How To Change Start Bar Windows 7

Commencement menu, Taskbar, System tray, Desktop, Gadgets, visual settings

This page describes the settings concerning the Windows vii user interface to improve the user experience.

Start carte du jour

The Starting time menu can be used to rapidly outset the installed programs. The programs are divided in two sections: the apace available programs pinned to the start card (the upper section) and the recently opened programs (below the horizontal line). By default this menu is filled with less important programs, while near of the fourth dimension the newly installed and important programs are hidden behind the sub carte All Programs. By right clicking a plan and selecting Pin to Start menu (like shown below), a program can be added to the short (but apace bachelor) list of programs in the Get-go bill of fare.

 

Default Programs vs. All Programs

Every newly installed program ads a binder and shortcuts to the menu All Programs (unless this option has been disabled at setup), which makes the plan easy to find. This list can be a mess, especially when a lot of software has been installed therefore a more logical structure (like pinning a program to the taskbar or adding a toolbar to the taskbar as described below) would improve the overview.

USING THE SEARCH FIELD TO Find AND Get-go A Program

Programs which aren't pinned to the First card (or placed elsewhere within easy achieve) can be started easily by typing the first letters of the program in the search field of the Beginning menu Search programs and files. The search results are shown in the Start menu.

Changing the lay-out of the Start menu
The lay-out of the Beginning menu can be changed by correct clicking an empty area of the Commencement menu and selecting Properties. To show or hide the shortcuts on the right side of the Start carte, select the button Customize on the tab Start Menu. If preferred, hide the shortcuts to Devices and Printers, Assistance and Support, Games and Default Programs from the Offset carte du jour and add together the shortcuts to Favorites menu, Recent Items, Videos and Recorded Boob tube. Past disabling the alphabetic ordering, the shortcuts to folders and programs can be ordered equally desired (option Sort All Programs menu by name). After disabling this pick, the order can be changed by dragging and dropping the shortcuts. In case the Start menu is to pocket-size to show all programs, the size of the shortcut icons can be adjusted in size by disabling the pick Use large icons. Disable the option Highlight newly installed programs if it the yellow highlighted background of the newly installed programs in the folder All Programs of the First menu is not desired.

Minimize the number of shortcuts to programs in the folder Startup
The programs with a shortcut in the folder Startup (in the subfolder All Programs of the Start menu) volition start automatically with Windows. Brand certain the programs which are not used (any more than) are removed from this folder. By default, some programs identify a shortcut in this folder to a minor executable which prepares a quick showtime of the program or offset other programs. These startups occupy rare system resource, remove them (by drag-and-drop) when there is no added value!

CHANGING THE START Bill of fare USING THE WINDOWS EXPLORER

The shortcuts in the folder All Programs are stored on two different locations: i binder with shortcuts to programs for all users  (C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Bill of fare) and ane folder with shortcuts to programs for each individual user (C:\Users\loginname\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu). Employ the Windows Explorer to browse these folders and add together or remove shortcuts and subfolders.

Changing the default folder to open the Windows Explorer
The button Figurer (part of the Commencement menu) opens the Windows Explorer, by default in the 'folder' Estimator. Although this location can exist of utilise, it is non always the near applied binder to get-go with. To change the folder which is opened by default, right click the preferred binder in the Windows Explorer and select Ship to, Desktop (create shortcut). Open up the Backdrop of this shortcut (right click the shortcut) and alter the command for the variable Target. The command "D:\" for example will open the Windows Explorer in the root of the sectionalisation with the letter D: (tip: select Maximized for the variable Run to open the Windows Explorer using the full screen past default). After the name of the shortcut has been changed, motion the shortcut to the Outset menu past drag-and-driblet.

