windows 7 final


GET MORE FROM WINDOWS 7

INTRODUCTION

Microsoft’s Windows 7, along with its predecessors XP and VISTA are by far the world’s most popular Operating Systems.

Windows 7 is the latest, and most enhanced of the suite.

There are so many outstanding features in these products that users have a tendency to get acquainted only with those that they use in their work.

Although the manufacturer’s User’s Manuals and Product Guides attempt to cover all information that could be of use to the Users, they are only used as reference when questions arise because they are so voluminous.

This book is designed to make Windows 7 users more aware of some of the time-saving shortcuts to make Windows 7 more enjoyable and beneficial.

You will find that the shortcuts presented here will not only save you time, but will keep you better focused on your work without the distraction of unnecessary keystrokes.

When Windows 8 is released, those who purchased this book will be entitled to an upgrade at no additional cost.

For coverage for the topics of Music, Mail, Maps, Phone, and Photo, please visit the Update Website to access “Miracle in Your Pocket”.

We hope you find this book enjoyable and useful.


GET MORE FROM WINDOWS 7

TABLE OF CONTENTS Shortcuts

Open Documents Open Folders Most Common Document Processing Shortcuts Other Common Document Processing Shortcuts Quick Access Toolbar Snap Utilities Shortcuts Taskbar Shortcuts Taskbar Icons Other Shortcuts

Organization

Add Favorites to Window Explorer and Desktop Change the Power Button for Shutdown Options Quick Desktop Organization Smaller Taskbar Icons Libraries Accelerators

Font Paragraph Bullets Numbering Styles Hyperlink Look Up Synonyms Translate


Neat Things You Can Live Without (but really don’t want to)

Desktop Gadgets Magnifier Change Case Snipping Tool Recorder Microsoft Essentials Windows Live Mail Windows LiveMessenger Windows Live Movie Maker Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Writer Windows Live Family Safety Windows Live Tool Bar

Security

Windows Update Quick Lock Parental Controls Microsoft SmartScreen Cross Site Scripting Filter Domain Name Highlighting In Private Browsing In Private Filtering Data Execution Prevention Isolation and Crash Recovery Windows Filtering Platform BitLocker Bitlocker To Go Backup System Restore


iTunes

Backup to iCloud Automatic Sync With Mobile Arrange Apps Display Duplicates Increase Speed

Conclusion


Shortcuts It’s doubtful that anyone has the ability or the desire to memorize all of the keyboard shortcuts that Windows 7 has to offer. However, as you become familiar with those that are available, you will form a habit of using the most frequent time-savers. It is recommended that you keep this document handy for future reference and also to keep track of updates.

Open Documents Start Menu

a. Use the Start menu to locate documents. Wherever there’s an arrow next to the program listing, it will point to recent documents and applications. Simply click on the arrow and it will open the most recently used documents.


b. “All Programs” provides a list of all programs on the system, listed in alphabetical order, with vendor logos displayed.

c. The Search Box provides quick access for all programs, data and PC settings. Just by typing the first few letters of a subject will present a list of choices that match your input. This applies to programs, documents, pictures, music, email and other files as well.

Open Folders to quickly get to documents

Contr + O will open the Documents Library Contr + N will open a new document Alt + Tab (Windows Flip) will quickly cycle

through all windows that are running. To open recent programs, go to the Taskbar

and hover over the program you are interested in. Click and drag up to produce a jump list of the most recent documents used or songs played.


Most Common Document processing shortcuts

Command Purpose Contr + A Highlights all text in document Contr + C Copy the highlighted text Contr + X Cut [See note] Contr + V Paste the clipboard (See note) Contr + Z Undo the last change (can be repeated) Contr + Y Restore the last Undo Contr + U Underline Contr + I Italics Contr + B Bold

[note] An even faster method than cut and paste, is to highlight text and drag it to other places in the document]

Other Common Document processing shortcuts

Command Purpose Contr + Q Banks line to left margin Contr + W Option to Save and Close Contr + E Tab to Center Contr + R Right justify the current line Contr + T Tab Forward one position Contr + N Open New Document Contr +M Changes Margin Size Contr + O Opens Documents Library Contr + P Print Contr + S Saves the Document Contr + D Opens Font Menu Contr + F Find Contr + G Go To (enter page number) Contr + H Find and Replace Contr + K Insert Hyperlink


Quick Access Toolbar Right Click on “File” in upper left corner and select Customize Quick Access Toolbar. Two lists will be displayed. The one on the left shows all candidate programs available for use on the Quick Access Toolbar and the one on the right shows which ones have already been selected. The two buttons in between permit “add” and “remove” functions.

