Getting Started With Windows 7

Logging In

When you first turn on your computer, you will be prompted to press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to log in. After you do this, there will be an image, a user name and a button labled Switch User. If the user name is not yours, click Switch User and select the Other User option. Enter your user name and password and click the button with the arrow pointing to the right or simply press the enter key.

If you would like to shut down your computer from the login screen, there is a red button in the bottom, right corner that will do this when clicked.

The Desktop

Once you are logged in you will be greeted with the desktop.  The desktop has new icons and a redesigned taskbar.  The XP Start Button has been replaced with the Windows Orb . There are some new and old features included with the Windows 7 desktop. 

Right clicking brings up the basic contextual menu just like it did before. You can still place icons on the desktop.

Icon Size -

Easily change the size of the icons by holding the Ctrl key and rolling the wheel on your mouse.

Gadgets

Gadgets are applets that put information right on your desktop. 

You may add Gadgets to your desktop by right clicking the desktop and selecting Gadgets from the contextual menu. Then simply click and drag your Gadget of choice to the desktop and close the Gadget Gallery. Gadgets can show the current date even the weather or your CPU usage.

Removing a gadget from your desktop is easy. Hovering over the gadget will show 3 icons to the right a X, wrench and a set of 9 dots. The X will remove the Gadget from your desktop, the wrench will display the settings for the gadget and the set of nine dots is a place to grab the gadget and move it.

The Taskbar

The new Windows taskbar offers new functionality and features.  The most noteable change is the Windows Orb. This has replaced the Start button. When you click the  you are presented with the Start Menu.

1. Search: From the Search Box you can search your entire computer using a key word. If you wanted to find MS Word and did not know where it was on your computer, you could simply type "word" into the search box.

2. Program List: This list shows your recent and frequently used programs.  Clicking All Programs will display all the programs you have added to this list. Most program installations do this for you.  You may also access a program's jump list. A jump list is a list of features and recent documents opened by that program.  Hovering over Word will display its recently opened documents.

3. My Documents: "My Documents" is now called "Documents". It is located on the Start Menu along with accesss to your computer, music, Devices and Printers, etc. To place a shortcut on the desktop right click "Documents" hover over send to and then select Desktop(shortcut).

4. Shut Down Command: The Shut Down Command is a little different in Windows 7. Clicking Shut down will shut down your computer without asking if that is what you want to do. If you wish to Restart, Log off or Lock your computer, click the triangle next to the Shut down command and choose from the menu.

5. Active Programs: The icons with the box around them (highlighting) indicate that the program has an active window. 

The taskbar also allows you to "pin" programs, folders and files to the taskbar. To do this, after opening a program, locate its icon in the taskbar and select Pin this program to taskbar. To undo this, right click the icon and select Unpin this program from taskbar. The taskbar also offers Jump Menus just like in the Start Menu. You can access them by right clicking the icon in the taskbar.  Hovering over the icons will show you tumbnails of the opened windows accociated with that program or file.

Window Management

Managing multiple windows on your desktop is much eaiser in Windows 7. Here are a few tips for getting the most out of Windows 7.

Snapping Windows: Dragging a window to the left or right edge of your desktop will cause it to fill half the screen. Dragging a window to the top edge your your desktop will cause it to fill the whole screen.

Shake to Clear Desktop: Grabbing a window and shaking it will clear your desktop of all windows except the window you are shaking.  Repeating this action will bring them back.

Tips and tricks

1. Shuffling Through Program Windows. If you’re running a number of files from the same program, such as multiple documents in Microsoft Word, Windows 7 allows you to switch through these windows with ease. Simply press down on the Ctrl key while clicking the icon from the taskbar. Each click will change the window to the next in the sequence, in the order that you opened them.

2. Managing Your Windows. Windows 7 simplifies document and program management by allowing you to “dock” a window or manipulate its size with one mouse maneuver or a simple keystroke. To dock your window on one half of the screen, drag it to the left or right and it will change its size to fit that half of the screen. To manipulate the vertical size of a window, drag the window to the top to maximize it, or double-click the window’s top or bottom border to maximize it vertically while keeping the same width.

You can also perform all of these functions with keystrokes:
+Left Arrow and +Right Arrow dock to half the screen
+ Down Arrow minimize the window, once minimized you will need to maximize it with the mouse.
+Shift+Up Arrow and +Shift+Down Arrow maximize vertical size and restore vertical size. If you use the down arrow while the window is in a restored vertical size state then the window will minimize to the taskbar and you will have to retrieve it with your mouse.
 

3. Project Your Display With Ease. Plugging in a projector and projecting your display is a snap with the Windows 7 driver display utility, displayswitch.exe. Simply hit +P to display the following easy-to-navigate pop-up window:

By hitting your arrow keys (or +P) you can switch through multiple display settings, such as “clone”, “extend” or “external only.”

4. Aero Peek Your Desktop: A lesser-known versatile tool introduced with Windows 7 is the Windows® Aero® feature, “Aero Peek”. Just click the rectangle in the lower right hand corner of the task bar for quick access to your desktop. +Space performs a peak function alowing you to see your desktop for a quick look. Clicking the same rectagle will cause your windows to return to your desktop.

5. Live Clutter-Free: We live with enough clutter in our lives. Windows 7 gets rid of all the superfluous windows behind your active window. Just hit +Home to minimize all inactive windows. To restore the windows when you’d like them, just press +Home again.

6. Flip Windows:  You can view all active windows as cards by pressings +tab. This will let you flip through them by repeatedly pressing tab.

7. Screen Capture: Taking a screen capture can be very helpful. Use the windows snipping tool to capture a protion of the screen, make notes on it and save it.  Located under All Programs -> Acessories -> Snipping Tool

8. Taskbar shortcuts: Everything in your taskbar receives a shortcut. Pressing +1 will activate the first item in your taskbar. This works for keys 1-9.

9. Post-it Notes: Ever wanted to stick a sticky note directly to your monitor.  With the Windows 7 sticky note you can.  Located under All Programs -> Acessories -> Sticky Notes

10. Move Taskbar: Right click the toolbar and make sure that lock the taskbar is unchecked.  Once this is done you may move the taskbar to one of the four edges of the screen.