Windows 7 - What would you add (or remove)

[Rattler5150]

Although windows 8 is being released very soon, windows 7 is still a solid and very usable OS. What features would you add , change or remove from windows 7 to make it better?


For me I would add a utility to modify file associations (similar to the types utility)

The ability to record sounds off the sound card

remove the tons and tons of hard disk space windows 7 wastes

 

[Penguinis Weirdus]

Remove Areo, add the "up" button to the file manager, add multiple desktops, remove the ridiculous amount of abstraction on sharing folders, and in the network and sharing centre, no scratch that REMOVE the network and sharing centre replace it with something good/works.
Remove cmd.exe replace with a UNIX shell. Remove the FUBAR'd admin mode, rewrite to have a root account that doesn't get over ruled by the fecking machine. (GRRR)

Oh and repositories, repositories for everyone so updating my software becomes easy. That is what I shall add.

 

[CrazyJew]

Remove Areo, add the "up" button to the file manager, add multiple desktops, remove the ridiculous amount of abstraction on sharing folders, and in the network and sharing centre, no scratch that REMOVE the network and sharing centre replace it with something good/works.
Remove cmd.exe replace with a UNIX shell. Remove the FUBAR'd admin mode, rewrite to have a root account that doesn't get over ruled by the fecking machine. (GRRR)

Oh and repositories, repositories for everyone so updating my software becomes easy. That is what I shall add.

Basically, make it a nix?

 

[Quadocky]

I wish it had better compatibility with sound hardware and software. Its not so bad, but the control over MIDI compatible devices and drivers is much less than say on older Windows Operating Systems like XP or 98. However one advantage is that Windows 7 can use Virtual Device Drivers so that may make up for it in the long run. However, the inability to choose a default device for MIDI playback via the Windows Interface is pretty dumb.

 

[Idlemessiah]

Windows Media Player 12. You can turn it off but you can't remove it since it's now a "Windows Feature", not a programme.

You also can't downgrade to better versions (like 11) without some fairly major re-writing as far as I'm aware. WinAmp all the way!

 

[Signa]

I want my taskbars back damnit!

I used to drag My Computer to the top of the screen, creating a taskbar of it. 1-click access to my C:, D: and my CD drives. I'd do the same for a folder of shortcuts to my games folder (on the left) and a shortcut to my most common programs (right). All taskbars would auto-hide, so the desktop wouldn't look cluttered, but I could still just be 1-click away from just about everything.

Because of the new taskbar in windows 7, they removed the ability to make more taskbars. It is literally the worst thing about Win7 for me. Everything else I can just ignore, or it doesn't interfere with my habits.

EDIT: I take that back. Libraries have to be the most useless thing I have ever seen. Every time I bring up the "open file" dialogue, I have to work around those being pre-selected to find my files. It used to be where my last selected folder would just be open by default. I can ignore it and even accept that it might be a useful feature to some, but there was no excuse for the removal of taskbars.

 

[Penguinis Weirdus]

Remove Areo, add the "up" button to the file manager, add multiple desktops, remove the ridiculous amount of abstraction on sharing folders, and in the network and sharing centre, no scratch that REMOVE the network and sharing centre replace it with something good/works.
Remove cmd.exe replace with a UNIX shell. Remove the FUBAR'd admin mode, rewrite to have a root account that doesn't get over ruled by the fecking machine. (GRRR)

Oh and repositories, repositories for everyone so updating my software becomes easy. That is what I shall add.

Basically, make it a nix?

And whats wrong with that? It'll be nix with games!

 

[Rattler5150]

an xp like explorer, vista/7 explorer doesnt work

again less hard drive overhead/waste

a way of turning off the media folders

a backup app that can save a hard drive or partition to an image file, similar to easus or the old powerquest drive image did

 

[CrazyJew]

Remove Areo, add the "up" button to the file manager, add multiple desktops, remove the ridiculous amount of abstraction on sharing folders, and in the network and sharing centre, no scratch that REMOVE the network and sharing centre replace it with something good/works.
Remove cmd.exe replace with a UNIX shell. Remove the FUBAR'd admin mode, rewrite to have a root account that doesn't get over ruled by the fecking machine. (GRRR)

Oh and repositories, repositories for everyone so updating my software becomes easy. That is what I shall add.

Basically, make it a nix?

And whats wrong with that? It'll be nix with games!

You mean a nix?

 

[Albino Boo]

Hulking great space guns, everything is better with space guns

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

I'd like to add multi desktops and a tabbed file browser, like what is used in Linux operating systems. When doing multiple tasks it is really handy and something that bugs me when I can't use it when I'm on my windows partition. A smaller base install size would be nice too.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

I would add a shitty user interface and make the regular user interface something which is a separate application so I waste people's time and computer memory/processing power, make it is versatile as an dead overweight sloth, say it's designed for tablets but release it on PC unchanged anyway and still have the nerve to charge ludicrous prices for it. Maybe a different number for the title too. I don't know, 8 or something.

Now if you don't mind, I must go back to my job at Microsoft as Lead Software Designer.

Calumon: I'm Q&A... I can't do anything...

Honestly, I'm cool with Windows 7, besides I think it had a bad case of PC rot on my machine now. Shit.

 

[RobfromtheGulag]

The ability to retain your @#$%ing desktop visual settings.

Keep the icons hidden when I set it that way, and do not keep changing my wallpaper from Fill to Fit every time I reboot.

 

[Rattler5150]

A better search engine, win7 search sucks
The ability for different screen resolutions for each user login

 

[Folji]

One-up it with a variety of improvements Windows 8 will be bringing in, without bringing in the Metro interface.

 

[Alleged_Alec]

I'd like the normal install to be below 15 gigs. Or at least some option to not install all the shitty software which comes pre-installed on it. I'd also like it that I can search normally in my files, actually. And I'd love to have separate buttons again for sleep/hibernate/shut down.

If I was really going to change stuff, I'd like to be able to switch between a user-friendly and an advanced mode. Advanced mode would turn off much of the handholding which the current windows 7 has. Maybe a terminal would be nice as well for easier/faster access.

 

[poundingmetal74]

I would add an XP compatibility mode that actually works. With 64-bit, a good number of my older apps don't work, and it's a debate between loading on 32-bit where they work, but then you lose many gigs of ram. Virtual Machines just don't cut it.

 

[Esotera]

- A load of performance improvements so that it can run much faster on cheaper hardware.
- Get rid of those stupid file extensions
- Replace the file system with one that doesn't need defragging
- An easy option to remove microsoft builtins like IE and media player

Oh, and definitely a much better default command line interface & sysadmin tools. The current ones are absolutely abysmal.

 

[yeti585]

I'd add the older (windows xp) version of MS Paint. This was a big minus for me as I could actually use that version of paint seriously. Now it's what solitaire used to be-a distraction. I'd also like more desktop customization. The biggest thing I'd add is a physical copy of the operating system when buying a pre-built machine. What if my hard drive has a heart attack?

 

[Scarim Coral]

Well for one thing it should have a built in software that allow you to look at your crash file (.dmp). What's the point of Windows making a crash report of your recent pc crash if you can't look it up without installing another software just to look it up!!