible to copy screen grabs straight to the clipboard, for example, and switch off the screen overlay and instruction text if you don’t need them.
Using the New menu you can grab the whole screen, a window, or a user-defined section of the display – screen captures taken by the program are known as ‘snips’. Once a snip has been captured, it will be shown on screen, and you then have the option to add annotations or highlighting to the image using the tools at the top.
When it comes to saving your snip to disk, you can store the file in PNG, GIF or JPEG format. There are also options to email the screen grab or copy the image to the Windows clipboard. A new snip can be captured via the New button.
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
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Tips and guides for Microsoft's latest operating system from the team at PC Utilities magazine
Tips: rearrange taskbar items in Windows 7
by David Nield on August 27, 2010
You can simply drag and drop icons or tabs on the taskbar to change their position, whether they represent programs pinned to the taskbar or active windows. As in previous versions of Windows, you can drag the taskbar to the left or right or top of the screen as well – if you want to do this, make sure the Lock the taskbar option is unticked on the right-click menu.
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
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Tips and guides for Microsoft's latest operating system from the team at PC Utilities magazine
How to: migrate files and programs to Windows 7
by David Nield on August 19, 2010
Whether you’re upgrading your existing PC to Windows 7, or moving data over from a different machine, there are tools and tricks available that enable you to bring your files and applications with you. If you’re installing Windows 7 on top of Vista, the setup program should leave your existing files and folders intact. However, it’s a good idea to back everything up beforehand just in case. If you’re moving from XP then the custom install will be necessary and you won’t have any choice but to back up first. The best method is via Windows Easy Transfer, a tool which takes the hassle out of migrating your old files to the new operating system. There are different versions for XP and Vista, and for 32-bit and 64-bit systems – click here to find the right version for your PC. Once installed, use the step-by-step guide to back up your files and settings.
The custom installation of Windows 7 isn’t without its drawbacks. The fact that it’s going to wipe your drive means you’ll lose everything, including your programs. The Windows Easy Transfer tool will back up your data files but not applications – make sure you have all your installation discs to hand so you can reinstall programs afterwards. However, even if you’re able to reinstall your old programs there’s no guarantee they’ll work with Windows 7. The introduction of new operating systems often renders legacy programs useless. Fortunately, there’s a feature built into Windows 7 that can help you run these applications.
Compatibility Mode is the tool you want to find in Windows 7 if you’re having problems with older software. It enables you to run these programs in an artificial environment – for example, if you have a program that was originally designed for Windows XP you can use Compatibility Mode to mimic the system settings it needs to run. Exercise some caution with the types of applications you’re trying to run in Compatibility Mode – the tool shouldn’t be used for the likes of antivirus software or other critical applications.
If your programs are already installed on Windows 7, click on the Start button then type compatibility in the Search box. Click Run Programs Made For Previous Versions Of Windows to launch the relevant wizard – this tool will analyse your hard disk then list all of your installed programs. From the list, select the program that isn’t running correctly. Click on Next and you have two options – the first is to Try Recommended Settings, which does exactly what it says it will. If this doesn’t work, the other option is to use the Troubleshoot setting, which will take you step-by-step through the available options.
Don’t panic if your older programs still don’t work after you’ve tried Program Compatibility. You can use Windows XP Mode, an add-on that you can get from here. This free plug-in enables you to run a version of XP from within Windows 7 (in other words, a virtual PC). Once you’ve downloaded and installed it, go to the All Programs menu, click on the Windows Virtual PC link and then select Virtual Windows XP. You can even cut and paste documents between the emulated PC and your actual machine.
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
The custom installation of Windows 7 isn’t without its drawbacks. The fact that it’s going to wipe your drive means you’ll lose everything, including your programs. The Windows Easy Transfer tool will back up your data files but not applications – make sure you have all your installation discs to hand so you can reinstall programs afterwards. However, even if you’re able to reinstall your old programs there’s no guarantee they’ll work with Windows 7. The introduction of new operating systems often renders legacy programs useless. Fortunately, there’s a feature built into Windows 7 that can help you run these applications.
Compatibility Mode is the tool you want to find in Windows 7 if you’re having problems with older software. It enables you to run these programs in an artificial environment – for example, if you have a program that was originally designed for Windows XP you can use Compatibility Mode to mimic the system settings it needs to run. Exercise some caution with the types of applications you’re trying to run in Compatibility Mode – the tool shouldn’t be used for the likes of antivirus software or other critical applications.
If your programs are already installed on Windows 7, click on the Start button then type compatibility in the Search box. Click Run Programs Made For Previous Versions Of Windows to launch the relevant wizard – this tool will analyse your hard disk then list all of your installed programs. From the list, select the program that isn’t running correctly. Click on Next and you have two options – the first is to Try Recommended Settings, which does exactly what it says it will. If this doesn’t work, the other option is to use the Troubleshoot setting, which will take you step-by-step through the available options.
Don’t panic if your older programs still don’t work after you’ve tried Program Compatibility. You can use Windows XP Mode, an add-on that you can get from here. This free plug-in enables you to run a version of XP from within Windows 7 (in other words, a virtual PC). Once you’ve downloaded and installed it, go to the All Programs menu, click on the Windows Virtual PC link and then select Virtual Windows XP. You can even cut and paste documents between the emulated PC and your actual machine.
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
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Tips and guides for Microsoft's latest operating system from the team at PC Utilities magazine
Tips: tweak folder views in Windows 7
by David Nield on August 12, 2010
The way that Windows Explorer displays your files and folders can be tweaked in a variety of ways, from the sorting method to the thumbnails and icons used to represent different file types. Some of the on-screen windows (such as the details pane) can be toggled on and off via the Organise/ Layout menu, while a more detailed set of options can be accessed by selecting Organise/ Folder and search options. It’s possible to show hidden files, display full folder paths, and hide file extensions, for example.
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
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Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.n...
Windows 7 Professional 32bit
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.n...
Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.n...
Leave comments and i will help you A.S.A.P
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE .ISO IMAGE MOUNTER FROM HERE
http://www.daemon-tools.cc/eng/downloads
DOWNLOAD DAEMON TOOLS LITE ITS FREE
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