Burning DVDs & CDs

In the past, burning .iso files through Windows meant we needed to install additional software from a third party. That is no longer the case with Windows 7. To burn a .iso image to disc, simply double-click the file and an image burning box will appear. Adjust your settings if needed and off you go.

System repair disc

If your system is new or at least setup exactly as you’d like it to be, then you should consider creating a system repair disc. A repair disc can be used to boot the system should an unforeseen error occur or if the system becomes unstable. It’s also good to have in case you need to restore your system and want the current setup to be retained.

1. Click the Start button and type repair disc into the search box.
2. Click ‘Create a System Repair Disc’.
3. Make sure you have a CD/DVD on hand and follow the on screen instructions.

Hidden Wallpapers

To gain access to hidden themes and wallpapers, do the following:

1. Click the Start button in the lower left corner.
2. Click ‘Computer’.
3. Double-click on the C: drive.
   
4. Search for ‘Globalization’ by using the search box in the upper right-hand corner.
5. Double-click on the ‘Globalization’ folder. Note: It is likely the only result, however if you see multiple results it should be the first folder that is listed.
6. You should see two folders labeled ‘ELS’ and ‘Sorting’. Now search for ‘MCT’ using the search box in the upper right-hand corner.
7. A set of 5 folders should appear all beginning with the letters ‘MCT’. You can browse those folders for new wallpapers and themes.
8. Enjoy!

Pin Tabs to Taskbar

We did a complete write up a while back with illustrations and directions for pinning tabs. You can read “Pin Tab To Taskbar – Internet Explorer 9” for all the details.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Here’s a list of some keyboard shortcuts we think you’ll find handy:

Press Windows-key + T to cycle through open applications on the taskbar.

Press ctrl + shift + click an item from the taskbar to launch that program with full administrator rights.

Press Windows-key + + to zoom in on items on the screen.

Press Windows-key + – to zoom out of items on the screen.

Press shift + click on an application icon in the taskbar to open another instance of that program.

Sort Taskbar and System Tray Icons

Want to sort your taskbar programs in a specific order? You’re in luck, just click and drag to reorder the items. You can also reorder the system tray icons which are located in the bottom right-hand corner and if you want to hide them from the system tray just drag them to the well. The well is the area that pops up when the tiny arrow next to the system tray is clicked.

Add Folders to Taskbar Explorer Jump List

If you find yourself accessing certain folders more often then others, then you might want to have quick access to them by adding them to the taskbar. To add a folder to the Explorer jump list, do the following:

1. Open the folder you want to add to the Explorer taskbar jumplist.
2. From the left side navigation menu, click on the folder and drag it to the taskbar.
3. To access the folder, simply right-click the Explorer folder icon and click the folder you accessed.

Shrink Taskbar

If you find yourself pinning a lot of items to the taskbar or simply like a slimmer look to your desktop, then shrinking the taskbar might be of interest to you. To shrink your taskbar, do the following:

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Click ‘Properties’.
3. Select ‘Taskbar’.
4. Check the ‘Use small icons’ box.
5. Click ‘Apply’. If you like the look, click OK. Otherwise just uncheck the ‘Use small icons’ box.

Sticky Notes

Want sticky notes on your desktop? Simple, click the Start button, then type “stikynot.exe” into the search bar and press ‘Enter’.

Calculator & Math Tricks

Did you know you can calculate mortgage rates, fuel economy and more with the Windows 7 Calculator? Other options like statistics, scientific and others make it more than just a simple calculator.

1. Open Calculator.
2. Click ‘View’.
3. Click ‘Worksheets’.
4. Click ‘Mortgage’ or ‘Fuel economy’ or something else.

Turn off Alerts

If you’re tired of getting alert notifications from Windows about updates, troubleshooting or other items, you can turn them off, here’s how:

1. Open Control Panel
2. Click ‘System and Security’
3. Click ‘Action Center’
4. Click ‘Change Action Center settings’, located in the left hand navigation pane.
5. Uncheck any messages you want to stop displaying and click OK.

Disable Hibernation

If hibernation is driving you mad or simply don’t need the feature turned on, you can disable it by typing a single command at a command prompt.

1. Click the Start button, type ‘cmd’ into the search box and press ‘Enter’.
2. Type powercfg -h off and press ‘Enter’.
3. Type exit to close the command prompt window.

 Share With Others

If you enjoyed or found this article useful please show us some support by sharing us on your favorite social websites. Thanks!

The post Windows 7 Tips and Tricks first appeared on GeekITDown Computer Services & Technology Solutions.

How To Pin Tab to Taskbar

First, make sure you are running Internet Explorer 9 (IE9). IE9 is available for Windows versions after and including Vista, sorry XP folks IE9 is not available for Windows XP. Next:

1. Navigate to the GeekITDown Blog homepage at https://geekitdown.com.
2. After the page is loaded, you will click on the small GeekITDown logo image on the address bar and while holding in the mouse button, drag it to the taskbar or for Vista users drag to the Quick Launch toolbar.
   
3. That’s it, you’re done!

Note: This process can also be completed by dragging an open tab to the taskbar.

 Customized

Since this is our tab, we’ve added some quick links that users can use to access us across the web. If you right-click the icon / pinned tab on the taskbar you will see a small menu open above the pinned tab. From there you can go directly to our Facebook page, Twitter page, Contact page or Online Services page. Now you have access to us in several locations around the web as well as a direct link to our online services should you need computer help.

We’ve taken the time to customize the Pin Tab for our users and we hope you benefit from the quick access items. While we instructed this tutorial for the GeekITDown Blog and website and we hope you Pin us to your taskbar, this process can be done with any other website including Facebook, Gmail, etc. Other websites may or may not have customized shortcut or quick link menus for their Pin Tabs.

Your Thoughts

Did you find this information useful? Do you already use the Pin Tab feature? How do you like Pin Tabs and IE9? Let us know in the comments!

The post Pin Tab To Taskbar – Internet Explorer 9 first appeared on GeekITDown Computer Services & Technology Solutions.