Windows 7 tweaks and tips
The user interface of Windows 7 is definitely a big improvement. But there are hidden features that enable you to get even more from it.
07 April 2010
Alt + p in Windows Explorer
In Windows Explorer, you have a file pane at the left and a preview page at the right. The keyboard shortcut alt + p displays a third pane, so you can see your files, folder and a preview of the file itself, all at the same time.
Windows + t
Another useful feature of Windows 7 is the display of document thumbnails when you hover over a program running in the taskbar. You can do this without your mouse: pressing the Windows key and t brings up the first thumbnail, while pressing it again cycles you through the thumbnails of all open programs. (There's another twist to this: pressing the Windows key and a number will bring up the program that corresponds to the number - so, for example, the Windows and 2 keys bring up the second Window on the taskbar, or launch it as a program if it's pinned to the taskbar.)
Windows + + (plus) and - (minus)
Windows has a rather useful built-in magnifier. The easy way to activate this is to press the Windows key and plus to magnify and minus to zoom out. Once you've pressed it, there will also be an on-screen palette that you can access with the mouse.
Windows right and left
A really useful feature is to be able to snap an active window to the right or left of the screen. This allows you to clear up your screen and perhaps also arrange applications so that you can compare documents. It's easily done, just press the Windows key, along with either the right or the left key, depending on where you want the window to go. (If you have two monitors, then pressing shift at the same time will shunt the program to the appropriate monitor. Pressing the Windows key and up maximises the window; pressing the Windows key and down minimises it.)
Move items on the taskbar and system tray
Thankfully, gone are the days where items on the taskbar and system tray are displayed in the order they are launched. You can now drag items on the taskbar around into the order you'd prefer to see them - and the same goes for items in the system tray, too. Your Windows, the way you like it!
Windows + e
Want to explore your computer quickly? Pressing the Windows key and e will open up Windows Explorer, with the default view showing your computer drives.
Windows + space
If you take your mouse to the bottom right of the taskbar and leave the cursor hovering there, you'll see that all of your open windows become transparent, so you can see the desktop. Great - but you can do this via the keyboard, too, by pressing the Windows key and the spacebar at the same time.
Shift + click
The new taskbar groups all of the running instances of an application together, which is tidier since there are fewer icons. But what if you want to run a new instance of a program? For example, Internet Explorer is already running, but you want to run another instance of it - clicking on Internet Explorer will just take you to the instance that's already running. To run a new instance, hold down the shift key at the same time as clicking on the taskbar icon.
Windows + g
Desktop gadgets are really useful, but once you have a program or two running you can't see them without minimising your applications, or pressing windows + space to make your windows transparent. Another way to see them is to bring them to the front of the applications - you can do this by pressing the Windows key and g.
Windows + r
Some people really miss the 'run' option from the start menu, even though typing directly into the search box does (mostly) the same thing. But you can have the run dialog box back, just by pressing the Windows key and r at the same time.
