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Windows 7's Hidden Gems and Noteworthy Features By Jay Dougherty November 3, 2009 7:07AM     Microsoft's free Security Essentials add-on is a must-have for Windows 7 users who are tired of handing over hard-earned cash for subscriptions to commercial antivirus and anti-spyware packages. Security Essentials appears to be every bit as unobtrusive and reliable as OneCare. Microsoft appears to be engaging in the competitive antivirus arena.   Related Topics Microsoft Windows 7 Windows Vista Operating Systems Enterprise Software Network Security Antivirus Latest News Plasma-TV Ban Could Be Costly Barnes & Noble Nook Is Delayed Flat PC Shipments Hurt Dell's Stock Ballmer Says Windows 7 Sales Good New Pogoplug 'Cloud' Gets Social Windows 7's headline features naturally get all the attention. If you've read anything about Microsoft 's latest operating system, you probably already know that Windows 7 is faster, more compatible, and less annoying than Windows Vista. But Microsoft has also sneaked quite a few less visible but still noteworthy features into Windows 7. Here are a few. Shake Let's say you have dozens of applications open on your Windows 7 desktop -- so many, in fact, that that you have a difficult time sorting through them all, or you have difficulty concentrating on the foreground application because of everything else that's open. Sound familiar? In previous versions of Windows, you'd typically have to close all of those applications in order to get some sanity back into your desktop. Not anymore -- thanks to the new feature dubbed "shake." True to its name, the feature is activated by grabbing the title bar of an open application with your mouse cursor and then "shaking" the program back and forth a few times. When you do, everything else that's open on your desktop is minimized automatically. Perform the shake operation again, and the clutter returns to your desktop, exactly as it was before. Problem Recorder How often have you had to try to describe a problem you're having with your Windows computer, and the person you're describing the problem to acts like you're talking in a foreign language? Or how often have you, as the local computer expert, had to rely on someone's fuzzy description of a problem? In Windows 7, there's help for both scenarios in the form of the new Problem Steps Recorder. In a nutshell, the Problem Steps Recorder, or PRS for short, will record exactly what you're doing on your PC that results in a problem. Optionally, you can use the tool's Add Comment feature to add a note about what issue you're experiencing. When you're finished, PRS packages up the recording in a compressed ZIP file. Open the ZIP file, and out pops an "mht" that can be viewed with Internet Explorer. To start PRS, just open the Windows 7 Start menu, and type "PRS." Click Start Record, and then walk through the steps that result in a problem. Click Stop Record, and you'll be asked to indicate a location on your hard drive where the zipped file will be created. ISO burning For quite a while now, the preferred way to copy and store installation CDs and DVDs has been to create "ISO" files of the entire disk. An ISO file is a single image of the contents of the entire disk. To create an ISO file, you must use a third-party ISO creation tool such as UltraISO or the free ImgBurn. (continued...) 1  |  2  |  3  |  Next Page >   © 2009 Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) under contract with MarketWatch. All rights reserved.   Advertisement  Software 1.   FAA Glitch Causes Air Travel Delays 2.   Call of Duty Is Setting Records 3.   MS Told To Stop Some Windows Sales 4.   Peer-to-Peer Software Ban Sought 5.   Better Maps, Made by Volunteers Windows 7: More Secure, More Fun New OS can make users' lives easier. Average Rating: FAA Glitch Causes Air Travel Delays Computer software malfunction cited. Average Rating: Better Maps, Made by Volunteers Companies rely on locals with GPS. Average Rating:

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Network Security Spotlight

House Lawmakers Push Ban on Peer-to-Peer Software Stung by an embarrassing electronic leak revealing ethics investigations into dozens of lawmakers, Congress moved to prohibit federal employees from using the file-sharing software blamed for the disclosure.   GAO: Los Alamos Computer Security Has Weaknesses Security weaknesses uncovered in Los Alamos National Laboratory's computer network increase the risk of a classified-information breach, says the Government Accountability Office.   Computer Security Firm Fortinet Plans IPO This Week Fortinet plans to go public in an initial public offering, giving investors a chance to tap a network security provider with sales that are expected to grow. The IPO could be valued at $137.5 million or more.

Enterprise Hardware Spotlight

Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.   New Pogoplug 'Personal Cloud' Does Social Networking Cloud Engines has released its newest version of the Pogoplug, a small "multimedia sharing device" that connects hard drives to the Internet and allows a user to access the files remotely.   Apple Tablet Rumored Delayed as Publisher Gears Up There have been so many rumors of an Apple tablet that it has taken on legendary status. But now the legend is being revised with reports of a delay and that a major publisher is getting ready.

Enterprise Technology Spotlight

Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.   Smartphones: A Bigger Target for Security Threats Smartphones are increasingly prevalent and adept at handling more tasks, including trading stocks, paying bills, and buying stuff online. That makes them attractive to thieves and hackers.   FBI Says Hackers Targeting Law Firms, PR Companies Hackers are targeting law firms and public relations companies with a sophisticated e-mail scheme that breaks into their computer networks to steal sensitive data, often linked to large corporate clients.

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