7. To Stephanie, Mark, and Kelly—Paul
To my father, who started me on my wonderful Windows
journey—Rafael
8. About the Technical Editors
Todd Meister has been developing using Microsoft technologies for over 15 years. He’s
been a Technical Editor on over 50 titles ranging from SQL Server to the .NET Framework.
Besides technical editing titles, he is an Assistant Director for Computing Services at Ball
State University in Muncie, Indiana. He lives in central Indiana with his wife, Kimberly,
and their four children.
Joli Ballew is a Microsoft MVP and holds several Microsoft certifications including MCSE,
MCDST, and MCTS. Joli has written over 30 books, teaches at two local junior colleges,
manages the network and Web site for North Texas Graphics, and regularly writes for
several Web sites. In her spare time, Joli enjoys gardening, golfing, and traveling.
9. About the Authors
The author of over 20 books, Paul Thurrott is a technology analyst for Windows IT Pro
and the majordomo of the SuperSite for Windows (www.winsupersite.com). He writes a
weekly editorial for Windows IT Pro UPDATE (www.windowsitpro.com/email), a daily
Windows news and information e-mail newsletter called “WinInfo Daily News” (www
.wininformant.com), and a monthly column called “Need to Know” in Windows IT Pro
Magazine. He also blogs daily via the SuperSite Blog (community.winsupersite.com/
blogs/paul ), posts regularly on Twitter (www.twitter.com/thurrott ), and appears
weekly in the highly rated and hugely popular Windows Weekly podcast with Leo Laporte
(www.twit.tv/ww).
Rafael Rivera is a software developer for a VAR 500 company, Telos Corporation, where he
works on mission critical systems. He is a Certified Reverse Engineering Analyst (CREA)
and takes Windows apart on his blog Within Windows (www.withinwindows.com). He also
regularly “tweets” (www.twitter.com/withinrafael). Rafael was born on the same day
as Windows 1.0—November 20, 1985—which many believe is no coincidence.
10. Credits
Acquisitions Editor Vice President and
Jenny Watson Executive Group Publisher
Richard Swadley
Executive Editor
Carol Long Vice President and
Executive Publisher
Senior Project Editor Barry Pruett
Kevin Kent
Associate Publisher
Development Editor Jim Minatel
Jeff Riley
Project Coordinator, Cover
Technical Editors Lynsey Stanford
Todd Meister
Joli Ballew Compositors
Craig Johnson and
Production Editor Maureen Forys,
Kathleen Wisor Happenstance Type-O-Rama
Copy Editor Proofreader
Luann Rouff Dr. Nate Pritts, Word One
Editorial Director Indexer
Robyn B. Siesky Robert Swanson
Editorial Manager Cover Designer
Mary Beth Wakefield Ryan Sneed
Production Manager
Tim Tate
11. Acknowledgments
I don’t even know where to start, so I’ll start at the beginning.
Thanks Mom and Dad, for pushing me to pursue my passions.
Thanks Gary, for starting me down this path in 1993. I miss you.
Thanks Adam, for having big ideas and taking a chance on me.
Thanks to everyone at Windows IT Pro Magazine—past and present—for an amazing
decade of growth and change.
Thanks to Jeff, Aimee, and Brittany at Lenovo. You are the best.
Thanks to Allen, Glen, and Marco at HP. My infrastructure is built on your stuff, and I
appreciate all your help.
Thanks, Stephanie, for believing in me and for giving me the time and space I need to get
this kind of thing completed. As always, you are the glue that makes our family work.
Thanks to Mark and Kelly for understanding about the missed baseball and softball
games. You both make me smile every day.
Thanks to Rafael for joining me on this confusing, busy, and stressful adventure. It’s nice
to have a true co-author for a change, one I can trust with anything, bounce ideas off, and
truly collaborate with. Welcome aboard.
Thanks to Kevin and Jen at Wiley for all your help. Hey, we finally got one done on time!
Also, thanks to Katie, who has moved on to bigger and better things, and to all the editors
who worked on this title. Thanks, too, to Carol for your invaluable help. You know why.
Thanks to Lucas for always being ready to find the answer. Thanks, too, to all my friends
and acquaintances at Microsoft and Wagged who helped me along the way.
Finally, thanks to my readers and listeners from around the world. I’ve enjoyed the conversa-
tions and hope they continue well into the future. It’s been a fantastic ride, but what makes
this fun isn’t so much the products as it is the relationships you make along the way.
—Paul
A very special thanks to my parents, for letting me consume their food and electricity
while working on this title night and day. I love you both!
A gut punch for Paul, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to his series of books
built by users for users. I look up to him. So should you.
A hug and a kiss to my girlfriend, Jenny, for being a proud and incredibly supportive
super-nerd, and for making me the happiest guy alive.
A special shout out to my friends Morgan and Jimmy, in ice cream heaven Vermont!
Chunky Monkey, baby!
A salute to Kevin, Jen, and all the folks at Wiley for tolerating our delays and helping us
push the book out on time. Without them, you wouldn’t be reading this. Seriously.
And finally, a thumbs up to all my readers around the world. I enjoy writing for you all!
To the people that spam me. I hate you.
—Rafael
12.
