A Few Tips for Getting Up-to-Speed with Microsofts Operating System

The objective of this brief Essential Guide is to offer those who are new to Windows 7 a quick reference that covers the absolute basics of the new operating system needed to get started. The information included here covers using the Start Menu and the Taskbar to run programs and manage the workspace; using Windows Explorer to access, find, and manage files; and using programs to save your file in a way that is safe and provides automated back up on UW-Whitewater campus.
For most current information about Microsoft Windows 7 on UW-W Campus, go to:

WINDOWS 7: ESSENTIAL GUIDE

HOW IS WINDOWS 7 USED ON CAMPUS?

Beginning in October 2011 Windows 7 became available as an optional upgrade on campus computers. Faculty and staff interested in upgrading their existing, University-owned Windows XP computers to Windows 7 may contact the TSC / Helpdesk with upgrade requests. Existing University computers will continue to use Windows XP as their operating system until further notice. Its anticipated that after the summer of 2012 Windows XP will not be available, except in special circumstances, and Windows 7 will become the main operating system on UW-Whitewater campus. Windows 7 is presently not available for install on dual-boot Macs used on campus.

bit.ly/uwwin7
Questions? Comments? E-mail:

training@uww.edu

HIGHLIGHTS OF NEW FEATURES IN WINDOWS 7

01. Start Menu: Windows 7 has an improved Start menu. The menu can be accessed by clicking the round orb button with the Windows 7 logo,

located in the lower-left corner of the screen (default location). Clicking the orb reveals the programs on the start menu (image, left). The main, left side of the start menu lists frequently used programs, and the arrows shown to the right of some programs names now offer direct access to recently used files. Hovering your mouse over any item on this file list reveals a push-pin icon. Clicking the icon pins the file to the start menu until it is unpinned, using a method that will be familiar to many Office 2007/2010 users.
02. Pinning Programs: Just like you can pin recently opened files to the

Start menu, programs can also be pinned to either the start menu or to the taskbar. To pin a program, right-click it, and from the pop-up menu
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT: TITLE: WIndoWs 7: EssEnTIaL guIdE Filename: win7Eg.pdf software: Microsoft Windows 7 document Version: 01 Last revised on: april 18, 2012 10:44 aM Prepared by: iCIT (george Jura), uW-Whitewater The most recent version of this file is available online at: bit.ly/uwwin7

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HOW WINDOWS 7 STORES YOUR FILES ON CAMPUS When you use Windows XP on campus, and save your files to My Documents folder (or any of its sub-folders), the files are actually saved to a network drive G:. They are not physically stored on your computers own, local hard drive. If your computer fails, your files can be recovered, because they are stored on the network, and not on your computer. all files stored on uW-Whitewaters network drives are regularly backed up, so even if the network drive failed, your files could be recovered from backup. as an added convenience, all files stored on your network drives are accessible not just from your office computer, but from anywhere where you have web access (using a secure VPN connection and your Net-ID login). With Windows 7, this changes. By default, your files are no longer saved on a network drive. Instead, they are saved in Libraries (such as Documents), These folders are physically stored on your computers own, local hard drive, and not on the network. This creates a potential problem: if you save your files to one of the Libraries folders, and later your computer malfunctions, or its hard-drive fails, your files may be lost. Luckily, there is a simple workaround follow these step-by-step instructions: on your Windows 7 computer, start Win-

dows Explorer (1). In Windows Explorer, on the left navigation pane, click Computer (2). This shows a list of your available local and network drives. on the list, double-click the G: drive (3). This shows you the contents of the drive, including your My Documents (4) folder (if you had previously placed any files there; if not, simply create a new folder on the g: drive), This is the same folder which was used to store your files on computers running Windows XP, by default. next, click My Documents folder (or a newly created folder), and drag it to the Favorites area (5) on the top left side of the Windows Explorer navigation pane. This adds My Documents (or the folder you just created) to the list of your Favorites. From now on, whenever you create and save a new file, make sure that it is saved to your My Documents folder (or your

newly created folder) listed among your Favorites. Favorites folders are visible in Windows 7 Save, Save as, or Open dialog boxes in most programs (6), which means that saving and accessing your files on a network drive this way is not only easy and convenient, but also ensures that your files are backed up, and can be always restored even if your computer fails. additionally, because your files are stored on a network drive, you can access them from anywhere where you have web access.

