Most of you have already downloaded and installed Windows 7 RC build which was released to public yesterday. If you have not downloaded it yet, then grab your copy now and start enjoying it.
Here we would like to mention a few things which you should do after installing Windows 7 RC build:
1. Download Free Windows 7 Guides and Videos from Microsoft
Microsoft is offering a few free guides and videos which can help you in understanding Windows 7 better. So don't forget to take a look at these goodies:
Learn More About Windows 7 Using Free Guides from Microsoft
2. Make Windows 7 Faster
Although Windows 7 is already very fast but we can make it a bit more fast by disabling unnecessary services, startup items and animations. You should take a look at following tutorial:
Master Tutorial to Make Your Windows 7 Super Fast
3. Customize Windows 7 Login Screen
Windows 7 allows you to easily change the Login Screen (or Welcome Screen) using Windows registry. You even don't need any 3rd party software for it. So change the login screen background with your favorite picture:
Windows 7 Supports Login Screen Customization Without 3rd Party Software
4. Remove Unwanted Windows Components
You can completely remove Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, Windows Search and many other Windows components in Windows 7 which was not possible in previous Windows versions:
Windows 7 Allows to Remove IE, WMP and Many Other Windows Components
5. Organize Taskbar Buttons
Did you know you can move Taskbar buttons to change their positions? Windows 7 allows you to re-arrange taskbar buttons:
Did You Know You can Move Taskbar Buttons in Windows 7?
6. Link your Windows User Account with your Windows Live ID
If you have a Windows Live ID, you can link your Windows 7 user account with your Windows Live ID to start communication between various computers:
How to Link Your Windows 7 User Account with Windows Live ID
7. Search AskVG within Windows 7 Explorer
You can add AskVG link in Windows 7 Explorer and can start searching for AskVG articles within your Explorer:
Download AskVG Search Connector for Windows 7 Federated Search
8. Show Titlebar Text in Windows 7 Explorer
Windows 7 doesn't show Titlebar text in Explorer. If you want to enable it, you can use a small utility mentioned in following article:
How to Show Titlebar Text in Windows 7 Explorer?
9. Change Startmenu Power Button Action
By default, Windows 7 Startmenu power button is set to "Hibernate". If you want to change it to Shutdown or anything else, you can follow this tutorial:
How to Customize Power Button Action in Windows 7 Start Menu?
10. Become Familiar with Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts
Learn all useful keyboard shortcuts which can make your Windows 7 experience better and easier:
Some Useful Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 7
11. Customize System Tray Clock
Windows 7 shows both date and time in system tray clock. You can customize it to show Day and Month names as well.
How to Show Day and Month Names in System Tray Date in Windows 7
How to Show AM / PM Symbols in System Tray Clock in Windows 7
12. Get Classic Thin Taskbar Back
If you don't like the new Superbar, you can get the classic thin Taskbar back:
How to Get the Old Thin Taskbar Buttons with Text in Windows 7?
13. Get Windows Media Player Taskbar Toolbar Back
Windows Media Player in Windows 7 doesn't contain the mini Taskbar toolbar. If you are missing it, you can get it back using following tutorial:
How to Get Windows Media Player (WMP) Taskbar Toolbar Back in Windows 7?
14. Get Classic Wordpad and Paint Back
Windows 7 contains new redesigned Wordpad and Paint applications which provide Ribbon interface. If you are not used to this new interface, you can get classic Wordpad and Paint back using following tutorials:
How to Get the Good Old Wordpad (without Ribbons) Working in Windows 7?
How to Get the Good Old MS Paint (without Ribbons) Working in Windows 7?
15. Get "Quick Launch" Toolbar and "Show Desktop" button Back
Microsoft has removed the "Quick Launch" toolbar from Taskbar. That's why you can't even access the "Show Desktop" button. You can get both things back using following tutorials:
How to Get the Good Old “Quick Launch” Toolbar Back in Windows 7?
How to Get the Good Old “Show Desktop” Feature Back in Windows 7?
Complete list of AskVG articlesThis article was posted in Windows 7.
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Gurujee
Excellent ! THanks very much!
JohnG
VG, is there any way to get to rid of the white overlay on the taskbar in Windows 7 RC? Or at least make it darker? I liked it the way it was in the beta, it was more transparent, its a bit more opaque for my taste. Thanks.
Shariq
VG Help! I tried downloading the 32 bit version twice but got the same error:
"Windows cannot copy files required for installation. The files may be corrupt or missing. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and restart the installation. Error code: 0x80070241"
I'm using the installer from inside windows because i dont have a burner.
Thanks
Shariq
The error comes after 51% of copying windows files
VG
^^ Most probably your downloaded file is corrupt.
JohnG
VG, I meant the artificial glare that has been increased on the superbar in the RC release. I was wondering if there was any way of turning it down to make it more transparent like the beta release. I've attached a photo to describe what i mean: http://i43.tinypic.com/k30wo0.png
It would be awesome to know, thanks.
Abe
VG,
Ok I am extremely feeling stupid and scared a bit. I installed Windows 7 on the only laptop my wife and I use here in the home (yes I know it said not to install on an everyday computer) but I at least thought after installing Windows 7, all my programs and folders would carry over at least. I did backup my data on an external harddrive but did not think I have to reinstall everything again such as iTunes, Kapersky Anti-Virus, etc...
Can I somehow restore all of these through the windows.old file. Can I do a "restore to previous state" and have this Windows 7 gone and everything back to my Vista ways?
Please help if you can. Thank you!
VG
^^ Check the "Programs & features" under Control Panel. If you can find an option to downgrade, then you are lucky one.
@JohnG
It can be done by editing the theme. There would be lots of 3rd party themes once the RTM version is released.
Shariq
Thanks VG. I'm downloading another copy.
U always Help!
Shariq
Downloaded another one 2day. When i tried to install it, though, it gave the same error at 5% this time...