13. Contents at a Glance
Preface ..................................................................................................................................................... xxv
Read This First ........................................................................................................................................... 1
Part I: Surviving Setup ........................................................................................19
Chapter 1: Selecting the Right Windows 7 Edition ...............................................................................21
Chapter 2: Installing or Upgrading to Windows 7 ................................................................................ 45
Chapter 3: Hardware and Software Compatibility............................................................................... 89
Part II: The New and Improved Windows 7 User Experience...............117
Chapter 4: What’s New in the Windows 7 User Experience...............................................................119
Chapter 5: Where’s My Stuff? Finding and Organizing Files ............................................................195
Chapter 6: Personalizing and Configuring Windows 7 ..................................................................... 225
Part III: Security and Networking................................................................. 251
Chapter 7: Windows 7 Security Features ............................................................................................ 253
Chapter 8: Users, Accounts, and UAC ................................................................................................. 269
Chapter 9: Networking and HomeGroup Sharing.............................................................................. 301
Chapter 10: Complete Your Home Network with Windows Home Server ....................................... 335
Part IV: Digital Media and Entertainment ................................................. 357
Chapter 11: Digital Music and Audio ................................................................................................... 359
Chapter 12: Organizing, Fixing, and Sharing Digital Photos ............................................................419
Chapter 13: Digital Videos and DVD Movies ...................................................................................... 489
Chapter 14: Microsoft Zune: A Digital Media Alternative ................................................................ 553
Chapter 15: Digital Media in the Living Room ................................................................................... 609
Chapter 16: Having Fun: Games and Windows 7 ............................................................................... 665
Part V: Mobility .................................................................................................. 703
Chapter 17: Seven to Go: Windows 7 Mobility Features.................................................................... 705
Chapter 18: Using Tablet PCs and Ultra-Mobile PCs ......................................................................... 735
Chapter 19: Windows in Your Pocket—Using a Windows Mobile Smartphone .............................. 765
Part VI: Windows 7 Online ............................................................................. 787
Chapter 20: Browsing the Web ............................................................................................................. 789
Chapter 21: Managing E-mail and Contacts ....................................................................................... 837
Chapter 22: Managing Your Schedule................................................................................................. 865
Chapter 23: Your Life in Sync—Windows 7 and Live Services ......................................................... 899
14. Part VII: Windows 7 Power User .................................................................. 935
Chapter 24: Keeping Your Data Safe: File and PC Backup ............................................................... 937
Chapter 25: Troubleshooting and Recovering from Disaster............................................................. 961
Chapter 26: IT Pro: Windows 7 at Work ............................................................................................... 983
Index .................................................................................................................... 1011
15. Contents
Preface ....................................................................................................................................................... xv
Read This First .................................................................................................................................... 1
Believe the Hype ........................................................................................................................................ 2
Windows 7 in 15 Minutes .......................................................................................................................... 3
Better “Itties” ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Simpler Setup ........................................................................................................................................ 5
New Aero Desktop Capabilities ........................................................................................................... 6
Enhanced Taskbar................................................................................................................................. 7
Jump Lists .............................................................................................................................................. 8
Windows Touch ..................................................................................................................................... 9
Libraries ............................................................................................................................................... 10
HomeGroup Sharing ........................................................................................................................... 11
Internet Explorer 8............................................................................................................................... 11
New and Improved Applets ................................................................................................................ 12
But Wait, There’s More .............................................................................................................................13
Windows Live Essentials and Windows Live Services ..................................................................... 13
Zune...................................................................................................................................................... 14
Windows Mobile .................................................................................................................................. 15
Windows Home Server........................................................................................................................ 16
Our Promise to You ...................................................................................................................................17
Part I: Surviving Setup ........................................................................................19
Chapter 1: Selecting the Right Windows 7 Edition .............................................................. 21
The Way We Were: XP and Vista Product Editions ............................................................................. 22
Windows 7 Product Editions: Only a Little Bit Simpler ........................................................................ 25
Understanding the Differences and Choosing the Right Version ....................................................... 26
Step 1: Whittling Down the Product Editions List ............................................................................. 26
Step 2: Whittling a Little Further ........................................................................................................ 28
Step 3: Understanding the Differences Between the Product Editions ........................................... 28
Step 4: Making the Right Product Edition Choice ............................................................................ 34
Purchasing Windows 7 ............................................................................................................................ 37
With a New PC .................................................................................................................................... 37
Retail Boxed Copies ............................................................................................................................ 38
OEM Versions ...................................................................................................................................... 41
Windows Anytime Upgrade ............................................................................................................... 42
Summary ................................................................................................................................................... 44
16. xiv Contents
Chapter 2: Installing or Upgrading to Windows 7 ................................................................ 45
Taking the Easy Way Out: Acquiring Windows 7 with a New PC ..................................................... 46
Interactive Setup ...................................................................................................................................... 46
Clean Install ......................................................................................................................................... 47
Upgrading ............................................................................................................................................ 63
Upgrading from One Windows 7 Version to Another with Windows Anytime ................................. 76
Performing a Clean Install with an Upgrade Version of Windows 7 .................................................. 80
Delaying Product Activation ................................................................................................................... 82
Installing Windows 7 on a Mac .............................................................................................................. 84
Dual Boot with Mac: Using Boot Camp ............................................................................................. 85
Windows on Mac: Virtualization Solutions........................................................................................ 87
Summary ................................................................................................................................................... 88
Chapter 3: Hardware and Software Compatibility ............................................................... 89
Hidden Perils of the Windows 7 Upgrade ............................................................................................. 90
The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor ...........................................................................................................91
Using the Upgrade Advisor ................................................................................................................ 92
Picking through the Results ................................................................................................................ 93
Drivers That Lack a Windows 7–Compatible Version ...................................................................... 95
Understanding Windows 7 Compatibility Issues.................................................................................. 95
Hardware Compatibility ..................................................................................................................... 96
Software Compatibility ....................................................................................................................... 97
x64: Is It Time? ..................................................................................................................................... 97
Dealing with Software Incompatibility ................................................................................................. 98
Compatibility Mode............................................................................................................................. 98
Windows Virtual PC and XP Mode .................................................................................................. 102
Summary ..................................................................................................................................................115
Part II: The New and Improved Windows 7 User Experience...............117
Chapter 4: What’s New in the Windows 7 User Experience............................................ 119
Understanding the Windows 7 User Experience ................................................................................ 120
Windows Classic ................................................................................................................................ 123
Windows 7 Basic ................................................................................................................................ 124
Windows 7 Standard ......................................................................................................................... 125
Windows Aero.................................................................................................................................... 126
Personalizing the Windows Desktop ................................................................................................... 130
