You work with documents, presentations, graphics, and other files all day—and chances are, you have a lot of them. And that means it takes time to find the documents you need. Even if it's just a couple of minutes here, and a couple of minutes there, it all adds up.
But there is a better way to stop the file clutter—by managing your files more effectively. Digital files are no different than paper files, and if you don't have a good method of organization, things get lost. You may have to use the Search tool to find the missing files.
Whether you save your files on your computer's hard drive or a shared network location, these tips will help you save the time and headache of searching for files. And if you haven't already familiarized yourself with the search features in Windows Vista, this is the perfect time to learn more.
Use these tips to help manage your files.
1. Use Documents. For many reasons, it's smart to take advantage of the Documents feature (called My Documents in Windows XP and earlier versions) in Microsoft Windows. To open Documents in Windows, click Start, and then click Documents. Documents provide an easy way for you to store your personal documents.
By using Documents, you will be better able to: •
Find files. Windows provides easy access to the Documents folder (and its subfolders) in many places: through the Start menu, the task pane in Windows Explorer, common File Open and File Save dialog boxes, and other places.
• Back up files. You should back up files regularly—and keeping all your files in one place helps make backup a snap.
• Keep files separate from programs. By separating document files and program files you reduce the risk of accidentally deleting your documents when you install or upgrade programs.
2. Adopt consistent methods for file and folder naming. Develop a naming scheme for the kinds of files you create most often and then stick to it.
3. Keep names short. Even though Windows allows you to use long file names, it does not necessarily mean you should. Long file names are harder to read and harder to copy out through the command prompt in a case of failure.
4. Separate ongoing and completed work. To keep the Documents folder from becoming too unwieldy, use it only for files you're actively working on. As a result, you can reduce the number of files you need to search through and the amount of data you need to back up. Every month or so, move the files you're no longer working on to a different folder or location, such as a folder on your desktop, a special Archive folder, flash drive, external hard drive, or even on a CD.
5. Store like with like. Restricting folders to a single document type (or predominantly one type) allows you to take advantage of folder templates in Windows Explorer. This makes it easier for you to find files. For example, with all your graphics in a single folder, it's easy to use the Filmstrip view and slide show feature in Windows Explorer to find the right picture for your newsletter.
6. Avoid big folder structures. If you need to put so many subfolders in a folder that you can't see all of them at a glance, consider creating an alphabetic menu.
7. Use shortcuts and shortcut links instead of multiple copies. If you need to get to the same file from multiple locations, don't create copies of the file. Create shortcuts to it instead. To create a shortcut, right-click on the file and click Create Shortcut. You can drop and drag the shortcut to other locations.
8. Use abbreviations. Keep file names short by using common abbreviations, such as "MTG" for meeting or "ACTG" for accounting. This makes the file names more descriptive and you can more easily find files through Search if it's necessary.
9. Use thumbnails. Search through folders in the Thumbnail view. They're easier to see and you can put a picture or clip art on the folder so that it's more easily recognizable. For example, a folder that contains information about a product can have a picture of the product—or something else that reminds you of the folder contents.
To view your folder list in Thumbnail view, on the Documents folder, in the toolbar click View and then select Thumbnail.
To put a picture on the folder, right-click the folder and click Properties. In the Properties dialog box, click the Customize tab. In the Folder pictures area, click Choose Picture.
10. Use common names. To make it easier to search for documents, name your files and folders with easily found names, such as model numbers, project names, or the project lead in the title.
11. Don't save unnecessary files. Be selective about the files you keep. You probably don't need to keep them all. With e-mail, for example, you rarely need to keep everything you receive.
12. Use Recent Items. To find a file you just worked on, use Recent Items (called My Recent Documents in XP) in the Start menu.
13. Put Documents on the desktop. Put a shortcut to Documents on the desktop. You can save several clicks of the mouse to get where you want to be sooner.
14. Organize files by dates. Use a date in the document name. Such as victor100201, which would mean October 2, 2001? This puts all the victor materials together and sorted by date.
15. Color code your folders. There are third party program which allows a user to "color" certain folders in Documents that are used frequently. This allows a quick access to open or save a document.
Next week we will be considering 60 Indispensable Microsoft Word Tips.
This is a must read for anyone that uses or hopes to use Microsoft Word in future. You will learn things that will keep you smiling all day.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
10 Ways to secure Windows XP
Our subject today, although concentrates on Windows XP, will still be useful on other Operating systems, so you are covered as long you are using a Windows Operating system (not too obsolete though).
If you have just finished installing Windows XP and you think the work is done, you are wrong. Some of the most important steps to getting Windows XP up and running come after the installation of the operating system. At this point, you need to make specific configuration changes and install additional software to ensure that your computer is secure.
With its default configurations, Windows XP is not very secure. However, by making the recommended changes in the checklist below, you can secure your system and data from attackers and viruses.
