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Windows® 7 Tweaks: A Comprehensive Guide on Customizing, Increasing Performance, and Securing Microsoft® Windows 7

Name: Windows® 7 Tweaks: A Comprehensive Guide on Customizing, Increasing Performance, and Securing Microsoft® Windows 7
Author: Steve Sinchak
ISBN: 9780470525913

by Steve Sinchak

December 2009

Intermediate to advanced

401 pages

9h 12m

English

Wiley

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Copyright
About the Author
Credits
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Who Should Read This BookHow This Book Is OrganizedPart I: Getting Started with Windows 7Part II: Customizing Windows 7Part III: Increasing System PerformancePart IV: Securing Your SystemWhat You Need to Use This BookConventions Used in This BookThe Book's Companion Web Site
I. Getting Started with Windows 7
1. Selecting the Right Version
1.1. Version Comparison1.2. Windows Anytime Upgrade1.3. Summary
2. Installing Windows 7
2.1. Install Media2.1.1. 32-Bit or 64-Bit?2.1.2. Alternative Install Media2.1.2.1. Preparing the USB Flash Drive2.1.2.2. Copying the Installation Software2.2. Full Install2.3. Dual-Boot Windows XP2.3.1. Configuring HDD and Installing XP2.3.2. Installing Windows 72.4. Summary
3. Safe Tweaking
3.1. Using System Restore3.1.1. Creating Restore Points3.1.2. Reverting to a Previous State3.2. System Recovery Console3.2.1. Accessing the System Recovery Console3.2.2. Using the System Recovery Console Tools3.3. Creating a Backup Image3.3.1. Creating the Image3.3.2. Restoring a System Image3.4. Summary
II. Customizing Windows 7

