Microsoft Windows 7 Unleashed

✍ Scribed by Paul McFedries

• Publisher: Sams
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 813
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book has lots of good information about Windows 7, but does not cover the 70-680 exam objectives very well. The author starts out saying what's wrong with Windows 7 and how he would fix it. This book has some good information about customizing Windows 7 to suit your own needs. It gets into some very good information about configuring startup settings and the Registry. I will keep this book as a good desk reference, but I'm using other materials to study for the 70-680. Unlike other Microsoft study materials, the information in this book is actually useful.

✦ Table of Contents

Table of Contents......Page 5
Introduction......Page 23
Who Should Read This Book......Page 24
Part IV: Unleashing Windows 7 Security......Page 25
Part VIII: Appendixes......Page 26
Conventions Used in This Book......Page 27
How to Contact Me......Page 28
Returning the Menus to Their Rightful Place......Page 29
Changing the View......Page 30
Viewing More Properties......Page 31
Turning On File Extensions......Page 33
Stopping Delete Confirmations......Page 35
Running Explorer in Full-Screen Mode......Page 37
Exploring the View Options......Page 38
Moving User Folders......Page 41
Taking Ownership of Your Files......Page 42
Using Advanced Query Syntax to Search Properties......Page 44
Using Natural Language Queries......Page 47
2 Customizing Internet Explorer......Page 49
Controlling the Web Page Cache......Page 50
Configuring the Page History......Page 51
Adding More Search Engines to Internet Explorer......Page 52
Using Any Search Engine from the Address Bar......Page 54
Make Tabs More Efficient......Page 56
Loading Multiple Home Pages at Startup......Page 57
Understanding Internet Explorer’s Advanced Options......Page 59
3 Customizing the File System......Page 67
File Types and File Extensions......Page 68
File Types and the Registry......Page 69
Setting the Default Action......Page 71
Creating a New File Type Action......Page 72
Example: Opening the Command Prompt in the Current Folder......Page 73
Hiding a File Type’s Extension......Page 74
Associating an Extension with a Different Application......Page 75
Associating an Application with Multiple File Types......Page 77
Creating a New File Type......Page 78
Customizing the New Menu......Page 79
Adding File Types to the New Menu......Page 80
Opening a Document with an Unassociated Application......Page 81
How the Open With Feature Works......Page 82
Removing a Program from the Open With List......Page 83
Disabling the Open With Check Box......Page 84
Customizing Startups Using the Boot Configuration Data......Page 85
Using Startup and Recovery to Modify the BCD......Page 87
Using the System Configuration Utility to Modify the BCD......Page 88
Using BCDEDIT to Customize the Startup Options......Page 91
Customizing Startups with the Advanced Options Menu......Page 95
Enabling the Administrator Account......Page 98
Setting Up an Automatic Logon......Page 101
Disabling Automatic Logon Override......Page 102
Setting Up One-Click Restarts and Shutdowns......Page 103
Create a Restart Shortcut......Page 105
Turning Off Your Windows 7 Computer from Anywhere......Page 106
Customizing the Start Menu’s Power Button......Page 108
Customizing Your Notebook’s Power and Sleep Buttons......Page 109
5 Customizing the Start Menu and Taskbar......Page 111
Getting More Favorite Programs on the Start Menu......Page 112
Pinning a Favorite Program Permanently to the Start Menu......Page 114
Setting Program Access and Defaults......Page 116
Streamlining the Start Menu by Converting Links to Menus......Page 118
Adding, Moving, and Removing Other Start Menu Icons......Page 119
Improving Productivity by Setting Taskbar Options......Page 120
Pinning a Favorite Program to the Taskbar......Page 122
Pinning a Destination to a Program’s Jump List......Page 123
Using the Windows Key to Start Taskbar Programs......Page 124
Taking Control of the Notification Area......Page 125
Displaying Multiple Clocks for Different Time Zones......Page 128
Setting Some Taskbar Toolbar Options......Page 130
Modifying the Start Menu and Taskbar with Group Policies......Page 131
6 Tuning Windows 7’s Performance......Page 133
Viewing Your Computer’s Performance Rating......Page 134
Monitoring Performance with Task Manager......Page 136
Using the Resource Monitor......Page 139
Using the Performance Monitor......Page 141
