Windows Tips and Tricks for your everyday Use

Why does Windows Vista take time to shutdown?

2008-06-01T13:50:00.002+05:30

It may so happen sometimes that the Windows Vista may take time to shutdown sometimes, and this can be due to different reasons (such as Windows installing updates, crashed applications, or driver problems). If this happens more frequently, it indicates that this problem shouldn't be happening and is worth troubleshooting.

Start by loading the event viewer "eventvwr.msc" from the run box (press WINDOWS KEY + R to start this).

Funny UNIX Commands

2008-06-01T12:35:00.003+05:30

% cat "food in cans"
cat: can't open food in cans

% nice man woman
No manual entry for woman.

% rm God
rm: God nonexistent

% ar t God
ar: God does not exist]

% ar r God
ar: creating God

% "How would you rate George Bush's incompetence?
Unmatched ".

% [Where is Jimmy Hoffa?
Missing ].

% ^How did the sex change operation go? ^
Modifier failed.

% If I had a ( for every $ the Congress spent, what would I have?
Too many ('s.

% make love
Make: Don't know how to make love. Stop.

% sleep with me
bad character

% got a light?
No match.

% man: why did you get a divorce? man::
Too many arguments.

% !:say, what is saccharine?
Bad substitute.

% %blow
%blow: No such job.

$ PATH=pretending!/usr/ucb/which sense
no sense in pretending!

Funny VISTA Acronyms

2008-06-01T12:30:00.003+05:30

This is another article from the Geek of the Day about VISTA being an acronym and some of the funny variations that they stand for. Enjoy!!!

How to change Windows Vista Theme

2008-06-01T12:27:00.002+05:30

Changing your Windows Vista theme doesn't have to be difficult. Just follow these simple steps to set up a new Windows Vista theme, or select the "Classic" Windows theme.

RIGHT Click the Desktop
Click Personalize
Click Themes
Click the Theme Choices pull down menu and choose "Classic"
Click Apply and OK

To make the Start menu work in Classic mode:

RIGHT Click the Start button
Click Properties
Choose Classic Start menu
Click Apply and OK

How to show super hidden files in Windows Vista

2008-06-01T12:25:00.004+05:30

To show Windows Vista "super hidden" files, that is, those files that are normally hidden from the user, you'll need to accesss the registry editor.

To turn on (or off) super hidden files: (make sure you backup the registry before making changes)
Click the Start Button, type "regedit" (Registry Editor) in the search box, and press Enter
Click Continue to get past the User Account Control hurdle
On the left panel, double-click to navigate to the key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Software -> Microsoft -> Windows -> CurrentVersion -> Explorer -> Advanced
On the right panel, double-click on Superhidden
In the Value Data box, change the value to "1"
Click OK
Exit the Registry Editor
Restart your machine for the changes to take effect

How to disable Automatic Startup Programs in Windows Vista

2008-06-01T12:01:00.002+05:30

If you don't want certain programs or applications to run automatically on startup, there's an easy way to disable them.

Click Start
Type msconfig in the search box
Click Continue in the User Account Control to continue
Click on the Startup Tab
Uncheck any boxes in the "Startup Items" that you wish to disable or click the Disable All button (not recommended)
Click OK

If you need to re-enable any of the programs, go through the same process and check the boxes of programs you wish to run automatically on startup.

Tips for Internet Explorer

2008-05-17T13:24:00.000+05:30

1. If a website that you want to access has a ".com" extension, in the Internet Explorer Address Bar, just enter the name of the website (say you want to access www.yahoo.com - just type yahoo) and then press CTRL+ENTER. Internet Explorer will take care of the prefix the suffix (www and .com respectively) for you.

2. How to increase your net browsing speed

3. How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP (Q318378)

4. How to Remove Internet Explorer 6.0 or Outlook Express 6.0 Before You Reinstall Windows (Q312474)

5. How to disable Script Debugging in the XP Internet Explorer

6. How to change the title of Internet Explorer

7. How to disable the new HTML Explorer Bars

8. How to disable the image tool bar

9. How to lock the browser tool bars

10. How to use the Image tool bar

11. How to speed up the Internet Explorer 6 Favorites

12. What are the Internet Explorer Task bar Properties

13. How to set Internet Explorer 6 to run in Kiosk Mode

14. How to customize Internet Explorer 6 tool bar

How to use Image tool bar in Internet Explorer

2008-05-16T15:19:00.000+05:30

When you hover your mouse over certain1 web page images, a small tool bar will appear towards the top-left corner.

