Windows 7 Tips and Hints for Use

[GarenT]

Ok, if you've read anything here, you know that I've fallen for Window 7. I've admitted that I never did fall for that thing which starts with "V" and ends in "A", but this new OS is just really awesome. Compared with everything that comes before, handes down better. Sorry, can't comment much on the MAC, as I've been on WinTel for years now. I have even stayed away from iPhone settling on the Android OS.

Recently a great aricle appeared on 10 Tips That Make Window 7 Simpler and was published by Errol Pierre-Louis over at PC-Mag.

My favorite of the ten, with some comments.

Tip #1
Handy Keyboard shortcuts
Windows 7 includes many new keyboard shortcuts that put frequently used actions at your fingertips. Learn these keystroke combinations and you'll soon be saving a few seconds of mousing time here and there throughout the day. It adds up. Note: For those who don't know, "Windows Logo" refers to the key with the Windows flag on it, generally located between the Ctrl and Alt keys, to the left of the space bar.

Tip #4
Clean Up Your Screen
Focusing on one window when you have multiple windows open can be distracting. But instead of having to minimize every window one-by-one you can quickly unclutter your screen using Aero Shake. Simply click and hold the title bar of the window you want to leave open, give it a quick shake, and your screen will be cleared of all windows except the one you're working in.

Display or hide the Explorer preview pane: Alt-P

Display gadgets in front of other windows: Windows Logo-G

Zoom in: Windows Logo-+[plus sign]

Zoom out: Windows Logo- –[minus sign] 

Maximize window: Windows Logo-Up Arrow

Minimize window: Windows Logo-Down Arrow

Snap to the left-hand side of the screen: Windows Logo-Left Arrow

Snap to the right-hand side of the screen: Windows Logo-Right Arrow

Tip #6
Search the Web from Your Desktop
You can use Windows 7's built-in search as an online search tool without having to launch a Web browser, by using search connectors. For instance, if you wanted to search YouTube videos from your desktop, just download and install the YouTube search connector. This adds a "YouTube Search" option to your Searches folder, which lets you browse YouTube from your desktop.

Tip #7 is about how to make IE faster. Sorry, I've switched to Chrome and can't comment much on that one. I do have to rely on IE occasionally, but Chrome IMHO is where its at.

I hope you enjoy my favs from this list. Please read the full list.

Till next time....

[rajanish]

while thanking u for the tips which were very useful I want to know if i can create batch files for often repeated activites and put them into action from my desktop  ----raj

[GarenT]

Great question. I'll do some research into doing batch-like functions.

 Does anyone know how to do this? I'm assuming there is a script writer that could then be setup as a service?

[milesrf]

The MSDOS functions have some ability to use batch (*.BAT) files, but I've never noticed whether that ever included being able to run programs intended to open as a window instead of using the old text-only interface.

[RobAld]

@ GarenT

How's the "research" coming?   <eg>

BTW instead of using  .bat  files aren't W7 users supposed to be using  PowerShell scripts?  <EG>

FWIW  what I do is use my wireless keyboard's macro capability.  Fewer syntax errors and typos then.   ; )

[jeffloganweb]

I must say Windows 7 is what Vista should have been...

Batch files can be used for many things including to launch programs and copy/move files and folders.

e.g. to launch a program in a batch file it would be (for Windows 7)

START C:\Windows\system32\calc.exe

I think PowerShell scripts can do the same sort of tasks as well as more advanced functions