Top 20 Windows 7 tips,tricks,tweaks and secrets [part 2]

Yes its part 2...Lets continue
10) Right-click everything :
Right-click an empty part of the desktop, for instance, and you'll find a menu entry to set your screen resolution. No need to go browsing through the display settings any more. Right-click the Explorer icon on the taskbar for speedy access to common system folders: Documents, Pictures, the Windows folder, and more. And if you don't plan on using Internet Explorer then you probably won't want its icon permanently displayed on the taskbar. Right- click the icon, select " Unpin this program from the taskbar ", then go install Firefox, instead.
11)Hide Windows Live Message Icon: Windows Live Messenger is front and central on the taskbar, where you can easily change status and quickly send an IM to someone:

To hide it from task bar just close Windows Live Messenger, edit the shortcut properties and set the application to run in Windows Vista compatibility mode.Done!
12)Faster video access: Windows 7 now lets you add Videos folder to the Start menu. Just right-click the Start orb, click Properties > Start Menu > Customize , and set the Videos option to " Display as a link ". If you've a TV tuner that works with Windows 7 then you'll appreciate the new option to display the Recorded TV folder on the Start menu, too.
13)Create and Run Web Searches: The Windows 7 search tool can now be easily extended to search online resources, just as long as someone creates an appropriate search connector. To add Flickr support, say Something like [ http://crackinhack.blogspot.com/flickrsearch ], click Download the Connector, choose the Open option and watch as it's downloaded (the file is tiny, it'll only take a moment). A " Flickr Search " option will be added to your Searches folder, and you'll be able to search images from your desktop.
14)User Account Control(UAC) Customization:
Windows Vista's User Account Control was a good idea in practice, but poor implementation put many people off - it raised far too many alerts. Fortunately Windows 7 displays less warnings by default, and lets you further fine-tune UAC to suit your preferred balance between security and a pop-up free life ( Start > Control Panel > Change User Account Control Settings ).
15) Pin Your Favorite Folders: If you're always working in the same four or five folders, you can quickly pin them with the Explorer icon on the taskbar. Hold the right-click button down and drag the folder to the taskbar, and it will be automatically pinned in the Explorer Jump List.
16)Taskbar Fix: The new Windows 7 taskbar acts as one big quick launch toolbar that can hold whatever program shortcuts you like (just right-click one and select Pin To Taskbar). And that's fine, except it does consume a little more screen real estate than we'd like. Shrink it to a more manageable size by right-clicking the Start orb, then Properties > Taskbar > Use small icons.If you've no problem with the taskbar size, but find the way it combines icons to be confusing, then right-click the Start orb, click Properties > Taskbar and set "Taskbar buttons" to "Combine when taskbar is full" for a more familiar XP and Vista-style look.
17)Installing from USB Stick: You can Boot and install Windows 7 from USB. Which i had explained it in my previous post where you can read it Install Windows 7 from USB/Flash Drive .
18)Desktop Peeking:
While you're on the taskbar, it's worth noting a few subtleties. You've probably seen the small rectangle in the bottom right hand corner: this is the feature we call " Aero Peek ", which enables you to see any gadgets or icons you've got on your desktop. I wanted to note that there's a keyboard shortcut that does the same thing - just press Win+Space .
19)BitLocker and BitLocker to Go:


In Windows 7, core BitLocker Drive Encryption functionality is enhanced to deliver an improved experience for end users- from simple enhancements such as the ability to right-click on a drive to enable BitLocker protection to the automatic creation of the required hidden boot partition. Learn about these enhancements and the new BitLocker To Go, which gives system administrators control over how removable storage devices can be used and the strength of protection required.
20)Deployment Image Servicing and Management(DISM): Explore Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM), a new command-line tool for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. DISM consolidates the core image management functions of multiple tools found in the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) and enables users to view components of an applied or mounted operating system image and add or remove packages, software updates, and drivers.

