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Issue 208 February 2010
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Helpdesk
Nigel Bevan took advantage of his free upgrade to Windows 7, but not everything went to plan
“I can’t start Windows 7” PCAnswers discovers some niggling issues with the Windows 7 installer The problem Nigel Bevan says… “Windows 7 refuses to install. It’s one of those funny Toshiba discs that does some adding and removing, but it always jams when it’s installing. Can the PCAnswers team help?”
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indows 7 may be Microsoft’s best Operating System since Windows XP, but it’s not without its pitfalls. Strangely, a fair number of people have experienced problems with Windows 7 before it’s even installed. Nigel Bevan is one of these unlucky individuals, but thankfully the PCAnswers team were on hand to help him solve his problem. When Nigel purchased his Vista laptop around eight months ago, it came with the offer of a free upgrade to Windows 7 once the Operating System was released. Naturally, Nigel was more than happy to take them up on this offer and after the release of Windows 7, he received his free upgrade disc.
Windows 7 editions When dealing with any version of Windows, you need to know what you’re getting yourself into – in Nigel’s case, he was set to receive an upgrade edition of Windows 7. While ultimately, with any version
of Windows 7, the end result of installation is Windows 7, there are some factors that apply to each. With an upgrade edition, Nigel needed to have Windows Vista already installed. Plus, since this was a Toshiba OEM upgrade, he could only use it on his Toshiba laptop – if he wanted to install Windows 7 on another PC or laptop, it wouldn’t work unless it was the same model. The disadvantage of this version is that it’s highly restrictive: when we arrived at Nigel’s house, one of the first things we considered was an install straight to Windows 7, but this edition wouldn’t support it. You could only upgrade from an installation of Vista. Some upgrade editions will enable you to perform a clean install, but you’ll have to insert your Windows Vista disc and enter your registration key to finish the process. So without a straightforward solution to this problem, we had to dig deeper and try to
“When dealing with any version of Windows, you need to know what you’re getting yourself into”
30 February 2010
PCAnswers
Help me fix…
When upgrading, most of your time is spent watching and waiting, so you had best put the kettle on
decipher the issue behind the hanging installation. Research into existing issues with the Windows 7 Installer revealed that there’s a recurring problem where it gets stuck at 62 per cent. Thankfully, there’s a hotfi x for this, but it only works if the installer sticks specifically at 62 per cent – Nigel’s machine was stopping at varying percentages, so the hotfi x wouldn’t solve his issue.
A busy computer
NEED OUR HEL P? We’re look ing for mo re
Checking the laptop hardware, volunteers for our He lp me fix... everything appeared to be section, so you’d like a if PCAnsw disconnected running smoothly; he had no With those background e r v s is e it x p y e o rt to ur home a from the drivers missing and it was a fast applications tackled nd help yo a PC proble u w internet, closed little machine. Looking at the to solve all of Nigel’s it h m, just dro p us a line pcanswe down all his task manager, there were no problems, now he can at rs@futur enet.co.u applications and processes hogging memory or enjoy using Windows 7 putting “H k, elp me fix” prepared to insert using a large amount of CPU time, in the subject lin his upgrade disc. so everything seemed to be in order. e. Before he did so, Nigel even had his anti-virus up to date however, we took the and it had scanned recently with no chance to check if detections. His laptop was in tip-top shape. there were any applications running We decided that the best way to solve this Checklist for upgradin silently in the background or living in dilemma would be to attempt the installation g his notification bar. A number of again. Nigel turned off his anti-virus, to Windows 7 Check you have the rig anti-virus and anti-spyware tools ht ve rsion of Window were still running, along with some upgrade, OEM, and so s 7: on. Toshiba ones, so we shut these Cre ate a system restore down and then began the and back up your data point installation process. before starting installation . After around 40 minutes, we Disconnect any exter arrived at the point where the nal devices and close an y installation usually crashed, but applications that are running. instead the installer completed En d ap pli cat ion s that are successfully. It seems that overhidden in the notifi active background apps were such as anti-virus pro cation bar, grams. interfering with the process. With Set aside several hour s– these closed down, Windows 7 although Windows could continue with installation. install in about half an 7 can hour, extra tasks by upgra So remember: when upgrading, The Toshiba Windows 7 upgrade disc Nigel received de discs can take much longe close everything. ■ insisted on removing hardware drivers beforehand r.