4. Customizing the Startup
4.1. Customizing the Logon Screen4.1.1. Changing User Pictures4.1.2. Hiding Users on the Logon Screen4.1.3. Clearing the Last User Logon4.1.4. Changing the Logon Screen Screensaver4.1.5. Displaying a Security Message4.1.6. Enabling Num Lock by Default4.1.7. Changing the Logon Screen Background4.2. Summary
5. Customizing User Navigation
5.1. Customizing the Start Menu5.1.1. Customizing Navigation Shortcuts5.1.1.1. Hiding User Folders5.1.1.2. Customizing Feature and Management Shortcuts5.1.2. Customizing the Frequently Run Programs List5.1.2.1. Customizing Icon Size5.1.2.2. Tweaking the Number Displayed5.1.2.3. Keeping Programs off the List5.1.2.4. Pinning Programs5.1.3. Customizing the Program List and Search5.1.3.1. Adjusting Scope5.1.3.2. Disabling New Program Highlights5.1.3.3. Disabling Pop-Up Help5.2. Customizing the Taskbar5.2.1. Pinning Applications5.2.2. Modifying Icon Locations5.2.3. Tweaking Jump Lists5.2.3.1. Adjusting the Recent List5.2.4. Enable Classic Taskbar Look and Behavior5.2.5. Customize Taskbar Icon Sizes5.2.6. Tweaking Taskbar Preview Delay5.2.7. Restore Classic Quick Launch Bar5.2.8. Modifying the Taskbar Location5.2.9. Customizing the Notification Area5.2.9.1. Hiding Icons5.2.9.2. Removing System Icons and the Clock5.3. Using Group Policy Editor to Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar5.3.1. Setting Policies with the Group Policy Editor5.3.2. Start Menu and Taskbar Policies5.4. Summary
6. Personalizing the Desktop
6.1. Customizing the Desktop Icons6.1.1. Removing All Icons from the Desktop6.1.2. Customizing the Icon Drop Shadow Effect6.1.3. Displaying Windows System and User Icons on the Desktop6.1.4. Adjusting the Size of Desktop Icons6.1.5. Renaming the Recycle Bin6.1.6. Removing the Shortcut Arrow from Icons on the Desktop6.1.7. Customizing the Icons6.2. Customizing the Desktop6.2.1. Automatically Rotate Your Wallpaper6.2.2. Using Desktop Gadgets6.2.2.1. Adding and Removing Gadgets6.2.2.2. Customizing Gadgets6.2.2.3. Creating Your Own Gadgets6.3. Summary
7. Customizing the Appearance of the Windows Interface
7.1. Working with Themes7.1.1. Changing the Current Theme7.1.2. Downloading More Themes7.1.3. Making Your Own Theme7.1.3.1. Modifying Window Metrics and Fonts7.1.3.2. Modifying System Sounds7.1.3.3. Customizing Mouse Cursors7.1.3.4. Configuring Aero Glass Settings7.1.3.5. Setting the Background Images7.1.3.6. Saving Your Theme to a File7.1.4. Automatic RSS Background Themes7.2. Customizing Aero Glass7.2.1. Tweaking the Color of Aero Glass7.2.2. Changing the Aero Glass Borders7.2.3. Disabling Animations7.2.4. Disabling Aero Glass7.3. Skinning Windows 77.3.1. Using Hacked Visual Styles7.3.2. Changing the Look of Windows 7 Via WindowBlinds7.3.3. Adding More Skins for WindowBlinds7.4. Summary
8. Fine-Tuning Windows Explorer
8.1. Customizing Windows Layout8.1.1. Customizing Panes8.1.1.1. The Navigation Pane8.1.1.2. The Details Pane8.1.1.3. The Preview Pane8.1.2. Tweaking Search8.1.2.1. Adjusting Scope8.2. Modifying File Associations8.2.1. Changing the Default Launch App8.3. Customizing the Context Menu8.3.1. Removing Items from the Context Menu8.3.2. Modifying the Send To Menu8.4. Working with Libraries8.4.1. Creating Your Own Libraries8.5. Customizing Your Folders8.5.1. Changing a Folder Icon and Picture8.5.2. Changing the Template of a Folder8.5.3. Customizing the Folder View8.5.4. Applying Your Settings to All Folders8.6. Working with Hidden Files8.6.1. Showing Hidden Files8.6.2. Revealing the Super Hidden Files8.7. Summary
9. Personalizing Internet Explorer 8
9.1. Customizing Search9.1.1. Adding Popular Search Engines9.1.2. Managing Your Configured Search Engines9.1.3. Adding Custom Search Entries9.1.4. Creating Registry Files to Import Sites to Search9.2. Tweaking the Tabs9.2.1. Tab Keyboard Shortcuts9.2.2. Multitab Home Pages9.2.3. Customizing Tabs9.3. Fun with RSS9.3.1. Subscribing to Feeds9.3.2. Viewing Your IE-Subscribed RSS Feeds on Your Desktop9.3.3. Customizing Feed Settings9.4. Using Add-ons in Internet Explorer9.4.1. Using ieSpell9.4.2. Using RoboForm9.5. Advanced Internet Explorer 8 Features9.5.1. Using Accelerators9.5.1.1. Adding Accelerators9.5.2. Using Web Slices9.5.2.1. Adding a Web Slice9.6. Summary
10. Customizing Windows Media
10.1. Adjusting Your Audio Experience10.1.1. Bass Boost10.1.2. Virtual Surround10.1.3. Room Correction10.1.4. Loudness Equalization10.1.5. Headphone Virtualization10.2. Customizing Windows Media Player 1210.2.1. Tweaking the UI10.2.1.1. Adjusting Navigation10.2.1.2. Adjusting Views10.2.2. Sharing Your Library10.2.3. Sharing Your Library over the Internet10.2.4. Using Audio Effects10.2.4.1. Accessing Hidden Effects10.3. Customizing Media Center10.3.1. Turning Your PC into a DVR10.3.1.1. Creating Shortcuts for Windows Media Center10.3.1.2. Setting the Path Where Recorded Shows Are Stored10.3.1.3. Configuring Media Center to Look for Recorded Shows on a Network Share10.3.1.4. Using Third-Party Windows Media Center Add-ons10.4. Summary
III. Increasing Your System's Performance
11. Analyzing Your System
11.1. Monitoring Your System Hardware11.1.1. Using the Resource Monitor11.1.1.1. Using the Detailed CPU Section11.1.1.2. Using the Detailed Memory Section11.1.1.3. Using the Detailed Disk Section11.1.1.4. Using the Detailed Network Section11.1.2. Using Performance Monitor to Get More System Stats11.1.3. Using the Reliability Monitor11.1.4. Using Event Viewer11.1.4.1. Reading Logs and Events11.1.4.2. Creating Custom Views11.1.5. Using Task Manager11.1.5.1. Monitoring Processes11.1.5.2. Viewing Performance Data11.1.5.3. Configuring Task Manager to Display CPU Utilization11.1.6. Other Performance Monitoring Utilities11.2. Benchmarking Your System11.2.1. Windows Experience Index11.2.2. Benchmarking with PCMark Vantage11.3. Summary
