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Windows 7
The successor to Windows Vista, released in late 2009.
Can I switch back to Windows XP from Windows 7?
It's very possible to remove Windows 7 and switch back to Windows XP. I'll describe how. In my opinion, however, switching back to Windows XP is a mistake.
Can I upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7 by upgrading to Windows Vista first?
There's no direct upgrade path from Windows XP to Windows 7, but upgrading to Windows Vista first works, in theory. In practice? It's risky.
Do I want 32-bit or 64-bit Windows?
When installing or upgrading to the latest version of Windows, one of the first decisions is 32-bit or 64-bit? I'll look at which you should choose.
How do I access the Policy Editor in Windows 7 Home editions?
Windows 7 Home editions do not include the policy editor. We'll look at what your options are in general, and then walk through one specific example.
How do I change my computer's name in Windows 7?
It's important that each computer on your network have a different name. Since you might as well make it meaningful, I'll show you how to change it.
How do I change system fonts in Windows 7?
You can change system fonts in Windows 7 using the Window Color and Appearance dialog - if you can find it, that is. I'll show you.
How do I disable live taskbar previews in Windows 7?
Live preview shows a small version of a running application's window when you hover the mouse over its taskbar icon. I'll look at turning that off.
How do I get 32-bit software to run on 64-bit Windows?
Most often the trick to running 32-bit software in Windows 64 is to simply run it. 64-bit Windows has broad 32-bit compatibility built in.
How do I get a pinned taskbar item to run with administrative privileges in Windows 7?
Pinning something to the task bar in Windows 7 is convenient, but appears to hide the "run as administrator" option. We'll find it.
How do I get rid of boot choices in Windows 7?
It can be confusing to remove multi-boot choices for operating systems that have been removed. We'll walk through the simple process for Windows 7.
How do I make something run automatically when I log in to Windows 7?
Windows has several mechanisms for having something start automatically when you log in. I'll walk through one of the simplest.
How do I monitor network activity on my Windows 7 machine?
Windows 7 has a useful utility for monitoring system activity. You can use it to find out a lot about what your computer is doing online.
When upgrading or moving to a new PC you'll probably need the installation media for your applications. Without it, things can get difficult.
How do I move my Outlook Express email from Windows XP to Windows 7?
I'll show you how to move from Outlook Express to Windows Live Mail on Windows 7 (the easiest moving option), step by annoying step.
How do I repair Windows 7 with a re-install?
Windows 7 has no explicit repair option when installing, but if a few criteria are met, there is a way to repair Windows 7.
How do I set a custom icon for a desktop URL shortcut?
Windows 7 changed one of the ways to create desktop shortcuts from IE. I'll look at what's changed and how to create shortcuts that can be modified.
How do I sign in to Windows 7 automatically?
If you're willing to take the risk, configuring Windows 7 to sign in automatically is pretty easy; I'll walk through the steps and show you in video.
How do I transfer my data if I do a clean install of Windows 7?
A clean install of any operating system assumes that the hard disk is empty. That implies some preparation is required to preserve and transfer data.
How do I turn off thumbs.db in Windows 7?
Thumbs.db is created by Windows Explorer as a performance optimization. We can turn it off with a simple setting in Windows 7.
After trying Windows 7 you might find that it's not your cup of tea. What then? Well, it's not really an "uninstall", it's more of a replacement.
How do I upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit Windows?
If you have a 64-bit capable machine, you may want to upgrade from 32-bit Windows to 64. Unfortunately, the upgrade, while quite possible, isn't easy.
How do I upgrade from XP or Vista to Windows 7?
The upgrade path from XP to Windows 7 is clear, albeit some work. The path from Vista can be simpler, but I recommend a clean install anyway.
Is it worth upgrading to Windows 7?
Now that Windows 7 has been out for some time we'll revisit the exceptionally common question: should I upgrade?
Making Your Own Taskbar Toolbar in Windows 7
Windows 7 doesn't have the 'Quick Launch Bar' that Windows XP did. I'll show you how I made my own.
Should I Install Windows 7 Service Pack 1?
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) is available. I'll look at when, and why, and how soon Windows 7 SP1 makes sense. I'll also look at the best ways to get it.
Should I consider the 64 bit version of Windows 7?
With Windows 7 imminent and 64 bit capable hardware more common, many people are wondering if it's time to make the switch to 64 bits with Windows 7.
Windows 7 is coming soon, and all reports are that it's a better, more reasonable Windows than Vista. Should you switch?
What are the steps to upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7?
I upgraded my wife's computer and want to share the exact process I used, and the results.
What is Windows 7's "Windows XP Mode"? (And can I use it to get Outlook Express back?)
Windows 7 Professional and above include "Windows XP" mode. If you have programs that don't work or aren't available in Windows 7, XP Mode may help.
Where is Windows Mail, or Outlook Express, in Windows 7?
Windows Mail has been removed from Windows 7, along with several other applications. We'll look at where to find their replacements.
Why can't I get the volume louder in Windows Vista and Windows 7?
Windows has several volume controls. Add to those a couple of additional volume controls and making things louder can quickly get confusing.
Why do my Windows 7 restore points keep disappearing?
Windows 7 restore points disappear automatically as newer restore points are created. You can't directly control the number of restore points kept.