In this Part 4 of my Windows 7 tutorial, I’ll continue my Taskbar walk about

One of the most useful Windows 7 Taskbar features is the new enhanced Notification area.

The Notification area is the area on the Taskbar where your computer clock is located along with other start up programs.

For the most part it provides valuable information and alerts e.g., the availability of Windows updates and virus definitions. But it can also display the icons of useless start up programs you added accidently or were added without your permission during a program installation.

Windows 7 provide three Notification area customization settings.
1. Show icon and notifications.
2. Hide icons and notifications.
3. Only show notifications.

Selecting how you want your Notification area icons displayed can be an important decision. For example: If you choose to ‘Hide Icon and Notifications’ for your network connections icon you’ll not be able to see when you have an internet connection problem or be able to potentially resolve a network connection problem by right clicking on it’s icon and accessing its Properties.

To customize Windows 7's Notification area:
1. Right click on the Start Menu orb.
2. Click on properties.
3. Select Taskbar, Notification area and ‘Customize’.
4. If you’re a bit beyond novice, go down the list of items and customize their behavior - your way e.g., ‘Show icon and notification icon’, ‘Hide icon and notification’ or ‘Only show notification’. However if you’re a novice I suggest you initially check the ‘Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar’ checkbox. By doing so you’ll become aware of all your available notifications and how they interact.

Note: You can always return to the Taskbar, Notification area and Customize panel and reset individual icon behavior.

In my opinion the Taskbar’ cherry on the ice cream sundae is Peek.

Point to the far right end of your Taskbar’s notification area. When you pass your pointer over the non labeled ‘Show Desktop’ Peek button all your open windows will become transparent revealing your Desktop with all its icons and gadgets. Click on the ‘Show Desktop’ Peek button and you’ll switch to your Desktop. Click on ‘Show Desktop’ Peek again and you’ll switch back to all your open program.

You may not find Peek is as useful as Shake and Snap (to be discussed in a future Good Boot), but I’ve grown quite fond of the little fellow.

Oh, and please don’t ask me why there’s no label on the Peek button!

Here’s wishing you a Good Boot.