Windows 7 Secrets

Windows 7 SecretsPaul Thurrott Rafael Rivera

Windows 7 Secrets

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc. 10475 Crosspoint Boulevard Indianapolis, IN 46256 www.wiley.com

Copyright 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana Published simultaneously in Canada

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To Stephanie, Mark, and KellyPaul

To my father, who started me on my wonderful Windows journeyRafael

About the Technical EditorsTodd Meister has been developing using Microsoft technologies for over 15 years. Hes been a Technical Editor on over 50 titles ranging from SQL Server to the .NET Framework. Besides technical editing titles, he is an Assistant Director for Computing Services at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He lives in central Indiana with his wife, Kimberly, and their four children.

Joli Ballew is a Microsoft MVP and holds several Microsoft certifications including MCSE, MCDST, and MCTS. Joli has written over 30 books, teaches at two local junior colleges, manages the network and Web site for North Texas Graphics, and regularly writes for several Web sites. In her spare time, Joli enjoys gardening, golfing, and traveling.

About the AuthorsThe author of over 20 books, Paul Thurrott is a technology analyst for Windows IT Pro and the majordomo of the SuperSite for Windows (www.winsupersite.com). He writes a weekly editorial for Windows IT Pro UPDATE (www.windowsitpro.com/email), a daily Windows news and information e-mail newsletter called WinInfo Daily News (www .wininformant.com), and a monthly column called Need to Know in Windows IT Pro Magazine. He also blogs daily via the SuperSite Blog (community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul), posts regularly on Twitter (www.twitter.com/thurrott), and appears weekly in the highly rated and hugely popular Windows Weekly podcast with Leo Laporte (www.twit.tv/ww).

Rafael Rivera is a software developer for a VAR 500 company, Telos Corporation, where he works on mission critical systems. He is a Certified Reverse Engineering Analyst (CREA) and takes Windows apart on his blog Within Windows (www.withinwindows.com). He also regularly tweets (www.twitter.com/withinrafael). Rafael was born on the same day as Windows 1.0November 20, 1985which many believe is no coincidence.

CreditsAcquisitions EditorJenny Watson

Executive EditorCarol Long

Senior Project EditorKevin Kent

Development EditorJeff Riley

Technical EditorsTodd MeisterJoli Ballew

Production EditorKathleen Wisor

Copy EditorLuann Rouff

Editorial DirectorRobyn B. Siesky

Editorial ManagerMary Beth Wakefield

Production ManagerTim Tate

Vice President and Executive Group PublisherRichard Swadley

Vice President and Executive PublisherBarry Pruett

Associate PublisherJim Minatel

Project Coordinator, CoverLynsey Stanford

CompositorsCraig Johnson and Maureen Forys, Happenstance Type-O-Rama

ProofreaderDr. Nate Pritts, Word One

IndexerRobert Swanson

Cover DesignerRyan Sneed

AcknowledgmentsI dont even know where to start, so Ill start at the beginning.

Thanks Mom and Dad, for pushing me to pursue my passions.

Thanks Gary, for starting me down this path in 1993. I miss you.

Thanks Adam, for having big ideas and taking a chance on me.

Thanks to everyone at Windows IT Pro Magazinepast and presentfor an amazing decade of growth and change.

Thanks to Jeff, Aimee, and Brittany at Lenovo. You are the best.

Thanks to Allen, Glen, and Marco at HP. My infrastructure is built on your stuff, and I appreciate all your help.

Thanks, Stephanie, for believing in me and for giving me the time and space I need to get this kind of thing completed. As always, you are the glue that makes our family work.

Thanks to Mark and Kelly for understanding about the missed baseball and softball games. You both make me smile every day.

Thanks to Rafael for joining me on this confusing, busy, and stressful adventure. Its nice to have a true co-author for a change, one I can trust with anything, bounce ideas off, and truly collaborate with. Welcome aboard.

Thanks to Kevin and Jen at Wiley for all your help. Hey, we finally got one done on time! Also, thanks to Katie, who has moved on to bigger and better things, and to all the editors who worked on this title. Thanks, too, to Carol for your invaluable help. You know why.

Thanks to Lucas for always being ready to find the answer. Thanks, too, to all my friends and acquaintances at Microsoft and Wagged who helped me along the way.

Finally, thanks to my readers and listeners from around the world. Ive enjoyed the conversa-tions and hope they continue well into the future. Its been a fantastic ride, but what makes this fun isnt so much the products as it is the relationships you make along the way.

Paul

A very special thanks to my parents, for letting me consume their food and electricity while working on this title night and day. I love you both!

A gut punch for Paul, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to his series of books built by users for users. I look up to him. So should you.

A hug and a kiss to my girlfriend, Jenny, for being a proud and incredibly supportive super-nerd, and for making me the happiest guy alive.

A special shout out to my friends Morgan and Jimmy, in ice cream heaven Vermont! Chunky Monkey, baby!

A salute to Kevin, Jen, and all the folks at Wiley for tolerating our delays and helping us push the book out on time. Without them, you wouldnt be reading this. Seriously.

And finally, a thumbs up to all my readers around the world. I enjoy writing for you all!

To the people that spam me. I hate you.

