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Lately I have been posting a few articles here and there on short tips and/or tricks, such as opening links in new tabs with the scroll wheel. A dotTechie, Damon, came up with a great idea: Why not have dotTechies share their favorite tips or tricks, allowing the rest of us to learn new things and potentially brainstorm some ideas for more articles.
So, let it rip — please share your favorite tips or tricks in the comments below. These tips and/or tricks can be as simple as a keyboard shortcut to get something done or as complex as modifying the settings of some program. Really this thread is for sharing whatever you want to share. (Note: Your favorites need not be something dotTech has posted about in the past — you can post about any tips and/or tricks you learned from any source.) Don’t be embarrassed to share your tip(s) or trick(s) thinking they are too simply and everybody must know them; many people, including myself, don’t know many seemingly simple tips and tricks and would appreciate anyone that educates us.
Let’s see what dotTechies can think of.
Android / Fastboot users might like this:
I have a shortcut on my Taskbar, that opens a custom Fastboot Command Prompt. It open within the Fastboot directory, it’s a custom size, has a white background, and large red text. It also has enhanced cut, copy, and paste. Here’s how;
Visit this page http://johnbokma.com/windows/command-prompt-shortcut.html and follow his excellent tutorial. (Remember to enter the path of the directory, in the “Start in” input line. [C:moto-fastboot])
After you’ve finished, you can copy, or move the shortcut anywhere you need it.
How To Have 100% Of Your Bandwith, A simple cool tweak thats easy
By default Windows operating system uses 20% of your band width to remove this.
1) Go to RUN and type gpedit.msc it will open a dialog box.
2) Go to Local computer policy> computer configuration>administrative templates>network> Qos Packet Scheduler.
3) On the right hand side you will find Limit Reservable Bandwith open it.
4) Enable it and set the percentage to zero.
5) And u have your 100% bandwidth.
Have fun with this small tweak.
I learn this tweak from netmasterz.
Ctrl Z
best key combination ever! It undoes what you’ve just done. It seems to work in most programs – windows, browser, Word, dialog boxes etc.
You know that sinking feeling when you’ve just overtyped something and you really need it back – hit Ctrl Z and whatever you just typed is undone.
My XP computer is password protected, and it boots to show an icon that is a nuisance to click to be able to enter the password. Instead of clicking the icon, I tap the down arrow and the password box opens so I can then enter the password.
A couple shortcuts for those with Multiple Displays.
Windows + P = Switch between Single, extended and cloned desktops
SHIFT + Windows + Right or Left Arrow = Quickly send active window to the left / right display
And one that some people may not know,
SHIFT + Tab – Moves cursor Back a field
@alalata: Win7 Home Premium doesn’t have gpedit. You wouldn’t happen to know how to change the setting without gpedit, would you? (I’m not afraid of the registry)
Hold NUM LOCK for five seconds, and enable toggle keys. (Alternatively, repeatedly press shift five times, [no to the sticky keys if you'd like], and open the settings from the dialog, and manually enable toggle keys). Every time you press the 3 locks buttons (CAPS, NUM, SCROLL), you hear a chirpy alert to let you know you’ve enabled it.
I tend to use shortcuts more often than the mouse. (I blame emacs)
My favorites are:
Windows Key + L : Locks current session
Windows Key + Up Key : Maximize focused window
Windows Key + Down Key : unMixmize focused window (or minimize if not maximized)
Windows Key + R : Run dialog
Windows Key + 1 – 0 : launches that program on the taskbar (or minimize/maximize if already launched)
One of my favorites is SyncToy (free from Microsoft). At home, I use it frequently to sync data among the computers on my home network. While traveling, my wife and I use two different laptops. To sync data between the two – without using a network controlled by a hotel or other facility (yes, I am paranoid about who might access my data!) – I use SyncToy to update my data onto a USB flash drive. Then I move the flash drive to my wife’s computer and use SyncToy there to update and synchronize the data between her computer and the flash drive. Repeat as frequently as desired. it is comforting to know that all data is backed up on the other computer, and the flash drive has a current backup of the data too!
#3 njwood60
There are many uses for Ctrl and other keys, like Ctrl+Z for Undo the last operation, or Ctrl+Y for Redo it. The most comprehensive list of shortcuts could be found here: Keyboard shortcuts
Ashraf, Heck of an idea!
Currently running a dual boot system, winXP32 & winVista64. I save the tips to note pad and put them in a folder on a third partition so they are available to both operating systems.
All the Best to All here in 2012.
Happy Trails, . ..
I make my own folder icons in a graphics program, then I export the images as a bulk PNG, at the correct dimensions for icons (example: a bar of icons 1 high and 30 wide might get exported as “height 256 pix, width 7680 pix”). Then I bulk parse/chop them up with the cool freebie TileMage (by OrangeBright)
http://download.cnet.com/TileMage-Image-Splitter/3000-6675_4-10589275.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody;1d
Then I take the resulting folder full of 256×256 PNGs, and bulk-convert them into .ICOs using IcoFX (IcoFX is now Shareware, but you can find the last free version on the internet, such as here http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/page40.html)
If you want, you can also use IcoFX to complile your resulting ICOs into a single DLL file.
