Windows Easy Transfer is a tool for transferring files and settings from one system to another running Windows. Not only this, you can transfer data from one user’s profile, or from multiple user accounts. It helps you to decide what to move to your new computer, which transfer method to use, and finally perform the transfer. When you are done with transferring, it displays a reports of the transferred content. It also offers a list of programs that you might want to install on new computer.

Note: You cannot use this tool to move program files. It can transfer only data and program settings. You must then install your software programs on the new computer. Its also not capable to transfer any system files such as fonts and drivers. You can transfer files and settings using a network, USB drive or the Easy Transfer cable. You can order this cable on the Internet or contact computer manufacturer.



You cannot upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7. However, you can use Windows Easy Transfer to transfer files and settings from Windows XP to Windows 7 on the same computer. For this, you need to copy files to a removable media, such as an external hard drive or USB flash drive, or to a network share. Next, you will install Windows 7 and then migrate your files back from the removable media onto your computer. When you are done, you must re-install your software programs again.

Copy files using Windows Easy Transfer on XP computer.

• Insert the Windows 7 DVD while running Windows XP.
• Open Windows Explorer by right-clicking the Start menu, and then clicking Explore.
• Browse to the DVD drive on your computer and click migsetup.exein the Support\Migwiz directory.
• The Windows Easy Transfer window opens.
• Click Next.
• Select An external hard disk or USB flash drive.
• Click This is my old computer. Windows Easy Transfer scans the computer.
• Click Next. You can also determine which files should be migrated by selecting only the user profiles you want to transfer, or by clicking Customize.
• Enter a password to protect your Easy Transfer file, or leave the box blank, and then click Save.
• Browse to the external location on the network or to the removable media where you want to save your Easy Transfer file, and then click Save.
• Click Next. Windows Easy Transfer displays the file name and location of the Easy Transfer file you just created.

Transfer files and settings on Windows 7 computer.

1. If you saved your files and settings in an Easy Transfer file on a removable media such as a USB flash drive or external hard drive rather than on a network share, insert the removable media into the computer.
2. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Windows Easy Transfer.
3. Click Next.
4. Click An external hard disk or USB flash drive.
5. Click This is my new computer.
6. Click Yes, open the file.
7. Browse to the location where the Easy Transfer file was saved. Click the file name, and then click Open.
8. Click Transfer to transfer all files and settings. You can also determine which files should be migrated by selecting only the user profiles you want to transfer, or by clicking Customize.
9. Click Close after Windows Easy Transfer has completed moving your files.

Access several instances of an open application at the same time in Windows 7 with different tabs. The operating system also allows you to shift windows in a smooth manner and
Microsoft is much closer to making a completely secure operating system been. .

Many a times we need to open multiple instances of the same program, or to take remote troubleshooting help on phone. We also need to shift any open windows to view the other
one. A program needs to be closed or minimized again and again, and on a remote session often some times we are not able to catch the whole tips and we often blunder.

However, Windows 7 or windows xp 7 offers a panacea for this issue. The operating system allows you to open the same application in multiple instances as per your need.

Instead of opening the program again, you can simply press the SHIFT key and left-click on the first instance in the Windows taskbar to open a second one.

Problem Steps Recorder

The Problem Steps Recorder is an efficient tool in Windows 7 that can be used by the user to record the steps over phone by some expert. Hence, you don’t have to suffer calling again and again.

You need to start the recorder by entering psr in the Start Menu box and click on Start Record in the program interface. Screen shots will be taken from user actions. It is possible to add comments at any time if the user feels so. The whole recording will be saved as a zip file containing a slideshow of the actions.

Collect favorite folder

Want to add a favorite folders to Windows Explorer to be able to access them faster? Just drag and drop the folder to the favorites menu. It will remain there until you delete it with the delete key again.

Moreover, Windows 7 has introduced several new keyboard shortcuts for window management. Some useful ones are given below:

* [Windows Shift Left Arrow] or [Windows Shift Right Arrow] to move windows from one computer monitor to another.
* [Windows Left Arrow] or [Windows Right Arrow] to dock windows to the left or right side.
* [Windows Up Arrow] to maximize a window.
* [Windows Down Arrow] to restore or minimize windows.
* [Windows Home] to minimize all windows but the active one.
* Shortcuts to start pinned task bar items.
* Pressing [Win Number] will start a new instance of a pinned task bar item. You should also note that the items can be dragged and dropped into different positions easily.

Windows PowerShell 2.0, a useful feature in Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 7, is a great boon to IT professionals yearning for a elevated management of computers in enterprises.