Rafael

Contents at a Glance

Preface ..................................................................................................................................................... xxvRead This First ........................................................................................................................................... 1

Part I: Surviving Setup ........................................................................................19Chapter 1: Selecting the Right Windows 7 Edition ...............................................................................21Chapter 2: Installing or Upgrading to Windows 7 ................................................................................ 45Chapter 3: Hardware and Software Compatibility ............................................................................... 89

Part II: The New and Improved Windows 7 User Experience ...............117Chapter 4: Whats New in the Windows 7 User Experience...............................................................119Chapter 5: Wheres My Stuff? Finding and Organizing Files ............................................................195Chapter 6: Personalizing and Configuring Windows 7 ..................................................................... 225

Part III: Security and Networking ................................................................. 251Chapter 7: Windows 7 Security Features ............................................................................................ 253Chapter 8: Users, Accounts, and UAC ................................................................................................. 269Chapter 9: Networking and HomeGroup Sharing.............................................................................. 301Chapter 10: Complete Your Home Network with Windows Home Server ....................................... 335

Part IV: Digital Media and Entertainment ................................................. 357Chapter 11: Digital Music and Audio ................................................................................................... 359Chapter 12: Organizing, Fixing, and Sharing Digital Photos ............................................................419Chapter 13: Digital Videos and DVD Movies ...................................................................................... 489Chapter 14: Microsoft Zune: A Digital Media Alternative ................................................................ 553Chapter 15: Digital Media in the Living Room ................................................................................... 609Chapter 16: Having Fun: Games and Windows 7 ............................................................................... 665

Part V: Mobility .................................................................................................. 703Chapter 17: Seven to Go: Windows 7 Mobility Features .................................................................... 705Chapter 18: Using Tablet PCs and Ultra-Mobile PCs ......................................................................... 735Chapter 19: Windows in Your PocketUsing a Windows Mobile Smartphone .............................. 765

Part VI: Windows 7 Online ............................................................................. 787Chapter 20: Browsing the Web ............................................................................................................. 789Chapter 21: Managing E-mail and Contacts ....................................................................................... 837Chapter 22: Managing Your Schedule................................................................................................. 865Chapter 23: Your Life in SyncWindows 7 and Live Services ......................................................... 899

Part VII: Windows 7 Power User .................................................................. 935Chapter 24: Keeping Your Data Safe: File and PC Backup ............................................................... 937Chapter 25: Troubleshooting and Recovering from Disaster ............................................................. 961Chapter 26: IT Pro: Windows 7 at Work ............................................................................................... 983

Index .................................................................................................................... 1011

Contents

Preface ....................................................................................................................................................... xv

Read This First .................................................................................................................................... 1Believe the Hype ........................................................................................................................................ 2Windows 7 in 15 Minutes .......................................................................................................................... 3

Better Itties ......................................................................................................................................... 3Simpler Setup ........................................................................................................................................ 5New Aero Desktop Capabilities ........................................................................................................... 6Enhanced Taskbar ................................................................................................................................. 7Jump Lists .............................................................................................................................................. 8Windows Touch ..................................................................................................................................... 9Libraries ............................................................................................................................................... 10HomeGroup Sharing ........................................................................................................................... 11Internet Explorer 8............................................................................................................................... 11New and Improved Applets ................................................................................................................ 12

But Wait, Theres More .............................................................................................................................13Windows Live Essentials and Windows Live Services ..................................................................... 13Zune ...................................................................................................................................................... 14Windows Mobile .................................................................................................................................. 15Windows Home Server........................................................................................................................ 16

Our Promise to You ...................................................................................................................................17

Part I: Surviving Setup ........................................................................................19

Chapter 1: Selecting the Right Windows 7 Edition .............................................................. 21The Way We Were: XP and Vista Product Editions ............................................................................. 22Windows 7 Product Editions: Only a Little Bit Simpler ........................................................................ 25Understanding the Differences and Choosing the Right Version ....................................................... 26

Step 1: Whittling Down the Product Editions List ............................................................................. 26Step 2: Whittling a Little Further ........................................................................................................ 28Step 3: Understanding the Differences Between the Product Editions ........................................... 28Step 4: Making the Right Product Edition Choice ............................................................................ 34

Purchasing Windows 7 ............................................................................................................................ 37With a New PC .................................................................................................................................... 37Retail Boxed Copies ............................................................................................................................ 38OEM Versions ...................................................................................................................................... 41Windows Anytime Upgrade ............................................................................................................... 42

Summary ................................................................................................................................................... 44

xiv Contents

Chapter 2: Installing or Upgrading to Windows 7 ................................................................45Taking the Easy Way Out: Acquiring Windows 7 with a New PC ..................................................... 46Interactive Setup ...................................................................................................................................... 46

Clean Install ......................................................................................................................................... 47Upgrading ............................................................................................................................................ 63

Upgrading from One Windows 7 Version to Another with Windows Anytime ................................. 76Performing a Clean Install with an Upgrade Version of Windows 7 .................................................. 80Delaying Product Activation ................................................................................................................... 82Installing Windows 7 on a Mac .............................................................................................................. 84

Dual Boot with Mac: Using Boot Camp ............................................................................................. 85Windows on Mac: Virtualization Solutions ........................................................................................ 87

Summary ................................................................................................................................................... 88

