Windows 7 TIPS

Changing the Desktop Icon Size

Windows 7 now supports browser-style resizing control of text and icons on the Desktop too?! Just hold CTRL, and scroll the mouse wheel

1. By default, the icons on the desktop are a little large
2. Right click on an open area of the desktop
3. Select View
4. Select Small Icons

Automatically Logging On

If you are the only user on the computer and are not worried about someone else having access to it, you can configure Windows7 to automatically log you on.

1. Click on the Start button
2. Type in netplwiz and press the Enter key
3. Uncheck User must enter a user name and password to use this computer
4. Click on the Apply button at the lower right corner
5. You will then be shown a dialog box where you can enter in the name and password of the account you want to have automatically log on.
6. Simply fill it with the correct information
7. Click on the OK button

Installing Google Chrome

If you are getting an error message when trying to install Google Chrome with Windows7, a simple Registry edit may solve the problem

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\State
3. Rename the key ImageState to ImageState1 ( I prefer to rename a key rather than delete it when possible just in case you may want it back again at some point)

Running a Program in Compatibility Mode

If you have a program that doesn't run in native Windows 7, try:

1. Right click on the icon
2. Select Properties
3. Click on the Compatibility tab
4. Check Run this program in compatibility mode for:
5. Select one of the options such as Windows XP (Service Pack 3). Right now there are ten different options you can choose ranging from Window95 to Vista (Service Pack 2).

Maximizing, Restoring and Moving Windows

You can quickly maximize a window by simply dragging it to the top of the screen or double clicking on it's border at the top.

Double clicking on the window will restore it to the original size

To move a window to a different monitor, even if maximized, you can simply drag it to the other monitor. You don't need to make it smaller first.

Minimizing All But One Window

If you want to minimize all the one particular window, have that be the active window and just shake  it with the mouse. Your other windows will be minimized. Shake it again and they will return to the size and location they were before

Using Jump Lists to Access Files and Directories

From the Taskbar, Windows 7 has a quick way to access files you have recently used in a program. Simply right click on the program's icon in the taskbar. A list of recently used files will be shown.

You can do the same for web sites you have visted. Right click on the IE icon and a list of recent sites will be shown.

The Windows Explorer will show recent folders you have accessed

Changing the Explorer from Libraries to Computer View

Normally when you click on a shortcut to the Windows Explorer, the default view is to show the Libraries view.
If you want to change that to show the Computer view, simply change the target to:

%windir%\explorer.exe ::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

To change it to open up to My Documents, change the targe to:
%windir%\explorer.exe ::{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}

If you have the Windows Explorer pinned to the Taskbar, and want to change it's view:

1. Right click on the icon
2. Right click on Windows Explorer
3. Select Properties
4. Paste in whichever target you want to use

Quick Ways to Show the Desktop

There are several ways to quickly show and access the desktop.

1. Press the Win+Spacebar keys. Let up on the spacebar but hold the Windows key down. When you let up on the Windows key, you will return to the previous open application

2. Next to where the time and date are shown on the system tray, there is a small rectangular box. Clicking on this once will show the desktop. Clicking on it again will return you to your previous open application

External Projector Display

On a laptop, normally you need to remember the special keys necessary to change your display to an external projector, or to have both the laptop and projector at the same time.

To make that much easier, with Windows7, simply press the Windows key + P.

This will bring up a display where you can select Computer only, Duplicate, or Projector Only.