How to Access Frequently Used Items in Windows 7 with Jump Lists?

Jump list is a handy way to have access to the recently as well as frequently used items on the computer. Jump Lists can be seen on the Taskbar and the Start menu when you right-click on an icon. Jump Lists function as small Start Menus which are application-specific. They can also be found on the icons of applications specifically pinned to the taskbar or the Start menu.

In the previous versions of Windows, it was not very easy and convenient to access frequently used websites, files etc through the jump list. . It allows you to get quick access to frequently used items in Windows 7.

Access Frequently Used Items In Windows 7 Using Jump lists

Jump List Feature for Internet Explorer

Right click a program icon on the Taskbar. 

Click the first letter of an item to jump between them after you open the Windows 7 jump list.

Jump List Feature in the Start Menu

This feature makes helps you get easy access to the recently opened items on your computer.

How to Clear Jump List History

•  Right click on Start.
•  Select Properties.
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•  Choose Start Menu tab
•  Uncheck the first or second or even both the boxes if you want under Privacy. This will clear the history of Start Menu or Taskbar items or both.
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The improved feature helps you access frequently used items in Windows 7 in a better as well as easier way. It makes your navigation quicker.

Use Short Keys on the Keyboard to access frequently used items using Jump Lists

Windows 7 provides you with another method to access the Jump List feature. This method is by using the short keys on your keyboard. Windows 7 comes with a built-in shortcut key. This shortcut key can open up the Jump Lists for the earliest nine icons on the taskbar. So for the taskbar icon, use the shortcut key Win+Alt+1 to open the Jump List.

How to allow users to Run only specified programs in Windows 7?

You can allow users to run only specified programs in Windows 7 operating systems. It is up to you if you want your shared computer to allow users to run only specified programs in Windows 7. A shared computer in an office, for example, can be set in the same way if the company does not want the employees to run all types of programs. You can allow the users to run only specified programs in Windows 7 by using the Local Group Policy. However, you cannot do this in the Home editions of Windows 7 as it does not provide the Local Group Policy Editor.

 Click on the Start button.

Type “gpedit.msc” in the search box of the Start menu and press the Enter button on the keyboard.

Local Group Policy Editor will open. Scroll down to “User Configuration”, “Administrative Templates” and then “System” on the left hand side of the window pane.

On the right hand side of the window, under “Setting”, navigate and double-click on “Run only specified Windows applications”.

Select Enabled from the window.

Click on “Show” under Options. 

The Show Contents window pane will appear. Here you can type the applications you want to let the users run.

How to Create a Shortcut for Locking the Computer Screen in Windows 7?

There are many ways in which you can lock the computer screen. The most popular as well as the fastest way to lock it is to use a keyboard shortcut. The keyboard shortcut used to lock the computer screen is Win+L. A few of us choose to utilize the mouse to lock it. And of course many people like to use both the options.

There is another method in which we can lock the computer screen. It is to create a shortcut for locking the computer screen in Windows 7. You can create a shortcut for locking the computer screen in Windows 7, XP and Vista too. Follow these steps in order to create a shortcut for locking the computer screen in Windows 7 as well as other editions:

Right-click on the desktop where you would like to create the shortcut.
Point to New.

Click on Shortcut from the menu.

Type in this text in the shortcut textbox. (This text will work for Windows XP as well even though the screen will be different)
rundll32.exe user32.dll, LockWorkStation

Click on the Next button.
Type in a name for your shortcut.
Click on the Finish button.  
You have successfully created a shortcut to lock your workstation. Just click on the shortcut whenever you want to lock the computer screen.

How to enable or disable the windows firewall in windows 7?

A firewall is a software or hardware base solution to filter the incoming and outgoing traffic of your computer or network. All the entering or leaving traffic from your computer pass through the firewall, which inspect the all types of traffic and either allow or deny the traffic depending upon the firewall settings. Microsoft includes the built-in firewall feature in all latest windows operating systems like windows XP, Vista and now in windows 7.

Follow the given steps to configure built-in firewall in windows 7:

To use this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.

First click on Start button and then click on Control Panel option.

Now in Control Panel click on “System and Security” link to go next.

On next page, you can see the firewall link “Windows Firewall”, Click on this link to configure the firewall.

