a). The graphical interface has been redesigned to make it easier to quickly find programs and files you work with most often. In Vista, under the Start Menu, the Documents folder would show the last ten recent files you had opened. Now in Windows 7, you can see your last recent files by application. For example, if you go to the Start Menu and click on Microsoft Word, you'll notice a new arrow to the right of Word. When you click that arrow, it will show the last recent files you had opened in Word, so you go straight to the file you want to open without having open Word first. If you happen to have a certain file that you always open, you can pin it to the menu so that file always appears when you view your recently opened Word files list.

 

If you open multiple files of the same type they will automatically stack in a single icon on the taskbar. When you mouse over the icon you will see preview windows of all the open files. This feature makes the taskbar appear less cluttered. If you mouse over a preview window, all other windows become transparent, and you are able to "peek" at that window. If you "shake" that window, all other windows instantly minimize so the focus is on that one window. Shake it again, and all your previously opened windows will reappear. You can also rearrange the icons on the taskbar to make it easier to go back and forth between the programs you're running. You can also "snap" multiple windows to fill the entire screen or run them side-by-side by dragging the window to one of the edges of the screen.

 

Windows Explorer has been redesigned. It appears as a icon on the taskbar now. When you open it, you will see a new left pane with new sections Favorites and Libraries. The Favorites section allows you to quickly go to programs, downloaded files, or web sites that you have saved in your Favorites list. The Libraries section organizes all of your files by type. The default types are Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. Your library is customizable, so you can add additional folders or drives for Windows to search through when organizing your files.

 

b). You can create a HomeGroup which is a small network of Windows 7 computers for easily sharing files between computers. This comes in handy for a SOHO (small office, home office) network, or a small collaborative group. With HomeGroup you are able to share files and printers. Note: All participating computers in the HomeGroup must be running Windows 7 as well.

 

c). Sidebar has been replaced with Desktop Gadgets. You can now place gadgets anywhere on your desktop.

 

d). Windows 7 supports Sensor and Location devices such as a GPS. With the Sensor API in Windows 7, applications can be developed that can "see" when you're at your desk and launch certain applications or run special commands. The Location API can be used to retrieve geographical information about your surroundings. This comes in handy, for example, when traveling and you want to find the nearest ATM, someplace to eat, or you need directions to a night club or some other place of interest.

 

e). For people who take their work home with them, there is the RemoteApp and Remote Desktop feature. This allows you to connect to applications or computers in your office remotely, without the need of a VPN connection. Note: Windows Server 2008 R2 is required on your office network.

 

f). If you're encountering problems with certain applications or need help in general, your can run Problem Steps Recorder, which will take snapshots of the screen as you reproduce the problem. You can then send these on to your network administrator, Help Desk support, or a friend that can help you try and resolve the issue.

 

g). If you purchase Windows 7 Home Premium, then later decide that you want to Windows 7 Ultimate, you can upgrade without having to reinstall your Windows OS. All of the Windows features are available on the same DVD. To access them just run Windows Anytime Upgrade in the Control Panel. The application will let you purchase an upgrade key directly from the Internet. Once you enter the upgrade key, the Windows Ultimate features will become unlocked, and your version of Windows will be activated as the Ultimate edition.

 

h). Performance has been improved in the OS by running fewer background services, which reduces memory utilization, and turn off services that are not in use.

What upgrade options are available to me?

If you're not migrating to a new pc, you can perform either an in-place upgrade, a computer refresh, or a clean wipe and fresh install. Note: You can only do an in-place upgrade if you currently have Vista SP1, and you can only upgrade to the same edition. So if you have Vista SP1 Home Premium, you can only perform an in-place upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium.

If you currently have Windows XP, you can perform a computer refresh, or a clean wipe and fresh install. A computer refresh replaces the Windows directory but it does not erase any other files on the computer. If you choose this option, you will have to reinstall the applications that are on the computer.

A clean wipe and fresh install erases all files on the drive. If you choose this option you will have to backup all of your data files and store on another disk partition, or on an external drive. You will also have to reinstall of your applications. This is the preferred method of upgrading because this will reformat the drive, clean off old applications and junk files, and ensure your computer runs at optimal performance.

If you're migrating to a new computer running Windows 7, you can run a utility called the User State Migration Tool, which will backup your files and settings and let you transfer them over to the new computer. You will have to install any applications you had on the old computer onto the new computer.

Note: You can't upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to the 64-bit version of Windows 7. You must do a clean wipe and fresh install.

How do I know all my programs and devices will work in Windows 7?

Download and install the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor on your computer. It is a utility that will scan your computer and analyze your programs and peripherals. Once the scan is complete, it will generate a report of the applications which may not run or work properly after the upgrade, and what steps you can take to get the programs and devices to work.

What if I have compatibility issues with some applications?

Most applications that run in Windows Vista will run fine in Windows 7, since Windows 7 is built on the same kernel as Windows Vista. There are a couple of options you can try if you do have compatibility issues with some applications.

a). Check for updates on the Windows Update site, or from the program's manufacturer.

b). Try running the Program Compatibility utility. The program will let you change the compatibility settings of the application by providing a list of older versions of Windows. Select the version of Windows you were using previously, and the OS environment will appear to the application that it's running in that older version of the operating system.

c). If you're running Windows XP, you can install XP mode on Windows 7. XP mode is a virtual instance of the XP desktop. You install the older application in the XP mode environment, then create an application shortcut to the Windows 7 desktop, or you can run the application directly from the XP mode environment. Note: Windows XP mode must be running in the background, which will affect pc performance.

If you run into issues with hardware drivers, check with the peripheral or device manufacturer to see if they have updated drivers for Windows 7. In my testing Windows 7 found all of my devices and installed the latest drivers without any problems. If you're planning to upgrade from 32-bit version of Windows to the 64-bit version of Windows 7, you may have to contact your device manufacturer for the 64-bit drivers.

How long does an upgrade take?

That depends on what type of upgrade you plan to implement, how much data you have, and how many applications you have installed. An in-place upgrade and computer refresh can both take several hours to complete. The longest case I've heard was one taking 20 hours to complete. The average user will probably take somewhere between 2-6 hours to complete. A fresh install will take about 25-45 minutes depending on your computer's system performance. You will have to reinstall all of your applications afterwards which may add a few hours to the process.