Note: Windows XP Professional edition is inherently more secure than Windows XP Home edition. Since Windows XP Home does not contain as many security features, it is strongly recommended that you upgrade to Windows XP Professional.
File System
Windows XP supports both FAT32 and NTFS. NTFS supports additional features that can be used to secure your system.
For example, NTFS allows you to set permissions at the file level, not just at the folder level. If you formatted any partitions with FAT32, there is a one time conversion from FAT32 to NTFS without any data loss.
1. Convert Partitions to NTFS.
It is recommended that you convert all partitions and volumes to NTFS to take advantage of advanced security features that are not included with FAT32.
One way of converting to NTFS is to use the convert command from the command prompt. The syntax for the command is as follows:
Convert x: /fs:ntfs
Where x is the letter assigned to the partition or volume you want to convert.
After you press Enter, you’ll be asked to confirm your actions by pressing Y and the conversion is done. You can now set security at the file level. If the partition or volume is currently in use, prime example is if you are trying to convert your system volume, you can opt to have the conversion take place the next time the computer is restarted.
A word of caution though as this is a one time conversion which means there isn’t any going back from NTFS to FAT32 unless you format the volume or find a third party utility that can perform this task.
2. Use Automatic Updates.
Ensure your computer has the latest software updates by configuring Windows XP to automatically download and install updates for you at a certain schedule.
You can configure a schedule to instruct Windows XP when to install new updates on your computer. A handy feature for those of you who do not want updates installed when you are busy using your computer for other tasks. You can configure a schedule so the updates are installed when your computer is not being used for anything too important.
The process of configuring a schedule is very straight forward. In Windows XP, you can use the following steps to enable this feature:
1. Right click My Computer and select Properties.
2. Click the Automatic Updates tab from the System Properties dialog box.
3. Select the option to Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify as shown in the following figure.
4. Select the day and the time when you want the updates installed.
5. Click Ok.
3. Enable Windows Firewall.
Verify that the Windows Firewall in enabled on your Internet connection.
Note: if you are setting up a home network, do not enable ICF on your LAN (local-area network) connection.
Only enable it on the Internet connection. If you enable ICF on your LAN connection, it will block File and Printer Sharing.
4. Disable Simple File Sharing.
With Simple File Sharing disabled, you can assign permissions to specific users
and groups. This provides you with a finer granularity of control over controlling access to resources.
Simple File Sharing can be disabled by opening the Folder Options applet in the Control Panel. Click the View tab and remove the check beside the Use simple file sharing (recommended) option.
5. Disable the Guest Account. Verify that the Guest account is disabled. The guest account has always been a huge hacker hole and should remain disabled if it is not required.
6. Require passwords for all user accounts. Both Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Home Edition allow user accounts to utilize blank passwords to log into their local workstations, although in Windows XP Professional, accounts with blank passwords can no longer be used to log on to the computer remotely over the network.
Obviously, blank passwords are a bad idea if you care about security. Make sure you assign passwords to all accounts, especially the Administrator account and any accounts with Administrator privileges. The local password policy should be configured to require all passwords to be a minimum of eight characters in length.
Keep in mind that in the Windows XP Home Edition all user accounts have administrative privileges and no password by default. Make sure you close this hole as soon as possible.
7. Rename the Administrator account.
By renaming the administrator account hackers not only have to guess the password but also the name assigned to the account.
Many hackers will argue that this won’t stop them, because they will use the SID to find the name of the account and hack that. Our view is, why make it easy for them. Renaming the Administrator account will stop some amateur hackers cold, and will annoy the more determined ones. Remember that hackers won’t know what the inherit or group permissions are for an account, so they’ll try to hack any local account they find and then try to hack other accounts as they go to improve their access. If you rename the account, try not to use the word Admin in its name. Pick something that won’t sound like it has rights to anything.
8. Disable Remote Desktop.
Windows XP Professional’s Remote Desktop allows users to connect remotely to your computer. Although it can be useful for obtaining remote assist with troubleshooting, it is also an open door for attackers.
Remote Desktop should be disabled and only enabled on an as need basis.
Remote Desktop is disabled using the Remote tab from the System Properties dialog box. Under the Remote Desktop heading, remove the check beside the All users to connect remotely to this computer option.
Anti-virus Software
9. Install anti-virus software.
Anti-virus software is a program designed specifically to detect and remove viruses, making it an essential application to install. Once you install anti-virus software, it will scan your computer and clean any viruses it finds.
Anti-virus should be installed as soon as possible to protect your computer from viruses.
Some of the more popular antivirus software programs are listed below.