Using Aero Themes ........................................................................................................................... 130
Creating a Desktop Slide Show........................................................................................................ 133
Exploring with the Windows 7 Explorer Shell .................................................................................... 135
Start Menu ......................................................................................................................................... 135
Desktop .............................................................................................................................................. 148
Using Desktop Gadgets .................................................................................................................... 159
The New Windows 7 Taskbar .......................................................................................................... 166
Notification Area and System Clock ................................................................................................ 172
Windows Explorers ............................................................................................................................ 176
Bundled Windows 7 Applications .................................................................................................... 184
17. Contents xv
Windows Touch: Reach Out and Touch Some Screen .........................................................................188
More to Come …..................................................................................................................................... 193
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 194
Chapter 5:Where’s My Stuff? Finding and Organizing Files ............................................195
Understanding Libraries ....................................................................................................................... 196
Virtual Folders 101 ............................................................................................................................ 196
Libraries and Windows 7 .................................................................................................................. 198
Special Shell Folders…Now Just User Folders ............................................................................... 203
Where Is It Now? ............................................................................................................................... 205
Visualization and Organization: How to Make the Windows Shell Work for You .......................... 207
Sorting and Grouping the Explorer View Styles ............................................................................. 210
Arranging: The Organizational Advantage of Libraries ................................................................ 212
Custom Libraries and Saved Searches .................................................................................................214
Creating Custom Libraries................................................................................................................ 214
Using Saved Searches ....................................................................................................................... 217
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 223
Chapter 6: Personalizing and Configuring Windows 7 .....................................................225
The Windows 7 User Interface.............................................................................................................. 226
Customizing the Start Menu ............................................................................................................. 226
Configuring Folder Options .............................................................................................................. 231
Replacing Windows 7’s Compressed Folders with Something More Useful ................................ 232
Replacing the User Interface ............................................................................................................ 233
Branding Windows 7 like a PC Maker............................................................................................. 234
Making It Faster: Performance Tweaks ............................................................................................... 238
Taking Out the Trash ........................................................................................................................ 238
Making It Boot Faster ........................................................................................................................ 239
Using Windows 7’s Performance Options........................................................................................ 241
Appearance and Performance Tweaking ........................................................................................ 243
Monitoring Performance and Reliability.......................................................................................... 244
Improving Windows 7’s Memory ..................................................................................................... 246
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 250
Part III: Security and Networking................................................................. 251
Chapter 7: Windows 7 Security Features...............................................................................253
Security and Windows 7........................................................................................................................ 254
Securing Windows 7 in Just Two Steps ............................................................................................... 255
Action Center ......................................................................................................................................... 256
Windows Defender................................................................................................................................. 259
Windows Firewall ................................................................................................................................. 260
Windows Update .................................................................................................................................... 263
18. xvi Contents
Internet Explorer 8 Security Features .................................................................................................. 264
InPrivate Browsing ............................................................................................................................ 264
SmartScreen Filter ............................................................................................................................. 265
Address Bar Domain Name Highlighting ........................................................................................ 266
Other Internet Explorer Security Features ...................................................................................... 267
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 267
Chapter 8: Users, Accounts, and UAC .................................................................................... 269
Understanding User Accounts .............................................................................................................. 270
Creating the Initial User Account..................................................................................................... 271
Understanding Account Types ........................................................................................................ 272
User Account Control..............................................................................................................................272
How UAC Works ............................................................................................................................... 273
How UAC Has Changed in Windows 7 ........................................................................................... 276
Changing How UAC Works (The Hard Way) ................................................................................. 280
Parental Controls.................................................................................................................................... 287
Configuring Parental Controls.......................................................................................................... 287
Extending Parental Controls with Windows Live Family Safety ................................................... 294
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 299
Chapter 9: Networking and HomeGroup Sharing ..............................................................301
Windows XP with SP2: A First Look at Today’s Networking Infrastructure ................................... 302
What’s New in Windows 7 Networking ............................................................................................... 304
Network Locations ................................................................................................................................. 305
Network and Sharing Center................................................................................................................ 308
Looking at the Network Map ........................................................................................................... 309
Viewing Active Networks ................................................................................................................. 310
Changing Network Settings ............................................................................................................. 311
Setting Up a New Connection or Network ...................................................................................... 312
Connecting to a Network .................................................................................................................. 315
Managing Network Connections ..................................................................................................... 317
Other Network-Related Tasks .......................................................................................................... 319
Using Network Explorer ........................................................................................................................ 320
Sharing Between PCs ............................................................................................................................ 322
HomeGroup Sharing ......................................................................................................................... 322
Old-School Sharing ........................................................................................................................... 329
Sharing Printers ................................................................................................................................. 333
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 333
Chapter 10: Complete Your Home Network with Windows Home Server ................335
Introducing the Home Server ............................................................................................................... 336
Windows Home Server Evolution ......................................................................................................... 337
Windows Home Server Installation and Configuration ..................................................................... 338
Admin Console Drive-By ...................................................................................................................... 340
Computers & Backup ........................................................................................................................ 342
User Accounts .................................................................................................................................... 343
19. Contents xvii
Shared Folders ................................................................................................................................... 344
Server Storage ................................................................................................................................... 344
Settings ............................................................................................................................................... 346
Deep Dive: Windows Home Server Features ...................................................................................... 348
PC Backup and Restore..................................................................................................................... 348
PC and Server Health Monitoring.................................................................................................... 350
Document and Media Sharing ......................................................................................................... 351
Remote Access ................................................................................................................................... 352
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 355
Part IV: Digital Media and Entertainment ................................................. 357
Chapter 11: Digital Music and Audio.......................................................................................359
Media Player Basics ............................................................................................................................... 360
Setting Up Windows Media Player 12 ............................................................................................. 361
Understanding the Windows Media Player User Interface ............................................................ 365
Using the Windows Media Player Toolbar Options........................................................................ 370
