7 What s New in Windows Vista

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1 7 What s New in Windows Vista 7.1 Overview of Windows Vista Microsoft Windows Vista is the first new Windows desktop operating system since the release of Windows XP in Previously known by the codename Longhorn, this longawaited OS is a significant departure from previous versions of Windows. If you are an experienced Windows user, you may find aspects of Windows Vista frustrating at first as you acclimate to the new user interface (especially the Explorer windows). The entire user experience has shifted to be more task-oriented and personalized for the particular user who is logged in to the computer. This chapter highlights only a few of the changes you ll find in Windows Vista. Windows Vista is available in four retail editions: Home Basic Includes the new security features and integrated search, but does not have the new Aero user interface. This edition is the least expensive and will run on computers that do not have the graphics capacity required for the other editions. Home Premium Includes support for the Aero interface and adds multimedia features important to home users (e.g., Windows Media Center and Windows DVD Maker). Business Adds new tools for backing up files and connecting to other computers on a network, but does not include the multimedia games and capability from the Home Premium edition. Ultimate Combines all of the features in the Home Premium edition and the Business edition plus added extras that take advantage of the increased computing power required to run this edition (e.g., Windows DreamScene which allows you to run a looping video as a screen saver instead of static images). There are two additional editions of Windows Vista not available through retail channels: Windows Vista Enterprise (based on the Business edition) is available to businesses only through Microsoft s Volume License program. Windows Vista Starter is a special low-cost, pared-down version of Windows Vista designed for novice computer users in markets where computer use is not a prevalent as it is in the United States and other technologically adept countries. The screen shots in this chapter are from the Business edition of Windows Vista. The features discussed are available in all retail editions unless otherwise specified. What s New in Windows Vista 1

2 Chapter Objectives This chapter will highlight the key features of Windows Vista: Aero User Interface Improved Start Menu New Explorer Interface Instant Search Windows Sidebar and Gadgets File Open and File Save Dialogs Enhanced Security Windows Defender Optimizing Windows Vista for Your Computer Internet Explorer Aero User Interface The most obvious change to Windows Vista is the new user interface Aero. Figure 1 Windows Vista Desktop with a Taskbar Button Live Preview 2 What s New in Office 2007

3 In addition to dramatic new graphics capabilities, Aero includes practical improvements such as live window previews from taskbar buttons. This feature comes in handy when you have multiple application windows open. If you re not sure which window you want, hold your mouse over the taskbar button to see a live preview of the contents of the file. When you open a window, you will notice that you can see through window title bars, giving them a translucent, glassy effect. Figure 2 Window Showing the Aero Glass Effect Aero is not available in the Vista Home Basic edition. Flip and Flip 3D Aero is more than just a pretty interface. The way the desktop works has been modified to make it easier to find the programs and files you need. Windows Flip and Flip 3D are two ways to see live previews of all of your open windows at once. You can flip from window to window until the one you want is on top. Figure 3 Windows Flip What s New in Windows Vista 3

4 To use Flip: 1. Press the Alt key and the Tab key at the same time. Continue to hold down the Alt key. 2. You will see an overlay showing a live preview of all of your open windows. 3. Keep clicking the Tab key until the window you want is selected, then release the Alt key to bring that window forward. To use Flip 3D: 1. Click the Switch between windows button on the taskbar. 2. To flip through the open windows: a. With a scroll mouse, use the scroll wheel to flip backwards or forwards through the stack. When the window you want is at the front of the stack, click it to activate it. Figure 4 Opening Flip 3D b. With the keyboard, press Tab to scroll forward one window or Shift+Tab to scroll backwards one window. When the window you want is at the front of the stack, press Enter to activate it. Figure 5 Flip 3D 4 What s New in Office 2007

