Explore Posterous

We’ve come to the end of our Windows 7 The Ease of Setup series; and we’ve accomplished a great deal over the past 6 weeks.  If you’ve been following along, and have worked through this with me, you should now have Windows 7 installed on YOUR existing PC. Congratulations on a job well done!

Now that its installed, you may be wondering, “well, that’s just great, Chris… NOW what?! I have no idea where things are or what to do!”

No worries, my friends… I’ve got 7 well timed tips to help you get acclimated to the new OS.

Start Menu – Search is all you need
With earlier versions of Windows, finding programs or documents wasn’t easy.  You often had to search through multiple Program Groups or a huge list of documents to find what you want. With Windows 7 all you need is the Search field in the Start Panel. 

Click Start, and then type the name of the thing you’re looking for. Windows will show you keyword matches (programs, Control Panel applets, documents, e-mail messages, etc.) from the entire contents of your hard drive. There’s really no need to click Start—Programs anymore. 

Windows 7 Search Results

Quick Launch is now Your Task Bar
One of the biggest changes to Windows 7 is the removal of the traditional Quick Launch toolbar.  Quick Launch is now your Task Bar, and you can add any running program to it simply by right clicking on a running program in the Task Bar and choosing “Pin this Program to the Task Bar.” Once pinned to the Task Bar, you can run a program by clicking its icon.  Running programs are differentiated from pinned icons by the rectangular outline around it.

Your Quick Launch Toolbar is now your Task Bar

Put Your Gadgets Anywhere
In Vista, the SideBar was a static thing that sat on a chosen edge of your PC’s screen. Gadgets sat in the bar, period. In Windows 7, Sidebar gadgets can sit anywhere you want them to.  All you need to do is hover your mouse over the gadget in question until the move handle appears, then click and drag it to the desired location.

Gadgets can live anywhere, even the middle of the desktop, like the above…

Hide None, Some or All of your System Tray
Since Quick Launch and your Task Bar are one in the same, Windows 7’s System Tray now has the ability to hide all, some or none of its icons. Click the up arrow at the left most end of the System Tray and then click the Customize link on the panel that appears.  You can always show, show only notifications or hide tray icons in the resulting dialog box.

Customize your System Tray

Quickly show the Desktop
Getting access to your desktop can be an important thing.  Seeing what windows are where and what you’ve got under the active window can help you get organized.  If you need to quickly view the desktop, simply hover your mouse over the rectangular button at the right-most end of the task bar. You desktop will appear with all of your active windows outlined. Click the button to quickly minimize all windows.

Quickly get to your desktop!

Taskbar Peek
Sometimes its helpful to know what you have running without having to ALT-Tab through all of your running applications. Thankfully, Windows 7 offers this by allowing users to hover their mouse cursor over a running application. Windows 7 will then show you a live shot of the current status of the application, making it easy to identify which document or application you need

Windows Peek in action

Shake to Minimize Windows
Once you find the window you’re looking for, clearing the desktop so that things aren’t so cluttered is easy.  Simply grab the task bar on the window you want to KEEP and quickly shake it back and forth.  All other active windows will quickly minimize themselves.  To restore those windows, repeat the above.

Stay tuned!  There’s more Windows 7 magic coming up in the future!

This is part 6 in a multipart series on setting up Windows 7 on YOUR PC. You can see parts here at Just Another Mobile Monday and at iTechGear.org.

Wow…

We’ve accomplished a lot in the last few weeks.  We have figured out

• (that) Windows 7 was a good OS choice for us
• Determined which version of the OS to install
• Examined our hardware, figured out what to upgrade, and then upgraded our hardware
• Prepped the computer and our data for the OS upgrade, and finally
• Ripped the band aid off and installed Windows 7

Great!  We’ve got the new OS installed..!  Now what??

Great question. Let’s take a quick look at some very important follow up items that need to be done right away. These things don’t have to be done in this EXACT order, but need to be done before you give your PC a good workout.

Now that the install is done, let’s get busy!