Playing Music and Other Media ...................................................................................................... 375
Finding and Managing Your Music ................................................................................................. 378
Playing with Photos, Videos, and Recorded TV Shows .................................................................. 380
Ripping CDs to the PC ........................................................................................................................... 387
Ripping Music .................................................................................................................................... 388
Burning Your Own Music CDs ............................................................................................................. 391
Accessing Media from the Windows Shell .......................................................................................... 394
Synchronizing with Portable Devices .................................................................................................. 395
Using Windows Media–Compatible Devices .................................................................................. 395
Synchronizing with a Portable Device ............................................................................................. 398
Using Shuffle...................................................................................................................................... 399
Managing Portable Devices in Windows Media Player ................................................................. 400
Sharing Your Music Library.................................................................................................................. 402
Share and Share Alike: Setting Up Your PC for Sharing ............................................................... 403
Connecting to a Shared Music Library with Xbox 360................................................................... 412
Accessing Online Music Stores .............................................................................................................413
Amazon MP3...................................................................................................................................... 413
Other Music and Audio Stores ......................................................................................................... 416
Summary ..................................................................................................................................................417
Chapter 12: Organizing, Fixing, and Sharing Digital Photos ...........................................419
A Look Back: Photo Management in Windows XP and Vista ........................................................... 420
Using the Pictures Library .................................................................................................................... 423
Where Is It Now? ............................................................................................................................... 425
Managing Content in the Pictures Library ...................................................................................... 427
Viewing Information about Pictures ................................................................................................ 431
Viewing Photos .................................................................................................................................. 432
Optimizing Folders for Pictures (But Not Libraries)........................................................................ 435
Playing Photo Slide Shows from the Shell ........................................................................................... 437
20. xviii Contents
Managing Pictures with Windows Live Photo Gallery ...................................................................... 438
First Things First ................................................................................................................................ 438
Examining the Windows Live Photo Gallery User Interface .......................................................... 439
Viewing Individual Photos ................................................................................................................ 441
Changing How Your Digital Memories Are Displayed .................................................................. 443
Adding Captions, Ratings, and People Tags to Your Pictures ....................................................... 451
Importing Pictures into Photo Gallery .............................................................................................. 462
Editing Pictures.................................................................................................................................. 469
Sharing Photos with Others .............................................................................................................. 477
Using Photo Gallery to Manage Digital Videos .................................................................................. 487
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 488
Chapter 13: Digital Videos and DVD Movies ....................................................................... 489
Managing Digital Movies ..................................................................................................................... 490
My Videos: Managing Digital Movies with the Windows 7 Shell ................................................. 490
Watching and Managing Movies with Windows Live Photo Gallery............................................ 495
Watching and Managing Movies with Windows Media Player .................................................... 498
Watching and Managing Movies with Windows Media Center ................................................... 500
Editing Digital Video with Windows Live Movie Maker................................................................... 503
Starting Windows Live Movie Maker .............................................................................................. 504
Understanding the Movie Maker User Interface ............................................................................ 505
Working with Projects ....................................................................................................................... 507
Importing Content ............................................................................................................................. 507
Editing Your Video ............................................................................................................................ 512
Sharing Your Videos ......................................................................................................................... 521
Creating DVD Movies with Windows DVD Maker ............................................................................ 526
Adding Photos and Videos to Your DVD Project ............................................................................ 528
Naming Your DVD Movie ................................................................................................................ 533
Understanding DVD Movie Options ................................................................................................ 533
Working with DVD Menus ............................................................................................................... 535
Changing Other DVD Options ......................................................................................................... 537
Writing the Movie to Disc ................................................................................................................. 541
The Final Frontier: Duplicating and Copying DVDs...........................................................................541
Duplicating DVD Movies .................................................................................................................. 543
Ripping DVDs to the PC ................................................................................................................... 545
Summary ..................................................................................................................................................551
Chapter 14: Microsoft Zune: A Digital Media Alternative ...............................................553
Why Zune? .............................................................................................................................................. 554
Zune 1.0.............................................................................................................................................. 555
Zune 2................................................................................................................................................. 556
Zune 3................................................................................................................................................. 558
The Zune PC Software .......................................................................................................................... 559
Finding and Installing Zune ............................................................................................................. 559
Configuring the Zune Software ........................................................................................................ 562
Using Zune ......................................................................................................................................... 565
Sharing Zune ..................................................................................................................................... 584
21. Contents xix
World Wide Zune: A Look at the Zune Online Services .................................................................... 586
Zune Marketplace ............................................................................................................................. 587
Zune Social ........................................................................................................................................ 592
Zune to Go: Using Zune Devices .......................................................................................................... 595
Choosing a Zune................................................................................................................................ 597
Linking Your Zune: Installing and Configuring the Player............................................................ 598
To Sync or Not to Sync, That Is the Question.................................................................................. 601
Updating Zune ................................................................................................................................... 606
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 607
Chapter 15: Digital Media in the Living Room ................................................................... 609
A Short History of Media Center ...........................................................................................................610
Media Center in Windows 7 ..................................................................................................................613
Configuring Media Center ....................................................................................................................614
Running the Media Center Setup Wizard ....................................................................................... 617
Configuring Media Center Features after Setup ............................................................................ 624
A Continually Evolving User Interface ................................................................................................ 629
Exploring the Media Center Experiences ........................................................................................... 634
TV ....................................................................................................................................................... 634
Movies ................................................................................................................................................ 639
Pictures + Videos ............................................................................................................................... 642
Music .................................................................................................................................................. 645
Extras .................................................................................................................................................. 650
Sports .................................................................................................................................................. 650
Accessing Windows Media Center Away from the PC ...................................................................... 652
Using an Xbox 360 or Media Center Extender ............................................................................... 653
Synchronizing with Portable Devices .............................................................................................. 657
Burning a DVD Movie or Music CD ................................................................................................ 661
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 664
Chapter 16: Having Fun: Games and Windows 7............................................................... 665
Games That Come with Windows 7 ..................................................................................................... 666
Using the Games Explorer .....................................................................................................................674
Customizing Games Explorer ........................................................................................................... 679