The Taskbar

The behavior of the Taskbar can be changed by right clicking an empty area of the Taskbar follow past Properties. In Windows 7 it is better not to use the option to hide the Taskbar (Auto-hide the taskbar) because Windows seven shows some of the administrator messages on the Taskbar. If these messages waiting for confirmation are not visible by the user, information technology is non clear why at that place is cypher happening. A double height of the Taskbar (by dragging the superlative of the Taskbar upwards) creates more space for the Quick Launch carte du jour and the active programs. This alter creates more than space to show both the time and date. To be able to drag the top upwards, the Taskbar must unlocked past right clicking it and choosing for Lock the Taskbar.

In Windows 7 the Taskbar has been improved resulting in a meliorate user experience. Every bit soon equally a plan is opened the plan icon is added as a push to the taskbar (when multiple windows of the same program are opened, the buttons are stacked). The Quick Launch carte du jour of previous versions is no longer used; the shortcuts to frequently used programs are placed directly on the taskbar (and changes in a push button when the plan is activated). A plan can be pinned to the taskbar by right clicking the program icon on the taskbar and selecting Pin this program to taskbar (select Unpin this programme from taskbar to unpin the program). The order can exist changed by elevate-and-drib.

The shortcuts pinned to the taskbar can be activated with both the mouse and the keyboard. By using the Windows-central in combination with a numeric primal ane of the programs is opened (the number of the programme to be used depends on the order on the taskbar from left to right, eastward.yard. the Windows key in combination with 1 opens the first plan on the left, by default this is the Internet Explorer). If the plan was already opened, the windows volition exist activated or deactivated depending on the status of that moment (if multiple windows are open up, this key combination tin be used to browse these windows). Past hovering a button of a plan with the mouse, a popup window is shown with miniature versions of the opened windows for that program. These mini windows can be used to actuate of close the apropos window. Past hovering the mouse over one of these mini windows, the original window is temporarily shown at the foreground.

Jump List
By correct clicking a program icon on the taskbar, a so called Jump List is shown with options like recently opened files or visited spider web pages. But there are more options like opening a new window (which tin can be done faster by holding down the SHIFT-fundamental as soon as a plan icon is clicked), closing all opened windows, pinning a program to the taskbar and depending on the program some additional features. The moving picture below shows the Jump List belonging to the Command Panel.

The Jump List only shows a few recently opened items. Past default this number is maximized to the 10 almost contempo opened items just can be increased: correct click the start button, option Properties, button Customize and change the number shown by the option Number of recent items to display in Jump Lists at the lesser. A frequently visited website or opened file can be permanently pinned to the Leap Listing of a program besides: right click a recently opened particular in the Bound Listing and select Pin to this listing (or just by dragging a shortcut of a file to the taskbar).

TIP: If the Control Panel is frequently used it is wise to pin this panel to the taskbar by opening the Command Panel, opening the Spring List of the Control Panel and selecting the option Pin this plan to taskbar. This trick tin be practical to most all windows especially when it is hard to create a shortcut!

Changing the behavior of the taskbar
The behavior of the Taskbar can be changed as well. By dragging the tiptop of the taskbar up, the height of the taskbar can be enlarged (to make space available for more program icons). Right click the taskbar and deselect Lock the Taskbar offset to accomplish this. Right click an empty area of the Taskbar followed past Backdrop for additional option like Auto-hibernate the taskbar (to brand space available for the active programs) and Apply small icons (to fit more program icons on the taskbar).

SOLVING PROBLEMS WITH THE JUMP LIST

When the Jump List of a plan doesn't show any of the recent and pinned files whatsoever more, information technology is not that easy to fix it. The file which contains the Bound List information has to be deleted, the problem is to find out which file contains the information of the specific Bound List. These files are stored in the binder:
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations (re-create this location and paste it in the address bar of the Windows Explorer).

At that place is a file for each icon on the taskbar. The filename doesn't give any clue which program a file is for, a text editor like Notepad (Get-go, All programs, Accessories) is needed to observe the right file. Open up each of these files and search for data (like file names) related to the missing Jump List (this sounds simple but can be difficult because these files are quite large). When the right Jump Listing file has been establish, the problem is solved by deleting it. After rebooting the computer a new, empty Jump List is created (the earlier fastened items are deleted besides).