1. Install Your Drivers (if not already done)
   If you haven’t gotten all of your drivers installed, do that now before you do anything else. You’d be surprised how much missing drivers can drag down PC performance.
2. Setup your Wireless Network
   If you have Wi-Fi on your PC or laptop, one of the first things Windows 7 wants to do is configure it. Take some time to run through the wizards, so that you can get on the Internet.  You’re going to need it if you don’t have a wired connection to hook up to.
3. Install Anti-Virus/Anti-SPAM
   Most AV apps, like McAfee or Norton, use a subscription service after your initial purchase to keep your software current.  This usually means that you give your AV vendor of choice $30-$40 bucks a year (after a $50-$80 initial purchase) to use the software. Stop the madness. Unless you have an active AV subscription when you install Windows 7, installing a free AV utility or Internet Suite can provide you with adequate protection while saving money. AVG Free, MS Security Essentials, Panda Anti-Virus and Kaspersky are all great utilities and offer free versions. I use MS Security Essentials or AVG Free and haven’t gotten a virus or worm while they’ve been installed.
4. Install Dropbox and Retrieve your Data
   Reinstall Dropbox and let it copy down all of your data, or connect your computer to the external drive that has your data and copy it all back to your PC. Windows will want to move the contents of My Music, My Videos and My Pictures to different locations. Don’t worry. Let this happen.  You’ll be able to find your files again later.
5. Run Windows Update and get ALL Available Updates
   If there are driver or component updates available for your PC or Windows 7, Windows Update is going to bring them to you. Make sure you do this before installing all of your programs so the OS is current.
6. Install your Core Applications
   These are the apps that you use all the time, and the reason why you have a computer.  You can put them back on in the order that seems the most logical to you. If you don’t have all of your install CD’s don’t panic. Many of these applications can be downloaded from the Internet or something similar that can be downloaded can be easily found via Google.

   There are many free alternatives to MS Office (like OpenOffice), and to other applications, that are free. The internet is a vast place. Use Bing, Google, Yahoo! or any other search engine you’re familiar with to look around for free, legitimate and legal alternatives if your software budget is small.

Next week, I’ll have some tips and tricks for getting most out of Windows 7. If you have questions and would like them answered, don’t hesitate to contact me at chris@itechgear.org. If the solution benefits everyone, I’ll include it in a Questions and Answers column we have planned!

This is part 5 of a multipart series on setting up Windows 7 on YOUR computer.   You can see parts here at Just Another Mobile Monday and at iTechGear.org.

OK… NOW its time to install the operating system.

We’ve figured out which version of the Windows 7 to install, backed up all of our data to either an external drive or to The Cloud, and have all of the drivers that we need. We’re ready to drop the DVD in the drive and let ‘er rip, right?

Yep.

Install Windows 7 now..!

There are two possible install paths – Full or Upgrade install. The middle and end results are pretty much the same; but the way things start off are very different. Follow these steps to install Windows 7 with a Full DVD. Pictures of the full process, can be seen below and at iTechGear.org.

1. With the computer on, put the DVD in your DVD drive. Ignore any autorun messages or applications that run off the DVD.  Close them.
2. Shut down the computer (using the shutdown feature in Windows) and turn your computer off. 
3. Turn the PC back on and let the PC boot from the DVD drive.  If your PC instructs you to press any key to boot from the DVD drive, press any key.
4. Windows will run through a quick process to copy boot files and other setup essentials to your hard drive. No major changes are made during this time.
5. The setup program will start, and ask you to pick and installation language, time and currency, and keyboard formats.  The defaults for the United States will display.  Click the Next button.
6. The next screen has the Install Now button on it. Click it and let ‘er rip!
7. You’ll see a couple of screens after this.  Let Windows 7 setup take you through them.  Setup will ask you what type of install you want to do.  Stop.

   If you’re upgrading from Windows XP, Windows 7 setup will make you do a clean install.  You can format your drive and wipe any spyware or viruses from your machine, right here, right now. You’re booting from the DVD, and none of them are active right now.  Remember, all of your data has been backed up. Again, if this is your situation, let ‘er rip. 

   If you’re coming from Vista and do an in-place upgrade, remember that it takes quite a bit of time, depending on the amount of programs you have installed.  Windows 7 Setup examines every application you have and either allows it to execute in Windows 7, "marks" it as problematic, or disables it. All this takes time; and Windows Setup can make mistakes.  While it may be time consuming for you, doing a clean install and installing your programs from scratch can save you time after the install is done.  If Windows "burps" afterwards, its going to be near impossible to figure out the REAL root cause, and eliminate it. A clean install is the safest bet.

Follow these steps to install Windows 7 with an Upgrade DVD.

1. With your computer on, put the DVD in your DVD drive.  Setup with start and you’ll see a screen with an Install Now button. Click it. Setup will copy boot files and other setup essentials to your hard drive from within XP or Vista.
2. When the copy is completed, your computer will restart from the special setup files.

At this point, the process will be similar to the full install process, above.  When the install process completes and you see the Windows 7 desktop, get your driver’s and install them. Your computer may need to restart several times while you do this. Be sure to install all your drivers. If Windows has a better driver than the one your installing, it will use it.

Next time, we’ll talk about what to do after your drivers are installed.