Snap

Snap resizes and expands Windows quickly and easily to compare the contents of two different windows. Open both documents and minimize each. Hover the cursor over the right and left edges of each document. When the double arrows appear, click and drag the edges of each document, one at a time, to arrange for both documents to be side by side. You will not only have the advantage of seeing both documents at the same time, but you can cut and paste and then drag text from one to the other.

Utilities Shortcuts Holding the keys Alt + P will assign code letters to each of the utilities in the Tool Bar. Select which function is of interest to you and hold Alt + the code letter. For example, if you wanted to adjust your margins in a document, Alt + P will show the letter “M” next to the Margins in the Tool Bar. Press ALT + M and the Margins utility will open.


Taskbar Shortcuts When you open a program, it is also placed at the bottom of the Start Menu. You may drag it to the Taskbar for future use, saving the time of searching for it again and opening it. You can also place it on the Desktop and can access it immediately upon booting the system.

Taskbar Icons

The Taskbar icons can be arranged for your maximum efficiency by clicking and dragging them to more desired positions. If you rest your cursor on the thumbnail of an open document, it will open a preview. If you move the cursor to the preview, a full size window comes into focus. You can also close a window directly from the thumbnail preview window.

You can pin frequently used programs or a specific document to the taskbar. For example, if you are working on a document that you need to open often, you can pin it to the taskbar and save the time of searching for it the next time you need to access it.


Other Shortcuts

The Windows key opens Start menu The Windows key + E opens Explorer Windows key + D opens Desktop Windows key + T opens first item in Taskbar

(Repeats) Window key + #1-9 launches active program in

Taskbar Contr+ Alt + Del produces the Administrative Menu

(including task manager) Click on extreme right bar on Taskbar to open

Desktop Windows key + Tab opens 3D view of open

documents. Each click pages through each document.


Organization

Add Favorites to Windows Explorer and Desktop When you open a directory that lists folder and files, the Windows Explorer is displayed on the left side of the page. You can add any folder or file to the Windows Explorer (provided it is not open at the time) by dragging it from the directory to the Favorites or Library, etc. Dragging it to the Desktop icon will place the folder or file on the Desktop, which will save a lot of time in locating frequently used documents.

Change the power button for Shutdown Options

Right click on Start, Right click on Properties, select Start menu tab, then choose from the Power Button action which method you wish to use, e.g. Switch User, Log Off, Lock, Restart, Sleep, Hibernate, Shutdown.

Quick desktop organization While in the Desktop, if you press and hold f5 the icons will be arranged in columns. A word of caution! If you have your icons grouped in organized patterns, you will lose the layout that you are familiar and comfortable with.


Smaller Taskbar Icons

To reduce the size of the icons, click on the Taskbar in any blank area and right click to open the menu. Click on Properties and under the Taskbar Tab check “Use Small Icons”, then apply.

Libraries

This has been designed to accommodate large numbers of files that get to be time consuming searching for specific items. This applies to documents, music, pictures and videos. Open the Libraries directory and click on any of the categories and the files within that group will be displayed, regardless of where they reside on the system.

Accelerators

It’s pretty common to use this method to keep working on a document without leaving your place. When text is highlighted a right click will give you access to the cut, copy and paste functions. But also included are:


Font – Provides all of the selections that are available when the Home Tab has been selected. But using this function, as the case in the others below, will save you from leaving your document, changing tabs, make your change, and then return to where you were.

Paragraph – Provides access to the “Indent and Spacing” Tab and the “Line and Page Breaks” Tab. Bullets – Provides the same selections as in the Home Tab Numbering – Provides the same selections as in the Home Tab Styles - Provides the same selections as in the Home Tab Hyperlink – Opens the Hyperlink window and allows linking to Bookmarking and other functions. Look Up – Provides access to Bing searches and others Synonyms – Suggests alternate words to that which is highlighted. In addition, it provides a link to the Thesaurus. Translate – Uses the highlighted word(s) to translate to virtually any language “From /To”. Highlighted words can be changed within the dialog box.