Reducing or Eliminating BIOS Checks......Page 143
Turning Off the Startup Splash Screen......Page 144
Optimizing Applications......Page 145
Optimizing Windows 7 for Programs......Page 146
Setting the Program Priority in Task Manager......Page 147
Examining Hard Drive Performance Specifications......Page 148
Performing Hard Drive Maintenance......Page 149
Enabling Write Caching......Page 150
Converting FAT16 and FAT32 Partitions to NTFS......Page 151
Disabling Last Access Timestamp......Page 152
Customizing the Page File Size......Page 153
Changing the Paging File’s Location and Size......Page 154
Checking Your Hard Disk for Errors......Page 157
Understanding Clusters......Page 159
Running the Check Disk GUI......Page 160
Checking Free Disk Space......Page 162
Deleting Unnecessary Files......Page 165
Defragmenting Your Hard Disk......Page 167
Running the Disk Defragmenter Tool......Page 168
Changing the Disk Defragmenter Schedule......Page 169
Changing Which Disks Get Defragmented......Page 170
Setting System Restore Points......Page 171
Creating a System Repair Disc......Page 174
Backing Up Your Files......Page 175
Configuring Automatic File Backups......Page 177
Creating a System Image Backup......Page 179
Checking for Updates and Security Patches......Page 180
Reviewing Event Viewer Logs......Page 182
Setting Up a 9-Step Maintenance Schedule......Page 184
8 Controlling Windows 7 with Control Panel......Page 187
Touring the Control Panel Window......Page 188
Reviewing the Control Panel Icons......Page 189
Understanding Control Panel Files......Page 194
Alternative Methods for Opening Control Panel Icons......Page 197
Putting Control Panel on the Start Menu......Page 198
Removing an Icon from Control Panel......Page 199
Showing Only Specified Control Panel Icons......Page 200
Understanding Group Policies......Page 203
Local Group Policy Editor and Windows Versions......Page 204
Launching the Local Group Policy Editor......Page 205
Working with Group Policies......Page 206
Configuring a Policy......Page 207
Filtering Policies......Page 209
Customizing the Windows Security Window......Page 211
Customizing the Places Bar......Page 213
Increasing the Size of the Recent Documents List......Page 215
Enabling the Shutdown Event Tracker......Page 216
Reviewing the Windows 7 Snap-Ins......Page 219
Adding a Snap-In......Page 222
Saving a Console......Page 224
Creating a Custom Taskpad View......Page 225
Controlling Snap-Ins with Group Policies......Page 229
Controlling Services with the Services Snap-In......Page 231
Controlling Services at the Command Prompt......Page 234
Controlling Services with a Script......Page 235
Disable Services for Faster Performance......Page 239
Reset a Broken Service......Page 244
12 Tweaking the Windows 7 Registry......Page 247
Firing Up the Registry Editor......Page 248
Navigating the Keys Pane......Page 249
Understanding Registry Settings......Page 250
Getting to Know the Registry’s Root Keys......Page 251
Understanding Hives and Registry Files......Page 253
Preventing Other Folks from Messing with the Registry......Page 255
Saving the Current Registry State with System Restore......Page 256
Protecting Keys by Exporting Them to Disk......Page 257
Working with Registry Entries......Page 258
Changing the Value of a Registry Entry......Page 259
Deleting a Key or Setting......Page 265
Finding Registry Entries......Page 266
13 Controlling Windows 7 from the Command Line......Page 267
Running Command Prompt as the Administrator......Page 268
Running CMD......Page 269
Running Commands......Page 273
Working with Long Filenames......Page 274
Changing Folders Faster......Page 275
Taking Advantage of DOSKEY......Page 276
Redirecting Command Output and Input......Page 278
Piping Commands......Page 281
Creating Batch Files......Page 282
ECHO: Displaying Messages from a Batch File......Page 283
PAUSE: Temporarily Halting Batch File Execution......Page 284
Using Batch File Parameters......Page 285
FOR: Looping in a Batch File......Page 286
GOTO: Jumping to a Line in a Batch File......Page 287
IF: Handling Batch File Conditions......Page 288
Working with Disk Management Tools......Page 291
Working with File and Folder Management Tools......Page 298
Working with System Management Tools......Page 310
Thwarting Snoops and Crackers......Page 319
First, Some Basic Precautions......Page 320
Locking Your Computer......Page 322
Requiring Ctrl+Alt+Delete at Startup......Page 324
Making Sure Windows Defender Is Turned On......Page 325
Making Sure the Administrator Account Is Disabled......Page 329
