Tuesday, 18 November 2003 11:22am
The following Tips n Tricks all work with Microsoft Windows ME, most will also work with W98/SE but the chance of them working in W95 is not as high...
Computer/Desktop...CD1. Want to drop a Control Panel shortcut to your desktop for easy access CD2. Quick access to System Properties CD3. Quick access to Display Properties CD4. Task bar too small....increase the height! CD5. Want to Change Hover Text for a Program Shortcut CD6. Disable System Restore CD7. Change File Associations CD8. Edit File Associations CD9. Restore Default File Association CD10. Quick Access to Windows Explorer CD11. Don't want a CD to Auto Run/Auto Play when you insert it? CD12. Want to open Programs in the background of Windows Explorer CD13. Add to SendTo menu CD14. Shortcut Menu missing CD15. Print Screen CD16. Quick Maximize/Restore CD17. Suspect you've got some Dodgy Drivers? CD18. Where are the Startup/Shutdown Logos CD19. Get rid of Empty Recycle Bin confirmation Dialog Box CD20. Stop the Bootup Process from checking your A drive at Start up CD1. Want to drop a Control Panel shortcut to your desktop for easy access
double click My Computer
right click Control Panel
select Create Shortcut
an alert box will tell you that you can't create a shortcut here and would you like it placed on your desktop...select Yes (or hit enter)
close the My Computer window
ta da! Sitting on your desktop within easy reach is your Control Panel shortcut. Don't want it on your Desktop? Fine drag the icon to your Quick Launch bar or Start menu to allow easy access no matter what you have running.
[back to CD Tips] CD2. Quick access to System Properties right click my computer
[back to CD Tips] CD3. Quick access to Display Properties right click blank area on desktop
[back to CD Tips] CD4. Task bar too small....increase the height! move mouse to top of bar till cursor changes 2 headed arrow
drag it up to 2 or 3 lines...which ever suits
quick launch on one
open programs on the other
desktop on the next
very handy if your in for a long one and want quick access
[back to CD Tips] CD5. Want to Change Hover Text for a Program Shortcut
Right click the shortcut
click Properties
add/change text in Comment field
click OK/Apply
[back to CD Tips] CD6. Disable System Restore Right click My Computer
click Properties.
hit the Performance tab
click File System
hit the Troubleshooting tab
check the box to Disable System Restore
ok>ok>
yes to restart computer
[back to CD Tips] CD7. Change File Associations Right click the file icon
select "Open With..."
if you always want this application associated then check "Always use this Program to open these files, otherwise leave the check box alone
the 'old' way was Shft+right click the file
select "Open with...."
[back to CD Tips] CD8. Edit File Associations double click Control Panel
double click Folder Options
click File Types tab
click the file type you want to edit
click Advanced
click the action
click Edit
edit the association
OK
[back to CD Tips] CD9. Restore Default File Association double click Control Panel
double click Folder Options
click File Types tab
click the file type you want to restore
click Restore
[back to CD Tips] CD10. Quick Access to Windows Explorer hit Winkey+E
or drop a shortcut to your Quick Launch Toolbar
select the Start menu
select Programs
Right click Windows Explorer
drag it to Quick Launch toolbar
release the mouse.
pop-up menu. Create Shortcut here
yes
[back to CD Tips] CD11. Don't want a CD to Auto Run/Auto Play when you insert it? Hold the Shft key when you insert the CD...don't release till it's well in place
[back to CD Tips] CD12. Want to open Programs in the background of Windows Explorer hold Shft while double clicking the icon
use Alt+Tab to move between once your ready
use Alt+F4 to close current program/window
[back to CD Tips] CD13. Add to SendTo menu create a shortcut for the program/folder
right click
select cut
go to C:\windows\sendto
right click folder
select paste
or
Start
Run
type in Sendto
enter
right click and drag icon to it
[back to CD Tips] CD14. Shortcut Menu is missing from Right Click click Start
Settings
Taskbar and Start Menu
select Advanced tab
scroll down the list in Start menu and Taskbar area to Taskbar heading
click to select Display shortcut menu on right-click
Apply/OK
[back to CD Tips] CD15. Print Screen
Hit PrintScreen button to copy entire screen to clipboard
or
Alt+PrintScreen to copy Active window to clipboard
open graphics program ie Paint
select Edit
select Paste
[back to CD Tips] CD16. Quick Maximize/Restore double click the title bar to Maximize
double click again to restore
[back to CD Tips] CD17. Dodgy Drivers?
hit Start
run
type asd (Automatic Skip Driver)
you'll get list of driver problems
[back to CD Tips] CD18. Where are the Startup/Shutdown Logos Startup LOGO.SYS stored in C:\
Shutdown LOGOW.SYS "Shutting down windows.." stored in C:\windows
Lastly LOGOS.SYS "It is now safe to shut down your computer..." stored in C:\windows
[back to CD Tips] CD19. Get rid of Empty Recycle Bin confirmation Dialog Box Right click Recycle Bin
select Properties
uncheck "Display delete confirmation dialog box."
ok
[back to CD Tips] CD20. Stop the Bootup Process from checking your A drive at Start up Right click My Computer
Click Properties
Click the Performance tab
Hit the File System button
Click the Floppy Disk tab
Under Settings, uncheck Search for new floppy disks drives each time your computer starts
Hit OK
[back to CD Tips]