1. Symantec
2. Panda Software
3. Karspersky Internet Security
4. Eset Smart Security etc
Most anti-virus software must be purchased or it may be included with the purchase of a new computer. Some vendors also offer specials or free trial periods. In any case, if you have just performed a clean installation of Windows there will be no anti-virus software on your computer. The installation process will vary from vendor to vendor
10. Use a password protected screensaver. Enable a password protected screensaver so other users can not access your computer.
You can configure a screensaver to start when your computer has been idle for a specific amount of time (for example, after 5 minutes). By password protecting the screensaver, the computer will be locked when the screensaver starts. This is a great idea for those of us who forget to lock our workstations when we leave. In order to return to the desktop and resume working, you will need to supply the correct password. So once a password protected screensaver has been enabled, you can walk away from your computer knowing that your folders and files are secured. In Windows XP, you can use the steps outlined below to enable a password protected screensaver.
1. Right click your desktop and click Properties.
2. From the Display Properties dialog box, select the Screensaver tab.
3. Use the drop down arrow to select your screensaver of choice.
4. Change the Wait value to specify how long the computer can remain idle before the screensaver is started.
5. Select the On resume, password protect option. If you do not select this option any activity will cause the desktop to appear.
If you have just finished installing Windows XP and you think the work is done, you are wrong. Some of the most important steps to getting Windows XP up and running come after the installation of the operating system. At this point, you need to make specific configuration changes and install additional software to ensure that your computer is secure.
With its default configurations, Windows XP is not very secure. However, by making the recommended changes in the checklist below, you can secure your system and data from attackers and viruses.
Note: Windows XP Professional edition is inherently more secure than Windows XP Home edition. Since Windows XP Home does not contain as many security features, it is strongly recommended that you upgrade to Windows XP Professional.
File System
Windows XP supports both FAT32 and NTFS. NTFS supports additional features that can be used to secure your system.
For example, NTFS allows you to set permissions at the file level, not just at the folder level. If you formatted any partitions with FAT32, there is a one time conversion from FAT32 to NTFS without any data loss.
1. Convert Partitions to NTFS.
It is recommended that you convert all partitions and volumes to NTFS to take advantage of advanced security features that are not included with FAT32.
One way of converting to NTFS is to use the convert command from the command prompt. The syntax for the command is as follows:
Convert x: /fs:ntfs
Where x is the letter assigned to the partition or volume you want to convert.
After you press Enter, you’ll be asked to confirm your actions by pressing Y and the conversion is done. You can now set security at the file level. If the partition or volume is currently in use, prime example is if you are trying to convert your system volume, you can opt to have the conversion take place the next time the computer is restarted.
A word of caution though as this is a one time conversion which means there isn’t any going back from NTFS to FAT32 unless you format the volume or find a third party utility that can perform this task.
2. Use Automatic Updates.
Ensure your computer has the latest software updates by configuring Windows XP to automatically download and install updates for you at a certain schedule.
You can configure a schedule to instruct Windows XP when to install new updates on your computer. A handy feature for those of you who do not want updates installed when you are busy using your computer for other tasks. You can configure a schedule so the updates are installed when your computer is not being used for anything too important.
The process of configuring a schedule is very straight forward. In Windows XP, you can use the following steps to enable this feature:
1. Right click My Computer and select Properties.
2. Click the Automatic Updates tab from the System Properties dialog box.
3. Select the option to Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify as shown in the following figure.
4. Select the day and the time when you want the updates installed.
5. Click Ok.
3. Enable Windows Firewall.
Verify that the Windows Firewall in enabled on your Internet connection.
Note: if you are setting up a home network, do not enable ICF on your LAN (local-area network) connection.
Only enable it on the Internet connection. If you enable ICF on your LAN connection, it will block File and Printer Sharing.
4. Disable Simple File Sharing.
With Simple File Sharing disabled, you can assign permissions to specific users
and groups. This provides you with a finer granularity of control over controlling access to resources.
Simple File Sharing can be disabled by opening the Folder Options applet in the Control Panel. Click the View tab and remove the check beside the Use simple file sharing (recommended) option.
5. Disable the Guest Account. Verify that the Guest account is disabled. The guest account has always been a huge hacker hole and should remain disabled if it is not required.
6. Require passwords for all user accounts. Both Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Home Edition allow user accounts to utilize blank passwords to log into their local workstations, although in Windows XP Professional, accounts with blank passwords can no longer be used to log on to the computer remotely over the network.
Obviously, blank passwords are a bad idea if you care about security. Make sure you assign passwords to all accounts, especially the Administrator account and any accounts with Administrator privileges. The local password policy should be configured to require all passwords to be a minimum of eight characters in length.
Keep in mind that in the Windows XP Home Edition all user accounts have administrative privileges and no password by default. Make sure you close this hole as soon as possible.
7. Rename the Administrator account.
By renaming the administrator account hackers not only have to guess the password but also the name assigned to the account.
