The "Best Windows Tip You Know" Thread

By WastedJoker
in Tips, Tweaks & Customization

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  • 2 weeks later...

Guest ID2

Posted
Posted
My little contribution to this great thread:

How to navigate in Internet even on a pc where access to iexplorer has been removed.

. . .

P.S. to all users: please do not use abbreviations (as "ur" for "your", I think) that are very annoying to read for foreigner people.

Thanks for that.

P.S very annoying for native English-speaking foreigners too!

Grand Master

CrashG

Posted
Posted

Desktop Shutdown Icon:

Right click on the desktop

Click [New] [shortcut] to open the Create Shortcut Wizard

Type [shutdown -s -t 0] without the brackets.

Click [Next] and type a descriptive name of your choosing for the shortcut

Click [Finish]

Desktop Reboot Icon:

Right click on the desktop

Click [New] [shortcut] to open the Create Shortcut Wizard

Type [shutdown -r -t 0] without the brackets.

Click [Next] and type a descriptive name of your choosing for the shortcut

Click [Finish]

Add a bit of class to the shortcut by assigning it a custom icon. Right click the shortcut, click [Properties] and select the [shortcut] tab. Click [Change Icon] and select from the icons that are displayed.

Desktop Log Off Icon:

Right click on the desktop

Click [New] [shortcut] to open the Create Shortcut Wizard

Type [shutdown.exe -I -t 0] without the brackets.

Click [Next] and type a descriptive name of your choosing for the shortcut

Click [Finish]

Desktop Lock WorkStation Icon:

Right click on the desktop

Click [New] [shortcut] to open the Create Shortcut Wizard

Set the Target as [rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation] without the brackets.

Click [Next] and type a descriptive name of your choosing for the shortcut like "Lock WorkStation" or "Lock Computer"

Click [Finish]

To change Icons look to "Shell32.dll"

You can also drag the new icons into the Quick Launch area of the Taskbar or Object Dock.

Grand Master

+Xinok Subscriber²

Posted
  • Subscriber²
Posted

View two folders in one explorer window

Navigate to C:\Windows\Web

Create a backup of 'tip.htm'

Open up Notepad, and drag the file 'tip.htm' into Notepad

Erase the contents of the file, and replace it with something like this:

<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0;url=file:///c:/">

Save the file

Open a folder

On the menu bar, select View >> Explorer Bar >> Tip of the Day

Collaborator

humble3d

Posted
Posted
every hotkey in windows

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?act=...st&id=97600

or here

Compiled by +ethief. [email protected]

Run Commands

-----------------------------------------------------------

compmgmt.msc - Computer management

devmgmt.msc - Device manager

diskmgmt.msc - Disk management

dfrg.msc - Disk defrag

eventvwr.msc - Event viewer

fsmgmt.msc - Shared folders

gpedit.msc - Group policies

lusrmgr.msc - Local users and groups

perfmon.msc - Performance monitor

rsop.msc - Resultant set of policies

secpol.msc - Local security settings

services.msc - Various Services

msconfig - System Configuration Utility

regedit - Registry Editor

msinfo32 _ System Information

sysedit _ System Edit

win.ini _ windows loading information(also system.ini)

winver _ Shows current version of windows

mailto: _ Opens default email client

command _ Opens command prompt

Run Commands to access the control panel

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Add/Remove Programs control appwiz.cpl

Date/Time Properties control timedate.cpl

Display Properties control desk.cpl

FindFast control findfast.cpl

Fonts Folder control fonts

Internet Properties control inetcpl.cpl

Keyboard Properties control main.cpl keyboard

Mouse Properties control main.cpl

Multimedia Properties control mmsys.cpl

Network Properties control netcpl.cpl

Password Properties control password.cpl

Printers Folder control printers

Sound Properties control mmsys.cpl sounds

System Properties control sysdm.cpl

Command Prompt

--------------------------------------------------------------

ANSI.SYS Defines functions that change display graphics, control cursor movement, and reassign keys.

APPEND Causes MS-DOS to look in other directories when editing a file or running a command.

ARP Displays, adds, and removes arp information from network devices.