select either Pin to Taskbar or Pin to Start Menu. The program will remain there until it is unpinned.
03. Adding Shortcuts to the Desktop: Programs from the Start menu can also be dragged to the Desktop for

Above: Simply click any program or file on the Start Menu, and drag it to the Desktop to create an instant shortcut.

easy access. Dragging creates a new shortcut on the Desktop. Shortcuts are marked by a small curved arrow to the left of the icon. Deleting a shortcut from

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the desktop does not delete or remove the program from the computer.
04.
Above: On the Taskbar, running programs are highlighted with a frame and lighter background (in the example above, Google Chrome icon); programs with multiple documents or windows open have a stacked appearance (Outlook icon).

New Taskbar: The Taskbar now displays both the but-

tons for starting programs, and buttons for programs which are currently running. The buttons for the programs which are active (running) are not grouped in a separate area of the Taskbar, but are highlighted with a border and a lighter shading color (image, left).
05. Peek: For programs that are active (running), Windows 7 offers a peek feature. Hovering the mouse

Above: When you hover your mouse over the icon of any running program on the Taskbar, Windows 7 displays thumbnail images of all windows in that program. Click any of them to switch the focus to this specific window.

over the icon of a running program displays the thumbnails of the programs windows [image, left]. Click the thumbnail of any window to make it active. If there is more than one window running in any program, its icon on the taskbar appears as stacked icon. The peek function is useful not just for previewing the content of program windows, or switching to them: programs or individual windows can be closed from the thumbnail, by clicking the red x button that appears in the upper corner of each window when you hover your mouse over it.
06. Taskbar Jump Lists: Right clicking any button on the

Above: Right-click to get quick access to recently opened files in any program pinned to your Taskbar. Inside each Jump List you can also pin individual files.

Below: Hover your mouse over the Show Desktop button, and all open windows become translucent, showing you the contents of your Desktop.

taskbar gives you a list of recent files or, in the case of web browsers, recently visited web pages. Just like file lists and programs on the Start menu, the lists of files on these Jump Lists can be pinned-down so they remain on the taskbar permanently. In the case of Windows Explorer the Jump List includes recent folders. In the case of a browser icon, recent web locations. The number of items on the Jump List is set to 10 by default, but can easily be customized: rightclick the Start Button, select Properties, then select Customize. There you can change the number of items to be shown show on Jump Lists. Clicking and dragging any button on the Taskbar to the right or left, allows you to change its position on the Taskbar.
07. Show Desktop: Also located on the Taskbar, is the Show Desktop button. It is a small rectangle located on the far right side of the Taskbar. When you hover

your mouse over this button, the open windows on your Desktop become translucent; clicking the but-

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ton minimizes all currently running programs and leaves you a clear, unobstructed view of the Desktop. Click the button again, to restore all minimized windows.
08. Organizing the Workspace: When multiple programs are running, Windows 7 offers you many ways to stay

organized and in control of your workspace. Clicking and shaking the title bar of any window minimizes (and hides) the windows of all other programs. This action is a toggle, so shaking the same window again restores the minimized windows. Equally easy is arranging multiple windows on the screen: drag the title bar of any window to the right or left edge of your screen, to see it auto-resize and occupy just the right or left half of available screen space. You can drag the title bar of any window back to the middle of the screen to restore it to its original size. Dragging the title bar of any open window to the top edge of your screen maximizes the window.
Keyboard Shortcuts: The same window arrangements

Above: Resizing the windows to occupy left or right half of the screen is easy in Windows 7: just drag the title bar of any running program all the way to the left or right.

can be achieved using keyboard shortcuts: on your keyboard, press and hold the Windows key, and then press the up-arrow key to maximize a window, or the down-arrow key to minimize it. Press the Windows key and the right or left arrow key to dock the window to the left or right side of the screen. Pressing the same arrow key once more, while holding the Windows key, moves the window to the opposite side of the screen (or to the opposite side of the other screen, on multi-screen systems). Pressing the Windows key and the Home key on the keyboard minimizes all windows other than the currently active program.

09.

Switching Applications: To switch between running programs, press and hold the Windows key. Pressing

Above: Switching between the programs: you can see the thumbnail of each window of running programs.