12. Speeding Up the System Boot
12.1. Working with the BIOS12.1.1. Changing the Boot Order of Your Drives12.1.2. Using Quick Boot Feature of the BIOS12.2. Modifying the Operating System Boot12.2.1. Windows Boot Manager12.2.1.1. Lowering OS Timeout Values12.2.1.2. Setting the Default OS12.2.2. Disabling the System Boot Screen12.2.3. Disabling Unneeded Hardware Devices12.2.3.1. Using Device Manager to Disable Hardware12.2.3.2. Which Hardware Devices Should I Disable?12.2.4. Removing Extra Fonts for Speed12.2.5. Disabling Unneeded Services12.2.5.1. Disabling Services with the Services Utility12.2.6. Optimizing the Location of the Boot Files12.2.6.1. Using Windows 7 Disk Defragmenter12.2.6.2. Using Other Third-Party Boot Defrag Programs12.3. Summary
13. Making Your Computer Log On Faster
13.1. Speeding Up the Logon13.1.1. Enabling Automatic Logon13.1.2. Adjust the Startup Programs13.1.2.1. Identifying and Disabling Auto-Start Applications13.1.2.2. Controlling Auto-Start Applications That Keep Coming Back13.1.3. Customizing Auto-Start Programs for Other Users13.2. Other Time-Saving Tips13.2.1. Assigning Alternative IP Addresses13.2.2. Turning Off the Logon Sound13.3. Summary
14. Speeding Up Windows Explorer
14.1. Speeding Up File Browsing and Access14.1.1. Disabling Legacy Filename Creation14.1.2. Disabling the File Access Timestamp14.1.3. Adjusting NTFS Memory Allocation14.2. Speeding Up the User Interface14.2.1. Fine-Tuning Performance Options14.2.2. Adjusting Animations14.2.3. Disabling Aero Glass for Faster Performance14.2.4. Windows Classic Look for Maximum Performance14.3. Adjusting Explorer's Search14.3.1. Adjusting Search Scope14.3.2. Adjusting Windows Indexing Service14.3.3. Using Windows Search without an Index14.4. Summary
15. Optimizing Core Windows Components
15.1. Windows Loves RAM15.1.1. Adding RAM to Your Computer15.1.1.1. Buying RAM for Your Hardware15.1.1.2. Installing Your New RAM15.1.2. Using a USB Storage Device to Add Memory15.2. Tweaking the Paging File15.2.1. Disabling the Paging File15.2.2. Adjusting the Size of the Paging File15.2.3. Changing the Location of the Paging File15.3. Defragmenting Your Hard Drive15.3.1. Using the Windows Defrag Utility15.3.2. Using Third-Party Defrag Utilities15.3.2.1. Using PerfectDisk 1015.3.2.2. Using Diskeeper 200915.4. Adjusting Your Application Priorities15.4.1. Using Task Manager to Adjust Priorities15.4.2. Starting Applications with a User Set Priority15.5. Summary
16. Optimizing Your Network
16.1. Optimizing Your Web Browser16.1.1. Speeding Up Internet Explorer16.1.2. Speeding Up Firefox16.1.3. Accelerating Your Downloads16.1.3.1. Using the Free Download Manager to Speed Up Your Downloads16.2. Speeding Up Your Network Connection16.2.1. Tweaking Auto Tuning16.2.2. Disabling Unneeded Protocols16.2.2.1. Viewing Protocols on Your Network Adapters16.2.2.2. Disabling a Specific Protocol16.3. Summary
IV. Securing Windows
17. Windows Security
17.1. Actively Protecting Your Computer17.1.1. Staying Up-to-Date17.1.2. Updating Windows 717.1.3. Active Security Tips17.1.3.1. Don't Get in the Habit of Clicking Yes/Continue/Allow17.1.3.2. Watch Out for the Internet Explorer Plug-Ins You Install17.1.3.3. If You Didn't Start It, Be Cautious17.1.3.4. Secure Your Network Connection17.1.3.5. Protect Your Accounts17.2. Controlling Your Computer Accounts17.2.1. Managing User Accounts17.2.1.1. Using Complex Passwords on All Your Computer Accounts17.2.1.2. Assigning a Password and Renaming the Guest Account17.2.1.3. Secure the Administrator Account17.2.1.4. Hiding Usernames on the Logon Screen17.2.1.5. Setting the Account Lockout Policy17.3. Tweaking User Account Control17.3.1. Controlling User Account Control17.3.1.1. User Account Control Levels17.3.1.2. Fine-Tune User Account Control with Local Security Policy17.3.1.3. A Good Compromise Between User Account Control and Security17.4. Using File Encryption17.4.1. Encrypting Your Files17.4.1.1. Setting Up a Recovery Agent17.4.1.2. Setting Files to Be Encrypted17.4.2. Using BitLocker Drive Encryption17.4.2.1. Hardware Requirements17.4.2.2. Enabling BitLocker Drive Encryption17.4.2.3. Enabling BitLocker To Go Drive Encryption17.5. Summary
18. Internet Security
18.1. Analyzing Your Security18.1.1. Testing Internet Security18.1.2. Watch the Action Center18.2. Using a Firewall18.2.1. Using the Windows 7 Firewall18.2.1.1. Configuring Windows Firewall18.2.1.2. Enabling the Outbound Firewall18.3. Web Browser Security18.3.1. Internet Explorer 818.3.1.1. Fine-Tuning Security Settings18.4. Defending Against Spyware and Malware18.4.1. Using Windows Defender18.4.1.1. Scanning Your Computer18.4.1.2. Using Other Anti-Spyware Software18.5. Using Antivirus Software18.5.1. Using avast! Antivirus Software18.6. Summary
19. Protecting Your Privacy
19.1. Internet Explorer Privacy19.1.1. Removing Address Bar Suggestions19.1.1.1. Removing a Single Web Site from the Address Bar19.1.1.2. Clearing All Address Bar Suggestions19.1.2. Clearing Temporary Internet Files, History, and Cookies19.1.3. Adjusting Your Cookie Security Policy19.1.4. Protecting Sensitive Online Data19.1.5. Disabling AutoComplete19.1.6. Clearing Temporary Internet Files Automatically19.1.7. Running Internet Explorer 8 in Super Privacy Mode19.2. Windows Interface Privacy19.2.1. Clearing Frequently Run and Opened Files Lists Including Jump Lists19.2.2. Removing Specific Entries from Taskbar Jump Lists19.2.3. Removing Temporary Files from Your Hard Drive19.2.4. Removing Saved Passwords with Credential Manager19.2.5. Setting File and Folder Permissions19.3. Summary