Rating Your System’s Performance .................................................................................................. 683
Managing Your Game Controllers and Other Game-Related Hardware ..................................... 685
Installing and Playing Third-Party Games ......................................................................................... 688
Games for Windows - LIVE................................................................................................................... 691
Xbox Live on Windows? .................................................................................................................... 691
The Games for Windows - LIVE Experience ................................................................................... 693
Summary ..................................................................................................................................................701
Part V: Mobility .................................................................................................. 703
Chapter 17: Seven to Go: Windows 7 Mobility Features ..................................................705
Windows 7 on the Road ......................................................................................................................... 706
Working with the Windows 7 User Interface ...................................................................................... 707
22. xx Contents
Power Management ................................................................................................................................711
Battery Meter ..................................................................................................................................... 711
Power Plans ........................................................................................................................................ 713
Power Options Control Panel ........................................................................................................... 716
Windows Mobility Center ..................................................................................................................... 725
Presentations A-Go-Go ..........................................................................................................................727
Presentation Settings ......................................................................................................................... 727
Using a Network Projector ................................................................................................................ 728
Other Mobile Features .......................................................................................................................... 729
Offline Files and Folders ................................................................................................................... 729
Windows SideShow ........................................................................................................................... 731
Improved Support for Tablet PC Hardware .................................................................................... 731
Using Windows 7 with a Netbook .........................................................................................................732
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 734
Chapter 18: Using Tablet PCs and Ultra-Mobile PCs .........................................................735
A Short History of the Tablet PC .......................................................................................................... 736
Using a Tablet PC ....................................................................................................................................741
Configuring Tablet PC Features ...................................................................................................... 741
Using the Tablet PC Input Panel ...................................................................................................... 748
Flicks and Gestures ........................................................................................................................... 753
Password Hiding on Logon with Pen ............................................................................................... 756
Shell Changes for Tablet PC Users .................................................................................................. 756
Working with Ultra-Mobile PCs ............................................................................................................757
Origami 1.0 ........................................................................................................................................ 758
A New Origami .................................................................................................................................. 758
A Tour of the UMPC Software.......................................................................................................... 760
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 763
Chapter 19: Windows in Your Pocket—Using a Windows Mobile Smartphone .........765
History of Windows Mobile................................................................................................................... 766
Windows Mobile Today ......................................................................................................................... 769
Windows Mobile 6.1 .......................................................................................................................... 770
Windows Mobile 6.5 .......................................................................................................................... 771
Windows Mobile and Windows 7 ..........................................................................................................772
Managing the Device Partnership ................................................................................................... 775
Changing Device Settings ................................................................................................................ 778
Windows Mobile in the Cloud: Microsoft’s Mobile Web Services ....................................................781
My Phone ........................................................................................................................................... 781
Windows Live for Windows Mobile ................................................................................................. 784
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 786
Part VI: Windows 7 Online ............................................................................. 787
Chapter 20: Browsing the Web ................................................................................................789
What Happened ..................................................................................................................................... 790
Initial Internet Explorer Configuration.................................................................................................791
23. Contents xxi
Core Internet Explorer Usage ............................................................................................................... 794
Starting Internet Explorer ................................................................................................................. 794
New Link, New Window…or New Tab ........................................................................................... 795
Managing Downloads from the Internet ......................................................................................... 795
Edit on the Internet Explorer Toolbar .............................................................................................. 795
The Complete AutoComplete ........................................................................................................... 796
Quickly Searching the Web .............................................................................................................. 797
Toggling Internet Explorer between Full-Screen Mode and Restore ........................................... 797
Favorites and Offline Web Pages ..................................................................................................... 798
Saving Graphics from the Web to Your PC ..................................................................................... 799
Saving Complete Web Pages ........................................................................................................... 799
Turning Your Favorites into a Web Page ........................................................................................ 800
Internet Explorer 8 Is Not Your Father’s Web Browser....................................................................... 801
The Command Bar ............................................................................................................................ 803
Where Is It Now? ............................................................................................................................... 806
Internet Explorer 8 Features and Functionality.................................................................................. 807
Playing Favorites ............................................................................................................................... 807
Navigating the Web with Tabs......................................................................................................... 810
Integrated, Visual Web Search ......................................................................................................... 814
Working with the Internet Explorer Display ................................................................................... 818
Printing ............................................................................................................................................... 819
Covering Your Tracks ....................................................................................................................... 822
Understanding and Using RSS ............................................................................................................. 825
Viewing an RSS Feed ........................................................................................................................ 826
Subscribing to an RSS Feed .............................................................................................................. 827
Managing RSS Feeds ........................................................................................................................ 828
Using Web Slices .................................................................................................................................... 830
Using Accelerators ................................................................................................................................. 831
Internet Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts ................................................................................................. 834
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 836
Chapter 21: Managing E-mail and Contacts ..........................................................................837
Introducing Windows Live Mail ........................................................................................................... 838
Installing Windows Live Mail ........................................................................................................... 839
Configuring Windows Mail: A Few Quick Tips for Getting Started ............................................. 841
Changing Windows Mail Options Right Away ............................................................................... 843
Windows Live Mail Basics ................................................................................................................ 843
Working Online or Offline ................................................................................................................ 848
Handling Multiple E-mail Accounts ................................................................................................ 848
Choosing Which Account to Send Your Messages Through ......................................................... 849
New Mail Notifications ..................................................................................................................... 850
Leaving Mail on the Server .............................................................................................................. 850
Converting Mail................................................................................................................................. 850
No More Identities ............................................................................................................................. 850
New Mail Storage .............................................................................................................................. 851
Security Features ............................................................................................................................... 852
Accessing RSS Feeds......................................................................................................................... 853
Using Photo Mail ............................................................................................................................... 856
Managing Contacts ............................................................................................................................... 861
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 864
24. xxii Contents
Chapter 22: Managing Your Schedule ................................................................................... 865