If you’re super-duper geeky, you might name your icon library “SHELL32xx.dll” and put it in the same folder as the built in Windows icon library, “SHELL32.dll.” Now you’ll have an easy to access alternate set of icons.
http://i.imgur.com/FSPpT.png
Instead of clicking “Browse” and trying to find your ICO, just change the name of the file by adding the “xx,” (SHELL32.DLL will be there and highlighted by default), then press enter.
FYI I’ve also posted this tip at the xplorer2 and DrawPlus forums in the past.
@Steve Kunkel:
I should point out that you actually change the folder’s icon by right-clicking, then choosing “properties,” then “customize,” then “change icon.” Doesn’t work with some system or network folders.
Lastly, the location of SHELL32.DLL can usually be found by opening your windows browser and typing
%systemroot%system32
then press enter. errr… There should be a backslash separating %systemroot% and system32 but the forum keeps removing it…
My apology for a link error in my post #10.
The proper link shoul be as:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_keyboard_shortcuts
Holding ctrl and tapping the + key increases the size of a webpage’s text and images. Holding ctrl and tapping the – key makes everything smaller. If you have a scroll wheel, holding the ctrl key and scrolling up or down also increases and decreases the size of text and images. (This works for Windows 7….not sure of the previous versions)
ctrl + a selects all
ctrl + c copies anything highlighted
ctrl + v pastes
(Once you develop a habit of this, it really speeds your work up.)
Holding Alt and pressing tab toggles windows / apps. Also a good habit to get into.
Lastly, for Windows 7 users. God Mode is a great trick to create a folder that gives you a easy access to many Windows tools.
Just right-click on your desktop or any folder and select ‘Create New Folder
Name the folder by pasting the line below exactly as it appears below (copy it first):
GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
If you don’t like the name ‘GodMode’ you can type any word in place of it, just be sure a . is in between the name and the string. You can find instructions for this and other strings
HERE
Some examples:
{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33} – Regional Settings
{0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428} – Fingerprint Readers and Biometrics
{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D} – Power Management
{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9} – Notification Area Settings
{1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70} – Windows Credentials
{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4} – Programs from network or online
{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966} – Windows Programs for Tasks
{1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43} – tlb files
{1FA9085F-25A2-489B-85D4-86326EEDCD87} – Wireless Network Order
{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D} – Network
{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} – Computer
{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D} – Printers and Faxes
{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B} – Manage RemoteApp and Desktop Connections
{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423} – Firewall
{78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC} – Performance
Ctrl+Shift+Esc is a quick way to bring up the Task Manager rather than Ctrl+Alt+Delete which now brings up a User Screen with options in Win7.
@alalata:
Hi I’m replying to alalata about the bandwidth and when I type in gpedit.msc , it says “windows cannot find gpedit.msc”. So what am I doing wrong here ? using os xp here .
@dadante: I think gpedit only works in XP pro. Do you have the home edition?
@alalata: No joy. Unable to open on Wtn7 64.
for those who want to adjust there bandwidth
http://www.speed-up-pc.org/speed_up_internet/disable_reserved_bandwidth.php
@buckoooo: Worked great on my tethered 3G connection. Hats off. You are the Geek of the Week!
Regain control of your desk-top. For Windows XP (not sure about later OS versions) almost any “windows short-cut” sitting on your Windows desktop can be assigned a short-cut key combination of your choice. Just right click on the “windows short-cut” and select properties, there you will see a text box called “Shortcut key:” in which you can enter your chosen key combination. This includes folders too so you can create short-cut keys to go direct to important folders or even folders of short-cuts to other folders or applications. Note that actual files or executables stored directly on your desk top do not allow this trick, however its a bad idea to fill your desktop with anything other than Windows short cuts as this tends to slow down windows start up and shut-down anyway!
Ask DotTechies is such a great idea….
Can anyone suggest a tip or trick for the following?
How Can I Batch-Save Embedded Images From Emails
I am using Gmail in Firefox on Windows 7
Thanks
First, a trick I learnt from dottech ages ago, but can never find the article when I need it (I finally put the instructions in a text file on my desktop): to move a window that opens partly off-screen, select ‘move’ from the toolbar (or right-click on the application in the taskbar if the toolbar itself is off-screen) and use the arrow keys to move the window to the location you want. Hit Enter.
Second, a trick for those pop-up fill-in screens that open with the bottom part off-screen and can’t be scrolled or moved: zoom out until you can see the whole window. I had a horrible time trying to register a game with EA, and it didn’t occur to their web page help staff that people use many different resolutions, so tying a window size to pixels instead of percentage isn’t good coding.
If your Browser freezes, hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete.
Select the browser from the list of running processes and close it.