Microsoft Windows 7: A Guide to Windows 7 with advanced features

These are properties common to presentations. To limit the search to presentations only, the syntax is:.

Searches can be narrowed by the following parameters: Desktop Search Syntax A search query can include one or more keywords, with Boolean operators and optional criteria. These optional criteria can narrow a search based on the following: Scope or data store in which files reside Kinds of files Managed properties of files The optional criteria, described in greater detail following, use the following syntax: The query may look like this: Locations and Data Stores Users can limit the scope of their searches to specific folder locations or data stores.

MyDocuments If you have a protocol handler in place to crawl custom stores, like Lotus Notes, you can use the name of the store or protocol handler for the store. Common File Kinds Users can also limit their searches to specific types of files, called file kinds. To Restrict by File Type: Use Example All file types everything kind: OR social OR security Finds items that contain social or security. Quotation marks "social security" Finds items that contain the exact phrase social security. Parentheses social security Finds items that contain social and security in any order.

Finds items with a size greater than bytes. Finds items with a size less than bytes. Note Phone numbers are indexed as entered. Finds items that have attachments that contain report. Finds items that are flagged Review, Follow up, for example and which contain report. In Windows 7, this restriction is lifted. Windows 7 includes the new Windows Biometric Framework. In prior releases of Microsoft Windows, biometric hardware device manufacturers were required to provide a complete stack of software to support their device, including device drivers, software development kits, and support applications.

Microsoft noted in a white paper on the Windows Biometric Framework that the proliferation of these proprietary stacks resulted in compatibility issues, compromised the quality and reliability of the system, and made servicing and maintenance more difficult. By incorporating the core biometric functionality into the operating system, Microsoft aims to bring biometric device support on par with other classes of devices.

A new Control Panel called Biometric Device Control Panel is included which provides an interface for deleting stored biometrics information, troubleshooting, and enabling or disabling the types of logins that are allowed using biometrics. Biometrics configuration can also be configured using Group Policy settings. Alongside the workgroup system used by previous versions, Windows 7 adds a new ad hoc home networking system known as HomeGroup.

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The system uses a password to join computers into the group, and allows users' libraries, along with individual files and folders, to be shared between multiple computers. Only computers running Windows 7 to Windows 10 version can create or join a HomeGroup.

HomeGroup as a concept is very similar to a feature slated for Windows Vista, known as Castle , which would have made it possible to have an identification service for all members on the network, without a centralized server. HomeGroup is created in response to the need for a simple sharing model for inexperienced users who need to share files without wrestling with user accounts , Security descriptors and share permissions.

Under this model, either a certain file or folder was shared with anyone who connects to the network even unauthorized parties who are in range of the wireless network or was not shared at all. Windows 7 adds support for multiple firewall profiles. The Windows Firewall in Windows Vista dynamically changes which network traffic is allowed or blocked based on the location of the computer based on which network it is connected to.

This approach falls short if the computer is connected to more than one network at the same time as for a computer with both an Ethernet and a wireless interface. In this case, Vista applies the profile that is more secure to all network connections. This is often not desirable; Windows 7 resolves this by being able to apply a separate firewall profile to each network connection.

Windows 7 contains Windows PowerShell 2. Windows 7 includes Internet Explorer 8 , []. Paint features a Ribbon interface similar to the one introduced in Office , and also sports several new features. Calculator has been rewritten, with multiline capabilities including Programmer and Statistics modes, unit conversion, and date calculations. Calculator was also given a graphical facelift, the first since Windows 95 in and Windows NT 4.

WordPad also features the new Ribbon user interface. Microsoft Magnifier, an accessibility utility for low vision users has been dramatically improved. Magnifier now supports the full screen zoom feature, whereas previous Windows versions had the Magnifier attached to the top of the screen in a dock layout. The new full screen feature is enabled by default, however, it requires Windows Aero for the advantage of the full screen zoom feature. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Part of a series on Windows 7 New features Removed features Editions v t e.

Retrieved June 15, Retrieved June 26, Archived from the original on January 30, Archived from the original on January 13, Retrieved 10 June Creating Static Cascading Menus: Retrieved 18 February The Old New Thing. Archived from the original on April 15, Retrieved 12 April Retrieved 24 November Retrieved 21 March Retrieved 13 January Archived from the original on 24 January Retrieved 9 January Retrieved 18 January Retrieved 31 May Retrieved 13 October Gabriola, say hello to your users".

The new "Device Stage" in Windows 7". Windows Vista Team Blog. Archived from the original on May 29, The Sensor and Location Platform: Archived from the original on January 2, Retrieved June 28, Create an energy use report in Windows 7 with powercfg". Archived from the original PPT on December 27, Retrieved 30 November Retrieved 13 June Archived from the original on 8 April Retrieved 20 July Retrieved 22 November Retrieved 21 April Archived from the original on 27 December Retrieved 4 December Retrieved 5 December Retrieved 9 February One Cuckoo Short of a Nest.

