Glad it worked out :)
Regard 1): Before moving onward with any suggestions here, did you install the Qubes-Windows-Tools inside Windows 7 after you successfully installed it? Normally templates have this by defauly out-of-the-box, but any VM's installed with no Qubes code, has no "receiving" machanism. So you need to install the Qubes code inside Windows 7, in order to receive files. Is this done yet? If not, then you can find the method on how to do so in Daniel Moerner's second link up above. Also when you see a hanging transfer but the AppVM itself is not hanging, it usually means it's pending or waiting for a response. But since Win7 can't communicate back, it'll just hang. So it seems like it's normal behaviour. If you installed Qubes-Windows-Tools however, and it still hangs on file transfers, then something is indeed wrong. But be sure it's installed first, before looking for bugs.
Regard 2):
I agree with what Qubed One suggested, that the command he listed can fix it by getting the list updated in the Qubes menu, so starting Windows by selecting a windows application. But the icon to simply just start Windows, and nothing else is removed. I'm not sure why, but it's probably just a designer opinion. It's that icon you're looking for right?
However, if you want to work-around this, then you can quickly fix this with a customized menu button, keybind, or even a script, whichever you prefer, they all do the same. If you prefer an icon to click on, then look abit further below. A script is a bit overkill for a single command, you don't need it for this particular case. All these solutions has to be done in dom0. For the keybind, Write xfce4-keyboard-settings in your dom0 terminal to open keyboard GUI settings window, or find it in the Qubes menu --> System-Tools. Then look for the "Application Shortcuts" tap in the window, and then click add a shortcut.
You can just put in "qvm-start win7new", which will then boot up your win7 when pressed.
If you want to make an icon, then the simpler choice is to use the xfce4 Launcher widget, which is included but not enabled in your menu panel. Try right click on your menu panel (top of screen by default install), click "Add new item" and then find Launcher, its usually at the top of the list.
The launcher will be invisible since no icons are in it at first, but you can typically find it on the far right of your xfce4 panel. Right click on it, and click "move", and then drag it to a location you think is suitable. For example next your Qubes menu? Then you got a launcher for your frequently (or special used) applications. To add one (or more) application shortcuts to the launcher, right click on the launcher and click "Properties". Then the "plus" icon to add an application.
It's important to notice that you can only pick application links in the launcher which have been updated by the Qubes app-sync feature (in addition to the app-sync, they must also be made visible in the menu's for the launcher to be able to detect them), and put in the default Qubes menu. Which means unselected programs in the Qubes menu, won't be pick-able in the launcher menu either. However this isn't a big problem, it's just important to know if you can't find the application you're looking for.
However, the launcher doesn't have to use Qubes menu application links, if you know the command, you can create your own. Since qvm-start Win7 is removed, you will have to do just that. Just open the launcher's properties again, pick any icon shortcut link in there, it really doesn't matter which one, just any, it wont matter. Then after its added, click on the "edit" icon while selecting the random icon. Change the name, i.e. Win7, and delete the command line, and write in "qvm-start win7new". Essentially, you change the link entirely to a new identity which you yourself described.
You can change the icon too, there are many you can pick from, but there are no windows icons in dom0, not that I know of anyway. But it can be a bit tricky to find whats in dom0 anyway, dom0 icons are spread allover the place on various places, especially considering Qubes save each icons for each AppVM, in each separate folders. If you want a windows icon however, then you need to find one by googling it, and download a suitable sized png picture or similar. But before you move the picture to dom0, it should be secured because even pictures can be exploitable. The risk might be remote in this day and age, but it's a risk nonetheless.
I haven't had the need my self, so I haven't used it before, but in the AppVM where you have your downloaded windows icon picture, use "qvm-convert-img" /path/to/picture.png /path/to/new-secured-picture.png"
I believe that's sufficient to make the command work as intended, to remove any exploits that might hide in a picture. I'm not sure if it changes picture quality, but it shouldn't matter too much for an icon if its a picture that is automatically scaled down to a small size when you apply it to an icon, and you can always scratch it if it doesn't look good anyway.
Then transfer this icon to dom0 with "qvm-run --pass-io <src-vm> 'cat /path/to/file_in_src_domain' > /path/to/file_name_in_dom0"
Source:
https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/copy-from-dom0/
Be mindful that every time you move something to dom0, you take a risk. Eventually it can go bad, especially as exploits like these get more popular and frequent. It's a risk you have to take, if you're determined to get a windows icon.
Also, going beyond the respons to question 2), you may also want to look into scripting. You can do a lot of cool things with it, especially in Qubes. For example you can execute commands or even full scripts inside your AppVM's from dom0. You're not limited to just starting VM's from dom0, you can essentially do "anything" from dom0, if you know the approach to it. Scripting is relatively easy to learn too, it's not as advanced as coding, but it can be quite helpful in everyday life.
Just be careful, don't use scripts you haven't reviewed yourself and understand how work, and also review scripts again if they have, at any point, been exposed to an unsecure environment, which includes re-installing Qubes after dom0 might have been exposed.
If you want to put the icon into the Qubes menu itself, then it becomes a bit more messy, I recommend you don't go there unless you really want to, or if someone offers a straight solution to it. Personally I don't even use the Qubes panel menu plugin, I removed it entirely from the XFCE4 panel. Instead I use the Whisker-menu plugin and the Launcher plugin. I used to use Whisker menu a lot, but I've grown to enjoy launchers more in Qubes (both are pre-installed in Qubes 4, but whisker menu is not pre-installed in Qubes 3.2).
You can add as many launchers as you like, with as many icons or scripts in them as you like. You have huge flexibility here, you can change the icons and names of any icons too, change the commands, and the order they are listed and shown (although Whisker menu can do all that too, but it's not as neat as launchers are more minimalistic in size and are quicker to access).
Personally I put all my browsers in one launcher, and all my file-managers from various VM's in another launcher. I have system configurations like dom0 terminal, all the template terminals, and some of the AppVM's terminals, keybind manager, and so on, in another launcher for system tasks. A launcher for music players, libreoffice, and so on as well.Modified with icons, name changes, etc. so it looks good and stylish.
This should get you going, the sky is the limit, find a style you like :) Also by getting into these habits, you will have an easier time in the future, because it gives you more flexibility to do whatever you wish to do in many different situations, many of such situations that will come unexpectedly in the future, and many years to come.