Windows 7 Improves Usability
The new Windows operating system includes some great new features that will considerably change how you use your PC. One of these features is the taskbar. By being able to now pin programs to the taskbar, it is no longer just a place to see what applications are currently open. Not sure what is open? Mouse over any icon in the taskbar and instantly see a thumbnail of all the open windows in that application.
This is just one of the time saving features in Windows 7.
Watch the video to learn more about the taskbar and how to use jump lists and the multiple windows feature.
Take a few minutes to learn about the new features in Windows 7 that will greatly boost your productivity.
It will be well worth your time.
Great Tip For Speeding Up Your PC
The initial honeymoon period of owning a new computer can fade quickly. There are a few scratches on the case, crumbs in the keyboard and fingerprints on the screen. One of the most annoying things though, is the inevitable SLOW down of your computer’s performance. There are many different issues that can cause this and just as many articles and products to fix it. For a relatively easy fix, increase the amount of memory in your PC.
This video will take you step by step through the process.
Computer Maintenance Tips : How to Improve Your Computer’s Memory
Enjoy your “just like new” computer!
Cool Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 7
We are always looking for shortcuts to speed up everyday computing tasks. Microsoft definitely kept this in mind when coming up with the new Windows 7.
Some of the great new ones using the windows key include:
- Win + Space → Makes all windows transparent so you can see the desktop
- Win + Home → Clear all but the active window
- Win + Up Arrow → Maximize the active window
- Win + Down Arrow → Minimize or Restore the window
- Win + Left/Right Arrow → Dock the window to each side of the monitor
- Win + T → Focus and scroll through the items on your taskbar
- Win + (+/-) → Zoom in or out
- Win + P → Display options
- Shift + Click a taskbar item → Open a new instance of that application
- Win + G → Brings gadgets to the front
Here are some other examples.
What other great keyboard shortcuts have you discovered in Windows 7?
New Computer Needs New Software
With so many great computer deals out there and a tempting new operating system from Microsoft, you may have opted for a new PC, instead of repairing your existing one. Although the price on the new PC may have been great it may not have included all the software you were hoping to have. Not wanting to spend any additional money, but still wanting a quality anti virus program, word processing software and spreadsheet applications?
This video will outline some great, FREE, applications for your new computer.
Quality software at a price you can’t beat. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Parental Controls in Windows 7
A common concern among parents is how to properly and fairly control computer time. This can be especially hard when children are at home without adult supervision. While there is 3rd party software applications that can do this, Microsoft has built this feature right into Windows 7. This video will take you through the set up process.
Windows 7 Using Parental Controls
It is a great move on Microsoft’s part to add this feature to Microsoft 7 and remove the stress of monitoring computer time.
Windows 7 & Touchscreen Technology
Windows 7 paired with Windows Touch creates a more interactive computing experience. With just the flick of your finger you can scroll through your browser windows, family photos or open programs.
See how easy it is to navigate your computer with touchscreen technology.
Both Dell and HP have Touch supported models. Stop by your favorite computer store and have a look (and a touch!).
Troubleshooting Startup Issues Using “Clean Boot”
If your computer is not starting normally, or if you receive errors when you start your computer that you cannot identify, you could consider performing a “clean boot.” This operation starts the computer by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This can help you troubleshoot the problem.
There are two methods to start Windows XP by using a clean boot:
- Method 1: Use the Guided Help
- Method 2: Manually starting XP with a clean boot (advanced user only)
Start with the first method. If it does not work and you are comfortable trying a more advanced method, try the second.
Manually starting XP with a clean boot (advanced user only)
Note: This section is intended for advanced computer users.
To manually start Windows XP with a clean boot, follow these steps:
Step 1: Start the System Configuration Utility
- Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
- The System Configuration Utility dialog box is displayed.
Step 2: Configure selective startup options
- In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup.
- Click to clear the Process SYSTEM.INI File check box.
- Click to clear the Process WIN.INI File check box.
- Click to clear the Load Startup Items check box. Verify that Load System Services and Use Original BOOT.INI are checked.
- Click the Services tab.
- Click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box.
