277 Chapter 8: Using Windows 7 Programs 3. Click the Download button on the http://download.live.com web page, and then choose Run to launch the installation wizard. (Before installing the software, the wizard will let you deselect any individual Windows Live Essentials components you don’t want.) NotED Several of the Windows Live Essentials programs require a Windows Live ID to use certain features. After installing the software, the wizard will give you the opportunity to sign up for one. Configuring default programs In Windows 7, a default program is one that’s automatically used in conjunction with a particular task (such as accessing a web page) or to open a specific type of file. For example, when you first install Windows 7, the default program to visit a website is Internet Explorer, and the default program to open a .jpg image file is Windows Photo Viewer. NotED The default program for a particular kind of file is considered to be associated with that file type. Over time, however, the default program for a task or file can change. This usually results from installing a new program that does the same thing or opens the same kinds of files as a program that comes with Windows 7 or another program you already have. For example, you may install a new web browser such as Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome or another program that can view photos like Windows Photo Viewer or play audio and video like Windows Media Player. When you install a new program, you usually have the chance to specify which file types it will open or configure it to automatically open all the file types it supports (often the default option). But sometimes programs don’t give you the choice—or at least don’t make your options clear during the installation process—and you may wind up with a situation where the default program for a task or file is no longer the one you want. Getting StartED with Windows 7 278 Windows 7 lets you view and modify default programs and file associations so that if a default program changes unexpectedly—or even if you change one knowingly and then change your mind later—you can still decide which programs are used to perform tasks and open files. Choosing default programs To make a program a default so that it’s automatically used for all tasks and file types it supports, follow these steps: 1. Click the Start button, and then click Default Programs on the right side of the Start menu to display the window shown in Figure 8-36. Figure 8-36. Windows 7 lets you control which programs are used to perform certain tasks or open specific files types. 2. Now click Set your default programs, and a new window will appear listing major programs installed on your system (Figure 8-37). 279 Chapter 8: Using Windows 7 Programs 3. Highlight the program you want, and then click Set this program as defaultSet this program as default. (After setting a program as default, the message under the program description will change from This program has x out of x defaults to This program has all its defaults). Figure 8-37. Select a program, and click Set this program as default to ensure it’s automatically used for all supported tasks or file types. ExplainED Making Internet Explorer a default program as we’ve done in Figure 8-37 means it will automatically be used to open web pages even though there may be another web browser installed on the system. Configuring file associations If you don’t want to make a program the default for all file types and would rather configure it to open one or more specific file types, after selecting the program in the Set your default programs window, click Choose defaults for this program. From the Set Program Associations Getting StartED with Windows 7 280 window, you’ll be able to view a list of all the file types the program is capable of opening (Figure 8-38). Make sure there’s a check mark next to the file types you want the program to open, and then click Save. Figure 8-38. You can view and individually configure the file types associated with a particular program. NotED To view or modify a comprehensive list of all the file associations on your system, instead of using the Set your default programs option, use the one labeled Associate a file type or protocol with a program. Opening a file with a non-default program Although double-clicking a file will automatically open it with the default program for that file type, you always have the option to choose which program you want to use to open a file. To open a file using a program other than the default for its file type, right- click the file and select Open with. You’ll see a menu of programs you can 281 Chapter 8: Using Windows 7 Programs choose from (including the default program) that are capable of opening the file (Figure 8-39). Figure 8-39. The Open with menu lets you open a file using a program other than the default. NotED Choosing a program from the Open with menu will open the file in the selected program on time only without altering file type’s default program. However, if you select the Open with menu’s Choose default program option, you’ll see all the Open with programs listed under a Recommended Programs heading. Double-clicking one of the recommended programs will make it the new default for the file type. Changing AutoPlay settings AutoPlay is a Windows 7 feature that automatically runs a specific program or performs a certain task (or asks you what to do) based on the content found when you insert or connect media such as a DVD or other storage device. Figure Getting StartED with Windows 7 282 8-40 shows what AutoPlay might look like when inserting a music CD. (The options you see will differ depending on what software is installed on your computer.) Figure 8-40. If you haven’t chosen a default action/program, AutoPlay will ask you what to do when you insert or connect various kinds of media. Just as you can tell Windows 7 which program to use when you open a certain kind of file, you can also tell AutoPlay what to do when you pop in something like a DVD movie, an audio CD, or a flash memory drive filled with photos or home videos. To change AutoPlay settings, click Change AutoPlay settings from the Default Programs window to display the window shown in Figure 8-41. 283 Chapter 8: Using Windows 7 Programs Figure 8-41. AutoPlay lets you decide what happens when you use different kinds of media or storage devices. Now find the type of media or storage device you want to configure, and use the adjacent drop-down menu to choose an action. For example, you can set AutoPlay to automatically play a DVD movie using Windows Media Player or use another movie player program you have. The actions available for each media or device type will depend on what programs you’ve installed and what their capabilities are. For example, if you have a third-party disc-burning utility installed, you’ll see it as an option in the menus for Blank CD and Blank DVD. Installing programs When you install new software onto your computer, the software usually comes from one of two forms—a store-bought disc or a file that was downloaded from a website (though these days, it’s more likely than not to be the latter). When you click a link to download a program from the Web, you’ll typically see a message giving you the option to either run or save the installer file (Figure 8-42). Getting StartED with Windows 7 284 Figure 8-42. When downloading a program