5 Try It You can also start Flip 3D by holding down the Windows logo key and the Tab key at the same time. Continue to hold down the Windows logo key, and keep clicking the Tab key until the window you want is on top. Release the Windows logo key to activate that window. 7.3 Improved Start Menu As part of the Windows interface overhaul, Microsoft has reworked the Start menu, doing away with the familiar cascading menus. Instead, the Start menu is divided into two parts. At the right side of the Start menu are links to your personal folder (identified by your user name), links to the various Explorer windows (Documents, Pictures, Music, Search), and links to other areas, such as the Control Panel and Help and Support. Near the bottom of the right side are two new buttons: Use the Lock Button when you will be away from your computer for a short time. The Lock Button secures your computer by requiring you to use your password when you return. The Power Button puts your computer into a sleep state. This reduces power consumption for times you will be away from your computer for a longer period, but may still need to power up quickly when you return. Figure 6 The Start Menu At the left side of the Start menu is a dynamic frame that initially shows the programs you most recently used. To see all of your installed programs, click the All Programs link at the bottom of the menu. The list of programs populates in the left-hand pane. When you click a folder, it expands in place, rather than expanding horizontally in a series of cascading menus. Below the list of programs at the left side is Instant Search where you can enter keywords to find files, folders, and programs. What s New in Windows Vista 5

6 Tips and Tricks Notice that Microsoft dropped the My from My Documents, My Pictures, and My Music. The links to these folders are now called Documents, Pictures, and Music. These folders are all contained within your personal folder (identified by your Windows user name). Turning Off the Computer Where did the Shut Down and Log Off buttons go? Click the small arrow to the right of the lock button and you will see the familiar options to Log Off, Restart, and Shut Down plus new choices to Switch User, Lock, and Sleep. Using the Run Command Where did the Run command go? With Windows Vista, you no longer need the Run command. The Run functionality is built in to the Search function. To run any program, just type the program name into Instant Search. For example, to open the command prompt, click the Start button, type cmd in the Start Search box, and press Enter. Windows Vista will execute the cmd command for you. To use the Run command: 1. Click the Start button. 2. Click All Programs. 3. Click Accessories. 4. Click Run. 7.4 New Explorer Interface The Windows Explorer has evolved significantly from the Windows XP interface. The familiar menu bar, toolbars, and navigation pane are all gone. Also gone is the idea of a single Windows Explorer window where you can access your entire hard drive (although you can still browse from the Computer link from the Start menu). Instead, Windows Vista offers Explorers specific to the type of asset you want to work with documents, pictures, games, etc. For example, the Document Explorer shows all the files in your Documents folder ( My Documents in Windows XP). Even more than in previous versions of Windows, the navigation structure of Windows Vista encourages users to keep all of their personal files within the Documents folder rather than organizing files into folders and subfolders off the main drive. To start the Document Explorer: 1. Click the Windows Start button. 2. Click the Documents link from the Start menu. All of the Explorers share a common interface made up of: Instant Search Command Bar Details Pane Preview Pane Navigation Pane 6 What s New in Office 2007

7 Figure 7 The Document Explorer Window Command Bar The command bar includes all the available commands for the selected item. The buttons on the command bar change depending on the type of item selected. For example, if you select an Excel workbook, the command Bar will include an Open button, a Print button, and an button. Details Pane The Details pane appears at the bottom of the Explorer window. When a file is selected, the file properties (or metadata) are displayed in the Details pane. Preview Pane The Preview pane is hidden by default. To activate the Preview pane: 1. Click the Organize button on the command Bar. 2. Point to Layout, and click Preview Pane. Figure 8 The Layout Menu Favorites Links At the top of the Navigation pane are links to the folders you probably access the most (your Favorites). These links are actually shortcuts to other folders on your computer. They are What s New in Windows Vista 7

8 stored in the Links folder within your personal folder. (The Favorites folder within your personal folder contains your favorite Internet Explorer links.) By default, Vista includes links to your personal folders (Documents, Pictures, and Music) as well as the Search folder for Recently Changed items, the overall Searches folder, and the Public folder. Figure 9 Favorite Links You can customize the Favorite Links: To add a folder to the Favorite Links, click the folder and drag it to the Favorites bar. To remove a folder from the Favorite Links, right-click the folder and select Delete. You are deleting the link, not the actual folder Tips and Tricks The menu bar still exists, but it is hidden in the Explorer windows. To display the menu bar: 1. Click the Organize button on the command bar. 2. Point to Layout, and click Menu Bar. You can also display the menu bar by pressing the Alt key while in any Explorer window 8 What s New in Office 2007

