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TR Dojo

by Bill Detwiler, Head Technology Editor
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Windows 7 has received lots of attention from the tech press, but much of the focus has been on interface changes, such as the redesigned taskbar. And, I know what you’re thinking. You’re tired of hearing how much better Windows 7 is than Vista. Frankly, I don’t blame you. Deserved or not, Vista has achieved Edsel status.

Does Windows Vista deserve its negative image?

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Yet, once you take a look at some of Windows 7 new or enhanced tools designed for power users and support pros, you might think of the new OS as a new sports car or at least a fuel-efficient hybrid. During this TR Dojo episode, I’ll discuss the following Windows 7 tools that may make Windows 7 detractors reconsider:

  1. Problem Steps Recorder: A handy support tool that records keystrokes, mouse clicks, and screenshots
  2. Windows Disc Image Burner: A built-in ISO and IMG file burner
  3. System Repair Disc: Lets you create a system restore/recovery disc
  4. Backup Utility: A significant improvement over the Windows Vista version
  5. Windows PowerShell: Extremely powerful command-line shell and scripting tool

For those of you who prefer text to video, you can click the Transcript link that appears below the video player window or you can also read Debra Shinder’s article, “10 cool tools in Windows 7,” on which the episode is based.

You can also sign up to receive the latest TR Dojo lessons through one or more of the following methods:

ยท Follow Bill Detwiler on Twitter

Bill DetwilerBill Detwiler is Head Technology Editor of TechRepublic. Previously, he worked as a Support Tech and IT Manager in the social research and energy industries. Read his full bio and profile. You can also follow him on Twitter.