PowerShell 2.0 is built on the Microsoft .Net Framework and is especially designed for system administration providing great help to IT professionals to automate the administration of Windows operating system. The command tools in Windows PowerShell, named cmdlets, allows you to manage computers in enterprise.

Microsoft latest Windows 7 version also helps you to access data stores and supports Windows Management Instrumentation classes. The tool is designed to easily permit the addition of new features . Your own cmdlets, providers, functions and scripts can be added which enables you to use Windows technologies such as Active Directory Domain Services, Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption, the DHCP Server service, Group policy, etc.

IT professionals and developers might be most interested in these improved features in Windows 7 as it helps them to manage Windows at the command line. Developers can also use it to build script language

In a nutshell, following are the changes included in Windows 7 PowerShell:

1. More than 100 new cmdlets are included in Windows PowerShell.

2. Interactive session can be created with single computer and as many as computer can be run with the single command. A session can be established with it which allows you to receive remote commands from multiple computers.

3. With Windows PowerShell background jobs, you can continue to work on your session as the commands run in the background. Background jobs can be run on a local as well as on the remote computer.

4. With debugger, you can debug functions and scripts. Breakpoint can be set and removed with it and you can also check the values of the variables.

5. Modules in Windows PowerShell allows you to function as independent entity. Module package containing your cmdlets, providers, scripts, functions and other files can be distributed to the other users.

6. It supports new event infrastructure and transaction.

7. The messages and text can be displayed to users in multiple languages, with script internalization.

8. For enhanced user experience, not only help at the command line but also new online parameters are included in Get-Help cmdlet which opens updated version of each help topic.

One of the several salient features of Windows 7 is Device Management, which includes device stage and the devices and printer folder making it easier for a user to work with printers, cameras, phones, and music players.

The tool acts as a location for external devices that updates you with the device status information. Device Stage acts as a home page for your hardware in Windows 7. In earlier versions, you need to go to separate menus, but in Windows 7 this advanced feature will pop up all the functions of the device.

The user can also have a look at everything connected to the PC with Devices and Printers folder. Now you don’t have to worry about downloading the drivers as the drivers of the new devices will be downloaded automatically.

In Windows 7, default printing adjusts itself depending upon the connected network. If you are at home or work it gets aware of the location from where you are printing with Location aware printing feature. It also provides support for wireless alternatives to USB such as Ultra Wideband (UWB), Wireless USB (WUSB), Wireless Host Controller Interface (WHCI), Device Wire Adapter (DWA).

Moreover, it supports devices such as ambient light sensor, GPS, temperature gauge, etc. You can also enlarge the text display when using high resolutions . The tool provides improved support for external displays. You can easily toggle between the laptop screen and an external display by simply pressing +P key.

If you want to add a new device it can easily be done with Devices and printers as it also provide the place to add a new networked or wireless device and also to troubleshoot problems with it. It also provide Blue-ray Disc write support and standardizes the Display color as it helps in adjusting an LCD display to be as close as possible to the sRGB standard color space. The user can expect simpler device pairing, better security and better power savings.

Windows 7 gives better accessibility and enhanced performance with improved automation. The efficiency of IT professionals can be increased with this feature. Earlier, the tasks which were solved manually and take hour can be automatically resolved now. The tasks are entirely automated, the problem is being detected and is automatically resolved. And the additional advantage of this feature is that it diminishes the possibility for human error.

The Windows Automation API 3.0 gives you the benefit of existing accessibility implementation in Microsoft Active Accessibility and its elevated framework design allows you easier integration with industry standards. Windows 7 Automation provide better properties and control pattern and faster UI automation implementation.

Scripting is enhanced in Windows 7 that is the most powerful and usable automation tool for IT professionals which includes elevated version of the Windows scripting environment: Windows PowerShell 2.0. Now no more understanding of complex languages such as Microsoft Visual Basic, Visual C++ or C# with Windows PowerShell 2.0 as it does not require the understanding of complex language. It is especially designed for system administration.

Any management task can be performed by IT professionals which they want to automate as PowerShell uses Windows Management Interface. You can have full control over any aspect of the system that supports management by calling command-line tool from PowerShell.
You require to install it on the computer in order to run a PowerShell script in case you are using Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Vista. But in Windows 7 PowerShell 2.0 is in-built into the operating system therefore IT professionals don't require to deploy any additional PC to create, distribute and run PowerShell scripts.

