3 CHAPTER 1 Overview of Windows 7 Improvements n Windows 7 Improvements by Chapter 3 n Windows 7 Editions 28 n Choosing Software and Hardware 33 n Summary 34 n Additional Resources 35 W indows 7 is a complex operating system with thousands of features. Understanding it thoroughly can require years of study. Fortunately, most IT professionals have experience with the earlier versions of Windows that the Windows 7 operating system is based on, such as Windows XP and Windows Vista. This chapter, which assumes that you have basic familiarity with the features of Windows Vista, describes the most significant improvements that are not security related and are not discussed elsewhere in this book, the different editions of Windows 7, and the hardware requirements for Windows 7. note This high-level chapter is designed to quickly give IT professionals a broad view of changes in Windows 7. However, it is also suitable for less-technical executive staff who need to understand the new technologies. For an overview of Windows 7 security improvements, read Chapter 2, “Security in Windows 7.” Windows 7 Improvements by Chapter Windows 7 has hundreds of improvements over earlier Windows client operating systems. This chapter provides a very high-level overview of those features, focusing on features that are not discussed in depth elsewhere in this resource kit. Table 1-1 lists some of the key improvements to Windows 7 that will be of interest to IT professionals and indicates the chapters in this book that provide detailed information about each improvement. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. CHAPTER 1 Overview of Windows 7 Improvements 4 TABLE 1-1 Windows 7 Improvements IMPROVEMENT CHAPTER Security improvements 2 Deployment improvements 3 through 12 Application compatibility 4 Windows PowerShell 2.0 13 Group Policy preferences 14 Starter Group Policy Objects (GPOs) 14 Group Policy PowerShell cmdlets 14 Libraries 15 Offline Files improvements 15 Windows BitLocker improvements 16 Windows ReadyBoost improvements 16 Device Stage and other device experience improvements 17 Trigger Start services 17 Using Powercfg to evaluate energy efficiency 17 Print experience improvements 18 Location-Aware Printing 18 Printer driver isolation 18 Search improvements 19 Internet Explorer Protected Mode 20 Performance Monitor 21 Windows System Assessment (WinSAT) 21 Diagnostics 21, 30, 31 Remote Assistance Easy Connect 22 Windows AppLocker 24 User Account Control (UAC) 24 Networking improvements 25 Uniform Resource Locator (URL)–based Quality of Service (QoS) 25 Domain Name System security (DNSsec) 25 Multiple active firewall profiles 26 Internet Protocol security (IPsec) improvements 26 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Windows 7 Improvements by Chapter CHAPTER 1 5 IMPROVEMENT CHAPTER BranchCache 27 Virtual private network (VPN) Reconnect 27 DirectAccess 27 Remote Desktop Protocol 7.0 27 IPv6 changes 28 Windows Troubleshooting Platform 30 Resource Monitor 30, 31 Windows PowerShell remote troubleshooting 30 Advanced and customized troubleshooting 30, 31 Reliability Monitor 30 Problem Steps Recorder 31, 31 note Windows Vista and Windows 7 include significant security improvements com- pared with previous versions of Windows. The changes are so numerous that this resource kit dedicates a separate chapter (Chapter 2) to describing them. This book does not cover features that are primarily used in home environments, such as parental controls, games, Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center, and so on. User Interactions For users, the most important improvements to Windows 7 will be the visible changes to the user interface. This section discusses how the Windows 7 user interface has changed. As you read this section, consider which changes will require end-user training or changes to your desktop management settings prior to deployment. Taskbar As shown in Figure 1-1, the Windows 7 taskbar has changed significantly. First, the taskbar is taller, although this default setting can be configured differently if you want. Second, Windows 7 displays large icons for running applications instead of the small application icons and the window’s title used in previous versions of Windows. This setting is also configurable; users can choose to display window titles along with the icon. FIGURE 1-1 The new taskbar displays icons instead of application titles and supports pinning applications. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. CHAPTER 1 Overview of Windows 7 Improvements 6 The Quick Launch toolbar has been removed. Instead, users can now pin applications directly to the taskbar. When an application is pinned to the taskbar, its icon always appears on the taskbar as if the application were running. Users can start the application by clicking the icon. A new feature called Aero Peek in Windows 7 allows users to hover their cursor over the far-right side of the Windows Taskbar to make all open windows transparent so that users can see their desktop. This feature makes gadgets, which can now be placed anywhere on the desktop, more useful. Users can also preview an open window or running application by hovering over a taskbar item to display a thumbnail image of the item and then hovering over the thumbnail image. Jump Lists Users can now open a Jump List by right-clicking an application icon on the taskbar or by selecting an application icon on the Start menu. As shown in Figure 1-2, Jump Lists provide access to frequently used functions within an application. If you right-clicked an application in previous versions of Windows, you typically would see only the standard menu items, includ- ing Maximize, Restore, Minimize, and Move. In Windows 7, applications can add application- specific tasks to the window’s shortcut menu. For example, the Windows Media Player Jump List allows users to play all music or resume the last playlist without first opening Windows Media Player. Any application designed for Windows 7 can take advantage of Jump Lists, so the feature will become more useful over time. FIGURE 1-2 Jump Lists provide access to frequently used applications and files. Notification Area In versions of Windows prior to Windows 7, the notification area (the portion of the taskbar closest to the clock) could become crowded with unwanted icons added by different applica- tions. In Windows 7, only Network, Action Center (which replaces the Security Center found in Windows Vista), and battery (on mobile computers) icons appear unless users specifically allow other icons to appear. Figure 1-3 shows the new notification area with the Action Center icon selected. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Windows 7 Improvements by Chapter CHAPTER 1 7 FIGURE 1-3 The notification area is simplified. Mouse Gestures To improve user productivity, Windows 7 includes two new mouse gestures: n Aero Snap Users can drag windows to the top of the screen to maximize them or to the left or right of the screen to size the window to take up half the screen. The title bar still includes buttons for Minimize, Maximize, and Close. Resizing the window by dragging a corner of it to the top or bottom of the screen automatically increases the vertical size of the window to full screen. n Aero Shake To reduce distraction and clutter caused by background applications, users can minimize all other windows by shaking a window with the mouse. Shaking the window again restores background windows to their previous position. Despite the names, both gestures work whether or not Aero is enabled. Improved Alt+Tab Switching between applications is a common, but often confusing, user task. In previous ver- sions of Windows, the Alt+Tab combination allows the user to switch between applications. If the user holds the Alt key and repeatedly presses the Tab key, Windows cycles through multiple applications, allowing the user to select any application. Windows 7 continues to support Alt+Tab. In addition, when the Aero interface is enabled, the Alt+Tab display will show a thumbnail version of each application, as shown in Figure 1-4. If the user pauses while flipping through the applications, it will briefly display the window. FIGURE 1-4 When Aero is enabled, the Alt+Tab display shows thumbnails of each window. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. CHAPTER 1 Overview of Windows 7 Improvements 8 Keyboard Shortcuts To reduce the time required to complete common tasks, Windows 7 supports the keyboard shortcuts listed in Table 1-2. TABLE 1-2 New Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts KEYBOARD SHORTCUT ACTION I +up arrow Maximizes the current window. I +down arrow Restores or minimizes the current window. I +left arrow Snaps the current window to the left half of your screen. I +right arrow Snaps the current window to the right half of your screen. I +Shift+left arrow Moves the current windows to the left screen when running dual monitors. I +Shift+right arrow Moves the current windows to the right screen when running dual monitors. I +Home Minimizes or restores all but the current window. I +T Focuses on the taskbar so you can then use the arrow keys and Enter to select an item. Pressing this shortcut again will cycle through items. Windows Key+Shift+T cycles backward. I +Tab Cycles through your open applications in 3D. Alt+Tab Cycles through your open applications in 2D. I +spacebar (hold keys) Peeks at the desktop. I +D Shows the desktop. I +M Minimizes the current windows. I +G Brings your gadgets to the top of your applications. I +P Shows presentation and external display options. I +U Opens the Ease Of Access Center. I +X Opens the Mobility Center, enabling quick access to fea- tures like WiFi. I +[a number key 1–5] Starts the program from the taskbar that corresponds to that number key. For example, pressing I +1 starts the first application on the taskbar. I ++ Zooms in. I +- Zooms out. I +L Locks your PC back to the logon screen. