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Microsoft

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

By greg shultz November 4, 2009, 2:10 AM PST

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Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Windows 7’s Control Panel is literally packed with tools (a.k.a. applets) that allow you to configure and control the way that the operating system works. Because the Control Panel has so many tools, Microsoft added a Search box to make it easy for you to find the tool that you need for a particular task.

To help you become familiar with all of the tools that are available in Windows 7’s Control Panel, I have created the Windows 7 Walkthrough series in which I’ll show you and provide a brief overview of each tool in the Control Panel categories. This one covers the tools in the Programs category.

Keep in mind that I’ll be using the Ultimate edition of Windows 7, which contains some features not available in other editions of the operating system.

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Programs and Features

Programs and Features

When you access Programs and Features you’ll find a list of all the applications that are installed on your Windows 7 system including the date on which they were installed. You can also uninstall any application.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Installed Updates

Installed Updates

If you select View Installed Updates, you’ll see a list of all the updates that Windows Update has installed on your system. You can also uninstall any update.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Turn Windows features on or off

Turn Windows features on or off

If you select Turn Windows features on or off, you’ll see an expandable tree list showing all the available features in Windows 7. You can enable and disable any of the features by selecting or clearing the associated check box. Windows 7 allows you to disable such features as Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, or Windows Search and use third-party alternatives.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Program Compatibility

Program Compatibility

Back on the Programs window and under the Programs and Features section, you can select Run Programs Made for Previous Versions of Windows and access the Program Compatibility wizard, which will walk you through the steps involved in configuring appropriate settings to allow older applications to run from within Windows 7.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Default Programs

Default Programs

When you select the Default Programs item in the Programs window, you’ll have access to four items that you can use to manage how your programs work.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Set your default programs

Set your default programs

Using the features in this window you can specify which programs will be the default program that Windows will run when you select a certain type of file. You can then associate the program with all file types or choose only certain file types.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Set Program Associations

Set Program Associations

If you select Choose defaults for this program, you can individually select file type associations from this window.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Associate a file type or protocol with a program

Associate a file type or protocol with a program

Back on the Default Programs window, you can view and change any of the default file associations for all the available programs and file types.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Change AutoPlay Settings

Change AutoPlay Settings

From the Default Programs window you can access the AutoPlay configuration window that is also available from the Hardware and Sound category.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Set Program Access and Computer Defaults

Set Program Access and Computer Defaults

You can use the settings in the Set Program Access and Computer Defaults window to further fine tune the default program used for certain activities, such as web browsing, sending e-mail, playing audio and video files, using instant messaging, and running Java applets.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Desktop Gadgets

Desktop Gadgets

As you may know, Windows 7 doesn’t have the Windows Sidebar container for Gadgets. As such, you can access the Gadgets user interface from within the Program window.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Programs Control Panel

Programs Walkthrough Map

Programs Walkthrough Map

This tree diagram presents a map of the Programs walkthrough.

Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

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By greg shultz
My first computer was a Kaypro 16 \"luggable\" running MS-DOS 2.11 which I obtained while studying computer science in 1986. After two years, I discovered that I had a knack for writing documentation and shifted my focus over to technical writing.
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