Content preview from Windows® 7 Tweaks: A Comprehensive Guide on Customizing, Increasing Performance, and Securing Microsoft® Windows 7

Chapter 6. Personalizing the Desktop

Studies have shown that customizing your desktop will result in a 64 percent increase in productivity as well as a 248 percent increase in happiness levels of computer users. Whether or not this is true, customizing the desktop is still very beneficial.

This chapter shows you some cool tricks and tools to make your desktop look and work much better so that you can also benefit from a customized desktop. I show you how to remove icons, customize the size of icons, and replace icons on your desktop. Then I show you how you can customize your desktop way beyond changing your wallpaper. In the second half of this chapter, I show you how you can customize desktop gadgets as well as how you can create your own gadgets.

Customizing the Desktop Icons

Building on the icon improvements in Windows Vista, Microsoft has continued to refine the high-quality icons in Windows 7. These new high-resolution icons include various sizes, all the way up to 256 × 256 pixels. This allows the icons to look great at many different sizes and really shows off the quality and time that was spent creating the hundreds of new icons.

The next few sections show you how to take advantage of the new icons as well as how to trim down icons to use in other areas where they are considered more clutter than eye candy.

Removing All Icons from the Desktop

No matter how hard I try, I always end up with a lot of junk on my desktop. There is never an end to the war I fight with my desktop to ...

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