TIP: There is a quick prepare besides: merely delete all files to reset all Jump Lists!

Adding toolbars to the taskbar

When a lot of programs are installed, the taskbar, the kickoff carte and especially the sub All Programs can go badly arranged. If this is the case, an additional toolbar tin be added to get a better overview. Programs and files can be opened apace by placing them in a toolbar pinned to the taskbar (this toolbar will be shown at the right of the taskbar and can be opened with the »-sign). Such a toolbar is linked to a folder, therefore a folder must be created first (like D:\Menno\QuickStart) to store the shortcuts to the programs and frequently used files (create sub folders if needed). When this folder is created, the toolbar tin exist added simply past correct clicking the taskbar, select Toolbars, New toolbar and select the newly created folder. The shortcuts placed in the sub All Programs of the Start menu (which aren't important enough to pin to the taskbar) can be copied or dragged to this binder.

TIP: A toolbar for the personal files in the folder My documents tin can exist created similarly.

Changing the view of a toolbar
The view of a toolbar can exist changed as desired. Correct click the taskbar and deactivate the choice Lock the taskbar to be able to brand changes to the taskbar items. Later the taskbar has been unlocked the titles and descriptions of the icons can exist hidden with the options Testify title and Show text (right click the toolbar first). In the example below a shortcut has been added where a infinite (" ") is added every bit first character of the proper noun, which prevents other shortcuts will exist placed on the taskbar. The size of the icons tin can be changed with the selection View. Finally, the taskbar can be locked past reactivating the option Lock the taskbar.

TIP: A toolbar with shortcuts to frequently used programs is similar to the Quick Launch menu from previous versions. In Windows seven this menu is no longer available considering the taskbar has been inverse significantly. Nonetheless, there are however a lot of programs which identify a shortcut in the folder C:\Users\loginname\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Net Explorer\Quick Launch. If yous miss the Quick Launch menu, ane could pin this folder to the Start menu. By drag-and-drop the toolbar tin can be moved to the right side of the start button.

REMOVING THE LANGUAGE BAR

The Language bar (at the left of the arrangement tray, see the case to a higher place) tin exist of apply to add a second language or keyboard layout. In about cases however, there is no need for this support in which case it is amend hide the Language bar by the Control Console, Regional and Language, tab Keyboards and Languages, push button Change keyboards, tab Language Bar. Another option is to remove the unused installed services on the tab General. Removing the unused input languages prevents the irritating and unintended keyboard layout change also (which occurs later pressing the key combination left ALT-cardinal and right SHIFT-key).

System tray/Notification expanse

Normally the System tray/notification area (at the right side of the Taskbar) is filled with lots of icons of active programs running in the background. The icons are a shortcut to open the program, but most of them are not used at all. Right click the clock and select Properties. The shown window can be used to select which system icons to be shown in the system tray. The icons for the volume, network, battery power level and the activity center tin be disabled (especially the frequently returning icon for the action eye can cause some irritations). To keep the arrangement tray lean and mean, near icons are hidden behind the pointer (at the left of the organization tray). When an icon must be visible continuously, only drag it to the taskbar.

TIP: By following the link Customize notification icons (or by the command console, sub Notification Area Icons), the user tin can cull to hide or bear witness the icons and/or notifications.

Changing the date and time settings
The notification surface area evidence both a clock and the date (by doubling the height of the taskbar, this expanse also shows the day of the calendar week). By clicking the engagement/time area, the calendar and the analog clock is shown. If the time and/or engagement take been set incorrectly, they tin can be inverse following the link Change date and time settings. The tab Additional Clocks offers the option to add two additional clocks (for dissimilar fourth dimension zones) to the popular-up window.

