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Thread ID: 108416 2010-03-28 02:20:00 Things to do after you install Windows 7 Digby (677) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
870525 2010-03-29 06:29:00 Kill the windows search service. I do this with vista and Win7. Everytime I reinstall it

I'd have to disagree with this too :) It is the only thing that was good about Vista and its one of the cool things in W7. Although, yeah you need a decent system for the indexing to not slow everything down, or set it to run when idle.

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DISABLE UAC!
WarNox (8772)
870526 2010-03-29 06:31:00 I have disabled UAC. Since it stops programs from updating Speedy Gonzales (78)
870527 2010-03-29 06:33:00 Some people install Win 7 then get rid of it and install something else instead as the next thing they do.

Much like I did with Vista for example.
Sweep (90)
870528 2010-03-29 06:35:00 DISABLE UAC!

I have UAC enabled as not only is it a security feature, it also stops full-screen programs from opening when I click on them accidently (I have Quick Launch enabled).
pcuser42 (130)
870529 2010-03-29 09:20:00 Interesting to read what people do, some good ideas there I'm planning to try .

It depends who for, but if I set people up as a Standard User, the "friends and family free computer support hotline" gets a lot less busy . I suspect it's because it's too much hassle to install everything they download . It's not for everyone though! :lol:

Windows: Change the Taskbar to "use small icons" and "combine when full" for the Vista look which I prefer . Hide the desktop icons, pin the desktop to to Windows Explorer as a folder instead .

Get some nice themes ( . microsoft . com/en-US/windows/downloads/personalize" target="_blank">windows . microsoft . com), like my favourite Kiwi one by Greg Straight ( . microsoft . com/download/8/8/7/88794316-b8e6-4b83-be20-a7ebe213538f/Greg%20Straight%20-%20New%20Zealand%20Inspired . themepack" target="_blank">download . microsoft . com) .

Apps: Corel Draw and Office (choosing only the bits I use) . My favourite Twitter app of the day, currently Seesmic . BabySmash .

Email & Photos: Install the Windows Live Essentials pack other than the toolbar and the family safety, I don't use those two . Security Essentials too .

IE8: I turn off the "Start Navigation" sound for Windows Explorer to stop the superfluous clicking sounds . Hide the menu and the commands and change to icons only, that leaves a nice clean interface .

Web: Get the latest Adobe Flash & PDF . Yes I still prefer Adobe PDF Reader .

Sysinternals tools: If it's my own system I replace Task Manager with Process Explorer, but I don't do that for friends and family because of information overload . I use Autoruns to remove all the shell and startup extras that I don't want .

Safe mode checkdisk and defrag to tidy everything up .

cheers
W
waldok (15185)
870530 2010-03-30 02:40:00 I turn off Jump lists (I find them pointless, they always have stuff in them that you never use) and that stupid Aero shake (where you shake a window and everything else minimises) I found myself accidentally invoking it, and I never use it.
Enable auto expand folder in explorer (for the folder view on the left)
Show hidden files.

Schedule a defrag (if you don't have an SSD) make a backup.
Deimos (5715)
870531 2010-03-30 03:48:00 Can't believe you guys don't mention an Explorer replacement! One of my first adds is xplorer2 Lite, a great dual pane file manager.

Pretty much everyone can use Picasa, as well.
linw (53)
870532 2010-03-30 07:41:00 Great stuff guys
Keep it coming
Digby (677)
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