WinKey Shortcuts

Other than just bringing up the start menu, the Winkey has other special functions. The Winkey is located on many modern keyboards and has a symbol that looks like the windows Icon.

Maximize, Minimize & Close All Windows

This is common. You have a handful of applications which you want to close. Surely you don't close each Window one by one?. Hold down the Ctrl key and click on the application you want to close on the taskbar. Right-click one of them. There will be a context menu for you to Close, Minimize or Maximize. Select one action and all the applications you selected will close, minimize or maximize at the same time! 

Associating & Re-associating Files

If you have once opened an unknown file, Windows will prompt you to open that file with another program. If you like to always open that file under that program, check Always use this program to open this type of file and Windows will do that. However, if you would like to manually take control over your files instead of Windows prompting you when needed, there is a way. Open Windows Explorer. Click on the View menu and select Folder Options. Next, click on the File Types tab. Double-click the file you want to associate. Double-click on the Open command. Type the full path of the new application to open it. Close all windows.

A simpler way to do this is to hold down Shift and double-click the file. There will be a new Open with command. Select your new application to open the file. 
 

Windows Explorer Tips

Closing Parent Windows

If you are using multiple window browsing, closing a whole bunch of parent windows will be annoying. No problem. Hold down the Shift key and close the child window. Bingo! All the parent windows will close automatically.

Opening New Window Under Single Window View

Users using single window browsing can easily open a new window by holding down Ctrl and then click on a folder.

Taking Over Window Under Multiple Window View

Like the tip above, users using multiple window browsing can easily force the new folder to open in the current window by holding down Ctrl and then click on a folder.

Deleting Without The Recycle Bin

To delete a file without going through the Recycle Bin, hold down Shift and delete.

Solving A Mouse Drag

If you have accidentally dragged an icon and wished you haven't do it, the next time you come to this situation, hit the Esc key before you release the mouse button. The icon will jump back to place.

Up One Level Key

Pressing the Backspace key under normal Windows or Explorer will bring you back to the parent folder, giving the same function as the "Up One Level" button.

Quickly Minimize All Windows

 
Did you know just how easy and fast you can minimize all the windows you have open? Just RIGHT CLICK on the taskbar and then go to "Minimize All Windows". 

Emptying The Recycle Bin

Sure, the Recycle Bin is a great utility. However, when you run out of space, the Recycle Bin might be the culprit. First, you might have forgotten to empty it for a long time. Useless shortcuts can pile up and waste space. Try to check through your Recycle Bin every 2 weeks and empty unnecessary files.

Size Of The Recycle Bin

By default, Windows will set away 10% percent of your disk space for your Recycle Bin. Now picture this, 10% of a 2.1GB hard drive is about 200MB! Wow, that amount of valuable space just to keep the files you don't want. We will rather use that space to keep the files we want. Set it to 5% or if you have a 3GB and above hard drive, 3%. 

Keeping Desktop & Start Menu Clean

We have seen this too often. A user places all his 'stuff' on to his desktop or start menu. As a result, it is too messy and becomes so cluttered that even the user has trouble finding what he/she is looking for.

A Clean Desktop

Place only your most frequently used programs on to the desktop. Always place shortcuts and not the program itself onto the desktop. You can however, place folders which is a convenience on the desktop. Try not to fill up more than 3/4 of the desktop. If you place too many items onto the desktop, windows will place them beyond the screen and you will have to use the desktop folder itself instead.

A Clean Start Menu

Dump your start menu shortcuts into manageable folders. Put all you games into one folder. Place all your stand-alone system utilities under System Tools. Group all your MS Office applications under another folder. You get what we mean. It will clear up the start menu and you won't have to scroll to the bottom just to launch a program. If you have a lot of first-level items on your start menu, use small icons instead by right-clicking the Taskbar | Properties.  

Assigning Hotkeys To Shortcuts

If you use shortcuts very frequently, you will want to launch a certain application on the spot and on time. Most of the time, the certain shortcut should be on the desktop (where you frequently reach out for). But assuming you have a pile of applications in view, a minimizing all applications just to click on the shortcut isn't what we would want to.

Now, you can assign a hotkey to your desktop shortcut. That means, no matter where you are and which application you are using - just one keystroke combination and the shortcut will be launched. This can be done by right-clicking on the shortcut and selecting Properties. Click on the Shortcut tab.