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Microsoft Windows "Tech Tips"
http://techtab.matthewferrara.com/articles/38/1/Microsoft-Windows-Tech-Tips/Page1.html
By Denise DelMonico
Published on October 1, 2005
 

Microsoft Windows has a number of features and functions to help you work smarter. We've compiled some Tech Tips to make you more aware of what Windows can do for you.

WINDOWS: Features and Functions

USE THAT WINDOWS KEY

 

Have you ever wondered what that key between the CTRL and ALT keys is for? That’s your Windows Key and it may be used for a variety of tasks!  Here is a short list of things you can do with your Windows Key:

 

Windows Key will bring up your START menu

Windows Key + D minimizes or restores windows

Windows Key + L locks the workstation

Windows Key + U brings up the Utility Manager

Windows Key + R displays the run command

Windows Key + E opens the explorer window

Windows Key + F opens your search window

Windows Key + R displays the run command

Windows Key + TAB cycles through the buttons on the task bar

 

SHOW RECENT DOCUMENTS IN WINDOWS XP

 

With Windows XP you can save your most recently active documents to the DOCUMENTS area on your start menu. Follow these steps to turn on this feature:

  1. Right Click on the Start button
  2. Click Properties
  3. Click Customize
  4. Click the Advanced Tab
  5. Click the box next to “List my most recently opened documents”

CREATING A FOLDER IN WINDOWS

 

Managing your folders in Windows will help you to organize your files and documents. Windows contains default folders for you to use, but you can create your own folders as well. To quickly add a new folder, follow these steps:

  1. Right Click on the Start button
  2. Click Explore
  3. Select the drive that you wish to create your folder
  4. Select FILE, NEW and then name your folder

GROUP PROGRAMS IN WINDOWS

 

If you want to work with programs in a group, simply click on the items on the taskbar while holding down the CTRL key.  Once the items are highlighted, right click on any one of them and the group options will be displayed.

 

WHAT VERSION OF WINDOWS ARE YOU RUNNING?

 

Have you ever wanted to know what version of Windows you have on your system? Follow these simple steps:

  1. Click START
  2. Click RUN
  3. Type winver
  4. Press OK

TAKE OWNERSHIP OF A FILE IN XP

 

By default, the user who creates a file or folder in XP is its owner. The owner can set permissions to determine who else, if anyone, can access the file or folder. If you are an administrator, you can take ownership of any file or folder. Here's how:

  1. Right click the file or folder and click Properties.
  2. Click the Security tab (click OK if a Security dialog box appears).
  3. Click the Advanced button, then click the Owner tab.
  4. In the Name list, click your user name or Administrator (if you're using the built-in Administrator account).

QUICK LAUNCH IN WINDOWS XP

 

If you want to create shortcuts in the taskbar for programs that you use on a regular basis, follow the steps below:

 

  1. Right click on the taskbar and select TOOLBARS.
  2. Select QUICK LAUNCH to display the quick launch icons next to the start button. 
  3. Click START, PROGRAMS and then find the program for which you’d like to create a quick launch icon.
  4. Left click and DRAG the icon down to the quick launch menu. 
  5. Let go of the mouse and your icon will be there, ready for you to click!

ZIP IT UP IN XP!

 

Windows XP allows you to compress files automatically without using third party software! To zip it up:

 

  1. Right click on the folder and point to SEND TO
  2. Click COMPRESSED FOLDER. 

IS YOUR WINDOWS UP TO DATE?

 

To find out if you are running Windows with the latest updates, go to Microsoft.com and click on Microsoft Update under Product Resources. Here you will find the latest updates that you can download to your computer.

 

WHAT STARTS AUTOMATICALLY?

 

Certain programs may be starting when Windows starts. To see which applications load when Windows launches:

 

  1. Right click START
  2. Select OPEN
  3. Double click PROGRAMS
  4. Double click STARTUP

The START UP folder will contain shortcuts to the programs set to start automatically.  If you delete the shortcut, the program will not launch when Windows starts.

 

SYSTEM TRAY FEATURES

 

The System Tray is located at the bottom right hand side of your screen. Various icons may appear here that are actually shortcuts to different programs or system settings. You can DISABLE System Tray items by right clicking on an icon and selecting EXIT or DISABLE. You can also set the system tray properties by right clicking anywhere on the System Tray bar. When the menu appears, select PROPERTIES and, in the notification area, check “SHOW THE CLOCK” or “HIDE INACTIVE ICONS.”

 

CHANGE YOUR ICON SIZE

 

If you would like to change the size of your icons on your desktop, follow these simple steps:

 

  1. Right click anywhere on the desktop
  2. Click PROPERTIES then APPEARANCE then ADVANCED
  3. Select ICON from the drop down list
  4. Select size and font style and size, then click OK
  5. Click APPLY  

APPLY THE SAME VIEW FOR ALL WINDOWS FOLDERS

 

Items filed in folders may be viewed in different ways, such as Thumbnails, Tiles, Icons, List or Details. If you would like all of your folders to display files in the same format, you can easily change Windows to apply the same view to all folders.

 

  1. Right Click on START
  2. Select EXPLORE
  3. Click View Icon in the toolbar and select the view type (Tile, Icon, Detail, etc.)
  4. Click TOOLS, FOLDER OPTIONS and then VIEW tab
  5. At the top of the dialog box, click APPLY TO ALL FOLDERS then click OK 

HELP…MY PC IS RUNNING OUT OF SPACE!!

 

If you are running out of space on your PC, follow these steps to free up some space:

 

  1. Clean out the WindowsTemp directory.  Delete all files and folders in the c:windows emp directory.
  2. Restart PC after doing this.
  3. Select CONTROL PANEL and then INTERNET OPTIONS and delete cookies and files.
  4. Run a search on your PC for *tmp files and delete any you find with this extension.  It is short for TEMPORARY and you don’t need them!

USING SPECIAL CHARACTERS IN WINDOWS

 

Microsoft Windows XP has a MASTER character list ready for you to use no matter what program you are working in. If you are composing an email and you want to insert the ® or maybe the ™ symbol, press START then ALL PROGRAMS then ASSECCORIES followed by SYSTEM TOOLS. You can then select a CHARACTER MAP. Choose whichever symbol you are looking for and then select COPY. You can then paste that symbol in your email. You can minimize the character map and use it for different symbols until you are finished with your email. Be sure to change the FONT in the character map before you begin so that it matches the font that you are working in!

 

WINDOWS MAGNIFYER IN XP

 

Did you know that Windows XP has a built-in magnifier? Follow these steps to access:

 

  1. Click START
  2. Click RUN
  3. Type the word MAGNIFY

A window will appear at the top of your screen MAGNIFYING everything under your cursor!  It’s a great tool when reading through documents with small text or when browsing websites!

 

CHANGE THE LOOK OF YOUR FOLDERS IN XP

 

You can customize how your folders LOOK with Windows XP. Not only can you add a photo to the outside of the folder, but you can change the icon to something OTHER than a folder if you want! It's easy to do. 

 

  1. Right Click the folder
  2. Select Properties
  3. Click the Customize tab

The bottom option allows you to select a different icon.  Find the icon you wish to use then click APPLY.