Well, if you have already installed Windows 7, I would like to congratulate you for installing the wonderful operating system. And if you haven’t installed the Windows 7 yet, don’t miss this beautiful operating system.
1. Activate Windows 7: This is the first and the most important step to do as soon as you install Windows 7. If you haven’t already entered the key during the installation, follow the simple official video that shows how simple windows 7 activation is.
2. Install Antivirus Software: Precaution is better than cure. There are many free antivirus software available for Windows, but you can trust only a few of them. You can choose one antivirus from our 7 free antivirus software for Windows 7 list.
3. Enable Hibernation Feature: Enabling hibernation feature not only helps you save boot and startup time but it also saves power as well.
How to enable hibernate feature in Windows 7
4. Install Windows Live Essentials: Windows Live Essentials pack comes with Messenger, Mail, Writer, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker beta, and more.
5. Install Essential Windows 7 Applications: Depending on your type of work, you might want to install free or paid applications on your new Windows 7.
Here is my free essential applications list:
# Adobe or Foxit PDF reader
# VLC or GOM media player
# Picasa
# Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1
# Firefox, Chrome, and Opera browsers
# 7-zip
# Nero 9 essentials free or any other good alternatives to Nero
# FeedDemon
# Macrium Reflect drive image backup tool
6. Place Live Messenger Icon in System Tray: Although Windows 7 Beta and RC users are pretty familiar with this problem, Vista and XP users will notice this problem as soon as they install Windows Live Messenger. In Vista and XP, Windows Live Messenger icon sits in the system tray by default. But in Windows 7, you need to do a small trick to place Messenger icon in system tray.
Here is the simple workaround for this:
# Go to C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger (C is your Windows 7 drive)
# Right-click on msnmsgr.exe and select Properties
# Switch to Compatibility tab and select the checkbox named “Run this program in compatibility mode for” option.
# Under Compatibility mode select “Windows Vista (Service Pack 2)” from the drop down box and click OK.
7. Start Playing with Windows 7: This is what everyone would like to do. If you are not aware of the Windows 7 features, you might find official Windows 7 tour videos as very useful.
Windows 7 Tour Videos
Konamiman says
Forget about VirtualPC. Virtualbox is way better.
PeterG says
Sorry but VPC 2007 SP1 will not install in the Win 7 RTM. You have to use the new VPC/HyperV app. Since the new VHDs are not compatible with VPC 2007 this is a serious problem
diagg says
forgetting about Nero 9 could be a nice idea, since the 50mo bloatware is unable to burn audio (only data…)
admin says
@ Tikemotel
Thanks for the replay. Here is Microsoft’s definition on Hibernation feature, which indicates that it saves power.
“Of all the power-saving states in Windows, hibernation uses the least amount of power. On a laptop, use hibernation when you know that you won’t use your laptop for an extended period and won’t have an opportunity to charge the battery during that time”
Tikimotel says
How does hibernation save power?
I turn my computers off (really off, no grid connection) when I don’t use them.
Mainly during the times when I’m at work. Just turning PC’s off also uses some power to feed the mainboard, usb stays powered sometimes. (mouse LED stays on)
Bootup time can stay the same a new installed configuration when you are cautious (paranoid!!) about what you install. (pay attention to tray icons, services, codec packs, etc.)
Hibernation is a waste of energy, if you can’t spare less than a minute for cold bootup… take it easy you’ll live longer.
216 says
Good list, altho Windows 7 has a great Backup program already built in, no need for Macrium