Tech Nukem

Microsoft is planning to release and distribute a new update for Windows 7’s built-in activation and validation system (Windows Activation Technologies) as an intensifying of anti-piracy and anti-counterfeit effort. The new update will be delivered via Windows Update, with title of “Update for Microsoft Windows (KB971033)” by late February. The KB971033 can be individually downloaded from Microsoft Download Center starting from February 17, but will be available online on www.microsoft.com/genuine beginning February 16, 2010.


According to Genuine Windows blog, the Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7, this update will detect more than 70 known and potentially dangerous activation cracks or exploits. Activation exploits are sometimes called “hacks”, and attempt to bypass or compromise Windows’ activation technologies.

The blog post further explains how the KB971033 update will work:

Once installed, the Update protects customers by identifying known activation exploits that may affect their PC experience. If any activation exploits are found, Windows will alert the customer and offer options for resolving the issue – in many cases, with just a few clicks. Machines running genuine Windows 7 software with no activation exploits will see nothing – the update runs quietly in the background protecting your system. If Windows 7 is non-genuine, the notifications built into Windows 7 will inform the customer that Windows is not genuine by displaying informational dialog boxes with options for the customer to either get more information, or acquire genuine Windows. The desktop wallpaper will be switched to a plain desktop (all of the customer’s desktop icons, gadgets, or pinned applications stay in place). Periodic reminders and a persistent desktop watermark act as further alerts to the customer.

Other that activation cracks and exploits, the main controversy of the KB971033 is that the update will “call home” to Microsoft every 90 days initially. The callback to the Microsoft’s activation server serves as an additional layer of periodic validation, which allows that WAT system to download latest and updated signatures that are used to identify new activation exploits in order to verify and determine whether the Windows 7 installed on a PC is genuine or pirated, and take various actions to change the user experience and behavior of the PC if the WAT decides that the system is not genuine or properly authenticated, even though the system is still activated at the point of the time.

In short, KB971033 update for Windows 7 activation and validation system may not be the exploit detector itself, but just a introduction of mechanism with ability to establish authentication verification connections to central servers to download piracy signatures database from Microsoft as and when needed in order to combat new activation cracks or methods. By doing so, Microsoft can dynamically update WAT system, instead release complete update for WAT again in future.

Luckily for pirated Windows 7 users, KB971033 Windows Activation Technologies update is optional and voluntary. It’s marked as Important update in Windows Update, and user can choose not to install the update. Initially, it will be rolled out to Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise editions. It should be available to all Windows 7 and Windows Vista systems in the end. After installed, user can still uninstall the KB971033 easily, however, once the system is flagged as fraudulent, not genuine, pirated or illegal, it will stay so despite the update is removed or uninstalled.



In fact, KB971033 Update for Windows Activation Technologies have been leaked to Internet for everybody’s download since early February, and long discussion thread on My Digital Life forums has been debating on how far the update will go to invalidate and deactivate various cracks and hacks for Windows 7 such as loaders (softmod) and BIOS-mod (hardmod). As the update depends on online update for new signature, which does not seem to active or go live yet, so the actual effect of the update is not yet known.

Most do however agree, based on Microsoft’s track records on WGA update on Vista platform, that the WATU (WAT Update package) will mostly deal with activation cracks which modify the activation or licensing files, such as Chew-WGA and RemoveWAT Win7 activation crack, and numerous other “derivative” cracks and exploits that may include virus or Trojan horse (hence the explanation for 70 odd exploits available in the wild). The update will attempt to repair core licensing system files that have been tampered with, disabled, removed or changed illegally, which effectively disable the activation hack.

For user who wants to install KB971033 update to verify the legitimacy of the Windows 7 system, it can be downloaded via the download links below:

32-bit (x86): Windows6.1-KB971033-x86.msu
64-bit (x64): Windows6.1-KB971033-x64.msu

Windows 7 Taskbar is another new feature offered in Windows 7 that allows users to manage and control their desktop and software applications better. By default, all the program icons are aligned left on the Windows 7 Taskbar, adjacent to the Start icon. The icons are well arranged in the Taskbar for easy viewing. If, however, users prefer a change from the default left alignment or want to create a different look, they can center align the Taskbar icons instead.


To center align the Taskbar icons, users can follow the steps below:

1. Create an empty folder on the Windows desktop or in My Document folder and give a name to the folder, e.g. ABC in this case;

2. Right Click the taskbar. On the Menu prompted, uncheck the item “Lock The Taskbar”;



3. Right Click the taskbar again. On the Menu prompted, select Toolbar -> New Toolbar.



4. Users will be required to make selection on folder. Users need to locate and select the folder created in Step 1 earlier.



5. Users can right click on the new toolbar created (ABC in this case). Uncheck the item “Show Text” and “Show Title”



6. Users now can drag the dotted separator appearing on the Taskbar to the left side, located in between the Start icon and Taskbar icons. Once users release the mouse, users will see the Taskbar Icons neatly center aligned.



7. To reinstate to its original setting, users just need to right click the new toolbar (ABC Toolbar in this case) and choose close. In the prompted message, users just to click OK to proceed to close it.

Windows Explorer in Windows 7 has going through a major cosmetic change to make it easier to use and navigate. One change is done to navigation pane. Windows 7 users will notice that Windows Explorer classic default tree view of folders and directories as in Windows Vista
and XP is been replaced with various sections namely Favorites, Libraries, Homegroup, Computers (but with unused or uninserted floppy and CD, DVD or Blu-ray Discs drive hidden) and Network.