The desktop

By placing shortcuts to often used folders, files and programs can be opened quickly. To proceed a adept overview, limit the number of shortcuts placed on the desktop (when shortcuts to programs are pinned to the chore bar and start carte, in that location is actually no need to place them on the desktop likewise). Be aware that it is not wise to place whatever personal files on the desktop; it enlarges the risk of losing information! Personal files belong in the binder My documents, if you would like to take quick access to personal files on the desktop, place shortcuts to the files and/or folders by right clicking information technology and choosing for Send To -> Desktop (create shortcut).

Minimizing programs
When the shortcuts on the desktop are frequently used, the agile windows will have to exist minimized frequently also. Although the programs can be minimized (or closed) manually, there is a method which works a lot quicker: just click the button Show desktop (at the correct side of the system tray) to minimize all windows at once. There is only 1 negative side effect of this button: when the mouse is hovered with the mouse, the desktop is shown temporarily. Disable this feature when it becomes irritating: right click the button and deactivate the option Peek at desktop.

The Windows-key in combination with repeatedly pressing the arrow downward key minimizes all opened programs. The Windows-key in combination with the space bar show (temporarily) the desktop and in combination with the Home-fundamental all but the active window will be minimized (the old situation volition be restored after repeating this cardinal combination). By holding downward the left button on the active window and to milkshake the window, all other windows will be minimized.

Sorting icons
The icons of the shortcuts will be ordered nicely past correct clicking the desktop and to select View, Auto suit items. The choice Align icons to grid can exist enabled as well. By default the icons are quite big but can exist resized to a smaller version by property down the CTRL-key in combination with scrolling the mouse cycle.

SAVE AND RESTORE DESKTOP ICON POSITIONS

Are yous a heavy user of desktop icons, and become irritated when your icons get messed upwardly? Probably the tool IconRestorer (download: http://fsl.sytes.net/iconrestorer.html) is something for yous! With IconRestorer you can backup the icon locations and, when needed, restore them easily to the location at the time of the backup.

Changing the desktop settings
The item Personalize in the command panel (also available by correct clicking the desktop), selection Change desktop icons (at the left in the task pane) can be used to add or remove shortcuts to the recycle bin, the network, the explorer and user files. The desktop background prototype can be inverse by post-obit the link Desktop Groundwork (use the button Browse to browse the folder with your personal pictures). Select multiple pictures to create a slide show (change the picture position and the interval as desired). Unfortunately there is no support for multiple monitors: each monitor will prove the same picture.

Flip 3D

There are ii means to browse the opened windows: with the Windows-key in combination with the TAB-key for a 3D presentation (known as Flip 3D) with the key combination ALT-TAB for a simple overview. In both cases, jumping to one of the opened windows is done by repeatedly pressing the TAB-key and/or scrolling the mouse wheel.

TIP: In Windows 7, at that place is no longer a shortcut to Flip 3D available on the taskbar. If yous liked this shortcut, you can create one by right clicking the desktop, select New, Shortcut, type C:\Windows\system32\rundll32.exe DwmApi #105 as location and add together Flip 3D in the following window. To add the Flip 3D icon by correct clicking the shortcut and select Backdrop, push Change Icon, enter the filename %SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll and click OK three times. Finally drag the created shortcut to a location on the taskbar where it is rapidly available.

Gadgets

Although the Windows Vista sidebar is no longer used, the user tin can however add together useful gadgets (like dissimilar clocks, a calendar, a mini slideshow of personal pictures, stock prices, RSS-feeds, wheather forecasts, ...) to the desktop. Correct click the desktop, select Gadgets and drag the desired gadgets to the desktop. The option Become more gadgets online (bottem right) prove more interesting gadgets.

ATTENTION: The gadgets tin can lower the arrangement performances significantly. If this is the instance, disable the option to place gadgets on the desktop: right click the desktop, select View and disable the option Show desktop gadgets. This will end the process sidebar.exe (for compatibility reasons the same proper noun is used as in Windows Vista).

Themes

Windows 7 supports different themes to change the desktop background, window color, sounds and screen saver. Right click the desktop and select Personalize to change the electric current theme (changes are practical immediately). The number of themes available is limited, alternative themes are stored in the (by default subconscious) binder C:\Windows\Globalization\MCT (this folder contains regional themes which are activated by double clicking the file in the subfolder Theme), or follow the link Get more than themes online for lots more themes.

