Basic Windows 7 Configuration

[2012-Mar-03: Updated.]

Here is how I configure my Windows 7 UI:

• Set desktop background to solid color
  • I find pictures as desktop background distracting.
  • Selecting a solid color background may cause Windows Logon to take 30 seconds!
    Hotfix solution: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/977346/en-us
    May have been resolved by a Windows update or SP1.
  • Remove Icon label shadows:
    Under Computer, Properties, Advanced System Settings, Performance
    disable “Use drop shadows for icon labels”
• Desktop
  • Adjust Desktop Icon Size:
    Select any icon on desktop, press CTRL-Key and use mouse wheel to resize.
  • My Computer, Show on Desktop
• Set folder options:
  • Under Control Panel, Folder Options, General
    Select “Single-Click”
  • Under Control Panel, Folder Options, View
    Deselect “Hide extensions for known types”.
    In contrast to configuring XP do not(!) select show hidden files or deselect hide protected files (doing so results in confusing folders displays in Windows Explorer).
• Indexing Options
  • Under Control Panel, Indexing Options
    Select all disks to be completely indexed.
    I do not understand why MS does not allow some folders like ProgramData to be indexed.
• Web Browser Settings (see Why I Dislike IE 9)
  • English as first Language Preference
  • Homepage to blank site
  • Add SearchDotNot to search providers
• Windows Update configuration
  • On Notebooks: Check… but let me choose whether to download
  • On Workstations: Install updates automatically

Some tools I always install:

• MS Security Essentials
• 7-zip
• Deamon tools light
  To mount ISOs.
• Foxit PDF Reader
  Adobe Reader X often has hiccups.
  Be careful not to install the toolbars etc. it defaults to install!
• ZoomIt
  For presentations.
  Zoom, paint and write on screen.
• RichCopy
  For bulk copying files.
• Notepad++
  Notepad replacement.
  LRU files in tabs, …
• Skype
• Internet Download Manager
• Ninite Updater
  To keep application up to date.
• VWWare player (or Workstation)
  The current player version supports creating new VMs.
  To convert VMs from other formats and to create VMs from physical machines:
  • VMWare standalone converter
  • vConverter SC
• VLC Player

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