In previous Windows operating system such as Windows Vista and Windows XP, Windows Explorer navigation pane usually is made up of a folders tree that starts with Desktop, with easy access to personal user folders, public folders, Computer which expands to all disk drivers, floppy disk drive, and optical CD, DVD, Blu-ray ROM or RW drive, Network, Control Panel and Recycle Bin.

With the cleanup and simplification of Windows 7 Explorer’s navigation pane, some items no longer be directly accessible in the navigation pane. For example, Control Panel, Recycle Bin and %SystemDrive%\Users\ folder, which stores personal documents and data. These folders are hidden by default in Windows Explorer of Windows 7, as shown in illustration on the left, but can be revealed and shown on navigation pane with little trick as shown below which revert Windows 7 Explorer navigation pane back to classic style.

How to Reveal and Show or Display Classic Navigation Pane in Windows Explorer of Windows 7

1. Open Windows Explorer.
2. Click on Organize pull down menu.
3. Select Folder and search options.
4. In the General tab, tick the check box for Show all folders option under Navigation pane section.



The result is good old classic navigation pane with folder tree starting from Desktop in Windows 7’s Windows Explorer as shown below. Remove Libraries folders from Windows 7 Explorer to make it more classic.

In Windows 7, when a user uses mouse to double click or press Enter key to open, explorer or drill down on a drive or folder, the folder trree on the navigation pane of Windows Explorer does not automatically expand the navigation pane’s tree to show and display current folder or directory user is at. In other words, Windows 7 Explorer’s navigation pane will stay at top level of a drive or folder, and does not expand the sub-folders branches, unless user manually expand the folder tree.

The behavior of Windows 7 Explorer is a total change from Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2008 or earlier Windows operating system, where the Windows Explorer’s navigation pane will always automatically expand the folder tree to show the deepest or lowest level of folders been opened or arrived at.

Windows 7 actually does possess such ability to automatically expand navigation pane of Windows Explorer to current folder, but it’s turned off and disabled by default. For users who prefer that the navigation pane expands to follow their path into nested folders, the trick is indeed easy.

How to Make Windows Explorer Automatically Expand Navigation Pane to Current Folder in Windows 7

1. Open Windows Explorer.
2. Click on Organize pull down menu.
3. Click on Folder and search options.
4. Under the “Navigation pane” section, select and tick the check box for Automatically expend to current folder option.


5. Click OK.

With the setting enabled, the navigation pane of Windows 7 Explorer will automatically expand when user goes to sub-folder.

Libraries is a one of the new features in Windows 7. Libraries is essentially virtual folders described in a .library-ms file that aggregates content from various physical folder and directory locations (with support to include shared folders on networked systems) to present in a unified view in Windows Explorer.

Library provides conveniences such as searching in a library will automatically federates the query to the all folders included in the library, including those that located in remote systems, in addition to searching on the local system. Library also supports transparent saving of files and folders into library with the backing of physical location, where the default save location for a library can be configure by the user.

In Windows 7 Explorer, Libraries special folder is prominently displayed on the navigation pane, with four default libraries for different file types: Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos, which pre-configured to include the user’s profile folders for these respective file types, as well as the computer’s corresponding Public folders.

Not all users will like the Library feature in Windows 7 though. Some users may prefer to manage and organize their files with just normal folders. Furthermore, Library takes up a rather large area of screen estate in the Windows Explorer navigation pane, effectively causing regular folders tree harder to access and reach.

Windows 7 does not by default provides ability to disable or turn off Library feature. The best workaround is by hidden unused or unwanted Libraries from navigation pane view in Windows Explorer. With the following registry trick, it’s possible to “disable” and remove Libraries feature from Windows Explorer in Windows 7. Actually, Libraries which is tightly integrated with Windows 7 shell is not completely removed and totally disabled. After the registry hack, Windows Explorer navigation pane will not have trace of Libraries shortcut anymore, but Libraries are still been used and accessed when user clicks on Documents, Pictures, Music or Videos links at Start Menu. However, Libraries will not be seen when Windows Explorer is started up, and default folder will be directed to My Documents instead.

How To Disable and Remove Libraries from Windows 7

Download and apply the following registry registration entries file to remove Libraries in Windows 7. See the code below to know which registry keys and values that is going to be removed, and if necessary, backup the affected registries.

remove-libraries.reg

Alternatively, copy and paste the following code into a text editor such as Notepad, and save as a file name with .reg extension, then double click to run the .reg file.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{2112AB0A-C86A-4ffe-A368-0DE96E47012E}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{491E922F-5643-4af4-A7EB-4E7A138D8174}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{7b0db17d-9cd2-4a93-9733-46cc89022e7c}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{A302545D-DEFF-464b-ABE8-61C8648D939B}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{A990AE9F-A03B-4e80-94BC-9912D7504104}]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
“{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}”=-




Log off and log on or restart the computer after applying the registry hack, which will delete the above registry keys and/or values. No Libraries folder or shortcut will be shown in Windows Explorer’s navigation pane, and “Include in Library” item on Commands bar will not work too. Note that if you click on Documents, Music, Pictures or Videos link directly in Start menu, it will trigger Libraries view.

For user who decides to restore and re-enable or turn on back the Libraries feature in Windows 7, download and apply the following registry registration entries file instead:

restore-libraries.reg

It’s pretty easy to change time zone by using Control Panel’s Date and Time applet GUI. In Windows 7, the operating system
also includes a command line utility named TZUtil.exe, which allows user to change a system’s timezone by typing command in Command Prompt window.


TZUtil or Windows Time Zone Utility can be used to display current time zone ID or set the system timezone to specified time zone ID, with support to disable Daylight Saving Time adjustments (if applicable) for the time zone with _dstoff suffix.