Many hackers will argue that this won’t stop them, because they will use the SID to find the name of the account and hack that. Our view is, why make it easy for them. Renaming the Administrator account will stop some amateur hackers cold, and will annoy the more determined ones. Remember that hackers won’t know what the inherit or group permissions are for an account, so they’ll try to hack any local account they find and then try to hack other accounts as they go to improve their access. If you rename the account, try not to use the word Admin in its name. Pick something that won’t sound like it has rights to anything.
8. Disable Remote Desktop.
Windows XP Professional’s Remote Desktop allows users to connect remotely to your computer. Although it can be useful for obtaining remote assist with troubleshooting, it is also an open door for attackers.
Remote Desktop should be disabled and only enabled on an as need basis.
Remote Desktop is disabled using the Remote tab from the System Properties dialog box. Under the Remote Desktop heading, remove the check beside the All users to connect remotely to this computer option.
Anti-virus Software
9. Install anti-virus software.
Anti-virus software is a program designed specifically to detect and remove viruses, making it an essential application to install. Once you install anti-virus software, it will scan your computer and clean any viruses it finds.
Anti-virus should be installed as soon as possible to protect your computer from viruses.
Some of the more popular antivirus software programs are listed below.
1. Symantec
2. Panda Software
3. Karspersky Internet Security
4. Eset Smart Security etc
Most anti-virus software must be purchased or it may be included with the purchase of a new computer. Some vendors also offer specials or free trial periods. In any case, if you have just performed a clean installation of Windows there will be no anti-virus software on your computer. The installation process will vary from vendor to vendor
10. Use a password protected screensaver. Enable a password protected screensaver so other users can not access your computer.
You can configure a screensaver to start when your computer has been idle for a specific amount of time (for example, after 5 minutes). By password protecting the screensaver, the computer will be locked when the screensaver starts. This is a great idea for those of us who forget to lock our workstations when we leave. In order to return to the desktop and resume working, you will need to supply the correct password. So once a password protected screensaver has been enabled, you can walk away from your computer knowing that your folders and files are secured. In Windows XP, you can use the steps outlined below to enable a password protected screensaver.
1. Right click your desktop and click Properties.
2. From the Display Properties dialog box, select the Screensaver tab.
3. Use the drop down arrow to select your screensaver of choice.
4. Change the Wait value to specify how long the computer can remain idle before the screensaver is started.
5. Select the On resume, password protect option. If you do not select this option any activity will cause the desktop to appear.
10 things you should do to protect yourself on a public computer
Most of us will occasionally have to use a public computer for one reason or another. Maybe it’s an emergency situation (your own computer crashes or you get caught without your laptop when traveling) or perhaps the opportunity is just too convenient to pass up. Whatever your reasons, using public computers will always carry an inherent risk of exposing your personal data. Luckily, there are some things you can do to protect yourself and lessen that risk.
1. Delete your Browsing History
This should be the first step you take to protect your privacy when Web surfing on a public computer. When you’ve finished browsing, it's a good idea to delete your cookies, form data, history, and temporary Internet files.
In Internet Explorer 7, you can do this all at once under Tools | Delete Browsing History.
In older versions of IE, each of these must be deleted separately, under Tools | Internet Options.
In Mozilla Firefox, go to Tools | Options, click the Privacy tab, and select Always Clear My Private Data When I Close Firefox. By default, this erases your browsing history, download history, saved form information, cache, and authenticated sessions. Click the Settings button and select the options to erase your cookies and saved passwords, too.
In Opera, go to Tools | Delete Private Data, you can click on Details to see the list of all you will delete by this singular command
2. Don’t save files locally
When you're using a computer other than your own, even if it's a trusted friend’s machine, it's polite to avoid saving files locally if you can help it. This is basically equivalent to not cluttering up another person’s home with your junk. On a public machine, though, this goes beyond politeness and is an important security practice. Many of the files you would normally save locally, such as e-mail attachments, can contain private or sensitive information. An easy way to protect this data is to carry a flash drive and save files there when necessary. It’s also a good idea to attach the flash drive to your key ring so you’ll be less likely to misplace it and create a new security problem.
3. Don’t save passwords
This should be obvious when using a public computer, but if the option is already turned on, you might forget about it. To make sure passwords are not saved in Internet Explorer 7, go to Tools | Internet Options | Content. In the AutoComplete panel, click the Settings button and verify that the Prompt Me To Save Passwords check box is deselected. None of the other AutoComplete features needs to be enabled either, so deselect them as well.
In Firefox, choose Tools | Options | Security and deselect Remember Passwords For Sites.
4. Don’t do online banking
You should remember that ultimately, a public computer is never going to be anywhere close to completely secure, so there are some things you just shouldn’t use them for. If you really need to check your balance on the road, you’re much better off finding a branch office or ATM or using your phone.