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Windows 7 Improvements by Chapter CHAPTER 1 9 Tablet PC Improvements Tablet PCs are portable computers that enable input using a special pen. With this pen, users can write (or draw) directly on the Tablet PC display. Before Windows Vista, Microsoft provided Tablet PC features only with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. With Windows 7, Tablet PC features are included with the Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, and Windows 7 Ultimate operating systems. Windows 7 includes several improvements to the pen interface used by Tablet PCs. Hand- writing recognition is improved. The new Math Input Panel allows users to enter mathemati- cal expressions, which can then be used by applications. Text prediction improves text entry when using the soft keyboard, and it learns your vocabulary over time. Windows 7 supports handwriting recognition in more languages, including Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Portuguese (Portugal), Polish, Russian, Romanian, Catalan, Serbian Latin, Croatian, Serbian- Cyrillic, and Czech. As with Windows Vista, Windows 7 continues to support English (U.S.), English (U.K.), German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese (Brazil), Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Japanese, and Korean. To configure or disable Tablet PC features, use the Group Policy settings located within both Computer Configuration and User Configuration under Policies\Administrative Templates \Windows Components\Tablet PC. Touch Interface Windows 7 includes an improved touch interface for computers with touch screens. While Tablet PCs use a pen for input, the touch interface uses a finger for input. Initial capabilities include: n Selecting text by dragging your finger across it. n Scrolling up and down by dragging the screen or scrolling in any direction by dragging the screen with two fingers. n Right-clicking by either holding one finger on an icon for a moment or by holding a finger and tapping with a second finger. n Zooming by using two fingers to pinch the screen. n Rotating pictures by moving two fingers in a rotating motion. n Flipping pages by flicking a finger across the screen. n Dragging up on the taskbar to get a Jump List. With appropriate hardware, these new features will make Windows 7 more intuitive to use. They have the potential to improve user productivity on mobile computers by reducing the need to use a keyboard. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. CHAPTER 1 Overview of Windows 7 Improvements 10 Libraries Libraries function like folders but display files of a specific type from multiple computers. For example, you might create a library to store all employee training videos from multiple serv- ers within your organization. Users can then open the library and access the videos without knowing which server stores the individual files. Libraries can be accessed from the Start menu, Windows Explorer, and the Open and Save dialog boxes. Libraries in Windows 7 are similar to search folders in Windows Vista. However, users can save files to a library, whereas search folders are read-only. Files saved to a library are stored in a configurable physical folder. Windows 7 automatically indexes libraries for faster viewing and searching. For example, the default Windows Explorer view shows the Documents library instead of the user’s Documents folder. As the Documents Properties dialog box shows in Figure 1-5, the Documents library includes both the user’s Documents folder and the Public Documents folder. The user’s Documents folder is configured as the save location, so any new files will be placed in the user’s Documents folder. By clicking the Include A Folder button, users can add more folders in the Documents library. FIGURE 1-5 The Documents library properties Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Windows 7 Improvements by Chapter CHAPTER 1 11 Search Improvements Windows 7 includes improved search capabilities that use a more intelligent algorithm to sort search results. Search results show portions of the document and highlight words in the search, as shown in Figure 1-6. These highlights help users find the documents, messages, and images they are looking for more quickly. Windows 7 also makes it easier to add filters, enabling users to search specific folders easily. FIGURE 1-6 The Search function now highlights keywords in the results. Search Federation Search Federation enables users to search computers across their network and the Internet easily, including Microsoft SharePoint sites. Search Federation supports open-source Search Federation providers that use the OpenSearch standard. This enables users (or IT professionals via Group Policy) to add search connectors that connect to Web sites on an intranet or the Internet. As of the time of this writing, searching the Internet for “Windows 7 Search Federa- tion providers” returns pages that allow users to install search connectors for many popular Web sites quickly. Figure 1-7 shows three search connectors installed for MSDN Channel 9, MSDN, and Microsoft TechNet and displays results for searching the TechNet Web site. