Moderators Note: This thread is being created for members to donate their Windows 7 Tips for general use. If you have a tip, please PM a moderator and it will be added. The following thread is a collection of tips that were submitted in a previous thread, and reorganized here following a general forum sticky cleanup. Thanks to all who contributed up to this point, as well as to anyone else that wishes to add something here.
From Gandalf:
Quick Launch
If you're a former Vista user, you probably noticed that Quick Launch is missing from the Taskbar.
If you're like me, you found Quick Launch to be useful tool so here's how to enable Quick Launch in your Windows 7.
The Quick Launch directory can be found at C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch.
NOTE: Replace (user-name) with your specific user-name.
Right click on the Taskbar.
Move the mouse over the Toolbars option.
Left click on New toolbars...
In the Folder: text box, copy/paste C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch.
Click on Select Folder.
You should now have Quick Launch >> on the right side of your Taskbar.
Reveal Hidden Hard Drives
Windows 7 hides empty drives (both fixed, and removable drives) by default, but many people don't realize this. If you could swear you had a freshly formatted drive just hooked up to the computer, but can't seem to find it, click on Organize, Folder and Search options, select the View tab, and uncheck the Hide empty drives in the Computer folder box.
If the drive is not yet formatted, make sure you run through the steps above (so you aren't further confused in a minute), and then type diskmgmt.msc into the Start Menu search bar. Here you should see all drives connected to your computer. Format as necessary and then they will appear in the Computer folder.
Troubleshooting Tools and Keyboard shortcuts - contributed by Scotteq
Within Control Panel is a single Troubleshooting link that leads you to all of your diagnostic tools on the system. There are additional tools, however, not installed by default. Selecting the "View all" link in the top left-hand corner will help you to see which troubleshooting packs are local and which ones are online. If you find a tool that you don't have, you can grab it from here.
77 WINDOWS 7 TIPS AND TRICKS
Keyboard shortcuts from the above (MSFT sourced) listing.
The 14 Best Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts
64. Win+h - Move current window to full screen
65. Win+i - Restore current full screen window to normal size or minimize current window if not full screen
66. Win+Shift+arrow - Move current window to alternate screen
67. Win+D - Minimize all windows and show the desktop
68. Win+E - Launch Explorer with Computer as the focus
69. Win+F - Launch a search window
70. Win+G - Cycle through gadgets
71. Win+L - Lock the desktop
72. Win+M - Minimize the current window
73. Win+R - Open the Run window
74. Win+T - Cycle through task bar opening Aero Peek for each running item
75. Win+U - Open the Ease of Use center
76. Win+Space - Aero Peek the desktop
77. Ctrl+Win+Tab - Open persistent task selection window, roll mouse over each icon to preview item and minimize others
..and there's a lot more, since Microsoft maintains a LISTING OF ALL WINDOWS 7 KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
Easier Driver Installs
This tool can help identify device drivers that have not been updated... http://www.pcpitstop.com/store/driveralert.asp
While the full service requires payment, the free version can be used to identify the outdated drivers. With the application of a little common sense, the information provided about the updated driver is sufficient to find it on the internet. This free scan is good for three individual computers only.
View hidden devices in the Device Manager
Right click Computer icon and select Manage > Device Manager > View > Show hidden devices
Customize your Windows 7 install media
For anyone interested in customizing their Windows 7 install media (integrating patches and drivers, including post-Windows setup applications to install, shutting off services by default, etc...) have a look at RT7Lite. It's the same idea as the popular nLite and vLite utilities made my Dino Nuhagic, but it's designed for Windows 7 (but Dino is not involved in the development of this program). It's in beta right now, but seems to work fairly well.
From Gandalf:
Quick Launch
If you're a former Vista user, you probably noticed that Quick Launch is missing from the Taskbar.
If you're like me, you found Quick Launch to be useful tool so here's how to enable Quick Launch in your Windows 7.
The Quick Launch directory can be found at C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch.
NOTE: Replace (user-name) with your specific user-name.
Right click on the Taskbar.
Move the mouse over the Toolbars option.
Left click on New toolbars...
In the Folder: text box, copy/paste C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch.
Click on Select Folder.
You should now have Quick Launch >> on the right side of your Taskbar.
Reveal Hidden Hard Drives
Windows 7 hides empty drives (both fixed, and removable drives) by default, but many people don't realize this. If you could swear you had a freshly formatted drive just hooked up to the computer, but can't seem to find it, click on Organize, Folder and Search options, select the View tab, and uncheck the Hide empty drives in the Computer folder box.
If the drive is not yet formatted, make sure you run through the steps above (so you aren't further confused in a minute), and then type diskmgmt.msc into the Start Menu search bar. Here you should see all drives connected to your computer. Format as necessary and then they will appear in the Computer folder.
Troubleshooting Tools and Keyboard shortcuts - contributed by Scotteq
Within Control Panel is a single Troubleshooting link that leads you to all of your diagnostic tools on the system. There are additional tools, however, not installed by default. Selecting the "View all" link in the top left-hand corner will help you to see which troubleshooting packs are local and which ones are online. If you find a tool that you don't have, you can grab it from here.
77 WINDOWS 7 TIPS AND TRICKS
Keyboard shortcuts from the above (MSFT sourced) listing.
The 14 Best Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts
64. Win+h - Move current window to full screen
65. Win+i - Restore current full screen window to normal size or minimize current window if not full screen
66. Win+Shift+arrow - Move current window to alternate screen
67. Win+D - Minimize all windows and show the desktop
68. Win+E - Launch Explorer with Computer as the focus
69. Win+F - Launch a search window
70. Win+G - Cycle through gadgets
71. Win+L - Lock the desktop
72. Win+M - Minimize the current window
73. Win+R - Open the Run window
74. Win+T - Cycle through task bar opening Aero Peek for each running item
75. Win+U - Open the Ease of Use center
76. Win+Space - Aero Peek the desktop
77. Ctrl+Win+Tab - Open persistent task selection window, roll mouse over each icon to preview item and minimize others
..and there's a lot more, since Microsoft maintains a LISTING OF ALL WINDOWS 7 KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
Easier Driver Installs
This tool can help identify device drivers that have not been updated... http://www.pcpitstop.com/store/driveralert.asp
While the full service requires payment, the free version can be used to identify the outdated drivers. With the application of a little common sense, the information provided about the updated driver is sufficient to find it on the internet. This free scan is good for three individual computers only.
View hidden devices in the Device Manager
Right click Computer icon and select Manage > Device Manager > View > Show hidden devices
Customize your Windows 7 install media
For anyone interested in customizing their Windows 7 install media (integrating patches and drivers, including post-Windows setup applications to install, shutting off services by default, etc...) have a look at RT7Lite. It's the same idea as the popular nLite and vLite utilities made my Dino Nuhagic, but it's designed for Windows 7 (but Dino is not involved in the development of this program). It's in beta right now, but seems to work fairly well.