Whether you are running the Starter, Home, Professional, Enterprise,
or Ultimate edition of Windows 7,
the core features of the operating system are the same. This means that on
a home computer, an office workstation, or a mobile computer, you’ll have
the same standard set of features and you’ll work with Windows 7 in the
same way.When you first start using Windows 7, you should do the
following:
I discuss these tasks in the following sections.
1. Logging On and Finalizing the Installation
When you start
Windows 7, you’ll know it’s a different kind of operating system from
Windows XP and earlier versions of Windows. During installation, you are
prompted to create a local machine account. This account is created as a computer administrator
account. When the operating system starts, you can log on using this
account.
After you install Windows 7 (or if you purchased a new
computer with Windows 7 already installed), you’ll have to complete a
mini-setup the first time you start your computer. As part of the
mini-setup, you’ll need to finalize the operating system installation.
The procedure you’ll need to perform will be similar to the
following:
When prompted, choose your country or region, your time and
currency format, and your keyboard layout. Click Next.
Create a local machine account, which will be a computer
administrator account. Enter a username. Click Next.
Type a computer name. Click Next.
Type and then confirm a password. Enter a password hint and
then click Next.
Select a Windows Update option for the computer.
Usually, you’ll want to use the recommended settings to allow
Windows 7 to automatically install all available updates and
security tools as they become available. Choose Ask Me Later only if
you want to disable Windows Update.
Setup displays the date and time settings. Make changes as
necessary and then click Next.
If a network card was detected during setup,
networking components were installed automatically. If you have a Wi-Fi card, you’ll have to choose the
wireless network to connect to. You’ll also need to specify the
location type for each detected network connection:
Depending on the type of location and connection, click
Home for a home network, Work for a network in a workplace, or
Public Location for a public network. Windows 7 will then
configure the sharing settings as appropriate for this
location.
If there are multiple networks, you’ll see a prompt for
each network. You can configure each detected network in a
different way.
Once you’ve configured all of your network adapters, Windows 7
will then prepare your desktop. When the operating system starts,
you’ll be able to log on.
Before you throw out or put
aside the packaging that came with your computer, make a note of any
special keys, such as Alt-F10, that you must press to reinstall the
computer using the recovery image included on the computer’s hard disk.
Write this information down and put it someplace where you’ll know to
look for it in a year or two (or three or five). If your computer fails
to start and normal recovery techniques don’t work, you’ll often be able
to reinstall the computer using the manufacturer’s recovery
environment.
Normally, when you recover a computer using the manufacturer’s
recovery environment, the computer will be restored to the state it was
in when the manufacturer shipped the computer to you. Therefore, if you
choose to recover a computer in this way, you would lose all updates and
changes you’ve made to your computer, including applications, documents,
and system updates. Some computer manufacturers, like HP, include a
backup and recovery tool that allows you to write updated system images
to the custom recovery environment. If you make periodic updates to the
stored system image using this tool, you may be able to recover the
computer to a later state.
2. Performing Essential Configuration Tasks
Some aspects of Windows 7 are different depending on
whether a computer is a member of a homegroup, workgroup, or domain. On
a home network, your computer will operate in a homegroup or a workgroup
configuration. On a business network, your computer will operate in a
workgroup or a domain configuration.
Homegroups are loose associations of computers on home
networks. When your computer is in a homegroup, you can share data with
other computers on the home network using a password common to the all users in the homegroup. You set
the homegroup password when you set up the homegroup and can modify the
password as necessary at any time.
Workgroups are loose associations of computers where each
computer is managed separately. Domains are collections of computers
that you can manage collectively by means of domain controllers. Domain
controllers are servers running Windows that manage access to the
network and its resources.
Homegroups are available only when a computer running Windows 7 is
connected to a home network. Workgroups and domains are available only
when a computer running Windows 7
is connected to a work network.
2.1. Changing your network location type
You can change the network location type for the network
to which your computer currently is connected by following these
steps:
Click Start→Control Panel. In Control Panel, click Network
and Internet→Network and Sharing Center.
As shown in Figure 1, Network and Sharing
Center shows the current networking configuration of your
computer.
Under “View your active networks,” locate the network you
want to change, and click the link under it (it will be labeled
Work Network, Home Network, or Public Network).