Contact with your PC problems: email pcanswers@futurenet.co.uk today! Sendusyour questions to pca.experts@ PCAnswers
February 2010
31
Easy upgrades
Prepare your PC for Windows 7
Getting your PC ready to run Windows 7 may require some upgrades. Nick Peers prepares you for a new Windows 7 computer
1
Motherboard
Choosing this is critical: when you pick your model, you determine every component you add to it. We’ll guide you through key choices between AMD and Intel, as well as what to look for in terms of specifications and expansion potential.
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Hard drive
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Connectivity
Your hard drive isn’t just a storage device; it’s also the biggest bottleneck to everyday performance there is. We’ll explain what technologies to look for in order to push down access times and speed up your PC’s day-to-day running.
Processor
This is the brain of your computer. The more cores it has, the quicker it’ll perform. Dual-core chips are now being phased out in favour of quad-core CPUs – we’ll discuss the choice between rival chips from Intel and AMD.
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Graphics
Your graphics card or adapter isn’t as critical a choice as it was with Windows Vista. This is because in the three years since Vista’s release, graphics cards supporting Windows Aero technology have become the norm.
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Memory
While Windows 7 will run happily on as little as 1GB RAM, the more you can add, the better. If you want to go beyond the 3.5GB barrier imposed by 32-bit Operating Systems, you’ll need to install the 64-bit version of Windows 7.
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PCAnswers
How many peripherals do you have? Make sure you have enough USB ports for all of them. Don’t forget FireWire if you need it (for your camcorder, perhaps) and eSATA if you want to add super-fast external hard drives.
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Easy upgrades
Prepare your PC for Windows 7
How to get yourself Windows 7 Make sure you’re ready for the big move with our essential tips
1Purchase an upgrade copy
If you currently run Windows XP or Vista, buy an upgrade copy of Windows 7 – you only need to buy a full copy of Windows 7 if you have an older or alternative OS. We recommend buying Home Premium, as Pro and Ultimate aren’t worth the cost for home users. Once it’s verified your previous installation, if you use Vista Home Basic or Home Premium and have either SP1 or SP2 installed, you can do a straightforward upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium, keeping all your programs, settings and data intact (you must also be moving from either 32-bit to 32-bit, or from 64-bit to 64-bit). If you use XP or Vista Business or Ultimate you’ll have to do a clean install.
Run the Upgrade Advisor before you attempt to install Windows 7
to install Windows 7 2Prepare
Don’t rush into anything. Check that your PC meets the minimum system requirements and see what issues you’re likely to face by downloading and installing the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from http:// windows.microsoft.com/ upgradeadvisor. Critical
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components such as memory and graphics cards need to be upgraded prior to installation, while incompatible peripherals should be disconnected. If you’re running Vista, you can perform an in-place upgrade, which swaps out Vista for Windows 7 and attempts to leave your programs, settings and data intact. Windows XP users need to perform a fresh installation, but you can transfer everything using Laplink’s PCmover Upgrade Assistant (currently £12.95, www.laplink. com/pcmover). Whichever method you choose, don’t forget to back up first. Use a back-up tool to save your data and settings, but also take a drive image of your existing installation using Macrium Reflect Free (www.macrium. com/reflectfree.asp).
Buy a full copy
You’ll only need to purchase a full copy of Windows 7 if your PC isn’t already running either Windows XP or Vista. The retail price for a full copy is nearly twice that of the upgrade version, so there’s no reason to go down this route unless you’re building a PC from scratch. In this case, have a look at the OEM option in Step 6.
5Choose a Windows 7 netbook
If you think a netbook with Windows 7 is a good way to upgrade to the latest version of Windows, beware: most netbooks come with Windows 7 Starter Edition, which is a massively cut down version of Windows 7 Home Premium. What’s more, you’ll need to pay the full upgrade price to get Home Premium.
