Windows 7 Tips & Tricks

There are six versions of Windows 7 as of 2011.

• Windows 7 Starter
• Windows 7 Home Basic
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows 7 Enterprise
• Windows 7 Ultimate

There are also upgrade versions. This document attempts to make a distinction on which version of Windows 7 is applicable. If none is specified then it is assumed the entry applies to all versions of Windows 7.

Enable or Disable "Double Tap" on Synapsis Touchpad

This is the pointing device on most modern notebook computers. Microsoft often fails to provide options for devices or hardware in one common interface. The double tap option is absent from the mouse settings in the windows 7 control panel. To find the option you must locate the "Synaptics Pointing Device" icon in in the task manager (bottom right). Right click and check "Tap to Click. See the illustration on Synapsis Touchpad for double tap.

View Network Adapter Data including IP/MAC Address/Etc

Using the ipconfig command in the DO command shell actually works in Windows 2000,XP,Vista, and 7.

ipconfig /all | more

The getmac command is available starting in XP through to 7. The getmac command displays mac address and list of network protocols associated with each address for all network cards in each computer, either locally or across a network.

getmac

Local Area Connection Properties

This is that traditional Windows dialog box where you can select your adapter and change the TCP/IP settings including IP Address, Netmask, and DNS Servers. (Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4)

In Windows 7 if you want to open the traditional adapter settings do the following:

1. Click the Windows button and type "network and sharing center" in the search box
2. Choose "Network and Sharing Center" in the results to open the (Network and Internet -> Network Sharing Center) dialog
3. On the left there are some text links, click on "Change adapter settings" to open (Network and Internet -> Network Connections)
4. Right-Click on "Local Area Connection" and choose "Properties" to open the traditional "Local Area Connection Properties" dialog.

There is also a shorter method to go directly to the (Network and Internet -> Network Connections) dialog. Click the Windows button and type "Network Connections" then choose "View network connections".

Show/Hide Navigation Pane

Applies to windows vista and all versions of windows 7

1. Open any Explorer window
2. Select Organize -> Layout
3. Uncheck Navigation pane

source: http://www.door2windows.com/how-to-showhide-navigation-pane-in-windows-7vista-explorer/

The Organize option appears with Organize, System Properties, Uninstall or change a program, Map network drive, and Open control panel - all part of a toolbar (or new menu bar) in Vista/7. This toolbar is sometimes called the "Command Bar" or "Folder Band" and sometimes even "Organize Toolbar" the later being more of an end user designation.

Auto-Hide Command Bar (aka Folder Band)

Applies to windows vista and all versions of windows 7

THIS ENTRY IS INCOMPLETE.

It can be set to "auto hide" behavior. edit the "Shellstyle.dll" file which is present in Theme directory

 c:\windows\Resources\Themes\Aero\Shell\NormalColor

WAIT! Requires special 3rd party software to edit the dll file!

CONTINUED RESEARCH: How to open/edit/modify Shellstyle.dll

source: http://www.askvg.com/how-to-make-folder-band-auto-hidden-in-windows-vista/

Utility to make Windows 7 start menu, explorer more like XP

Applies to windows vista and all versions of windows 7

Free and Open Source: Classic Shell

It works and will give you a XP style start menu.

Manage Power Settings in Windows 7

Microsoft now calls it "Power Plan" or "Power Scheme". You have multiple power plans that you can modify, or you can modify all power plans for the system.

• Start -> Control Panel -> System and Security -> Power Options
• "Change Plan Settings

Show Hidden Files and Folders

1. Click on Windows Explorer which should be bottom left by the Windows button or MSIE button. Do not click MSIE.
2. Click on Organize, then on the Folder and Search Option.
3. In the View tab Check the Show hidden files, folders and drives.

Where's the Recycle Bin?

To show or hide the Recycle Bin on the desktop

1. Click the Start button Picture of the Start button, type desktop icons into the search box, and then click Show or hide common icons on the desktop.
2. In the Desktop Icon Settings dialog box, do one of the following:
   1. To hide the Recycle Bin, clear the Recycle Bin check box.
   2. To show the Recycle Bin, select the Recycle Bin check box.
3. Click OK.

ref: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/show-hide-recycle-bin#1TC=windows-7

Windows System Information Tools

SystemInfo

command line:

systeminfo.exe

You can echo the output to a text file to view in notepad

systeminfo.exe > "%userprofile%/documents/systeminfo.txt"

Systeminfo.exe is a great tool console based tool. Systeminfo.exe is a command-line utility that displays information about your Windows version, BIOS, processor, memory, network configuration, and so on. The output is DOS text.

