What are Window Features?

The term, Windows Features, applies to small programs or applications stored in a special dialog box called Windows Components in Windows XP. In Windows Vista and Windows 7 the dialog box goes under a different name, Windows Features.

Despite the different names, each contains various features you can turn on or off.

Windows XP Components Wizard

Vista and Windows 7 Features

Both Components (Windows XP) and Features (Windows Vista and 7) are listed in a dialog box. In these dialog boxes, you will see that some components:

• Switched on (checked)
• Turned off (unchecked)
• Partly on (filled box)

Switching Features on or off

Several features are on by default. You can turn off items if you do not use or need them, simply by unchecking the box. Some need turning on before you can use them.
Two examples of components tuned on by default are the Games feature and Internet Explorer. In Windows 7, there are numerous games available including Internet Games.

Games!

Internet Explorer is a web browser. If you prefer to use a different browser, you can turn this off by unchecking the box.

Internet Explorer

So how do you access these important dialog boxes? Well, it varies according to the version of Windows you are using. We will concentrate on Windows 7 and look at how to open the Windows Features dialog box.
With Windows 7, there are two ways you can do this. The first way is the traditional method through the control Panel but Windows Search provides a quicker way to access it.
Here are the two methods.

Start > Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Turn Windows Features on or Off

Start > Search > Type: windows features > In the Results Box click: Turn Windows Features on or off

In Windows XP and Windows Vista, you need to access the Control Panel.

• For Windows XP, open the Control Panel and select Add or Remove Programs. Then select Add/Remove Windows Components. The Windows Components wizard opens.
• For Windows Vista, open the Control Panel, and select Programs. In Programs and Features select Turn Windows Features on or off.

Once you open the Turn Windows Features on or off dialog box, you will see the active features (checked), partly active (blue box) and inactive (unchecked).
In earlier versions of Windows, before Windows XP, it was difficult to turn any of these features off. This involved uninstalling the component from your computer. For all current Windows, XP, Vista and 7, when you disable (uncheck) a feature, despite being turned off, it remains viable part of Windows secure within Windows itself on your hard disk. Therefore, if you need it again, just check the box.

Remember: Turning off a feature or component does not uninstall the feature. It merely puts it aside. In addition, what’s more, you will not be saving any hard disk space as turning one off either leaves it still there in a dormant state.