Windows 7 Starter doesn’t support Windows Aero and is missing other features too
6Purchase an OEM copy
OEM (original manufacturer) copies of Windows 7 are much cheaper than the full version, but they should only be sold to system builders and PC manufacturers. If you purchase a copy, you won’t get any support from Microsoft, and your version will be tied to the PC you install it on – you can’t even upgrade the motherboard without it ceasing to function.
7Buy the Family Pack
Microsoft is offering limited quantities of this pack for £149.99. This gives you a licence for installing Windows 7 on up to three PCs in your home, but it’s selling out fast so check online at the Microsoft store to see if it’s still available.
4Purchase a new PC
You might think the simplest way to get Windows 7 into your home is to purchase a brand new laptop or desktop computer with it pre-installed. It’ll set you back a minimum of £300-400, and don’t forget there’s the hassle of transferring your existing programs, settings and data across to it. The Windows Easy Transfer tool helps, but it’s not perfect. If your PC meets the minimum requirements, you’ll find an upgrade is probably less hassle and significantly cheaper.
Only a limited number of Windows 7 Family Packs are available and it’s selling fast
PCAnswers
February 2010
45
Word 2007
Using documents and templates
If you save your key documents as Word templates, producing modified versions will be quick and easy
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documents with the same formatting in a fraction of the time. A template is a special document that contains settings and formatting that you use regularly for common tasks. For example, a small company might set up its letterhead as a Word template, so all letters could be typed in a common format. Templates can save you serious amounts of time and effort because you don’t need to enter the design elements of your document each time you use them. Ensure your template is saved Choose File > Save As… and select Word Template to store your with the file extension document as a template for future use hen you create a document in Word, you usually save it as a document for storage. If you produce a template instead, however, you can generate future
STEP-BY-STEP
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Click the Office button and select New. Choose Blank document to start from scratch, New blog post to publish online, or Blank template to create a new template. You can also opt to create a new file from an existing document.
PCAnswers
Edit the template The default template that Word uses is normal.dotx. This is usually just a blank sheet with simple margins and the Calibri font. By editing this template, you can set up whatever default settings you like. If you always prefer to use Arial, for example, you can make this the default font. You’ll find it at C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\ Application Data\Microsoft\Templates. There are numerous templates available online designed to take advantage of the new features of Word
Saving in different formats
CREATE A NEW FILE
54 February 2010
.dotx, rather than the document extension .docx, and it’s stored in the correct directory. Word will then always open it as a new document, ready to be edited and saved where you like, without altering the original template.
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NEW FROM TEMPLATE
If you want to use a template, you have access to a large number of ready-made online ones. Select the kind of template that you want, in this case a fax header. Pick the one you want to use and click Create to open it as a new document
Make more of your documents EXPERT ADVICE Which document type is best for you? spreadsheet. A lot of work was put into making the files more efficient, so many are up to 75 per cent more compact than their Office Online has a wide range of templates. earlier counterparts. It Search them from the New Document dialog also gives improved privacy protection and 2007. They’re usefully divided into is better able to categories, so you can select them recover damaged files. easily when creating a new document. You’ll find that older It’s well worth checking out all the DOC files open in Word available templates that are downloadable from Microsoft Office If you’re sharing files with people using older versions of Word, in Compatibility mode, which offers a reduced online. There’s a good number of each consider saving them as DOC files number of functions. category of template and you can always alter graphical content such as When Microsoft launched Office 2007 It’s now possible to import DOCX files into Google Documents and logos, so it isn’t completely obvious that it produced new file formats based OpenOffice too. you’ve simply downloaded the design. on the XML standard. The default file People using older versions of Some sites also provide specially type for Word is now DOCX instead of Word that aren’t up to date may have designed templates for a small DOC. The advantage of using the difficulty opening DOCX files. The fee. These are well worth new XML format is that it’s simplest option in these cases is to considering if you need to easier to transfer files save the document in the Word get a distinctive look. For between Office 97-2003 format. Click the Office a quick and easy way to applications. For button, choose Save As… and select a professional finish, example, you don’t If you need to open the new file formats in an earlier version Word 97-2003 Document from the you really can’t beat a need a spreadsheet of Office, you can do so by drop-down menu. good template. program to open a installing a file converter
HOT TIP!