Neat Things You Can Live Without (But really don’t want to)

Desktop gadgets

These handy little tools provide current information on the Desktop. To select which gadgets you would like to use, right-click from the desktop, and a menu will open. Click on “Gadgets” and a selection will be displayed. Click and drag the gadgets you want to a place of choice on the Desktop screen. If you choose to have the gadget “always on top”, they will appear on any page you have open. For this option, right-click on the gadget and select “Always on Top”. Gadgets include Clock, Calendar, Currency Conversion, Weather, a picture slide show from your own photo gallery, and many more are available for download. For weather reports, you can select your own area using the “Options” choice. Right-clicking will reveal detailed information on the area that has been designated, including a weather map.


Magnifier

The Magnifier feature enlarges the display when required. Go to Start Menu and type in “Magnifier” in the search box. The program will appear in the listing. You can drag it to the desktop for future use. Options are provided to enlarge the entire screen, or only for a window size of your choice. The magnified area can be dragged to documents as well. To exit the Magnifier, click on the “X” in the upper right corner.

Another option, which may be better suited for your immediate purpose is to hold the windows key down and use the arrow keys to change the size of the page and navigate around the document.

Change Case

To change case during input, highlight the appropriate text and press shift + f3. The highlighted text will toggle between lower case, upper case, and title case.

Snipping Tool

This tool allows for the capture of any portion of a screen that can be saved as a jpg file. For those who relied on Contr + Alt + Print Screen and pasted to a Word Document may want to give this a try.


Go to Start. Open Snipping Tool. If it is not listed as a program, use the search box. Click “New”. The prompt will allow for different shapes to choose from. Go to the area that you want captured, and using the mouse, draw around the subject. You can then copy, save to file, etc.

Recorder

This allows the microphone to pick up sound. The most common use is to record conversations, dictation, any sounds you wish to save, If you don’t have the program on a quick access menu, Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Sound Recorder. The only controls at that point is to start and stop. When the recording is completed, you have the option to save the file. Caution: Should you want to save the file, remember to save it before you exit the program or the recording will not be saved.


Windows Live Essentials

Windows Live Essentials is a free suite of programs for e-mail, photos, instant messaging, and more. It comes pre-installed on some new PCs, but if not, it can be downloaded from the Web.

Windows Live Mail Windows Live Mail can access Windows Live Hotmail®, Windows Live Calendar, and Windows Live Contacts. It can access previously synchronized e-mail, calendar, and contact information when you’re offline. The built-in photo mail feature lets you send photos to friends. They will receive light, embedded thumbnail images and links to download the full-resolution versions or to see the images played as a slideshow. (available only with Yahoo!Plus, not with free Yahoo! e-mail accounts) Windows Live Mail

Windows LiveMessenger Windows Live Messenger allows you to connect to your people or groups, offers Instant Messaging, video or voice, play games, share photos and monitor what’s new with others. You


can change your profile picture, background scene, and status messages, create a dynamic avatar, and record a short video. You can designate your own signature sound that contacts hear when you start a conversation and you can assign unique sounds to the people in your contact list. It al lows you to create multiple display pictures, alter what emoticons you use in your conversations, and include hyperlinks in your personal status message.

Windows Live Movie Maker Windows Live Movie Maker makes movies and slideshows from your videos and photos. You can import standard or high definition video and photos. Using AutoMovie you can add animations, music, and titles. You can then burn your movie to a DVD or upload it directly to YouTube. (available on Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate)


Windows Live Photo Gallery For all photos on your Windows 7, you can use Windows Live Photo Gallery to edit, organize, and publish them to the Web. Photos can be tagged to locate them later. Windows Live Photo Gallery incorporates a new face-detection technology that simplifies people-tagging. Photos can be tagged for each individual, then assigned an event, for example, vacation. It also has a rating system of 1 to 5 stars. Using this technique, you can easily search for a name, event, and star rating and quickly zero in on specific photos that you are looking for. Each photo can have multiple tags. This adds a lot of flexibility to the search. It also offers photo-stitching, a feature that lets you build panoramic views from a collection of photos. Windows Live Photo Gallery lets you publish to Windows Live Photos and other photo-sharing services. Prints can be ordered directly from print services companies.


