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Using the Windows Key |
The Windows logo key, located in the bottom
row of most computer keyboards is a
little-used treasure. Don't ignore it. It is
the shortcut anchor for the following
commands:
Windows: Display the Start menu
Windows + D: Minimize or restore all windows
Windows + E: Display Windows Explorer
Windows + F: Display Search for files
Windows + L: Lock the workstation
Windows + M: Minimize all windows
Windows + Q: Quick switching of users (Powertoys
only)
Windows + Q: Hold Windows Key, then tap Q to
scroll thru the different users on your pc
Windows + R: Display Run dialog box
Windows + U: Open Utility Manager
Windows + Ctrl + F: Display Search for
computer
Windows + F1: Display Help and Support
Center
Windows + Pause/ Break: Display System
Properties dialog box
Windows + Shift + M: Undo minimize all
windows
Windows + Tab: Cycles through all open
programs and taskbar buttons. Press [ENTER]
to select.
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Limit Computer's Function |
I would like to create a separate user
account on Windows XP that would be given
VERY LIMITED functions, similar to those
system you might see in a library. It must
not have any access to hard drives nor
access any programs. I would like to be able
to control Internet access at the
Administration level if possible. How would
I go about doing this?
It looks like you are looking for something
like the Computer Toolkit for Windows.
Computer Toolkit for Windows was designed to
help administrators better manage and secure
public computers, such as those in kiosks,
libraries, Internet cafes, schools, etc. But
the toolkit is useful for any situation in
which multiple persons use the same
computer, including family computing and
small business offices where several
employees must use the same machine. [More]
Also see: Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit
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Windows Utilities Shortcuts |
Here are some popular shortcuts to handy
Windows utilities:
Simply type the shortcut command in to the
Run textbox (Start>> Run), then click OK. |
|
Shortcut |
Utility |
|
compmgmt.msc |
Computer Management |
|
devmgmt.msc |
Device Manager |
|
dfrg.msc |
Disk Defragmenter |
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diskmgmt.msc |
Disk Management |
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eventvwr.msc |
Event Viewer |
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fsmgmt.msc |
Shared Folders Manager |
|
gpedit.msc |
Group Policies Editor |
|
lusrmgr.msc |
Local Users and Groups Manager |
|
perfmon.msc |
Performance Monitor |
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secpol.msc |
Local Security Settings |
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services.msc |
Services |
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Windows Keyboard Shortcuts |
|
The keyboard shortcuts listed below are used as an
alternate method of working with Windows XP. Many
people find it faster and more convenient to use the
keyboard when performing some tasks. You will need
to experiment with them to find what works best and
feels more comfortable to you. |
|
Command |
Result |
|
CTRL + C |
Copy |
|
CTRL + X |
Cut |
|
CTRL + V |
Paste |
|
CTRL + Z |
Undo |
|
DELETE |
Delete |
|
SHIFT + DELETE |
Delete selected item permanently without
placing the item in the Recycle Bin |
|
CTRL while dragging an item |
Copy selected item |
|
CTRL + SHIFT while dragging an item
|
Create shortcut to selected item |
|
F2 |
Rename selected item |
|
CTRL + RIGHT ARROW |
Move the insertion point to the
beginning of the next word |
|
CTRL + LEFT ARROW |
Move the insertion point to the
beginning of the previous word |
|
CTRL + DOWN ARROW |
Move the insertion point to the
beginning of the next paragraph |
|
CTRL + UP ARROW |
Move the insertion point to the
beginning of the previous paragraph.
