Windows 7 is a great operating system and it has a lot of features that are not available in other operating systems. One of the features that Windows 7 has is the multi-monitor taskbar. This taskbar allows you to have multiple monitors connected to your computer and work on different tasks on each monitor. You can also move your documents, pictures, and other files between the monitors without having to worry about them getting lost or damaged. To use the multi-monitor taskbar in Windows 7, you first need to create a new taskbar folder on your desktop. Then, open the Taskbar Properties window and set the Multi Monitor Taskbar property to On. Next, open the Multi Monitor Configuration window and set the following values: Monitor 1: The monitor that you want to use for working on tasks. Monitor 2: The monitor that you want to use for working on tasks but also see what is happening on Monitor 1. This is useful if you have two monitors and want to work on two different tasks at the same time. If you only have one monitor, then set Monitor 1 as your primary monitor and leave Monitor 2 alone. If you have more than one monitor, then set them all up as multi-monitors by setting Multi Monitor Taskbar property to On in each of them. Once you have set up your multi-monitor taskbars in this way, it will be easy for you to work on different tasks on different monitors without having to worry about losing or damaging any of your documents or pictures!
Once a week we round up some of the responses we’ve fired off to How-To Geek readers and share them with everyone. This week we’re looking at how to move the default location for documents in Windows 7, backing up Android, and multi-monitor taskbars in Windows 7.
How Do I Move “My Documents” To A Secondary Disk?
Dear Default Swapper,
I have been reading your site avidly for almost a year. Among others, some of the things I learned from your site were where to get the Windows 8 preview, how to dual-boot my machine, and later how to use EasyBCD to edit the boot files and restore it back to a one OS computer.
I just caught the SSD bug after reading last week’s Ask HTG column, which referenced an article from last year about the differences between SSD vs HDD.
I plan to use the SSD for my OS (Win 7 64-bit) and programs (Office, Photoshop, etc) and an HDD as the file storage drive. My question is, can you write an article, or direct me to information that will show me how, once installed, I can change the default location where files are stored to the second drive, rather than the C: drive? I want it so that when I save files in the ‘My Documents’ folder, they will automatically be written to the second drive, without having to select the drive and the subsequent folders from a dropdown box every time I want to save something.
Thank you so much and keep up the excellent work!
Sincerely,
Default Swapper
Moving the default locations has been a pretty simple affair since Windows Vista. In fact, the quick guide we shared to swapping default locations in Windows Vista works just as well for Windows 7—you can check it out here. Essentially all you need to do, once you install Windows 7, is to right click on each folder in your Windows 7 Library—such as My Documents—and select properties. Under the Location tab, pick a new folder for the folder. That’s it! While you’re tweaking Windows to your liking, don’t forget to customize your Library save locations.
One thing you may want to keep in mind: moving the files to a slower secondary hard drive is going to slow down your workflow. This isn’t a big deal if you’re not accessing the files frequently, but if you’re going to be opening, editing, and saving lots of files all day long then you may wish to at least keep a scratch folder of sorts on your SSD in order to avoid latency.
How Can I Backup Everything On My Android Phone?
Dear Backup 4 Life,
I’m a new Android phone user and I’d really love a simple way to back up everything on my phone. I’m talking everything, short of outright cloning the phone like a computer hard drive. I want to backup my apps, my contacts, my system settings, the whole nine yards. What do I need?
Sincerely,
Backup 4 Life
If you’d like that level of control and depth to your phone backup, there’s no better app for the task than Titanium Backup. You’ll need to root your phone but once you do so, Titanium Backup will back up just about every single thing on your phone. Check out our in-depth guide to using Titanium Backup here.
Setting Up a Multi-Monitor Taskbar in Windows 7
Dear Taskbar Envy,
I saw your article on how to tweak the Windows 8 multi-monitor taskbar. I didn’t realize, until I saw that article, how bad I want a multi-monitor taskbar! The problem is I’m in Windows 7. What can I do? I reallywant a sweet cross-monitor taskbar!
Sincerely,
Taskbar Envy
If you’re rocking multiple monitors in Windows 7 and desiring a little customization, your first stop should be our guide to maxing our the multi-monitor magic under Windows 7. Among other things, you’ll see how to get multi-monitor taskbars in Windows 7—I use Display Fusion Pro and love everything about it. You’ll never go back to a single taskbar again!
Have a pressing tech question? Shoot us an email at ask@howtogeek.com and we’ll do our best to answer it.
