Windows 7 Walkthrough: Hardware and Sound Control Panel

Windows 7’s Control Panel is literally packed with tools (a.k.a. applets) that allow you to configure and control the way that the operating system works. Because the Control Panel has so many tools, Microsoft added a Search box to make it easy for you to find the tool that you need for a particular task.

To help you become familiar with all of the tools that are available in Windows 7’s Control Panel, I have created the Windows 7 Walkthrough series in which I’ll show you and provide a brief overview of each tool in the Control Panel categories. This one covers the tools in the Hardware and Sound Control Panel category.

Migrate to Windows 7 from an XP dual-boot configuration

In last week’s edition of the Windows Vista & 7 Report, Create a Windows XP and 7 dual-boot system staged for an easy migration, I showed you how to resize your existing Windows XP partition and then install Windows 7 in a dual-boot configuration on the same hard disk. As you’ll remember, the goal was to make the task of migrating your settings, documents, and applications from XP to Win 7 a much more relaxed experience since you can boot into Windows XP to check out how something is set up and then boot into Windows 7 to re-create the same configuration.

Once you complete your migration and are comfortable working in Windows 7, you’ll want to remove the dual-boot configuration, remove Windows XP, and just boot Windows 7 as your primary OS. In this edition of the Windows Vista & Windows 7 Report, I’ll show you how to safely undo Windows XP and 7 dual-boot system so that you can complete your migration from Windows XP to Windows 7.

Put the Route command to work with the help of this Windows gadget

When you’re troubleshooting TCP/IP connectivity problems on a Windows network, you may need to investigate the current IP routing table and add or delete specific IP routes. Windows comes with a command-line tool called Route that you can use to reveal and edit this type of information. Unfortunately, the Route tool is stuck in the DOS-based world of the command line, so it’s often avoided when it’s time to troubleshoot TCP/IP connectivity problems that may be rooted in the routing table.

To make the Route tool easier to use, I’ve moved it out of the command line and created the Route Gadget. Let’s take a closer look at this tool.

What Windows 7 means to security administrators

As you know, ever since Windows XP SP2, Microsoft has been very serious about operating security. And while Windows Vista may have been a flop in the performance and compatibility areas, it wasn’t ever criticized for its lack of security. In fact, one of Vista’s main detractions was its over emphasis on the security of locking down the system via the heavy hand of User Account Control (UAC).

Well, with Windows 7, Microsoft has toned down UAC a bit (while not letting up on security) and added a whole slew of security features that will benefit both the end user and the security administrator. Let’s take a closer look.

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Network and Internet Control Panel

Windows 7’s Control Panel is literally packed with tools (a.k.a. applets) that allow you to configure and control the way that the operating system works. Because the Control Panel has so many tools, Microsoft added a Search box to make it easy for you to find the tool that you need for a particular task.

To help you become familiar with all of the tools that are available in Windows 7’s Control Panel, I have created the Windows 7 Walkthrough series in which I’ll show you and provide a brief overview of each tool in the Control Panel categories. The second one covers the tools in the Network and Internet Control Panel category.

Create a Windows XP and 7 dual-boot system staged for an easy migration

If you’re like of lot of Windows users out there, you skipped Vista and are still running XP on your computer. You’ve been waiting for October 22 and now that it’s here you’re ready to try Windows 7. You’re system is relatively new, about three- to four-years old, and you’ve run Microsoft’s Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and your hardware is well on par with Windows 7’s requirements. However, you’re not quite ready to give up XP just yet.

Well in that case you can use Easeus Partition Master Home Edition to easily resize your existing Windows XP partition and then install Windows 7 in a dual-boot configuration on the same hard disk. Read more.

Windows 7 Walkthrough: System and Security Control Panel

Windows 7’s Control Panel is literally packed with tools (a.k.a. applets) that allow you to configure and control the way that the operating system works. Because the Control Panel has so many tools, Microsoft added a Search box to make it easy for you to find the tool that you need for a particular task.

To help you become familiar with all of the tools that are available in Windows 7’s Control Panel, I have created the Windows 7 Walkthrough series in which I’ll show you and provide a brief overview of each tool in the Control Panel categories. The first one covers the tools in the System and Security Control Panel category.

Expedite TCP/IP troubleshooting with our PathPing Gadget

When you’re troubleshooting TCP/IP problems on your network, chances are the first tool you head for is the Ping utility. By default, the Ping utility sends four ICMP (Internet control message protocol) echo packets to a remote computer and listens for the replies. You can then use the information generated by the utility to move on to the next troubleshooting step. In some cases, you may find that this second step involves using the Tracert utility, which traces a packet to a remote computer, showing how many hops the packet requires to reach the host and how long each hop takes. As it does so, it displays the FQDN (fully qualified domain name) and IP address of each gateway along the route to the remote computer.

While the results generated by these two utilities provide a good view of the problem, you can get all this information, and more, by using the PathPing command. As you can surmise from its name, PathPing is basically a hybrid of the Tracert and Ping utilities bundled into one utility. However, PathPing is a more powerful troubleshooting tool than either of its predecessors. It generates a detailed statistical report that can more precisely indicate the cause of the network problem.

As a follow-up to the popular IPConfig Gadget, I decided to create a gadget to automate the PathPing command. Let’s take a closer look at the PathPing Gadget.

10 free Microsoft programs worth checking out

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard someone say, “For all the money I’ve spent on Microsoft products, they should be giving me free software by now,” I’d be rich! Well, unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. But Microsoft does have a lot of Windows software that is free for the taking. We’re all familiar with the free Windows Live offerings, but that’s not all there is. Microsoft has a lot of free software just waiting for you to find it. You just have to know where to look.

Here are 10 free programs to get you started.

Tap into the power of Libraries in Windows 7

As you know, Microsoft Windows 7 is just right around the corner. On October 22nd, you’ll be able to finally get a copy of the new operating system and install it for yourself. When you do, you’ll be able to experience firsthand all of the new and enhanced productivity features that you have been hearing so much about, such as the XP Mode, Jump Lists, Taskbar, Aero (Peek, Shake, and Snap), Search or Location-Aware Printing just to name a few.

But there is another dramatic new feature that really hasn’t received as much notice as some of the others but it will definitely change, for the better, the way that you think about, access, and organize the data files on your computer — this new feature are the Libraries. Read more.

Windows 7 Professional feature to feature comparison chart

Wondering how Windows 7 Professional stacks up to its predecssors, Windows XP Professional and Windows Vista Business? If so, then you need to check out the Windows Professional Feature Comparison Chart.

100 keyboard shortcuts for moving faster in Windows 7

Along with Windows 7’s new features comes a set of new keyboard shortcuts.

You don't have to experiment to find out which traditional shortcuts still work in Windows 7 -- or search for ones that have been added to the new OS. Just refer to this quick reference to speed common Windows 7 tasks.

The Windows Ecosystem Readiness Program ensures compatibility for Windows 7

We all remember what a compatibility nightmare Microsoft Windows Vista was between the time that it launched in January 2007 and the release of SP1 in April 2008. Unfortunately, software and hardware manufacturers and Microsoft were not on the same page when Vista launched and it took them close to year to get to that point. As you can imagine, the folks at Microsoft are very determined not to repeat that bit of history with Windows 7.

In fact, in February of this year Microsoft announced the Windows Ecosystem Readiness Program, which is designed to help Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs), Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), developers, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), and Original Device Manufacturers (ODMs) work towards compatibility with Windows 7 by providing them with access to all kinds of resources. I discuss the Windows Ecosystem Readiness Program in this edition of the Windows Vista & 7 Report.