Features In Windows 7 For Better Customized Taskbar, Desktop and Start Menu

Appearance wise Windows 7 GUI is very similar to Windows Vista when you look at it from a distance but on having a closer look you will realize that Windows 7 has improved GUI in a big way. Windows 7 has provided more power along with better customization. You can have better ways to keep frequently-used programs and files to use them easily. The procedures to use the power of windows 7 in the areas of Taskbar, Desktop and Start menu are as follows:

Using Live Thumbnails

The taskbar icons represent currently-running and pinned programs. The two ways by which you can know about icons representing currently-running programs are:

When you move mouse over an icon, each program’s live thumbnails are displayed. In case there are more windows open then live thumbnail of every open window can be seen. If you move your mouse over its thumbnail then full size program window’s preview can be seen. Double clicking its thumbnail will open the program window.

Unpinning Programs and Files

Unpinning a program from the Taskbar can be done by right clicking the program icon and selecting Unpin This Program from Taskbar. Unpinning a program from the Start menu requires right clicking the program icon and then selecting Unpin from Start Menu. Unpinning a file from a Jump List of a program is possible by clicking the inserted push-pin icon.

Changing Start Menu and Taskbar Settings

Just like older versions of Windows, Windows 7 offers many options to customize the Start menu and Taskbar. To start, all you have to do is right click the Start button to select properties. The default setting can be changed by clicking Customize arrow on the tab of Start Menu. The combination of checkboxes and radio buttons in Start Menu tab will create a combination of features that are frequently accessed and will hide all those features which you don’t find useful many times. For example you can change Control Panel to a menu and can add Recorded TV, Homegroup, Administrative Tools, and Run to user’s menu. Not satisfied with the changes or want to change the setting, its very simple, you just have to click Use Default Settings button to reset the Start menu.

Customizing the Taskbar

The taskbar can be customized with respect to location, locking, icon size and auto-hiding.

For that you have to click Taskbar tab. Windows 7 by default combines hides labels and taskbar icons, and has to rely on thumbnails so that details can be shown. If you would like to have more Windows XP type of looks then select Combine option when Taskbar is full otherwise don’t use Combine option. (New settings as usual can be put in by clicking Apply and then OK)