Page 1: New applets and features in Window s 7
Windows 7 lets you search online repositories as well as your PC
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Windows 7 is out and if you've either just installed it or bought a new PC running Windows 7,
then we're here to help you get the most from it.
Look beyond the headlines about interface tweaks and you'll find Windows 7 is crammed with
lesser known, but still important, new and enhanced features, which taken together deliver
improved performance and productivity, better troubleshooting, stronger security and a whole lot
more.
To celebrate the launch of Windows 7, we've updated our Windows 7 tips with a bunch of new
ones. Read on for 62 ways in which Windows 7 will make a real difference to your PC.
• 18 cool things Windows 7 does that Vista doesn't
1. Problem Steps Recorder
As the local PC guru you're probably very used to friends and family asking for help with their
computer problems, yet having no idea how to clearly describe what's going on. It's frustrating,
but Microsoft feels your pain, and Windows 7 will include an excellent new solution in the
Problem Steps Recorder.
When any app starts misbehaving under Windows 7 then all your friends need do is click Start,
type PSR and press Enter, then click Start Record. If they then work through whatever they're
doing then the Problem Steps Recorder will record every click and keypress, take screen grabs,
and package everything up into a single zipped MHTML file when they're finished, ready for
emailing to you. It's quick, easy and effective, and will save you hours of troubleshooting time.
2. Burn images
Windows 7 finally introduces a feature that other operating systems have had for years - the
ability to burn ISO images to CDs or DVDs. And it couldn't be much easier to use. Just doubleclick
the ISO image, choose the drive with the blank disc, click Burn and watch as your disc is
created.
3. Create and mount VHD files
Microsoft's Virtual PC creates its virtual machine hard drives in VHD files, and Windows 7 can
now mount these directly so you can access them in the host system. Click Start, type
diskmgmt.msc and press Enter, then click Action > Attach VHD and choose the file you'd like to
mount. It will then appear as a virtual drive in Explorer and can be accessed, copied or written
just like any other drive.
Click Action > Create VHD and you can now create a new virtual drive of your own (right-click
it, select Initialise Disk, and after it's set up right-click the unallocated space and select New
Simple Volume to set this up). Again, you'll be left with a virtual drive that behaves just like any
other, where you can drag and drop files, install programs, test partitioning software or do
whatever you like. But it's actually just this VHD file on your real hard drive which you can
easily back up or share with others. Right-click the disk (that's the left-hand label that says "Disk
2" or whatever) and select Detach VHD to remove it.
The command line DISKPART utility has also been upgraded with tools to detach a VHD file,
and an EXPAND command to increase a virtual disk's maximum size. Don't play around with
this unless you know what you're doing, though - it's all too easy to trash your system.
4. Troubleshoot problems
If some part of Windows 7 is behaving strangely, and you don't know why, then click Control
Panel > Find and fix problems (or 'Troubleshooting') to access the new troubleshooting packs.
These are simple wizards that will resolve common problems, check your settings, clean up your
system and more.
5. Startup repair
If you've downloaded Windows 7 (and even if you haven't) it's a good idea to create a system
repair disc straight away in case you run into problems booting the OS later on. Click Start >
Maintenance > Create a System Repair Disc, and let Windows 7 build a bootable emergency
disc. If the worst does happen then it could be the only way to get your PC running again.
6. Take control
Tired of the kids installing dubious software or running applications you'd rather they left alone?
AppLocker is a new Windows 7 feature that ensures users can only run the programs you
specify. Don't worry, that's easier to set up than it sounds: you can create a rule to allow
everything signed by a particular publisher, so choose Microsoft, say, and that one rule will let
you run all signed Microsoft applications. Launch GPEDIT.MSC and go to Computer
Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Application Control Policies >
AppLocker to get a feel for how this works.
7. Calculate more
At first glance the Windows 7 calculator looks just like Vista's version, but explore the Mode
menu and you'll see powerful new Statistics and Programmer views. And if you're clueless about
bitwise manipulation, then try the Options menu instead. This offers many different unit
conversions (length, weight, volume and more), date calculations (how many days between two
dates?), and spreadsheet-type templates to help you calculate vehicle mileage, mortgage rates
and more.
Don't take any Windows 7 applet at face value, then - there are some very powerful new features
hidden in the background. Be sure to explore every option in all Windows applets to ensure you
don't miss anything important.
CALCULATE MORE: The new Calculator is packed with useful features and functionality
8. Switch to a projector
Windows 7 now provides a standard way to switch your display from one monitor to another, or
a projector - just press Win+P or run DisplaySwitch.exe and choose your preferred display. (This
will have no effect if you've only one display connected.)
9. Get a power efficiency report
If you have a laptop, you can use the efficiency calculator to get Windows 7 to generate loads of
useful information about its power consumption. Used in the right way, this can help you make
huge gains in terms of battery life and performance. To do this you must open a command
prompt as an administrator by typing 'cmd' in Start Search, and when the cmd icon appears,
right-click it and choose Run as administrator.
Then at the command line, just type in 'powercfg -energy' (without quotes) and hit Return, and
Windows 7 will scan your system looking for ways to improve power efficiency. It will then
publish the results in an HTML file, usually in the System32 folder. Just follow the path it gives
you to find your report.
10. Understanding System Restore
Using System Restore in previous versions of Windows has been something of a gamble. There's
no way of telling which applications or drivers it might affect - you just have to try it and see.
Windows 7 is different. Right-click Computer, select Properties > System Protection > System
Restore > Next, and choose the restore point you'd like to use. Click the new button to 'Scan for
affected programs' and Windows will tell you which (if any) programs and drivers will be
deleted or recovered by selecting this restore point. (Read our full Windows 7 System Restore
tutorial.)
