77 Windows 7 tips
3
Nov/090
Nov/090
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2009.10.77windows.aspx
These are my top picks:
7. Record Problems. The Problem Steps Recorder (PSR) is a great new feature that helps in troubleshooting a system (see Figure 1). At times, Remote Assistance may not be possible. However, if a person types psr in their Instant Search, it will launch the recorder. Now they can perform the actions needed to recreate the problem and each click will record the screen and the step. They can even add comments. Once complete, the PSR compiles the whole thing into an MHTML file and zips it up so that it can be e-mailed for analysis to the network admin (or family problem solver, depending on how it’s being used).
14. Understand Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). Windows 7 plays an important role in Microsoft’s VDI strategy, where virtualized Windows 7 machines are hosted on a central virtualization server using a special blanket “Enterprise Centralized Desktop” license. Read up and figure out if you can take advantage of this new strategy.
34. Add Unindexed Shared Folders to Library. You can add UNC paths such as \\servername\sharename to a Library, but the server must index the folder. If you want to add a UNC path to an unindexed server, you can create a symbolic link to the UNC path, then add the link or links to the library. Use the mklink command. For example, mklink HomeFolder \\ServerName\Homefolder.
45. Create Virtual Worlds. Virtualization capability has been added to the Disk Management tools. If you open Computer Management, go to the Disk Manager tool and then click the Action button at top, you will see the options Create VHD and/or Attach VHD. This allows you to create and mount a virtual hard drive directly from within the GUI. Note: With Windows 7 you even have the ability to boot a Windows 7 VHD (see Figure 6).
61. Put It on Old Stuff. One perhaps-not-so-obvious Windows 7 tip is that you should attempt to install it everywhere. One user has a 6-year-old laptop that originally shipped with Windows XP. He could never get Windows Vista to install on it. But Windows 7 installed without complaint and runs extremely smooth. Granted, there are some Windows 7 features he can’t take advantage of because the processor lacks certain features, but these are minor issues considering the laptop now has life again.
Virtualization is where everything seems to be leading to lately and Microsoft saw this opportunity to release proven solutions. Virtual Desktop Infastructure isn’t exactly new and you can read more about it here: http://www.msterminalservices.org/articles/Virtual-Desktop-Infrastructure-Overview.html. It’s great to see that even in small detail, virtualization is being integrated more and more; I benefit a lot from being able to mount virtual hard disks because I work heavily with VMs and having direct access to them without the need of loading up their respective environment really comes in handy.
The Problem Steps Recorder is a godsend for the helpdesk. More often than not, issues can be solved efficiently without being physically present on the problem machine. Alternatively, it can be used as a documentation tool; say for example, a step-by-step program walkthrough.
Document warriors are expected to have messy file storages; you might have documents in your desktop, in your My Documents, a portable drive or even a shared folder. Libraries brings that all into one place as if you’re looking into a single huge folder. This is particularly great for me as combined with Windows HomeGroup I don’t longer need to have “redundant” songs (repeating, same songs on different computers) and just keep everything in one computer and stream it from there.