#1: Display a Seemingly Hidden or Off Screen Window or Application
Several ways you can make a seemingly-hidden or off-screen Windows 7 application or window appear in view.

#2: Launch a Folder or All Folders as a Separate Process
To prevent a crash in one Explorer folder from taking down other folders and the Desktop, open folders in a separate process in Windows 7.

#3: Shake What Your Windows 7 Gave Ya
Quickly minimize all other open windows in Windows 7 by shaking the only one you want displayed.

#4: "Remove" the Labels of Computer and Recycle Bin Desktop Icons
Clean up the display of icons on your Windows 7 Desktop - remove the labels of the easily-identifiable Computer and Recycle Bin icons.

#5: Change Process Priorities to Tune Your System
Determine which processes should get the most attention in your Windows 7 system.

#6: Prevent the System from Automatically Restarting after a Failure
If Windows 7 fails with a Blue Screen, prevent the system from automatically restarting so you can view debug information.

#7: Toggle Translucent Selection Rectangle on the Desktop
When creating selection rectangles on the Windows 7 Desktop, configure whether to show a dotted or translucent selection rectangle.

#8: Snappier Taskbar Thumbnail Previews by Disabling Animations
Prevent Windows 7 from animating the taskbar thumbnail previews. This will also disable other Start Menu and Taskbar animations.

#9: Expand the Windows Task Manager, Switch Between Tabs with Keyboard Shortcuts
Expand the Task Manager display in Windows 7 so the graphs or processes take up more of the window. Plus switch between tabs in the expanded display with keyboard shortcuts.

#10: Change What the Power and Sleep Buttons Do, or Prevent Them from Doing Anything
In Windows 7, you can make the power and sleep buttons on your keyboard / computer perform different actions instead of putting the computer to sleep. Or, make them do nothing at all.

#11: Dock or Maximize Windows by Moving Them to Edges
Maximize or dock applications and other windows in Windows 7 by moving them to the screen edges.

#12: Adjust Size of Jump Lists on Windows 7 Taskbar
Adjust the number of files and other items accessible via Jump Lists on the Windows 7 Taskbar.

#13: Show Menu Bar in Explorer Folders
If you are used to seeing a menu bar when working with Explorer folders, enable it in Windows 7.

#14: Opt In or Opt Out of the Help Experience Improvement Program
Choose whether or not your help browsing habits should be sent to Microsoft to improve content and search results.

#15: Use Checkboxes to Select Items in Explorer
Add the ability to select multiple files in Windows 7 Explorer windows by checking and unchecking boxes.

#16: Stop Synchronizing the Time
For privacy reasons, prevent Windows 7 from synchronizing the system time with an Internet time server.

#17: Toggle Navigating Menus in Start Menu via Mouse Hover
Toggle whether or not just hovering the mouse pointer over a menu in Windows 7's Start Menu opens its submenu.

#18: Dock, Maximize, Minimize Windows Via Keyboard Shortcuts
Maximize or minimize the current window, or dock it on the left or right side of the screen.

#19: Select a Window Just by Hovering Over it
Switch the focus from one window to another in Windows 7 just by hovering over it with the mouse pointer.

#20: View File Extensions
To help prevent against opening rogue files with double extensions, enable viewing file extensions from Explorer.

#21: Change What Windows Explorer Button on Taskbar Performs
Clicking the Windows Explorer button on the Windows 7 Taskbar opens the Libraries folder by default. Change this to a drive or folder of your choosing or Computer.

#22: Access Taskbar Button Jump List without Right-Click
Another way to access the Jump List of a button on the Windows 7 Taskbar without using the right mouse button.

#23: Change Window Borders, Start Menu, Taskbar Colors, and Toggle Transparency
Choose a base color for your Windows 7 theme, adjust its intensity, and toggle whether the Start Menu, Taskbar, and window borders should be transparent.

#24: Add Additional Clocks to the Taskbar
Have two clocks set to different time zones available by hovering over the time in the Windows 7 Taskbar.

#25: Add Favorites to Start Menu
Create a submenu from the Windows 7 Start Menu providing access to your Internet Explorer Favorites.

#26: Stop Highlighting Newly Installed Programs
The Windows 7 Start Menu highlights programs recently installed - learn how to disable this behavior.

#27: Display Link or Menu to Downloads on Start Menu
Easily access website downloads from the Windows 7 Start Menu.

#28: Toggle Start Menu and Explorer Popups
Choose whether pop-up description text should appear when hovering over files, folders, Desktop icons, and Start Menu options.

#29: Enable the Onscreen Keyboard's Numeric Key Pad Display
To make numbers easier to enter with Windows 7's On-Screen Keyboard, display a virtual numeric keypad.

#30: Remove Shortcut Text When Creating Shortcuts
Remove the text "- Shortcut" on newly-created shortcuts in Windows 7.

#31: Show or Hide the Taskbar Clock, plus Volume, Network, Power, and Action Center Icons
Configure whether or not the clock or system icons should appear on the Windows 7 Taskbar.

#32: Mortgage Calculations
Calculate the monthly payment, down payment, purchase price, or years of a mortgage with Windows 7.

