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Course description: This is a 4 hour course providing an overview of operating system changes from XP or Vista to Windows 7. Hands-on practice will be limited by the pace of the class. Prerequisite: Familiarity with Windows XP or Vista.

Upgrading from XP: Many, significant changes.
Upgrading from Vista: Fewer changes, refinements, improved reliability and compatibility.

Syllabus …

1. Start Menu Changes

a. All Programs: expand and collapse menus

b. Start Search (the easiest way to find and open anything)

c. User Libraries (folder collections): Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos.

d. Personal folder: Contacts, Desktop, Downloads, Favorites, Links, My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, My Videos, Saved Games, Searches. (Note: “My” is back.)

e. Start menu properties (Power button action; Customize)

2. Editions (Home Premium versus Professional)

3. Taskbar Changes (“Awesome Bar”) and Aero Interface

a. Pinned Icons (also on Start menu)

b. Jump Lists (also on Start menu)

c. Quick launch (Win+number)

d. Taskbar thumbnails

e. Flip (Alt+Tab) & Flip 3D (Win+Tab)

f. Aero Peek (show desktop; taskbar button next to time; Win+Spacebar)

g. Aero Snap (tile; drag and drop or Win+arrow keys)

h. Aero Shake (minimize everything else; shake a window side-to-side; Win+Home)

i. Resize to top or bottom (Win+Shift+up or down arrow

j. Notification Area

k. Action Center (consolidated system messages)

l. Taskbar Properties

4. Windows Explorer Changes (Win+E)

a. Breadcrumbs

b. Toolbar (Organize, Open/Play, Share with, Slide show, Print, E-mail, Burn, New folder)

c. Views

d. Column headings (sort; choose, rearrange, and resize; defaults based on folder/library properties)

e. Filters

f. Group by (context menu)

g. Details pane (properties, metadata)

h. Preview pane toggle

i. Navigation pane (Favorite links, Libraries, Homegroup, Computer, Network)

5. Personalize

a. Themes (Aero)

b. Desktop background (slide show), Window Color, Sounds, Screen Saver

c. Screen Resolution (from the Desktop) & multiple monitors

6. Devices and Printers (Device Stage)

7. Windows Live Programs (download.live.com)

a. Photo Gallery (get it)

b. Writer (blogging)

c. Movie Maker (vs DVD Maker)

d. Mail & Messenger

e. Toolbar & Family Safety

8. Miscellaneous

a. Snipping Tool (pin it)

b. Calculator (History)

c. WordPad & Paint (ribbon)

d. Media Player vs Media Center

e. Games

f. Windows Virtual PC and XP Mode

Compare with Windows 7: Operating System Basics Syllabus