Windows Tips
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Close Program | Alt-F4 |
| System Properties | Windows Key then Pause/Break |
| Start Menu | Windows Key or Ctrl-Esc |
| Find files | F3 at desktop or in an Explorer Window |
| Volume Control | The volume keys come on most new computer keyboards |
| Shutdown | Alt-F4 when not in a program |
| Refresh Desktop | F5 |
| Switch Programs | Alt-Tab or Alt Esc for programs not in the startbar |
| Launch program quickly | In your favorite program's shortcut, make a shortcut key |
| Capture Screen to Clipboard | Hit Print screen to capture the whole screen, or Alt print screen for the active window only |
| Capture Screen to Printer | Works the same as above but hold Ctrl also |
| Bookmark Site | Ctrl+D |
| Bookmark Properties | Ctrl+B |
| Next Selection | Tab |
| Multiple Select | Shift+Arrow Keys |
| Unselect part of selection | Ctrl+Click |
| Previous Selection | Shift-Tab |
| Rename | F2 |
| Tab of different Item types | F6 |
| Find all Files | Windows key + F |
| Help | F1 or Windows key + F1 |
| Windows Explorer | Windows key + E |
| Run command | Windows key + R |
| System Properties | Windows key + Pause/Break |
| Minimize All | Windows Key + M |
| Undo Minimize all | Shift + Windows Key + M |
| New Game | F2 during game |
Installing Fonts
You can install new fonts by opening up the c:\windows\fonts folder,
then going to File>Install New Font.
Boost your Volume
When you have your volume turned all the way up, and it still isn't loud
enough, just double click the volume speaker in the tray, and slide
up the "Wave" volume slider.
Organize Office Shortcuts
Microsoft Office creates all shortcuts to Office programs on the Start
Menu under Programs. For a cleaner and shorter Start Menu, create
a folder specifically for Office and place all Office shortcuts in
it.
Quickly Find People/Businesses
With Internet Explorer 4+, you can search over many different web directories
easily by going to Start>Find>People.
Finding Fonts Quickly
When you are at the font selection screen as shown below, Instead of
scrolling down the huge list of fonts, start typing in the name of
the font you want. For instance, start typing in A...R...I... without
the '...', and just watch it scroll down to the font you want.
What Windows command was last
used?
You can find what file was renamed to what, what file was moved where,
and what file was deleted last. To do this,
When in My Computer, Right Click in empty space
Move down the menu to 'Undo...'
It should say something like, Undo Delete, Undo Rename, Etc
When you place your mouse over the menu, look at the status bar and you
will see what clicking this will do.
Canceling a Print Job
Double click the little printer icon next to the clock.
Now click the print job you want to cancel.
Next, click the 'Printer' menu, then 'Purge Print job'
Do this for all print jobs to cancel them or select them and drag them
to the recycle bin, or select them and hit delete.
Quick Access to Programs on Start
menu
To have quick access to a program on the start menu, drag its icon onto
the Start button then release.
Quick Access to the Desktop (Windows
98/IE4)
Hit the Button that looks like a pen writing on a envelope on the left
side of the start bar.
Quick Access to the Desktop (any
version)
Right click an empty area of the start menu, then click 'Minimize all
Windows'
Open web pages quickly without
running your browser first
Goto Start>Run, then type the full address
Trace the servers you go through
to find a web page
Goto Start>Programs>Ms Dos Prompt
Type tracert, then the url (www.uaeshoppers.com)
Ping a server to see how long
it takes to access
Goto Start>Programs>Ms Dos Prompt
Type ping, then the url (www.uaeshoppers.com)
Add Shortcuts to the Quick Launch
Toolbar (IE 4)
Simply drag an icon on to the Quick Launch Toolbar to the very right
of the Start button and tada, the shortcut is there!
You can also drag internet shortcuts on this bar for quick web page access
Creating shortcuts from the start
menu (Windows 98)
Right Drag the item off the Start menu on to the Desktop, when the menu
appears, click create shortcut
If you left drag the item, it will be MOVED from the start menu so you
MUST right drag
Refresh the Desktop/Folder
Hit F5 to refresh the current folder or the desktop
Find from here
You can search over the directory you are in or the desktop by hitting
F3
Make shortcuts to friends Email
Addresses
You can quickly send an email to someone you commonly send email to by
doing the following
Right click the desktop or in a folder on an empty space
Go to New>Shortcut
Start by typing "mailto:" like you would for a web page
email link, then add the friends address (don't type the "")
Your shortcut could look like this "mailto:uaeshprs@emirates.net.ae"
Now, for you power users, you can make an automatic subject by typing
something like this after the email address "?subject=your subject
here"
Rename Files
Select the file to be renamed
Hit F2
Rename the File
Hit Enter
Override Always on top Windows
Some windows are always above all the other windows. Sometimes,
you want a window to be above that window. Do this to get other windows
above these windows.
Get the focus on the window that is on top of the other windows
Hit Alt+Esc
Now a different window will be on top