ASSIGN Assign a drive letter to an alternate letter.

ASSOC View the file associations.

AT Schedule a time to execute commands or programs.

ATMADM Lists connections and addresses seen by Windows ATM call manager.

ATTRIB Display and change file attributes.

BATCH Recovery console command that executes a series of commands in a file.

BOOTCFG Recovery console command that allows a user to view, modify, and rebuild the boot.ini

BREAK Enable / disable CTRL + C feature.

CACLS View and modify file ACL's.

CALL Calls a batch file from another batch file.

CD Changes directories.

CHCP Supplement the International keyboard and character set information.

CHDIR Changes directories.

CHKDSK Check the hard disk drive running FAT for errors.

CHKNTFS Check the hard disk drive running NTFS for errors.

CHOICE Specify a listing of multiple options within a batch file.

CLS Clears the screen.

CMD Opens the command interpreter.

COLOR Easily change the foreground and background color of the MS-DOS window.

COMP Compares files.

COMPACT Compresses and uncompress files.

CONTROL Open control panel icons from the MS-DOS prompt.

CONVERT Convert FAT to NTFS.

COPY Copy one or more files to an alternate location.

CTTY Change the computers input/output devices.

DATE View or change the systems date.

DEBUG Debug utility to create assembly programs to modify hardware settings.

DEFRAG Re-arrange the hard disk drive to help with loading programs.

DEL Deletes one or more files.

DELETE Recovery console command that deletes a file.

DELTREE Deletes one or more files and/or directories.

DIR List the contents of one or more directory.

DISABLE Recovery console command that disables Windows system services or drivers.

DISKCOMP Compare a disk with another disk.

DISKCOPY Copy the contents of one disk and place them on another disk.

DOSKEY Command to view and execute commands that have been run in the past.

DOSSHELL A GUI to help with early MS-DOS users.

DRIVPARM Enables overwrite of original device drivers.

ECHO Displays messages and enables and disables echo.

EDIT View and edit files.

EDLIN View and edit files.

EMM386 Load extended Memory Manager.

ENABLE Recovery console command to enable a disable service or driver.

ENDLOCAL Stops the localization of the environment changes enabled by the setlocal command.

ERASE Erase files from computer.

EXIT Exit from the command interpreter.

EXPAND Expand a Microsoft Windows file back to it's original format.

EXTRACT Extract files from the Microsoft Windows cabinets.

FASTHELP Displays a listing of MS-DOS commands and information about them.

FC Compare files.

FDISK Utility used to create partitions on the hard disk drive.

FIND Search for text within a file.

FINDSTR Searches for a string of text within a file.

FIXBOOT Writes a new boot sector.

FIXMBR Writes a new boot record to a disk drive.

FOR Boolean used in batch files.

FORMAT Command to erase and prepare a disk drive.

FTP Command to connect and operate on a FTP server.

FTYPE Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.

GOTO Moves a batch file to a specific label or location.

GRAFTABL Show extended characters in graphics mode.

HELP Display a listing of commands and brief explanation.

IF Allows for batch files to perform conditional processing.

IFSHLP.SYS 32-bit file manager.

IPCONFIG Network command to view network adapter settings and assigned values.

KEYB Change layout of keyboard.

LABEL Change the label of a disk drive.

LH Load a device driver in to high memory.

LISTSVC Recovery console command that displays the services and drivers.

LOADFIX Load a program above the first 64k.

LOADHIGH Load a device driver in to high memory.

LOCK Lock the hard disk drive.

LOGON Recovery console command to list installations and enable administrator login.

MAP Displays the device name of a drive.

MD Command to create a new directory.

MEM Display memory on system.

MKDIR Command to create a new directory.

MODE Modify the port or display settings.

MORE Display one page at a time.

MOVE Move one or more files from one directory to another directory.

MSAV Early Microsoft Virus scanner.

MSD Diagnostics utility.

MSCDEX Utility used to load and provide access to the CD-ROM.

NBTSTAT Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT

NET Update, fix, or view the network or network settings

NETSH Configure dynamic and static network information from MS-DOS.