Understanding Calendaring ................................................................................................................. 866
Exploring Windows Live Calendar ...................................................................................................... 868
Managing Your Schedule with Windows Live Mail ...........................................................................873
Understanding the Calendar Interface in Windows Live Mail ...................................................... 874
Understanding Calendar Lingo ........................................................................................................ 875
Working with Calendars ................................................................................................................... 876
Understanding Calendar Views and Navigation ............................................................................ 878
Hiding and Viewing Calendars ........................................................................................................ 880
Configuring Calendar ....................................................................................................................... 880
Working with Events ............................................................................................................................. 882
Examining Event Properties ............................................................................................................. 883
Tsk, Tsk: No Tasks.................................................................................................................................. 886
Creating To-do’s ................................................................................................................................ 886
Configuring To-do’s .......................................................................................................................... 888
Sharing Calendars ................................................................................................................................. 890
Importing Calendars ......................................................................................................................... 890
Subscribing to Calendars .................................................................................................................. 891
Sharing Your Own Calendars with Others...................................................................................... 892
Printing Calendars................................................................................................................................. 895
Printing from Windows Live Calendar ............................................................................................ 895
Printing from Calendar ..................................................................................................................... 896
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 897
Chapter 23: Your Life in Sync—Windows 7 and Live Services ....................................... 899
Windows Live and Windows 7: What’s Included ................................................................................ 901
Going Online and Learning about Windows Live.............................................................................. 902
Windows Live Services That Make Windows 7 Better ...................................................................... 903
Tying It All Together: Windows Live ID .......................................................................................... 904
Windows Live Home ......................................................................................................................... 905
Windows Live Profile......................................................................................................................... 906
Windows Live Hotmail ...................................................................................................................... 907
Windows Live People ........................................................................................................................ 912
Windows Live Calendar .................................................................................................................... 913
Windows Live Photos ........................................................................................................................ 914
Windows Live Spaces ........................................................................................................................ 916
Windows Live Events ........................................................................................................................ 917
Windows Live SkyDrive .................................................................................................................... 918
Windows Live FrameIt ...................................................................................................................... 919
Windows Live Groups ....................................................................................................................... 920
Windows Live Essentials ................................................................................................................... 921
Beyond Windows Live: The Mesh ........................................................................................................ 928
Live Mesh Document Sync ............................................................................................................... 931
Live Mesh Remote Desktop .............................................................................................................. 932
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 933
25. Contents xxiii
Part VII: Windows 7 Power User .................................................................. 935
Chapter 24: Keeping Your Data Safe: File and PC Backup ..............................................937
Different Backups, Different Goals ...................................................................................................... 938
Data Backup....................................................................................................................................... 938
System Image..................................................................................................................................... 939
File Recovery ..................................................................................................................................... 939
Available Backup Capabilities in Various Windows 7 Versions ....................................................... 940
One Tool to Rule Them All: Using Backup and Restore .................................................................... 940
Backing Up Documents, Pictures, and Other Data ......................................................................... 941
Managing Backups............................................................................................................................ 946
Restoring Files ................................................................................................................................... 948
Backing Up the Entire PC: System Image ....................................................................................... 951
Restoring the Entire PC ..................................................................................................................... 955
Recovering Old Versions of Data Files................................................................................................. 957
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 959
Chapter 25: Troubleshooting and Recovering from Disaster ..........................................961
Using Windows Troubleshooting.......................................................................................................... 962
Accessing Windows Troubleshooting .............................................................................................. 963
Configuring Windows Troubleshooting........................................................................................... 964
Examining the Troubleshooters ....................................................................................................... 965
Real-World Troubleshooting: What Happens When Something Goes Wrong ............................. 969
Getting Help with the Problem Steps Recorder ...................................................................................971
Using the Windows Recovery Environment .........................................................................................974
Looking at the Repair Tools .............................................................................................................. 975
Using Startup Repair to Fix a Non-Booting PC ............................................................................... 977
Using System Restore to Repair Windows ........................................................................................... 977
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 981
Chapter 26: IT Pro: Windows 7 at Work................................................................................983
Windows 7 for the Enterprise ............................................................................................................... 984
Search Federation and Enterprise Search Scopes .......................................................................... 986
VPN Reconnect and DirectAccess ................................................................................................... 986
BranchCache...................................................................................................................................... 987
Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack ............................................................................................. 988
AppLocker.......................................................................................................................................... 989
Business Features (Almost) Anyone Can Use ..................................................................................... 990
BitLocker ............................................................................................................................................ 990
BitLocker To Go ................................................................................................................................. 992
Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode ................................................................................. 999
Virtual Hard Drive (VHD) Mounting ............................................................................................. 1001
Windows PowerShell 2.0................................................................................................................. 1003
Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 1009
Index ................................................................................................................................................1011
26.
27. Preface
Welcome to Windows 7 Secrets. We hope you enjoy combing through this book as much
as we enjoyed digging deep into Windows 7 to find the most valuable information for
you. Ultimately, Windows isn’t just about the pieces that Microsoft ships on a disc; it also
includes the satellite products and services that support the base OS. This book reflects
that fact and, as a result, we hope you will find it more valuable and useful. Thanks for
reading.
—Paul Thurrott
paul.thurrott@penton.com
—Rafael Rivera
rafael@withinwindows.com
July 2009
Web Site Supporting the Book
This book is only the beginning: more secrets can be found online. For updates, errata, new
information, and an ongoing blog with interactive discussions, please visit the SuperSite
for Windows (www.winsupersite.com) and WithinWindows (www.withinwindows.com).
The official site for the book can be found at www.winsupersite.com/book.
Icons Used in This Book
The following icons are used in this book to help draw your attention to some of the most
important or most useful information in the book.
The Secret icon marks little-known facts that are not obvious to most Windows
users. This information is rarely documented by Microsoft, and when it is, it’s
done so in a way that’s not easy for users to find.
The Tip icon indicates a helpful trick.
The Note icon points out items of importance.
28. xxvi Windows 7 Secrets
The Cross-Reference icon points to chapters where additional information can be
found.
The Caution icon warns you about possible negative side-effects or precautions you
should take before making a change.
29. Read This First
In This Chapter
Discovering that, yes, Windows 7 really is that good
Taking a quick tour of new and improved Windows 7 features
Looking at the products and services that complete the
Windows 7 experience
Continuing your exploration of Windows 7 on the Web
30. 2 Read This First
W ell, it’s here. Windows 7 is Microsoft’s latest desktop operating system, and while
that’s notable on its own, this time around Microsoft appears to have really gotten
it right. With Windows Vista, those in the know fought an uphill battle trying to convince
people that it wasn’t as horrible as pundits and know-nothing bloggers claimed. But
Windows 7 is different. This time around, Microsoft has tweaked, prodded, and improved
virtually every single aspect of the OS, and as a result the Windows Vista goose has
evolved into the Windows 7 swan. Despite sharing common underpinnings, Windows 7
is perceived to be dramatically superior to Windows Vista. And that opinion is nearly
universal: all those clowns that were falling over each other to out-criticize Windows
Vista now can’t compliment Windows 7 enough. For once, they may be on to something:
Windows 7 is the best OS to come out of Redmond in a long, long time. And in this initial
chapter, we’ll try to explain why that is so.