How to Use TZUtil to Set or Display Time Zone

1. Click on Start -> All Programs -> Accessories, and click on Command Prompt, or simply type Cmd in Start Search and hit Enter.
2. Use the following TZUtil syntax to construct the command:

TZUTIL

Parameters available is /? (displays usage information), /g (displays the current time zone ID), /s (sets the current time zone using the specified time zone ID, with the _dstoff suffix disables Daylight Saving Time adjustments for the time zone), and /l (lists all valid time zone IDs and display names).

For example:

TZUTIL /g
TZUTIL /s “Pacific Standard Time”
TZUTIL /s “Pacific Standard Time_dstoff”
TZUTIL /s “GMT Standard Time”

The last command will set the PC time zone to Greenwich Meridian Standard Time (GMT or UTC).

Tip: To get a list of available time zone IDs, type TZUTIL /l.

Always open multiple Microsoft Office Word, Microsoft Office Excel, Microsoft Office PowerPoint document windows, in addition to many more Windows Explorer and a couple more instant messaging such as Windows Live Messenger, Skype, Yahoo! Messenger, ICQ, Google Talk and other chat window frames? If you’re the one that fits the description above, it’s simply hard to find a window that need to use among so many opened application windows, especially when using Alt+Tab keyboard accelerator, or even Win+Tab live Aero preview task switcher keyboard shortcut.


Windows 7 (download Windows 7 RTM ISO) and Windows Server 2008 R2 has included a useful function that allows user to quickly task switching between open windows or frames of a single individual application program only. By using the same-app task switcher trick, user can easily switch and jump between all open windows of a running application, making the task of finding window to work at simpler.

How to Quickly Task Switch Between Window Frames of Same Application in Windows 7

Press and hold the Ctrl key, then click on the application icon or button on the Windows 7 Taskbar. A window frame of the application will open. Continuously clicking on the application icon or button on the Taskbar will switch and rotate between different open windows of the specific application only, significantly improve task switching speed when compared with using Alt+Tab or Win+Tab which rotates between all open windows of all different applications.

The trick above works on all applications that can have multiple or more than one windows open (but not tabs).

Windows operating system comes with a built-in basic Disk Defragmenter, that can perform disk defragmentation process properly, which is performed to increase read and write access speed by rearranging files stored on a disk to occupy contiguous storage locations, minimizing disk read travel time and maximizing transfer rate. However, Disk Defragmenter in Windows but does not usually provide advanced configurable settings.

The release of Windows 7 (and Windows Server 2008 R2) saw further improvements and enhancements to Disk Defragmenter utility. Since Windows Vista, Disk Defragmenter already includes an option to automatically run at scheduled times using Task Scheduler. This ability is continued in Windows 7 (download Windows 7 RTM ISO) and Windows Server 2008 R2. Disk Defragmenter also uses low CPU priority and the low priority I/O algorithm so that it can continue to defrag using reduced resources (less CPU and disk read/write activity) when the computer is in use.

In Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, users can now start both analyze disks and defragment disks process on all or selected disks from Disk Defragmenter GUI. The graphical user interface of Disk Defragmenter also includes more detailed progress status such as percentage of consolidation and defragmentation already done, although there is still no map of disk defragmentation. One major feature added is ability to simultaneously and concurrently parallel processing and defragmenting more than one disk drives or volumes.

How to Concurrently and Simultaneously Defragment Two or More Volumes or Partitions in Windows 7

Just click on Defragment Now button for each and every volumes, disks, or partitions that end-user wants to start defragmentation right away to perform parallel defragmentation among those volumes. Alternatively, user can also use /m switch of defrag.exe command-line utility to run the operation on each volume in parallel in the background.

With various new features added, Disk Defragmenter command-line interface, defrag.exe, has also included several new parameters or switches which can be used when running the defragmentation operation to locate and consolidate fragmented files on local volumes to improve system performance. For example,

/E – Perform the operation on all volumes except those specified.
/H – Run the operation at normal priority (default is low).
/M – Run the operation on each volume in parallel in the background.
/T – Track an operation already in progress on the specified volume.
/U – Print the progress of the operation on the screen.
/V – Print verbose output containing the fragmentation statistics.
/X – Perform free space consolidation on the specified volumes.

By using “defrag” command line utility, user has additional control ability of running defragmentation operation at higher level of priority so that defragmentation runs faster with more CPU and system resources.

For example,

defrag /c /h /u /m

Command above will defragment all volumes in parallel in the background at normal priority with progress status displayed on screen.

More parameter and usage example can be seen by typing defrag /? in Command Prompt window.

Keyboard shortcuts, which also known as accelerator keys or hotkeys, are a finite set of one key or a combination of two or more keys that, when pressed, will invoke an operation or perform a task by operating system or application program running within the operating system, or simply activate and run a program. Keyboard shortcuts or hot keys make it easier for user to interact with computer, which otherwise would typically require a mouse or other pointing device to perform the operation.

Winodws 7 includes many new keyboard accelerator keys that make it easier to work with menus and other commands. Normally, the keyboard shortcuts to activate the command are listed along with command in the programs’ menus (typically a letter is underlined to indicate that it can be activated by pressing the combination of Alt key with the underlined key). Some are not listed and hidden though.

Here’s the full list of Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts or accelerator hotkeys available on the operating system level and also for several built-in application programs in Windows 7, as published by Microsoft.