Chapter 3: Hardware and Software Compatibility ...............................................................89Hidden Perils of the Windows 7 Upgrade ............................................................................................. 90The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor ...........................................................................................................91

Using the Upgrade Advisor ................................................................................................................ 92Picking through the Results ................................................................................................................ 93Drivers That Lack a Windows 7Compatible Version ...................................................................... 95

Understanding Windows 7 Compatibility Issues .................................................................................. 95Hardware Compatibility ..................................................................................................................... 96Software Compatibility ....................................................................................................................... 97x64: Is It Time? ..................................................................................................................................... 97

Dealing with Software Incompatibility ................................................................................................. 98Compatibility Mode............................................................................................................................. 98Windows Virtual PC and XP Mode .................................................................................................. 102

Summary ..................................................................................................................................................115

Part II: The New and Improved Windows 7 User Experience ...............117

Chapter 4: Whats New in the Windows 7 User Experience............................................119Understanding the Windows 7 User Experience ................................................................................ 120

Windows Classic ................................................................................................................................ 123Windows 7 Basic ................................................................................................................................ 124Windows 7 Standard ......................................................................................................................... 125Windows Aero.................................................................................................................................... 126

Personalizing the Windows Desktop ................................................................................................... 130Using Aero Themes ........................................................................................................................... 130Creating a Desktop Slide Show ........................................................................................................ 133

Exploring with the Windows 7 Explorer Shell .................................................................................... 135Start Menu ......................................................................................................................................... 135Desktop .............................................................................................................................................. 148Using Desktop Gadgets .................................................................................................................... 159The New Windows 7 Taskbar .......................................................................................................... 166Notification Area and System Clock ................................................................................................ 172Windows Explorers ............................................................................................................................ 176Bundled Windows 7 Applications .................................................................................................... 184

Contents xv

Windows Touch: Reach Out and Touch Some Screen .........................................................................188More to Come ..................................................................................................................................... 193Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 194

Chapter 5:Wheres My Stuff? Finding and Organizing Files ............................................195Understanding Libraries ....................................................................................................................... 196

Virtual Folders 101 ............................................................................................................................ 196Libraries and Windows 7 .................................................................................................................. 198Special Shell FoldersNow Just User Folders ............................................................................... 203Where Is It Now? ............................................................................................................................... 205

Visualization and Organization: How to Make the Windows Shell Work for You .......................... 207Sorting and Grouping the Explorer View Styles ............................................................................. 210Arranging: The Organizational Advantage of Libraries ................................................................ 212

Custom Libraries and Saved Searches .................................................................................................214Creating Custom Libraries ................................................................................................................ 214Using Saved Searches ....................................................................................................................... 217

Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 223

Chapter 6: Personalizing and Configuring Windows 7 .....................................................225The Windows 7 User Interface .............................................................................................................. 226

Customizing the Start Menu ............................................................................................................. 226Configuring Folder Options .............................................................................................................. 231Replacing Windows 7s Compressed Folders with Something More Useful ................................ 232Replacing the User Interface ............................................................................................................ 233Branding Windows 7 like a PC Maker ............................................................................................. 234

Making It Faster: Performance Tweaks ............................................................................................... 238Taking Out the Trash ........................................................................................................................ 238Making It Boot Faster ........................................................................................................................ 239Using Windows 7s Performance Options ........................................................................................ 241Appearance and Performance Tweaking ........................................................................................ 243Monitoring Performance and Reliability .......................................................................................... 244Improving Windows 7s Memory ..................................................................................................... 246

Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 250

Part III: Security and Networking ................................................................. 251

Chapter 7: Windows 7 Security Features...............................................................................253Security and Windows 7 ........................................................................................................................ 254Securing Windows 7 in Just Two Steps ............................................................................................... 255Action Center ......................................................................................................................................... 256Windows Defender ................................................................................................................................. 259Windows Firewall ................................................................................................................................. 260Windows Update .................................................................................................................................... 263

xvi Contents

Internet Explorer 8 Security Features .................................................................................................. 264InPrivate Browsing ............................................................................................................................ 264SmartScreen Filter ............................................................................................................................. 265Address Bar Domain Name Highlighting ........................................................................................ 266Other Internet Explorer Security Features ...................................................................................... 267

Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 267

Chapter 8: Users, Accounts, and UAC .................................................................................... 269Understanding User Accounts .............................................................................................................. 270

Creating the Initial User Account ..................................................................................................... 271Understanding Account Types ........................................................................................................ 272

User Account Control..............................................................................................................................272How UAC Works ............................................................................................................................... 273How UAC Has Changed in Windows 7 ........................................................................................... 276Changing How UAC Works (The Hard Way) ................................................................................. 280

Parental Controls.................................................................................................................................... 287Configuring Parental Controls .......................................................................................................... 287Extending Parental Controls with Windows Live Family Safety ................................................... 294

Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 299

Chapter 9: Networking and HomeGroup Sharing ..............................................................301Windows XP with SP2: A First Look at Todays Networking Infrastructure ................................... 302Whats New in Windows 7 Networking ............................................................................................... 304Network Locations ................................................................................................................................. 305Network and Sharing Center ................................................................................................................ 308

