New features of Windows 7 with AppLocker

AppLocker will ensure that your PC will only run the programs you specify. It is easier to set up than it sounds. For doing all this, you can create a rule to allow everything signed by a particular publisher and one rule will let you run all signed Microsoft applications. You need to type Launch GPEDIT.MSC and go to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Application Control Policies > AppLocker to get a feel for how this works.

The much awaited operating system, Windows 7, now provides a standard way to switch your display from one monitor to another, or a projector. For achieving this unique result you have to just press Win+P or run DisplaySwitch.exe and choose your preferred display. To your surprise this will have no effect if you have only one display connected.

The tool provides you a calculator that looks just like Vista’s version, but you will see powerful new Statistics and Programmer views after exploring  the Mode menu. The calculator offers many different unit conversions like length, weight, volume and more.

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Look for more things with better search option

The starter pack of Windows 7 makes it easier for small notebook PCs to use the operating system as it takes less time to boot, involves less clicking, and less hassle connecting to networks.

This edition combines the latest in reliability and responsiveness with the familiarity and compatibility of Windows. Although in previous Microsoft OS, Windows Search has a

familiar user interface for instant finding of files and e-mail messages located on your PC.

Windows 7 Home premium edition makes it easy to establish a home network and share all your favorite photos, videos, and music. With the help of Window 7 or windows xp 7 you can even watch, pause, rewind, and record TV.

With Windows 7 Professional edition, you can run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode and recover data easily with automatic backups to your home or business

network. With Windows 7 you can also connect to company networks easily and with more security.

The Ultimate version of Windows 7 combines remarkable ease-of-use with the entertainment features of Windows 7 Home Premium and the business capabilities of Professional. And

for enhanced security, you can encrypt your data with BitLocker and BitLocker To Go. You can also work in any of 35 languages with this edition of Windows 7. These are the

features that give you a definite edge over earlier versions of Microsoft OS. I also think that the view your active networks  section now looks much nicer and easier to understand.


Another interesting feature in Windows 7 is Reliability Monitor that allows you to know any future problem in advance. We often come across problems which might have been solved

if known earlier. But how to know what our system is lacking?

Reliability monitor

Windows 7 Reliability Monitor offers a solution. It demonstrates how well is your system by measuring the hardware and software performance of your computer. The tool calculates

the stability index of your system and specifies results in the range from 1-10 and thus from the results, you can get an overview of the overall performance of your system.

This feature was present in Windows Vista by the name of Reliability and Performance monitor but it has been renamed and further enhanced in Windows 7.

You can access this feature by following these steps:

STEP 1. Go to Windows 7 Action Center by clicking the Action Center icon in the system tray and and then choose Open Action Center.

STEP 2. Expand the Maintenance category, and click the View reliability history option.

STEP 3. Windows 7 will generate the reports in a graphical format and will display the stability of your system in the form of a graph. From here, you will be able to get an

idea about how well your system is performing.

Any failure will be marked down in the graph, which can provide the complete information. Hence, an easy way to know any abnormality in the system.

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ReadyBoost: A way to speed up Windows 7

Microsoft has included an enhanced version of ReadyBoost on Windows 7, a new feature that speeds up your computer even in a low memory situation by using flash memory, in its latest operating system Windows 7, scheduled to be launched on October 22.

ReadyBoost, which also comes with Vista, make use of a USB flash drive or card as memory and it works with most of the flash storage devices.

In Windows 7, it can handle more flash memory and even multiple devices up to eight, for a maximum 256GB of additional memory. When you plug a ReadyBoost-compatible storage device into your system, the AutoPlay dialog box offers you the option to speed up your computer using ReadyBoost. If you select this option, you can choose how much memory on the device to use for this purpose.

When you set up a device to work with ReadyBoost, Windows shows you the space recommended for an optimal performance. For ReadyBoost to effectively speed up your computer, the flash drive or memory card should have at least 1GB of available space. If enough space is not available for ReadyBoost, you’ll see a message asking you to free some space on the device if you want to use it to speed up your system. You can enable or disable ReadyBoost for a specific flash drive or other removable storage device.

Follow the given guidelines to enable this feature in Windows 7 :

STEP1: Connect a flash drive or flash memory card into your computer.

STEP2: Click Speed up my system, in the Autoplay dialog box, under General options.

STEP3: In the Properties dialog box, click the ReadyBoost tab, and then do one of the following:

To turn ReadyBoost off, click Do not use this device.

To use the maximum available space on the flash drive or memory card for ReadyBoost, click Dedicate this device to ReadyBoost. Windows will leave any files already stored on the device, but it will use the rest to boost your system speed.

To use less than the maximum available space on the device for ReadyBoost, click Use this device, and then move the slider to choose the amount of available space on the device you want to use.

STEP4: Click OK.

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Automate Administration with PowerShell

Windows PowerShell 2.0, a useful feature in Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 7, is a great boon to IT professionals yearning for a elevated management of  computers in enterprises.

PowerShell 2.0 is built on the Microsoft .Net Framework and is especially designed for system administration providing great help to IT professionals to automate the administration of Windows operating system. The command tools in Windows PowerShell, named cmdlets, allows you to manage computers in enterprise.

Microsoft latest Windows 7 version also helps you to access data stores and supports Windows Management Instrumentation classes. The tool is designed to easily permit the addition of new features. Your own cmdlets, providers, functions and scripts can be added which enables you to use Windows technologies such as Active Directory Domain Services, Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption, the DHCP Server service, Group policy, etc.

