gdgt

OK after installing Windows 7 I had to find all of the cool things to do with it. I found a few websites that have some tips on using the new features of 7 and will post some idiosyncrasies from migrating from XP.

Where's the Show My Desktop icon in the quick launch bar?
There's no quick launch or shortcut anymore, move your mouse to the lower right corner of the screen (the glassy looking rectangle) to show your desktop.

You can also re-enable the quick launch toolbar by following these steps:
(1) Right-click the taskbar, choose Toolbars / New Toolbar
(2) In the folder selection dialog, enter the following string and hit OK:
%userprofile%AppDataRoamingMicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick Launch
(3) Turn off the “lock the taskbar” setting, and right-click on the divider. Make sure that “Show text” and “Show title” are disabled and the view is set to “small icons”.
(4) Use the dividers to rearrange the toolbar ordering to choice, and then lock the taskbar again.
* From Tim Sneath's blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/tims/archive/2009/01/12/the-bumper
-list-of-windows-7-secrets.aspx

Set your desktop background to an RSS feed
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090126/rss-powered-wi
ndows-7-desktop-slideshows/

Interesting hotkeys:
(1) Windows + tab: for the 3D version of alt-tab
(2) Windows + left/right: Arrange window to left or right of screen for comparison with another window.
A full listing of compatible windows 7 hotkeys:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Keyboard-sho
rtcuts


Reviews & Tip Links:

Gizmodo's Windows 7 Tips
http://gizmodo.com/5147665/

Engadget's Review
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/windows-7-review/

Trick Links
A listing of 70 tricks in Windows 7
http://www.softsailor.com/news/887-70-useful-windows-7-t
ips-tricks.html

Thanks swingkat. Interesting stuff. I didn't know about the 3D Alt-Tabbing shortcut. I stumbled upon it once by accident and couldn't recreate it.

Another tidbit - Since you can't really pin down the recycling bin to your new task bar and have it fully functional, Lifehacker had pointed me to a great article that shows you how to activate the quick-launch (As you illustrated above) and add it there, giving you full functionality again: http://www.techspot.com/guides/196-recycle-bin-on-window
s-7-taskbar/

Any more tidbits from other Windows 7 users out there?

Life hacker posted a great article about which tips and tricks from older versions of windows still work in 7 and how to do them here:

http://lifehacker.com/5384603/the-best-windows-tweaks-th
at-still-work-in-windows-7

F.Lux is a cool little application..

IPV6|UTP+Utorrent2.0+Encryption+PeerBlock...

Filehippo.com Update Checker + Hostsman + Microsoft Security Essentials + Spybot S&D + WOT (IE|FIREFOX|CHROME)

Turn off unnecessary services & features..

http://www.blackviper.com/Windows_7/servicecfg.htm

and

Control Panel > AddRemove Programs > Turn On or Off Windows Features..

MSConfig Cleanup still works..

Teracopy is at version 2.0.7 Beta ..

Truecrypt is working but I believe is AlphaBeta Support..

Definitely give Readyboost a try with Windows 7..

i installed mine a couple weeks ago.
brought it to class and sat next to my friend with a mac
75 minutes later i was still win+tab and win+l/r and he was moving his mouse to the edges.

i also like the aero peek.

if you are watching something that takes up a whole window, you can minimize it an watch it by doing a preview.

works nice for a pip experience

Truecrypt is now 6.3 full Windows 7 Support.. Windows XP Mode Virtual PC Mode (Requires Hardware virtualization) avail..

Add K-Lite Codec Pack | Realtime Alternative | Quicktime Alternative | Itunes 8 or 9 Switchless