ATTENTION: When the theme is changed, there is a big take a chance that some of the desktop icons and the mouse arrow change as well. If this behavior is not desired, correct click the desktop, select Personalize. To disallow themes to change the desktop icons, select the chore Alter desktop icons and deactivate the option Allow themes to modify desktop icons and to disallow themes to modify the mouse pointer, select the task Alter mouse pointers and deactivate the option Allow themes to alter mouse pointers.

Monitor resolution and other display settings

The monitor is the almost important hardware for the interaction between the user and the figurer, a practiced reason to optimize the monitor resolution and other display settings. Right click the desktop and select Screen resolution to change these settings. Change the resolution to the almost optimal resolution for the monitor according to the technical specifications else pixels will be interpolated or extrapolated. In most cases the optimal screen resolution is 1024*768 pixels for a 17 inch or smaller screen, for the larger screens endeavor the resolution 1280*1024 pixels (or even 1600*1200 pixels). Use one of the widescreen resolutions in case of a widescreen monitor (run into the technical specifications in the manual).

Next click the link Avant-garde settings and open the tab Monitor to college the screen refresh rate to the highest possible (at to the lowest degree 75 Hertz) to realize a more than stable screen (exist careful: if the refresh charge per unit is set to high it will shorten the life time of the monitor) and if possible higher the number of colors to truthful colors (32-bit). Fortunately Windows 7 automatically sets the resolution, refresh charge per unit and number of colors correctly.

Avant-garde CHANGES TO THE GRAPHICS HARDWARE

If you really want the most out of your monitor en graphics hardware, you have to try the awarding PowerStrip from EnTech Taiwan (download: www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm). With PowerStrip you can make changes to the settings of your graphics hardware and monitor. Your are warned: it's at your own risk, it is possible to make permanent damage! Be conscientious: read the transmission showtime. By the fashion: PowerStrip supports nigh all graphics cards, check the website if your graphical hardware is supported. If needed, the tool GPU-Z (download: www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/) can be used to observe out the technical details of the graphics card.

Enlarging the text and cursor
If the text on the screen has become too small and hard to read, then resizing the messages is an option. This can be done by correct clicking the desktop, select Screen Resolution, option Make text and other items larger or smaller. This window only offers the options to enlarge the text to 125 or 150%, which is too large to fit the text in some of the windows. Therefore change the text size past following the task Set custom exam size (DPI) manually. Enlarging to 110 or 115% would be enough for almost users. A higher resolution besides results in a desperately visible horizontal cursor in a text editor. Double or triple it's height at the Command Panel, choice Ease of Access Eye, Make the computer easier to see, Brand the focus rectangle thicker.

Improving the display quality of text
By applying ClearType (smoothing of fonts) the display quality of text improves, this is done by the ClearType Text Tuner (correct click the desktop, select Personalize, job Brandish, pick Accommodate ClearType text). Activate the option Plow on ClearType and walk through the wizard by using the push Next. Select the text samples which expect best for you lot to ready the best settings for ClearType.

Placing windows with Aero Snap

Aero Snap is a new Windows 7 feature to resize and arrange a window by dragging and dropping it to ane of the screen borders (or past using the Windows-cardinal in combination with the pointer key to the left or right). The width and height of the window is automatically changed to exactly fit the left or right side of the screen. This feature is disabled by the control console, item Ease of Access Center, option Make the mouse easier to use, activate the pick Prevent windows from beingness automatically arranged when moved to the edge of the screen. Right click the taskbar and activate the option Bear witness windows next to rearrange the windows for an optimum utilise of the desktop.

TIP: The Windows-key in combination with the pointer cardinal upwards and downwards maximizes and minimizes programs. In combination with the SHIFT-key the window is stretched vertically.