5. Don’t enter credit card information
As with online banking, public computers are not the place for online shopping. Your online purchases can and should wait until you can browse from a more secure location. A little added convenience isn’t worth the trouble of having your credit card hijacked.
6. Delete temporary files
Temporary files (often abbreviated to “temp files”), as opposed to temporary Internet files, are created when you use programs other than a Web browser. For instance, when you create a Word document, in addition to the actual document file you save, Word creates a temporary file to store information so memory can be freed for other purposes and to prevent data loss in the file-saving process.
These files are usually supposed to be deleted automatically when the program is closed or during a system reboot, but unfortunately they often aren’t. To find these files, do a search on all local drives (including subfolders, hidden, and system files) for tmp,*.chk,~*.*
This will bring up all files beginning with a tilde or with the extensions .tmp and .chk, which are the most common temp files. Once the search is complete, highlight all and Shift + Delete to remove them. (If you don’t hold down Shift, they'll usually be sent to the Recycle Bin, which you would then have to empty.)
7. Clear the pagefile
The pagefile is the location on the hard disk that serves as virtual memory in Windows. Its purpose is to swap out data from RAM so that programs can operate as if they have more RAM available than you actually have installed in the computer. Anything that can be stored in memory could also be stored in the pagefile. To have this automatically cleared on shutdown, you need to use Local Security Policy.
To access Local Security Policy,
• Open Control Panel
• Double-click on Administrative Tools
• Double-click on Local Security Policy.
• Click Security Options in the right-hand pane and scroll down to Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile. Double-click that item and make sure it’s enabled.
Note: On many public machines you won’t have the rights to get to Local Security Policy, and while this task can also be accomplished from the registry, on these machines you likely won’t be able to use regedit either. In this case, you can delete the page file manually. First you’ll have to change the settings in Windows Explorer.
• Click View | Folder Options
• Click View tab
• Scroll down
• Click Show Hidden Files and Folders. Deselect the Hide Protected Operating System Files check box.
Now, find the file named pagefile.sys. It is usually (but not always) on the C: drive. Delete it; a new one will be created when the system reboots.
8. Reboot
When you’re finished using the public computer, the final thing you should do is a hard reboot. This will not only clear the pagefile, if you’ve enabled that option, but it will also clear out everything you did from the physical memory (RAM).
9. Boot from another device
This is a fairly advanced option, and one that is often overlooked. If you boot from either your own USB drive or from a CD, many of the problems mentioned above can be avoided. Today, many Linux distributions have the option of running completely in memory after booting from a CD. If a public computer has had its BIOS options left at default (which happens more often than you would think), this could be an option. If you are able to do this and remember not to save any other files to the local hard drive, everything will be gone when you reboot.
10. Pay attention to your surroundings and use common sense
Finally, you need to remember to pay attention to things outside of the actual computer that could be a risk. Be aware of strangers around you (potential shoulder surfers) and remember that a public computer is just that -- public. Don’t view any truly sensitive documents you couldn’t bear for others to see.
Some places have security cameras and your keystrokes can be zoomed out. Cover your hands from view when entering any login information to prevent any casual spying.
Most important, remember that there is nothing you can do to make a public computer completely secure. A truly malicious owner or user could install a hardware keystroke logger that would be impossible to detect without actually opening the case and inspecting it. With that less-than-comforting thought, use common sense and use public computers only for non-sensitive tasks.
1. Delete your Browsing History
This should be the first step you take to protect your privacy when Web surfing on a public computer. When you’ve finished browsing, it's a good idea to delete your cookies, form data, history, and temporary Internet files.
In Internet Explorer 7, you can do this all at once under Tools | Delete Browsing History.
In older versions of IE, each of these must be deleted separately, under Tools | Internet Options.
In Mozilla Firefox, go to Tools | Options, click the Privacy tab, and select Always Clear My Private Data When I Close Firefox. By default, this erases your browsing history, download history, saved form information, cache, and authenticated sessions. Click the Settings button and select the options to erase your cookies and saved passwords, too.
In Opera, go to Tools | Delete Private Data, you can click on Details to see the list of all you will delete by this singular command
2. Don’t save files locally
When you're using a computer other than your own, even if it's a trusted friend’s machine, it's polite to avoid saving files locally if you can help it. This is basically equivalent to not cluttering up another person’s home with your junk. On a public machine, though, this goes beyond politeness and is an important security practice. Many of the files you would normally save locally, such as e-mail attachments, can contain private or sensitive information. An easy way to protect this data is to carry a flash drive and save files there when necessary. It’s also a good idea to attach the flash drive to your key ring so you’ll be less likely to misplace it and create a new security problem.
3. Don’t save passwords
This should be obvious when using a public computer, but if the option is already turned on, you might forget about it. To make sure passwords are not saved in Internet Explorer 7, go to Tools | Internet Options | Content. In the AutoComplete panel, click the Settings button and verify that the Prompt Me To Save Passwords check box is deselected. None of the other AutoComplete features needs to be enabled either, so deselect them as well.
