Now, click Start and examine the options in the right-hand column: You'll see Downloads ready and waiting.

If you're running Windows on a netbook or on an older PC, you no doubt want to keep it lean and fit. Like Vista, Windows 7 makes it easy to turn off unwanted features that might slow down the OS. Unlike Vista, Windows 7 also lets you disable high-profile apps such as Internet Explorer 8, Windows Media Center, and Windows Search.

To make changes, click Start, type Features, and then click Turn Windows features on or off. Wait a few seconds for the menu to appear; when it does, clear the checkbox for any feature you want to disable. (Netbook users, for example, might want to send Windows DVD Maker packing, and there's no sense keeping Tablet PC Components around if you're not using a tablet or other touchscreen PC. Click OK when you're done, and wait (a minute or several) while Windows reconfigures itself.