Windows 7 Beta was made available for download a while ago and I'm sure a lot of you installed it. I guess some of you started looking for ways to tweak and optimize it.





Back Up Your MP3 Files

Windows Media Player 12 has a feature that auto fills-in missing metadata on your music files, large albums included. It's all good in theory, but the thing is that there is a nasty bug that can damage your music - it can permanently cut off a few seconds at the beginning of the track. To fix it, read this Microsoft article and install the fix. But I would advise you to back up your music files in any case, just to keep them away from harm.

Control UAC

UAC in Windows 7 isn't nearly as annoying as in Vista (don't get me wrong, it's a good feature in theory - just way too annoying in every-day life!). So, if you'd like to change something:

1. Type UAC in the start menu search field and hit Enter
2. Click the result and you will be taken to UAC settings
3. Now you can adjust the settings to your liking - I prefer having it just above Never notify, since it's a good combination of not being constantly annoyed and security.

Feel Free to Right-click

One of the things I quite like about Windows 7 is that you can do a lot by simply right-clicking everything. For example, if you want to change your screen resolution, simply right-click an empty space on your desktop. You'll find the relevant menu entry. So now there will be no need to spend time browsing through display settings.

If you want to have faster access to common folders, like Documents or Pictures, just right-click the Explorer button in the taskbar.
And if you don't like the idea of using Internet Explorer, you don't need the icon in the taskbar. Right-click it and click Unpin this program from the taskbar.

Get Back Your Familiar Taskbar

The Windows 7 taskbar is basically a big quick-launch toolbar. It can hold whatever program shortcuts you like. But if you have too many shortcuts, it will consume your desktop space. And, besides, a lot of people would be more comfortable with the traditional taskbar. To change it:

1. Click the Start button and go to Properties - Taskbar
2. Click Use small icons
3. Then set Taskbar buttons to Combine when taskbar is full

Burn CDs and DVDs

Another great Windows 7 feature is that now you don't need third-party software to burn ISO images onto CDs and DVDs. Just double-click the ISO image file you want to burn, and a small program will open. Then all you have to do is select the disk burner drive and click Burn.

Keyboard Shortcuts

And here is a list of useful new keyboard shortcuts:

Alt+P
Display/ hide the Explorer preview pane

Windows key+G
Display gadgets in front of other windows

Windows key++ (plus key)
Zoom in, where appropriate

Windows key+- (minus key)
Zoom out, where appropriate

Windows key+Up
Maximise the current window

Windows key+Down
Minimise the current window

Windows key+Left
Snap to the left hand side of the screen

Windows key+Right
Snap to the right hand side of the screen

Windows key+Home
Minimise/ restore everything except the current window