5 Tips Before Upgrading to Windows 7

Rocketboom Tech correspondent Ellie Rountree recommends 5 tips for installing Windows 7.

New Calculate functions

In Windows 7, separate Programmer, Statistics, Unit Conversion, Date Calculation, and Worksheets modes were added. Tooltips were removed.
In every mode (except Statistics) one can see the history of calculations.
The applet was redesigned to accommodate multitouch.
In Scientific mode, the base conversion functions were moved to the Programmer mode, and Statistics functions were moved to the Statistics mode.
On the right of the main Calculator one can add a panel with Date Calculation, Unit Conversion, and Worksheets.
The included Worksheets allow one to calculate a result of a chosen field based on the values of other fields. Pre-defined templates include calculating a car’s fuel economy (mpg and L/100 km), a vehicle lease, and a mortgage.

Burning ISO Images with Windows7

Windows 7 introduces an easy to use applet that makes burning an .ISO image simple.
Double click the DVD or CD .ISO image and the “Burn Disk Image” applet automatically appears. Burning files is a snap!
a) Place a blank unformatted CD or DVD into your CD/DVD drive.
b) Right click on the .ISO or .IMG file you want to use to burn a disc.
c) Click Burn disc image.
d) Next to Disc burner, click on the drop down arrow and select the CD/DVD drive
with the blank disc you want to burn to.
e) Check the Verify disc after burning option if you want Windows to verify the
disc image after burning the disc. Note that you should skip verification if you
are in a hurry, as this process requires additional time.
f) When it finishes burning the disc image to disc, click the Close button.
The DVD (or CD) is now ready to be used without ever having to find, install,
and use a third-party tool.

Add Sticky Notes Avoid Sticky Situations.

Even the best minds are liable to forget something. Instead of wasting all those color-coded bits of paper, use Windows 7 Sticky Notes. Enjoy the variety of seven fun Sticky Note colors by right-clicking the note.
Need another reminder? Click the + sign in the top left corner of the existing note to create a new one.
To access Sticky Notes, run StikyNot.exe or click Start → All Programs → Accessories → Sticky Notes.

Pin Programs or Folders to Taskbar

Windows 7 allows you to “pin up” the folders you use most on your taskbar. Simply hold your mouse over the favorite folder, right click, and drag it onto the taskbar.

Windows 7 automatically pins itself to the Explorer Jump List. To open the folder, right click on the Explorer icon and select the folder you want.

Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

Here we brought together all the Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcut information for you guys:

Some written content:

Win Key =

1. Win Key + Tab = Aero [press Tab to cycle between Windows]
2. Win Key + E = Windows Explorer is launched.
3. Win Key + R = Run Command is launched.
4. Win Key + F = Search (which is there in previous Windows versions too)
5. Win Key + X = Mobility Center
6. Win Key + L = Lock Computer (It is there from the earlier versions as well)
7. Win Key + U = Ease of Access
8. Win Key + P = Projector
9. Win Key + T = Cycle Super Taskbar Items
10. Win Key + S = OneNote Screen Clipping Tool [requires OneNote]
11. Win Key + M = Minimize All Windows
12. Win Key + D = Show/Hide Desktop
13. Win Key + Up = Maximize Current Window
14. Win Key + Down = Restore Down / Minimize Current Windows
15. Win Key + Left = Tile Current Window to the Left
16. Win Key + Right = Tile Current Windows to the Right
[Continue pressing the Left and Right keys to rotate the window as well]
17. Win Key + # = Quicklaunch
18. Win Key + = = Magnifier

New User State Migration tool

The User State Migration Tool (USMT) for Windows 7 is now part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) and provides fast and flexible options to migrate user profiles and data from one operating system to another. Explore how the new Hard-Link Migration feature highlighted in his demonstration can dramatically reduce migration time for in-place operating system migration or computer refresh scenarios.

HomeGroup

Ever wanted to share your music, pictures and documents within your home computers and found the task to be difficult? HomeGroup in Windows 7 will simplify the tasks associated with sharing music, pictures and documents within your home network and Windows 7 PCs. HomeGroup also allows you to share your USB connected printers, if you have a printer in the living room that’s shared by HomeGroup it will be automatically installed onto your other HomeGroup enabled PCs. Domain-joined computers can be part of a HomeGroup too.

Show Desktop button

Power users will be familiar with the frustration of having to minimise countless open windows to take a quick look at newsfeeds or other gadgets on the Windows desktop. The revamped Show Desktop button – which now occupies the few remaining pixels between the System Tray Clock and the right edge of the Taskbar – makes all open Windows transparent when you hover the mouse over the icon. Ideal for a quick peek at the football scores before ploughing on with work.

Wi-Fi

It’s one of those features that’s so obvious you wonder how it took Microsoft so long to cotton on, especially since it’s been a feature of Linux distributions for years, but new Wi-Fi networks are now only a click away.

A simple click on the wireless network System Tray icon produces a pop-up of available networks, rather than having to delve into the separate View Available Networks option that was found in XP and Vista. A small but worthwhile change.

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