Ease of Access keyboard shortcuts

* Right Shift for eight seconds: Turn Filter Keys on and off
* Left Alt + Left Shift + PrtScn (or PrtScn): Turn High Contrast on or off
* Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock: Turn Mouse Keys on or off
* Shift five times: Turn Sticky Keys on or off
* Num Lock for five seconds: Turn Toggle Keys on or off
* Windows logo key + U: Open the Ease of Access Center

General keyboard shortcuts

* F1: Display Help
* Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert): Copy the selected item
* Ctrl + X: Cut the selected item
* Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert): Paste the selected item
* Ctrl + Z: Undo an action
* Ctrl + Y: Redo an action
* Delete (or Ctrl + D): Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
* Shift + Delete: Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first
* F2: Rename the selected item
* Ctrl + Right Arrow: Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word
* Ctrl + Left Arrow: Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
* Ctrl + Down Arrow: Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
* Ctrl + Up Arrow: Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
* Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key: Select a block of text
* Shift + any arrow key: Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document
* Ctrl + any arrow key + Spacebar: Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop
* Ctrl + A: Select all items in a document or window
* F3: Search for a file or folder
* Alt + Enter: Display properties for the selected item
* Alt + F4: Close the active item, or exit the active program
* Alt + Spacebar: Open the shortcut menu for the active window
* Ctrl + F4: Close the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
* Alt + Tab: Switch between open items
* Ctrl + Alt + Tab: Use the arrow keys to switch between open items
* Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel: Change the size of icons on the desktop
* Windows logo key + Tab: Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D
* Ctrl+ Windows logo key + Tab: Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D
* Alt + Esc: Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
* F6: Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
* F4: Display the address bar list in Windows Explorer
* Shift + F10: Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
* Ctrl + Esc: Open the Start menu
* Alt + underlined letter: Display the corresponding menu
* Alt + underlined letter: Perform the menu command (or other underlined command)
* F10: Activate the menu bar in the active program
* Right Arrow: Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu
* Left Arrow: Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu
* F5 (or Ctrl + R): Refresh the active window
* Alt + Up Arrow: View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer
* Esc: Cancel the current task
* Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open Task Manager
* Shift when you insert a CD: Prevent the CD from automatically playing
* Left Alt + Shift: Switch the input language when multiple input languages are enabled
* Ctrl + ShiftL: Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are enabled
* Right or Left Ctrl + Shift: Change the reading direction of text in right-to-left reading languages

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

* Ctrl + Tab: Move forward through tabs
* Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Move back through tabs
* Tab: Move forward through options
* Shift + Tab: Move back through options
* Alt + underlined letter: Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter
* Enter: Replaces clicking the mouse for many selected commands
* Spacebar: Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box
* Arrow keys: Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons
* F1: Display Help
* F4: Display the items in the active list
* Backspace: Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box

Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts

* Windows logo key: Open or close the Start menu.
* Windows logo key + Pause: Display the System Properties dialog box.
* Windows logo key + D: Display the desktop.
* Windows logo key + M: Minimize all windows.
* Windows logo key + Shift + M: Restore minimized windows to the desktop.
* Windows logo key + E: Open Computer.
* Windows logo key + F: Search for a file or folder.
* Ctrl + Windows logo key + F: Search for computers (if you’re on a network).
* Windows logo key + L: Lock your computer or switch users.
* Windows logo key + R: Open the Run dialog box.
* Windows logo key + T: Cycle through programs on the taskbar.
* Windows logo key + number: Start the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the program is already running, switch to that program.
* Shift + Windows logo key + number: Start a new instance of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
* Ctrl + Windows logo key + number: Switch to the last active window of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
* Alt + Windows logo key + number: Open the Jump List for the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
* Windows logo key + Tab: Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D.
* Ctrl+Windows logo key + Tab: Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D.
* Ctrl+Windows logo key + B: Switch to the program that displayed a message in the notification area.
* Windows logo key + Spacebar: Preview the desktop.
* Windows logo key + Up Arrow: Maximize the window.
* Windows logo key + Left Arrow: Maximize the window to the left side of the screen.
* Windows logo key + Right Arrow: Maximize the window to the right side of the screen.
* Windows logo key + Down Arrow: Minimize the window.
* Windows logo key + Home: Minimize all but the active window.
* Windows logo key + Shift + Up Arrow: Stretch the window to the top and bottom of the screen.
* Windows logo key + Shift+ Left Arrow or Right Arrow: Move a window from one monitor to another.
* Windows logo key + P: Choose a presentation display mode.
* Windows logo key + G: Cycle through gadgets.
* Windows logo key + U: Open Ease of Access Center.
* Windows logo key + X: Open Windows Mobility Center.

Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts

* Ctrl + N: Open a new window
* Ctrl + W: Close the current window
* Ctrl + Shift + N: Create a new folder
* End: Display the bottom of the active window
* Home: Display the top of the active window
* F11: Maximize or minimize the active window
* Ctrl + Period (.): Rotate a picture clockwise
* Ctrl + Comma (,): Rotate a picture counter-clockwise
* Num Lock + Asterisk (*) on numeric keypad: Display all subfolders under the selected folder
* Num Lock + Plus Sign (+) on numeric keypad: Display the contents of the selected folder
* Num Lock + Minus Sign (-) on numeric keypad: Collapse the selected folder
* Left Arrow: Collapse the current selection (if it’s expanded), or select the parent folder
* Alt + Enter: Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item
* Alt + P: Display the preview pane
* Alt + Left Arrow: View the previous folder
* Backspace: View the previous folder
* Right Arrow: Display the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder
* Alt + Right Arrow: View the next folder
* Alt + Up Arrow: View the parent folder
* Ctrl + Shift + E: Display all folders above the selected folder
* Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel: Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons
* Alt + D: Select the address bar
* Ctrl + E: Select the search box
* Ctrl + F: Select the search box

Taskbar keyboard shortcuts

* Shift + Click on a taskbar button: Open a program or quickly open another instance of a program
* Ctrl + Shift + Click on a taskbar button: Open a program as an administrator
* Shift + Right-click on a taskbar button: Show the window menu for the program
* Shift + Right-click on a grouped taskbar button: Show the window menu for the group
* Ctrl + Click on a grouped taskbar button: Cycle through the windows of the group

