Microsoft Windows 7

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Introduction

Windows 7 is the successor to Windows Vista. Although similar in appearance, Windows 7 features many security and functionality improvements over previous versions of Windows. Many of the new functions introduced in Windows 7 will be detailed on this page.

Windows 7 is available in all Academic Computing Labs. To log on to a Windows 7 workstation, you must use your Ryerson online identity and password. For security purposes, you must log out before you leave the workstation.

Video Tutorials

Click to open Microsoft's Video Guides to Windows 7
Link opens in a new window.

Using the Mouse

This guide often refers to basic operations with the mouse. The following table can be applied as a reference for using the mouse.

Logging On To A Windows 7 Workstation

In order to use a Windows 7 workstation, you need to log on using your Ryerson online identity. Start by holding down the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys at the same time.

Windows Login window should appear.

Enter your credentials and click the round arrow button to login. This is the online identity you have selected during the Account Activation procedure.

If another user has left the system without logging off, please log off before using the system. You should always use your own account and make sure no one else uses your account.

Windows 7 Interface

Now that you have logged in, it is important to become familiar with the user interface of Windows 7 and recognize the changes from earlier versions of Windows.

Desktop Interface

Fig. 1 - Windows 7 Desktop Interface - Click Image to Enlarge

Desktop Desktop Icon Start Button & Menu Quick Launch Bar Task Bar Notification Area

Window Interface

Fig. 2 - Windows 7 Window Interface - Click Image to Enlarge

Title Bar & Control Buttons Navigation Bar Search Bar Navigation Pane Display Area Details

Windows 7 Task Bar

The Windows 7 Taskbar, sometimes referred to as Super Bar, is one of the biggest changes introduced in Windows 7. The new taskbar can be seen below. The first thing you may notice is that programs are displayed as an icon rather than title of the open window. Windows 7 saves space by only displaying applications, not windows.

Fig. 3 - Windows 7 Taskbar

Icons & Pinning

Instead of the traditional Quick Launch Icons from previous versions of Windows, Windows 7 has pinned icons. These stay on the taskbar at all times. To pin a program, drag it from Windows Explorer onto the Taskbar.

Non-pinned applications will only appear on the taskbar when open. Open applications will have a box around them and will illuminate when the cursor is hovering over them. If an application has multiple windows open, small tabs will begin to appear on the right side of the Taskbar Icon (see icon).

Jump Lists

Windows 7 allows easier access to commonly used or visited aspects of specific programs through jump lists. Jump lists are unique to your own habits with each program and will display your commonly used tools or visited areas so rather than starting a program and navigating there manually, you can start a program with your file open, or location already navigated to.

Fig. 4 - Windows Explorer Jump List shows frequently visited places.

To bring up a jump list, right click a taskbar icon. Jump Lists also have options to pin or unpin programs from the taskbar.

Thumbnail Previews

Fig. 5 - Live Thumbnail Preview for Firefox windows.

Similar to the previews in Windows Vista, the Thumbnails of Windows 7 appear when you hover your cursor over icons in the taskbar without clicking. Unlike Vista, previews are now dynamic and update as if the window was open. These dynamic thumbnails allow you to perform actions such as using the small button in the top-right corner of each thumbnail to close the window without having to open it. Moving the cursor over a thumbnail and hovering without clicking will make that window appear, although only as a preview, and will disappear once the cursor moves away. Click a thumbnail to open and bring that window to the front of the screen.

Show Desktop (Peek)

You may have noticed the Quick Launch icon for "Show Desktop" is absent in Windows 7. Instead, the tool to view desktop is built in to the taskbar in a function called Aero Peek, or just Peek. The right-most end of the taskbar has a blank rectangle separating itself from the Notification Area. We call this the Peek Button.

Fig. 6 - The blank, rectangular Aero Peek Button. Open windows are transparent, only outlines are visible.

When you hover your cursor over the Peek Button, without clicking, all of the open windows will turn transparent, except for their outlines and a glass-like texture, giving you a view of the desktop. Moving the cursor off this rectangle will cause all of the open windows to reappear. If you would like to minimize all open windows to be able to interact with the desktop (the same function as the "Show Desktop" button in previous versions), simply click the Peek button and all open windows are minimized to the Taskbar.