Looking at the Network Map ........................................................................................................... 309Viewing Active Networks ................................................................................................................. 310Changing Network Settings ............................................................................................................. 311Setting Up a New Connection or Network ...................................................................................... 312Connecting to a Network .................................................................................................................. 315Managing Network Connections ..................................................................................................... 317Other Network-Related Tasks .......................................................................................................... 319

Using Network Explorer ........................................................................................................................ 320Sharing Between PCs ............................................................................................................................ 322

HomeGroup Sharing ......................................................................................................................... 322Old-School Sharing ........................................................................................................................... 329Sharing Printers ................................................................................................................................. 333

Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 333

Chapter 10: Complete Your Home Network with Windows Home Server ................335Introducing the Home Server ............................................................................................................... 336Windows Home Server Evolution ......................................................................................................... 337Windows Home Server Installation and Configuration ..................................................................... 338Admin Console Drive-By ...................................................................................................................... 340

Computers & Backup ........................................................................................................................ 342User Accounts .................................................................................................................................... 343

Contents xvii

Shared Folders ................................................................................................................................... 344Server Storage ................................................................................................................................... 344Settings ............................................................................................................................................... 346

Deep Dive: Windows Home Server Features ...................................................................................... 348PC Backup and Restore ..................................................................................................................... 348PC and Server Health Monitoring .................................................................................................... 350Document and Media Sharing ......................................................................................................... 351Remote Access ................................................................................................................................... 352

Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 355

Part IV: Digital Media and Entertainment ................................................. 357

Chapter 11: Digital Music and Audio .......................................................................................359Media Player Basics ............................................................................................................................... 360

Setting Up Windows Media Player 12 ............................................................................................. 361Understanding the Windows Media Player User Interface ............................................................ 365Using the Windows Media Player Toolbar Options ........................................................................ 370Playing Music and Other Media ...................................................................................................... 375Finding and Managing Your Music ................................................................................................. 378Playing with Photos, Videos, and Recorded TV Shows .................................................................. 380

Ripping CDs to the PC ........................................................................................................................... 387Ripping Music .................................................................................................................................... 388

Burning Your Own Music CDs ............................................................................................................. 391Accessing Media from the Windows Shell .......................................................................................... 394Synchronizing with Portable Devices .................................................................................................. 395

Using Windows MediaCompatible Devices .................................................................................. 395Synchronizing with a Portable Device ............................................................................................. 398Using Shuffle...................................................................................................................................... 399Managing Portable Devices in Windows Media Player ................................................................. 400

Sharing Your Music Library .................................................................................................................. 402Share and Share Alike: Setting Up Your PC for Sharing ............................................................... 403Connecting to a Shared Music Library with Xbox 360 ................................................................... 412

Accessing Online Music Stores .............................................................................................................413Amazon MP3 ...................................................................................................................................... 413Other Music and Audio Stores ......................................................................................................... 416

Summary ..................................................................................................................................................417

Chapter 12: Organizing, Fixing, and Sharing Digital Photos ...........................................419A Look Back: Photo Management in Windows XP and Vista ........................................................... 420Using the Pictures Library .................................................................................................................... 423

Where Is It Now? ............................................................................................................................... 425Managing Content in the Pictures Library ...................................................................................... 427Viewing Information about Pictures ................................................................................................ 431Viewing Photos .................................................................................................................................. 432Optimizing Folders for Pictures (But Not Libraries) ........................................................................ 435

Playing Photo Slide Shows from the Shell ........................................................................................... 437

xviii Contents

Managing Pictures with Windows Live Photo Gallery ...................................................................... 438First Things First ................................................................................................................................ 438Examining the Windows Live Photo Gallery User Interface .......................................................... 439Viewing Individual Photos ................................................................................................................ 441Changing How Your Digital Memories Are Displayed .................................................................. 443Adding Captions, Ratings, and People Tags to Your Pictures ....................................................... 451Importing Pictures into Photo Gallery .............................................................................................. 462Editing Pictures .................................................................................................................................. 469Sharing Photos with Others .............................................................................................................. 477

Using Photo Gallery to Manage Digital Videos .................................................................................. 487Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 488

Chapter 13: Digital Videos and DVD Movies ....................................................................... 489Managing Digital Movies ..................................................................................................................... 490

My Videos: Managing Digital Movies with the Windows 7 Shell ................................................. 490Watching and Managing Movies with Windows Live Photo Gallery............................................ 495Watching and Managing Movies with Windows Media Player .................................................... 498Watching and Managing Movies with Windows Media Center ................................................... 500

Editing Digital Video with Windows Live Movie Maker ................................................................... 503Starting Windows Live Movie Maker .............................................................................................. 504Understanding the Movie Maker User Interface ............................................................................ 505Working with Projects ....................................................................................................................... 507Importing Content ............................................................................................................................. 507Editing Your Video ............................................................................................................................ 512Sharing Your Videos ......................................................................................................................... 521

Creating DVD Movies with Windows DVD Maker ............................................................................ 526Adding Photos and Videos to Your DVD Project ............................................................................ 528Naming Your DVD Movie ................................................................................................................ 533Understanding DVD Movie Options ................................................................................................ 533Working with DVD Menus ............................................................................................................... 535Changing Other DVD Options ......................................................................................................... 537Writing the Movie to Disc ................................................................................................................. 541

