If you’ll be among the millions to get Windows 7 when it’s released later this month, you’ll no doubt want to get started right away with making the new operating system feel like your own.
That means learning how to customize how Windows 7 looks, feels, and operates. Luckily, Microsoft has made Windows 7 more customizable than any previous version of Windows. Here’s how to get started.
Adjust Everything
Open the Windows 7 Start menu, and type the word “adjust.” Up will pop pointers to several areas of the operating system in which you can adjust how Windows performs and appears.
Start by clicking “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows.” Doing so opens the Performance Options dialog box, where you can make some almost magical adjustments that will make Windows 7 feel a lot faster.
On the Visual Effects tab of the Performance Options dialog box, you have two options. You can select one of the performance presets by clicking the appropriate radio button — either “Adjust for best appearance” or “Adjust for best performance.” Or you can use the check boxes below these option buttons to make your own customizations, feature by feature.
The latter option is the one that gives you the most control, so start there. Remove the check mark next to any entry that refers to “animation,” “fading,” or “sliding” of windows, tool tips, or menus. While these visual effects may initially seem cool, ultimately they’re just time-wasters, and turning them off will make Windows 7 feel as zippy — or zippier — than Windows XP on identical hardware.
You enable or disable other features in this dialog box to taste. If you’re running a reasonably new machine, it probably doesn’t hurt to leave Aero Peek or the “transparent glass” features enabled. They are, after all, what helps to gives Windows 7…