Windows 7 Start Menu

Windows 7's Start Menu is very similar to Windows Vista with a few notable changes. The Jump Lists mentioned above are integrated into the Start Menu for quick access to frequently used files, libraries have been included, and the Search Bar includes items within the Control Panel. Open the Start Menu from the circular Windows Icon on the left-most end of the Taskbar.

Navigating The Start Menu

Fig. 7 - Windows 7 Start Menu

The left column of the Start Menu displays recently used programs, "All Programs", and a Search Bar. The right side displays (from top to bottom) your personal folder (My Documents), default Libraries, Computer (root folder), and technical areas such as Control Panel. The bottom of this column has a log-off button, which has been simplified from Windows Vista. To log off, simply press the button. (Fig. 7)

Fig. 8 - Start Menu after selecting "All Programs"

Selecting "All Programs" will bring up a display menu for searching through directories. However, unlike Windows Explorer, this menu is far less thorough, showing folders specifically for executable files and offering little detailed information. (Fig. 8)

Fig. 9 - Windows 7 Start Menu Search

Alternatively, you may enter a specific keyword for the program you are searching for in the Search Bar at the bottom of the Start Menu to jump straight to it. Windows 7 now allows you to search for Control Panel tools this way too. (Fig. 9)

Fig. 10 - Windows 7 Start Menu Jump Lists

Jump Lists are another major addition to the Windows Start Menu. You may notice arrows to the right of recently used programs in Fig. 7. By rolling your mouse over these arrows, the right column will change into a list of recent files, documents, etc. for that specific program. Selecting one of these items will launch the program with that document opened automatically. (Fig. 10)

Mouse & Window Management Functions

To have greater control over window visibility and screen space for each window, Windows 7 has included mouse controls which allow you to move and drag windows into organized structures rather than having to click or use keyboard commands to do so.

Aero Snap

The first of these mouse gestures is referred to as Aero Snap or just Snap. Snap allows you to grab a window by the Title Bar and drag it to the top, left, or right edges of the screen to "snap" it to the respective side. Dragging a window to the top will maximize the window to fit the entire screen. Dragging the window away from the top will restore the windows original dimensions.

Fig. 9 - Right-side window has been snapped to side. Left side shows outline preview of a Snap.

Dragging a window to the left or right hand side of the screen will resize the window to 50% of the screen. These can also be dragged off of the side and their original dimensions will be restored.

Aero Shake

Aero Shake, or just Shake makes the window of interest visible while fading out all of the open background windows. To perform an Aero Shake, click and drag your window of interest and proceed to move it back-and-forth with rapid movements. You will see your "shaking" off the window has made all other windows go transparent, removing background distractions. To bring these transparent windows back into focus, perform the same "shake" action on the window. This function is very similar to Peek, except instead of displaying the Desktop, it displays a single window.

Aero Peek

Aero Peek, or sometimes Peek allows you to preview or jump to the desktop. Aero Peek's functions are detailed in the Taskbar section.

Windows 7 Libraries

Fig. 10 - Windows 7 Default Libraries

Windows 7 includes a new organizational tool called Libraries. Libraries are folders that collect content from other folders. Libraries don't really have any real location on your computer, and saving a file in a Library actually saves it elsewhere. Similar to how content shows up in a search, Libraries collect files from multiple specific folders and hold all the information in one space.

Fig. 11 - Change Library Location Menu

There are many default Libraries such as Documents, Music, Pictures, and Video. Users are also free to create their own libraries for specific types of content. Use the main Libraries folder to create a new Library (Fig. 10). The Documents Library, for example, is made up of aggregated files and folders from both My Documents and Public Documents. Right Click a Library in the left Navigation Pane to change Locations where the Library will gather files from. (Fig. 11)

Logging off of a Windows 7 Workstation

Before leaving a workstation you have logged into, you must log off. Logging off prevents other people from using your account.

Logging off has been simplified for Windows 7. Simply open the Start Menu, and select the Log Off button from the right column:

Fig. 12 - Windows 7 Log Off Button