.Microsoft Windows -

Microsoft Windows Tips n Tricks

Following is a listing of various tips n tricks that can be used with most Microsoft Windows. I hope that this section will cover all your windows day to day problems, help & support.

Create desktop shortcuts to your favorite web pages  - March 2009:

Easily create Windows desktop shortcuts to your favorite web pages by following the below steps.

1. Open the web page you wish to create a shortcut for.
2. Resize your browser window so it's not maximized.
3. Once in a window mode click the icon to the left of the Internet address in the address bar and drag it to your desktop and let go to create a shortcut.

Create custom folder icons  - March 2009:

Create a customized looking folder in Microsoft windows by saving one of the images or a copy of an image in the folder as folder.jpg. Once this has been done if you're viewing the folders in Thumbnail view that folder will display the folder.jpg image on top of the traditional folder.

Additional information about how to change the view in Windows including switching to Thumbnail view can be found on document CH0001015.

Windows command prompt  - March 2009:

The Microsoft Windows command prompt is an invaluable tool that can be used in conjunction with Windows. Below are some helpful shortcuts and tips that can be used to improve your abilities while in the command prompt. Users not familiar with how to enter the command prompt can find additional information about this in document CHDOS.

1. Press the up arrow key to scroll through all previously typed commands at the prompt. This is helpful for when you need to type long commands in more than once. Note. If
2. Pres the tab key to auto-complete the names of directories or files. For example, at C:\ type: "cd wi", press tab and the command prompt should complete WINDOWS as the name of the directory.
3. Familiarize yourself with the top MS-DOS commands and each of their available switches.

Windows Selective Startup  - March 2009:

Improve overall system performance and boot time and get rid of programs you don't want running in the background by choosing to do a Selective Startup in msconfig.

1. Click Start, Run and type: msconfig and press enter.
2. In the System Configuration Utility click the Startup tab.
3. Uncheck programs you do not wish to load each time your computer starts. Once done click ok and restart the computer. After the computer boots back into Windows you will receive a prompt about Windows being in a selective startup. Check the box to not receive the prompt and click ok.

Saving Windows XP and later searches  - March 2009:

Save your frequent Windows XP and later version searches for future use by following the below steps.

1. Open the search and enter the search queries you wish to save. For example, you could save a search to find any remix mp3 files by entering: *remix*.mp3 in the all or part of name box.
2. Once the values have been entered test the search and allow you to save the search.
3. In the Search Results window click File and then Save Search.
4. Finally, browse to the location you wish for this file to be saved and name the file with a .fnd extension.

After completing these steps you'll be able to quickly perform a search by simply double-clicking the file.

Display hibernate option in XPs Turn off computer box  - March 2009:

When shutting down or turning off the computer you'll get three options: Standby, Turn Off, and Restart. For users who wish to hibernate their computer you can easily display this option by holding down the Shift key on the keyboard.

Quickly move files or other objects to the Desktop  - March 2009:

Quickly drag one or more files to the Windows Desktop with other open windows by dragging and holding the files over an empty portion of the Windows Taskbar. If done properly all open windows should minimize and allow you to place the files or other objects on the Desktop.

Quickly get to the Windows Desktop  - March 2009:

Quickly get to the Microsoft Windows Desktop by pressing the Windows key and D at the same time on the keyboard.

Run a web page  - March 2009:

Get to a web page quickly in Windows when no browser window is open by typing the web address in the run line. For example, click Start, Run and in the Run Open box type: http://www.computertipsntricks.com and press enter to quickly get to the Computer Hope web page.

Quickly find icon and/or file  - March 2009:

Quickly find an icon in a group of icons or a specific item in an alphabetic list of items by highlighting one of the icons or list items and pressing the beginning letter of the item you're looking for. Below are some examples of how this could be used.

Windows desktop icons - If you have a lot of icons on your desktop or in another folder highlight one of the icons and press the first letter. For example if you were looking for an icon named "test" highlight any icon and then press the "t" key. Note: you can also press the "t" key multiple times to individually highlight each icon that starts with "t".

Internet drop down list - Instead of scrolling through a list of options in an Internet drop down list press the first letter of the option you're looking for. For example, if you were looking through a list of states and you wanted "Utah" press U to automatically scroll down to it.

Windows XP mouse Snap To  - March 2009:

Enable the Microsoft Window XP mouse Snap To feature to automatically focus on dialog box buttons. Enabling this feature will automatically move your mouse cursor to the default button on any dialog box that appears on Windows. This is a great way to save a little time and not have to move you mouse cursor to the "Ok" button each time a dialog box appears. To enable this feature follow the below steps.

1. Click Start, Settings, Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Mouse icon
3. In the Mouse Properties window click the Pointer Options tab and check the "Automatically move pointer to the default button in a dialog box" option.

Windows 2000 & XP Task Manager  - March 2009:

Quickly access the Microsoft Windows Task Manager to view running applications, process information and performance information by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys all at the same time.

Delete files without getting a prompt  - March 2009:

Delete files faster by removing the "Are you sure you want to delete" Microsoft Windows confirmation box by right-clicking the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop, click Properties and uncheck "Display delete confirmation dialog".