With each update, Windows becomes safer. This doesn't mean you can stop paying attention to this issue, however. Rather than getting lulled into a false sense of security, it's best to use some Microsoft training videos to find the latest information on how to keep your operating system safe.

Upgrade and update

The first thing to do is to ensure you're up to date. If you aren't using the most recent version - currently Windows 7 - make sure to get it. Being behind can mean that you are exposed to newer viruses or security risks.

If you do have the latest version, it's also important to make sure you keep up with current updates. Microsoft regularly releases small patches aimed at improving performance and safety. You can make sure you never fall too far behind by installing automatic updates - which take effect when you restart your computer after each download.

Make use of built-in security features

A few security features go beyond simple updates. The important ones are included in the Actions Center and Control Panel. It's worth the time to visit Windows Firewall and Defender and comb through some of the specific options there to keep Windows exactly as you want it. Free software training tutorials will give you advice on what modifications fit your use best.

Bolster your browser

One of the most common sources of security breaches is through your web browser. Because there are many different browser options, it is important to use online training to determine what your choice offers. Firefox, for example, features several add-ons that are not automatically applied at download.

Use passwords

Some security threats aren't downloaded. In order to better prevent unwanted access to your computer, be sure to set a hard-to-crack password.

With some Microsoft training videos and attention to detail, you can keep Windows safe.

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Although Windows 7 is currently the most advanced version of Microsoft's PC operating system available on the market, many business environments still use Windows XP for their computer networks. The developer is trying to convince those still on XP to make the upgrade to 7, since software support for the former will end in 2014. According to Computer Weekly, some software solutions can help facilitate this process.

The news source reports that one of these solutions is offered directly by Microsoft, the Application Compatibility Toolkit (Act). Others come from third party providers - App-DNA, made by Citrix and ChangeBase, owned by Quest Software. The choice between these three options will vary based on a number of factors.

If cost is the chief aspect of the decision on a system for the upgrade from XP to 7, Act is provided free by Microsoft. It does provide some disadvantages, as it requires that application testing for the upgrade be performed manually by technicians and users, which can slow down the process.

ChangeBase's AOK migration solution provides a faster upgrading process, as does App-DNA. Essentially, the choice will be based entirely on a company's budget - Act will provide a perfectly acceptable transition but one that is not always time-efficient, while its paid competitors offer faster results. 

Users who have purchased Windows 8 when it is released and are looking to install it on their computers may be able to benefit from its ability to be run simultaneously alongside Windows 7.

According to ITProPortal, this process is called "dual-boot." For use with Windows 7 and 8, at least 16 GB of partitioned free space is necessary on the computer to store the program files for the new OS if the 32-bit version is being used, while 20 GB or more are required to store the 64-bit version of Windows 8.

To create a partition in which to store Windows 8, go to the Run menu from Start in Windows 7. Type the exact phrase "diskmgmt.msc," hit Enter, and the primary disk drives of the computer will be displayed in the Disk Management window. Select the drive to be partitioned, right-click and choose the Shrink Volume command. Type in the size of the partition manually, in megabytes - since 1 GB is equal to 1024 MB, making a 20 GB partition would require entering 20,480 MB.

Afterwards, click Shrink, wait for the partition to be made, and then download and install Windows 8. Set it up by opening the file setup.exe within the Sources section of the hard drive, choosing the custom installation option. 

Individuals who regularly use computers for professional or recreational reasons may encounter a number of physical difficulties when typing excessively, such as strain to the fingers and wrists. For some, this can lead to serious consequences, and even to carpal-tunnel syndrome. Users of Windows 7 for whom typing is an essential task may want to consider using the operating system's voice control and speech recognition features.

To begin using this function, go to the Control Panel from the Start menu, and find the Ease of Access section. This will contain Speech Recognition, and if it has never been used, it needs to be properly configured first. Click the Start Speech Recognition command to begin this process.

From here, the Speech Recognition Wizard will open. Once a compatible microphone has been connected to the computer, select the type of microphone being used in the wizard and read a sample sentence aloud. This allows the computer to store a recording of one's voice and calculate algorithms related to its natural cadences.

After the wizard is finished, users can take a tutorial to be guided through the various steps of the application. Those who are not familiar with voice recognition software should consider taking advantage of this quick training. Once the tutorial is complete, an icon will be displayed at the top of the screen to indicate that the application is in use.

Windows 7 users often use folders to organize their various documents under whatever system works best for their purposes. These generally have a uniform icon that appears on the desktop or in the documents section of Windows Explorer, displaying a khaki-colored, partially opened file folder. When all of the folders on the desktop look like this, it can be difficult to locate one when in a hurry.

Fortunately, this issue can easily be rectified. Folders can be customized by users as they see fit. Performing this task only involves completing a few steps - users wishing to do so should begin by first right-clicking on the folder they wish to alter the icon for and then selecting the Properties command.

Within Properties, select the Customize tab, located the farthest to the right of all other tabs. Click it and scroll to the bottom section of what is displayed, under the heading Folder Icons, and click Change Icon. Keep in mind that once the change is put in place, previews of the folder's contents will no longer be shown.

