How to format Windows 7

In the recent past, Windows 7 has earned a lot of popularity because of its ultra-amazing features. And, formatting Windows 7 isn’t a big deal at all. Just follow the given steps and you’re there.

To format Windows 7, you can either buy a DVD, lest a bootable USB would do. Since using a Windows 7 Boot DVD is far more convenient, let’s see the easy plain steps to do so.

• Make sure you start by rebooting your PC, post inserting the disk. A prompt message for pressing any key to boot from DVD would appear. Make sure you do hit a key.

• Subsequently, installation files will be loaded by Windows and a setup window would appear.

• Fill in the coveted language, currency, and time. Finally, click on “Install Now” to proceed further.

• Within a minute or two, the setup will be successfully loaded. Now, go through the license terms and conditions and respond accordingly. For instance, you’re fine with the terms, press on “I accept the license terms” and hit “Next”.

• If you’re sure to have a memory space of 5716 Mb, you can further move on to selecting the partition where you wish to install Windows 7 and press “Next”.

• Obviously, before formatting, it’s a genuine recommendation to have a back up of all the files or documents you wish to preserve for future utility. So once you’re done with that, “Drive options” should be your next move. Hit “Format” followed by “Yes”.

• Windows 7 would then be formatted in an approximated span of 30-60 minutes in accordance to the computer speed.

• Post the entire progression given above, the computer will reboot, for the Windows 7 is still available in the drive. And, the message to press any key to boot from DVD will reappear. But, make sure you DO NOT hit any key this time, because you’ve already done that in the very beginning. All you need to do is, patiently wait for another 5 seconds and the PC will continue booting. Successively, the operating system formatting would be finished too.

• And, you’re almost there! Just put in a username and a password too, if you have some secret files.

• The product key will come in use now. Relax! Insert the Windows 7 product key and click on “Next”.

• Microsoft Updates is another wise decision you should take. It’s highly recommendable.

• Choose “Recommended Settings”.

• Select your time zone from the drop down ribbon.

• You may also select an appropriate network corresponding to your location.

• In instances of multiple computers utility, you can also submit in a homegroup password, meant for sharing files.

• Yes, windows is ultimately finalist your settings! You’re finally done. Cheers!

• All you’re left with is tit-bit works now. You can now insert the manufacturer drivers’ CD and install them.

• Also, because Windows 7 holds a great driver support, you may want to go to the Control Panel and check Windows Update option.

• Okay, now you’re actually done with everything. Ready to use!

Did you ever know it was so easy to format Windows 7? You can now flaunt your ability as a “computer savvy”, even if don’t consider yourself to be one.

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How to Install Windows 7

For all those innocent “not-so computer savvy” people, this is a simple step-by-step navigation guide onhow to install Windows 7.

• Now the very basic step that you must adhere to is to first check the compatibility of your PC and Windows 7. You can do the same by checking the Windows 7 System Requirement list. In case your hardware lacks any of them, download the same from an authentic website and then proceed for a clean installation.

• Since the Windows 7 CD is a bootable one, you ought to check whether the boot device is set to CD-ROM in the BIOS setup.

•  Once you insert your disk, Windows 7 will automatically start booting and a progress window would subsequently appear. Next, choose the appropriate settings in the currency, time and language setup and hit ‘Next’ followed by ‘Install Now’.

• The next step is to read the license terms and conditions and checkmark “I accept license terms’, provided you agree. Post this, select the Custom (Advanced) option out of the two displayed.

• Further, choose the destination as to where you would like the installation to happen. Consequently, Windows 7 will start the process and your system will be rebooted a few times. Relax; it’s just a part of the process! Make sure you do not hit any key while the reboot is happening or you get a boot prompt, for you have already done the essential settings in the beginning in the BIOS setup; not even by chance.

• Once the rebooting process is completed, you’re then ready to use your PC once again. You may create an administrator account and set a desirable password to protect your computer from anti-social elements.

• But as soon as you are done with this, make sure you put in the product key that came along your Windows 7 disk and press ‘Next’. Not that if you won’t enter the product key, you wouldn’t be able to proceed. Just that, in such a case, Windows 7 will then run on a trial version for the next 30 days. In the worst possibility, you won’t be able to operate your system post the specified time period.