NETSTAT Display the TCP/IP network protocol statistics and information.

NLSFUNC Load country specific information.

NSLOOKUP Look up an IP address of a domain or host on a network.

PATH View and modify the computers path location.

PATHPING View and locate locations of network latency.

PAUSE Command used in batch files to stop the processing of a command.

PING Test / send information to another network computer or network device.

POPD Changes to the directory or network path stored by the pushd command.

POWER Conserve power with computer portables.

PRINT Prints data to a printer port.

PROMPT View and change the MS-DOS prompt.

PUSHD Stores a directory or network path in memory so it can be returned to at any time.

QBASIC Open the QBasic.

RD Removes an empty directory.

REN Renames a file or directory.

RENAME Renames a file or directory.

RMDIR Removes an empty directory.

ROUTE View and configure windows network route tables.

RUNAS Enables a user to execute a program on another computer.

SCANDISK Run the scandisk utility.

SCANREG Scan registry and recover registry from errors.

SET Change one variable or string to another.

SETLOCAL Enables local environments to be changed without affecting anything else.

SETVER Change MS-DOS version to trick older MS-DOS programs.

SHARE Installs support for file sharing and locking capabilities.

SHIFT Changes the position of replaceable parameters in a batch program.

SHUTDOWN Shutdown the computer from the MS-DOS prompt.

SMARTDRV Create a disk cache in conventional memory or extended memory.

SORT Sorts the input and displays the output to the screen.

START Start a separate window in Windows from the MS-DOS prompt.

SUBST Substitute a folder on your computer for another drive letter.

SWITCHES Remove add functions from MS-DOS.

SYS Transfer system files to disk drive.

TELNET Telnet to another computer / device from the prompt.

TIME View or modify the system time.

TITLE Change the title of their MS-DOS window.

TRACERT Visually view a network packets route across a network.

TREE View a visual tree of the hard disk drive.

TYPE Display the contents of a file.

UNDELETE Undelete a file that has been deleted.

UNFORMAT Unformat a hard disk drive.

UNLOCK Unlock a disk drive.

VER Display the version information.

VERIFY Enables or disables the feature to determine if files have been written properly.

VOL Displays the volume information about the designated drive.

XCOPY Copy multiple files, directories, and/or drives from one location to another.

TRUENAME When placed before a file, will display the whole directory in which it exists

TASKKILL It allows you to kill those unneeded or locked up applications

Windows XP Shortcuts

--------------------------------------------------------------

ALT+- (ALT+hyphen) Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window's System menu

ALT+ENTER View properties for the selected item

ALT+ESC Cycle through items in the order they were opened

ALT+F4 Close the active item, or quit the active program

ALT+SPACEBAR Display the System menu for the active window

ALT+TAB Switch between open items

ALT+Underlined letter Display the corresponding menu

BACKSPACE View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer

CTRL+A Select all

CTRL+B Bold

CTRL+C Copy

CTRL+I Italics

CTRL+O Open an item

CTRL+U Underline

CTRL+V Paste

CTRL+X Cut

CTRL+Z Undo

CTRL+F4 Close the active document

CTRL while dragging Copy selected item

CTRL+SHIFT while dragging Create shortcut to 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

SHIFT+DELETE Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin

ESC Cancel the current task

F1 Displays Help

F2 Rename selected item

F3 Search for a file or folder

F4 Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer

F5 Refresh the active window

F6 Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop

F10 Activate the menu bar in the active program

SHIFT+F10 Display the shortcut menu for the selected item

CTRL+ESC Display the Start menu

SHIFT+CTRL+ESC Launches Task Manager

SHIFT when you insert a CD Prevent the CD from automatically playing

WIN Display or hide the Start menu

WIN+BREAK Display the System Properties dialog box

WIN+D Minimizes all Windows and shows the Desktop

WIN+E Open Windows Explorer

WIN+F Search for a file or folder

WIN+F+CTRL Search for computers

WIN+L Locks the desktop

WIN+M Minimize or restore all windows

WIN+R Open the Run dialog box

WIN+TAB Switch between open items

Windows Explorer Shortcuts

-------------------------------------------------------------

ALT+SPACEBAR - Display the current window?s system menu

SHIFT+F10 - Display the item's context menu

CTRL+ESC - Display the Start menu

ALT+TAB - Switch to the window you last used

ALT+F4 - Close the current window or quit

CTRL+A - Select all items

CTRL+X - Cut selected item(s)

