7 Missing Features Of Windows 7 & How To Enable Them

A recent announcement from Microsoft states that more than 100 million licenses have been sold in the last six months, making it the fastest selling OS in the history. Though Windows 7 packs-in plenty of features, it’s missing some of the best features of Vista.

For some unknown reasons, Microsoft discontinued some of the best features such as DreamScene, & Windows Calendar with Windows 7 that were present in it’s predecessor. Ever since Windows 7 beta was released, we have published articles on these missing features and how to enable them in Windows 7 as well. Here are the missing features of Windows 7 and how to enable them:

1. DreamScene: A part of Windows Vista Ultimate extras package. With DreamScene feature, one can set a video as desktop background by replacing the default wallpaper. You can get this ultimate feature in Windows 7 by following our how to enable DreamScene feature in Windows 7 guide.

2. Windows Calendar: Windows Calendar is another most used features of Windows Vista. Though there are tens of third-party calendars available, you can’t compare them with the Windows Calendar. Follow our Windows Calendar program for Windows 7 post to get back the feature in latest version of Windows client.

3. Windows Media Player Taskbar Toolbar: If you are a Windows Media Player user, like me, you must have already noticed the absence of Taskbar Toolbar option. We really don’t know why Microsoft discontinued this with Windows Media Player 12. Never mind, read our how to enable Windows Media Player taskbar toolbar in Windows 7 guide to get it back.

4. Quick Launch Toolbar: Many users actually don’t want to use QLT as one can now use the taskbar as quick launch bar by pinning programs and folders to Windows 7 taskbar. Though this feature is not completely missing from Windows 7, you can’t see Quick Launch Bar in the Taskbar properties. Head over to how to enable/disable Quick Launch Toolbar in Windows 7 to enable the same.

5. Ultimate Extra Games: If you are missing Vista Ultimate Extra games in Windows 7, you can download the popular Tinker game from Microsoft for all editions of Windows 7.

6. Language Interface Packs: Well, this feature was not available for Vista Home Premium edition as well. But we think we need everything in Windows 7 Home Premium because it’s the most commonly used Windows 7 edition. Users with Home Premium and Professional editions who want to change their Windows 7 display language can refer our how to install language packs in Windows 7 Home Premium and Professional editions.

7. Remote Desktop Connection: Another missing feature of Windows 7 Home Premium edition. One can’t use the Remote Desktop Connection to connect to a computer running with Windows 7 Home Premium edition. With Remote Desktop Connection, one can connect to a remote computer in a different location to access programs and files. Follow our how to enable remote desktop connect feature in Windows 7 Home Premium edition to add to connect to a computer running Home Premium edition.

Bonus tip: If you can’t find Windows Movie Maker and Windows Mail

in your Windows 7 Start menu, they are available to download via Windows Live Essentials pack.

Download Windows Calendar For Windows 7

Users who have used Windows Vista for a long time will surely miss the Windows Calendar program in Windows 7. As you may know, Microsoft has excluded Windows Calendar feature from the latest iteration of Windows.

If you have been missing the Windows Calendar in Windows 7, here is smart way to get back this feature in Windows 7. And if you are new to Windows Calendar program, read how to get most out of Windows Calendar program guide.

Follow the simple instructions given below to get back Windows Calendar in Windows 7:

1. First of all, navigate Windir/Program Files (C:\Program Files, where C is your Windows 7 drive) and create a new folder named Windows Calendar.

2. Now, download this ZIP file and extract the contents to C:\Program Files\Windows Calendar.

3. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Windows Calendar\Windows Calendar (where C is your Windows 7 drive), right-click on the WinCal.exe program and select Pin to taskbar option.

4. Click on the Windows Calendar shortcut on the taskbar to start running Windows Calendar program in Windows 7.

5. Enjoy Windows Calendar in Windows 7.

How To Change / Create Start Button ( Orb )

How To Change / Create Your Start Button ( Orb )

Have you come across a Windows 7 theme which you feel could have been better if the Start Orb was different? Don’t let the Orb stop you – it can be changed.

I- Windows 7 Start Orb Changer is a program that allows you to change the circular Start Menu Orb on Windows 7 task bar. The program comes with a collection of 33 different Orb designs to start with. You can also design your own or use Google to find more.

How to use .. Simply open the program’s executable file, create a backup of Windows Explorer to be safe and then click the Change Orb button. Now browse to the Sample orbs directory and apply one of the Orb designs. If you are lucky, I’m saying lucky because the program crashed on me, the Orb will get replaced once Explorer restarts .. really it is worth a try.

The Orbs are nothing more than bitmap files of the correct dimension. Each Orb file has three Orb images - the Orb at the top gives the default look, the second one appears on mouse hover and the third Orb appears when the Start Menu is open.
The program also accepts JPG, PNG and GIF image file types. If you want to restore the original Start Orb, just change the Orb to the first sample start Orb bitmap in the Sample Orbs folder.





II- StartOrbz ( Start Orb Creator ) is a freeware program that allows you to create Windows 7 Start Buttons. It can also change the Orb but only with buttons created using this program .. Its Features :

• Perfect alpha bitmaps created.
• Orbs are resized to the proper dimensions required by explorer.
• Orb bio info like artist name and orb title are embedded into the images. This cannot be edited making sure all artists to get their credit.
• Import/Export Orb sets.
• Rating system. The more you apply an orb, the higher it gets rated. This is not changeable by the user.
• Category system to let users manage there orbs.

Enjoy!

More great Windows 7 Articles coming soon!