Magnifier keyboard shortcuts

* Windows logo key + Plus Sign or Minus Sign: Zoom in or out
* Ctrl + Alt + Spacebar: Preview the desktop in full-screen mode
* Ctrl + Alt + F: Switch to full-screen mode
* Ctrl + Alt + L: Switch to lens mode
* Ctrl + Alt + D: Switch to docked mode
* Ctrl + Alt + I: Invert colors
* Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys: Pan in the direction of the arrow keys
* Ctrl + Alt + R: Resize the lens
* Windows logo key + Esc: Exit Magnifier

Remote Desktop Connection keyboard shortcuts

* Alt + Page Up: Move between programs from left to right.
* Alt + Page Down: Move between programs from right to left.
* Alt + Insert: Cycle through programs in the order that they were started in.
* Alt + Home: Display the Start menu.
* Ctrl + Alt + Break: Switch between a window and full screen.
* Ctrl + Alt + End: Display the Windows Security dialog box.
* Alt + Delete: Display the system menu.
* Ctrl + Alt + Minus Sign (-) on the numeric keypad: Place a copy of the active window, within the client, on the Terminal server clipboard (provides the same functionality as pressing Alt + PrtScn on a local computer).
* Ctrl + Alt + Plus Sign (+) on the numeric keypad: Place a copy of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard (provides the same functionality as pressing PrtScn on a local computer).
* Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow: “Tab” out of the Remote Desktop controls to a control in the host program (for example, a button or a text box). Useful when the Remote Desktop controls are embedded in another (host) program.
* Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow: “Tab” out of the Remote Desktop controls to a control in the host program (for example, a button or a text box). Useful when the Remote Desktop controls are embedded in another (host) program.

Paint keyboard shortcuts

* Ctrl + N: Create a new picture
* Ctrl + O: Open an existing picture
* Ctrl + S: Save changes to a picture
* F12: Save the picture as a new file
* Ctrl + P: Print a picture
* Alt + F4: Close a picture and its Paint window
* Ctrl + Z: Undo a change
* Ctrl + Y: Redo a change
* Ctrl + A: Select the entire picture
* Ctrl + X: Cut a selection
* Ctrl + C: Copy a selection to the Clipboard
* Ctrl + V: Paste a selection from the Clipboard
* Right Arrow: Move the selection or active shape right by one pixel
* Left Arrow: Move the selection or active shape left by one pixel
* Down Arrow: Move the selection or active shape down by one pixel
* Up Arrow: Move the selection or active shape up by one pixel
* Esc: Cancel a selection
* Delete: Delete a selection
* Ctrl + B: Bold selected text
* Ctrl + +: Increase the width of a brush, line, or shape outline by one pixel
* Ctrl + -: Decrease the width of a brush, line, or shape outline by one pixel
* Ctrl + I: Italicize selected text
* Ctrl + U: Underline selected text
* Ctrl + E: Open the Properties dialog box
* Ctrl + W: Open the Resize and Skew dialog box
* Ctrl + Page Up: Zoom in
* Ctrl + Page Down: Zoom out
* F11: View a picture in full-screen mode
* Ctrl + R: Show or hide the ruler
* Ctrl + G: Show or hide gridlines
* F10 or Alt: Display keytips
* Shift + F10: Show the current shortcut menu
* F1: Open Paint Help

WordPad keyboard shortcuts

* Ctrl + N: Create a new document
* Ctrl + O: Open an existing document
* Ctrl + S: Save changes to a document
* F12: Save the document as a new file
* Ctrl + P: Print a document
* Alt + F4: Close WordPad
* Ctrl + Z: Undo a change
* Ctrl + Y: Redo a change
* Ctrl + A: Select the entire document
* Ctrl + X: Cut a selection
* Ctrl + C: Copy a selection to the Clipboard
* Ctrl + V: Paste a selection from the Clipboard
* Ctrl + B: Make selected text bold
* Ctrl + I: Italicize selected text
* Ctrl + U: Underline selected text
* Ctrl + =: Make selected text subscript
* Ctrl + Shift + =: Make selected text superscript
* Ctrl + L: Align text left
* Ctrl + E Align text center
* Ctrl + R:: Align text right
* Ctrl + J: Justify text
* Ctrl + 1: Set single line spacing
* Ctrl + 2: Set double line spacing
* Ctrl + 5: Set line spacing to 1.5
* Ctrl + Shift + >: Increase the font size
* Ctrl + Shift + <: Decrease the font size
* Ctrl + Shift + A: Change characters to all capitals
* Ctrl + Shift + L: Change the bullet style
* Ctrl + D: Insert a Microsoft Paint drawing
* Ctrl + F: Find text in a document
* F3: Find the next instance of the text in the Find dialog box
* Ctrl + H: Replace text in a document
* Ctrl + Left Arrow: Move the cursor one word to the left
* Ctrl + Right Arrow: Move the cursor one word to the right
* Ctrl + Up Arrow: Move the cursor to the line above
* Ctrl + Down Arrow: Move the cursor to the line below
* Ctrl + Home: Move to the beginning of the document
* Ctrl + End: Move to the end of the document
* Ctrl + Page Up: Move up one page
* Ctrl + Page Down: Move down one page
* Ctrl + Delete: Delete the next word
* F10: Display keytips
* Shift + F10: Show the current shortcut menu
* F1: Open WordPad Help