In the Set Network Location dialog box, choose Work Network,
Home Network, or Public Network as appropriate and then click
Close.
2.2. Connecting to the Internet
The Network and Sharing Center provides options for changing
networking settings. Connecting your computer to the Internet is one
of the essential tasks you may need to perform to finalize the initial
setup of your computer. If your Internet connection wasn’t set up
automatically or you want to modify the default set up, click the “Set
up a new connection or network option” in the Network and Sharing
Center. Then click Connect to the Internet→Next. As Figure 2 shows, the Connect to the
Internet option can help walk you through the configuration of an
Internet connection in three specific scenarios.
If your computer has a wireless adapter and you need
to connect to a wireless router or a wireless network, you can use
the Wireless option to configure your connection. After you click
an available wireless network, click Connect, then provide any
required security and configuration information.
If you are using DSL or a cable modem that requires
a username and password, you can use the Broadband (PPPoE)—which stands for Point-to-Point
Protocol over Ethernet—option to configure your connection. After
you provide the required username and password, select the
“Remember this password” checkbox and then click
Connect. Keep in mind that you should rarely, if ever, connect
your computer directly to your DSL or cable modem. Instead, purchase an inexpensive router with a
hardware firewall, connect your computer to the router, and
connect the router to your modem.
If you are using a dial-up modem or ISDN, you can
use the Dial-up option to configure your connection. Enter the
dial-up phone number, provide the required username and password,
and then select the “Remember this password” checkbox. Click
Connect.
Keep in mind that if your computer is configured as part of a
home or business network that is already connected to the Internet,
you don’t need to use the Connect to the Internet option—simply make
sure that your computer has the proper configuration for its network
adapter.
Most home networks and business networks use dynamically
assigned network configurations. As this is the default configuration
for Windows 7, you typically do not need to change your network
settings as long as your computer’s network adapter is connected
properly to the network.
NOTE
If you use a wired network and your computer’s network adapter
isn’t connected to the network via a network cable, connect the
network cable now. Your computer will then configure its networking
settings and should also detect that it is on a network. You’ll then
be prompted for the type of network. Once you’ve specified whether
you are using a home, work, or public network, your computer will
update its configuration for this network location.
2.3. Responding to Action Center notifications
When you log on to your computer, Windows normally
displays an Action Center summary icon in the notification area. This
icon has a flag with a red circle that has an X in it. Action Center
is a program that monitors that status of important security and
maintenance areas. If the status of a monitored item changes, Action Center
updates the notification icon as appropriate for the severity of the
alert. If you move the mouse pointer over this icon, you see a summary
of all alerts. If you click this icon, Windows displays a popup dialog
box with a summary listing of each alert or action item that needs
your attention. Click an alert or action item link to open Internet
Explorer and display a possible solution. Click the Open Action Center
link to display the Action Center.
As Figure 3
shows, Action Center provides an overview of the computer’s status and
lists any issues that need to be resolved. You can view available
solutions by clicking the View Problem Response button provided. For
example, if a computer is experiencing a problem with its sound card
and this problem can be resolved by installing a newer driver,
clicking View Problem Response displays a More Information page. Here,
this page provides more information about the problem and a link to
download and install the latest driver, as shown in Figure 4. When you’ve resolved a
problem, you can elect to archive the message for future reference by
selecting the “Archive this message” checkbox before you click OK to
close the More Information dialog box.
While you are working with the Action Center, you may want to
choose the “View performance information” option (see Figure 1-3). Choosing this option displays the computer’s performance
rating and notifies you of whether there are any issues causing
performance problems. The computer’s base score is determined
according to the worst performing component. For example, if the
computer has little graphics memory, the computer will have a low
score in this area and the base score will reflect this as well. To
improve performance, upgrade the computer’s graphics card (however,
in some cases, obtaining updated drivers from your
hardware vendor can provide a significant performance boost,
especially if Windows has decided to use the built-in SVGA graphics
driver for your system). To have Windows recheck the computer’s
performance, click “Re-Run the assessment” in the Performance Information
and Tools window.
After checking the computer’s performance rating, you may want
to modify the User Account Control settings. To do this, click the
“Change User Account Control settings” option in Action
Center. Use the slider provided to specify the desired setting for
User Account Control and then click OK. You can:
Select Always Notify to always notify the current user when
programs try to install software or make changes to the computer
and when the user changes Windows settings.
