Windows 7

1. A wealth of “I didn’t know I could do that!” surprises. Windows 7

2. Calculator • Translate Celsius to Fahrenheit, kilometers to miles, grams to ounces, joules to BTUs, etc. • Calculation worksheets can be used to quickly compute real-world quantities like fuel economy and car lease payments. • Tougher stuff for real “geeks” can be done in the Programmer and Statistics modes.

3. Problem Steps Recorder Have you ever tried to explain a complicated computer problem to a friend or to tech support? The Problem Steps Recorder allows you to record a series of screenshots, add notes, and e-mail them to whomever is helping you. Note: Anything you type won’t be recorded. If what you type is necessary, use the comment feature to highlight where your problem is occurring.

4. Using the Problem Steps Recorder • Click on the start button and type psr in the search bar. Click psr when it appears. • Click start record and then go through the steps on your computer that produce the problem. You can pause the recording and any time and resume it later. Click stop record and save the file (in .zip format). • To view the record, open the .zip file you just created and double click on the file.

5. Annotating the Problem Steps • Open the Problem Steps Recorder. • Click start record and when you want to add a comment, select add comment. • Use your mouse to highlight the part of the screen you want to comment on. Type your text in the highlight problem and comment box and click ok. • Click stop record and follow the save as procedure.

6. Moving the Taskbar The taskbar is usually at the bottom of the taskbar, but you can move it to the top or sides if you wish. • Right click on an empty spot on the taskbar. • Remove the lock taskbar check. • Move the taskbar to the edge you want. • Be sure to lock the taskbar into its new spot to prevent it from being moved or resized accidentally. (Right click in the new taskbar and check the lock taskbar box.)

7. Adding Gadgets Gadgets are “mini programs” that are contained within Windows. • There are eight gadgets available in the original dialogue box, but you can get tons more online. • Some examples are: clock, calendar, weather, feed headlines, slide show and picture puzzle. • You can add/remove/change/move the gadgets any time you want. • Right click on your desktop and select gadgets.

8. Personalize Your Start Menu • Launch the start menu. • Click on the picture above the gray part of the menu and select change your picture. • You can use the images provided or browse to find a picture of yourself or something else meaningful to you. • Change this image as often as you desire!

9. Change the Desktop (Wallpaper) • Right click on the desktop and select personalize. • You can use one of the available pictures or browse to find your own.

10. More Changes to your Desktop • Right click on the desktop and select personalize. • Click on window color to change the color of your Windows borders, Start Menu, and Taskbar. • Click on sounds to personalize the way Windows notifies you of necessary actions. You’ll have to save your theme. • You can also choose your favorite screen saver in this menu. Try “Bubbles!”

11. Screen Resolution • Right click the desktop and select screen resolution. • Try making the text and other items larger/smaller to improve readability for you.

12. Jump Lists Jump Lists are a new feature of Windows 7 that allow you to get quick access to your most frequently used or most recently used files, folders and websites. You can pin your favorite to the jump lists to make searching even easier and faster.

13. Pinning • “Pinning” allows you to open your favorite things faster with no searching and keeps the programs you use most frequently close at hand. • You can “pin” whether the program is open or not. • Note: You can pin a program from the start menu to the taskbar, but not from the taskbar to the start menu.

14. How to Pin • On the start menu, right click a program you always want to appear. Select pin to taskbar to have that program always appear in your taskbar. • You can also select pin to start menu to have that program always appear at the top of your start menu. • If you change your mind, simply right click on the icon and unpin it.

15. Activating ClearType ClearType allows you to improve the readability of text to fit your unique needs by going through a series of tests like you’d experience when visiting an eye doctor! • Right click the desktop and choose screen resolution. • Select make text and other items larger or smaller. • Select adjust cleartype text and follow through the screens.

16. Sticky Notes If you are addicted to Post-It Notes, this capability is just for you! • Select sticky notes from the start menu. • You can format the text, change the color, resize the note, collapse it and flip through several sticky notes.

17. Paint • Windows 7 includes a new and improved version of Paint. • You’ll find new brush effects like watercolor, crayon and calligraphy. • The ribbon is also easier to use.

18. Windows Search Search allows you to find documents, e-mails, music, photos, etc. quickly without looking at individual files and programs. • Click on the start menu. • In the box, type one or two keywords. • Your results will appear almost instantly.

19. The Snipping Tool In the start menu search box, type snip. Select snipping tool from the results. You’re going to like this one so much that you’ll want to pin it to your start menu! Click on the snipping tool and select the image you want (like a screen shot). You can save it wherever you want and use it in various presentations.

20. “Snap” Feature The snap feature is a fun and quick way to resize your open windows by dragging them to the edges of your screen. It makes reading, organizing and comparing windows a snap! You can make open windows expand vertically, take up the whole screen and appear side-by-side. You can use a hot-key shortcut (Windows Orb and right or left arrow key) while in a document. Simply drag the window to the edge of the screen until it responds the way you wish.

21. The “Peek” Feature “Peek” is like giving you x-ray vision to look past all the open windows on the desktop. • Use your mouse to hover over the black rectangle on the right side of the taskbar. • The open windows will become transparent. • Click the same rectangle to minimize every open window at once. • Reveal a buried window by pointing to its taskbar thumbnail. Now, only that window shows on the desktop.

22. The “Shake” Feature Shake allows you to cut through a cluttered desktop to focus on a single window. • Click the top of a pane and shake your mouse. Every window except that one will disappear. • Simply shake the top of the pane again, and your windows will be right back.

23. The Magnifier Tool • In the start menu search box, begin typing the word magnifier. Once the program appears, select it. • Use the +/- keys to zoom in and out as desired. • You can also use a hot-key combination of the Windows Orb and the +/- key.

24. Display and Projection • Use the hot-key combination of the Windows Orb and P. • Select computer only, duplicate, extend or projector only.

25. Reliability Monitor • On the start menu, begin typing “reliability” in the search box. • Select view reliability history and wait for your report.