9 7.5 Instant Search Instant Search is key to managing your files and folders. As you begin to type a keyword in the Instant Search box, Windows Vista will immediately return a list of files and folders that match the letter(s) as you type. The search results are narrowed down as you type more letters in your keyword(s). Instant Search searches by filename, metadata, and file contents. Figure 10 As you type, Instant Search narrows down the list of results Instant Search is available from almost anywhere in Windows Vista: From the bottom of the Start menu In the top right corner of the Explorer windows Internet Explorer Windows Media Player Open and Save dialogs When you use Instant Search from within an Explorer window, the search is restricted to files within that folder and subfolder. If you want to widen the search parameters, open the Search window from the Start menu: What s New in Windows Vista 9

10 1. Click the Start button. 2. Click Search. 3. In the search box, begin typing a word or words related to the file you are trying to find. 4. Windows Vista searches through the files on your computer and instantly returns a list of matches, organized by type. 5. If you want to limit the search by type of file, click one of the options: , Document, Picture, Music or Other. 6. Use Advanced Search to add criteria such as file location or author to your search. Figure 11 Open the Search Window from the Start Menu Figure 12 Search Results using Advanced Search 10 What s New in Office 2007

11 Search Folders Search folders are virtual folders that automatically update their contents based on saved search parameters. Search folders are a great way to organize your files without restricting your organization to a traditional folder and subfolder hierarchy. Searches are saved within your personal folder. When you open an Explorer window, Searches is included in the Favorite Links list. To use a Search folder: 1. Click Searches in the Favorites Links list. 2. Double-click the Search Folder you want. By default, Windows Vista includes search folders for your most recent items (Documents, , Recently Changes, etc.). You can also create your own virtual folders based on criteria you define. Figure 13 Your Searches Folder What s New in Windows Vista 11

12 To create a search folder: 1. Using Instant Search, enter the criteria you want to define your search. 2. Click the Save Search button. 3. In the Save As dialog, type a name for your search folder in the File name: box. 4. Click Save. Figure 14 Saving a Search Folder Tips and Tricks By default, you ll see that the search is limited to Indexed Locations. Windows indexes the files in default locations like your personal folder and subfolders to make searching faster. To learn more about indexing options: 1. Open the Control Panel from the Start menu. 2. Click System and Maintenance. 3. Click Indexing Options. Try It Can t remember how to do something in Windows? Try using Instant Search in the Control Panel. 1. Open the Control Panel. 2. In the Search box, type a word or phrase that describes what you want to do. Search returns a list of all the utilities that match your key word. 12 What s New in Office 2007

13 7.6 Windows Sidebar and Gadgets One of the first things you ll notice on the Windows Vista desktop is the Windows Sidebar. As its name implies, Sidebar is a collection of gadgets, or mini-programs, that appears by default at the right side of the desktop. Gadgets range from news feeds to calendars and clocks to slide shows. Tips and Tricks At first, Windows Vista included less than a dozen gadgets. However, there are now hundreds of gadgets available online. Some gadgets are strictly for fun; others can help you work more productively. Click the Get more gadgets online link at the bottom of the gadgets list to see what s available, or go online directly to the Windows Vista Gadget Gallery at To add a gadget to the Windows Sidebar: 1. Click the + at the top of the Sidebar. 2. Double-click the gadget you want to add. Figure 15 Adding a Gadget to the Sidebar Most gadgets allow you to customize settings like time zone for the Clock gadget or city and state for the Weather gadget. To modify the settings for a gadget: 1. Point to the gadget you want to modify. What s New in Windows Vista 13