From left to right, there are four buttons -
a. Save, saves the image to your computer,
b. Print, prints the image,
c. E-mail, creates a new e-mail with the image as an attachment and
d. My Pictures, which opens the My Pictures folder on your computer.

Nothing all that new, but it's a handy addition all the same.

There seems to be a limit on which images the tool bar pops up on, possibly connected with the width and height. This would make sense, otherwise it would keep appearing over image buttons and so on when most people will find the tool bar most useful with photographs and other large images.

How to speed up Internet Explorer 6.0 Favorites

2008-05-14T15:04:00.000+05:30

For some reason, the Favorites menu in IE 6 seems to slow down dramatically sometimes.

I've noticed this happens, when you install Tweak UI 1.33, for example, and when you use the preview tip to speed up the Start menu.

But here's a fix for the problem that does work, though it's unclear why, just open a command line window (Start button->Run->CMD) and type SFC, then hit ENTER.

This command line runs the System File Checker, which performs a number of services, all of which are completely unrelated to IE 6. But hey that works even though it is not related.

Internet Explorer Taskbar Properties

2008-05-13T15:02:00.000+05:30

Windows XP will group multiple open windows (IE windows for example) into one group on the task bar to keep the desktop clear.

This can be annoying at times - especially when comparing different web pages because you have to go back to the task bar, click on the group and then click on the page you want and then you only get one page because you have to click on each one separately.

I think the default for this is 8 windows - any combination of apps or utilities open.

You can modify this behavoir by adding this reg key at:
HKEY_CURRRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\
a. Add reg_Dword "TaskbarGroupSize"
b. Modify "TaskbarGroupSize" entry to be the number of windows you want open before XP starts to group them on the task bar.

A value of 2 will cause the Taskbar buttons to always group.

How to run Internet Explorer 6.0 in Kiosk Mode?

2008-05-13T14:58:00.000+05:30

Kiosk mode means setting the browser window to full screen view with just a scroll bar for navigation. To provide additional controls, such as access to the Back, Forward, or Refresh buttons, you can set Internet Explorer 6 in partial kiosk mode, which includes a smaller tool bar at the top of the browser window.

To add a Full Screen button to this tool bar, so that you can move easily from full screen view to the standard browser window, do this:
a. Right-click the tool bar at the top of the browser window, and then click Customize.
b. In the Customize Tool bar dialog box, click Full Screen under Available tool bar buttons.
c. click Add, and then click Close.

To hide the tool bar at the top of the window entirely, do this:
a. When in full screen mode, right-click the tool bar.
b. Click Auto-Hide.

Now you can view Web pages at full size without any controls getting in the way. When you want to view the tool bar again, move the pointer over the top of the Web page. If you don’t want to add a Full Screen button to the tool bar, you can also toggle between full screen and the standard view by pressing F11.

How to customize Internet Explorer 6 tool bar?

2008-05-12T14:56:00.000+05:30

You can choose which features you want on the Internet Explorer 6 tool bar. If you want to simplify the tool bar, you can remove icons, change to smaller icons, or remove the text labels displayed next to the icons. To customize the tool bar:

Right–click the Standard tool bar, and then click Customize.
In the Text options list, click No text labels to remove them.
In the Icon options list, click Small icons to change the default setting.
In the Current tool bars list, click any icon that you want to remove, and then click Remove.

To keep your changes safe, right–click the toolbar again, and make sure to select the Lock Toolbars check box.

How to change the title of Outlook Express

2008-05-10T14:45:00.000+05:30

You can change the Outlook Express title by following steps given below -

Click Start->Run. Typed REGEDIT and hit ENTER/Click on OK.

Navigate to the key given below -

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\{xxx}\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0], where xxx represents the Identity number displayed.

Add/Edit a New String Value entitled WindowTitle.
Right click on this setting & select Modify.
In the Value data field enter your desired title, then hit Ok (If you delete the WindowTitle key it will default to Outlook Express instead).

How to change the title of Internet Explorer

2008-05-09T14:43:00.000+05:30

If you wish you can change the Internet Explorer title to something more appealing than Microsoft Internet Explorer, if you wish to do so take the following steps.

Click on Start->Run.
Type in regedit & hit Enter.
Open the following registry key
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main].

Now Add/Edit a New String Value entitled Window Title.
In the Value data field enter your desired title, then hit Ok (If you delete the Window Title key it will default to Microsoft Internet Explorer instead).