|
|
CTRL + SHIFT with any of the arrow keys
|
Highlight a block of text |
|
SHIFT with any of the arrow keys
|
Select more than one item in a window or
on the desktop, or select text within a
document |
|
CTRL + A |
Select all |
|
F3 |
Search for a file or folder |
|
ALT + ENTER |
View properties for the selected item |
|
ALT + F4 |
Close the active item, or quit the
active program |
|
ALT + Enter |
Displays the properties of the selected
object |
|
ALT + SPACEBAR |
Opens the shortcut menu for the active
window |
|
CTRL + F4 |
Close the active document in programs
that allow you to have multiple
documents open simultaneously |
|
ALT + TAB |
Switch between open items |
|
ALT + ESC |
Cycle through items in the order they
were opened |
|
F6 |
Cycle through screen elements in a
window or on the desktop |
|
F4 |
Display the Address bar list in My
Computer or Windows Explorer |
|
SHIFT + F10 |
Display the shortcut menu for the
selected item |
|
ALT + SPACEBAR |
Display the System menu for the active
window |
|
CTRL + ESC |
Display the Start menu |
|
ALT + Underlined letter in a menu name
|
Display the corresponding menu |
|
Underlined letter in a command name on
an open menu |
Carry out the corresponding command |
|
F10 |
Activate the menu bar in the active
program |
|
RIGHT ARROW |
Open the next menu to the right, or open
a submenu |
|
LEFT ARROW |
Open the next menu to the left, or close
a submenu |
|
F5 |
Refresh the active window |
|
BACKSPACE |
View the folder one level up in My
Computer or Windows Explorer |
|
ESC |
Cancel the current task |
|
SHIFT when you insert a CD into the
CD-ROM drive |
Prevent the CD from automatically
playing. |
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| Configure Auto Updates |
Microsoft regularly releases security
patches, programs, language packs, and bug
fixes through its Windows Update site to
keep your system in tiptop shape. On today's
"Call for Help," we'll show you how to
configure XP to automatically download
Windows updates for you.
Here's how to configure Windows XP to
automatically download updates:
Single-click the Start Menu and then the
Control Panel.
Single-click the Performance and Maintenance
icon and then the System icon.
On the System properties dialog, click the
Automatic Updates tab.
Click the radio button next to the text
labeled "Download the updates automatically
and notify me when they are ready to be
installed."
Click the Apply button.
The next time you're online and there
happens to be an available update, you'll be
prompted to install it.
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| System Information |
When you view the System
Information, you will find much useful
information such as, the length of time that
XP has ran since rebooting. To find this
information and more follow the instructions
below:
Open the Command Prompt
Type in : systeminfo press [Enter] on your
keyboard
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| Cancel A Print Job |
I know that most of you at one time or
another have, in an effort to stop a print
task resorted to pulling the paper out of
the printer until the printer showed the
"out of paper" error message. Well, you
don't have to do that. This tip will show
you alternate methods of canceling a print
job.
Usually the easiest way to stop a print job
is to double-click its icon in the system
tray to open the "printer queue folder".
Then click on the print job that you would
like to cancel and press the delete key on
your keyboard.
Or, you can right click the print job and
select "Cancel" from the resulting menu.
If neither of the above will work for you.
Try turning the printer off and restarting
it. You should be prompted to resume your
print job. You can then select "Cancel" from
that menu.
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| Saving Space |
All Windows Operating Systems have a
folder on the hard drive where various
applications temporary files are stored. On
occasion, it is a good idea to relieve your
hard drive of these unneeded files. There
are a couple different ways you can find
these files:
1. Open Windows Explorer and in the Address
field type: %temp% (including the percent
signs) [Enter]. You will then be taken to
that folder.
2. Click Start>> Run, and type: %temp%
[Enter] Any of these temporary files that
are found using the above methods are safe
to delete.
Note: Sometimes the files are still in use,
so deleting them works best immediately
following a reboot.
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| Monitor USB Bandwidth Usage |
USB devices such as; digital cameras,
mice, flash drives and keyboards all share
the same bandwidth allocated by Windows. The
Windows XP USB user interface does not
support more than 10 host controllers. When
the bandwidth reaches the 100% allocation,
you will receive a "Stop Error 0x0000007E"
message.
To check the bandwidth usage:
Go to Start>> Right click on My Computer.
