Windows 7 Tips and Tricks
18 MAY 11
If any of you have purchased a new computer in the last year or so you will have been upgraded to the new Windows operating system - Windows 7. With Windows XP nearing the end of its life many more will be upgrading to this new platform in the near future, so we thought it would be a good idea to provide some tips and tricks on how to get the most out of Windows 7.
For many the leap to Windows 7 was a big one. But what you must remember is that the Windows 7 platform was built based on user feedback, and once you do get used to it, it really does make tasks much quicker.
The Snipping Tool is a personal favourite of mine. If you have something on your screen that you want to capture i.e. an image or perhaps a dialogue box (so you can email it to your friendly IT guy and ask what to do!), you simply open the Snipping Tool, click and drag your cursor to select an area to copy and then either Save it to a file, or Copy it so you can Paste directly into a document or email. It's that easy!
Below is a list of helpful tips and tricks from Microsoft that should help make the transition to Windows 7 that little bit easier. I've handpicked what I think are the best tricks, but there are many, many more. If any of you have found your own little Windows 7 tricks that you think are the best thing since sliced bread, then feel free to email them in and we can add them to our list of tips and tricks for the future. Enjoy!
FIND ANYTHING
Finding anything on your PC and external hard disk drives is easy - from programs and documents to songs. Simply open the Start menu and type in the search box. Select what you want from the list of instant search results.
INSTANT RECALL
Quickly find that file you worked on last week. Rest your mouse pointer over a program name (e.g. Word or Excel) or right-click an icon on the taskbar - a Windows 7 Jump List appears, displaying the documents you use most recently and most often.
LOOK, NO WIRES!
Wireless setup is easier than ever with Windows 7. Start the Add a device wizard, type in the PIN, and your device is automatically connected. Add printers, storage devices, and even digital media players to your network in just a few steps.
PERSONALISE IT
Set up your Windows 7 desktop background to shuffle through your favourite images. Right-click your desktop, click Personalise, and then click Desktop Background. Select the Shuffle check box, and then select the images you want to shuffle through.
WINDOWS 7 AERO PEEK
Click the small rectangle in the lower-right corner (or Windows logo key + SPACEBAR) to peek at the icons and gadgets on your desktop.
FAVOURITE PIN-UPS
Pin the folders you use most onto your taskbar. Simply hold your mouse over the folder, right-click, and drag the folder onto the taskbar for easy access.
CLEAN UP YOUR TASKBAR
Just right-click on any icon on the taskbar, and click Unpin this program from the taskbar.
IT'S A STICK UP
Put your sticky notes right on your Windows 7 desktop. On the Start menu click All Programs > Accessories > Sticky Notes. Right-click the note to change its colour, or click the PLUS sign to create another note.
PREPARE TO LAUNCH
Use the Windows logo key + T to scroll through the icons pinned to the taskbar. Then press ENTER to start the active program. Press ESC to exit this trick.
GET A SNEAK PEAK
Rest your mouse pointer on a taskbar program icon to peek at documents. For a large-scale view of a document, rest the pointer over the file's thumbnail preview.
ACCESS FREQUENTLY USED FOLDERS
Right-click the Windows Explorer icon on the Windows 7 taskbar to access your most frequently used folders.
PAPER CHASE
Set up several default printers in multiple locations. Windows 7 will figure out where you are with location-aware printing.
For many the leap to Windows 7 was a big one. But what you must remember is that the Windows 7 platform was built based on user feedback, and once you do get used to it, it really does make tasks much quicker.
The Snipping Tool is a personal favourite of mine. If you have something on your screen that you want to capture i.e. an image or perhaps a dialogue box (so you can email it to your friendly IT guy and ask what to do!), you simply open the Snipping Tool, click and drag your cursor to select an area to copy and then either Save it to a file, or Copy it so you can Paste directly into a document or email. It's that easy!
Below is a list of helpful tips and tricks from Microsoft that should help make the transition to Windows 7 that little bit easier. I've handpicked what I think are the best tricks, but there are many, many more. If any of you have found your own little Windows 7 tricks that you think are the best thing since sliced bread, then feel free to email them in and we can add them to our list of tips and tricks for the future. Enjoy!
FIND ANYTHING
Finding anything on your PC and external hard disk drives is easy - from programs and documents to songs. Simply open the Start menu and type in the search box. Select what you want from the list of instant search results.
INSTANT RECALL
Quickly find that file you worked on last week. Rest your mouse pointer over a program name (e.g. Word or Excel) or right-click an icon on the taskbar - a Windows 7 Jump List appears, displaying the documents you use most recently and most often.
LOOK, NO WIRES!
Wireless setup is easier than ever with Windows 7. Start the Add a device wizard, type in the PIN, and your device is automatically connected. Add printers, storage devices, and even digital media players to your network in just a few steps.
PERSONALISE IT
Set up your Windows 7 desktop background to shuffle through your favourite images. Right-click your desktop, click Personalise, and then click Desktop Background. Select the Shuffle check box, and then select the images you want to shuffle through.
WINDOWS 7 AERO PEEK
Click the small rectangle in the lower-right corner (or Windows logo key + SPACEBAR) to peek at the icons and gadgets on your desktop.
FAVOURITE PIN-UPS
Pin the folders you use most onto your taskbar. Simply hold your mouse over the folder, right-click, and drag the folder onto the taskbar for easy access.
CLEAN UP YOUR TASKBAR
Just right-click on any icon on the taskbar, and click Unpin this program from the taskbar.
IT'S A STICK UP
Put your sticky notes right on your Windows 7 desktop. On the Start menu click All Programs > Accessories > Sticky Notes. Right-click the note to change its colour, or click the PLUS sign to create another note.
PREPARE TO LAUNCH
Use the Windows logo key + T to scroll through the icons pinned to the taskbar. Then press ENTER to start the active program. Press ESC to exit this trick.
GET A SNEAK PEAK
Rest your mouse pointer on a taskbar program icon to peek at documents. For a large-scale view of a document, rest the pointer over the file's thumbnail preview.
ACCESS FREQUENTLY USED FOLDERS
Right-click the Windows Explorer icon on the Windows 7 taskbar to access your most frequently used folders.
PAPER CHASE
Set up several default printers in multiple locations. Windows 7 will figure out where you are with location-aware printing.