Using a custom title can also interfere with some programs, although to my knowledge only the All Advantage Viewbar was such a program (& they are out of business now so that’s irrelevant).

Microsoft Office Shortcut Keys

2008-05-09T12:05:00.000+05:30

You can use all these shortcuts for the Microsoft Office products given below.
1. Microsoft Access
2. Microsoft Excel
3. Microsoft FrontPage
4. Microsoft Outlook
5. Microsoft PhotoDraw
6. Microsoft PowerPoint
7. Microsoft Publisher
8. Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word Shortcut Keys

2008-05-07T14:31:00.000+05:30

Microsoft Publisher Shortcut Keys

2008-05-06T14:29:00.000+05:30

Microsoft PowerPoint Shortcut Keys

2008-05-05T14:21:00.000+05:30

Microsoft PhotoDraw Shortcut Keys

2008-05-03T14:20:00.000+05:30

Microsoft Outlook Shortcut Keys

2008-05-03T12:15:00.000+05:30

Microsoft FrontPage Shortcut Keys

2008-05-03T12:14:00.000+05:30

Microsoft Excel Shortcut Keys

2008-05-02T12:11:00.000+05:30

Microsoft Access Shortcut Keys

2008-05-02T12:09:00.000+05:30

How to Remove Internet Explorer 6.0 or Outlook Express 6.0 Before You Reinstall Windows (Q312474)

2008-04-30T14:38:00.000+05:30

Before you reinstall Microsoft Windows, you must first remove Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 and Outlook Express 6.0.

However, if you cannot remove Internet Explorer 6.0 and Outlook Express 6.0 with the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel, you must rename the related migration dynamic link library (DLL) files and remove their associated registry keys before you reinstall Windows.

This article shows you how to remove Internet Explorer 6.0 and Outlook Express 6.0 by renaming the related migration dynamic link library (DLL) files and removing their associated registry keys.

Click here for the kb article.

Lock your desktop

2008-04-29T13:21:00.000+05:30

Bored of pressing ALT+CTRL+DEL all the times to lock your desktop. Worry not, follow the instructions below and you will be able to DOUBLE CLICK (yes, you got that right) your way to lock your desktop.

1. Right click an empty spot on the desktop, point to New and click Shortcut.
2. In the "Create Shortcut" dialog box, type the following into the "Type the location of the item text box": "rundll32 user32.dll,LockWorkStation" (remove quotes while typing).
3. Click Next.
4. In "Type a name for this shortcut", type "Lock the Desktop" and Click Finish.

Now the desktop will lock when you click your new "Lock the Desktop" iconin the desktop.

Note:This is applicable only for Win 2000 and Win XP users.

Another simple way of locking your desktop is to press "Windows + L". Most newer keyboards have the "Windows" button (a button with the Windows logo).

How to disable Script Debugging in the XP Internet Explorer

2008-04-28T14:40:00.000+05:30

Have you been harassed by that damn message from Internet Explorer asking you if you want to "debug" a script when you visit a particular Web page?

There seems to be a lot of Web pages that don't get along with Internet Explorer and so we're seeing a lot of those errors pop up. Let's get rid of that error.

In Internet Explorer, click Tools and then click Internet Options.
Click on the Advanced tab.
In the Advanced tab, place a checkmark in the Disable script debugging checkbox.
Click OK.
Close all Internet Explorer windows.

When you reopen Internet Explorer, you won't ever be asked to debug a script again.

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP (Q318378)

2008-04-28T13:59:00.000+05:30

This article describes how to reinstall or repair Internet Explorer 6 and Outlook Express 6 in Windows XP. This may be necessary if you are having problems with Internet Explorer or Outlook Express because of damaged files or missing registration information.

IMPORTANT: After you use the procedures in this article, you must reinstall any updates to Windows XP again. To reinstall Windows XP updates, visit the following Microsoft Windows Update Web site, windowsupdate.microsoft.com.

By default, Internet Explorer 6 is pre-installed in all versions of Windows XP and cannot be un-installed. To provide computer manufacturers greater flexibility in configuring desktop versions of Windows XP, Microsoft has made it possible for OEMs, administrators, and users to remove user access to Internet Explorer while leaving the Internet Explorer code intact and fully functional to ensure the functionality of programs and operating system functions that rely on it.

For example, Windows XP supports an "IEAccess=off" switch in the Unattend.txt file, and Internet Explorer has been added to the Add/Remove Windows Components section of the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. This does not reinstall Internet Explorer.

Click here for the kb article.

