CIS 170F: Windows 7 Administration

Week 1

New and Enhanced Features in Windows 7

Windows 7 has resolved many of the problems that plagued Windows Vista. Windows 7 has a much faster boot time and shutdown compared to Windows Vista. It is also easier to install and configure.

The Windows 7 operating system functions are also faster than its previous counterparts. Opening, moving, extracting, compressing, and installing files and folders are more efficient than previous versions of Microsoft's client operating systems.

New Features in Windows 7:

  • Windows 7 Taskbar

    • The Windows Taskbar allows users to quickly access the programs they use the most. One advantage to having the applications on the Windows 7 Taskbar is that you have fewer icons on the Desktop, thus allowing for a more manageable desktop environment.

  • Jump Lists

    • They allow you to quickly access files that you have been working on. For example, if you have the Microsoft Word icon in the Taskbar, you can right-click it and it will show you all the recent files that you have been working with. Another advantage to using Jump Lists is that you can preset certain applications, like Windows Media Player. For Internet Explorer, you could view all the recent websites that you have visited.

  • New Preview Pane

    • Windows 7 has improved on the Preview pane by allowing you to view text files, music files, pictures files, HTML files, and videos. Another new advantage is if you have installed Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Reader, you also have the ability to view Office and PDF files.

  • Windows Touch

    • It allows you to control the operating system and its applications by using a touchscreen.

  • Windows XP Mode

    • Windows XP Mode gives an organization that chooses to upgrade to Windows 7 the ability to run older Windows XP applications on their new system.To run Windows XP Mode, Windows 7 uses virtualized technology to run a virtual XP operating system to allow the organization to use the older applications.

  • Simpler Home Networking

    • Windows 7 networking has been made easier with the improvement of HomeGroups. HomeGroups are an easy way to set up a network using Windows 7. Windows 7 searches for your home network, and if one is found, it connects after you enter the HomeGroup password.If a home network is not found, a networking wizard automatically creates a password for the HomeGroup. This password lets you connect all your other computers to the same network. The password can be changed any time after you install Windows 7.

  • Device Stage

    • Device Stage enables you to connect a compatible device to your PC and a picture of the device appears. Device Stage allows you to easily share files between devices and computers.

  • View Available Networks (VAN)

    • When you use a wireless network adapter and you right-click the icon in the system tray, you can choose the wireless network that you want to connect to. You connect to a wireless network through the wireless network adapter. Now that same functionality is built into the Windows 7 operating system.

  • Windows Internet Explorer 8

    • Windows 7 includes the newest ver-sion of Internet Explorer (IE8). IE8 allows a user to work faster and more efficiently on the Internet due to new search features, address bars, and favorites.

  • Instant Search

    • This feature lets you quickly access search requests without typing the entire search criteria. As you start typing in the search request, you'll see suggestions for your search.

  • Accelerators

    • This new feature allows you to accelerate actions on Internet services and applications. For example, if you are looking for a street address and you click the blue Accelerator icon, a map will appear right there on the screen.

  • Web Slices

    • Web Slices are instances on a website that you want to access without accessing the site. For example, say you want to get stock quotes, sports scores, or auction items without visiting the sites; this is the advantage of using Web Slices. As the information that you are watching changes, the updates will show immediately.

Features include:

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