Windows Live Writer

Windows Live Writer is a blogging program. It gives you the tools to blog on Windows Live Spaces and other popular blogging services such as Blogger, WordPress, TypePad, LiveJournal, and Community Server. It allows you to create, preview, and publish content within a familiar Windows interface. Images can be edited within a blog entry and videos can be added from YouTube.

Windows Live Family Safety Windows Live Family Safety can help you protect your children when they’re online. For more details, please see “Parental Controls” in the Security section of this document.

Windows Live Toolbar Windows Live Toolbar gives you at-a-glance summaries and access to the people you’ve chosen. In addition, you have quick access to other Windows Live services, such as Windows Live Mail and Windows Live Calendar, allowing you to share things you find on the Web.


Security

This section doesn’t save you time in the short run, but in the long run can save you an enormous amount of time. “A stitch in time, saves nine” -- Benjamin Franklin

Windows Update

A really quick way to make sure you are up to date on your current version; go to Start, and in the search box, type “Windows Update”.

When Windows Update appears, click on it and your will get a report as to whether your system is up to date, or what downloads you will need.

Quick Lock

If you are going to be away from your computer and want to quickly lock the screen, press the Windows key + L. This will lock the screen. Upon your return, you can log in the normal way by either password or Swipe your finger.


Parental Controls

This feature provides peace of mind, especially for today’s parents. Windows Live Family Safety is a free download for Windows 7. It allows you to specify which PC games your children can play and which programs they can use. You can access this at: http://explore.live.com/windows-live-family-safety It even allows for the times of day that children can use the PC.

Your children can talk on Windows Live Hotmail, Messenger and Spaces. When you customize the settings, you can get an activity report on each child that has been using the PC as to which website they have visited.

Microsoft SmartScreen

This is a filter in the Internet Explorer 8, which closely examines the entire Web address and compares it to a continually updated reputation database.

When active, the browser checks with the centrally hosted reputation service in ensure that the site is not a known phishing or malware hosting site. It notifies you if you have been to a site that has been known to be unsafe.

http://explore.live.com/windows-live-family-safety


Cross-site Scripting Filter

Cross-site scripting attacks are a leading threat against websites and are used to steal cookies and other data. It is also know that malicious attacks deface and damage pages, and even steal credentials. The Cross-site Scripting Filter runs silently in the background to detect what is known as type-1 cross–site scripting attacks. If an attack is detected, the filter sanitizes the script to prevent it from doing harm.

Domain Name Highlighting Phishing sites may use part of a legitimate domain name in

a web address to give you the impression that they are on a trusted site.

Internet Explorer eight highlights the domain name portion

of the web address in the address bar in bold text, making it easier to identify which site you are really on.

This will help identify phishing sites and other deceptive

sites, sites.

In Private Browsing

Leaving traces of your web browsing on a PC could be embarrassing at times. Many times you don’t want your personal information or places on the web that you visited shared with others.


If you do not want others to be able to check which websites you have accessed or for private email, In- Private Browsing helps protect your data and privacy. It prevents your browsing history, temporary Internet files, form data, cookies, and usernames/passwords from being stored by the browser.

In Private Filtering Most people know that websites that you visit can track

your activity, but it is shocking to learn of the additional websites and content providers that can track you as well.

Because of the complexity of today’s sites, your visit can

often calling content from third-party sites. These sites can track your activity without you being the slightest bit aware of it.

This is a serious security risk, in that you can be exposed

to potentially malicious content from every third-party site that is referenced.

In-Private Filtering, found in Internet explorer eight is

designed to protect you from those sites. It observes the websites you visit and builds a table of the unique calls for third-party content for each unique domain. When active, it blocks third-party content based on past history.

Data Execution Prevention

There are many Internet-based threats that are cleverly

disguised. For example, a virus can be disguised as a picture, certain types of memory are vulnerable and can be exploited.


Data Execution Prevention helps prevent code that resides in the memory space marked as non-executable from running.

This feature runs silently in the background, helping to

protect against viruses, malware, and other threats being installed on your PC without your knowledge.

Isolation and Crash Recovery

This is a real timesaver when it is required to be used. If you are entering a lot of data onto a form or webpage and the browser crashed, it can be quite annoying a big waste of time have to begin again.