PowerShell is used by administrators for creating system restore before troubleshooting, to edit the registry using transactions which is to make sure that the changes which are made are implemented.
Windows Connect Now is one of the technology designed for simpler wireless device configuration. Now with Windows Connect it is easier to create a wireless network at home or office. When you connect to a compatible router, Windows will walk you through all the necessary setup steps including naming your network and turning on the router's security features. Now you don't need to remember network settings when you connect a new computer. All you have to do is press the Wi-FI Protected Setup button on your router and it will automatically send the network settings to your computer. With Windows connect Now, users running Windows 7 can create network configuration settings and transmit them to the access point. Windows Connect Now (WCN) allows mobile and embedded devices, 802.11 access points (APs), and computers to securely connect, and exchange settings with each other. It allows you to easily set up a secure wireless network by using a USB cable or USB flash drive. Windows Connect Now uses one of the methods for easier configuration.

WCN-NET is Microsoft's standard for easier Wi-Fi configuration. It provides for configuration of devices using Ethernet in Wireless networks. In Windows it can search an unconfigured router, access point, base station or a device such as a Media Center Extender by using Upnp, authenticate with the device by using a personal identification number, provide wireless settings that are based on user selection and configure a wireless network over a wired Ethernet connection.

WCN-UFD writes configuration files to a USB drive for more secure wireless networks. It uses an API and an XML format to write configuration files.
WCN-MTP includes a Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) extension that enables an MTP initiator to provide an MTP responder with configuration parameters for joining a wireless network and supports more secure configuration of MTP-capable devices on wireless networks.

Microsoft’s Windows 7 release will be a boon for users as now they will be allowed to change the picture that appears on the Start Menu and Welcome screen in Windows 7.
While using Windows 7 you must have noticed a picture that appears when you click the Start menu or access the Welcome screen. A picture represents your account. You can replace this default picture with your favorite one.
You can follow these steps to perform this task. Click the Start button and then click on your account image to open the "User Accounts" Control Panel. When the "User Accounts" Control Panel opens, click "Change your picture" and then choose the one you like from the gallery and set as a default picture for your account.
After that you will have to click the "Change Picture" button, and then close the "User Accounts" Control Panel.
Taking up another issue, you can use setup to show the computer name on your Windows 7 taskbar.
You usually check computer name manually by right-clicking on My Computer and choosing Properties. But in Windows 7 release you can display it on Taskbar.
You just have to create a new folder in Document folder with the same name as your computer name. You can find your computer name by right-clicking on My Computer and choosing Properties. Right-click on an empty area in the taskbar and choose Toolbars, then click on New Toolbar. Now you want to browse to the location of the folder you just created. Choose that folder and click the Select Folder button.
Thats all. Now your computer name will appear on the Windows 7 taskbar.
Another Windows 7 update is that you can also get an effective package from Dr. Web CuireIt against all virus and spyware in Windows 7
When you update your system with Windows 7, then you need a comprehensive package because your existing antivirus will lose the compatibility.
Dr. Web comes with a most efficient Anti-Virus called Dr. Web CuireIt. Its extensive scanner and virus will scan the complete system even without installation. You can get it from the website link http://www.freedrweb.com, absolutely free. You can combine this package with Windows 7 install package. First, open the website with the above link. Press the button of "Download." Save the file on your desktop. Double click on the file and run the set up. Follow the prompt and at the end accept the Agreement form. Click on "Finish" after the process is complete.
You can run this program anytime, to scan your startup files and main memory. Depending upon the area you want to scan you can run this program under complete scan or custom scan. Press "Scanning" after selecting. After scanning the incurable files are moved to the quarantine directory.

Microsoft introduced Windows 7 Version in reaction to statements made by the European government with respect to Internet Explorer. The EU introduced antitrust case against Microsoft to the group of IE with Windows and therefore the exploitation of dominant market position. The government claimed that "the linking of Microsoft Internet Explorer for the Windows operating system harms competition among web browsers, undermines the product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice."

Windows 7 version E is a response to this that shows that Microsoft must comply with the law. The E version is without any type of browser and therefore welcomes the European markets with Windows without any type of Internet browser now so they can use any browser of your choice. However, the question remains: HOW? If no browser at all how is it possible to download any web browser?

Microsoft has provided detailed information about installing Windows 7 E on its website. However, the instruction also includes an extra step for customers in Europe with regard to keeping the browser of choice in some external hard drive. Therefore, European customers that Windows 7 will save the web browser on a CD, DVD or USB or other storage media and install the browser once the Windows 7 has been completely installed.

This is a genius step taken by Microsoft, as they show they are following the laws, and to be able to get more revenue by providing additional CD web browser with the operating system.

John James is a professional writer with extensive work experience in the development of web services industry. The author has written several useful and informative articles on various topics related to IT and computer help .