from the Internet, you usually have the choice to run the file or save it first. Choosing the Run option will automatically run the file as soon as it’s finished downloading, while the Save option will save a copy to your Downloads folder where you must run it manually (by double-clicking it). Note you must have access to an administrator account to install software. ExplainED You can find your Downloads folder in your account folder, which you can access by clicking your account name in the upper right of the Start menu. A program’s install process will be the same whether you run the file directly or save it to your Downloads folder before running it. (Most let you select an install location, choose program options, and so on.) The benefit of the latter method is that saving a copy of the file makes it more convenient to install the software on multiple computers or reinstall the software. (In either case, you won’t need to visit the website again to re-download the file.) 285 Chapter 8: Using Windows 7 Programs LinkED To have Windows 7 automatically run the installation wizard when you insert a software disc, visit the AutoPlay settings described earlier in this chapter, and make sure Software and Games is set to Install or run program from your media. To make them easier to find, recently installed programs will appear highlighted in the Start menu, as shown in Figure 8-43. Figure 8-43. The highlighting of QuickTime Player in the Start menu indicates it’s a recently installed program. Uninstalling programs If you install a program and later decide that you don’t need it, it’s a good idea to uninstall it from your computer. This will ensure you don’t have unneeded programs running in the background (consuming system resources) as well as free up storage space by removing the program from the hard disk. To uninstall a program in Windows 7, follow these steps: 1. Click the Start button, and then search for programs and features and run it to display the window shown in Figure 8-44. Getting StartED with Windows 7 286 Figure 8-44. The Programs and Features window lists all the programs you’ve installed. (The list you see will differ somewhat from the one shown here.) 2. Next, highlight the program you want to remove. 3. Click the Uninstall button that appears at the top of the list of programs. 4. A confirmation window will appear asking whether you’re sure you want to uninstall the program; click Yes, and the program will be removed. ExplainED In some cases after confirming you want to uninstall a program, you may see another window—this one from User Account Control—confirming you want to remove the program or asking for an administrator password. You may also sometimes be prompted to restart the system to complete the uninstall process. [...]... browsing the Web with Mozilla Firefox instead of Internet Explorer 8 You don’t have to turn off programs or features just because you’re not using them, but doing so will remove them from menus (and search results) so they’re no longer available to any system user NotED Turning off Windows 7 programs requires administrator account access 2 87 Getting StartED with Windows 7 To turn off Windows 7 programs,... of the sting out of these threats by preparing for the worst with a disaster recovery 291 Getting StartED with Windows 7 plan that includes thorough and consistent backups So, before covering the Windows 7 security features, we’ll cover two other Windows 7 features that you should use hand in hand with Windows security: user accounts and Windows Backup When you use these features together, you can’t... follow these steps: 1 In the Windows Firewall window, click Turn Windows Firewall on or off The Customize Settings window is displayed, as shown in Figure 9- 18 Figure 9- 18 Windows Firewall recommended settings are Turn on Windows Firewall 311 Getting StartED with Windows 7 AdvancED By default, Windows Firewall is on for all network connections If you use more than one network, Windows Firewall provides... the search box type Windows Firewall In the list that appears, click Windows Firewall The Windows Firewall settings are displayed There are three types of states for the firewall, as shown in Figures 9-15 to 9- 17 Figure 9-15 Windows Firewall is on and working normally The green shields indicate that the status of the firewall is good 309 Getting StartED with Windows 7 Figure 9-16 Windows Firewall is... these steps: 1 Type Windows features into the Start menu search box, and choose Turn Windows Features on or off to display the window shown in Figure 8- 45 (Note: We’ve lengthened the window and expanded several of the items to provide a better view of some of the options available.) Figure 8- 45 Windows 7 lets you turn off many built-in programs and features 288 Chapter 8: Using Windows 7 Programs 2 To... your computer 2 97 Getting StartED with Windows 7 Browser security settings in Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and most other browsers provide their own security settings and features These features include managing cookies, blocking pop-ups, and blocking dangerous code on web pages AdvancED Windows 7 includes its own firewall, Windows Firewall, and its own spyware protection program, Windows Defender... updates, and then select Install updates automatically (recommended), as shown in Figure 9 -8 Figure 9 -8 With Install updates automatically, you don’t have to remember to check for updates, download them, and install them Windows can do that for you 303 Getting StartED with Windows 7 4 If desired, set how often you want Windows to install updates and at what time, as shown in Figure 9-9 Figure 9-9 When you... Media Center WordPad Windows Photo Viewer Windows Fax and Scan Calculator Sticky Notes Games Windows gadgets 289 Getting StartED with Windows 7 How to download Windows Live Essentials How to add and remove programs How to configure default programs to open supported file types automatically How to associate programs with particular file types How to open a file in a non-default program How to configure... Area Icons window, scroll down to Windows Update, and click the down arrow to view the options available, as shown in Figure 9-11 305 Getting StartED with Windows 7 Figure 9-11 You can use a Windows Update notification to let you know when updates are available 3 Choose how you want Windows Update notifications displayed If you choose Only show notifications, the Windows Update icon will be displayed... Windows Update Microsoft is constantly improving Windows to make your computer more secure and to fix bugs You don’t have to wait for a service pack or the next version of Windows to get these improvements Microsoft makes them available on an ongoing basis through Windows Update With Windows Update you can set up your computer to automatically download and install new updates whenever 301 Getting StartED . NotED Turning off Windows 7 programs requires administrator account access. Getting StartED with Windows 7 288 To turn off Windows 7 programs, follow these steps: 1. Type Windows features. process—and you may wind up with a situation where the default program for a task or file is no longer the one you want. Getting StartED with Windows 7 2 78 Windows 7 lets you view and modify. Windows Media Player /Windows Media Center  WordPad  Windows Photo Viewer  Windows Fax and Scan  Calculator  Sticky Notes  Games  Windows gadgets Getting StartED with Windows 7