Using multiple monitors

Nowadays, it is common to work with a big screen (19 inch or more than) and/or multiple monitors. Within Windows, it's easier to work with ii monitors compared to a single big screen because two screens make it easy to maximize a running programme easily to the agile screen (half the desktop instead of the whole desktop in case of the state of affairs with one screen).  Dragging running programs (if not maximized) to the other monitor is easy as well. The individual position of the monitors can exist set by right clicking the desktop, option Personalize, task Display.

TIP: When a projector is connected to the computer, use the cardinal combination Windows-cardinal+P to switch or duplicate monitors apace!

Extending the taskbar to multiple monitors
Unfortunately, within Windows information technology is not possible to extend the taskbar or add another taskbar on the second or tertiary monitor. The tool MultiMon taskbar (download: world wide web.mediachance.com) makes it possible to extend the taskbar to the second monitor. The taskbar icon will but be shown on the taskbar of the screen where the window is active. Every window will have a new option to motility the window quickly to the other monitor, fifty-fifty if it's maximized. Likewise these extra options, the taskbar has the possibility to extend the clipboard also. The simply negative betoken is the sometime fashion look and the poor Windows 7 integration (because of the new taskbar).

Stretching the desktop background picture over multiple monitors
The use of multiple desktop background pictures is non supported too. Fortunately it is possible to create a stretched groundwork image (where the unlike images are placed next to each other with image editing software) yourself. The size in pixels of the new prototype should exist equal to the resolution of the used monitors. For example: for a setup with ii monitors with a resolution of 1024*768 pixels needs a desktop background image with the size 2048*768 pixels. Resize the images to the monitor resolution first (in this example a resolution of 1024*768 pixels for each picture), place them side by side to each other into a single image (in this example an prototype with a resolution of 2048*768 pixels). The next step is to change the desktop background image the normal way by right clicking the desktop and scan to the new paradigm after selecting Personalize, option Desktop Background. Select the selection Tile virtually Moving picture position at the bottom.

TIP: Unfortunately, at that place are no options to set a different background for each monitor. This tin can be solved with a tool similar John's Groundwork Switcher.

Visual effects

If the graphical card is suitable for the rendering of complicated 3D, Windows 7 volition startup automatically with the more avant-garde Aero Glass-interface which supports transparency. The new interface needs a graphical card with a special graphical processor (GPU) with back up for the new Windows Device Driver Model (WDDM). If it is not possible to show the Aero Glass-interface, Windows 7 will automatically render to a less enervating view. The Aero Glass-interface settings tin be inverse at the Control Console, item Personalization and follow the link Discover and prepare issues with transparency and other visual furnishings to find out why Aero-Glass is disabled.

Less demanding visual settings
If in that location is a delay in opening, minimizing, maximizing, dragging and closing windows, disable visual settings to achieve less graphically demanding settings. Disabling the transparency (see the picture) has the about consequence, especially in case of older graphical cards or in case the graphical calculations are washed by the CPU (in case there is no graphical card). Disabling the transparency is done by right clicking the desktop, select Personalize, option Windows Color (at the bottom) and disable the pick Enable Transparency. In the Personalization windows at that place is likewise an option to switch to the Windows 7 Basic theme (or even the classic theme). The instance beneath shows the difference between the Aero Drinking glass-interface (at the correct) and the Basic-interface (at the left with the additional button of MultiMon which is non visible with the Aero Drinking glass-interface).

Changing the advanced organisation settings
The avant-garde system settings offer more than possibilities to change the visual effects. Go to the Control Console, item System, task Advanced arrangement settings (at the left in the task pane), tab Advanced, button Settings (as part of Performance). Optimal organization settings (while keeping the nearly important visual furnishings) are achieved after disabling all options (with the option Adjust for best performance, as shown below) with the exception of Enable desktop composition, Enable transparent glass (if desired), Prove thumbnails instead of icons (shows the small images), Smooth edges of screen fonts (as well known as ClearType), Use driblet shadows for icon labels on the desktop (transparency of the desktop icon labels) and Use visual styles on windows and buttons.

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