There are many options on the left side panel of this page regarding firewall configurations under “Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall”, For example

• Change notification settings
• Turn Windows Firewall on or off
• Restore defaults
• Advanced settings
  

  On the right side panel, you can see the two types of link for firewall settings, For example

  • Home or Work (Private) networks
  • Public networks

  

  Now in left side panel, click on Change notification settings to customize the firewall settings.
  
  By default windows firewall is on for both private and public network, here you can turn off the default firewall policies.

  

  
  

  To allow the default or recommended settings either click on the Use recommended settings button on the right pane or click on the Restore default link on the left side panel.

  

  Here click on the Restore default button and a restore defaults confirmation message will be opened, Click on Yes button.

  

  But if you are a expert user then you can use the Advance Settings link on left side panel to configure the advance firewall settings for inbound and outbound traffic according to your need.

  

  Click on the Inbound Rules link in the left side panel. You can see here a list of all Inbound Rules is displayed. On clicking an enabled rule, a list of actions is shown in the Actions Pane. Click on Disable Rule to disable the selected rule. You can also Cut, Copy and Delete the rule.

  

  Same here Outbound Rules for outgoing traffic.
  

How to Access Hidden Themes in Windows 7?

Windows 7 offers a good assortment of themes to customize the feel as well as the look of your computer. Windows 7 features particular themes which are based on the location and the language you select while you install the Windows 7. You can look for the location-specific theme in the Personalize menu. You just have to right-click at any place upon your computer desktop. You will be able to get the couple of themes according to your location.

Other than the location specific themes which you get by default, you can access hidden themes in Windows 7 which are offered to other regions. So the default themes which you get according to your region are not the only themes you can use. It is possible to access hidden themes in Windows 7 very easily in your system. This is what you have to do:

 Click Start.

 In the search box of the Start menu, type C:\Windows\Globalization\MCT.

Your Windows Explorer will show you a window with additional themes. These will be from Great Britain, South Africa, Australia and Canada.

You have the option to select the wallpaper only or you can install the whole theme if you want.

You will be able to install the entire brand-new theme by double clicking on the required file.

The new theme you add will show under “My Themes” within the “Personalization” pane.

You can also download many themes for Windows 7 from different website including the Microsoft official website. But you should first try to customize and access hidden themes in Windows 7 as you might not feel the need to download additional themes from elsewhere after that.. 

How to Install Windows Live Essentials in Windows 7?

AS you start using Windows 7, you find out that a few of the good Windows applications are not there. It is very easy to take care of that. You can install Windows Live Essentials in Windows 7 and so get your desired Microsoft applications in your computer.

You should install Windows Live Essentials in Windows 7 as Microsoft has not added a number of former applications e.g. Photo Gallery, Messenger and Mail in Windows 7. Jointly called the Windows Live Essentials, the group consists of Family Safety, toolbar, Writer, Mail, Movie Maker, Photo Gallery and Messenger. This group of applications is now accessible by a simple additional download.   Microsoft has done this in order to renovate as well as make progress in those features and not disturbing the foundation of Windows 7. To install Windows Live Essentials in Windows 7 and thus get the Microsoft applications, you have to follow these steps:
Click on the Start button. Go to Getting Started in the Start menu.
Choose Get Windows Live Essentials.

The Windows Live page will appear. Choose your language and click on the Download button. 

Check the boxes of the MS programs you want to install. These include Movie Maker, Photo Gallery, Mail and Messenger. Additional feature of Family Safety as well as a Toolbar can also be installed.

 Click Install to download.  
You will see this progress screen as the selections are being installed.  It will take time according to the number of programs you have selected.

You can find the installed programs in the Start menu under Windows Live.

When you install Windows Live Essentials in Windows 7, you will as well get an extensive variety of additional components associated with the key applications. The users will find out that the Essentials installer will furthermore install .NET Framework, Microsoft Sync Framework Services, Microsoft Sync Framework Runtime, Search Enhancement Pack, Windows Live Sync, Direct3D 9, Microsoft Application Error Reporting etc.

How to remove or restore favorites list in Windows 7?