Select Default to notify the current user only when programs
try to make changes to the computer and not
when the user changes Windows Settings.
Select Notify Me Only When...(Do Not Dim My Desktop) to
prevent User Account Control from switching to the secure desktop.
Otherwise, this option works the same as Default.
Select Never Notify to turn off all User Account Control
notification prompts.
NOTE
Switching to the secure desktop enhances security,
because the secure desktop restricts the programs and processes that
have access to the desktop. This reduces the possibility that a malicious program
or user could gain access to a process being elevated.
While working with Action Center, you may also want to reduce
the number of alert window displays. You do this by turning alert
messages on or off. Alert messages are divided into two
categories:
Security
Security alerts that you can turn on or off
include those related to Windows Update, Internet security
settings, network firewall, spyware and related programs, User Account
Control, and Virus programs.
Maintenance
Maintenance alerts you can turn on or off include
those related to Windows Backup, checking for updates, and Windows
troubleshooting. Quick links are provided to allow you to
configure settings for the Customer Experience Improvement Program, problem
reporting, and Windows Update.
To change the notification settings, click Change Action Center
settings. Clear checkboxes for messages you don’t want to see and
select checkboxes for messages you do want to see. Save your settings
by clicking OK.
2.4. Other setup tasks
Other essential tasks you may want to perform to initially set
up your computer may include:
Transferring files and settings
You can use Windows Easy Transfer to transfer settings from
one computer to another. Windows Easy Transfer transfers user
accounts, files and folders, program settings, Internet
settings, and email settings. For the transfer, you can use CDs,
DVDs, USB flash drives, external hard drives, network folders,
or a Windows Easy Transfer cable (which must be purchased
separately). To start a transfer, click Start→All
Programs→Accessories→Windows Easy Transfer.
Adding new users
You can configure user accounts for each person that will
log on locally to the computer. For
homegroup and workgroup computers, you can add users by clicking
the “Add or remove user accounts option” in the
Control Panel under User Accounts and Family Safety. For domain
computers, you will manage user accounts in a slightly different
way.
3. Reviewing and Activating Your Computer
As Figure 5
shows, the System page in Control Panel (Start→Control Panel→System and
Security→System) provides links for performing common tasks and a system
overview in four basic areas.
Windows edition
Lists the operating system edition and service packs. To protect your computer and optimize
performance, you’ll want to ensure that your computer is running
the latest service pack. With Windows 7, you can install service
packs and other product updates automatically as part of Windows
Update.
- System
Lists the processor, total memory, and performance rating of
your computer. Your computer’s performance rating (the Windows
Experience Index) was computed automatically during finalization
of the installation. The Windows Experience Index is calculated
based on the processor speed, total memory, graphics processor,
and hard disk transfer rate.
- Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings
Lists the computer name, description, domain, and workgroup
details. All computers are members of either a workgroup or a
domain, and this membership affects how you can configure the
computer and the available options.
- Windows activation
Lists the computer’s product ID and activation status. If
your computer is using a retail version of Windows 7, it must have
a product key and you must activate the operating
system using this product key. In Windows 7, the product key
provided during installation is what determines the operating
system version and features that are installed. When you upgrade
your Windows 7 edition, you are essentially buying a new product
key and telling Windows 7 to unlock and install the additional
features of this edition.
Retail editions of Windows 7 use product keys. Windows 7 requires
activation over the Internet. In the System console,
activate the operating system by clicking “Activate Windows now” under
“Windows activation” and then clicking “Activate Windows online now” in
the Windows Activation dialog box. Your computer then checks your
Internet connection and attempts to activate the operating system. If
this process fails, you’ll need to resolve any issues that are
preventing your computer from connecting to the Internet and then click
“Activate Windows online now” again.
Unlike with Windows XP, you can easily change your computer’s product key with Windows 7. You may
need to change your product key to comply with your license agreement.
For example, you may already have a computer running on your network
with the same single-computer product key you used when installing the
copy you’re trying to activate. In the System console, click “Change
product key” under Windows Activation. In the Windows Activation window,
shown in Figure 6, enter the product
key. You do not need to enter the dashes in the product key. When you
click Next, the product key will be validated. You’ll then need to
reactivate Windows 7 over the Internet.
