Migrating your system to Windows 7 doesn’t have to be a nightmarish headache. With a little planning and preparation you can make the transition to Windows 7 smoothly.

System Requirements
First thing’s first, you’ll need to make sure your system is prepared to handle Windows 7. If any of the following are not true for your system, you need to upgrade your system to match up with 7’s requirements.

• 1 gigahertz (GHz) or f aster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor (What's the Difference?)
• 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• Internet access

Windows 7 is full of surprises and you might have discovered some already by accidentally hitting a particular key combination that moved your screen or had you toggling back and forth when you weren’t ready. If you’re trying to learn some new keyboard shortcuts without resorting to trial and error, however, here are some of the more useful and impressive.

1. Windows + Spacebar

When you hit the Windows key on your keyboard at the same time as the Spacebar you instantly see the desktop. While the active windows don’t minimize, they do become transparent so long as you’re holding down the Windows key and Spacebar simultaneously. This is especially handy if you work in a cubicle or glass-walled environment and need to protect client files or your current instant messenger chat window when your boss or a colleague drops by for a chat. Practice holding the two keys down with a discreet left hand and your visitor will probably never even notice.

Windows XP and Vista both came with standard folders for storing user files, My Documents, My Pictures etc. Windows 7 has taken this idea and expanded it into the ultimate in user-friendly organization: libraries!

Windows 7 libraries serve as your one-stop-shop for storing documents, music, pictures, games, etc.

Let’s use the example of pictures, if you’re anything like me. You probably have half a dozen folders on your desktop with random pictures downloaded from e-mails and your digital camera. That’s not to mention all of the folders of old pics you have on your hard drive. (“Where did I put those pictures of little Timmy falling asleep in his birthday cake?”) With a Windows 7 photo library, you can access all of your pictures from one place… without actually moving or re-saving images.

When a serious error occurs on your system, there are several recovery options available to you, though as anyone who has Windows 7 knows, the options in Microsoft's new operating system are different from those that have come in previous versions.

What to do when you need to repair Windows 7

Use this article as a way to navigate the repair process in Windows 7.  Specifically, we'll talk about making a System Repair DVD, a feature that is unique to Windows 7 and constitutes the best way to restore a damaged system after a major crash or a malicious attack.  Below are the three repair strategies available.