Tips and Tricks

[LoneWolf_53]

Alt + F4 speeds up your browser.

Sure does in fact it makes it vanish.

[Fancy]

Always preferred shortcut keys rather than using the mouse apart from one - liked the "print" feature the mouse had years ago.

[oneh2obabe]

I find that very few people are aware that there's an easy way to get to your System Properties window by simply pressing "Windows" + "Pause/Break" keys. Useful for when you need to check device manager.

Gets me to my "Control Panel Home - System and Security" window.

"Windows" + "E" does the same thing too.

Gets me "My Computer" window.

Not on Windows 7 it doesn't.

It's still a useful short cut but on Windows 7 that combination will give you your "My Computer" window.

Actually I just went to my XP computer and it doesn't do it there either.

Your combination is for "My Computer" while mine was to get you to "System"

[LoneWolf_53]

I find that very few people are aware that there's an easy way to get to your System Properties window by simply pressing "Windows" + "Pause/Break" keys. Useful for when you need to check device manager.

Gets me to my "Control Panel Home - System and Security" window.

"Windows" + "E" does the same thing too.

Gets me "My Computer" window.

Not on Windows 7 it doesn't.

It's still a useful short cut but on Windows 7 that combination will give you your "My Computer" window.

Actually I just went to my XP computer and it doesn't do it there either.

Your combination is for "My Computer" while mine was to get you to "System"

This is getting so cluttered now I don't know if you're responding to me or Bsuds?

If it's me and you are a Windows 7 user then you're still wrong because if you want to get technical on Win7 the window that it pops up (after pressing windows + pause/break) is "System" as I said.

I just went and double checked and the window even lists the path as "Control Panel>All Control Panel Items>System" and on that window the top left first link is "Device Manager".

If you're on an XP Computer then the window is named "System Properties" and you'd have to click the "Hardware" tab to get to device manager.

Now what I don't know is if different versions of the same operating system differ but somehow I doubt it.

I'm using Windows 7 Pro and XP Pro SP3.

The Windows + E trick brings up "My Computer" on XP Pro and "Computer" in Windows 7 Pro.

[oneh2obabe]

If it's me and you are a Windows 7 user then you're still wrong because if you want to get technical on Win7 the window that it pops up (after pressing windows + pause/break) is "System" as I said.

I just went and double checked and the window even lists the path as "Control Panel>All Control Panel Items>System" and on that window the top left first link is "Device Manager".

If you're on an XP Computer then the window is named "System Properties" and you'd have to click the "Hardware" tab to get to device manager.

Now what I don't know is if different versions of the same operating system differ but somehow I doubt it.

I'm using Windows 7 Pro and XP Pro SP3.

The Windows + E trick brings up "My Computer" on XP Pro and "Computer" in Windows 7 Pro.

Windows 7 Home Premium

Windows + Pause/Break shows
Top Toolbar ... System and Security - Security
Left side of window ... Control Panel Home (Device Manager, Remote Settings, etc.)

Windows + E shows
Top Toolbar ... Computer
Left side of window ... Favourites, Desktop, Downloads, Recent Places, etc.

[Shrapnel]

I'm surprised the following haven't been posted yet.

Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open (or bring up the option to) the task manager. Very effective for frozen programs.

Restarting (rebooting) your computer fixes a lot of problems.

A very important tip, IMO, is to buy a can of compressed air, and keep your computer components dust free. Do that while the computer is powered down, and also use a straw (or other plastic object) to stop the fan(s) from spinning while blowing air into them. The more dust, the more heat, and high heat is bad.

[LoneWolf_53]

If it's me and you are a Windows 7 user then you're still wrong because if you want to get technical on Win7 the window that it pops up (after pressing windows + pause/break) is "System" as I said.

I just went and double checked and the window even lists the path as "Control Panel>All Control Panel Items>System" and on that window the top left first link is "Device Manager".

If you're on an XP Computer then the window is named "System Properties" and you'd have to click the "Hardware" tab to get to device manager.

Now what I don't know is if different versions of the same operating system differ but somehow I doubt it.

I'm using Windows 7 Pro and XP Pro SP3.

The Windows + E trick brings up "My Computer" on XP Pro and "Computer" in Windows 7 Pro.

Windows 7 Home Premium

Windows + Pause/Break shows
Top Toolbar ... System and Security - Security
Left side of window ... Control Panel Home (Device Manager, Remote Settings, etc.)

Windows + E shows
Top Toolbar ... Computer
Left side of window ... Favourites, Desktop, Downloads, Recent Places, etc.

So for some reason in Win7 Home Premium the designation in the top toolbar is different but other than that it's the exact same page and with access to the Device Manager. (I have Control Panel home at the very top left too but it's set away from the others so wasn't counting it)

The other shortcut yields the same result in both versions.

I don't have an Ultimate version to play with or I'd see how that compares to the other two. Interesting.

[Bsuds]

I find that very few people are aware that there's an easy way to get to your System Properties window by simply pressing "Windows" + "Pause/Break" keys. Useful for when you need to check device manager.

"Windows" + "E" does the same thing too.

Not on Windows 7 it doesn't.

It's still a useful short cut but on Windows 7 that combination will give you your "My Computer" window.

Actually I just went to my XP computer and it doesn't do it there either.

Your combination is for "My Computer" while mine was to get you to "System"

You are right.

Funny how the mind works when you do something all the time you sometimes forget exactly how you got there.

[DANSPEED]

A picture is worth a thousand words!

Instead of trying to explain in words about a error message or a software visual glitch or a device setting or anything on screen, Take a Picture!

1. Press the Print Screen key (Prt Scr, Print Scrn, Prt Scn, Prt Sc, Prt Scrn, or Prnt Scrn)
2. Open Paint
3. Click Paste
4. Select, crop, add text, shapes, erase sensitive data, circle something important etc.
5. Save as JPEG, BMP or other
6. Add picture to email, post on forum etc.

I also use IrfanView (free) to lower the resolution and file size.

This tip will likely not work for a BSOD! lol

[xlauvawke]

To add to that. if you have multiple monitors or just want to cap the one screen you are looking at hold down ALT then press prntscrn.

[dirtybiker]

WOW...I don't even need to duck to have all of the above fly right over my head..

Thank you all for the info...

-db

ETA,, I'll definitly be reading more than contibuting on this one.....

[Tacklewasher]

You know how some posters like to write in reallllllly small type just to annoy you? Well, there is a little trick you can use to inflict revenge: hold down the Ctrl button and scroll with the mouse. Viola.

Viola????

[DANSPEED]

You know how some posters like to write in reallllllly small type just to annoy you? Well, there is a little trick you can use to inflict revenge: hold down the Ctrl button and scroll with the mouse. Viola.

Viola????

Didn't you know if you hold down the control key and scroll the mouse wheel you get a bowed string instrument? It only works in Win 7 Enterprise SP1 beta. Try it!

[kumazatheef]

Alt + F4 speeds up your browser.

Odd ... for me it opens up System Preferences to "Expose & Spaces"

[DANSPEED]

Here's a great Windows tip if your not sure about running or installing an application or entering an untrusted website. Do so within an isolated virtual environment using Sandboxie. Anything you install, run, download, create, browse etc. within the virtual environment stays inside and never modifies your actual system unless you extract items from the virtual environment. It does have it's limitations but it's a great program and it's free -- well Nagware.