CTRL+C - Copy selected item(s)

CTRL+V - Paste item(s)

CTRL+Z - Undo last action

CTRL+(+) - Automatically resize the columns in the right hand pane

TAB - Move forward through options

ALT+RIGHT ARROW - Move forward to a previous view

ALT+LEFT ARROW - Move backward to a previous view

SHIFT+DELETE - Delete an item immediately

BACKSPACE - View the folder one level up

ALT+ENTER - View an item?s properties

F10 - Activate the menu bar in programs

F6 - Switch between left and right panes

F5 - Refresh window contents

F3 - Display Find application

F2 - Rename selected item

Internet Explorer Shortcuts

--------------------------------------------------------------

CTRL+A - Select all items on the current page

CTRL+D - Add the current page to your Favorites

CTRL+E - Open the Search bar

CTRL+F - Find on this page

CTRL+H - Open the History bar

CTRL+I - Open the Favorites bar

CTRL+N - Open a new window

CTRL+O - Go to a new location

CTRL+P - Print the current page or active frame

CTRL+S - Save the current page

CTRL+W - Close current browser window

CTRL+ENTER - Adds the http://www. (url) .com

SHIFT+CLICK - Open link in new window

BACKSPACE - Go to the previous page

ALT+HOME - Go to your Home page

HOME - Move to the beginning of a document

TAB - Move forward through items on a page

END - Move to the end of a document

ESC - Stop downloading a page

F11 - Toggle full-screen view

F5 - Refresh the current page

F4 - Display list of typed addresses

F6 - Change Address bar and page focus

ALT+RIGHT ARROW - Go to the next page

SHIFT+CTRL+TAB - Move back between frames

SHIFT+F10 - Display a shortcut menu for a link

SHIFT+TAB - Move back through the items on a page

CTRL+TAB - Move forward between frames

CTRL+C - Copy selected items to the clipboard

CTRL+V - Insert contents of the clipboard

ENTER - Activate a selected link

HOME - Move to the beginning of a document

END - Move to the end of a document

F1 - Display Internet Explorer Help[/quotThank you so very much...<:)> :)

  • 2 weeks later...
Collaborator

Blazkowicz

Posted
Posted

from that long list :

msinfo32 _ System Information

sysedit _ System Edit

win.ini _ windows loading information(also system.ini)

winver _ Shows current version of windows

mailto: _ Opens default email client

command _ Opens command prompt

you should type cmd to open a command prompt in XP, command.com is the DOS/win9x shell included for legacy, better to use cmd.exe.

Also the win.ini file and sysedit are no longer very interesting, they are there for legacy as well. but you can edit win.ini and system.ini from msconfig.

1) password protect each account within XP ;) especially if there is only 1 user account (XP makes this an admin profile by default)

yes, even a single user shouldn't have a blank admin password. but you can still autologin with TweakUI (password is stored encrypted in the registry)

Grand Master

ozgeek

Posted
Posted
I used to hate the fact that I could remove all the Windows standard desktop icons EXCEPT for recycle bin - until I found this trick...

create a registry file with the following info:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\RecycleBinOnDesktop]
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\HideDesktopIcons\\NewStartPanel"
"Text"="Show Recycle Bin icon on the desktop"
"Type"="checkbox"
"ValueName"="{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}"
"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000
"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000001
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001

Save it with the name of your choosing, then run the file and merge it with your registry. Afterwards, you'll have an checkbox in Folder Options View tab to show or hide the recycle bin

binmenu.gif

Why go all the effort when it already allows you to just simply right click on the Recycle Bin and Delete it that way. You can bring it back (or hide it) by going into Personalise > on left of Personalisation window, click on Change Desktop Icons.

