Windows® 7 Visual™ Quick Tips

Windows® 7 Visual™ Quick Tips

by Paul McFedries
Released October 2009
Publisher(s): Visual
ISBN: 9780470521175

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Book description

Quick and easy answers for common Windows 7 questions

Windows 7 is the operating system used by millions of people around the world. This easy-to-use, compact guide offers visual learners tips, tricks, and techniques for working smarter and faster. The task-oriented approach presents straightforward task descriptions, succinct explanations, and full-color screen shots accompanied by step-by-step instructions for getting common tasks completed efficiently and quickly.

Technology guru and consummate author Paul McFedries shares useful and unique techniques that will help you get the most from Windows 7. He shows you how to get more done in less time while still boosting your productivity. Plus, the small trim size encourages you to take this handy reference with you wherever you go so that you can find essential information any time, anywhere.

  • Handy, convenient guide packed with full-color screen shots and step-by-step instructions helps visual learners become more proficient with Windows 7

  • Unexpected and useful techniques show you ways to get the most from Window 7's innovative new interface

  • Straight-forward task descriptions address all the changes to Windows 7 in a quick and easily accessible format

    • Good things come in small packages, and this pocket guide is packed with quick and easy solutions to common Windows 7 questions.

    Table of contents

    1. Copyright
    2. Praise for Visual Books
    3. CREDITS
    4. About the Author
    5. Author's Acknowledgements
    6. HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
    7. Optimizing the Start Menu and Taskbar
      1. Pin an Item to Your Start Menu
      2. Remove an Item from Your Start Menu
      3. Pin a Program to the Taskbar
      4. Pin a Destination to a Taskbar Icon
      5. Add the Run Command to the Start Menu
      6. Configure the Start Menu Power Button
      7. Display Your Recent Files on the Start Menu
      8. Launch Control Panel Icons Faster by Using a Menu
      9. Add the Administrative Tools to the Start Menu
      10. Display More Programs on Your Start Menu
      11. Display a Clock for Another Time Zone
      12. Control the Notification Area Icons
    8. Configuring Windows 7 to Suit the Way You Work
      1. Change Your User Account Picture
      2. Scale the Screen to Make Text More Readable
      3. Change Your Screen Orientation
      4. Configure Windows 7 to Work with Multiple Monitors
      5. Create a Custom Windows 7 Theme
      6. Display a Favorite Photo on the Desktop
      7. Activate the Guest User Account
      8. Synchronize Your System Time
      9. Disable the Windows Startup Sound
      10. Reduce System Volume When Making a Phone Call
      11. Configure a Device Using Device Stage
    9. Boosting Your Computer's Security and Privacy
      1. Protect Children by Activating Parental Controls
      2. Control When a Person Can Use the Computer
      3. Allow a person to use only specified programs
      4. Control Video Game Use
      5. Switch to Advanced Sharing to Improve Security
      6. Protect a File or Folder with Permissions
      7. Add a Password to Your User Account
      8. Configure User Account Control Settings
      9. Require Ctrl+Alt+Delete Before Logging On
      10. Lock Your Computer to Prevent Others from Using It
      11. Automatically Lock Your Computer
      12. Prevent Others from Starting Your Computer
      13. Hide Recently Used Documents to Enhance Privacy
      14. Prevent Malicious Code from Running
      15. Safeguard Your Computer with a System Image Backup
      16. Allow a Program Through Windows Firewall
      17. Encrypt Confidential Files and Folders
    10. Getting More Out of Files and Folders
      1. Turn On File Extensions
      2. Specify a Different Program When Opening a File
      3. Restore a Previous Version of a File
      4. Protect a File by Making It Read-Only
      5. Save Time by Saving and Reusing a Search
      6. Select Files Using Check Boxes
      7. Add a Folder to the Favorites List
      8. Display All Folders in the Navigation Pane
      9. Add Destinations to Your Send To Menu
      10. Make Files Easier to Find by Adding Metadata
      11. Remove Personal Metadata from a File
      12. Assign a Different Letter to a Disk Drive
      13. Hide Disk Drive Letters
