Windows 7 guide for ex Windows XP users

You might have taken the final step of upgrading Windows XP to Windows 7. It is beyond doubt that you have taken the right decision. You might have that starting trouble but believe it or not, Windows 7 would impress you for sure. We would help you to get used to it. 

Live Taskbar  

This has witnessed several changes. It also features live previews of each window. As you would move the mouse over the preview, you would get see a temporary full size view of the window. Click preview in order to open the window.

Windows Search

Start Menu consists of a handy search bar that finds programs, Control panel and files. Now hit Windows key on the keyboard and cursor would by default go to the text field. 

Libraries

Do you have files everywhere and then put them into a single library without moving them. The by default libraries is inclusive of Documents, pictures, Music and Videos. You can create own custom libraries.   

Jump Lists

Jump lists give an easy way to check the recent files opened with a program by right-clicking on the Taskbar icon. In order to pin a file or a folder just drag it to taskbar. 

Shake, peek and Aero – Snap

Aero effects helps user to view windows side by side via snapping them right and left. It minimizes all the active windows by shaking it. It peeks at the desktop temporarily by hovering over lower right edge of Taskbar.

Windows 7 comes in 32-bit and a 64-bit version. If the hardware is not upgraded, you would have to use 32-bit version. You would not get the benefits of the 64-bit and there would be no compatibility issues. 

You can also get the Windows XP look and functionality back. You can use the Windows XP Luna theme, set up Windows 7 and set up the theme using Universal Theme Patcher, adjust Taskbar, get Classic Shell, change Start Menu style, change Start Button and customize Windows Explorer look.  

Compatible issues

Infectious software or absence of proper hardware drivers are irritating issues of upgrading to new operating system.  

Windows 7 has a wide selection of hardware drivers. If your hardware is not recognized, search the website for a Windows 7 driver. You can also depend on several third part tools. In case software does not cooperate Windows 7 has compatibility mode. Just right click program shortcut, choose properties and open Compatibility tab. You can run compatibility troubleshooter or run program in compatibility mode for Windows XP.

In case you are using Windows 7 Professional, you do not require a Windows XP license. You can install Microsoft’s Windows Virtual PC and run the XP Mode.  


Protect and Access provides useful windows 7 tips and technical support for users in their  website.

Add useful toolbars to Windows taskbar

Windows desktop can be a lovely pace to work provided it has been set up properly. Native toolbars would make it more efficient by placing details and shortcuts at your fingertips. If you are located in Windows taskbar then you would not have to close windows or open folders and files through Windows Explorer to access them. We can see how these toolbars can be useful:

How to add Toolbar

Just right click Windows taskbar, choose Toolbars from menu and either choose an existing toolbar, or click on new toolbar. When adding new toolbar, choose a folder on your computer which contains the apt content. Create a new folder as you would pick the location and later add the content. 

Useful toolbars from Windows: 

Address: Open the latest used folders type the application names, files, folders as well as launch websites in default browser. If you want to go to the address toolbar with the help of keyboard shortcuts, click Windows + B, followed by Shift + Tab.

Links: Add the favorite websites and make them the default browser. This is same as Internet Explorer Favorites Bar. You can search as well as edit the content of the folder in the Windows user folder under Favorites.

Tablet PC Input Panel of Windows 7 or Touch Keyboard of Windows 8: This button launches a keyboard which would respond to touch input on the touch screen. It works with mouse too.

Desktop: View the desktop items in a single long list. This maintains easy access to shortcuts when the desktop icons are hidden to make it look clean.   

Quick Launch Bar: This is a list of icons which are embedded in taskbar. It is no more featured as a toolbar anymore but is an important component of Windows OS even in Windows 8. If you want to launch programs quickly it’s great. Files can also be added by launching your most used programs, but you can also add files you need to access frequently.

If you want to customize it, right-click and unlock Taskbar. Now right click Quick launch and remove checkmarks for Show text and title.  Taskbar is not locked they, Quick Launch can be dragged to a different location. 

Short Notes & Lists  

If you keep looking at bits of information repeatedly then keep it organized and accessible through toolbar located in the taskbar. If you want to find your things quickly then this is the best solution.   

Custom Toolbar  

In order to create this list, form a new toolbar and then fill it with files. Since note is title of the shortcut file, the characters and its length are limited. Notepad files can be used which can also be saved as.LNK files. You can choose custom icon: right-click on file, choose Properties, and click Change Icon… button.

Start Menu Toolbar

Those who are using Windows 7 OS, you can use as well as customize existing Start Menu. If you are using Windows 8, install a third party Start Menu.  Make use of toolbar to re-create Start Menu. Just create a new toolbar, take it to folder which contains content of the substitute Start Menu. Add the desired content to respective folder, and finally move toolbar to local Start Menu location which is on the far left of taskbar.

Start Menu    

You can use the combination of Win+X Power User Menu. This open as you click Windows + X keys; then right-click Windows 8 Start button.

For any technical support for windows you could contact protectandaccess.com. 

Can you Run Windows Software on Mac?

There are some programs in Mac which support Windows. You can surely run Windows programs irrespective of business software or PC games. These techniques are similar to the ways Windows software can be installed on Chromebook or Linux. Below given the ways to run Windows software on Mac:

Virtual Machine is a good method to run Windows desktop software. They would allow you to install Windows as well as other operating systems in the window on Mac desktop. Windows would think it’s running on actual system, but it is running inside the piece of software on Mac. You need not use Windows program in virtual machine window. The program permits you to bring out Windows programs from virtual machine window so that it appears on Mac desktop. However the 3D graphics would not perform well. There would be several games which cannot be played. 

Boot Camp helps you to install Windows with OS X on Mac. At a time only one operating system can run thus having to restart Mac to toggle between Windows and OS X. The problem here is that you cannot run Mac and Windows application simultaneously. If you just want to run a Windows desktop application alongside your Mac applications, a virtual machine is the best.  

Run Windows Software on Ubuntu with Wine

Wine is a compatibility layer which allows Windows applications to run on some other operating systems. Wine would write Windows code again which applications depend, so that they can be executed on various other operating systems. Wine is way to run Windows applications on Mac. There is no graphical interface.

Crossover comes under the category of paid application, but no free trial is offered. This focuses on compatibility. A good graphical interface is provided and emphasis is on popular programs. You can view list of programs that would run well on Crossover. Despite being focused on compatibility it is based on Wine and would not work with everything. Here you need not run any virtual machine. However if you run it then you would be able to execute any Windows program with not much risk. 

Access Windows Remote Desktop via Internet

You can obliterate the method of running Windows software on Mac and use remote desktop software in order to access remote Windows system running Windows application of your choice. Those organizations which have business software runs on Windows and can host Windows servers as well as make applications available to iPads, Chromebooks, Android tablet and others. If you are a home user then you could configure Windows PC for accessing remotely and connect whenever you require Windows application. This is not perfect for something like games. If you are user of Chrome then you can make use of Chrome Remote Desktop to connect to Windows PC from your Mac running Chrome.

All these tricks require more work than installing a Windows program on the PC. If you have a Mac focuses on making use of Mac software. Windows programs would not be integrated properly.  You would have to buy a Windows license for Mac to achieve good compatibility.