Five Things You Didn't Know About Microsoft Windows 7

1. Five Things You Didn't Know About Microsoft Windows 7

2. When Windows 7 was launched, it came with an array of features intended to fill the gaps left by Windows Vista.

3. Designed to be an easy migration from XP or Vista, many users upgrading from those versions simply began using Windows 7 without looking into these new features.

4. Here are 5 things about Windows 7 you may not have known about—until now.

5. Shake It Up

6. Desktops get cluttered with a surplus of open windows during a busy day’s work. Windows 7 includes a feature to make closing them easy.

7. Place the cursor on the title bar of the window you want to keep open then click and hold. • Move the mouse or other pointing device back and forth rapidly to “shake” the open window vigorously.

8. All the other open windows except the one you’re shaking will simultaneously minimize and appear on the superbar.

9. To expand the closed windows, grab the title bar with the click-hold and give the window another shake.

10. Problem Solving

11. If you’re the one in the office everybody turns to when something goes wrong with their computer, here’s a Windows 7 feature that will come in handy. The Problem Steps Recorder (PSR) captures steps that lead to trouble and saves them as a ZIP file for emailing or later troubleshooting.

12. Don’t Ask Me Again

13. The user can open the control panel and select "Record steps to reproduce a problem,"then enter the keystrokes or mouse actions that caused the unexpected result.

14. The PSR records the sequence of events into a slide show and saves it as a ZIP. This makes it easier for tech support or helpful friends to backtrack and undo the problem.

15. One of the most nagging aspects of Windows Vista was the User Account Control (UAC) that made you respond to a security notification every time you tried to change anything at the system level.

16. If you’re tired of answering those nagging questions, you’ll be happy to know that the Windows 7 version of UAC can be fine-tuned to reduce those security confirmation prompts—or turn them off altogether.

17. The UAC control panel includes a “comfort level” slider to adjust the degree of security notifications you’ll have to put up with, ranging from “Always Notify”to “Never Notify.”

18. ISO Burning

19. You can ditch the third-party software you kept around for burning common ISO files to CD or DVD.

20. Windows did not support ISO burning so third party assistance was required. Windows 7 includes full ISO burning support.

21. Simply right-click on the .iso file and select “Burn Disc Image.” • The Windows Disc Image Burner opens, asks whether you’re making a CD or a DVD, and the deed is done.

22. Talk To Me

23. Many users don't know Windows 7 offers a simple (and free) voice recognition tool that provides speech-to-text functionality.

24. It’s the equivalent of many more expensive third party programs, just with fewer bells and whistles.

25. To access it, go to Start and type “Speech Recognition” in the search bar. Click on the icon that appears and a tutorial will explain the process.