World Of Tricks

If you're looking for the cheapest possible way to get your hands on Windows 7, you might be interested in a free copy of Windows 7 Ultimate - but you'll need some understanding friends.

As reported over on TechRadar, Microsoft is hoping to boost interest in its next-generation operating system by offering the chance to get free limited Signature Editions of the top-end Windows 7 Ultimate OS - by hosting launch day parties.

If you're willing to risk alienating a bunch of your friends, you can apply host a party between the 22nd and 29th of October to be in with a chance of getting both the Windows 7 Ultimate Signature Edition plus "your very own Windows 7 Party Pack."

Microsoft has very kindly provided a choice of thrilling themes for your party: Media Mania, Setting up with Ease, Family Friendly Fun, and - seriously - "PhotoPalooza." Once you've chosen your theme, you'll receive assistance from "House Party, the world's leading party organizer" and have the opportunity to "upload photos and videos, chat with other hosts, blog your experience, and download fun favours all from your personal House Party page."

While it's certainly a fairly cheap way of getting your hands on the next version of Windows, it remains to be seen just how much fun you could have with a theme of "Setting up with Ease." Rumours of a "take a shot for each exclamation mark in Device Manager" are, as far as can be seen, totally untrue.

This is the easiest one but for those who don’t know…

* Click on Start.
* Open Control Panel.
* Go to Folder Options.
* Click on view tab.
* Check “Hidden files and folders: Show all files and folders”.
* Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)”.
* Click “Apply” and then “OK”.

General
Win+Up : Maximize
Win+Down : Restore / Minimize
Win+Left : Snap to left
Win+Right : Snap to right
Win+Shift+Left : Jump to left monitor
Win+Shift+Right : Jump to right monitor
Win+Home : Minimize / Restore all other windows
Win+T : Focus the first taskbar entry
Pressing again will cycle through them, you can can arrow around.
Win+Shift+T : cycles backwards.
Win+Space : Peek at the desktop
Win+G : Bring gadgets to the top of the Z-order
Win+P : External display options (mirror, extend desktop, etc)
Win+# : (# = a number key)
Launches a new instance of the application in the Nth slot on the taskbar.
Example: Win+1 launches
first pinned app, Win+2 launches second, etc.

Explorer
Alt+ P : Show/hide Preview Pane

Taskbar modifiers
Shift + Click on icon : Open a new instance
Middle click on icon : Open a new instance
Ctrl + Shift + Click on icon : Open a new instance with Admin privileges
Shift + Right-click on icon : Show window menu (Restore / Minimize / Move / etc)
Note: Normally you can just right-click on the window thumbnail to get this menu
Shift + Right-click on grouped icon : Menu with Restore All / Minimize All / Close All, etc.
Ctrl + Click on grouped icon : Cycle between the windows (or tabs) in the group
and lastl but not the least Ctrl + alt + del : Just in case you are stuck :)

Steve Ballmer in his keynote at the CES announced the availability of the beta version of Windows 7. While MSDN, TechBeta and TechNet subscribers are eligible to get their hands on Vista successor from today, users like you and me will be able to download the beta from January 9 i.e. Friday.

Having used the pre-released version of Windows 7, I am pretty excited to try the official beta version. Windows 7 is touted to be faster, more reliable and better compatibility than Vista.

Apparently you won't have to wait until January to get your hands on the Windows 7 Beta release.That's right, there's already been an ISO file leaked to several torrent trackers.

The ISO appears to contain the Windows 7 M1 build (7000) . So far the new build seems to perform slightly better than 6801, and memory usage has been improved. A number of previously hidden features - like the iconized task bar - are also now active.

Before you start asking why there's no link to the file, it's because this is something that we're not supposed to have yet. If you want to get your hands on it, check your favorite torrent search site. Also keep in mind that this is a leak, and there's always the possibility that the ISO has been tampered with.