IT professionals and developers might be most interested in these improved features in Windows 7 as it helps them to manage Windows at the command line. Developers can also use it to build script language

In a nutshell, following are the changes included in Windows 7 PowerShell:

1. More than 100 new cmdlets are included in Windows PowerShell.

2. Interactive session can be created with single computer and as many as computer can be run with the single command. A session can be established with it which allows you to receive remote commands from multiple computers.

3. With Windows PowerShell background jobs, you can continue to work on your session as the commands run in the background. Background jobs can be run on a local as well as on the remote computer.

4. With debugger, you can debug functions and scripts. Breakpoint can be set and removed with it and you can also check the values of the variables.

5. Modules in Windows PowerShell allows you to function as independent entity. Module package containing your cmdlets, providers, scripts, functions and other files can be distributed to the other users.

6. It supports new event infrastructure and transaction.

7. The messages and text can be displayed to users in multiple languages, with script internalization.

8. For enhanced user experience, not only help at the command line but also new online parameters are included in Get-Help cmdlet which opens updated version of each help topic.

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In windows 7 how to change Account Picture

Microsoft’s Windows 7 release will be a boon for users as now they will be allowed to change the picture that appears on the Start Menu and Welcome screen in Windows 7.
While using Windows 7 you must have noticed a picture that appears when you click the Start menu or access the Welcome screen. A picture represents your account. You can replace this default picture with your favorite one.
You can follow these steps to perform this task. Click the Start button and then click on your account image to open the "User Accounts" Control Panel. When the "User Accounts" Control Panel opens, click "Change your picture" and then choose the one you like from the gallery and set as a default picture for your account.
After that you will have to click the "Change Picture" button, and then close the "User Accounts" Control Panel.
Taking up another issue, you can use setup to show the computer name on your Windows 7 taskbar.
You usually check computer name manually by right-clicking on My Computer and choosing Properties. But in Windows 7 release you can display it on Taskbar.
You just have to create a new folder in Document folder with the same name as your computer name. You can find your computer name by right-clicking on My Computer and choosing Properties. Right-click on an empty area in the taskbar and choose Toolbars, then click on New Toolbar. Now you want to browse to the location of the folder you just created. Choose that folder and click the Select Folder button.
Thats all. Now your computer name will appear on the Windows 7 taskbar.
Another Windows 7 update is that you can also get an effective package from Dr. Web CuireIt against all virus and spyware in Windows 7
When you update your system with Windows 7, then you need a comprehensive package because your existing antivirus will lose the compatibility.
Dr. Web comes with a most efficient Anti-Virus called Dr. Web CuireIt. Its extensive scanner and virus will scan the complete system even without installation. You can get it from the website link http://www.freedrweb.com, absolutely free. You can combine this package with Windows 7 install package. First, open the website with the above link. Press the button of "Download." Save the file on your desktop. Double click on the file and run the set up. Follow the prompt and at the end accept the Agreement form. Click on "Finish" after the process is complete.
You can run this program anytime, to scan your startup files and main memory. Depending upon the area you want to scan you can run this program under complete scan or custom scan. Press "Scanning" after selecting. After scanning the incurable files are moved to the quarantine directory.

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8 Thing to Think About For Windows 7

Windows 7 arrives at an interesting time. The very notion of the desktop is being challenged by everything from virtual desktops and cloud options for netbooks and iPhones. None of these changes will come to the company during the night, but all will influence the configuration of the end-user environment over the next three years. It is in this light that we take a look at the eight elements of Windows 7 that companies should consider in their plans for deploying Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) 's latest operating system.

1. Remote users love Win 7

As more employees work outside the office, you need new strategies to maintain their support, safe and productive. Starting points for two key features of Windows 7, and BranchCache DirectAccess are excellent for the next generation of enhanced mobile access.

DirectAccess leverages IPv6 and IPSec in a system that provides secure connectivity with the main network, regardless of where users are connected - or even if connected at all. BranchCache also helps users in remote offices to maintain their productivity because the network can be configured to cache Web pages and files on local servers in a round-robin style for peer sites without local servers, to ensure that frequently accessed data files quickly and served to end users.
A sticking point: Both functions require Windows Server 2008 R2.

2. Infosec teams will like Win 7

There are plenty of good news on the security front with Windows 7. Most of the improvements are a continuation of efforts that began with Vista, including Microsoft's secure development lifecycle, the company expects to reduce operating code defects in their software. Windows 7 is one of the first products to come through the complete development cycle of life.

At the same time, more thought was given to reduce the impact of security intrusion may have on the user experience. The company has maintained the concept of User Account Control, but reduced the number of pop-ups that frustrated users of Windows Vista.

Other features such as BitLocker, are updated, including the ability to encrypt removable devices. There are new security features, too, including AppLocker, which allows administrators to prevent users from downloading and running unauthorized software.

3. You better management

While not required AppLocker BitLocker and Windows Server 2008 R2 to run, need Advance Group Policy Management 4.0. In fact, there are over 350 new control options, many of which increase the control desk, power management and the ability to use different functions based on the location of the machine. However, only get the full functionality of AGPM 4.0 with Windows Server 2008 R2.
Are you a sensitive issue here?

4. It netbook-friendly

A recent survey by InformationWeek Analytics shows enormous potential for growth netbook, 35% in the company today, to a projected 72% in two years. Smaller and less expensive than laptops, mobile devices, netbooks are ideal for those on a budget. The bulk of netbooks in organizations today run XP Pro and Linux. Win 7 plays very well in most netbooks, though, especially in the professional version. That said, organizations should lobby for the version of the company to obtain features like DirectAccess.

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