Setup from DVD to Desktop in Pictures

DVD in the drive…	Setting up on my Wind…	The Wind’s Boot Menu…	Choose the DVD Drive…	Boot from the DVD drive…
Windows is loading files…	Choose regional settings	Let ‘er rip..!	Setup is starting…	Agree to the terms…
Upgrade or Custom? (Custom…)	Choose the drive to install on…	Choose Drive Options (Advanced)	Click Format. Win 7 is NTFS only	Wiping the drive erases all…
The drive stats, post format…	The file copy starts…	Applying registry settings…	Setup is starting services…	Finishing the file copy…
Type a users & computer name…	Choose a password…	Type your Product Key…	Choose how updates are applied…	Set the Time Zone…
Setup is preparing your Desktop…	Your desktop, your Wi-Fi…

As most unboxings go, this one is unfortunately a little on the blasé side.  However, I wanted to show everyone that might be interested what came with the Moto CLIQ.  Having never owned a T-Mo phone or any other Moto phone for that matter (the StarTac I had back in 2000 really doesn’t count, right??), I had no idea what to expect.

When I woke up this morning, I was greeted to a FedEx bubble wrap envelope at my door.  Opening it up revealed the box below.

My Moto CLIQ’s box. Its showing a little wear…

Small box… I was hoping for a little more in it that I got.  I stopped by a local T-Mo store, and interestingly enough they confirmed the contents for me.

The CLIQ in its box…

The review unit is in very good condition, but the box is showing some wear. Its also unfortunately, a fingerprint magnet (as you can see).

The entire contents of the CLIQ’s box.  There’s not much here…

From left to right we have the micro USB cable, a set of 4 booklets (I haven’t opened them yet, obviously), a phone recycle envelope, the AC adapter (the USB cable plugs into it), and a set of 3.5mm headphones.

We’ve come a long way from the days when not only USB cables but FULL AC adapters as well as basic cases were included with a device.  While the CLIQ is currently $199 (I saw it for $149 at Wal-Mart last night here in Chicago), and approximately $400 unlocked, I was a bit surprised to see so little coming with the device.

I’m working with the device, and have been playing with it most of the day. I have my Twitter, Facebook and mail accounts synchronized to the device as well as my JAMM Google Apps account. So far, I’ve had a good day with the device, but after reading some of the T-Mo forums for the device, its clear it has some challenges.  The debate over MOTOBLUR, Android 2.0 and the CLIQ seems to have a lot of device owners returning the device and going with a My Touch 3G (or other device).  This is going to be an interesting two weeks…

Stay tuned, kids… I’ve got a lot planned for this thing!

Apple is unsurprisingly already at work on the next version of its operating system, according to a new technical message that references Mac OS X 10.7.

As first discovered by MacRumors, a new database entry for the open source "launchd" framework responsible for booting Mac OS X references "11A47" with a new error message. Based on Apple's numbering scheme, the numerical prefix of a Mac OS X build determines the version number, and 11A47 would suggest a reference to the next version of the operating system, Mac OS X 10.7.

When it shipped, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard carried the build number 10A432, and subsequent updates 10.6.1 and 10.6.2 had the prefixes 10B and 10C, respectively. For Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, 10.5.0 builds leading up to launch were represented by the prefix 9A.

I saw this on AppleInsider today and was intriguied by it. The staff there indicate that they aren't surprised that work on 10.7 has already begun. As a software quality professional I agree. As a consumer, I was a bit surprised. the bits for 10.6.2 are still cooling, and Apple is pressing ahead with 10.7. I wonder what it will include..?

Check out my latest review on JAMM...

This is freakn' AWESOME. If you have Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate, then you're in luck. Shake is a new feaure in Windows 7 that helps uncluter your desktop. The video above demos the feature. You just have to make sure you really SHAKE and pause after the shake so that the OS recogizes it.

Apple's Boot Camp will not Support Windows 7 on some 2006 Macs

In a memo to retail partners, Apple has announced that it will deliver support for Windows 7 in Mac OS X Snow Leopard's Boot Camp utility by the end of the year via a software update, but exclude support for some Macs sold in 2006...

...According to the announcement, a series of Mac models "will not be supported for use with Windows 7 using Boot Camp," specifically:

  • iMac (17-inch, Early 2006)
  • iMac (17-inch, Late 2006)
  • iMac (20-inch, Early 2006)
  • iMac (20-inch, Late 2006)
  • MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)
  • MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2006)
  • MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2006)
  • MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
  • Mac Pro (Mid 2006, Intel Xeon Dual-core 2.66GHz or 3GHz)