In Firefox, choose Tools | Options | Security and deselect Remember Passwords For Sites.
4. Don’t do online banking
You should remember that ultimately, a public computer is never going to be anywhere close to completely secure, so there are some things you just shouldn’t use them for. If you really need to check your balance on the road, you’re much better off finding a branch office or ATM or using your phone.
5. Don’t enter credit card information
As with online banking, public computers are not the place for online shopping. Your online purchases can and should wait until you can browse from a more secure location. A little added convenience isn’t worth the trouble of having your credit card hijacked.
6. Delete temporary files
Temporary files (often abbreviated to “temp files”), as opposed to temporary Internet files, are created when you use programs other than a Web browser. For instance, when you create a Word document, in addition to the actual document file you save, Word creates a temporary file to store information so memory can be freed for other purposes and to prevent data loss in the file-saving process.
These files are usually supposed to be deleted automatically when the program is closed or during a system reboot, but unfortunately they often aren’t. To find these files, do a search on all local drives (including subfolders, hidden, and system files) for tmp,*.chk,~*.*
This will bring up all files beginning with a tilde or with the extensions .tmp and .chk, which are the most common temp files. Once the search is complete, highlight all and Shift + Delete to remove them. (If you don’t hold down Shift, they'll usually be sent to the Recycle Bin, which you would then have to empty.)
7. Clear the pagefile
The pagefile is the location on the hard disk that serves as virtual memory in Windows. Its purpose is to swap out data from RAM so that programs can operate as if they have more RAM available than you actually have installed in the computer. Anything that can be stored in memory could also be stored in the pagefile. To have this automatically cleared on shutdown, you need to use Local Security Policy.
To access Local Security Policy,
• Open Control Panel
• Double-click on Administrative Tools
• Double-click on Local Security Policy.
• Click Security Options in the right-hand pane and scroll down to Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile. Double-click that item and make sure it’s enabled.
Note: On many public machines you won’t have the rights to get to Local Security Policy, and while this task can also be accomplished from the registry, on these machines you likely won’t be able to use regedit either. In this case, you can delete the page file manually. First you’ll have to change the settings in Windows Explorer.
• Click View | Folder Options
• Click View tab
• Scroll down
• Click Show Hidden Files and Folders. Deselect the Hide Protected Operating System Files check box.
Now, find the file named pagefile.sys. It is usually (but not always) on the C: drive. Delete it; a new one will be created when the system reboots.
8. Reboot
When you’re finished using the public computer, the final thing you should do is a hard reboot. This will not only clear the pagefile, if you’ve enabled that option, but it will also clear out everything you did from the physical memory (RAM).
9. Boot from another device
This is a fairly advanced option, and one that is often overlooked. If you boot from either your own USB drive or from a CD, many of the problems mentioned above can be avoided. Today, many Linux distributions have the option of running completely in memory after booting from a CD. If a public computer has had its BIOS options left at default (which happens more often than you would think), this could be an option. If you are able to do this and remember not to save any other files to the local hard drive, everything will be gone when you reboot.
10. Pay attention to your surroundings and use common sense
Finally, you need to remember to pay attention to things outside of the actual computer that could be a risk. Be aware of strangers around you (potential shoulder surfers) and remember that a public computer is just that -- public. Don’t view any truly sensitive documents you couldn’t bear for others to see.
Some places have security cameras and your keystrokes can be zoomed out. Cover your hands from view when entering any login information to prevent any casual spying.
Most important, remember that there is nothing you can do to make a public computer completely secure. A truly malicious owner or user could install a hardware keystroke logger that would be impossible to detect without actually opening the case and inspecting it. With that less-than-comforting thought, use common sense and use public computers only for non-sensitive tasks.
11 ways to recover a corrupt Word document
If you've ever had an important document get corrupted, you know the despair that sets in. You've lost critical information and/or countless hours of work – or so it appears. But hang on: You may not have to accept data loss. Here are some things you can try when you're dealing with a corrupted Word document.
1. Don't assume that the document is corrupt
Automatically assuming that a document is corrupt can be a big mistake. It could be Word or even Windows that is having the problem. Before you start trying to restore a backup or repair a file, try opening other documents. Try opening your "corrupt" document from another computer. You may be surprised by what happens.
2. Make a copy of the document
This isn't really a recovery trick, but it is a crucial preliminary step. If you don't have a backup copy of the corrupt document readily available, make a copy of the corrupted file right away and store it on removable media. There's a chance that the corruption within the file could become worse over time or that you could destroy the file while trying to recover it. Making a backup copy of the file now may save you even more heartache later on.