• After this, certain window panes will pop in to help protect your PC and improvise on Windows in an automated manner. You must choose the “Use Recommended Setting” option. Furthermore, set across your time zone, time and date followed by hitting ‘Next’ to proceed further. Selection of your present location is your next move.

• Finally, Windows 7 will now save and update all the settings for your system and restart. And this being the final restart, Windows 7 will progress with its booting up and ultimately, the main logon screen would appear.

• Sometimes, the computer may not be entirely configured. You can do so by letting your hardware be detected correctly; the same can be easily done in the “Device Manager” option accessible in the Control Panel.

Did you ever know it was that easy? So gladly, you may now no more characterise yourself as “not-so-computer savvy”. Let installing Windows 7 on your personal computer be a child’s play for you now.

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New Features of Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Windows 8 consumer preview has had many changes and improvement since the Windows 8 Developer Preview both in content as well as user interface design. Here are the main new features in Windows 8 consumer preview: -

1. Windows Store – Windows Store was not available in the developer preview and now because of the release of Consumer preview or as many like to call it beta, we can finally take a look at the windows store. Currently the windows store consists of only the free softwares. All the interesting apps however will be available in the full version of Windows 8. In Windows store, each app views the user rating, icon and its price, screenshots, text summary and finally the install button.

2. The Charms – Charms are windows 8’s main system. In the developers preview they were located at the left corner of the screen but now they are located at the middle of the right edge.

3. Zoom – Now you can zoom Windows 8 Metro Start screen by just a pinch. By just a pinch the app tiles will resize to be more easily usable. Now you can also move and rename apps in groups using gesture.

4.   Running app stack gesture/Mouse to top left corner – You can navigate your running apps in touch screen by swiping your finger from the left edge and back out. This way you will see all your running apps.

5. Smooth Transition to desktop – The Desktop and Metro interface in Consumer Preview version feels very much like a single operating system. You can only feel the difference with a simple fade to black transition.

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Windows 8

Windows 8, the latest version of Microsoft Windows Computer Operating System comes after windows 7. In comparison to windows 7, windows 8 is much more advanced as it has many changes. This version of Microsoft windows will work on ARM microprocessors as well as on Intel and AMD microprocessors. The windows 8 release date has not been specified yet but it will be sometime in late 2012. Windows 8 consumer preview release date has been specified to be on 29th of February and it will be available for download on that date between 3:00 to 5:00 PM. Windows 8 Beta is also called as Windows 8 Consumer Preview as it is still in the process of testing.

Windows 8 Pre beta version or Developer Preview version is currently available online and it comes in three packages which includes the following: -

• 64-bit version – OS
• 32-bit version – OS
• 64-bit version with developer tools

Windows 8 Features
Windows 8 is a big improvement of windows 7 and it is going to come with numerous useful features such as Windows App Store, better security features and many more like I mentioned before Windows 8 will work on ARM based tablets as well as x86 PCs based on ARM processors of Intel and AMD.

Here are the features of Windows 8: -

Windows To Go - Windows To Go is a feature of Windows 8 that lets the windows boot from a USB device. This includes settings, files and user’s programs. Windows To Go will work on both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. This feature will not allow the user to Hibernate.

Windows Store – Windows Store is quite similar to Mac app store where the users can look for various applications. Windows Store offers various Windows applications to the users and developers can publish their apps on other devices with Windows 8.

Windows 8 User Interface – Windows 8 has a very interactive user interface. This UI will give you the important information you need and allows you to control it in a very simple manner. You can navigate with the User Interface with Touch or Mouse and keyboard.

Windows Defender – Windows defender came up with Windows Vista and now it is getting better with the upcoming Windows 8.  Windows defender will be a complete anti malware which will protect your windows as well as device from all kinds of malware like virus, worms, Trojans and rootkits.

Internet Explorer 10 – Windows 8 will come with the new version of Internet Explorer 10 which does not have any browser plug-ins and extensions but it will have a full screen browsing mode by default. It also adds more security to web applications. Some of the other features of Windows 8 include: -

• Kinect
• Hyper-V
• Better Windows Phone Sync
• Better File Management
• Multi-User Tablets
• Live Tiles
• Reset and Refresh

Here are some of pre installed Apps that are available on Windows 8: -

• Camera
• Messaging
• Mail
• Calendar
• SkyDrive
• People
• Photos
• Video
• Music

Here are the games that will be available on Windows 8 Beta: -

• Hydro Thunder
• Toy Soldiers
• Reckless Racing
• Angry Birds
• Ilomilo
• Rocket Riot
• Full House Poker
• Tentacles
• Crash Course
• Ms Splosion Man
• Wordament

Something that’s in all of our minds about Windows 8 is if we are going to be able to install Windows 8 on our old laptops. Well I guess the right way to ask this question would be what are the Windows 8 minimum System Requirements?