Calculator keyboard shortcuts

* Alt + 1: Switch to Standard mode
* Alt + 2: Switch to Scientific mode
* Alt + 3: Switch to Programmer mode
* Alt + 4: Switch to Statistics mode
* Ctrl + E: Open date calculations
* Ctrl + H: Turn calculation history on or off
* Ctrl + U: Open unit conversion
* Alt + C: Calculate or solve date calculations and worksheets
* F1: Open Calculator Help
* Ctrl + Q: Press the M- button
* Ctrl + P: Press the M+ button
* Ctrl + M: Press the MS button
* Ctrl + R: Press the MR button
* Ctrl + L: Press the MC button
* %: Press the % button
* F9: Press the +/– button
* /: Press the / button
* *: Press the * button
* +: Press the + button
* -: Press the – button
* R: Press the 1/× button
* @: Press the square root button
* 0-9: Press the number buttons (0-9)
* =: Press the = button
* .: Press the . (decimal point) button
* Backspace: Press the backspace button
* Esc: Press the C button
* Del: Press the CE button
* Ctrl + Shift + D: Clear the calculation history
* F2: Edit the calculation history
* Up Arrow key: Navigate up in the calculation history
* Down Arrow key: Navigate down in the calculation history
* Esc: Cancel editing the calculation history
* Enter: Recalculate the calculation history after editing
* F3: Select Degrees in Scientific mode
* F4: Select Radians in Scientific mode
* F5: Select Grads in Scientific mode
* I: Press the Inv button in Scientific mode
* D: Press the Mod button in Scientific mode
* Ctrl + S: Press the sinh button in Scientific mode
* Ctrl + O: Press the cosh button in Scientific mode
* Ctrl + T: Press the tanh button in Scientific mode
* (: Press the ( button in Scientific mode
* ): Press the ) button in Scientific mode
* N: Press the ln button in Scientific mode
* ;: Press the Int button in Scientific mode
* S: Press the sin button in Scientific mode
* O: Press the cos button in Scientific mode
* T: Press the tan button in Scientific mode
* M: Press the dms button in Scientific mode
* P: Press the pi button in Scientific mode
* V: Press the F-E button in Scientific mode
* X: Press the Exp button in Scientific mode
* Q: Press the x^2 button in Scientific mode
* Y: Press the x^y button in Scientific mode
* #: Press the x^3 button in Scientific mode
* L: Press the log button in Scientific mode
* !: Press the n! button in Scientific mode
* Ctrl + Y: Press the y√x button in Scientific mode
* Ctrl + B: Press the 3√x button in Scientific mode
* Ctrl + G: Press the 10x button in Scientific mode
* F5: Select Hex in Programmer mode
* F6: Select Dec in Programmer mode
* F7: Select Oct in Programmer mode
* F8: Select Bin in Programmer mode
* F12: Select Qword in Programmer mode
* F2: Select Dword in Programmer mode
* F3: Select Word in Programmer mode
* F4: Select Byte in Programmer mode
* K: Press the RoR button in Programmer mode
* J: Press the RoL button in Programmer mode
* <: Press the Lsh button in Programmer mode
* >: Press the Rsh button in Programmer mode
* %: Press the Mod button in Programmer mode
* (: Press the ( button in Programmer mode
* ): Press the ) button in Programmer mode
* |: Press the Or button in Programmer mode
* ^: Press the Xor button in Programmer mode
* ~: Press the Not button in Programmer mode
* &: Press the And button in Programmer mode
* A-F: Press the A-F buttons in Programmer mode
* Spacebar: Toggles the bit value in Programmer mode
* A: Press the Average button in Statistics mode
* Ctrl + A: Press the Average Sq button in Statistics mode
* S: Press the Sum button in Statistics mode
* Ctrl + S: Press the Sum Sq button in Statistics mode
* T: Press the S.D. button in Statistics mode
* Ctrl + T: Press the Inv S.D. button in Statistics mode
* D: Press the CAD button in Statistics mode

Windows Journal keyboard shortcuts

* Ctrl + N: Start a new note
* Ctrl + O: Open a recently used note
* Ctrl + S: Save changes to a note
* Ctrl + Shift + V: Move a note to a specific folder
* Ctrl + P: Print a note
* Alt + F4: Close a note and its Journal window
* Ctrl + Z: Undo a change
* Ctrl + Y: Redo a change
* Ctrl + A: Select all items on a page
* Ctrl + X: Cut a selection
* Ctrl + C: Copy a selection to the Clipboard
* Ctrl + V: Paste a selection from the Clipboard
* Esc: Cancel a selection
* Delete: Delete a selection
* Ctrl + F: Start a basic find
* Ctrl + G: Go to a page
* F5: Refresh find results
* F5: Refresh the note list
* F6: Toggle between a note list and a note
* Ctrl + Shift + C: Display a shortcut menu for column headings in a note list
* F11: View a note in full-screen mode
* F1: Open Journal Help

Windows Help viewer keyboard shortcuts

* Alt + C: Display the Table of Contents
* Alt + N: Display the Connection Settings menu
* F10: Display the Options menu
* Alt + Left Arrow: Move back to the previously viewed topic
* Alt + Right Arrow: Move forward to the next (previously viewed) topic
* Alt + A: Display the customer support page
* Alt + Home: Display the Help and Support home page
* Home: Move to the beginning of a topic
* End: Move to the end of a topic
* Ctrl + F: Search the current topic
* Ctrl + P: Print a topic
* F3: Move the cursor to the search box

Microsoft has officially announced Windows 7 build 7600.16385 as RTM, but due to the fact that no original untouched and unmodified official DVD ISO images from Microsoft are been leaked to Internet
yet, making the genuineness and legitimate of the many home-made or self-made Windows 7 RTM often questioned and clean of malware
status in doubt.