3. Check your email
In many cases, you may have emailed a copy of the document to someone at some point. If so, a copy of the document may still be in Outlook's Sent Items folder, attached to the email message you sent. Try selecting the Sent Items folder and using Outlook's Search feature to look for the document's name.
4. Run CHKDSK
Try running CHKDSK against the volume (i.e. the hard drive or partition) containing the corrupted file. Your problem could be caused by corruption at the file system level, and CHKDSK may be able to fix the problem. If nothing else, running CHKDSK allows you to test the integrity of the file system, which allows you to determine whether the problem exists at the file system level or within the document itself.
To run Chkdsk, open the command prompt (either at the start menu, or Windows + R key combination) and type the command.
5. Try exporting the file
If you can open the file in Word, try saving the file in an alternate format. Sometimes, using a format such as RTF or TXT will cause some of Word's codes to be stripped from the document, which often fixes the problem.
6. Extract the raw text
Although saving the Word document as an RTF or TXT file usually works pretty well, that technique does you no good if Word won't open the file. One approach is to use another word processor that supports Word documents. Alternatively, you can use a file editor (a hex editor) to manually extract anything salvageable from the file.
7. Use Word's text converter
You may also be able to recover the text portion of a document using Word’s text converter.
Click File | Open. When the Open dialog box appears, select the troublesome Word document. Then, choose Recover Text From Any File from the Files of Type drop-down list and open the document. This filter will import straight ASCII text from any file. You will lose Word formatting and non-text items such as graphics, but you should at least be able to extract most of the text information from the file. Note that this method is limited to documents in the Word 97-2003 format (not docx or dotx files which is a Word 2007 format).
8. Use Open and Repair
Word XP and later offer an Open and Repair option, which you can use to force Word to attempt a recovery. Just select the file in the Open dialog box and choose Open and Repair from the Open drop-down list in the bottom-right corner. This isn't necessarily foolproof, but it does work on a lot of problematic documents.
9. Use a Vista shadow copy of the document
Windows Vista automatically saves shadow copies of some files to the hard drive. If a shadow copy of your document exists, it may be possible to recover a recent version of the document. To do so, right-click on the document and select the Properties command from the shortcut menu. When the document's properties sheet appears, select the Previous Versions tab. (This tab exists only for files stored on NTFS volumes.) The Previous Versions tab will show you any previous versions of the file that are available.
10. Rebuild the file header
Although every Word document is different, Word documents that are created by a common version of Word have a common file header. I can't tell you exactly what this header contains, because it varies from one version of Word to the next. What I can tell you is that if you use a file editor to examine multiple known good Word documents, it will quickly become apparent which bits each of the documents has in common. Once you have determined which part of the file is the header, you can copy the header bits from a known good document and use the editor to paste those bits into your corrupt document, overwriting the existing header in the process. If the header was the portion of the document that was damaged, this technique will fix the problem.
11. Use a recovery program
Several third-party applications on the market are designed to recover corrupt documents. One of the best known products is OfficeRecovery. Another popular product is Ontrack Easy Recovery. Data recovery products like these can have a hefty price tag, and depending on the extent of the damage, they may or may not actually be able to repair your file.
1. Don't assume that the document is corrupt
Automatically assuming that a document is corrupt can be a big mistake. It could be Word or even Windows that is having the problem. Before you start trying to restore a backup or repair a file, try opening other documents. Try opening your "corrupt" document from another computer. You may be surprised by what happens.
2. Make a copy of the document
This isn't really a recovery trick, but it is a crucial preliminary step. If you don't have a backup copy of the corrupt document readily available, make a copy of the corrupted file right away and store it on removable media. There's a chance that the corruption within the file could become worse over time or that you could destroy the file while trying to recover it. Making a backup copy of the file now may save you even more heartache later on.
3. Check your email
In many cases, you may have emailed a copy of the document to someone at some point. If so, a copy of the document may still be in Outlook's Sent Items folder, attached to the email message you sent. Try selecting the Sent Items folder and using Outlook's Search feature to look for the document's name.
4. Run CHKDSK
Try running CHKDSK against the volume (i.e. the hard drive or partition) containing the corrupted file. Your problem could be caused by corruption at the file system level, and CHKDSK may be able to fix the problem. If nothing else, running CHKDSK allows you to test the integrity of the file system, which allows you to determine whether the problem exists at the file system level or within the document itself.
To run Chkdsk, open the command prompt (either at the start menu, or Windows + R key combination) and type the command.
5. Try exporting the file
If you can open the file in Word, try saving the file in an alternate format. Sometimes, using a format such as RTF or TXT will cause some of Word's codes to be stripped from the document, which often fixes the problem.
6. Extract the raw text
Although saving the Word document as an RTF or TXT file usually works pretty well, that technique does you no good if Word won't open the file. One approach is to use another word processor that supports Word documents. Alternatively, you can use a file editor (a hex editor) to manually extract anything salvageable from the file.