#33: Perform Unit Conversion
Convert between units of area, energy, temperature, volume, and more in Windows 7.

#34: Preview Files from Explorer Via the Preview Pane
Open the Preview Pane in Explorer windows to show the contents of graphics, text files, and more.

#35: Keep Multiple Folders Open in Explorer - Open Them in New Windows
When performing file management in Windows 7, open Explorer folders in new windows.

#36: Windows 98 Plus! Themes for Windows 7
Nostalgic for the look of Windows 98? Install Plus! themes for Windows 7.

#37: How to Toggle Showing Thumbnails or Icons in Explorer Folders
Configure Windows 7 to display icons in Explorer folders for speed, or thumbnails to show snapshots of images without opening or previewing them.

#38: Move the Taskbar
Move the Windows 7 Taskbar to the top, bottom or side of the screen.

#39: Toggle Displaying a Menu of Recent Items in the Start Menu
Configure whether Windows 7's Start Menu should contain a submenu of recently-opened items such as documents and images.

#40: Automatically Expand to the Current Folder in Navigation Pane of Explorer Windows
Force Windows 7 to expand the directory tree to the current folder when showing the Navigation Pane in Explorer folders.

#41: Toggle Showing Drive Letters in Explorer
Configure whether or not you want drive letters appearing in Explorer folders in Windows 7.

#42: Why is My Computer Beeping When I Press Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock?
Stop the computer from beeping whenever the Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock Key is pressed.

#43: Automatically Hide the Windows 7 Taskbar
Hide Windows 7's Taskbar from the screen when not in use.

#44: Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives
Show items marked as hidden in Explorer for Windows 7.

#45: Show Program Labels on the Windows 7 Taskbar
Display the contents of window title bars on the Windows 7 Taskbar.

#46: Hide Individual Libraries in Explorer Folder Navigation Pane
Collapse the entire list of libraries in the Navigation Pane of Explorer folders in Windows 7, or hide individual Libraries or all of them.

#47: Toggle Playing Sounds When Faxes Arrive
A quick tweak to configure whether or not the Windows Fax and Scan tool in Windows 7 should play a sound when messages arrive.

#48: Stop Going to Sleep When Closing the Laptop
Prevent Windows 7 from going to sleep when you close your laptop's lid.

#49: Taskbar Too Big? Shrink It!
If the Windows 7 Taskbar takes up too much room at the bottom of your screen, reduce its size.

#50: Disable Automatic Docking and Maximizing of Windows
Prevent Windows 7 from automatically docking and maximizing windows when you drag them to the screen edges.

#51: Change What Power Button Does from Start Menu
On the Windows 7 Start Menu choose what happens by default when you click the Power button.

#52: Create Your Own Desktop Photo Slide Show
Automatically have Windows 7 switch the desktop background every few minutes.

#53: Change Your Account Name
Change the name Windows 7 displays on the Welcome Screen and Start Menu.

#54: Configure or Prevent the Display Dimming or Turning Off
Prevent Windows 7 from dimming or turning off the display so quickly or at all.

#55: Disable Window Docking, Maximizing, Minimizing Animations
Prevent Windows 7 from displaying animations when docking, maximizing, and minimizing windows.

#56: Calculator - Add Dates or Find Difference Between Dates
Add or subtract dates, or calculate the difference between dates with the Windows 7 Calculator.

#57: Expand Control Panel in Start Menu
Access Control Panel applets directly from the Windows 7 Start Menu.

#58: Add Administrative Tools to Start Menu
Make Windows 7 Administrative Tools such as the Event Viewer, Services, and Task Scheduler easier to access from Windows 7's Start Menu.

#59: Calculate Fuel Economy
Calculate fuel economy, distance, and fuel used in gallons or liters in Windows 7.

#60: Disable Security or Maintenance Messages in the Action Center
Prevent Windows 7's Action Center from alerting you when it detects what it thinks is a potential problem.

#61: Disable Taskbar Button to Preview the Desktop via Aero Peek
Disable the Aero Peek feature on the end of the Windows 7 Taskbar.

#62: Change Your Account Picture
Change the picture that appears on the Start Menu and Welcome screen in Windows 7.

#63: Lock the Desktop from the Taskbar
Add an icon to the Windows 7 Taskbar that locks the Desktop.

#64: Access Web Sites or Folders via the Taskbar with an Address Toolbar
Visit a web site or navigate to a folder via the Windows 7 Taskbar by adding a Toolbar.

See Also:

@ File Extensions

Explains DOS/Windows file extensions, how to view files of various extensions, and why unexpected file extensions can cause security risks.

@ Microsoft Internet Explorer 8

Tips on configuring and using the Internet Explorer 8 web browser. Tips include using Accelerators to access external websites with selected text.

@ Windows Live Mail

Tips and help for installing and configuring the Windows Live Mail software for Windows. This supports e-mail, calendars, newsgroups, and RSS feeds.

@ Windows Media Player 12

Tips and information for the Windows Media Player 12 multimedia application. Topics to include the libraries, configuration, video playback, and CD / DVD burning.

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