The Final Frontier: Duplicating and Copying DVDs ...........................................................................541Duplicating DVD Movies .................................................................................................................. 543Ripping DVDs to the PC ................................................................................................................... 545

Summary ..................................................................................................................................................551

Chapter 14: Microsoft Zune: A Digital Media Alternative ...............................................553Why Zune? .............................................................................................................................................. 554

Zune 1.0 .............................................................................................................................................. 555Zune 2 ................................................................................................................................................. 556Zune 3 ................................................................................................................................................. 558

The Zune PC Software .......................................................................................................................... 559Finding and Installing Zune ............................................................................................................. 559Configuring the Zune Software ........................................................................................................ 562Using Zune ......................................................................................................................................... 565Sharing Zune ..................................................................................................................................... 584

Contents xix

World Wide Zune: A Look at the Zune Online Services .................................................................... 586Zune Marketplace ............................................................................................................................. 587Zune Social ........................................................................................................................................ 592

Zune to Go: Using Zune Devices .......................................................................................................... 595Choosing a Zune................................................................................................................................ 597Linking Your Zune: Installing and Configuring the Player ............................................................ 598To Sync or Not to Sync, That Is the Question.................................................................................. 601Updating Zune ................................................................................................................................... 606

Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 607

Chapter 15: Digital Media in the Living Room ................................................................... 609A Short History of Media Center ...........................................................................................................610Media Center in Windows 7 ..................................................................................................................613Configuring Media Center ....................................................................................................................614

Running the Media Center Setup Wizard ....................................................................................... 617Configuring Media Center Features after Setup ............................................................................ 624

A Continually Evolving User Interface ................................................................................................ 629Exploring the Media Center Experiences ........................................................................................... 634

TV ....................................................................................................................................................... 634Movies ................................................................................................................................................ 639Pictures + Videos ............................................................................................................................... 642Music .................................................................................................................................................. 645Extras .................................................................................................................................................. 650Sports .................................................................................................................................................. 650

Accessing Windows Media Center Away from the PC ...................................................................... 652Using an Xbox 360 or Media Center Extender ............................................................................... 653Synchronizing with Portable Devices .............................................................................................. 657Burning a DVD Movie or Music CD ................................................................................................ 661

Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 664

Chapter 16: Having Fun: Games and Windows 7 ............................................................... 665Games That Come with Windows 7 ..................................................................................................... 666Using the Games Explorer .....................................................................................................................674

Customizing Games Explorer ........................................................................................................... 679Rating Your Systems Performance .................................................................................................. 683Managing Your Game Controllers and Other Game-Related Hardware ..................................... 685

Installing and Playing Third-Party Games ......................................................................................... 688Games for Windows - LIVE ................................................................................................................... 691

Xbox Live on Windows? .................................................................................................................... 691The Games for Windows - LIVE Experience ................................................................................... 693

Summary ..................................................................................................................................................701

Part V: Mobility .................................................................................................. 703

Chapter 17: Seven to Go: Windows 7 Mobility Features ..................................................705Windows 7 on the Road ......................................................................................................................... 706Working with the Windows 7 User Interface ...................................................................................... 707

xx Contents

Power Management ................................................................................................................................711Battery Meter ..................................................................................................................................... 711Power Plans ........................................................................................................................................ 713Power Options Control Panel ........................................................................................................... 716

Windows Mobility Center ..................................................................................................................... 725Presentations A-Go-Go ..........................................................................................................................727

Presentation Settings ......................................................................................................................... 727Using a Network Projector ................................................................................................................ 728

Other Mobile Features .......................................................................................................................... 729Offline Files and Folders ................................................................................................................... 729Windows SideShow ........................................................................................................................... 731Improved Support for Tablet PC Hardware .................................................................................... 731

Using Windows 7 with a Netbook .........................................................................................................732Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 734

Chapter 18: Using Tablet PCs and Ultra-Mobile PCs .........................................................735A Short History of the Tablet PC .......................................................................................................... 736Using a Tablet PC ....................................................................................................................................741

Configuring Tablet PC Features ...................................................................................................... 741Using the Tablet PC Input Panel ...................................................................................................... 748Flicks and Gestures ........................................................................................................................... 753Password Hiding on Logon with Pen ............................................................................................... 756Shell Changes for Tablet PC Users .................................................................................................. 756

Working with Ultra-Mobile PCs ............................................................................................................757Origami 1.0 ........................................................................................................................................ 758A New Origami .................................................................................................................................. 758A Tour of the UMPC Software .......................................................................................................... 760

Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 763

Chapter 19: Windows in Your PocketUsing a Windows Mobile Smartphone .........765History of Windows Mobile ................................................................................................................... 766Windows Mobile Today ......................................................................................................................... 769

Windows Mobile 6.1 .......................................................................................................................... 770Windows Mobile 6.5 .......................................................................................................................... 771

Windows Mobile and Windows 7 ..........................................................................................................772Managing the Device Partnership ................................................................................................... 775Changing Device Settings ................................................................................................................ 778

Windows Mobile in the Cloud: Microsofts Mobile Web Services ....................................................781My Phone ........................................................................................................................................... 781Windows Live for Windows Mobile ................................................................................................. 784

Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 786

Part VI: Windows 7 Online ............................................................................. 787

Chapter 20: Browsing the Web ................................................................................................789What Happened ..................................................................................................................................... 790Initial Internet Explorer Configuration .................................................................................................791

