10 great 'Do these first' tweaks for Windows 7

It's happened to me, and I'll bet it's happened to you: weeks or months into using a new OS, you find yourself saying, "Gee, I wish I'd known that at the beginning!"

I've worked with Win7 for over a year now, and have picked up a few tricks and tweaks for setting up and getting started with this new OS. Here are the 10 best that can help you improve Windows 7's stability and recoverability, make the OS work faster, increase its ease of use, and maximize your on-screen real estate.

That's how the free (open to all) "Top Story" I wrote for Windows Secrets begins in today's edition. You can read it on the web (no subscription required): http://windowssecrets.com/2010/12/16/01-10-great-Do-these-first-tweaks-for-Windows-7

My regular weekly Q&A also appears in today's issue. Its topics:

•  How to sort desktop icons — for keeps
•  What about moving to Windows XP SP3?
•  Unexpected shutdowns cause months of frustration
•  Reader seeks privacy in e-mail services

The full issue run down:

Free content posted on Dec. 16, 2010:

TOP STORY By Fred Langa 10 great 'Do these first' tweaks for Windows 7 Build a rock-solid safety net for Win7 Make Windows 7 run faster, work better Organize your new Windows 7 desktop LOUNGE LIFE By Tracey Capen Windows Secrets Lounge moving to new platform WACKY WEB WEEK By Revia Romberg Sometimes it's better to stick to what you know

 
Paid content:

LANGALIST PLUS By Fred Langa How to sort desktop icons — for keeps Keeping desktop icons organized becomes a hassle What about moving to Windows XP SP3? Unexpected shutdowns cause months of frustration Reader seeks privacy in e-mail services

BEST HARDWARE By Michael Lasky Give your PC a multimedia makeover for 2011 When it's worthwhile to be an early adopter Blazing Blu-ray recording coming soon Seagate makes upgrading easier — and cheaper Stream audio and video with a media-sharing box

PATCH WATCH By Susan Bradley PC patches end this year with a bang Stick with Windows XP SP2; lose security Put a hold on this Outlook 2007 patch Internet Explorer gets a fix for its fix Open Type Font driver could lead to Web attacks Office patch might block TIFF files Stuxnet worm-based zero-day flaw finally closed Windows kernel drivers used in EOP attacks Five more DLL-preloading bugs fixed Windows 7 UAC gets a much-needed fix Publisher: Patch even if you don't have the app Chrome silently updates to 8.0.552.224 More updates for server administrators

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