- Click Disable All, and then click OK.
- When you are prompted, click Restart to restart the computer.
Step 3: Log on to Windows
- If you are prompted, log on to Windows.
- When you receive the following message, click to select the Don’t show this message or launch the System Configuration Utility when Windows start check box, and then click OK.Notes
- You have used the System Configuration Utility to make changes to the way Windows starts.
- The System Configuration Utility is currently in Diagnostic or Selective Startup mode, causing this message to be displayed and the utility to run every time Windows starts.
- Choose the Normal Startup mode on the General tab to start Windows normally and undo the changes you made using the System Configuration Utility.
Step 4: Optional step to disable features
If the clean boot fixed the error, you do not have to perform this step.
Important If your problem is not fixed and you do have to follow this step, it permanently removes all restore points from your computer. The System Restore feature uses restore points to restore your computer to an earlier state. If you remove the restore points, you can no longer restore Windows to an earlier state.
This step temporarily disables Microsoft features such as Plug and Play, networking, event logging, and error reporting.
- Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
The System Configuration Utility dialog box is displayed. - Click the General tab, click to clear the Load System Services check box, and then click OK.
- When you are prompted, click Restart to restart the computer.
If these steps helped you start your computer in a clean-boot state, you are finished. If these steps did not help, go to the “Next Steps” section. If you have to return your computer to a normal startup state, go to “Steps to configure Windows to use a Normal startup state”.
Steps to configure Windows to use a Normal startup state
After you used the clean boot to resolve your problem, you can follow these steps to configure Windows XP to start normally.
- Click Start, and then click Run.
- Type msconfig, and then click OK.
The System Configuration Utility dialog box is displayed. - Click the General tab, click Normal Startup – load all device drivers and services, and then click OK.
- When you are prompted, click Restart to restart the computer.
For further assistance with the Clean Boot feature, refer to this article on the Microsoft Knowledgebase: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041/
How to Configure Windows XP Performance Settings (Video)
We’re often asked what the ‘optimal’ system settings are for performance settings in the Windows XP system settings panel.
This video provides an excellent overview of exactly how to configure your performance settings:
Following these performance tweaks can dramatically speed up your Windows performance. Great Video!
CCleaner Windows Cleaner Review
Notice your Windows XP or Vista installation getting slower and slower these days?
CCleaner is a Windows utility built to clean your computer and speed it up by turfing files that you don’t need, cleaning your Windows registry, and freeing up disk space.
Piriform, the company that developed CCleaner describes it this way:
CCleaner is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool. It removes unused files from your system – allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. But the best part is that it’s fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware!
The latest version of CCleaner keeps up with new developments in the browser market, as well as Windows Vista and 7:
CCleaner provides cleaning for main Windows components:
- Internet Explorer
- Recycle Bin
- Clipboard
- Windows Temporary files
- Windows Log files
- Recent Documents (on the Start Menu)
- Run history (on the Start Menu)
- Windows XP Search Assistant history
- Windows XP old Prefetch data
- Windows memory dumps after crashes
- Chkdsk file fragments
Temporary files and recent file lists for the following applications:
- Internet Explorer
- Temporary File Cache
- URL History
- Cookies
- Hidden Index.dat files
- Last download file location - Firefox
- Temporary File Cache
- URL History
- Cookies
- Download manager - Google Chrome
- Opera
- Safari
- Recycle Bin
- Clipboard
- Windows Temporary files
- Windows Log files
- Recent Documents (on the Start Menu)
- Run history (on the Start Menu)
- Windows XP Search Assistant history
- Windows XP old Prefetch data
- Windows memory dumps after crashes
- Chkdsk file fragments
Our test results:
We were impressed with the speed of cleaning, you don’t have to wait particularly long, but it goes slow enough for you to realize it’s doing something.
It’s also nice that they prevent you from cleaning dangerous areas of the windows registry accidentally, keeping those unchecked in the default settings.
We’d feel comfortable recommending this app to friends and family without worryhing about incoming “you wrecked my computer” calls:)
Additional notes:
Always back up your Windows registry before performing any cleaning or changes.