Select Properties>> Hardware>> Device
Manager
Once at the Device Manager, double click
"Universal Serial Bus Controllers", then
double click the first USB Root Hub listing
(see Figure #1).
In the resulting window, select Advanced (see Figure #2).
Figure #1
Figure #2
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| Make a backup copy of your Windows XP
Registry |
Many of the tips and tricks here at 5
Star Support require editing the Windows
Registry. In this tip, I will show you the
correct way to perform a backup of your
Windows Registry so that you can safely
restore your systems registry files in the
event something goes wrong.
Go to Start>> Run. Type in: regedit [Enter]
or click OK.
Once in the Registry Editor, choose File
from the toolbar.
Select Export
In the resulting Export Registry File window
(click image below), locate the "Save in:"
selection menu. Choose a location for this
file that will be easily found if needed.
Name the file whatever you would like (I use
the days date) in the "File name:" text box.
At the bottom of the window you will see the
Export Range category. Tick the "All"
selection.
Click the Save button.
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| Microsoft Narrator |
Microsoft narrator is an accessibility
option to assist the hearing impaired. To
activate this feature:
Select Start, Programs >> Accessories
>>Accessibility >>Narrator. (Or press the
Windows key plus the letter "U" to open the
Utility Manager.)
Once you've read through the intro screen
(or let the Narrator do it), click OK.
You'll now see a dialog box of Narrator
options.
Assuming you want to leave Narrator running,
select the desired options, then minimize
its dialog box. And if you've opened the
Utility Manager, feel free to close it.
To turn Narrator off, click the Exit button
or right-click its taskbar item and select
Close.
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| Reinstall the Windows games |
Follow the instructions for your version
of Windows. Unless you have the Windows
installation files on your hard drive, you
will need your Windows installation CD.
To reinstall Windows games in Windows XP and
2000
On the Windows taskbar, click Start >
Settings > Control Panel > Add or Remove
Programs.
Click Add or Remove Windows Components.
Select Accessories and Utilities, and then
click Details.
Select Games, and then click Details.
Uncheck all games.
Click OK on any open window.
Click Next on the Windows Component Wizard
window.
When the process finishes, click Finish.
Repeat steps 1-8, this time rechecking the
Games check box.
To reinstall Windows games in Windows 98,
95, and Me
On the Windows taskbar, click Start >
Settings > Control Panel > Add/Remove
Programs.
On the Windows Setup tab, double-click
Accessories.
Uncheck Games.
Click Apply, and then OK to close any open
windows.
When the process finishes, repeat steps 1-4,
but this time recheck the Games check box.
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| Print only selected text from web
sites |
If you have found a great recipe online
but you don't want to print out the whole
web page, here is how you can print only the
text you select.
Highlight the text that you would like to
print by left clicking once and while
holding the click down, drag your mouse over
the chosen text (see figure #1).
Once the text is highlighted, right click
the highlighted area and select Print.
In the resulting Print window, tick the
"Selection" entry under the Page Range
option (see figure #2).
Click Print. |
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| Email a picture of your screen |
If you ever need to copy something that
appears on your screen, such as an error
message or a section of a document to be
emailed to another party, Windows makes this
an easy task. Here's how:
Once you have the item that you would like
to copy on your screen, press the Print
Screen (prt scr) key on your keyboard. This
key is right next to your F12 key on a
standard keyboard. You have now captured the
image and it is ready to be pasted into a
picture editor. In this tip we will use
Paint to edit this image. Here's how:
Go to Start>> All Programs>> Accessories>>
Paint.
Go to Edit>> Paste. This will paste your
captured image into the picture palette
area.
Using the rectangular shaped (Select) tool
from the left menu, you can select a
rectangular area around the particular
message that you would like to copy (see
Figure #1).
With the area selected, go to Edit>> Copy.
Next, go to File>> New. Choose not to save
the changes to the old palette. A new
palette will now be created.