Contents xxi

Core Internet Explorer Usage ............................................................................................................... 794Starting Internet Explorer ................................................................................................................. 794New Link, New Windowor New Tab ........................................................................................... 795Managing Downloads from the Internet ......................................................................................... 795Edit on the Internet Explorer Toolbar .............................................................................................. 795The Complete AutoComplete ........................................................................................................... 796Quickly Searching the Web .............................................................................................................. 797Toggling Internet Explorer between Full-Screen Mode and Restore ........................................... 797Favorites and Offline Web Pages ..................................................................................................... 798Saving Graphics from the Web to Your PC ..................................................................................... 799Saving Complete Web Pages ........................................................................................................... 799Turning Your Favorites into a Web Page ........................................................................................ 800

Internet Explorer 8 Is Not Your Fathers Web Browser ....................................................................... 801The Command Bar ............................................................................................................................ 803Where Is It Now? ............................................................................................................................... 806

Internet Explorer 8 Features and Functionality .................................................................................. 807Playing Favorites ............................................................................................................................... 807Navigating the Web with Tabs ......................................................................................................... 810Integrated, Visual Web Search ......................................................................................................... 814Working with the Internet Explorer Display ................................................................................... 818Printing ............................................................................................................................................... 819Covering Your Tracks ....................................................................................................................... 822

Understanding and Using RSS ............................................................................................................. 825Viewing an RSS Feed ........................................................................................................................ 826Subscribing to an RSS Feed .............................................................................................................. 827Managing RSS Feeds ........................................................................................................................ 828

Using Web Slices .................................................................................................................................... 830Using Accelerators ................................................................................................................................. 831Internet Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts ................................................................................................. 834Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 836

Chapter 21: Managing E-mail and Contacts ..........................................................................837Introducing Windows Live Mail ........................................................................................................... 838

Installing Windows Live Mail ........................................................................................................... 839Configuring Windows Mail: A Few Quick Tips for Getting Started ............................................. 841Changing Windows Mail Options Right Away ............................................................................... 843Windows Live Mail Basics ................................................................................................................ 843Working Online or Offline ................................................................................................................ 848Handling Multiple E-mail Accounts ................................................................................................ 848Choosing Which Account to Send Your Messages Through ......................................................... 849New Mail Notifications ..................................................................................................................... 850Leaving Mail on the Server .............................................................................................................. 850Converting Mail ................................................................................................................................. 850No More Identities ............................................................................................................................. 850New Mail Storage .............................................................................................................................. 851Security Features ............................................................................................................................... 852Accessing RSS Feeds ......................................................................................................................... 853Using Photo Mail ............................................................................................................................... 856

Managing Contacts ............................................................................................................................... 861Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 864

xxii Contents

Chapter 22: Managing Your Schedule ................................................................................... 865Understanding Calendaring ................................................................................................................. 866Exploring Windows Live Calendar ...................................................................................................... 868Managing Your Schedule with Windows Live Mail ...........................................................................873

Understanding the Calendar Interface in Windows Live Mail ...................................................... 874Understanding Calendar Lingo ........................................................................................................ 875Working with Calendars ................................................................................................................... 876Understanding Calendar Views and Navigation ............................................................................ 878Hiding and Viewing Calendars ........................................................................................................ 880Configuring Calendar ....................................................................................................................... 880

Working with Events ............................................................................................................................. 882Examining Event Properties ............................................................................................................. 883

Tsk, Tsk: No Tasks .................................................................................................................................. 886Creating To-dos ................................................................................................................................ 886Configuring To-dos .......................................................................................................................... 888

Sharing Calendars ................................................................................................................................. 890Importing Calendars ......................................................................................................................... 890Subscribing to Calendars .................................................................................................................. 891Sharing Your Own Calendars with Others ...................................................................................... 892

Printing Calendars ................................................................................................................................. 895Printing from Windows Live Calendar ............................................................................................ 895Printing from Calendar ..................................................................................................................... 896

Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 897

Chapter 23: Your Life in SyncWindows 7 and Live Services ....................................... 899Windows Live and Windows 7: Whats Included ................................................................................ 901Going Online and Learning about Windows Live.............................................................................. 902Windows Live Services That Make Windows 7 Better ...................................................................... 903

Tying It All Together: Windows Live ID .......................................................................................... 904Windows Live Home ......................................................................................................................... 905Windows Live Profile ......................................................................................................................... 906Windows Live Hotmail ...................................................................................................................... 907Windows Live People ........................................................................................................................ 912Windows Live Calendar .................................................................................................................... 913Windows Live Photos ........................................................................................................................ 914Windows Live Spaces ........................................................................................................................ 916Windows Live Events ........................................................................................................................ 917Windows Live SkyDrive .................................................................................................................... 918Windows Live FrameIt ...................................................................................................................... 919Windows Live Groups ....................................................................................................................... 920Windows Live Essentials ................................................................................................................... 921

Beyond Windows Live: The Mesh ........................................................................................................ 928Live Mesh Document Sync ............................................................................................................... 931Live Mesh Remote Desktop .............................................................................................................. 932

Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 933

Contents xxiii

Part VII: Windows 7 Power User .................................................................. 935

