Microsoft’s Windows 7 offers improved compatibility and performance compared to its predecessor Windows Vista, providing features for communication, entertainment, productivity and security.
The new operating system also boasts multitouch capabilities, a redesigned taskbar known as the Superbar and HomeGroup for home networking purposes – enabling music, photos and videos to flow between computers and devices within your household.
Search
Windows 7 search capabilities are significantly more robust than previous versions of Windows. Files are now indexed not just by name but also their contents (if an appropriate file handler such as PDF Reader is installed) comments and keywords for more accurate searches. Initial creation of the index may take several hours but this one-off event can also search files registered through custom protocol handlers with Windows Search service – though results will take longer due to delays.
Windows Explorer’s search bar offers users fast and convenient access to pre-defined libraries such as Documents, Music and Pictures. Users may create and customize their own based on individual file management needs; when saving an item automatically saves to the default save folder.
Search filters provide additional power when conducting searches; for instance, searching by Date Modified or Date Taken can quickly identify images and video files taken recently.
Developers will find Windows Search offers an extensible API through Protocol Handlers, making the service accessible by third-party applications that query its search service for search results or provide enhanced preview functionality in a preview pane without explicitly launching themselves as applications themselves. For more information about this API please see Windows Search as a Development Platform documentation; here there is also an overview of its architecture as well as an example Protocol Handler; additionally there is reference to Property Store which stores properties emitted by filter handlers or IFilters in index/query views – property stored therein for further reference by third party applications to query Windows Search services without explicitly being launched directly themselves as applications themselves. For more details please see Windows Search as a Development Platform documentation as this API includes an overview of search architecture as well as example Protocol Handlers used for additional customization of search service; herein lies more details!
Libraries
With Windows 7, Microsoft introduced libraries as a new file storage solution that groups files and folders together for easier management. Users can create custom libraries of their own choosing; Windows Explorer will index their contents for faster searching capabilities based on file properties and metadata, making viewing of contents in Windows Explorer faster as well. Microsoft defaulted four libraries – Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos. However, you can create your own customized libraries to suit your own individual needs.
Libraries can be an excellent way to organize local data, but their true power comes when used across a network. As a single point of access for media files from different locations without needing to copy them over manually, libraries become even more effective at saving users time and effort when combined with Offline File Synchronization technology that keeps both local and remote copies synchronized.
To create a library in Windows Explorer, right-click and choose New Library. Next, choose which folder(s) should be included and give each library an appropriate name. Whenever a file is saved by users, Windows Explorer automatically places it in one of these libraries as their saving location – providing users with an easy way of organizing content if there are numerous folders with similar types of files.
Libraries cannot be used to store documents that require special processing; therefore they should be saved separately. To make sure all your data is backed up regularly, regularly back up folders within libraries; for larger data volumes you can use NTFS Backup utility to backup and restore libraries.
Aero Peek
Aero Peek is an evolution of Microsoft’s Quick Launch area function known as “Show Desktop.” When your cursor passes over a rectangular button at the far right of the taskbar, program windows temporarily fade into transparency to provide you with a peek of what lies beyond. Once away from this button, they reappear in their regular positions.
Windows 7’s new feature combines the functions of both older versions of Show Desktop with its built-in “Peek” function, which is enabled by default. You can enable it in Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window but cannot turn it off without switching back to Show Desktop 2.0.
Aero Peek provides two fundamental capabilities that can make it easier to quickly locate windows or desktops you need quickly: It enables you to peek behind all open windows; and helps find specific open windows which may have become obscured or hidden due to other windows being open at the same time.
For Aero Peek to work, hover your mouse for half a second over the far right taskbar button and all program windows will vanish temporarily to reveal a view of the Desktop; when you click again on that same button or set a keyboard shortcut to activate this feature. Although this feature can be turned on or off at will, once experienced it may become indispensable! This feature may also be enabled or disabled according to personal preference but once tried it may find itself being used regularly.
Pop-up Notifications
Microsoft has long utilized notifications to promote its products and services. While some pop-up windows can be useful, others can interrupt work or distract from viewing content on the computer. You can manage what type of alerts appear by changing notification settings; additionally, ads appearing on lock screens or Start menus can be disabled as well.
Notifications are small windows that provide you with key information, like email messages or software updates for your computer. Windows 7 gives you control of how big and what icons will display in the notification area; visual notifications allow the screen to flash whenever there’s an alert that uses sound; this feature is especially beneficial to people with hearing impairments as they won’t miss any important system alerts!
The Action Center (formerly the Windows 7 Taskbar) allows you to locate and manage notifications. If any unwanted messages arise, simply click the “Action Center” icon in the right corner to turn them off. Furthermore, this dialog box offers troubleshooting solutions for specific problems related to specific programs or Internet connectivity issues.
Windows 7 support will end on January 2020 and you may need to update in order to continue receiving security updates. Microsoft has begun notifying Windows 7 users via various methods, including full-screen pop-ups warning that without an update their PCs may become vulnerable to malware attacks. It remains to be seen if they will take a more gentle approach as that date approaches.
Themes
Themes offer a fun and personal way to customize the Windows 7 experience. Combining images, sounds and color into wallpaper backgrounds and screen savers – not to mention screen savers themselves – they add something extra. While Windows 7 includes some built-in themes as well as improvements for creating and sharing them.
Tavaris Dark Theme is one such example, featuring not a complete black theme but rather an opaque shade with updated font colors for menus and file explorer. Another similar theme, Tonic Theme is more like a light theme with dark touches.
Translucent is another popular theme that blends elements from macOS and core Windows 7 together into a light yet nice appearance, taking some design cues from each. The theme makes OS elements transparent such as taskbar, Start Menu and program windows in order to give an illusion of extra space and also changes fonts, kerning and icons accordingly.
Full themes are among the most advanced forms of themes, capable of altering nearly every aspect of a computer’s interface, from fonts and icons to windows and screen resolution. Unfortunately, Microsoft has locked down these files, necessitating use of a theme patcher such as UxStyle to install them.
High contrast themes are designed for users with visual impairments and are meant to increase contrast between text and images on screen, aiding with reading and recognising items. If you find difficulty seeing small buttons while using Microsoft Calculator on your computer, enabling this high contrast theme could make a tremendous difference – automatically turning those small buttons to larger fonts while altering both its colors for icon and background makes the calculator icon and background easier for you to recognize.
