Windows 7 Problems

By: Stephen Thiele

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Looking for information on some common Windows 7 problems? Windows 7 is an operating system that Microsoft released in 2009. Windows 7 has been a huge success for Microsoft because it runs much faster than Vista, has an appealing user interface and comes with many cool features. However, like any operating system, there are some problems associated with Windows 7, most of which you can fix on your own.

  1. Vista Upgrade Problems If you are trying to upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 and the upgrade is hanging at 62 percent, don't worry. This is a problem that happens to many people. To fix this problem, you will want to reboot your computer and look for the setup log in your Windows Sources folder. Try to locate what caused the hang up and add an environment variable to fix it.
  2. Aero Isn't Running The Aero theme needs to be enabled on your computer to take full advantage of the default theme in Windows 7. If the theme isn't enabled, you may notice that something like the transparency has been turned off. To fix this Windows 7 problem, simply click the "Start" button, type in "Aero," click on "Find and Fix Problems with Transparency and Other Visual Effects" and follow the directions on your screen to make Aero run.
  3. Custom Icons are Changing A well-known Windows 7 problem is that the themes in Windows 7 will sometimes change your custom icons. Luckily, you can easily fix this problem by right clicking on your desktop, clicking on "Personalize," "Change Desktop Icons" and clearing the box that reads "Allow Themes to Change Desktop Icons." Make sure you press "OK" to save the changes you made.
  4. Missing Explorer Folders Have you ever gone into your "My Computer" folder and noticed that your Recycle Bin or Control Panel icon is missing? If so, don't panic because you can fix this Windows 7 problem in a few seconds. With "My Computer" open, simply click on "Tools" then "Folder Options" and check the box that reads "Show All Folders."
  5. Missing Applets One of the great things about Windows 7 is the fact that it installs so quickly. However, the downside to that is Microsoft removed some of the standard applets, such as Photo Gallery and Movie Maker, from the installation file. To install any applets that you wish to use, simply visit the "Windows Live Essentials" website, where you can install and download any available applets at no cost.
Posted on: Apr. 07, 2011