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Does Windows Vista deserve its negative image? Bill Detwiler - TechRepublicTechrepublic Moderator | 09/28/09
System Repair Disc... useful? mixty | 09/29/09
System Repair Disc peter.mannell@... | 10/07/09
'as good as xp' roy.evison@... | 10/12/09
To the guy crowing about market share.... jdickey | 09/29/09
Marketshare sinnistar | 09/29/09
Endusers are not the same behind Linux as they are behind Windows bsavage@... | 10/07/09
Well I have end users who jackie40d@... | 02/04/10
on the shelf roy.evison@... | 02/07/10
why do u have to run windows in VM Turd Furgeson | 09/29/09
why does anyone run windows in VM? Spacecase | 09/29/09
??? jonquilmcd | 09/30/09
??? - Math doesn't lie Spacecase | 10/01/09
Assuming I need the same hardware / specs. Palmetto | 10/07/09
Your Math is personal bsavage@... | 10/07/09
if you choose your numbers 'math' does indeed lie paladin2 | 10/07/09
p.s. Spacecase | 10/01/09
CR info jonquilmcd | 10/04/09
Support bsavage@... | 10/07/09
why does anyone run windows in VM? jackie40d@... | 02/08/10
Zero problems with Vista Baruch Atta | 09/29/09
ZERO? Russell Gates | 09/29/09
Internet Jocky adrich | 09/29/09
Have you ever spent... Spacecase | 09/29/09
Never have spent that long adrich | 10/01/09
Spent 10 hours tyleradkisson@... | 10/13/09
Tongue in cheek? Russell Gates | 09/30/09
it's not a Vista specific issue jonquilmcd | 09/30/09
jonquilmcd-Reply-Vista is a Zero Russell Gates | 10/01/09
ZERO Problems ? jackie40d@... | 02/04/10
Good advice.. JCitizen | 02/05/10
Yes, a Ford is 'better' than a BMW. Palmetto | 10/07/09
Windows Vista AND Office 2007 portable@... | 09/29/09
RE: Windows Vista AND Office 2007 tkeller@... | 09/29/09
Well stated therealjunkman@... | 09/29/09
Olds dogs DO... anthemwebs@... | 02/06/10
I always wanted to teach... JCitizen | 02/07/10
New Tools SgtPappy | 09/29/09
After watching the movie jackie40d@... | 09/29/09
That very thought crossed my mind: therealjunkman@... | 09/29/09
New windows tools - Spacecase | 09/29/09
I thought of it too jonquilmcd | 09/30/09
Copy/Rename mudpuppy1 | 09/29/09
Yes, but .... Kenneth.mullins.ctr@... | 09/29/09
Vista's unpardonable sin marcedhk@... | 09/29/09
An interesting Netbook experience Spacecase | 09/29/09
Vista's unpardonable sin peter.mannell@... | 10/09/09
5 tools in Win 7 kwkid | 09/29/09
Right, else, some would be outta work therealjunkman@... | 09/29/09
jonquilmcd Vista ZERO Russell Gates | 09/30/09
hmmm jonquilmcd | 10/01/09
I agree Russell Gates | 10/02/09
Just like web sites - lots of pages anthemwebs@... | 02/03/10
Windows 7 Agile VPN Client is great! andreas.steffen@... | 10/07/09
Interesting that you should use the Edsel Analogy since Win 7 & Office 2007 Ed.Carden@... | 10/08/09
7 vs. Vista mudpuppy1 | 10/09/09
Thanks for the Link/Tip Ed.Carden@... | 10/12/09
Once again cannot use your polls bboyd@... | 09/28/09
I just used it and it was fine in FF 2.0.0.20 jck | 09/28/09
Poll worked on FF3.5.3 with NoScript but .... j.fairley@... | 09/29/09
everything worked fine zclayton3 | 09/29/09
Worked for me fine therealjunkman@... | 09/29/09
Try it this way jackie40d@... | 09/29/09
Problem is due to NoScript, Not FireFox kwkid | 09/29/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 pellegrini@... | 09/29/09
Definitely IT pro/geek oriented features Bill Detwiler - TechRepublicTechrepublic Moderator | 09/29/09
TechRepublic is a site for IT professionals hegeman | 09/29/09
You are right, except... therealjunkman@... | 09/29/09
Burn ISO - Yawn, what's new N4AOF | 09/30/09
Agreed Shippers | 09/29/09
"geek wanted" features adrich | 09/29/09
Thanks. That's what I thought. Palmetto | 10/07/09
hackneyed features pubdaddy | 10/07/09
reply: 'hackneyed features' roy.evison@... | 10/08/09
Let me give you 1/2 of what you need vendors@... | 10/08/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 oguzhanssan@... | 09/29/09
Problem Steps Recorder? Gee sounds like Macro Recorder 3.1B TG2 | 09/29/09
Microsoft has definitely stumbled a few times Bill Detwiler - TechRepublicTechrepublic Moderator | 09/29/09
GEEZ I hope not ! jackie40d@... | 09/29/09
Who cares adrich | 09/29/09
windows 7 repair is why jackie40d@... | 10/01/09
Windows 7 repair adrich | 10/01/09
That's the vendors' and customers' fault, not Microsoft's Palmetto | 10/07/09
Can you post anything that doesn't include the word 'Linux'? Palmetto | 10/07/09
I would but jackie40d@... | 10/13/09
please define 'stumpled' paladin2 | 10/07/09
It's a misspelling Palmetto | 10/07/09
Problem Steps Recorder? hlatimer@... | 09/29/09
PSR - More that for recordning problems jim.achuff@... | 09/29/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 danny.kellett@... | 09/29/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 Bill Wilson | 09/29/09
Why the big fuss? sinnistar | 09/29/09
Thats what i said to jackie40d@... | 09/29/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 myrna3356 | 09/29/09