Increase your net browsing speed

2008-04-28T13:53:00.000+05:30

Found this on dslreports forums:

This tip works on ALL Windows 95/98/ME and NT4/2000 systems with MS Internet Explorer 4/5/6 installed. This Registry tip speeds up internet/remote (using Windows Explorer and/or Internet Explorer) browsing process considerably on most MS Windows 32-bit machines connected to a network and/or remote computer(s).

This actually fixes a BUG in MS Windows OSes that scan shared (remote) folders/files across the network for Scheduled Tasks, and can add a delay as long as 30 seconds (!), because it uses extra time to search the remote computer(s).

To do this, open Regedit (Win95/98/ME) or Regedt32 (WinNT4/2000) and go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RemoteComputer\NameSpace
Highlight this value:
{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF} and delete it.
To delete => right-click on it -> select Delete -> click OK.

RECOMMENDED:
Export (BACKUP) this Registry key to a REG file FIRST, to be able to restore it (by running the REG file) if necessary.

In Regedit:
highlight the key name in the left hand pane -> click "Registry" from the menu -> select "Export Registry File..." -> type a file name in the "File name" field -> browse to the destination of your choice -> push the Save button.

This Registry change takes effect immediately. Just start MS IE while connected to the network/internet to see the difference.

NOTE:
Upgrading to a newer MS Internet Explorer release may add this key to your Registry during Setup, therefore you may need to delete it again after installing MS IE.

I tried it myself, and so far it seems a little faster, I will update if I notcie a considerable difference on another machine.

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Shortcuts

2008-04-28T13:19:00.000+05:30

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Keys:
Windows Logo: Start menu
Windows Logo + R: Run dialog box
Windows Logo + M: Minimize all
SHIFT + Windows Logo+M: Undo minimize all
Windows Logo + F1: Help
Windows Logo + E: Windows Explorer
Windows Logo + F: Find files or folders
Windows Logo + D: Minimizes all open windows and displays the desktop
CTRL + Windows Logo + F: Find computer
CTRL + Windows Logo + TAB: Moves focus from Start, to the Quick Launchtoolbar, to the system tray (use RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW to move focus toitems on the Quick Launch toolbar and the system tray)
Windows Logo + TAB: Cycle through taskbar buttons
Windows Logo + Break: System Properties dialog box
Application key: Displays a shortcut menu for the selected item

Microsoft Natural Keyboard with IntelliType Software Installed: Windows Logo + L: Log off Windows
Windows Logo + P: Starts Print Manager
Windows Logo + C: Opens Control Panel
Windows Logo + V: Starts Clipboard
Windows Logo + K: Opens Keyboard Properties dialog box
Windows Logo + I: Opens Mouse Properties dialog box
Windows Logo + A: Starts Accessibility Options (if installed)
Windows Logo + SPACEBAR: Displays the list of Microsoft IntelliType shortcutkeys
Windows Logo + S: Toggles CAPS LOCK on and off

Useful Shortcuts for Windows - Part 2

2008-04-28T13:15:00.000+05:30

Microsoft Office Shortcut Combinations :
CTRL + C: Copy
CTRL + X: Cut
CTRL + V: Paste
CTRL + Z: Undo
CTRL + B: Bold
CTRL + U: Underline
CTRL + I: Italic

Mouse Click/Keyboard Modifier Combinations for Shell Objects :
SHIFT + right click: Displays a shortcut menu containing alternativecommands
SHIFT + double click: Runs the alternate default command (the second item onthe menu)
ALT + double click: Displays properties
SHIFT + DELETE: Deletes an item immediately without placing it in the Recycle Bin

General Keyboard-Only Commands : F1: Starts Windows Help
F10: Activates menu bar options
SHIFT + F10 : Opens a shortcut menu for the selected item (this is the sameas right-clicking an object
CTRL + ESC: Opens the Start menu (use the ARROW keys to select an item)
CTRL + ESC or ESC: Selects the Start button (press TAB to select thetaskbar, or press SHIFT+F10 for a context menu)
ALT + DOWN ARROW: Opens a drop-down list box
ALT + TAB: Switch to another running program (hold down the ALT key and thenpress the TAB key to view the task-switching window)
SHIFT: Press and hold down the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypassthe automatic-run feature
ALT + SPACE: Displays the main window's System menu (from the System menu,you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the window)
ALT +- (ALT + hyphen): Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI)childwindow's System menu (from the MDI child window's System menu, you canrestore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the child window)
CTRL + TAB: Switch to the next child window of a Multiple Document Interface(MDI) program
ALT + underlined letter in menu: Opens the menu
ALT + F4: Closes the current window
CTRL + F4: Closes the current Multiple Document Interface (MDI) window
ALT + F6: Switch between multiple windows in the same program (for example,when the Notepad Find dialog box is displayed
ALT + F6 : switches between the Find dialog box and the main Notepad window)