Update: Original Windows 7 RTM ISO has leaked.

Microsoft delivers Windows 7 RTM in DVD ISO images format to its various partners including OEMs (original equipment and PC manufacturers), system
partners and MSDN or TechNet subscribers, way ahead of official Windows 7 general availability (GA) to general public on October 22, 2009. Thus, many people may already have access to Windows 7 RTM original official DVD ISOs, and inevitably some ISO images may leak to Internet for eager Windows 7 enthusiasts.

If you have downloaded any version of so called Windows 7 RTM DVD ISO, such as home-baked user-made Windows 7 DVD ISO which based on extracted original files, it’s wise to compare the MD5 or SHA-1 hash checksum value of the downloaded ISO against the official SHA1, MD5 and/or CRC hash check sum of official DVD ISO from Microsoft which is untouched, unchanged, and unmodified by anyone.

Here’s the file characteristics and properties of both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 RTM Build 6.1.7600.16385.090713-1255 DVD ISO from MSDN and TechNet channel. Some channel may distribute the ISO files in other name, but it doesn’t affect its checksum.

Windows 7 Ultimate Retail English (x86)

Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULFRER_EN_DVD.iso
Size: 2501894144 bytes
Date Modified: Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 17:32:44 PM
CRC: C1C20F76
MD5: D0B8B407E8A3D4B75EE9C10147266B89
SHA-1: 5395DC4B38F7BDB1E005FF414DEEDFDB16DBF610

Windows 7 Ultimate Retail English (x64
)

Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x64fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULXFRER_EN_DVD.iso
Size: 3224686592 bytes
Date Modified: Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 17:40:25 PM
CRC: 1F1257CA
MD5: F43D22E4FB07BF617D573ACD8785C028
SHA-1: 326327CC2FF9F05379F5058C41BE6BC5E004BAA7

Windows 7 Ultimate E Retail English (x86)

Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x86fre_cliente_en-us_Retail_UltimateE-GRMCEULFRER_EN_DVD.iso
CRC: 953EFBCC
SHA-1: BC10F09B86DCBAF35B31B0E6FBA7D006ACAAD28D

Windows 7 Ultimate E Retail English (x64)

Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x64fre_cliente_en-us_Retail_UltimateE-GRMCEULXFRER_EN_DVD.iso
CRC: 77BE890E
SHA-1: 029DCCEDD7691206010F84CE58343405A4DA92C9

Windows 7 Ultimate Retail Simplified Chinese (x86)

Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x86fre_client_zh-cn_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULFRER_CN_DVD.iso
SHA1: B589336602E3B7E134E222ED47FC94938B04354F

Windows 7 Ultimate Retail Simplified Chinese (x64)

Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x64fre_client_zh-cn_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULXFRER_CN_DVD.iso
SHA1: 4A98A2F1ED794425674D04A37B70B9763522B0D4

Windows 7 Ultimate Retail German (x86)

Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x86fre_client_de-de_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULFRER_DE_DVD.iso
CRC: C533DC3E
SHA1: 642b7e172a0e7971ff9c666aeb3eb3d0cc58444b

Windows 7 Ultimate E Retail German (x86)

Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x86fre_cliente_de-de_Retail_UltimateE-GRMCEULFRER_DE_DVD.iso
CRC: 5A01C2A7
SHA-1: 37ac253129804211bd5f66020699bccb8da4fc63

Also available is the SHA-1 checksum hash value for Windows Server 2008 R2, which also been already been RTMed. The checksum had already been published once RTM build 7600.18365 been signed off.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Volume License (VL) English

Name: 7600.16385.090713-1255_x64fre_server_en-us_VL-GRMSXVOL_EN_DVD.iso
Size: 2,996,799,488 bytes
SHA1: AD855EA913AAEC3F1D0E1833C1AEF7A0DE326B0A

For user who wants to verify the originality of install.wim, the main installation setup file that hold all Windows 7 system files
to be installed, here’s the SHA-1 hash code for isntall.wim of Windows 7 RTM:

32-bit (x86): A057C030FCEC3CE8B13C15745CC3845EC671A4AB
64-bit (x64): 049539998E39E59800B6026094F9049C4CCA2375

August 6th, 2009 will be the latest day where Windows 7 enthusiasts will be able to download the official unmodified and untouched Windows 7 DVD ISO images, if not earlier. Windows 7 RTM is said to be build version 6.1.7600.16385, with general availability set on October 22nd, 2009. However, some people such as Microsoft partners, OEMs, MSDN and TechNet subscribers are expected to receive the final RTM copy of Windows 7 ISO images much earlier, which will then likely be leaked to Internet for downloading by everyone.

Windows 7 RTM is said to be in the final stage of component sign off, which is expected to be completed by Wednesday, July 22nd 2009. In fact, Microsoft made an announcement on OEM Communications
Extranet (OCE) that Friday, July 24, 2009 will be Windows 7 Release to Manufacturing (RTM) for English language product, with remaining language-specific product versions release over the next four days till July 28, 2009. OEMs and system builders can order Windows 7 OEM Preinstallation Kits (OPK) from Microsoft OEM Online (MOO) Software Order Center 24 to 48 hours after RTM, in line with Windows 7 Team blog announcement.


Windows 7 RTM OEM Partners Release Date

RTM Day Software Order Center Availability
English July 24 July 24
Brazilian, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional
(Hong Kong), Chinese Traditional (Taiwan), Czech,
Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean,
Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish July 24 July 25
Danish, Hungarian, Norwegian, Swedish July 25 July 26
Arabic, Bulgarian, Estonian, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew,
Lithuanian, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Thai, Ukrainian July 26 July 27
Croatian, Latvian, Serbian Latin July 27 July 28

According to the same Windows 7 release schedule announcement, MSDN and TechNet paid subscribers will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English on August 6th and remaining languages by October 1st. It’s expected that the active genuine product keys for Windows 7 RTM can also be generated from MSND and TechNet Subscriber Downloads by then to activate permanently Windows 7 system.