  • 1 month later...
Collaborator

StarLion

Posted
Posted
Why go all the effort when it already allows you to just simply right click on the Recycle Bin and Delete it that way. You can bring it back (or hide it) by going into Personalise > on left of Personalisation window, click on Change Desktop Icons.

Because the option to add and remove the recycle bin is not present on Windows XP, this is one way to add it in an easy-to-get-to location.

The only other methods are using TweakUI or the Group Policy Editor (which doesn't exist on XP Home Edition).

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 6 months later...
Neowinian

lordjm

Posted
Posted

anybody knows about this?

somebody told me that there is a way to open User manager while starting the PC and before to the user log in screen, so that means that you are able to log in as administrator just removing the actual user password or create a new user. do you know about it?

  • 2 weeks later...
Experienced

paganinio

Posted
Posted

Press Windows - L to quickly lock your computer. You'll need the account password to unlock it. All the P2P programs and system restore will still be running in background.

Click on your Start button, then click on run. Now type "syncapp" (without quotes) and hit enter. Now check out the latest addition to your desktop ... "My Briefcase" is back!

Never was gone. I never work without my cute, empty briefcase. :rolleyes: I used to put things in it, and realized it's just a folder with an eyecandy icon.

Veteran

sweetsam

Posted
Posted

Ever wanted a quick multiple on the fly copy paste ? Highlight text to be copied, hold the ctrl key down click drag drop as many times as you need. The end result is multiple copy paste, just quicker. The same action results in moving text without the ctrl key.

Rising Star

cultavix

Posted
Posted

instead of the windows key + m, you can also do windows key + d

My little contribution to this great thread:

How to navigate in Internet even on a pc where access to iexplorer has been removed.

1) Open any windows application (e.g.: notepad)

2) Clic on "?" on the toolbar

3) Choose "help topics"

4) Clic on the control button (the yellow question mark) on the left of title bar

5) Choose "jump to url"

6) Digit the address you want but do not forget the initial "http://"

Et voil?!

P.S. to all users: please do not use abbreviations (as "ur" for "your", I think) that are very annoying to read for foreigner people.

good one:pp

Neowinian

Christie

Posted
Posted

I love it that I have the ability to show or hide the recycle bin, so my little sister can't drag important files to it without my knowledge. I was wondering though, how can I empty the contents of the recycle bin without having to constantly bring it back to the desktop?

Proficient

Zickar

Posted
Posted
Hold the Ctrl key when opening a folder to open it in a new window.

Hold the Shift key when opening a folder to open it in a new window with the folder list on the left.

Hold the Alt key when opening a folder to go to the folder properties (rather than Right-click, Properties)

Its brilliant ... On my PC I set the folders to open in new windows by default because I usually need them to but sometimes I wish I didn't, now thanks to this shortcut I can make them open in new windows with just a press on the keyboard , and its easier this way when I'm on other computers ... Thanks for the tip

Don't know if anyone knows about this but this shortcut did wonders for me when I discovered it : Hold Ctrl while clicking on items to select multiple files that aren't all next to each other

Grand Master

Minifig

Posted
Posted

Say you have a folder you wish you could see the internal contents of on the desktop without double clicking it.

Drag and drop it to the edge of the screen until you see a little +, and release.

Windows will create what's called a brand spanking new "Toolbar" where ever you place it.

It'll look sort of like this.

It's fully configurable and modifiable too.

Grand Master

Quillz

Posted
Posted
Say you have a folder you wish you could see the internal contents of on the desktop without double clicking it.

Drag and drop it to the edge of the screen until you see a little +, and release.

Windows will create what's called a brand spanking new "Toolbar" where ever you place it.

It'll look sort of like this.

It's fully configurable and modifiable too.

Interesting, I never knew of this. Although it doesn't seem to work on Windows 7.

Proficient

Zickar

Posted
Posted

If you ever run across a Confirm File replace window that asks you if you want to replace a file , you will notice you have a Yes to All option but not a No to all option, if you want to choose No to all just press and hold the shift key while clicking on the No button

Original post here : http://www.asktheadmin.com/2008/10/no-to-a...windows-xp.html

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