Shell Objects and General Folder/Windows Explorer Shortcuts For a selectedobject: F2: Rename object
F3: Find all files
CTRL + X: Cut
CTRL + C: Copy
CTRL + V: Paste
SHIFT + DELETE: Delete selection immediately, without moving the item to theRecycle Bin
ALT + ENTER: Open the properties for the selected object
To Copy a File: Press and hold down the CTRL key while you drag the file toanother folder.
To Create a Shortcut: Press and hold down CTRL+SHIFT while you drag a fileto the desktop or a folder.

General Folder/Shortcut Control:
F4: Selects the Go To A Different Folder box and moves down the entries inthe box (if the toolbar is active in Windows Explorer)
F5: Refreshes the current window.
F6: Moves among panes in Windows Explorer
CTRL + G: Opens the Go To Folder tool (in Windows 95 Windows Explorer only)
CTRL + Z: Undo the last command
CTRL + A: Select all the items in the current window
BACKSPACE: Switch to the parent folder
SHIFT + click + Close button: For folders, close the current folder plus allparent folders

Windows Explorer Tree Control: Numeric Keypad *: Expands everything under the current selection
Numeric Keypad +: Expands the current selection
Numeric Keypad -: Collapses the current selection.
RIGHT ARROW: Expands the current selection if it is not expanded, otherwisegoes to the first child
LEFT ARROW: Collapses the current selection if it is expanded, otherwisegoes to the parent

Properties Control: CTRL + TAB/CTRL + SHIFT + TAB: Move through the property tabs

Accessibility Shortcuts: Press SHIFT five times: Toggles StickyKeys on and off
Press down and hold the right SHIFT key for eight seconds: Toggles FilterKeys on and off
Press down and hold the NUM LOCK key for five seconds: Toggles ToggleKeys on and off
Left ALT + left SHIFT+NUM LOCK: Toggles MouseKeys on and off
Left ALT + left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN: Toggles high contrast on and off

Dialog Box Keyboard Commands:
TAB: Move to the next control in the dialog box
SHIFT + TAB: Move to the previous control in the dialog box
SPACEBAR: If the current control is a button, this clicks the button. If thecurrent control is a check box, this toggles the check box. If the current control is an option, this selects the option.
ENTER: Equivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with theoutline)
ESC: Equivalent to clicking the Cancel button
ALT + underlined letter in dialog box item: Move to the corresponding item

Useful Shortcuts for Windows

2008-04-27T23:45:00.000+05:30

Windows Operating System
Windows Key+E => Opens Explorer Window
Windows Key+F => Opens Search Window
Windows Key+D => To show Desktop (minimizes all open windows. To undo, press Windows Key+D again)
Windows Key+L => Locks the computer (Works only on Windows XP Professional/2000)
Windows Key+M => Minimizes all open windows
Windows Key+CTRL+F => Opens the seach computer dialog box (to enable you search a computer on the network, if you are connected to a network)
Windows Key+Pause (Break) => Opens Systems Properties Dialog
F1 => Shows Help
CTRL+ESC => Shows Start Menu
ALT+TAB => Switch between open programs
ALT+F4 => Generally, closes the active program
Delete => Moves an item to Recycle Bin
Shift+Delete => Deletes permanently

Useful Shortcuts with the 'Start' button:
Start (windows logo Button) + M: Minimizes all open windows
Start + Shift + M: Maximizes All Windows
Start + E: Runs Windows Explorer
Start + R: Open the RUN Dialog Box
Start + F: Open the Search Results Dialog box
Start + CTRL + F: Opens the Search Results-Computer dialog Box (if thecomputer is connected to a network)
Start + Pause (Break): Opens the System Properties Dialog Box

Windows System Key Combinations:
F1: Help
CTRL + ESC: Open Start menu
ALT + TAB: Switch between open programs
ALT + F4: Quit program
SHIFT + DELETE: Delete item permanently

How To create more space for temporary Internet pages

2008-04-27T23:42:00.000+05:30

On the Tools menu in Internet Explorer, click Internet Options.
On the General tab, click Settings.
To create more space to store pages temporarily, move the slider to the right.