Windows 7 Tips and Hacks



Windows 7 has many similar commands and functions as previous Windows operating systems and so most people just upgraded to Windows 7 and continued to use it as usual. Obviously, there are differences between Windows 7 and previous Windows operating systems especially in the user interface. However, according to Microsoft, Windows 7 was designed in response to user feedback. Thus, several more features were added to make Windows 7 much more different and even more productive than previous Windows releases. You may have come across some of them as you use your computer but there are several of them that you probably do not know of. 

 Below are some of the coolest Windows 7 features, tips and tricks I have come across.
Install Hidden Windows 7 Themes (2)
During Windows 7 installation, the OS detects your geographical region and installs just the theme for that region. Other themes are hidden. So choosing the US as your region means you would only see a United States theme included in the Personalization gallery. It is possible to install more themes from other regions such as Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Carry out the following steps:
- Press Windows logo key + R to display the Run dialog box.
- Type the following C:\Windows\Globalization\MCT and press Enter. Note that the letter at the beginning is the drive on which Windows 7 is installed which in this case is C. This step will open a Windows Explorer page showing the folders containing the hidden themes.
- On that page, type "*.theme" (without the quotes) into the search box. These will display all the available theme files. Press Ctrl + A to highlight all of them and then Ctrl + C to copy them.
- Launch the Run dialog box again. Type C:\Windows\Resources\Themes and press Enter. This will open the corresponding folder. Press Ctrl + V to paste the copied themes here.
- Launch the Personalization gallery and the new themes will be listed under Installed Themes. To open the Personalization gallery, right-click on an empty part of your desktop window and select Personalize.
Organizing Windows
Arranging windows and getting rid of too many open pages on Windows 7 is easy and can be done in several ways:
- Use the AeroShake feature: Place your cursor at the top of the page that you are currently using (do this while the page is not maximized). Left-click and hold down the mouse button like you would do to drag a file or window and then shake the window instead. This minimizes all other open windows. Shaking the same window again restores all the open windows.
- AeroSnap feature: Drag a window to the left and it will automatically take up half of the screen to that side. Dragging to the right does the same on the right. This allows you to use two windows simultaneously. Drag a window to the top of the screen to maximize it. Drag the same window down to restore it to its previous size.
- The other ways to organize windows involve keyboard shortcuts and are discussed below.
Search the Internet from the Start Menu
If you use the Google Chrome browser, then you know that you can search right from the address bar without first launching a web page. Windows 7 goes one better: You do not even have to launch a browser to search the internet. This feature allows you to search online using your default search engine right from the Start Menu. Do the following to enable it:
- Launch the Start Menu and type gpedit.msc in the search box and press Enter or click on the result that appears. This opens the Group Policy Editor.
- Follow this pathway: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.
- Double-click on Add Search Internet link to Start Menu. Select Enabled from the new screen that appears and click OK.
- Now whenever you type into the Start Menu search box, a "Search the Internet" link appears. Click on it to search online instead. Follow the above steps again to disable this feature.
Use Checkboxes When Selecting Multiple Files
When selecting multiple files individually, the usual way is to press and hold Ctrl while clicking on each file that you want to select. This feature removes the need for using the Ctrl button. Do the following:
- Open a Windows Explorer page, click on Organize in the top left-hand corner and select Folder and Search Options.
- Click the View tab in the Folder Options window that appears.
- Go to Advanced Settings, scroll down and check the box next to Use check boxes to select items.
- Click OK to save. Now whenever you hover over any file or folder with your cursor, a check box appears on it. Check the box to select the file.
Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts (1) (3)
Several new keyboard shortcuts have been created in Windows 7 to carry out some of the new features that were added. These shortcuts include:
- Windows logo key + Home: Minimizes all open windows except the one you are currently using. Pressing these keys again restores the windows. This is shortcut for the Aero Shake feature.
- Windows logo key + Space bar: Shows the desktop while holding the keys.
Aero Snap shortcuts
- Windows logo key + Up Arrow: Maximizes the current window.
- Windows logo key + Down Arrow: Restores current window if it is maximized and minimizes the window if it is not maximized.
- Windows logo key + Left or Right Arrow: Resizes the window to the left or right side of the screen.
- Windows logo key + Shift + Up Arrow: Maximizes the window in the vertical direction only.
Taskbar shortcuts
- Windows logo key + number key: Starts the program in the position corresponding to the number on the taskbar. If the program in that position is already running, it switches to the program.
- Windows logo key + Shift + number key: Starts a new instance of the program in that position on the taskbar.
- Windows logo key + T: Allows you to cycle through icons on the taskbar using the left and right arrow keys.

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