14 2. Click the tool icon. 3. Change the settings you want, and click OK. (Each gadget has different options available. In this example, you can set the city and specify Fahrenheit or Celsius for the temperature for the Weather gadget.) To remove a gadget from the Sidebar: 1. Point to the gadget you want to remove. 2. Click the delete icon. Figure 16 Changing the Weather gadget settings 7.7 File Open and File Save Dialogs If you are using Office 2007 (or any application that uses the native Windows dialog boxes), you will notice a new style in the Open and Save As dialog boxes. Figure 17 The Save As Dialog The translucent window effect is part of the Vista Aero user interface. Both of these dialogs incorporate other Vista features as well, like the new Explorer interface. The navigation pane appears at the left side of the dialog. From the Organize button on the command bar, you can display or hide the Details pane and the Preview pane (just as you can in the Explorer windows). You can hide the Explorer interface by clicking the Hide Folders arrow. 14 What s New in Office 2007

15 Figure 18 Save As Dialog with Folders Hidden Display the Explorer interface again by clicking the Browse Folders arrow. When saving files, you can add keywords to the Tags: list near the bottom of the dialog. Click the list of keywords (or the Add a tag text) and type the keyword(s) you want associated with the file. Instant Search is particularly helpful if you don t know exactly where the file you want to open is located. Begin typing the name of the file or a keyword in the Instant Search box, and Vista will return a list of matches as you type. You can also access your Search folders from the Favorite Links list in the Navigation pane at the left of the Open dialog. Figure 19 The Open Dialog Utilizing Instant Search What s New in Windows Vista 15

16 7.8 Enhanced Security One of the main reasons to upgrade to Windows Vista is its security enhancements. Windows has become notorious for exposing your computer to viruses, malware, and other security threats. With Windows Vista, Microsoft addresses some of the worst of Windows XP s vulnerabilities. When you first install Windows Vista, the Windows security features are enabled by default. You can access these programs through the updated Windows Security Center. To open the Windows Security Center: 1. Click the Start button. 2. Click Control Panel. 3. Click Security. 4. The Windows Security Center shows the security status of your computer and provides links to work with security programs like Windows Firewall and Windows Defender. (Windows Defender is discussed in detail in the next section of this chapter.) Figure 20 Windows Security Center User Account Controls User Account Controls (UAC) is one of the key features in Windows Vista. UAC protects the computer in a business setting by preventing installation of unwanted, unauthorized, or malicious software. UAC provides the same protections in a home environment, where there may be many different users (including children) on the same computer. UAC is enabled by default on all versions of Windows Vista. 16 What s New in Office 2007

17 With UAC, both Administrator and Standard user accounts are given the lowest level of permission necessary for everyday tasks. Higher-level permissions should be used only when necessary for performing administrative tasks, such as installing or uninstalling software. If a Standard user attempts an action that requires higher permission, the account is blocked from completing the action. If an Administrator user attempts the same action, Windows Vista will prompt the user to allow or deny the action. While UAC can provide additional security by protecting the computer from some vulnerabilities, it has its detractors. If you are used to having an Administrator account on your own computer, with full rights and permissions, you may find the UAC prompts so intrusive that you turn off UAC (and thereby leaving your computer at risk to unauthorized changes). You can turn UAC off from the User Accounts section of the Control Panel. Figure 21 Turning UAC On or Off Improved Firewall Microsoft introduced a firewall with Windows XP Service Pack 2. This firewall automatically checks every incoming (or inbound) communication from the Internet, allowing any traffic that is in response to a request from the computer (solicited request) or (unsolicited) traffic as long as the originator is explicitly authorized from the rules or exceptions list. This type of firewall protects your computer from attacks from external sources. For Windows Vista, Microsoft improved the firewall with an optional added layer of protection, blocking traffic that originates from your computer (outgoing or outbound traffic). By default, though, all outbound connections are allowed, as under normal circumstances you don t want to block all Internet traffic originating your computer or you wouldn t be able to use the Internet or ! Instead, you (or your network administrator) can create a set of rules blocking outgoing traffic. Unfortunately, the new Windows firewall does not provide a user-friendly option to first block all outgoing traffic and then allow the user to allow or deny access one program at a time as each program attempts to connect (like most retail firewalls from companies like Symantec or McAfee do). Instead, you must manually configure access for each program individually through the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security utility. This process is not for the computer novice. You must be logged in with an Administrator account to access this feature. What s New in Windows Vista 17

