Microsoft Windows 7 operating system articles
Apr 15
The Resource Monitor in Windows 7 is a very good and easy way to help analyze performance and diagnose possible bottlenecks. With access to sections displaying process specific statistics for CPU, Memory, Disk or Network; Resource Monitor will immediately help identify which processes are hogging the most system resources.
Here’s How:
Click on Start and …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2012/04/how-to-access-resource-monitor-in-win-7/
Apr 09
Windows 7 allows users to pin programs/applications to the taskbar easily via the right click context menu but there is no such option available for personal folders.
It can be done though and is not too difficult. Here’s an example of how to pin the “Downloads” folder to the taskbar (it’s the same procedure for …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2012/04/how-to-pin-personal-folders-to-the-taskbar-in-win-7/
Mar 28
Problem Steps Recorder is a great inclusion for Windows 7, here’s how it works:
Whenever an application or system component starts misbehaving all you need do is start Problem Steps Recorder, then work through whatever you were doing when the issue surfaced. Problem Steps Recorder will record every click and keystroke, take screen grabs, and …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2012/03/how-to-access-and-utilize-problem-steps-recorder-in-win7/
Mar 19
We recently published an article on how to manually create system restore points in Windows 7, HERE. One of our subscribers (Dan) subsequently posed a very good question via the comments… “how can I set it to do it once a week automatically?”
First off I’m going to re-iterate under what circumstances Window 7 does …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2012/03/schedule-automatic-creation-of-restore-points-in-win7/
Mar 11
Unlike XP and Vista, Windows 7 does not automatically create System Restore Points at regular 24 hour intervals. Windows 7 will only create a restore point prior to:
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2012/03/how-to-unlike-xp-and-vista-windows-7-does-not-automatically-create-system-restore-points-at-regular-24-hour-intervals-windows-7-will-only-create-a-restore-point-prior-to-an-application-installat/
Mar 05
Have you ever accidentally deleted a file or changed a file and then inadvertently ‘saved’ the alterations?
Windows 7 provides a “Restore previous version” option to help us overcome such eventualities. The ‘Previous Versions’ feature is part of the volume shadow copy service, which is also utilized to create restore points and image based backups …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2012/03/restore-previous-versions-and-recover-deleted-files-in-win7/
Feb 27
Whenever you open multiple instances of the same application in Windows 7 it will stack the Taskbar icons one behind the other with no textual indication. So, in order to switch between instances, you need to hover the mouse cursor over the icon to reveal the various thumbnail previews and then select the one you …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2012/02/how-to-prevent-taskbar-icon-stacking-in-win-7/
Feb 21
This is no biggee but it is a time (click) saver and a little tip I have found personally to be quite useful.
Say, for example, you wanted to access an item in Control Panel; normally you need to click on Control Panel in the Start Menu, wait for the list in Control Panel to …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2012/02/how-to-add-expanded-view-to-start-menu-items-in-win-7/
Feb 14
A simple but useful option available in Windows 7, which many may not be aware of, is the ability to display up to 2 additional time zones via the System Tray Clock. Living in Oz and continually battling the time differences, I have found this to be particularly helpful.
Here’s how:
Left click on the …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2012/02/how-to-add-additional-time-zones-to-sys-tray-clock-in-win-7/
Aug 21
Windows 7 direct download (incl. SP1) – Download genuine Windows 7 ISO files which include Service Pack 1.
This is very handy for those users who did not receive an installation disc with their computer. It is not illegal, there is no product key involved and you will still need to use the product key …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2011/08/windows-7-direct-download-incl-sp1/
Aug 18
A simple but useful option available in Windows 7, which many may not be aware of, is the ability to display up to 2 additional time zones via the System Tray Clock. Living in Oz and continually battling the time differences, I have found this to be particularly helpful.
Here’s how:
Left click on the …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2011/08/how-to-add-extra-time-zones-to-system-tray-clock/
Aug 13
By default Windows 7 and Vista protect files and folders that it believes are important to the operating system. These files are even protected from users operating under administrative permissions. The reasoning behind this is two fold; first so the user doesn’t delete an important file which can render Windows unusable, and second to prevent …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2011/08/how-to-take-ownership-of-a-file-in-windows-7-and-vista/
Aug 13
Hey, you’ve bought a new computer with Windows 7 installed! Isn’t that great? Yes and no. PC Manufacturers have been installing many trial programs and helper applications, often called "bloatware". The manufacturers say they install this software to provide a better user experience and they can lower the computer cost because they get a cut …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2011/08/how-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7-without-activation-on-your-oem-computer/
Aug 13
Having multiple computers in the same home, or small office, is common. It’s becoming a rule, rather than an exception. Moms, Dads, and children all want to be online simultaneously as they work and play. As the number of computers increase so does the complexity of the network. Vista introduced …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2011/08/how-to-include-windows-xp-computers-in-your-vista-or-windows-7-network-map/
Aug 13
You can install the upgrade version of Windows 7 without having any previous Windows version at all. Windows 7 will accept an unactivated Windows 7 installation as a previous version. This can save you between $75 and $160 by buying an upgrade version instead of a full version of Windows 7.
Permanent link to this article: http://www.davescomputertips.com/2011/08/how-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7-using-only-an-upgrade-version/