Believe the Hype
Virtually everywhere you look, the reviews are positive. With Windows 7, Microsoft has
finally provided a technically excellent and lust-worthy desktop OS. It’s “Vista done
right.” It’s an apology for the mistakes of its predecessor, a technological mea culpa that
tries to right the wrongs. Okay, maybe. But we think of it like this. Windows 7 is the fin-
est desktop OS Microsoft has ever released. It benefits from the work that came before,
in Windows Vista, and from a strict adherence to principles of simplicity, elegance, and
clarity. Microsoft didn’t bite off more than it could chew, and instead of the mess of weird
bundled applications and capabilities that muddled Windows Vista, Windows 7 presents
a much clearer picture. In fact, the more time you spend with Windows 7, the more you
realize that Microsoft went over this product with a fine-toothed comb. No code, no bit,
no pixel was left untouched. If something could be simplified, cleaned up, tweaked, or
made better in some way, it was.
All that said—Windows 7 isn’t perfect. Heresy, we know. But consider the following.
While Windows 7 performs better than Windows Vista, it’s still slower than XP on the
same hardware and less compatible with existing hardware and software, even with the
Windows XP Mode solution. We think that’s just fine. After all, Windows XP is almost
a decade old. More important, the differences are minimal and negligible on newer
hardware.
Some Windows 7 features will be confusing. The new Windows 7 taskbar hides windows,
and the improved notification area hides icons, obscuring the fact that applications are
autoloading during boot-time, increasing the amount of time that it takes to boot and
killing off value system resources.
Finally, if you’re coming to Windows 7 from Windows Vista, the change won’t seem as
dramatic as it will if you stuck with XP. That’s because Windows 7 is really just an evolu-
tion of Windows Vista. So you can expect more of the same, even though it’s a “better
same”—if that makes sense.
Taken in context, Windows 7 is something special. But just as it’s important to understand
how to take advantage of its best new features, it’s equally important to know where it falls
flat so you find workarounds. And when you think about it, that’s exactly what this book
is all about. We document the good, the bad, and the ugly. Fortunately, with Windows 7,
it’s mostly good.
31. Read This First 3
Windows 7 in 15 Minutes
This entire book is, of course, dedicated to Windows 7 and, to a lesser extent, the ecosys-
tem of products and services that complete the Windows experience. But if you’re looking
for a quick rundown of some of the most important new changes and features in Windows,
you don’t have to read the whole book, at least not yet. Instead, we present here a crash
course on Windows 7. Read on and you can learn about the most important new features of
Windows 7 in the time it takes to sip a perfectly made latte. And we’ll point you to where
you can find out more about these features, when applicable: Windows 7 Secrets wasn’t
designed to be read from cover to cover. Instead, you should feel free to jump around and
explore those topics that are the most confusing or interesting first.
Better “Itties”
Compared to its predecessors, Windows 7 offers better reliability, compatibility, security,
and, um, “performity,” or what we jokingly call the “itties.” These improvements are per-
vasive to Windows 7 and appear at every level of the experience, from low-level tweaks
that make the system run better to major end-user features that are so fun and useful
they’ll literally bring a smile to your face.
On the reliability front, Windows 7 is engineered to withstand problems, proactively seek
out issues that might otherwise undermine system integrity, and then help you solve
problems that do manage to get through Windows 7’s defenses using the new Windows
Troubleshooting infrastructure (see Figure 1). And unlike with Windows Vista, most
Backup and Restore features are available in all Windows 7 product versions.
Figure 1: Windows Troubleshooting helps you solve problems.
32. 4 Read This First
You can find out more about Windows 7’s repair and recovery tools in Chapter 25. We
discuss Backup and Restore in Chapter 24.
Windows 7 also builds off of the hardware and software compatibility improvements that
Microsoft engineered over the first 3 years of Windows Vista’s lifetime. If Vista compat-
ibility isn’t good enough, a new feature called Windows XP Mode provides the capability
to run many Windows XP applications in a special virtualized environment, side-by-side
with native Windows 7 applications. Windows XP Mode is shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Windows XP Mode enables you to run XP applications side by side with Windows 7
applications.
We discuss Windows XP Mode in Chapter 3.
33. Read This First 5
Microsoft made huge security gains in Windows Vista, and Windows 7 builds on that
foundation by making the controversial User Account Control (UAC) feature less annoy-
ing, adding new security and privacy controls to Internet Explorer 8 (see Figure 3), and
adding important new monitoring capabilities to Action Center, the replacement for Vista’s
Security Center.
Figure 3: Internet Explorer 8 InPrivate Browsing lets you cover your tracks online.
We look at security in Chapter 7.
On the performance front, Windows 7 marks the first time since, oh, the early 1990s that
a new version of Windows actually substantially outperforms its predecessor on the same
hardware. Windows 7 runs so well that it will tame everything from a 3-year-old Ultra
Mobile PC (UMPC) to a modern if otherwise underpowered netbook.
Simpler Setup
Thanks to improvements in the componentization of the underlying operating system,
Windows 7 Setup, shown in Figure 4, is simpler and faster than ever. So whether you’re
doing a clean install of the OS, upgrading from Windows Vista, migrating from Windows
XP or Vista, or upgrading a version of Windows 7 to a better version of Windows 7,
Microsoft has you covered. And using tools like Windows Easy Transfer, it’s possible
34. 6 Read This First
to ensure that all your old settings and data make it from your old PC to Windows 7 no
matter how you upgrade.
Figure 4: Windows 7 Setup is simpler and faster than previous versions and has fewer steps
for you to babysit.
We cover all installation eventualities in Chapter 2.