Do not worry, because it is said that Windows 8 has the same requirements of Windows 7 which include: -

• 1 GHz or faster 32-bit or 64-bit processor
• 1 GB RAM 32-bit or 2 GB RAM 64-bit

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Windows 8 Ultrabook, a mobile device

If you are wondering if a Windows 8 ultrabook a mobile device or not, well I can tell you that it depends. If you look at Ultrabooks by the formal definitions, they sport Intel CPUs and run Microsoft Windows. This makes Ultrabooks proper computers and a part of the PC era as these are the two things that carry the banner for the PC era.

Now let us compare a few things about Ultrabooks, tablets and laptops. An Ultrabook has keyboard, screen, they match the size of the normal laptops and they cost about the same price. But if you take the user experience into your consideration then Ultrabooks are most definitely mobile. We are going to experience this when Windows 8 gets release this year with Ultrabooks.

1. Windows 8 on Ultrabooks is insanely fast
As we all know the main advantage of smartphones and tablets over Windows laptops is their speed and convenience. A normal laptop with all its applications, utilities etc. takes a very long time to boot but something about Windows 8 that is going to win its way back in is its speed. Windows 8 on a normal laptop can boot with a spinning hard drive in just 8 seconds or even less. However it also depends on the apps, spyware, registry gunk etc that is installed on your laptop, which can slow down anything.

2. Light like a tablet
An ultrabook is quite close to tablets as it is very thin and light. For example the upcoming Acer Ultrabook called Aspire S5 is only 15mm thin including its keyboard. If you want to compare Ultrabooks are also much lighter than normal laptops. A basic business class laptop would weigh about 4-6 pounds while the average weight of Ultrabooks is between 2.5 to 3 pounds.

3. New features
Ultrabooks have Multi-touch swiping, accelerometer (you can play games by physically moving the Ultrabook through this feature), Voice recognition, etc. Ultrabooks are supposed to have a much longer battery life too which will last for a whole working day which is more than 8 hours at least.

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Windows 8 Tablet/Netbook – Dell Inspiron Mini Duo

Many of us including myself are looking for a device which is most suitable to our work and our lifestyle, but we are not sure if we should go for a tablet or a netbook. Touch tablets are great; they are very convenient and easy to use but at the end are not best suited for productivity uses like a netbook is. If you have not made up your mind yet then I think you should go for something that has got both features. Dell Inspiron Mini Duo 1487FNT Convertible Laptop/Tablet with Windows 8 is a little bit of both a netbook and a touch tablet. Here are the features of this Tablet/netbook: -

• 10.1-inch Widescreen HD (1366×768) Multi-Touch display
• 1.5 GHz Intel Atom N550 Processor
• 2GB DDR3 RAM
• 320GB HDD
• Wireless/Bluetooth
• Graphics Media Accelerator 3150
• 2 USB 2.0 ports
• Smart Card Reader
• Ethernet
• Weight: 4.21 pounds
• Dimensions: 10.16×3.64×16.69-inches

Dell Inspiron mini Duo comes in three colors; black, blue and red. In general duo looks like a normal laptop but its screen rotates and turns into a tablet. Something that you should remember about Duo is that unless you install Windows 8 Beta (Windows 8 Beta will be released in February) you are going to have just an optimal touch experience with Windows 7.

There are also some disadvantages to this device such as it heavy weight, at about 4 and half pounds. This is quite heavy for a tablet and it might get difficult if you are planning to use it comfortably for a reading session. Other than the weight, performance wise this device is quite great.

Another disadvantage of the device is the battery life which will probably last between 2 to 3 hours of continuous usage. As you can see, Inspiron Duo is quite far from perfect with its heavy weight and low battery life. You can get this device for about $ 435. It is my advice to spend your money by purchasing both a tablet and a netbook instead of an Inspiron Duo because both touch tablet and a netbook will cost about the same price of this device.

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