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. CHAPTER 1 Overview of Windows 7 Improvements 12 FIGURE 1-7 Search connectors enable users to search Web sites from Windows Explorer. Action Center Windows Vista includes the Security Center, which provides users with information about actions they might need to take to keep their computer protected. For example, Windows Vista uses the Security Center to warn the user that Windows Defender or Windows Firewall is disabled. Windows 7 replaces the Security Center with the Action Center, as shown in Figure 1-8. The Action Center notifies the user of the same types of security issues as the Security Center. In addition, the Action Center notifies users of issues that are not security related, such as a problem performing a scheduled backup. The Action Center consolidates alerts from the following Windows features: n Security Center n Problem Reports and Solutions n Windows Defender n Windows Update n Diagnostics n Network Access Protection (NAP) n Backup and Restore n Recovery n User Account Control (UAC) Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. [...]... Small Businesses For Medium to Large Businesses For Emerging Markets Windows 7 Home Premium Windows 7 Professional Windows 7 Professional Windows 7 Starter Windows 7 Ultimate Windows 7 Ultimate Windows 7 Enterprise Windows 7 Home Basic Although several different editions of Windows 7 are available, the Windows 7 product media contains every version The specific edition installed is determined by the... Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Windows 7 Ultimate includes every feature provided with all other versions of Windows, including both Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Enterprise Users who might use their computers both for work and personal use should choose Windows 7 Ultimate Similarly, users who never want to find themselves missing a Windows feature in the future should choose Windows 7 Ultimate... worldwide, Windows 7 Home Premium includes all the features of Windows 7 Home Basic, plus the following: n Aero user interface n Windows Media Center n Tablet PC support n Windows DVD Maker n Scheduled Backup n Windows SideShow support Windows 7 Professional Windows 7 Professional will suit the needs of most business users, including small- and mediumsize businesses and enterprises Windows 7 Professional... Windows 7 Improvements Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark Windows Anytime Upgrade For example, if a Windows 7 Home Basic user decides she wants Media Center capabilities, she can use Windows Anytime Upgrade to upgrade to the Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 7 Ultimate Edition Table 1-4 summarizes the differences among the editions of Windows 7 (excluding Windows 7. .. the Windows Vista Business Edition that it replaces, Windows 7 Professional is available through volume licensing Windows 7 Editions  Chapter 1 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark 31 Windows 7 Enterprise Windows 7 Enterprise builds on the Windows 7 Professional feature set, adding the following features: n Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption  Encrypts all files... lower-cost operating system Windows 7 Home Basic is sufficient for users who use their computers primarily for e-mail, instant messaging, and browsing the Web Features include: n Instant Search n Internet Explorer 8 n Windows Defender n Windows Photo Gallery n Windows Easy Transfer Like Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic does not include the Aero user interface Windows 7 Home Premium The preferred... Hardware Windows 7 is designed to work with computer hardware that supports Windows Vista and can even outperform Windows Vista on the same hardware Windows 7 is also designed to take advantage of modern hardware capabilities The following sections describe the different Windows 7 logos and hardware requirements, which can help you choose hardware capable of providing the Windows 7 features you need Windows. .. quickly Windows 7 is available in several different editions; however, most IT professionals will choose Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Enterprise You can probably deploy Windows 7 using your existing computer hardware without upgrades If you do need to purchase additional computers, you must understand the varying hardware requirements for different Windows 7 features 34 Chapter 1  Overview of Windows. .. files and settings from an earlier version of Windows to a new computer running Windows 7 Windows 7 improves the performance of Windows Easy Transfer by not stopping the transfer to prompt the user to handle problems copying files As with Windows Vista and earlier versions of Windows, users need to reinstall applications on the new computer However, Windows 7 makes the process of reinstalling applications... Troubleshooter Windows 7 improves on the application compatibility features in Windows Vista If an application fails to install because it does not recognize the version of Windows, Windows 7 prompts the user to attempt to reinstall the application During the next attempt, Windows 7 will provide a different version number that might allow the application to install properly In this way, Windows 7 is even . included with the Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, and Windows 7 Ultimate operating systems. Windows 7 includes several improvements. read Chapter 2, “Security in Windows 7. ” Windows 7 Improvements by Chapter Windows 7 has hundreds of improvements over earlier Windows client operating systems.