Managing Windows Firewall......Page 330
Creating a Windows Firewall Exception......Page 331
15 Configuring Internet Explorer Security......Page 337
Deleting Your Browsing History......Page 338
Clearing the Address Bar List......Page 342
Enhancing Online Privacy by Managing Cookies......Page 344
Total Privacy: InPrivate Browsing and Filtering......Page 347
Blocking Pop-Up Windows......Page 349
Adding and Removing Zone Sites......Page 350
Changing a Zone’s Security Level......Page 352
Protected Mode: Reducing Internet Explorer’s Privileges......Page 353
Thwarting Phishers with the SmartScreen Filter......Page 354
Encoding Addresses to Prevent IDN Spoofing......Page 356
Total Security: Internet Explorer Without Add-Ons......Page 358
Understand Internet Explorer’s Advanced Security Options......Page 359
Protecting Yourself Against Email Viruses......Page 363
Thwarting Spam with Windows Live Mail’s Junk Filter......Page 367
Setting the Junk Email Protection Level......Page 369
Specifying Safe Senders......Page 370
Blocking Countries and Languages......Page 371
Email Phishing Protection......Page 372
Maintaining Your Privacy While Reading Email......Page 373
Squashing Web Bugs......Page 374
Sending and Receiving Secure Email......Page 375
Setting Up an Email Account with a Digital ID......Page 376
Obtaining Another Person’s Public Key......Page 377
Receiving a Secure Message......Page 378
Setting Security Permissions on Files and Folders......Page 381
Assigning a User to a Security Group......Page 383
Assigning a User to Multiple Security Groups......Page 384
Assigning Standard Permissions......Page 385
Assigning Special Permissions......Page 386
Encrypting Files and Folders......Page 388
Encrypting a Disk with BitLocker......Page 389
Enabling BitLocker on a System Without a TPM......Page 391
18 Setting Up User Security......Page 395
Understanding User Account Control (UAC)......Page 396
Elevating Privileges......Page 397
Configuring User Account Control......Page 399
User Account Control Policies......Page 401
Creating and Enforcing Bulletproof Passwords......Page 402
User Account Password Options......Page 403
Taking Advantage of Windows 7’s Password Policies......Page 404
Recovering from a Forgotten Password......Page 405
Creating and Managing User Accounts......Page 406
Working with the User Accounts Dialog Box......Page 408
Working with the Local Users and Groups Snap-In......Page 410
Setting Account Security Policies......Page 411
Setting Account Lockout Policies......Page 413
The NET USER Command......Page 415
The NET LOCALGROUP Command......Page 416
Activating Parental Controls......Page 417
Example: Setting Up Parental Controls for Games......Page 419
Preventing Elevation for All Standard Users......Page 422
Closing Off Your Computer by Disabling All Other Users......Page 424
Hiding Usernames in the Logon Screen......Page 425
Renaming Built-In Accounts for Better Security......Page 427
Using the Guest Account to Give Folks Temporary Access......Page 428
Determining Who Is Logged On......Page 429
19 Implementing Network Security......Page 431
Deactivating the Sharing Wizard......Page 432
Setting Sharing Permissions on Shared Folders......Page 433
Setting Security Permissions on Shared Folders......Page 436
Hiding Your Shared Folders......Page 437
Disabling the Hidden Administrative Shares......Page 439
Removing Stored Remote Desktop Credentials......Page 440
Preventing Users from Logging On at Certain Times......Page 442
Setting a User’s Logon Hours......Page 443
Automatically Logging Off a User When the Logon Hours Expire......Page 444
20 Tightening Wireless Network Security......Page 445
Entering the Router’s IP Address......Page 446
Using the Network Window......Page 448
Positioning the Access Point for Maximum Security......Page 450
Encrypting Wireless Signals with WPA......Page 452
Changing the Wireless Connection Security Properties......Page 453
Disabling Network SSID Broadcasting......Page 454
Connecting to a Hidden Wireless Network......Page 456
Changing the Default SSID......Page 457
Enabling MAC Address Filtering......Page 458
Getting the MAC Address of Your Wireless NIC......Page 459
21 Troubleshooting and Recovering from Problems......Page 461
Did You Get an Error Message?......Page 462
Does an Error or Warning Appear in the Event Viewer Logs?......Page 463
Did Windows 7 “Spontaneously” Reboot?......Page 464
Did You Recently Change Any Application Settings?......Page 467
Did You Recently Install a New Device?......Page 468