Convert files available for download from http://office. microsoft. com.
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EDIT THE TEMPLATE
Once downloaded, the template opens as a new document. You can now modify the text as usual, and change formatting using the tools on the Home tab of the Ribbon. These will be familiar if you used previous versions of Word.
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ZOOM IN
Use the zoom slider control in the bottom-left of the window to change the text to a size that’s comfortable for you to read and edit. This provides smooth rescaling so you can quickly pick the size you want.
PCAnswers
February 2010
55
Learn how to…
Use launcher applications
Work faster in Windows with RocketDock Work more efficiently with these tools, from gadgets in Windows to awesome apps such as RocketDock
How long will it take? 30 mins What do I need? Windows XP/Vista/7 What will I learn? ✔ Work faster using launcher apps ✔ Download gadgets
Gone are the days where launching your programs and opening files meant long trawls through your Start menu or directories, Your guide and it’s easy to save time Tanya every day by using app Combrinck launchers. Those in the know have been using app launchers to great effect for years, but they were brought to the mainstream by Apple and now by Microsoft in Windows 7. The most common application launcher is the dock, which is a small program that sits on your screen, and provides an easy way to click on your pre-defined icons. Docks usually sit at the top or bottom of the screen, and sit on top of other windows. If you’ve upgraded to Windows 7 you’ll have little use for a third-party dock as the new
taskbar works in much the same way, but Windows XP and Vista users can transform their PC with one simple application. The most popular of these apps is RocketDock, which works in Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.
Go go gadgets
In Windows Vista and Windows 7, desktop gadgets will quickly launch files and apps. There’s a host of brilliant gadgets, and in Windows 7 they’re now given the freedom of the desktop. You can download app launcher desktop gadgets by right-clicking the desktop, choosing Gadgets, and then clicking the ‘Go Online to get more gadgets’ button in the right-hand corner. Choose ‘Desktop Gadgets’ in the Windows Live Gallery to browse a range of apps, five of which we’ve tested. ■
STEP-BY-STEP Get started with RocketDock
1
Install
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2
Run on startup
Go to www.rocketdock.com/download and download the small installer file. Once installed, the icon to run a RocketDock shortcut sits on your desktop and must run each time you start your PC. The dock sits at the top of your screen.
PCAnswers
There seems little point having a time-saving application if you need to start it manually every time you turn on your PC. To automate it, right-click on the dock, go to Dock Settings and check the ‘Run at Startup’ box.
Learn how to…
Use launcher applications
GET TO KNOW TIME�SAVING APP LAUNCHERS
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App Launcher
RocketDock
If you want the ultimate in fast launching, you can’t beat RocketDock. It’s a little intrusive, and some of the supplied icons are rubbish, but it’s incredibly fast, useful and essential for any Windows XP or Vista user. Just drag your own programs to the launcher and you’re ready to go.
If you want to launch programs, but don’t want a large dock dominating your screen, then the App Launcher gadget is fantastic. Just drag your shortcuts into the space.
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Launch control
A fantastic app launcher gadget, Launch Control has sub-categories for quickly finding applications, system utilities and controls, which you can customise and flick between with the mouse.
System control
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A different kind of app launcher, System Control is specifically for the restart, shut down and hibernate functionality, which saves you a trip into the Start menu when you’ve finished with your computer.
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Set up
Now set up your dock to launch your favourite programs. Just drag shortcuts from your desktop or Start menu onto the dock to lock them in place. To remove an app’s icon, drag it back onto the desktop and it will disappear.
Quick Launch
One of the most customisable app launcher gadgets on Windows Live Gallery, this is the perfect choice if you want to spice up your desktop with some bright colours.
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Customise
You can customise many aspects; for example, if you don’t want to see RocketDock all the time, select Auto Hide and ‘Popup on Mouseover’ in the Behaviour menu. It will then appear if you move your mouse to the top of the screen.
PCAnswers
February 2010
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