18 Figure 22 Windows Firewall with Advanced Security To use Windows Firewall with Advanced Security: 1. From the Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, then Administrative Tools, and then Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. 2. Click Outbound Rules to see the list of predefined rules (all of which Allow outgoing connections). 3. From the Action menu, click Add Rule to define a specific rule. 4. The Outbound Rule Wizard walks you through blocking outgoing traffic by program, port, or predefined connection types (like connecting to a network printer or Microsoft Meeting Space). Try It The fastest way to open the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security program is to click the Start button and type Firewall in the Instant Search box at the bottom of the Start menu. Tips and Tricks Like the Windows XP firewall, the Vista firewall gives you an option to override your exceptions list (useful for times when you are using a less secure network, such as public Wi-Fi). (This option affects only incoming transactions, not outgoing.) To secure your computer against all unsolicited incoming transactions: 1. Click the Start button. 2. Click Control Panel. 18 What s New in Office 2007

19 3. From the Control Panel, click Security. 4. From the Security page, under the Firewall section, click Turn Windows Firewall on or off. 5. In the Windows Firewall Settings dialog, click the check box to Block all incoming connections. (In the Windows XP firewall, this option is called Don t allow exceptions.) 6. Click OK. Tips and Tricks If you are running Vista Ultimate or Enterprise, you have an additional security feature available. BitLocker encrypts your entire hard drive, checks the encryption key upon start up and blocks Windows from starting if any tampering is detected. BitLocker not available for Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, or Business. Figure 23 Windows Firewall Settings 7.9 Windows Defender Windows Defender is Vista s built-in malware/spyware protection program. By default, Defender is enabled and protecting your computer. The Windows Defender home page will tell you if there are any potential threats detected and the date and time of the last full scan. To open Windows Defender: 1. Click the Start button. 2. Click All Programs. 3. Click Windows Defender in the list of programs. Figure 24 Starting Windows Defender What s New in Windows Vista 19

20 Figure 25 Windows Defender Home Page From the Windows Defender home page, click the Tools button to open the Tools and Settings page. From here, you can set Options such as specifying which files to scan and when to scan them. If you are using Internet Explorer 7 as your browser, you can also configure Windows Defender to scan files when you download them. Figure 26 Windows Defender Tools and Settings 20 What s New in Office 2007

21 Try It Windows Defender is available free for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 computers. You can download it from Microsoft Downloads Center at Optimizing Windows Vista for Your Computer Like any new operating system, Vista requires more hardware resources than its predecessors. To help people understand how their computers are performing under Vista, Microsoft has developed the Windows Experience Index. 1. Click the Windows Start button. 2. Click Control Panel. 3. Click System and Maintenance. 4. Click Performance Information and Tools On this page, you see a base score that tells you how your computer performs under Vista. You also see subscores for components such as memory and graphics. The base score is equal to the lowest subscore, not the average. (Microsoft is currently calculating these scores on a scale from 1 to 5.9 so a score of 3.7 is not as bad as you might think!) What these scores tell you is where your computer could take advantage of a hardware upgrade (in the graphics card, for instance). It can also help you understand why some programs seem to run faster or slower than others. Figure 27 Windows Experience Index Score What s New in Windows Vista 21

22 Click each of the options in the Tasks list to make adjustments to your computer s settings. For example, if your computer has a low subscore for graphics, and you are using the computer primarily for spreadsheet computation, you may want to turn off some or all of the Aero interface graphic elements. (Changing any of these options required administrative privileges and UAC authorization.) 1. Click the Adjust visual effects option under the Tasks list. 2. Click the radio button for Adjust for best performance. 3. Click OK. Try It From the Control Panel, you can access other tools for optimizing your computer s performance. From the Control Panel, click System and Maintenance. At the bottom of the list, click Administrative Tools, or click one of the options: Free up disk space Defragment your hard drive Figure 28 Modifying Performance Options View event logs Schedule tasks Create and format hard disk partitions 7.11 Internet Explorer 7 Internet Explorer 7 was released officially in October 2006, well before the release of Windows Vista. While IE 7 is the browser included with Vista, it is not restricted to Vista. Windows XP users can install and use IE 7 and take advantage of its improved browsing and security features. What are the four essential things you must know about Internet Explorer 7? 1. How to use the tabbed interface 2. Turning the pop-up blocker on and off 3. Turning the phishing filter on and off 4. Using RSS feeds 22 What s New in Office 2007