Chapter 24: Keeping Your Data Safe: File and PC Backup ..............................................937Different Backups, Different Goals ...................................................................................................... 938

Data Backup ....................................................................................................................................... 938System Image ..................................................................................................................................... 939File Recovery ..................................................................................................................................... 939

Available Backup Capabilities in Various Windows 7 Versions ....................................................... 940One Tool to Rule Them All: Using Backup and Restore .................................................................... 940

Backing Up Documents, Pictures, and Other Data ......................................................................... 941Managing Backups ............................................................................................................................ 946Restoring Files ................................................................................................................................... 948Backing Up the Entire PC: System Image ....................................................................................... 951Restoring the Entire PC ..................................................................................................................... 955

Recovering Old Versions of Data Files ................................................................................................. 957Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 959

Chapter 25: Troubleshooting and Recovering from Disaster ..........................................961Using Windows Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................... 962

Accessing Windows Troubleshooting .............................................................................................. 963Configuring Windows Troubleshooting ........................................................................................... 964Examining the Troubleshooters ....................................................................................................... 965Real-World Troubleshooting: What Happens When Something Goes Wrong ............................. 969

Getting Help with the Problem Steps Recorder ...................................................................................971Using the Windows Recovery Environment .........................................................................................974

Looking at the Repair Tools .............................................................................................................. 975Using Startup Repair to Fix a Non-Booting PC ............................................................................... 977

Using System Restore to Repair Windows ........................................................................................... 977Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 981

Chapter 26: IT Pro: Windows 7 at Work ................................................................................983Windows 7 for the Enterprise ............................................................................................................... 984

Search Federation and Enterprise Search Scopes .......................................................................... 986VPN Reconnect and DirectAccess ................................................................................................... 986BranchCache ...................................................................................................................................... 987Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack ............................................................................................. 988AppLocker .......................................................................................................................................... 989

Business Features (Almost) Anyone Can Use ..................................................................................... 990BitLocker ............................................................................................................................................ 990BitLocker To Go ................................................................................................................................. 992Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode ................................................................................. 999Virtual Hard Drive (VHD) Mounting ............................................................................................. 1001Windows PowerShell 2.0 ................................................................................................................. 1003Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 1009

Index ................................................................................................................................................1011

PrefaceWelcome to Windows 7 Secrets. We hope you enjoy combing through this book as much as we enjoyed digging deep into Windows 7 to find the most valuable information for you. Ultimately, Windows isnt just about the pieces that Microsoft ships on a disc; it also includes the satellite products and services that support the base OS. This book reflects that fact and, as a result, we hope you will find it more valuable and useful. Thanks for reading.

Paul Thurrott paul.thurrott@penton.com

Rafael Rivera rafael@withinwindows.com

July 2009

Web Site Supporting the BookThis book is only the beginning: more secrets can be found online. For updates, errata, new information, and an ongoing blog with interactive discussions, please visit the SuperSite for Windows (www.winsupersite.com) and WithinWindows (www.withinwindows.com). The official site for the book can be found at www.winsupersite.com/book.

Icons Used in This BookThe following icons are used in this book to help draw your attention to some of the most important or most useful information in the book.

The Tip icon indicates a helpful trick.

The Note icon points out items of importance.

The Secret icon marks little-known facts that are not obvious to most Windows users. This information is rarely documented by Microsoft, and when it is, its done so in a way thats not easy for users to find.

xxvi Windows 7 Secrets

The Cross-Reference icon points to chapters where additional information can be found.

The Caution icon warns you about possible negative side-effects or precautions you should take before making a change.

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In This Chapter

Discovering that, yes, Windows 7 really is that good

Taking a quick tour of new and improved Windows 7 features

Looking at the products and services that complete the Windows 7 experience

Continuing your exploration of Windows 7 on the Web

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Well, its here. Windows 7 is Microsofts latest desktop operating system, and while thats notable on its own, this time around Microsoft appears to have really gotten it right. With Windows Vista, those in the know fought an uphill battle trying to convince people that it wasnt as horrible as pundits and know-nothing bloggers claimed. But Windows 7 is different. This time around, Microsoft has tweaked, prodded, and improved virtually every single aspect of the OS, and as a result the Windows Vista goose has evolved into the Windows 7 swan. Despite sharing common underpinnings, Windows 7 is perceived to be dramatically superior to Windows Vista. And that opinion is nearly universal: all those clowns that were falling over each other to out-criticize Windows Vista now cant compliment Windows 7 enough. For once, they may be on to something: Windows 7 is the best OS to come out of Redmond in a long, long time. And in this initial chapter, well try to explain why that is so.

Believe the HypeVirtually everywhere you look, the reviews are positive. With Windows 7, Microsoft has finally provided a technically excellent and lust-worthy desktop OS. Its Vista done right. Its an apology for the mistakes of its predecessor, a technological mea culpa that tries to right the wrongs. Okay, maybe. But we think of it like this. Windows 7 is the fin-est desktop OS Microsoft has ever released. It benefits from the work that came before, in Windows Vista, and from a strict adherence to principles of simplicity, elegance, and clarity. Microsoft didnt bite off more than it could chew, and instead of the mess of weird bundled applications and capabilities that muddled Windows Vista, Windows 7 presents a much clearer picture. In fact, the more time you spend with Windows 7, the more you realize that Microsoft went over this product with a fine-toothed comb. No code, no bit, no pixel was left untouched. If something could be simplified, cleaned up, tweaked, or made better in some way, it was.