In Internet Explorer 8, if a tab crashes, it is automatically restored and reloaded, and the input information is saved.

Similarly, if the entire browser crashes and closes unexpectedly restoration is made for the entire session, including all tabs.

Windows Filtering Platform

This allows software development companies to create firewalls, antivirus software, and other types of application and services that work with Windows

Third-party developers can use the Windows filtering platform to create a product that selectively turns parts of the Windows firewall on or off.


This allows you to choose which software firewall you want to use, and it can exist coexist with Windows firewall. This opens up a wide variety security software that you did use, knowing that it will still function with your Windows 7 system.

BitLocker

Considering the probability that your PC will be retired, lost or stolen someday, bit locker was created to provide a way for you to encrypt your hard disk drive to better protect data when it is no longer under your control.

Right clicking on a drive will enable bit locker protection. Data can be recovered using Data Recovery Agent.

BitLocker To Go

This extends the same protection to USB flash drives and other personal storage devices. It provides encryption, helping to protect the data on those devices. Also, all It can be password-protected.

Backup The question was once asked, “Who does not do

backups?”. And the answer was given... “Anyone who never lost data in a system failure or other catastrophe!” (‘nuff said!)


You can never predict when the unexpected will happen. Regular backups will protect to a good extent against both hardware failures and human error.

Backups can be scheduled to be done automatically on a

regular basis, so you don’t have to trust your memory, refer to a calendar, or do it manually.

With the proper settings, you can back up everything or just

selected files. The more frequently you back up the less data, you will want included. A lot depends on the storage space you have available. The less frequently used files may not be required, as they may not be different from the old backups. A little thought and good judgment go a long way.

System Restore

System Restore allows you to return to a previous

configuration of your system and still retain all of the new data and changes that you made to existing files.

You can select the restore date at runtime. However, keep

in mind that all updates your system since that restore date will have to be repeated.

In the start menu, go to All Programs > Accessories >

System Tools > System Restore.


iTunes

For those of you that have iTunes, it is a great way to manage your music and videos, but it can play a very important role for business use in managing voice memos that you recorded on your mobile phone. It is also very useful in dictation. By being familiar with the following information, you will find it to be a significant timesaver whenever you need to execute these tasks.

Backup to iCloud

For off-site backups and extra storage space, a backup to iCloud can be done by Clicking on the Summary Tab, scrolling down to Backups, and checking the appropriate box.

Automatic Sync with Mobile

You can choose whether or not you want your mobile device to automatically sync with your PC.


In the Summary Tab, go to Options and check or uncheck the first box, depending on your choice.

Arrange apps (iTunes 9 and later)

Apps can be managed from the PC. Go to the Apps Tab. The icons for your apps will be displayed, highlighting the main page, with the others displayed in the right margin.

You can swap out these pages one at a time and edit the arrangement of the apps from your PC.

Display Duplicates

During the ongoing process of transferring music and voice memo files, many times duplicate files are created in the Music Library. Under “File”, there is a selection to Display Duplicates or Display All. This toggles back and forth By listing and eliminating duplicates, you will save time and space in future use.


Caution: Some titles are the same for music and voice memos. One way to ensure that you don’t delete one in error, is to check the “time” listed. It is very rare that two different files will have the same time of recording.

Increase speed Some speed is lost with the use of “Genius”. If it is not important to you to group artists, turning off Genius will increase your speed. Go to the Store Tab and click “Turn Off Genius”


Conclusion Well, that’s it for now. We hope you benefitted from this eBook. But please keep it handy so you can access the Update Website to check for updates and new releases. GLOWS Corp. 2 Penn Center Suite 200 1500 John F. Kennedy Boulevard Philadelphia, PA 19102 [email protected] Get More From Windows 7 Version 1.0 Also, look for new releases from GLOWS Publishing Company. Coming up:

Miracle in Your Pocket – iPhone 4 edition Miracle in Your Pocket – iPhone 4 Spanish edition Miracle in Your Pocket – iPhone 5 edition Miracle in Your Pocket – iPhone 5 Spanish edition Miracle in Your Pocket – Galaxy S III edition Miracle in Your Pocket – Galaxy S III Spanish edition Get More From your Windows 7 Get More From your Windows 7 Spanish edition College Apps Senior Apps

mailto:[email protected]