Microsoft Windows 7

Microsoft Windows 7 is being acclaimed as Microsoft coming back stronger than ever and delivering a secure, fast and compatible operating system for users everywhere.

Almost everyone will have heard about someone who has lost important data on a USB or laptop – it seems governments across the world have given plenty of case studies for lax security. Data is everywhere, and the ease of losing a drive the size of a pack of chewing gum containing confdential documents is something all organizations should be concerned about.

There are several good feature for Windows 7:

Put a “Pin Up” of the Folders You Use Most . Windows ® 7 allows you to “pin up” the folders you use most on your taskbar. Simply hold your mouse over the favorite folder, right click, and drag it onto the taskbar. Windows 7 automatically pins itself to the Explorer Jump List. To open the folder, right click on the Explorer icon and select the folder you want.

Double-Up Your Windows. When working within an application, sometimes you just want more of a good thing. To open another window of the same application (assuming the app can run more than one instance), simply hold Shift and click the taskbar icon. You can also middle-click your third mouse button for the same result.

Clear, Crisp Display—It’s In Your Control. Windows 7 makes it easy for you to adjust your display settings, making text and images easier to view in all the various locations where you work on your computer. Your laptop display may look fine at work but a little dark at home. Adjust the text and image settings easily with two snappy applets: ClearType Text Tuning and Display Color Calibration. Run cttune.exe and dccw.exe, or look them up in the Control Panel.

Order and Reason for Your Taskbar. You can decide the order that your icons show up in your taskbar by simply dragging them to the
order you desire.

Taskbar Traversing. Your machine will make its active screen your taskbar menu, and you can use the arrow keys to select the application you’re interested in. Just hit Enter to launch it. Naturally, to exit this trick, press Esc.

BitLocker To Go Protection. BitLocker ® has become a saving grace when it comes to increased laptop security. Windows 7 has taken security even farther with its BitLocker To GoTM feature, which allows you to encrypt removable USB devices and external disks. To enable BitLocker or BitLocker To Go, right click the drive in Windows Explorer and select “Turn on BitLocker…” This can also be managed centrally via Group Policy, so IT administrators can require the USB drive be encrypted before files can be written to it.

Your Own Personal Help Desk: Windows Troubleshooting Platform. We’ve all experienced minor issues like Windows Aero not displaying or sound controls not functioning. Don’t get stuck in the mud just because your computer seems to be. Windows 7 can save you from having to bite the bullet and call the help desk for every problem that comes up, thanks to the new Windows Trouble- shooting Platform. It’s easily accessed by typing “fix” or “Troubleshoot” in the Start Menu. A list of Windows Troubleshooting Packs allows you to choose from what might be giving you trouble, and the troubleshooter will faithfully attempt to clear up the problem.

The Registry is a central repository Windows 7 uses to store anything and everything that applies to the configuration of your system. This includes all the following:

Information about all the hardware installed on your computer
The resources those devices use
A list of the device drivers that Windows 7 loads at startup
Settings that Windows 7 uses internally
File type data that associates a particular type of file with a specific application
Backgrounds, color schemes, and other interface customization settings

Other customization settings for things such as the Start menu and the taskbar
Internet and network connections and passwords
Settings for Windows 7 applications such as Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer
Settings and customization options for many third-party applications

Initial testing of Windows 7 has shown it to be compatible with most existing networks, there will undoubtedly be teething problems. Windows 7 will begin shipping with new machines on the 22nd of October, 2009 but Windows XP will continue to be available as an option into 2011 which gives organisations plenty of time to transition over.

Virtual Hard Drives (VHDs)

VHDs provide a virtual drive contained in a single file. This drive can hold anything that a normal drive can hold, including another operating system. VHDs can be copied in other locations, including Virtual PC even VMware guest OSes. Also, system and partition backups are created as VHD files which can be mounted as drives, explored, and files easily recovered. Once a VHD has been mounted, it is available as a drive in Windows Explorer.