System Information / MSInfo Utility

If you prefer something with a GUI (Graphical User Interface) you can use msinfo32.

command line:

msinfo32.exe

Use this tool to gather information about your computer, to diagnose issues with your computer, or to access other tools. This command opens a GUI applet. It can be run directly from START, RUN. It provides mostly the same information as systeminfo.

Microsoft Windows Product Key Extraction

Win key finder (Windows Product Key Finder) retrieves your MS Windows 8, MS Windows 8.1, windows XP, win 2000, windows me, 98, 2003 and .NET Product keys from the registry and display it for you. Usually the keys are encoded and stored in the registry. Win key finder decodes the key so that it appears as it would on the product packaging. There is also an option to change the Windows XP, 2003, and .Net Product Keys.

No installation required, Instant display of your product key. The executable is: WinKeyFinder175.exe and is available, for free, from the Windows CD Key Finder web site. There is also a review of Win Key Finder at about.com.

Interactive logon process initialization has failed

When you boot you get: Interactive logon process initialization has failed

Try removing any USB devices such as a USB memory stick then reboot. This error occurs sometimes when a USB device is connected, initialization occurs prematurely.

Should I disable: Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper

Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper service creates a Network Map, consisting of PC and device topology (connectivity) information, and metadata describing each PC and device. If this service is disabled, the Network Map will not function properly. This is part of IPv6. Some Internet providers now use IPv6 and is required to work correctly. One example is Verizon wireless.

What is Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter?

Also known as Virtual Wi-Fi, this feature in Windows 7 allows you to use a single wireless network adapter to behave as two independent adapters, so you could connect to two different networks at the same time with a single adapter. You can also share the Internet connection on your main network adapter so that when people connect using the virtual network adapter, they will be able to access the Internet through your Windows 7 computer.

Check to see if Internet Explorer is current

If you click GEAR and About Internet Explorer you will see a checkbox "Install new versions automatically," however, there is no manual check. Microsoft recommends opening MSIE and entering the following URL:

• http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/download-ie

If you have the current version then the web page will Indicate so with the message "You've got our latest browser."

Install Group Policy Editor on Home Edition

Some Windows 7 editions (Home Premium, Home Basic and Starter) don't come with Group Policy Editor. Only Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions come with Group Policy Editor installed. It can be installed with a 3rd party program. Use at your own risk.

• http://www.askvg.com/how-to-enable-group-policy-editor-gpedit-msc-in-windows-7-home-premium-home-basic-and-starter-editions/

Clean Boot in Windows 7 and Windows Vista

A clean boot is performed to start Windows by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This helps eliminate software conflicts that occur when you install a program or an update. It is for troubleshooting, much as Safe Mode.

1. Log on to the computer by using an account that has administrator rights.
2. Click Start, type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press Enter to start the System Configuration utility.
3. On the General tab, click the Selective startup option, and then click to clear the Load startup items check box. (The Use Original Boot.ini check box is unavailable.)
4. On the Services tab, click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box, and then click Disable all.
5. Click OK, and then click Restart.

After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps to reset the computer to start normally.

1. Click Start, type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press Enter.
2. Note If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, you should type the password or click Continue.
3. On the General tab, click the Normal Startup option, and then click OK.
4. When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Restart.

Source: Microsoft KB-929135 (note: Microsoft moves these link URLs all too frequently.)

Configure a User Account to Log On Automatically

Automatically Login to Windows 7 on boot.

1. Click Start, type netplwiz, and then press Enter.
2. In the User Accounts dialog box, click the account you want to automatically log on to.If it is available, clear the Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This Computer check box.
3. Click OK. You will be prompted to provide the user's password. Enter it and click ok.

Hide User Account from Windows 7 Log in screen

Hide User Accounts in windows Vista and Windows 7 at Run type regedit

1. go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
2. choose add new key and select type "SpecialAccounts", press enter
3. right click on SpecialAccounts and click New and click Key
4. call it "UserList"
5. click New then click DWORD (32bit) Value.
6. Type in the name of the user account that you want to hide and press Enter.eg: Everyday Account.
7. In the right panel, right click on the user account name and click Modify.
8. To hide the user account – Type 0 and click OK. (number zero not the letter)