Now, go to Edit>> Paste. The selected area
of your first palette is now in the new
palette (see Figure #2).
Go to File>> Save as... Name the file
whatever you would like and save it to a
location that can be easily found later
(such as your desktop).
Create a new email message and save this new
image as either a picture to be inserted
into the body of your email or as an
attachment to your email.
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| Microsoft Photo Story 3 for Windows
XP |
Microsoft has made available for free, a
program that will bring your digital photo's
to life! With this powerful program you can:
Create slideshows
Touch-up, crop, or rotate pictures
Add stunning special effects and soundtracks
Narrate your photo stories
Personalize them with titles and captions
Send your photo stories in an e-mail
Watch them on your TV, a computer, or a
Windows Mobile-based portable device
System Requirements:
Supported Operating Systems: Windows XP;
Windows XP Home Edition; Windows XP Media
Center Edition; Windows XP Professional
Edition; Windows XP Service Pack 1; Windows
XP Service Pack 2
Processor Required: Intel P3 700-megahertz
(MHz)
or equivalent processor, an Intel P4
1.7-gigahertz (GHz) or equivalent
processor recommended.
Memory: 256 megabytes (MB) of RAM, 512 MB of
RAM
or more recommended.
Disk space: 400 MB of available hard disk
space.
Monitor: Super VGA (800 x 600) or
higher-resolution video adapter and monitor.
Windows Genuine Advantage.
Microsoft Windows Media Player 10.
Microsoft DirectX 9.0 or later.
Windows XP-compatible sound card and
speakers.
Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible
pointing
device.
Microphone to record narration.
Learn more about Photo Story 3 and download
it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx
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| How to login as Administrator
|
[ XP Pro]
XP's built-in Administrator account is
hidden from the welcome screen when a user
account with admin privileges exists and is
enabled. XP Home Edition allows you to login
as built-in administrator in safe mode only.
In XP Professional, just press CTRL+ALT+DEL
twice at the Welcome Screen then type in
your admin password into the resulting
classic logon window that appears. Below,
you will find two methods to have the admin
account display in the welcome screen.
[1] TweakUI:
You can download Tweakui for free here:
http://www.5starsupport.com/info/xpinfo.htm#powertoys
1. Once you open Tweakui.
2. In the left pane, click the Logon
option.
3. Then place a checkmark in the Show
Administrator option.
4. Click OK
Once you logoff, the welcome screen should
now list Administrator login.
[2] Edit Windows Registry:
Warning: Be sure to make a backup copy of
the registry prior to making any changes.
Go to Start>> Run>> Type in: regedit [Enter]
Drill down to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows
NT/CurrentVersion/Winlogon/SpecialAccounts/UserList
Right-click an empty space in the right pane
and select New DWORD Value. Type in the word
Administrator as the value. Double-click
this new value, and enter 1 as the data.
Close the registry editor.
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| Download PowerToys for Windows XP |
I just ran across this link and wanted
to share it. There are many useful utilities
listed in the link below. But the most
useful is TweakUI which in my opinion is a
"must-have"!
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
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| Clear AutoComplete Entries from Web
Forms |
I'm sure that all of you have noticed
that when you are filling out a web form,
once you press a letter, many different text
choices are available in the AutoComplete
menu. To remove any of these items, just
simply highlight the item and press delete
on your keyboard. To completely clear all
AutoComplete entries, follow the steps
below:
Open Internet Explorer
Go to Tools>> Internet Options>> Content tab
Under the Personal Information category,
press the AutoComplete button.
Press Clear Forms from the resulting menu.
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| Capture a Windows Screen |
If for whatever reason you would like to
capture what is on your computer screen,
Windows makes this task easy. here's how:
Press the Printscreen (prt scr) key. This
will place a digital image of your screen on
to the clipboard.
Open any image editing software such as:
Paint
Word
PowerPoint
Select Edit and Paste
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