No more orange shirts Bill Detwiler - TechRepublicTechrepublic Moderator | 09/29/09
We want to see you in a green shirt...... SgtPappy | 09/29/09
TR's answer to Max Headroom !! {nt} OldER Mycroft | 09/29/09
I wanna see you in Cammie's Palmetto | 10/07/09
Who the hell notices THAT? therealjunkman@... | 09/29/09
Good Start... cfleshner@... | 09/29/09
excuse me??? On steroids? alliancemillsoft@... | 09/29/09
Why does everyone hate Vista so? trevor@... | 09/29/09
Vista is fine for me b.g.domin@... | 09/29/09
Why does everyone hate Vista so? mmdmurphy@... | 09/29/09
I like Vista; I just wish it was faster msawyer91 | 09/29/09
Win7 just a step linear_again@... | 09/29/09
Actually.... blarman | 09/29/09
The size of the OS tells the history rosrj2003 | 09/29/09
It's all about value blarman | 09/29/09
Can you explain the points you make please? colin.hempsey@... | 10/11/09
Colin, many big businesses did NOT switch to Vista Deadly Ernest | 10/11/09
Hear is some more... JCitizen | 10/11/09
Shoot, in my Linux it always remembers the place I last Deadly Ernest | 10/12/09
I keep saying I'm... JCitizen | 02/05/10
first step ish roy.evison@... | 02/07/10
An example of a change in Vista (os) that was counter to ... TG2 | 10/12/09
Ok Thanks guys colin.hempsey@... | 10/13/09
It's about fashion and ignorance Kevin.Legrande@... | 09/29/09
There are some neat things Russell Gates | 09/30/09
NTbackup improved? thelastryan | 09/29/09
Not NTBackup melias@... | 09/29/09
Windows Backup on Vista sucked mixty | 09/29/09
gayness thelastryan | 09/30/09
This is the best you could do? mmdmurphy@... | 09/29/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 johnexternal@... | 09/29/09
Third Party Apps work great reisen55@... | 09/29/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 buzzlair | 09/29/09
5 features that have been around forever! alliancemillsoft@... | 09/29/09
Windows 7 ? ROFLMAO ! jackie40d@... | 09/29/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 3dBloke | 09/29/09
Edsel gstrickland@... | 09/29/09
Damning with faint praise zclayton3 | 09/29/09
Disc image burner? I prefer... pandu@... | 09/29/09
About time! msawyer91 | 09/29/09
Nice out takes Anita Y. Mathis | 09/29/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 deefburger | 09/29/09
Five features that make me wonder why anyone would buy Windows 7 bblackmoor@... | 09/29/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 tekkie? | 09/29/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 oromo | 09/29/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 jackie40d@... | 09/29/09
What's up with the 9-track tape drive in the background? tom_mullenaux@... | 09/29/09
The Only Thing That Will Make Me Love Windows 7 JonathanX | 09/29/09
The Only Thing That will Make Me Love Windows 7 LdyontheNet | 09/29/09
A keystroke recorder AND a screen capture tool?!? jasondlnd | 09/29/09
Nice pointing it out mixty | 09/29/09
My thoughts exactly! lwalke23 | 10/05/09
Exactly!... JCitizen | 10/05/09
So delete it from your builds GetReal-mac.com | 10/07/09
track hack roy.evison@... | 10/08/09
Windows 7 is Vista MytonLopez@... | 09/29/09
Ahem !! - I'm jumping for joy ... OldER Mycroft | 09/29/09
Vista sucks mudpuppy1 | 09/29/09
RE: Vista sucks MytonLopez@... | 10/02/09
Vista still sucks mudpuppy1 | 10/07/09
Re: Vista still sucks MytonLopez@... | 10/20/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 rborkowskijr@... | 09/29/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 matt.semenza@... | 09/29/09
disc img burner? jzou@... | 09/29/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 CallMrStone | 10/02/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 saved2serve@... | 10/03/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 davephan | 10/07/09
Bill, the poll and opening post don't match the topic. Palmetto | 10/07/09
Vista launch intrinsically linked to Windows 7 launch Bill Detwiler - TechRepublicTechrepublic Moderator | 10/08/09
You're gonna need all these fix-it tools with Win 7 cbellur@... | 10/07/09
problem steps recorder won't help enquiries@... | 10/07/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 scott.ager@... | 10/07/09
IBM AS/400 aka iSeries, System i, Power i Servers TheKatman | 10/07/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 matt-the-cat | 10/07/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 paultucker | 10/09/09
WOuld you like a quick way to Enable/Disable UAC with a click? Ed.Carden@... | 10/12/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 Deadly Ernest | 10/10/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 stenman@... | 10/28/09
RE: Video: Five features that will make you love Windows 7 dfarrich@... | 02/04/10
Apps that worked? anthemwebs@... | 02/07/10
Same here... NEW JCitizen | 02/08/10

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