By Suzana Windows 7 Tips to Make Your Life Easier
High on the request list for Windows 7 has been the ability to rotate the background of the desktop automatically. Thankfully this has been implemented and users now can do this easily. This new feature is called Desktop Slideshow. This is similar but with more features than the Vista version called Dreamscene.
It allows users to change the background based on whatever photos are in a particular folder or multiple folders. The easiest way to start is by collecting all the backgrounds you want to use and placing them in a single folder.
Here are the step by step instructions:
1. Right-click your Desktop and go to Personalize on the bottom.
2. Click the Desktop background on the lower left.
3. Select the Picture location drop down menu at the top or use the browse button and select the folder that you set up with all your background pictures.
4. You can select individual pictures or all of them.
5. The picture position button will let you define where and how the picture is displayed.
6. The final step is to just specify how often you want the picture to change from the drop down menu at the bottom.
One other option is the “Shuffle” checkbox which will randomly rotate the images.
One other fun customization with Windows 7 is the desktop gadgets. Vista users are already familiar with this feature, but many people are moving from XP to Windows 7 so it is important to cover this feature.
Start out by right clicking on the desktop and select gadgets. Simply click and drag any of the show gadgets anywhere on your desktop. More information on any of the displayed gadgets is available by selecting the gadget then clicking the details button at the bottom.
You can also find more gadgets by selecting the get more gadgets online button on the lower right. Most gadgets will display further customization options when you hover your mouse over them.
Finally some quick tips on improving Windows 7 performance:
1. One notorious reason for slow performance is your virus protection program. Often times, when they update your system will run slow. This may be just a temporary annoyance, but if you have an ongoing problem, try temporarily turning it off and see if performance improves.
2. Regularly defragment your hard drive. Windows has had a built defragment for all its versions through the years. Use it.
3. Turn off the Aero theme and go back to good old classic mode by right-click your Desktop and go to Personalize on the bottom. Then you can simply scroll the themes down until you see the Basic themes.
4. Upgrade your video graphics card.
5. Check the programs that automatically load on startup. Run msconfig and go to the startup tab. Deselect programs that don’t need to run on startup.
6. Adjust the screen text with the clear type tuner. Run ” from the Start Menu search box, or go to the Control Panel Display applet, and select Adjust ClearType Text from the left.
These simple tips will go a long way to improving your Windows 7 experience.
