Create Keyboard Shortcuts for Programs

You can create keyboard shortcuts for any program in Windows 7. Right-click the program icon and select Properties. Select the Shortcut tab, click in Shortcut key, to set the keyboard shortcut for that program.

Add Folder to Favorites

You can add any library or folder to the Favorites section in Windows Explorer. To add a folder, navigate to it in Explorer, right-click Favorites in the left navigation pane, and select Add current location to Favorites. Now you get quick access to your favorite folders in all File->Save As dialogs!

Rearange Tray Icons

You can rearrange icons on the taskbar as you wish and start new (or switch to running) instances of the first ten taskbar programs using Win+1, Win+2, and so on. The cool thing is you can also rearrange system tray icons. Reorder them on the tray or move them outside or back in the tray. Take control of what you want to always keep an eye on, and from which apps you’ll require notifications.

Window Management Shortcut

• Win+Left Arrow and Win+Right Arrow dock the window to the left and right side of the screen
• Win+Up Arrow and Win+Down Arrow maximize and restore/minimize
• Win+M minimizes everything
• Alt+Up, Alt+Left Arrow, Alt+Right Arrow navigate to parent folder, or browse Back and Forward through folders in Explorer
• Win+Home minimizes/restores all open windows except the active window
• Alt+Win+# accesses the Jump List of program number ‘#’ on the taskbar

How to Install Windows Live Essential on Windows 7

Windows Live Essentials are collections of social programs for Windows 7 and Windows Vista. It’s not preinstalled, you have to install it manually. The programs are Windows Live Writer for blogging, Messenger, Mail, Photo Gallery, Movie Makers and some Toolbar add-ons for Internet Explorer.

Go to http://download.live.com, click the download button on the right.

You will get wlsetup-web.exe, run the exe file and you will be greeted by Windows Live installer loading bar. The installation window will look up for any installed application.

In the program selection window, choose which program you need. It’s a good idea to select only the program you need, especially if you have limited bandwidth. Windows will download the program of you choice.

Click Install when you are done, the download will be started.

After download finished, the program will be available in your Windows Menu.

Next, I will show you how to configure Windows Live Writer for Blogger.

Arora Modern Browser for Old Windows 98

It’s now 21st centry, but some peoples are bound with old Windows 98. If you are one of the person who are still using old Windows 98 and want to get more fancy modern web browser just like in Windows XP or Windows 7. Please give Arora a try.

Arora is a cross-paltform web browser, it’s free and running with QtWebKit.

 

Download Arora

Calibrate Screen

Colors on every monitor is different, depending on monitor brand, graphic card and gamma setting. In Windows 7, calibrating your screen is easier.

Search for DCCW, and then hit enter to launch the program.

Follow the instruction, and take the time to study the color differentiation.

With this program you will be asked to calibrate True Type font smoothing. True Type is an anti alias font smoothing supported since Windows XP (CMIIW).

If you did something wrong, the calibration process is repeatable.

Peeking Windows and Show Desktop

Show Desktop is quite a legacy feature in all Windows version. In Windows 7, even better. We are now can peek into our desktop, without minimizing windows. To peek desktop hover your mouse to the right edge of the taskbar.

To be honest, this feature is useless.

To show desktop and minimize all windows, click the square.

There is one new nifty feature in Windows 7, you can peek into individual windows using your taskbar. Hover over to window thumbnail in taskbar, Windows will hide other windows except the windows under your cursor. This is handy for finding the correct windows.

Aero Snap!

Another little feature that makes Windows 7 awesome is Aero Snap. With Aero Snap, we can array windows side by side or maximize the window by just dragging it to the edge of the screen.

To maximize the window, drag the window to top edge of screen.

To resize the window 50% of the screen size, drag the window to the left or right of your screen.

If you drag out the window, Aero snap will remember previous window size.

For previous Windows version (Vista & XP), to use Aero Snap download this free program. You must have Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 in order to install it.

Turn Taskbar into Program Launcher

Most of computer users are using the same program. If you are already using Windows 7, you can pin the program to taskbar. The program icon will remain in taskbar, even if its closed.

To pin it, right click on the icon and choose “Pin this program to taskbar”. Unpin it to remove the icon from taskbar to make the icon disapear.

This new little feature improve Windows program workflow. Your taskbar now become program launcher.

How to Activate Aero Shake

In Windows 7, there is a nifty little feature to focus only to one window only, called Aero shake. This feature is very handy when you want to hide unfocused windows.

To activate it, click and hold window title bar then shake the window. Other windows will be invisible. Shake again to show the other windows.

Here’s a short video of Aero Shake in action.

How to Change Sticky Notes Color

Sticky Notes in Windows 7 is so much better. Too bad, Windows not make the color randoms for each notes. You can change the Sticky Notes color by right clicking in your notes. There are 6 colors to choose.