New Aero Desktop Capabilities
When Windows Vista debuted in 2006, the glasslike Windows Aero user interface was
the biggest usability news. But in Windows 7, Microsoft takes Aero to the next level with
a wide range of new desktop effects. These include such things as Aero Peek, shown in
Figure 5, Aero Shake, Aero Themes, and Aero Snaps. But the Windows desktop isn’t just
about desktop effects. Windows 7 also makes it easier than ever to modify other aspects
of the user experience, including the use of desktop gadgets and support for high-DPI
displays and multiple monitors.
35. Read This First 7
Figure 5: Windows Aero is more pervasive and capable in Windows 7.
We examine the Aero desktop effects and Windows desktop gadgets in Chapter 4.
Enhanced Taskbar
In one of the more controversial changes in Windows 7, Microsoft has dramatically
enhanced the capabilities of the taskbar, essentially combining the capabilities of the
Quick Launch toolbar and taskbar from Windows Vista into a single user experience.
Now, you can pin shortcuts to the taskbar, rearrange buttons on the taskbar as you see
fit, and manage running and nonrunning applications from this single location. The new
Windows 7 taskbar is shown in Figure 6.
36. 8 Read This First
Figure 6: The new Windows 7 taskbar is indeed super.
The Windows 7 taskbar is also covered in Chapter 4.
Jump Lists
In addition to the new taskbar, Microsoft has enhanced shortcuts in the Windows 7 task-
bar and Start menu with a new feature called Jump Lists. These context-sensitive “Mini
Start Menus” appear when you right-click, providing access to customized task and recent
document lists for the underlying applications. While all applications get a standard Jump
List, developers are free to customize these lists in interesting ways, and of course, built-in
Windows 7 applications often come with customized Jump Lists, like the Media Player
Jump List shown in Figure 7.
Figure 7: Windows Media Player sports
a customized Jump List.
37. Read This First 9
In Chapter 4, we introduce Jump Lists.
Windows Touch
While Apple popularized multi-touch capabilities in the smartphone space with the
iPhone, Microsoft can be credited with doing so on the PC. Building on the Tablet PC
and touch capabilities in previous versions of Windows, Windows 7 is the first to offer
pervasive multi-touch functionality courtesy of Windows Touch, shown in Figure 8.
Figure 8: Windows Touch lets you control a PC entirely with your fingers…or just finger paint.
Windows Touch is, ahem, touched on in Chapter 4 and Chapter 18.
38. 10 Read This First
Libraries
In a new bid to end the organizational nightmares that dog many Windows users,
Windows 7 combines the virtualization technology it introduced in Windows 7 with the
special shell folder concepts it has been evolving since Windows 95. The result is Libraries,
special saved searches that aggregate content from around the PC file system and present
them in a single cohesive view. Windows 7 includes built-in Libraries such as Documents,
Music, Pictures (shown in Figure 9), and Videos, but you’re welcome to make your own
as well.
Figure 9: Libraries aggregate content and provide unique and attractive organizational view
styles.
We explain Libraries in Chapter 5.
39. Read This First 11
HomeGroup Sharing
While Windows has included increasingly easier network-based sharing capabilities over
the years, Windows 7 is the simplest yet. Thanks to a new feature called HomeGroup,
shown in Figure 10, you can easily share documents, music, pictures, videos, and print-
ers on your home network and do so without mucking around with user names and
permissions.
Figure 10: The Windows 7 HomeGroup feature makes it easier than
ever to share media, documents, and printers on your home network.
HomeGroup sharing is covered in Chapter 9.
Internet Explorer 8
Windows 7 includes the latest version of Microsoft’s popular browser, Internet Explorer 8,
shown in Figure 11. This browser builds on the important usability and security founda-
tion of its predecessor and adds such features as Web Slices, Accelerators, Compatibility
View Updates, InPrivate Browsing, and more.
40. 12 Read This First
Figure 11: Internet Explorer 8
We look at Internet Explorer 8 in Chapter 20. IE8’s security features are covered in
Chapter 7.
New and Improved Applets
While legacy Windows applets got short shrift in Windows Vista, they’ve all been enhanced
and updated in Windows 7. And there are some new applets, too. All Windows 7 users will
be able to utilize dramatically updated versions of Paint, WordPad, and Calculator, as well
as a few new bundled apps like Sticky Notes and XPS Viewer, shown in Figure 12.
We look at Windows 7 applets in Chapter 4.
41. Read This First 13
Figure 12: Windows 7 applets
But Wait, There’s More
You want more? Oh, there’s more. In addition to the hundreds of other features and
changes that are included in Windows 7, Microsoft is also busy expanding the Windows
ecosystem to include products and services that extend Windows 7’s capabilities or, in
some cases, fall outside of the traditional PC desktop. We cover a number of these tech-
nologies in the book because they do indeed complete the Windows 7 experience.
Windows Live Essentials and Windows Live Services
A few years before Microsoft shipped Windows 7, it began separately reevaluating the
relationship between its PC operating system and the various online products and services
it was then offering through its MSN brand. Executives at the company determined that
they wanted to bring the company’s Windows, online, and mobile experiences together
in ways that were seamless but wouldn’t run into any of the antitrust issues presented by
previous integration strategies regarding Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player.
42. 14 Read This First
The result was Windows Live, a set of online products and services that extend the
Windows user experience in exciting and unique ways. The sheer number of Windows
Live services is somewhat daunting, and complicating matters is the fact that there are
other Microsoft Live services, including Office Live, Games for Windows Live, Xbox Live,
Live Mesh, and more.
And of course, Microsoft has removed several applications from Windows 7 and now ships
them as part of the Windows Live Essentials suite (see Figure 13). This way, they can be
updated more frequently—and Microsoft can stave off the antitrust regulators.
Figure 13: Windows Live Essentials
Microsoft’s Live services are discussed in detail in Chapter 23, and we cover the vari-
ous applications in the Windows Live Essentials suite throughout the book.
Zune
While Microsoft continues to evolve its Windows Media platform and includes an impres-
sive new Windows Media Player in Windows 7, the company seems to realize that the
future lies elsewhere. For this reason, it has been pushing its Zune digital media platform
on the side as well; and from what we can tell, the Zune—shown in Figure 14—has enough
important unique features that it’s a viable Windows Media replacement. Heck, it may
even offer the iPod serious competition—someday.