There is a list of Favorites in Windows 7 so that you can easily access important items frequently. You can see this list in the Windows 7 Explorer. These favorites can be seen in the navigation pane on the left hand side. Windows 7 includes a list of items in Favorites that can be removed if you want. You can also add more folders in the Favorites list. In fact, it is very easy to manage folders in Favorites in Windows 7. You simply have to follow these procedures in order to manage folders in Favorites in Windows 7:

How to Remove Favorites:

Windows 7 Explorer includes a few locations in the Favorites list. You might not find them to be your favorite or use them frequently. So in this case, you can remove those locations from the Favorites list. By default, the favorite locations are Recent Places, Downloads and Desktop. This list may also include Recorded TV if you have set it up in the Media Centre. If you want to remove or delete the unwanted locations from Favorites, follow these steps:

 Right-click on the unwanted location that you want to delete.

Choose and click on Remove from the resulting menu.

How to Add Favorites: 

Another way to manage folders in Favorites in Windows 7 is to add your own folders to the Favorites list. The frequently visited location can be easily added to Favorites. Follow these easy steps:

 Open the folder you would like to add to Favorites.

Right-click on Favorites in the navigation pane.

Click on “Add current location to Favorites” from the resulting menu.

OR

Click on the folder that you want to add to Favorites. Drag it over to the Favorites list. This will establish a link with Favorites.

Here we have deleted all the old locations from the navigation pane of Windows 7 Explorer and added four new locations to it:

How to Restore Favorites: 

However, you can easily restore the Favorites list to its previous state.  Just follow these easy steps:

 Right-click on Favorites.

Click on “Restore favorite links” from the resulting menu.  

This will not remove the locations that you added yourself. It will only bring back the original ones.

By following these procedures to manage folders in favorites in Windows 7, you can quickly navigate through your favorite locations.

 

How to Manage your Documents and Files with Libraries in Windows 7?

With the old editions of Windows like XP and Vista, it can be a tiresome job to manage documents, photos, music etc that are present in different directories on the hard drives. The new feature named Libraries in Windows 7 helps you to organize all your folders from different locations in the hard drives in a single place.

Follow the given steps to use default Libraries in Windows 7:

To access the Libraries in the computer, click on Start.

Click your user name to open your personal folder. 

Click on Libraries in the left pane. You will be able to see the 4 default Libraries: Documents, Videos, Pictures and Music.

Libraries in Windows 7 reveal files stored in different hard drives of the computer. This is what a Music Library looks like. 

You can make your own Library in addition to the ones that already exist.  

How to Make Your Own Libraries in Windows 7: 

Click on the New Libraries button in the left pane.

 A new Library will come up simply like a new folder.

 Label your new Library. 

 

As you go into your new Library, you can add new files, documents, as well as new folders.

In order to add new folder locations to the Library, you just have to click on the hyperlink that displays the present number of locations.

  

Click the Add button to include other locations of your computer.

 

 Right-click on the Library icon.

 Select Properties and add a folder from there.

In addition to this, you can Right-click on a folder and include it in any library as you are navigating the explorer.

All this will make a little change to the user interface. It is very good feature and makes the navigation of folders and files very easy.

 

How to prevent Themes from modifying icons and cursors in Windows 7?

Windows 7 allows the users to choose from a variety of themes by using the Themes feature. As we change a theme, the icons and mouse cursors modify accordingly. Some of us don’t like the icons and mouse cursors to modify as we change the theme. We want the icons and cursors of our choice to remain the same even in the new theme. It is possible to prevent themes from modifying icons and cursors in Windows 7. There is an easy way to prevent themes from modifying icons and cursors in Windows 7. Follow these simple steps in order to prevent themes from modifying icons and cursors in Windows 7:

Right-click anywhere on the desktop. 

Click on “Change desktop icons” on the left-hand side of the window screen.

The Desktop Icon Settings dialog box will appear. Uncheck the box for “Allow themes to change desktop icons”.

Click on Apply.

Click on the Ok button to close this dialog box.  

Many people don’t mind if the new theme changes the icons but they prefer the mouse cursors to remain the same. You can follow the same procedure with a few changes to prevent themes from changing the mouse pointers.
Follow steps 1 and 2.
Simply click on the “Change mouse pointers” link from the Personalize window.

The Mouse Pointers dialog box will appear. Uncheck “Allow themes to change mouse pointers”.  

Click on the Apply button.
Click on the OK button to close this dialog box.