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the Tab key cycles through running programs; Letting go of the Windows key makes the highlighted program active. You can also use a convenient keyboard shortcut to switch to (or start new) programs. To switch to (or start) a program that is docked on your to Taskbar, on your keyboard, press and hold the Windows key, and press the number that corresponds to the number that this programs icon occupies on the Taskbar (counting from the left; and not counting the Start button).
10. Gadgets: Windows 7 adds Gadgets: convenient, small programs that run on your desktop and provide basic info such as time, date, maps, and so on. To add a Gadget to your Desktop, right-click anywhere on the Desktop, and select Gadgets. This brings up a window with currently installed Gadgets. Simply drag the Gadget you want to use to your desktop. More Gadgets are available from Microsofts website: in the lower-right corner of the window, click the Get more gadgets online link to access them.

Below: Gadgets are small info programs that run on your Desktop, and provide instant access to useful info.

QUICK TIPS - MAKING TRANSITION EASIER

01. Change the Control Panel and Shut Down button behavior: By default, the Control Panel appears as a button on the Start menu, an opens a new window with icons - this

may not be the fastest way to get to the settings you want to change. Also, the default button in the lower right corner of the Start menu is set to Shut Down by default - its too easy to shut down your computer by mistake. To change the Control Panel button to a fly-out menu, with each option directly accessible, click the Start button. On the Start menu, right click the area next to the Shut Down button, and select (click) Properties. On the dialog box that loads, on the Start Menu tab, click the Customize button: a new dialog opens. In the section called Control Panel on this tab, change the default selection (Display as a link) to Display as a menu. Click the OK button once. This takes you back to the previous dialog box. Before you click the OK button again, you may want to change the behavior of the Shut Down button. Using the drop-down menu next to the Power button action: label, select any other option you prefer, for example, Sleep (best for shorter breaks and fastest access, but uses a small amount of power), or Hibernate (better for longer breaks - computer saves programs and windows but uses no power). This way you will avoid shutting down your computer accidentally waking a computer from sleep is much faster, and you still have all the other options on the Sleep (or Hibernate) buttons fly-out menu!
02. Use the Taskbar for Quick Internet Access: You can add a box to your Taskbar that will let you immediately launch websites. Right-click the Taskbar, and select (click) Properties. On the dialog box that loads, click the Toolbars tab. Check the box next to the Address label, and click the OK button. If you want to, you can also select the boxes

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next to Links and Desktop labels - these will put access to these items on your Taskbar as well.
03. Easily Select Multiple Files in Windows Explorer: When you are in Windows Explorer selecting multiple non-contiguous files can be challenging: let go of the Ctrl button for a split second, and your selection is

dropped. Start over again. If you need to select multiple files (for example images) having check boxes next to each may be more convenient. To enable check boxes, in the top left of the Windows Explorer window, click the Organize button, and then select Folder and search options. In the dialog that opens, on the View tab, scroll almost to the bottom of the list, and check the box next to Use check boxes to select items. Then, click the OK button. Now, whenever you browse your files in Windows Explorer, when you hover the mouse pointer over a file (or an icon of an image), a checkbox appears. Click it to select the file. Select as many as you need to, without the need to hold the Ctrl key. Then, click just one of the selected files and (foe example) move it to the Desktop - all selected files move as well. If you click away from any files or check boxes, all previously selected files are deselected.
04. Create New Libraries: Libraries in Windows 7 let you group files that

are scattered across different folders - for example all files related to a specific project or topic. In Windows Explorer right-click the libraries section, and select New > Library. Name your Library and add a folder to it. You can manage folders grouped in any Library by right-clicking Librarys name, and selecting Properties. The dialog box that opens lets you easily add or remove folders from the Library.
05. Activate the Preview Pane in Windows Explorer: When in Windows Explorer, select a file (by clicking it). You can see a pane with a preview of many common file types by pressing Alt+P. This shortcut is a toggle press it again, to hide the preview pane (you can also use the Toolbar). Expand the Send to Options: If you right-click any file, the contextual menu includes a Send to option with a few choices. Holding the Shift

06.

key pressed when you right-click the file makes the list of options on the Send to submenu much more complete.
07. Save a Screenshot of Anything: Click the Start button. In the Search field type Snip. The Search finds the Snipping Tool. Right click it, and select either Pin to Taskbar or Pin to Start Menu. You can use this simple tool

to capture images of anything on your screen and save them or email them to someone (for example, TSC/Helpdesk).
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