The Windows operating system has come a long way thanks to Microsoft. Challenges have presented themselves in some of the Windows versions; nonetheless, Microsoft is quick to fix any problem that comes up. Windows 7 is proving to be a powerful operating system, and more than likely Windows 8 will be even more momentous than Windows 7. It really doesn’t matter what version of Windows you use. Each version has an amazing selection of shortcuts you can start using today to make your time at the computer easier and more productive.
There is a security feature called User Account Control (UAC) that comes with Windows and, if you choose to, you can adjust the settings. While you want to protect yourself when online, it can slow you down if you don’t have the settings right. If you set the controls to give you a pop-up asking if it’s all right to install or change something on your computer, it can get annoying after a while. It’s important, nonetheless, to be alerted when you might be going to do something risky, so you don’t want to turn UAC off altogether. The default is usually ok. It lets you know if your computer is trying to change something that you didn’t authorize or ask for. You can, however, set UAC to whatever you’re most comfortable with. Were you impressed with the Aero Glass theme that came installed with your Windows 7? As beautiful as it is, it does hog a lot of memory and reduces the speed of your computer. It’s not unusual for a new Windows 7 user to leave there Aero themes in place for a short time and then switch to a Basic theme to save memory and speed up their computer. It’s quite easy to disable Aero; all you have to do is pull up the Personalize menu and choose a Basic theme instead. Nonetheless, a lot of people love the Aero themes and if you are one of them, by all means enjoy these beautiful themes. Changing to a Basic theme is just a way to speed up your computer.
If you have a laptop or notebook computer, you may wish that the battery would last longer. There is an Energy Report you can run if you have Windows 7 that will tell you what you can do to extend your battery’s life. Click Start; type CMD in the box at the bottom; CMD will appear at the top – right click on it and choose "Run as Administrator." The next thing you will see is a DOS Screen (remember them??) Type "powercfg -energy" (without quotes) at the DOS prompt exactly as shown here. Your computer will then generate a report that will tell you what you can do to conserve energy, enabling your battery to last longer. It may also recommend certain upgrades or drivers to help your computer run more efficiently. By following the recommendations in your Energy Report, you can often get longer charge times from your battery.
When you are ready to search for shortcuts to make using Windows more efficient, you will find numerous tips and tricks you can use. There will obviously be more shortcuts and tips you could learn than you could possibly ever use. You will be better off just learning ones that relate to the way you prefer to use your computer. Take the time to research more Windows shortcuts. These are just the tip of the iceberg.