Archived from the original on 7 November Retrieved 11 November This time Microsoft gets it right". Retrieved 14 December Retrieved 10 January Retrieved 14 June Retrieved 31 October Archived from the original on 6 September Retrieved 2 November Retrieved 1 November Retrieved 14 November Retrieved 2 January Retrieved 4 May Retrieved 12 August Retrieved 23 April Windows 7 web site. Retrieved 23 October Windows Hardware Developer Central website. Retrieved 8 January Windows 7 Web site. Archived from the original on 18 February Windows Installer Team Blog.

Retrieved June 24, Retrieved 29 May Web Services in Native Code".

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Retrieved 26 September Retrieved 23 November Retrieved 9 July Retrieved 14 February Installing Windows Live Essentials will add the software missing from Vista and then some. Note that while the Essentials package does include all the software listed above it is possible at least for now to download each program individually. User Account Control was one of the most hated features of Windows Vista. This was unfortunate, because it was also one of the best security advancements that Windows Vista brought to the table. UAC is back in Windows 7, but it has had its default settings changed.

Then new default setting is the second most secure. It will only set off a notification if a program tries to make changes to your computer. You can also slide the bar down a notch so that notifications are still made, but your desktop is not rendered inactive when the notification prompt appears. This is also less annoying, but it is less secure because a malware program that triggers to the alert will have an easier time continuing to work in the background. Finally, you can turn UAC off entirely. This is not recommended. Malware that manages to gain control of your computer will be able to make changes to your Windows settings without your knowledge.

A Free Windows Antivirus. Windows has never shipped with an antivirus program included. These users often end up downloading installing a fakeware program that advertises itself as an antivirus but is actually malware. Windows 7 also does not ship with an antivirus program, but Microsoft does now offer a free antivirus program that you can download from the Microsoft website. Microsoft Security Essentials is a pure antivirus component and does not integrate with the other security features of Windows 7 to any significant degree.

It is a simple program compared to the more comprehensive suites from companies like Symantec. It is capable of running virus scans, and it includes Microsoft SpyNet, a cloud antivirus solution that gathers data about known viruses from all computers running Microsoft Security Essentials. It was able to deal with You can buy better protection, but it is worth noting that Microsoft Security Essentials ranked better than some paid security software, such as Trend Micro Internet Security and Kingsoft Antivirus. Windows Defender is an anti-spyware program built into Windows 7.

It is not an antivirus program. It is meant to only deal with spyware, which can be defined as a program that is attempting to gather data from your computer. It is not meant to deal with malware that is attempting to take over or damage your computer — that is what Security Essentials is meant to combat. Normally this screen will simply inform you that your computer is running normally. Windows Defender is set to scan your computer on a daily basis when you install Windows 7, a fact that will be reflected in the Status section at the bottom of the window.

At the top of the Windows Defender window you will see the Scan button, as indicated by the magnifying glass icon. Clicking on it will start a quick scan, while clicking on the arrow beside the icon will open a drop-down menu with some additional scan options. Although you can initiate a manual scan, there is rarely any need to do so if the automatic daily scan is scheduled. If you want to change the schedule of the automatic scans you can do so by clicking on the Tools button, as indicated by the gear icon.

The automatic scanning settings will appear by default. You can adjust the frequency of scans, although you can only choose daily or weekly. You also can choose the time of the scan and the type of scan. Finally, there are two checkboxes at the bottom.

Features new to Windows 7

The first forces Windows Defender to update its definitions before scanning. This is on by default and should be left on. The second checkbox forces Windows Defender to wait until your computer is idle before scanning. This is on by default, but can be turned off if you wish. The name of Windows Firewall really says it all. Windows Firewall first appeared in Windows XP and has been receiving updates ever since. One of the changes is associated with the way that Windows 7 handles networking.

When you install Windows 7 you will have the ability to create what is known as a HomeGroup.

• Features new to Windows 7 - Wikipedia?
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• The Windows 7: Ultimate Guide.
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This concept will be explained more in the next chapter, but it essentially is your home network. Windows 7 has the ability to apply different firewall settings to the HomeGroup than it does to all other networks. This makes it easier to share files and other information between different computers on your home network.

This functionality is enabled by default when you create a HomeGroup, so you may never have any reason to actually open the Windows Firewall window. However, if you do want to change your settings, you can do so by opening the Windows Firewall window in the Windows Control Panel. The fact that Windows Firewall can now treat the HomeGroup differently means that Windows Firewall is now finally a dual-more firewall. When you open the Windows Firewall window you will see options for both your home network and for public networks.

Each of these feature sets can be accessed and adjusted individually.

