Windows hints and tips

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Windows hints and tips


Adding Shortcuts to the Desktop

It's quicker to get to your files, folders or software applications from the Desktop if you use Shortcuts. It's also safer that adding the actual file or folder to the Desktop, especially when removing it later.

To create a shortcut, find the software package under the Start button, or the file or folder in your Windows Explorer, and RIGHT click on it. Choose Send To, then Desktop (create shortcut) - it's quicker that using the Create Shortcut option which does not go directly to the Desktop.


Fine Tuning For Drawings

The Windows drawing tools are generally labelled lines, rectangles, oval, etc.

To regulate a shape, straight line, square, circle, etc ... hold down the Shift key while you draw the shape. Remember to release the mouse button before releasing the Shift key.


middle mouse button in firefox

Clicking on links in Firefox with your middle mouse button (scroll wheel) opens links in new tabs.

Clicking on tabs with your middle mouse button (scroll wheel) closes the tab.


Show the Desktop

Three ways to Show the Desktop (Minimise all open Files) if you cant see the button on your toolbar... 1. Press the Windows key+D together, to get all your windows back do it again (Toggle Switch).
2. Press Windows key+M together, press Windows key+Shift+M to undo.
3. Right click the Task Bar and choose 'Show the Desktop'


Start a Program with Keyboard Shortcuts

You can assign a keyboard shortcut to start a program from the Windows Desktop: For example; Use CTRL+ALT+e to open Internet Explorer, Right Click the Internet Explorer Icon, Select Properties, In the Shortcut Key Box, Type e. Windows will append CTRL+ALT, Click OK. Note: You can assign Shortcut keys to open any program. (Just need to remember all those shortcut key combinations).


Where is the Desktop Folder

I frequently save incomplete documents to the desktop in order to access them quickly. But where are they really kept? The Desktop is actually the c:\windows\desktop folder.
To save to the Desktop; Press CTRL+S, click the Save In drop-down, then select Desktop from the top of the list.


Disabling desktop cleanup wizard

To disable this feature of windows and give yourself slighty more peace while using your pc, right click the desktop, click the desktop tab within the window that opens, click the customize desktop buttom towards the bottom left hand side of the window, and uncheck the check box that says run the desktop clean up wizard


Adding buttons to your toolbar

In internet explorer you always get a selection of buttons on your toolbar such as "Back", "Forward" etc but you can add buttons by RIGHT ClICKING the toolbar and selecting CUSTOMIZE. This will bring up a box that you can add some extra buttons to.


Setting a webpage as your own homepage

If you want to always go to a particular page every time you start Internet explorer. Go to Tools / Internet options / type in your home page in the top box.


Changing size of text in Internet explorer

You can change the size of the text in Internet explorer, by going to View / Text size.


Scroll through open applications

If you have a few programs open and want to use the keyboard to navigate through each one, hold down the ALT key and press TAB to cycle through each program


Check how much memory you have left

To see how much memory your hard drive has left, right click on the start button and go to explore (by left clicking).

Right click on the hard drive disk (C:) and select properties (left clicking).


Add Hyperlinks in Office Documents without typing the URL.

Microsoft Office applications can create hyperlinks to internet websites. Here are some shortcuts:

1.Highlight the text you want linked, and press CTRL+K. (or right click for the menu).
2.Put the cursor in the Address box.

3.Start your internet browser, and surf to the page you want to link to.

4. Click back to your document.

5. You will see the address for the website in the address box automatically.

6. Simply click on OK, and you are done.

Click OK.


Create a custom menu of most-used commands

Ever find yourself repeating multiple clicks to do the same process during the day?
In Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook


Too many documents open

The Windows taskbar can get pretty cluttered of you work with multiple documents, each with its own icon. This can be set to only display one icon for each Office program.
Simply do the following:
1. In any MS Office application, click on the TOOLS menu, then choose OPTIONS, and then the VIEW tab.
2. Uncheck the WINDOWS IN TASKBAR option.
3. Click OK.


Choosing your personal Office Assistant.

Don


Tidy up your PC

To speed up your PC, you can check to see what is running on your PC by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete and selecting Task manager.

To get rid of any programs / drivers you dont need anymore, Select Run from the Start menu, type in MSCONFIG, then click OK.

Click on the StartUp tab, tick off what you no longer need (make sure they are definately programs that are not needed.

clcik on Ok and then reboot your PC


Mouse hand

If you are left handed and want to switch the primary buttons over on the mosue you can do this by clcik ing on Start-settings-Control panal and then mouse.

Under the buttons you will see button configuration, just click on the option to change over


Mouse clicking

If you want to speed up or slow down how quick double clicking reacts, clcik on Start, settings - control panal and mouse.

Under the buttons tab you should see double click speed. This can be adjusted by dragging in either direction o speed up or slow down the double click rate.


screen resolution

If you want to increase or decrease the size of icons on you monitor, yu can change the screen resolution. To do this minise any programs that are running and right click on your desk-top and select properties.

Click on settings and at the bottom left of the Window you will beable to either increase or decrease the resolution.


Maximize, restore and close windows quickly

maximize: double-click the window's title bar to maximize to a full-size window
restore: double-click the window's title bar to restore the window to its previous size
close: double-click on the application icon in the upper left corner of the title bar to close the window
Until next week.


Windows explorer quickly

The quickest way to get into windows explorer is the windows key + E.

 

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