23 How to Use the Tabbed Interface IE 7 uses a tabbed interface. With past versions of IE, if you wanted multiple Web pages open at the same time, you needed to open multiple instances of the browser. Now with IE 7, you can have multiple pages (represented by tabs) open within the same window. This makes navigating between Web pages much easier. Just click the tab you want to bring that page forward. To close a tab, click the x in the upper right corner of the tab. IE 7 does not have the same menu bar or toolbars as previous versions of Internet Explorer. Instead there are buttons available to the right of the tabs. These buttons include Home (to return to your home page) and Tools (to manage your Internet options). Figure 29 Internet Explorer 7 Tips and Tricks If you click the close button at the upper right corner of the Internet Explorer window when you have multiple tabs open, IE will ask you if you want to close all the tabs before closing the window. This prompt is helpful while you get used to having multiple Web pages open in the same window. Try It The Internet Explorer menu bar is still available just hidden. Press the Alt key on your keyboard to reveal the menu bar. Press the Alt key again to hide it. What s New in Windows Vista 23

24 If you have many tabs open, use Quick Tabs to see a thumbnail view of all the open Web pages. Click one of the thumbnails to bring that tab forward, or click the Quick Tabs tab again to close the Quick Tabs view. Figure 30 Quick Tabs View Turning the Pop Up Blocker On and Off IE 7 includes a built-in pop-up blocker. By default, the pop-up blocker is enabled. When you open a Web page that attempts to show a pop-up, IE 7 shows an alert bar across the top of the page. Click the alert bar if you want to allow the pop-up (either temporarily or permanently). Figure 31 A Web Page with Pop-Up Blocked To turn the pop-up blocker off or adjust the settings, click the Tools button, point to Pop-Up Blocker and select the option you want. 24 What s New in Office 2007

25 Figure 32 The Tools Menu Turning the Phishing Filter On and Off Phishing (pronounced fishing ) is the term used to describe Internet scams that use a fake Web page to try to trick you into providing your private information. Generally, these scams start with an presenting itself as coming from a legitimate source a bank or online retailer that you use. The requests that you click a link to verify your password or provide other personal information. The link in the takes you to a page that may look legitimate but it is actually part of a scam used to steal your personal information. IE 7 includes a security filter to help you identify potential phishing Web sites. To turn the phishing filter on or off, to check a particular Web page, or to report a suspected phishing site, click the Tools button, point to Phishing Filter and select the option you want. Using RSS Feeds RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds allow you to subscribe to Web information that is updated frequently, such as news feeds and blogs. If you are on a page that offers an RSS Feed, the Feeds button will highlight. To view and subscribe to an RSS feed: 1. Click the Feeds button. If the page offers more than one RSS feed, click the button arrow, then specific feed you want to subscribe to. What s New in Windows Vista 25

26 Figure 33 A Web Page with Feeds 2. On the following page, you will see a list of all the recent feeds from the site. If you want to subscribe, click the Subscribe to this feed link in the box that appears at the top of the page. 3. In the dialog that appears, confirm the Favorites folder name where you want the feeds saved (Feeds by default), then click Subscribe. Figure 34 Subscribing to a Feed 4. To return to the RSS feed page, click the Favorites button, then click the Feeds button. Feeds that have new items appear bold. Point to the feed name to see how many new feeds are available. Click the feed name to return to that page. 26 What s New in Office 2007

27 Figure 35 Feeds list in Favorites Tips and Tricks If you use Outlook 2007, the feed is added to your RSS Feeds folder automatically and is updated whenever new information is available. What s New in Windows Vista 27