23. WINDOWS 7 UPDATES

Updates in Windows 7 are very important. The Windows updates help keep your computer safe from viruses and secure from hackers. In the Windows 7 updates tutorial we will cover the security features in the control panel and I will take you through how to keep your computer safe and secure.

Usually when you set up your computer you set it to automatically update. You can check your settings by opening the control panel and clicking on the windows update link in the window that opens click on the Change settings link on the left hand navigation bar.

In the Change settings defaults to install updates automatically. Click the dropdown arrow on the Important updates section to see the list of options. Below this menu is where you set the time to install new updates. I like to set this of a time that I know I can have my computer running but will not be actively using it. I do this because sometimes updates can slow down the computer when they are being installed and I don't like to interrupt my work.

If you choose to select any of the other setting you need to be disciplined and install the updates manually by clicking the start menu then click Windows Update.

You may have seen the Windows 7 logo in the bottom right hand corner of your computer. It would look like this.

This logo will appear when you have your setting set to automatic update. This is a good sign that windows has automatically found and update and is downloading and installing it for you.

Click OK to save any changes and return to the windows update window.

In this window it will give you an overview of your update settings and if you have the recommended options selected only critical updates will automatically be installed and optional updates will appear in a link. If optional updates are available click the link to open the window and place a check mark in next to the updates you wish to install and click the OK button to complete the installation and return to the update window.

Click the back arrow in the upper left corner to return to the control panel.

Next we will cover the Windows Firewall. A firewall restricts information that comes to your computer from other computers. You can think of a firewall as a barrier that checks information coming from the internet or a network and then either turns it away or allows it to pass through to your computer, depending on your firewall settings.

In the control panel click on the Windows Firewall link.

If the firewall settings are on as you see in the example above you are OK. If the firewall settings are off click on the Turn Windows Firewall on or off link. The user customized settings window will open. Make sure ON is selected for both home and public network. I would not recommend checking block all incoming connections because some of the antivirus programs and printer update programs require access to the internet. Windows will give you the option to allow programs to access the internet so you can customize it as you go.

When you are finished click OK to return to Window Firewall window. After returning to the Firewall window click the Control Panel Home link in the left hand navigation pane.

Windows 7 File Structure

In the Windows 7 File Structure tutorial we will cover how to view files in different ways, organizing and moving files, and creating new folders.

Understanding how to view your files and where they are located is very important. I have run into so many occasions where clients are just not able to find data they have created.

Let's start by setting up our file window to make it easier to find the information we are looking for.

Click on the Windows icon in the lower left corner then select Computer. When the Computer Window opens click on the Organize menu at the top of the window and select Folder and Search Options.

The Folder Options window will open.

In the general tab under the Browse Folders section make sure the Open each folder in the same window is selected. If you choose to open each folder in another window things can get cluttered very quickly.

In the next section, Click items as follows, you can select to single or double click to open your folders and files. If you have trouble with double clicking this is a great option to allow you to open your folders with a single click.

The last section is Navigation pane. This is a new feature to Windows 7. Place a check mark next to the options you would like for the folders that appear in the left hand column of your folder browser windows.

Click on the View tab.

In the View tab click the check box next to Display the full path in the address bar. Then click Apply to all folders.

This will display every folder in the address bar that you had to browse through to get to the location of the file you are looking for.

When you are finished click OK to close the window.

To view the change click on My Documents then click on any folder in your My documents folder. Notice in the address bar you have the full path name of the folder you selected. It will look something like this. C:\Documents and Settings\Jennifer\My Documents\My Music. The full path name may also be displayed with an arrow to each folder.

 

Many times when you are looking at pictures you would like to see a little preview before you open the picture. Click on the folder you keep your photos in. Then click on the Change your View icon. You will see a drop down menu with your options. Extra Large Icons is a great option if you want to see a large preview of your pictures or if you have poor vision. Large Icons is a little smaller, and Medium Icons and Small icons smaller yet. List is just that a list of the folders and files. Details gives you the

Name of the folder, size of the file, type of file, and the date the file was modified.

Usually with a picture file I like to use either the Large or Medium Icon option. All of my other folders I use the list option.

Now we will move onto moving files. There are 2 ways you can move a file to another location.

1. Right click on a file or folder and a menu appears. Select either copy if you want the folder to remain in the current location and you want another copy somewhere else or cut if you want to remove the folder from the current location and move it to another folder. (Be careful with the cut. I don't want you to lose a folder)

Now browse to the folder you want to move the file to and right click anywhere in the open window and click paste. Depending on how big the file is it may take a minute.

You can also use the keyboard commands. Press CTRL and C for copy, CTRL and X for cut, and CTRL and V for paste.

2. Open another window next to the window you currently have open. You will have one window on top of another. Make sure they don't overlap completely. Click on the folder or file you would like to move and drag it to the other window. This will work like a cut. The file will be removed from the current folder and be moved to the new location.

Last topic for Windows 7 file structure, creating a new folder. There are 2 ways to create a new folder.

1. In your Documents Window click on File New Folder from the menu options at the top of the window.

A new folder will appear in the window with "New Folder" highlighted for you to type a new name for the folder. Once you have typed a new name press enter.

2. Right click anywhere in your open window and click on New then click folder.

Your folder will appear at the bottom of your file list for you to rename.

Your folder will appear at the bottom of your file list for you to rename.