15 best Windows 7 tips and tricks

If you have upgraded to Windows 7, and like the new taskbar, you can also enjoy the power of very cool library features. But now you want more. You want cool tips and tricks to make Windows 7 even more fun! So here are the best tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your new operating system. In this article, we focus on the Windows 7 interface and let you embark on the road to becoming a powerful user of Windows 7. In the second part, we'll focus on advanced tips for applications, performance, and security.

1. Using keyboard shortcuts

With the mouse, you can drag and drop the window on either side of the screen, or drag it to the top to maximize it. These use keyboard shortcuts will be faster:

Win+Left Arrow and Win+Right Arrow Place the Window on the Left and Right Side of the Screen

Win+U Up Arrow and Win+ Down Arrow Maximize And recovery/minimization

Win+M Minimize all

Alt+Up Arrow, Alt+Left Arrow, Alt+Right Arrow Go to Upper Folder, or Return and Forward Browse Folder

Win+Home Minimize/Resume all open windows, except active window

Alt+Win+# Access the program corresponding to the ##' on the taskbar in the jump list

2. Rearrange System Tray Icon

You can rearrange the taskbar icon to start a new (or switch run) instance of the top ten programs in the taskbar, using Win+1, Win+2, and so on. The cool thing is that you can also rearrange the system tray icons, reorder them on the tray or move them out and move them back to the tray. Control the apps that you always want to focus on and need to be notified.

3. Use the left mouse button to access the jump list

When you right click on the taskbar icon, a jump list will pop up. However, you can also access it by pressing the left mouse button and dragging up. This is very easy to use if you use a notebook touchpad or touch screen, because you don't need to click any button to access the context menu.

4. Add any folder to your favorites

You can add any library or folder to the Favorites section of Windows Explorer. To add a folder, go to it in the Explorer, right click on the Favorites in the left navigation panel and select Add Current Location to Favorites. Now you can quickly access your favorite folders in the All Files -> Save As dialog box.

5. Lock the hot folder to the taskbar

Right-click and drag to lock the favorite folder to the taskbar's explorer. When you right click on the Explorer they will be displayed in the Jump List, giving you quick access to your favorite folders.

6. Lock the control panel to the taskbar

You cannot lock the control panel to the taskbar via the start menu or drag and drop. Open the control panel and right click on the taskbar icon. The advantage of this is that the control panel's jump list allows you to quickly access the features currently in use.

7. Create keyboard shortcuts for your application

In Windows 7, you can create shortcuts for any application. Right click on the program icon and select Properties. Select the Shortcuts tab and click in the shortcut to set keyboard shortcuts for the program.

8. Open a command prompt in any folder

Like a command prompt? Missing the ‘Open Command Prompt Window here’ tool in Windows XP? When you right-click on a folder and press ‘Shift’, you will find this function in the context menu, which can also be used on the desktop. No tools needed!

9. View the extended 'send to' menu
Hold down Shift while right clicking on the folder to get the extended send to menu.

10. Adjusting Screen Text with Clear Type

Using Clear Type Text Tuner Get the best look and feel on your LCD monitor or notebook screen. Run ‘cttune.exe’ in the Start menu search box, or in the Display section of the Control Panel, select Adjust ClearType text on the left.

11. Get accurate colors on the screen

If you are an artist or you want to use colors at work, use the control panel to display the display color calibration options in the section, or in the start menu. The search box runs 'dccw.exe'. You can adjust the gamma, brightness, contrast, and color balance to make sure the screen color is displayed correctly.

12. Customize the power button

If you restart the computer more often than the shutdown, modify the default power off button to restart. Right click on the Start button, select Properties, and select the one you use most commonly in the Power button operation.

13. Customize the number of items in the jump list and start menu

Right-click the start button, select Properties, click Customize and in the 'Start Menu Size' section below, select the Start menu. The number of recently opened programs displayed in the list and the number of recently used items displayed in the jump list.

14. Search Network from Start Menu

Enables the ability to search the network from the Start menu using the default browser. Run ‘GPEDIT.MSC’ in the Start menu search box to open the Local Group Policy Editor. In the left panel, go to User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar. In the right panel, right-click Edit and Enable to add the Search Internet link to the Start menu.

15. Adding 'Video' to the Start Menu

Windows 7 does not place the 'Video' link in the Start menu by default. To add a 'video' link to the start menu, right click on the start icon, select Properties, and click Customize. In the video section below, select Show as Connect.