General Troubleshooting Tips......Page 469
Running the Windows 7 Troubleshooters......Page 470
Understanding Disk Diagnostics......Page 471
Understanding Resource Exhaustion Detection......Page 472
Running the Memory Diagnostics Tool......Page 473
Checking for Solutions to Problems......Page 474
Troubleshooting Using Online Resources......Page 477
Booting Using the Last Known Good Configuration......Page 478
Recovering Using System Restore......Page 479
22 Troubleshooting Devices......Page 483
Managing Your Hardware with Device Manager......Page 484
Viewing Device Properties......Page 485
Working with Device Drivers......Page 486
Configuring Windows to Ignore Unsigned Device Drivers......Page 488
Writing a Complete List of Device Drivers to a Text File......Page 491
Uninstalling a Device......Page 493
Troubleshooting Device Problems......Page 494
Troubleshooting with Device Manager......Page 495
Displaying a List of Nonworking Devices......Page 496
Troubleshooting Device Driver Problems......Page 499
Tips for Downloading Device Drivers......Page 500
Troubleshooting Resource Conflicts......Page 501
First Things First: Some Things to Try Before Anything Else......Page 503
When to Use the Various Advanced Startup Options......Page 504
Enable Boot Logging......Page 505
Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure......Page 506
Recovering Using the System Recovery Options......Page 507
Troubleshooting Startup Using the System Configuration Utility......Page 509
Repairing a Network Connection......Page 513
Checking the Connection Status......Page 515
General Solutions to Network Problems......Page 516
Turning On Network Discovery......Page 517
Updating the Router Firmware......Page 519
Troubleshooting from the Command Line......Page 521
A Basic Command-Line Troubleshooting Procedure......Page 523
Checking Connectivity with the PING Command......Page 524
Tracking Packets with the TRACERT Command......Page 526
Troubleshooting Cables......Page 528
Troubleshooting the NIC......Page 529
Troubleshooting Wireless Network Problems......Page 530
25 Setting Up a Small Network......Page 533
Setting Up a Peer-to-Peer Network......Page 534
Changing the Computer and Workgroup Name......Page 535
Connecting to a Wireless Network......Page 536
Accessing the Network and Sharing Center......Page 538
Setting Up a Homegroup......Page 540
Turning Off Homegroup Connections......Page 544
Viewing Network Computers and Devices......Page 545
Displaying a Network Map......Page 546
Viewing Network Status Details......Page 547
Customizing Your Network......Page 550
Managing Network Connections......Page 551
Renaming a Network Connection......Page 552
Enabling Automatic IP Addressing......Page 553
Setting Up a Static IP Address......Page 556
Finding a Connection’s MAC Address......Page 559
Using a Network Connection to Wake Up a Sleeping Computer......Page 561
Disabling a Network Connection......Page 563
Opening the Manage Wireless Networks Window......Page 564
Creating an Ad Hoc Wireless Network......Page 565
Working with Wireless Connection Properties......Page 567
Reordering Wireless Connections......Page 570
Creating User-Specific Wireless Connections......Page 571
Removing Wireless Connections......Page 573
26 Accessing and Using Your Network......Page 575
Viewing a Computer’s Shared Resources......Page 576
Working with Network Addresses......Page 578
Mapping a Network Folder to a Local Drive Letter......Page 580
Creating the Mapped Network Folder......Page 581
Disconnecting a Mapped Network Folder......Page 583
Creating a Network Location for a Remote Folder......Page 584
Accessing a Shared Printer......Page 585
Sharing Resources with the Network......Page 587
Setting Sharing Options......Page 588
Creating User Accounts for Sharing......Page 589
Monitoring Your Shared Resources......Page 590
Working with Network Files Offline......Page 593
Making a File or Folder Available for Offline Use......Page 594
Changing the Amount of Disk Space Used by Offline Files......Page 596
Prohibiting a Network Folder from Being Made Available Offline......Page 597
Working with Network Files While You're Offline......Page 599
Synchronizing Your Offline Files......Page 601
Dealing with Synchronization Conflicts......Page 604
27 Making Remote Network Connections......Page 607
Setting Up User Accounts on the Host......Page 608
Configuring Windows 7 or Vista to Act as a Remote Desktop Host......Page 609
Configuring XP to Act as a Remote Desktop Host......Page 612
Installing Remote Desktop on an XP Client Computer......Page 613