Home networking has always been a bit of a pain in the butt with Windows. Windows 7 attempts to address this by over-hauling how Windows handles home networking, and as part of this over-haul Microsoft has added a new networking feature known as HomeGroup. Your HomeGroup is automatically created when you install Windows 7. All computers that are part of a HomeGroup are able to share information easily. They can also access printers that are connected to other computers that are a part of the HomeGroup.

The type of information that is shared can be changed as you desire. To make changes you need to open your HomeGroup window. There are five checkboxes here, one for each of the default libraries created by Windows 7 and one for printers. You can also share media with devices on your network such as an Xbox if you desire. The checkbox is only available if there are devices connected to your home network that Windows 7 is able to share media with. To add additional computers to your HomeGroup you will need to access the Network and Sharing Center of the computer that you want to add.

You will now be asked for your HomeGroup password. Once you have entered the password the connection will be made and you will be able to share information among the newly added computer and all other computers that are a part of the HomeGroup. I do have some bad news, however — HomeGroup only works with other Windows 7 computers. Networking will work as it did in Windows Vista. There also seems to be high chance of error when networking with a Windows XP machine — XP machines often do not show up as available in Windows 7 and vice versa. If you are upgrading from XP and you have multiple computers on a network you should try to upgrade all networked computers to Windows 7 at once.

Windows 7 also makes major improvements to how the operating system handles wireless networking. The biggest improvement can be found in the wireless networking pop-up menu itself. If you have Windows 7 installed and your computer has wireless Internet you can open the pop-up menu by clicking on the icon on the left of the taskbar. The icon appears as a series of reception bars, like those found on a cell phone. The new pop-up makes it easy to switch wireless networks. All of the wireless networks available will be displayed on the pop-up.

To switch networks, click on that network in the pop-up menu and then click the Connect button. If the network is password protected you will have to type in the encryption key. Next, click on Manage wireless networks on the left of the Network and Sharing Center window. The Manage Wireless Networks window will show a list of all wireless networks that are saved on your computer.

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These are networks that you will be able to connect to automatically if they are detected by Windows. You can add a new network by clicking the Add button. Once you have done this you can click Next to save the network to the list. You can also change these settings at any time by right-clicking on a listed network and then clicking Properties from the menu. DirectX has been updated many times since its introduction in In theory, Vista should have been a big deal for gamers.

DirectX 10 was a feature Windows XP could not support, and it was supposed to make games look better than anyone could previously imagine. However, game developers were slow to take advantage of DirectX Unfortunately, the performance situation has not changed with Windows 7. Windows 7 performs almost identically to Windows Vista in gaming benchmarks, and that means Windows 7 also offers slower performance in games than Windows XP. However, the landscape of Windows gaming has changed.

Although XP is still faster, it remains stuck using DirectX 9. There are now numerous games that support DirectX 10, and Microsoft has already introduced DirectX Like DirectX 10, this new update is meant to revitalize PC gaming and make jaw-dropping graphics possible. The difference is that DirectX 11, unlike 10, may actually live up to this hype. DirectX 11 is the largest update to DirectX in some time.

Although there are many changes, the most important enhancements in DirectX 11 are the inclusion of Tessellation and Compute Shaders. Tessellation is a technology that makes it possible for the polygon count of a 3D model to be dynamically increased or decreased depending on the amount of GPU power is available in a given system. The second new feature, Compute Shaders, makes the graphics processing pipeline available to tasks unrelated to rendering an image.

This makes a lot of sense in certain situations because a GPU is capable of handling certain tasks far better than a CPU. This is also a feature that has existed previously but is now being standardized so that it is easier for game developers to code for. DirectX 11 is fully compatible with Windows Vista, so those who are still using Vista will also be able to enjoy these enhancements.

Windows 7 includes the Games Explorer feature. Games Explorer has been updated in Windows 7 to address these issues, and Games Explorer is now a useful feature. The Games Explorer window itself is separated into two sections. The first is Game Providers. This section represents game services, such as MSN games. The second section is Games. This, of course, lists the games installed on your computer. Once a game is listed in Games Explorer you can view more information about it by clicking on its icon.

It is also possible to view the recommended system requirements of the game as gauged by the Microsoft Windows Experience Index. Finally, you can update games automatically by right-clicking on their icon and clicking the Check online for updates option. That is all of the advice I have for you in this guide. I hope that it served you as a proper introduction to Windows 7. The advice here will help new users become acquainted with Windows 7 and can also help those who are on the fence about purchasing Windows 7 decide if it would be a good idea.

There are, of course, many other components to Windows 7 that are not explained here. Like any operating system, Windows 7 has many hidden features and settings that you may not ever run across or need to use during your time with the operating system. To find out more information about Windows 7, check out the MakeUseOf articles below.

We help you choose the version that is right for you. Whether you want to move to Windows 10 or Windows 7, the process is mostly the same. We explain it step by step. MakeUseOf Guides , Windows 7. Your email address will not be published. Windows The Windows 7: Smith September 13, 41 minutes.