      14. Split a Hard Drive into Two Partitions
    11. Enriching Your Windows 7 Media Experience
      1. Create Custom Namesfor Imported Images
      2. Repair a Digital Photo
      3. Open Your Images for Editing by Default
      4. Compress Your Image Files
      5. Customize a Media Folder by Applying a Template
      6. Create an Automatic Playlist
      7. Adjust Rip Settings
      8. Customize the Data Displayed by Media Player
      9. Share Your Media Library with Others
      10. Customize the Media Player Navigation Pane
      11. Add Sounds to Windows 7 Events
    12. Maximizing Windows 7 Performance
      1. Start Faster by Logging On Automatically
      2. Turn Off Graphics to Improve Performance
      3. Automatically Move the Mouse to the Default Button
      4. Boost Performance with a USB Flash Drive
      5. Run a Program with Elevated Privileges
      6. Search Files Faster by Adding a Folder to the Index
      7. Use Metadata for More Powerful Searches
      8. Run a Program in Compatibility Mode
      9. Turn Off Confirmation for Deleted Files
      10. Configure AutoPlay Actions
      11. Update a Device Driver to Ensure Top Device Performance
      12. Create a One-Click Restart Shortcut
    13. Tapping Into the Power of Internet Explorer
      1. Automatically Switch to New Tabs
      2. View Open Pages as Quick Tabs
      3. Open Multiple Pages When You Start Internet Explorer
      4. Disable an Internet Explorer Add-on
      5. Subscribe to a Web Feed to See New Site Content
      6. Set the Web Feed Refresh Frequency
      7. Improve Searching by Adding More Search Engines
      8. Save Web Sites Longer to Surf More Efficiently
      9. Always Check for Newer Versions of Web Pages
      10. View Pop-Ups from a Specific Web Site
      11. Customize the Favorites Bar for Easier Surfing
    14. Making E-mail Easier
      1. Leave Your Messages on the Server
      2. Change Your Message Priority
      3. E-mail Multiple People Using a Contact Category
      4. Protect Your Contacts by Creating a Backup Copy
      5. E-mail an Electronic Business Card
      6. Change the Location of Your Message Store
      7. Activate the Spell Checker to Eliminate Message Errors
      8. Change How Often You Check for Messages
      9. Create a Rule Quickly from a Message
      10. Change Your Outgoing Mail Port to Ensure Messages Get Sent
      11. Receive E-mail Notification for an Incoming Fax
    15. Enhancing Internet Security and Privacy
      1. Add a Site to the Restricted Sites Zone
      2. Delete Your Browsing History to Ensure Privacy
      3. Guard Your Internet Passwords
      4. Play Web Page Media. Safely and Privately
      5. Thwart E-mail Viruses by Reading Messages in Text
      6. Thwart Web Bugs by Blocking Images in Messages
      7. Set the Junk E-mail Level to High to Avoid Spam
      8. Eliminate Spam by Using the Safe Senders List
      9. Add a Person to Your Blocked Senders List
      10. Block Messages from a Country to Reduce Spam
      11. Automatically Move Phishing Messages to the Junk Mail Folder
      12. Prevent Windows Live Mail from Sending a Read Receipt
    16. Maximizing Windows 7 Networking
      1. View the Current Status of Your Network
      2. Run the Network Diagnostics Tool to Repair Problems
      3. Personalize Your Network Name and Icon
      4. Display a Network Folder as a Disk Drive
      5. Change the Homegroup Password
      6. Switch to User Accounts for Custom Network Security
      7. Share a Folder with Other Users on the Network
      8. Protect Your Shared Files with Advanced File Permissions
      9. Create a Computer-to-Computer Wireless Network
      10. Manually Connect to a Hidden Wi reless Network
      11. Reorder Wireless Networks to Improve Connections
      12. Work with Network Files Offline
    17. Getting More Out of Your Notebook PC
      1. Set Battery Alarms to Avoid Running Out of Power
      2. Create a Custom Power Plan to Improve Battery Life
      3. Define Actions for Notebook Power Buttons
      4. Configure Your Notebook to Allow Wake Timers
      5. Set a Maximum Processor Speed
      6. Adjust Settings for a Presentation
      7. Set Your Default Location for GPS
      8. Configure Touch Input in Windows 7
      9. Use Flicks to Scroll Documents
      10. Capture Part of the Screen with the Snipping Tool
    18. Index

    Product information

    • Title: Windows® 7 Visual™ Quick Tips
    • Author(s): Paul McFedries
    • Release date: October 2009
    • Publisher(s): Visual
    • ISBN: 9780470521175