All that saidWindows 7 isnt perfect. Heresy, we know. But consider the following.

While Windows 7 performs better than Windows Vista, its still slower than XP on the same hardware and less compatible with existing hardware and software, even with the Windows XP Mode solution. We think thats just fine. After all, Windows XP is almost a decade old. More important, the differences are minimal and negligible on newer hardware.

Some Windows 7 features will be confusing. The new Windows 7 taskbar hides windows, and the improved notification area hides icons, obscuring the fact that applications are autoloading during boot-time, increasing the amount of time that it takes to boot and killing off value system resources.

Finally, if youre coming to Windows 7 from Windows Vista, the change wont seem as dramatic as it will if you stuck with XP. Thats because Windows 7 is really just an evolu-tion of Windows Vista. So you can expect more of the same, even though its a better sameif that makes sense.

Taken in context, Windows 7 is something special. But just as its important to understand how to take advantage of its best new features, its equally important to know where it falls flat so you find workarounds. And when you think about it, thats exactly what this book is all about. We document the good, the bad, and the ugly. Fortunately, with Windows 7, its mostly good.

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Windows 7 in 15 MinutesThis entire book is, of course, dedicated to Windows 7 and, to a lesser extent, the ecosys-tem of products and services that complete the Windows experience. But if youre looking for a quick rundown of some of the most important new changes and features in Windows, you dont have to read the whole book, at least not yet. Instead, we present here a crash course on Windows 7. Read on and you can learn about the most important new features of Windows 7 in the time it takes to sip a perfectly made latte. And well point you to where you can find out more about these features, when applicable: Windows 7 Secrets wasnt designed to be read from cover to cover. Instead, you should feel free to jump around and explore those topics that are the most confusing or interesting first.

Better IttiesCompared to its predecessors, Windows 7 offers better reliability, compatibility, security, and, um, performity, or what we jokingly call the itties. These improvements are per-vasive to Windows 7 and appear at every level of the experience, from low-level tweaks that make the system run better to major end-user features that are so fun and useful theyll literally bring a smile to your face.

On the reliability front, Windows 7 is engineered to withstand problems, proactively seek out issues that might otherwise undermine system integrity, and then help you solve problems that do manage to get through Windows 7s defenses using the new Windows Troubleshooting infrastructure (see Figure 1). And unlike with Windows Vista, most Backup and Restore features are available in all Windows 7 product versions.

Figure 1: Windows Troubleshooting helps you solve problems.

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You can find out more about Windows 7s repair and recovery tools in Chapter 25. We discuss Backup and Restore in Chapter 24.

Windows 7 also builds off of the hardware and software compatibility improvements that Microsoft engineered over the first 3 years of Windows Vistas lifetime. If Vista compat-ibility isnt good enough, a new feature called Windows XP Mode provides the capability to run many Windows XP applications in a special virtualized environment, side-by-side with native Windows 7 applications. Windows XP Mode is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Windows XP Mode enables you to run XP applications side by side with Windows 7 applications.

We discuss Windows XP Mode in Chapter 3.

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Microsoft made huge security gains in Windows Vista, and Windows 7 builds on that foundation by making the controversial User Account Control (UAC) feature less annoy-ing, adding new security and privacy controls to Internet Explorer 8 (see Figure 3), and adding important new monitoring capabilities to Action Center, the replacement for Vistas Security Center.

Figure 3: Internet Explorer 8 InPrivate Browsing lets you cover your tracks online.

We look at security in Chapter 7.

On the performance front, Windows 7 marks the first time since, oh, the early 1990s that a new version of Windows actually substantially outperforms its predecessor on the same hardware. Windows 7 runs so well that it will tame everything from a 3-year-old Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) to a modern if otherwise underpowered netbook.

Simpler SetupThanks to improvements in the componentization of the underlying operating system, Windows 7 Setup, shown in Figure 4, is simpler and faster than ever. So whether youre doing a clean install of the OS, upgrading from Windows Vista, migrating from Windows XP or Vista, or upgrading a version of Windows 7 to a better version of Windows 7, Microsoft has you covered. And using tools like Windows Easy Transfer, its possible

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to ensure that all your old settings and data make it from your old PC to Windows 7 no matter how you upgrade.

Figure 4: Windows 7 Setup is simpler and faster than previous versions and has fewer steps for you to babysit.

We cover all installation eventualities in Chapter 2.

New Aero Desktop CapabilitiesWhen Windows Vista debuted in 2006, the glasslike Windows Aero user interface was the biggest usability news. But in Windows 7, Microsoft takes Aero to the next level with a wide range of new desktop effects. These include such things as Aero Peek, shown in Figure 5, Aero Shake, Aero Themes, and Aero Snaps. But the Windows desktop isnt just about desktop effects. Windows 7 also makes it easier than ever to modify other aspects of the user experience, including the use of desktop gadgets and support for high-DPI displays and multiple monitors.

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Figure 5: Windows Aero is more pervasive and capable in Windows 7.

We examine the Aero desktop effects and Windows desktop gadgets in Chapter 4.

Enhanced TaskbarIn one of the more controversial cha