Pc Maintainance Guide part 2

Look for Trouble
Give your PC a periodic checkup with a good hardware diagnostic utility. Two excellent choices are Sandra Standard from SiSoftware and #1 - TuffTest-Lite from #1 -PC Diagnostics. Download the free version of Sandra (the full version of the application costs $35 ) or to download #1 - TuffTest-Lite (the fully functional version is $10).
Sandra Standard:
CODE
http://www.pcworld.com/down loads/file_description/0 ,fid,4005 ,tk,ur,00.asp
#1-TuffTest-Lite:
CODE
http://www.pcworld.com/down loads/file_description/0 ,fid,7725 ,tk,ur,00.asp
Adding and removing system components leaves orphaned entries in the Windows Registry. This can increase the time your PC takes to boot and can slow system performance. Many shareware utilities are designed to clean the Registry.
Windows stores files on a hard drive in rows of contiguous segments, but over time the disk fills and segments become scattered, so they take longer to access. To keep your drive shipshape, run Windows' Disk Defragmenter utility. Click Start, Programs (All Programs in XP), Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter. If your drive is heavily fragmented, you could boost performance. Defragging may take hours, however. Disable your screen saver and other automatic programs beforehand to keep the defrag from restarting every few minutes.
Disk Defragmenter won't defragment the file on your hard drive that holds overflow data from system memory (also known as the swap file). Since the swap file is frequently accessed, defragmenting it can give your PC more pep. You can defragment your swap file by using a utility such as the SpeedDisk program included with Norton SystemWorks 2004, but there's a way to reset it in Windows.
In Windows XP, right-click My Computer and choose Properties. Click Advanced, and then choose the Settings button under Performance. Click Advanced again and the Change button under Virtual Memory. Select another drive or partition, set your swap file size, and click OK.
If you have only one partition and no way to create a second one, and you have at least 256MB of RAM, disable the swap file rather than moving it: Select "No paging file" in the Virtual Memory settings. If you have trouble booting, start Windows in Safe Mode and re- enable this option.
Hard-Drive Checkup
Windows XP offers a rudimentary evaluation of your hard disk's health with its error-checking utility: Right-click the drive's icon in Windows Explorer and select Properties, Tools, Check Now. (Windows can fix errors and recover bad sectors automatically if you wish.) If the check discovers a few file errors, don't worry, but if it comes up with hundreds of errors, the drive could be in trouble.
To conduct a more thorough examination, download Panterasoft's free HDD Health utility, which monitors hard- drive performance and warns of impending disaster:
CODE
http://www.pcworld.com/down loads/file_description/0 ,fid, 22945 ,tk,ur,00.asp
The program works only with drives that support S.M.A.R.T technology, but nearly all drives released since 2000 are S.M.A.R.T.-compliant.
Many hardware and software designers humbly assume you want their program running on your PC all the time, so they tell Windows to load the application at startup (hence, the ever-growing string of icons in your system tray). These programs eat up system resources and make hardware conflicts and compatibility problems more likely. To prevent them from launching, just click Start, Run, type "msconfig" and press Enter. The programs listed under the Startup tab are set to start along with Windows. Uncheck the box at the left of each undesirable program to prevent it from starting automatically.
Four Tips for Longer PC Life
1. Keep your PC in a smoke-free environment. Tobacco smoke can damage delicate contacts and circuits.
2. Leave your PC running. Powering up from a cold state is one of the most stressful things you can do to your system's components. If you don't want to leave your PC running all the time, use Windows' Power Management settings to put your machine into hibernation rather than completely shutting down. In Windows XP, right-click the desktop and select Properties. Click the Screen Saver tab and select the Power button. Choose the Hibernate tab to ensure that hibernation is enabled, and then select a time beneath "System hibernates" under the Power Schemes tab. (Note that this option is not available on all PCs.) Computers running older versions of Windows may or may not provide similar power- management features. Look under the Power Management icon (Power Options in Windows 2000) in Control Panel to evaluate your machine's capabilities.
3. Don't leave your monitor running. The best way to extend your display's life is to shut it off when it's not in use.
4. Avoid jostling the PC. Whenever you move your system, even if it's just across the desktop, make sure the machine is shut down and unplugged.
uhh....It is long but usefull