A number of icons will be displayed in the screen that appears after clicking Change Icon. Select one from the available offerings, or type C:Windowssystem32imageres.dll for more options. 

In the business environment of today, professionals often need to work with companies based in various different countries of the world, and be able to communicate with colleagues in these areas according to their needs. This makes it necessary to keep track of other time zones, and this task can be easily accomplished by computers using Windows 7.

To begin the process of adding extra clocks, go to the time and date displayed in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen and click once. A full calendar of the month will be shown next to a clock, with an option to "Change date and time settings" in the bottom of the window. Click on this option to continue.

Doing so will bring up a more extensive Date and Time section, divided into three tabs. Click the second of these, marked Additional Clocks. Fields to enter the time zone and display name of two separate clocks will appear. Select the appropriate time zones from the drop-down menu in one or both of these sections, and label them accordingly. Before clicking OK, be sure that the "Show this clock" option is checked off for both clocks.

Once this is complete, the date and time for all three clocks will be displayed whenever the cursor is placed over the lower right-hand corner, and clicking will bring up more extensive displays of these time settings.

While a catastrophic computer crash is unlikely to affect those who have the most up-to-date hardware and software, it is always best to be prepared for the worst, regardless of how improbable such a situation may be. With that fact taken into consideration, it is then essential to back up all of the most important documents, files, videos, music, photos and other types of valuable data onto some form of external system.

This can easily be done when using Windows 7, by going to the system drive section, marked C:, with individual sections for each user of the computer. To change the default location of documents and other important file folders for one user, go to that user's My Documents section, right-click on it and select the Properties option.

In this section, the bottom left tab will be marked Location. Click here and then scroll to the Move button, to move it to any location within the computer or any external device currently connected to it.

To ensure the best protection in the event of a system failure that cannot be easily corrected - or, in the worst case scenario, is irreparable - an external data storage system is recommended for this purpose. For small amounts of files - less than 10 gigabytes, for example - a simple memory stick flash drive can be used, but to back up an extensive music, photo or video library a large external hard drive with at least 100 GB of storage is necessary.

According to analytics firm Stat Counter, Windows 7 is running on 40.35 percent of computers as of October 2011, more than any other operating system. Its popularity is largely contingent on its ease of use. Additionally, its levels of performance can be enhanced by eliminating various inessential software applications and automated functions from a computer system, according to CNET.

The news source reports that improving speed and other aspects of performance can be quite simple - so much so that they could easily be overlooked. As an example, disabling thumbnail view in folders can make them load considerably faster when opened, and this task can be completed by entering the advanced settings of Windows Explorer and checking "always show icons, never thumbnails" in the Folder Options section.

Other, similar options of this variety can be disabled - or enabled - to improve the speed of system processing. Disabling the options to hide extensions for file types and launch folder windows in separate processes will respectively allow you to ensure additional security and operating speed.

Conversely, certain Windows Explorer settings should always be enabled for the same reason. These include showing menus and displaying file size information in folder tips, both of which allow users to keep better track of their computer's performance.

Developers at Microsoft plan to release the debut version of Windows 8, its latest entry in the Windows line of operating systems, in the near future - most estimates point to an early 2012 release date. According to PC Magazine, it is being engineered with efficiency in mind, so that it can run on computer hardware systems originally designed for compatibility with Windows 7.

The news source reports that this feature of the OS' design relates to memory usage, so that 8 will use less actual RAM than its predecessor while still running at levels of performance that are higher or at the very least on par with Windows 7.

This task is accomplished through the consolidation of memory, as well as reducing the amount of automatic functions the computer performs, effectively meaning that the majority of memory usage is solely at the discretion of the user.

Bill Karagounis, the group program manager of the Windows Performance team, stated that the optimization of memory usage efficiency had a great deal to do with the needs of tablet computers, which Windows 8 will be compatible with alongside traditional laptop and desktop computers. Using less memory means that less power is drawn, prolonging the battery life of tablets and unconnected laptops.

IT News recently reported that Windows 8 would phase out the Start menu feature that had previously been a standby of other Windows iterations, in favor of a new primary taskbar.

The technology and software industries are in many ways characterized by a tendency toward quick transitions and updates, with electronics products and programs becoming all but obsolete a few years after their release. Windows XP, which was introduced 10 years ago this month, has notably defied that trend, but Microsoft appears to be looking to gradually transition away from the operating system in favor of Windows 7 and the forthcoming Windows 8.

According to eWeek, Windows XP still has a notable standing in the OS market. A total of 38.54 percent of computers run on it, with Windows 7 beating it by only a slim margin, holding 40.39 percent despite the possibility of being a stronger operating system. Computers using Windows Vista, which was much criticized, and Mac OS 10.6 follow with 11.19 and 7.19 percent, respectively.

The news source reports that Microsoft's desire to phase out XP appears to be based on the considerable popularity of Windows 7, which has sold 450 million copies since its debut two years ago. As a result, the software developer has announced that software support for XP will end slightly more than two years from now, in 2014.

Windows 7 is notably easy for users to transition to from their previous operating system, according to the News-Press.