Making a Basic Connection......Page 614
Making an Advanced Connection......Page 615
Working with the Connection Bar......Page 620
Connecting to a Remote Desktop via the Internet......Page 621
Changing the Listening Port......Page 622
Configuring Windows Firewall......Page 623
Setting Up Port Forwarding......Page 624
Connecting Using the IP Address and New Port......Page 625
Using Dynamic DNS to Access Your Network......Page 626
Using Virtual Private Network Connections......Page 627
Configuring a Network Gateway for VPN......Page 628
Configuring the VPN Client......Page 630
Making the VPN Connection......Page 631
28 Turning Windows 7 into a Web Server......Page 633
Understanding Internet Information Services......Page 634
Installing Internet Information Services......Page 635
Creating a Windows Firewall Exception for the Web Server......Page 636
Accessing Your Website over the Network......Page 637
Accessing Your Website over the Internet......Page 639
Viewing the Default Website Folder......Page 640
Viewing the Default Website with IIS Manager......Page 641
Setting Permissions on the Default Website Folder......Page 643
Adding a File to the Default Website......Page 644
Changing the Default Website Home Page......Page 646
Adding a Folder to the Default Website......Page 648
Stopping Your Website......Page 650
Renaming the Default Website......Page 651
Changing the Website Location......Page 652
Setting the Website’s Default Document......Page 653
Working Without a Default Document......Page 654
Disabling Anonymous Access......Page 657
Viewing the Server Logs......Page 659
Making Sure That SMB Support Is Activated in Mac OS X Tiger......Page 663
Connecting to the Windows Network......Page 665
Connecting to a Seen Windows PC......Page 666
Connecting to an Unseen Windows PC......Page 667
Working with the Windows PC’s Shared Folders......Page 669
Backing Up Mac Data to a Windows Shared Folder......Page 670
Using a Mac to Make a Remote Desktop Connection to Windows 7......Page 671
Letting Windows Computers See Your Mac Shares......Page 674
Understanding Windows Script Host......Page 679
Scripts and Script Execution......Page 681
Using WScript for Windows-Based Scripts......Page 682
Using CScript for Command-Line Scripts......Page 683
Script Properties and .wsh Files......Page 684
Running a Script as the Administrator......Page 686
Programming Objects......Page 687
Working with Object Properties......Page 688
Working with Object Methods......Page 689
Assigning an Object to a Variable......Page 690
Working with Object Collections......Page 691
Programming the WScript Object......Page 692
Scripting and Automation......Page 693
Displaying Information to the User......Page 699
Running Applications......Page 703
Working with Shortcuts......Page 704
Working with Registry Entries......Page 707
Working with Environment Variables......Page 709
Mapping Network Printers......Page 711
Mapping Network Drives......Page 712
Displaying a Web Page......Page 713
Navigating Pages......Page 714
Running Through a Sample Script......Page 715
Referencing the WMI Service Object......Page 717
Returning Class Instances......Page 718
Scripting a Remote Computer......Page 722
31 Scripting Windows with PowerShell......Page 725
Starting a PowerShell Session......Page 726
Understanding PowerShell Cmdlets......Page 727
Running PowerShell Cmdlets......Page 731
Returning Object Members......Page 736
Selecting Object Members......Page 737
A Brief Aside About Formatting Output......Page 739
Filtering Object Instances......Page 741
Sorting Object Instances......Page 742
Assigning an Object to a Variable......Page 744
Setting the Value of a Property......Page 745
Working with Object Collections......Page 746
Working with the PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment......Page 748
Running PowerShell Scripts......Page 750
A: Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts......Page 753
B: Understanding TCP/IP......Page 763
What Is TCP/IP?......Page 764
The Structure of an IP Datagram......Page 765
The Structure of an IP Address......Page 767
IP Routing......Page 770
Domain Name Resolution......Page 773
TCP Sockets......Page 777
The Structure of a TCP Segment......Page 778
TCP Features......Page 780
A......Page 781
C......Page 783
D......Page 787
E......Page 789
F......Page 790
G......Page 791
H......Page 792
I......Page 793
K......Page 794
M......Page 795
N......Page 796
O......Page 797
P......Page 798
Q-R......Page 801
S......Page 803
T......Page 808
U......Page 809
W......Page 811
X-Y-Z......Page 813