All information related to Windows 7 is consolidated here.

It’s possible the Windows 7 ISO or DVD disc media that end-user possessed may be restricted to install a single edition or version of Windows 7 only. For example, a Windows 7 Professional media may not prompt option to select which edition of Windows 7 to install, and instead will install Windows 7 Professional edition. Likewise for Windows 7 Ultimate DVD ISO image or disc which may not have edition selection screen.

However, all DVD of Windows 7 does contains and able to install all and any version of Windows 7, from Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional to Ultimate edition. Actually, the ability to select the version or edition of Windows 7 during setup installation, or which edition that the setup will automatically install, lies with a small configuration file named ei.cfg on the Windows 7 DVD, disc media or ISO image.


Select an Edition of Windows 7 to Install During Setup

The content of the ei.cfg file, inside the “sources” folder of the DVD looks like below:

[EditionID]
Ultimate
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0

When ei.cfg does not exist, Windows 7 setup process will display a screen during Install Windows wizard to ask user to select the operating system
(edition) to install. The selection of OS includes Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate. Thus, in order to be able to install any editions or install another different edition of Windows 7 without having to download ISO image or order a new DVD of Windows 7 with all SKUs enabled (allSKU version), use the following hack to delete or modify ei.cfg file.

1. Download and install an disc image utility such as PowerISO or UltraISO to open the ISO image of Windows 7 DVD. If you own a physical DVD disc media, the similar tool allows you to rip the DVD to ISO or other image format too.

Another alternative for user with Windows 7 DVD ISO image downloaded via torrent or from Internet is to extract all contents of the ISO image by using extraction tool such as WinRAR or 7-zip, or mount the ISO and copy contents to a folder.
2. Browse to /sources/ folder.
3. Locate ei.cfg file.
4. Depending on preference, it’s possible to modify/edit or simply delete ei.cfg file, as explained below.

Choice 1: Delete ei.cfg

When ei.cfg is deleted, Windows 7 setup wizard will give user an option to select and choose which version (SKU) of operating system user wants to install during installation.

Choice 2: Edit and Modify ei.cfg

By modifying the EditionID section of ei.cfg by replacing Ultimate (or other edition specified there) with another edition, user can preset another edition SKU of Windows 7 that user want setup to install automatically. The Edition ID available for installation are as follow:
* Ultimate
* Professional
* HomePremium
* HomeBasic
* Starter

Save the ei.cfg after editing.
5. For user who wants to in-place upgrade to Windows 7, it’s possible to run setup.exe from extracted DVD contents now. The modified ISO can also be burned to a DVD disc or saved to a new ISO image.

If you have downloaded the leaked 64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate Retail RTM Build 7600.16384, do bear in mind that the build may not be the final build that been released to end users. Windows 7 Build 7600.16384 has been subjected to much speculation that whether it’s the final RTM build, where some people believes the minor build may be increased to 7600.16386 in order to match Windows Vista RTM, which also jumps from 5600.16384 of Windows Vista RC1 to 6000.16386.

In fact, the non-finalized yet of Windows 7 is almost certain with the denial announcement on Windows Team Blog. “We are close, but have not yet signed off on Windows 7.” Said Brandon LeBlanc, Windows Communications Manager of Microsoft. “Just because a single build may have ‘leaked’ it does not signal the completion of a milestone such as RTM”, he continued.



However, weird part is that for Microsoft, RTM isn’t a single point in time. Instead, it’s the beginning of the next “process”for Windows 7.

At RTM our partners begin their final preparations for Windows 7, including testing and building images for new PCs. RTM is essentially the final “stage” of engineering for Windows 7 before it hits the market at General Availability (GA). As Steven notes, engineering continues on Windows 7 from RTM until GA on October 22nd.

Nonetheless, Windows 7 is expected to RTM in the second half of July. If the expected release date to Microsoft Partners through Connect, MSDN and TechNet on July 24 still hold, the RTM sign off must take place before or on July 23, 2009. Word is out by mspcbeta (the guy who leaks Windows 7 RTM Build 7600.16384) that Windows 7 RTM Build 7600.16385.win7_rtm.090713-1255 has been compiled on July 13, 2009, with another build expecting soon.

What is certain currently is that the major build number of 7600 for Windows 7 RTM should remain the same. However, the minor build number is anyone guess, with wild speculation of up to 7600.19000. It’s much the same way with Windows Vista SP2, where minor build version keep increasing from 6002.18001, 6002.18002
6002.18003, to 6002.18004 before been finalized and RTMed as 6002.18005 as development team ironed out the bugs.

With impending arrival of Windows 7 RTM, here’s little more Windows 7 information on how and when end-user can get Windows 7.

MSDN & TechNet Subscribers: Subscribers will be able to download the final version of Windows 7 a few weeks after Microsoft announces RTM.
Volume License (VL) Customers: As announced by Bill Veghte during his WPC09 keynote, Windows 7 will be available to Volume License customers on September 1st.
Consumers, Enthusiasts, & Beta Testers (Everyone else): The retail version of Windows 7 will be available in stores October 22nd. If you pre-ordered Windows 7, it should be delivered sometime around the October 22nd timeframe (depends on the retailer). You can pre-order Windows 7 today through many online retailers like the Microsoft Store.
On New PCs: OEMs are expected to start shipping new PCs with Windows 7 pre-installed on them around October 22nd.