7. Use Word's text converter
You may also be able to recover the text portion of a document using Word’s text converter.
Click File | Open. When the Open dialog box appears, select the troublesome Word document. Then, choose Recover Text From Any File from the Files of Type drop-down list and open the document. This filter will import straight ASCII text from any file. You will lose Word formatting and non-text items such as graphics, but you should at least be able to extract most of the text information from the file. Note that this method is limited to documents in the Word 97-2003 format (not docx or dotx files which is a Word 2007 format).
8. Use Open and Repair
Word XP and later offer an Open and Repair option, which you can use to force Word to attempt a recovery. Just select the file in the Open dialog box and choose Open and Repair from the Open drop-down list in the bottom-right corner. This isn't necessarily foolproof, but it does work on a lot of problematic documents.
9. Use a Vista shadow copy of the document
Windows Vista automatically saves shadow copies of some files to the hard drive. If a shadow copy of your document exists, it may be possible to recover a recent version of the document. To do so, right-click on the document and select the Properties command from the shortcut menu. When the document's properties sheet appears, select the Previous Versions tab. (This tab exists only for files stored on NTFS volumes.) The Previous Versions tab will show you any previous versions of the file that are available.
10. Rebuild the file header
Although every Word document is different, Word documents that are created by a common version of Word have a common file header. I can't tell you exactly what this header contains, because it varies from one version of Word to the next. What I can tell you is that if you use a file editor to examine multiple known good Word documents, it will quickly become apparent which bits each of the documents has in common. Once you have determined which part of the file is the header, you can copy the header bits from a known good document and use the editor to paste those bits into your corrupt document, overwriting the existing header in the process. If the header was the portion of the document that was damaged, this technique will fix the problem.
11. Use a recovery program
Several third-party applications on the market are designed to recover corrupt documents. One of the best known products is OfficeRecovery. Another popular product is Ontrack Easy Recovery. Data recovery products like these can have a hefty price tag, and depending on the extent of the damage, they may or may not actually be able to repair your file.
75 Microsoft Word 2003 keyboard shortcuts
Microsoft Word is a text editor/word processing package that has been in use for so many years. No computer is complete without a Microsoft Word application installed. Some OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) like Dell and Hp most times has it preinstalled on their systems.
Being the application with the most use, knowledge of the shortcuts involved would largely boost the efficiency of any user. Although this edition concentrates on Microsoft 2003, there exist Microsoft Office XP, 2000, 2007 and 2010. Majority of the shortcuts listed here can be used on all of them, including Linux word processors like Open Office. Whichever version you may be using, this article will still help me.
Working with text and paragraphs
Shortcut Function
Ctrl+A Select all text in a document
Ctrl+Shift+A Format selected text as all caps
Ctrl+B Bold the selected text
Ctrl+C Copy the selected text or object
Ctrl+Shift+C Copy the format of the selected text
Ctrl+D Display the Format | Font dialog box
Ctrl+E Center the selected paragraph
Ctrl+Shift+H Apply hidden text formatting to the selected text
Ctrl+I Italicize the selected text
Ctrl+J Justify the selected paragraph
Ctrl+K Insert a hyperlink within the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+K Format select text as small caps
Ctrl+L Left align the selected paragraph
Ctrl+M Indent the selected paragraph from the left
Ctrl+Q Remove paragraph formatting from selected paragraph
Ctrl+R Right align the selected paragraph
Ctrl+T Apply a hanging indent to the selected paragraph
Ctrl+U Underline the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+D Double-underline the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+W Underline the selected words but not spaces
Ctrl+V Paste cut/copied text or object
Ctrl+Shift+V Paste copied format
Ctrl+0 Add/Remove one line space before the selected paragraph
Ctrl+1 Apply single-space lines to the selected text
Ctrl+2 Apply double-space lines to the selected text
Ctrl+5 Apply 1.5-space lines to the selected text
Ctrl+Spacebar Remove selected text's manual character formatting
Shortcut
Function
Ctrl+Equal Sign Subscript the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+Plus Sign Superscript the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+Q Apply Symbol font to the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+F Change the selected text's font
Ctrl+Shift+P Change the selected text's font size
Ctrl+Shift+> Increase the selected text's font size by one point
Ctrl+Shift+< Decrease the selected text's font size by one point
Ctrl+] Increase the selected text's font size by one point
Ctrl+[ Decrease the selected text's font size by one point
Shift+Enter Insert a line break
Ctrl+Enter Insert a page break
Ctrl+Shift+Enter Insert a section break
Alt+Ctrl+Minus Sign Insert an em dash
Ctrl+Minus Sign Insert an en dash
Ctrl+Hyphen Insert an optional hyphen
Ctrl+Shift+Hyphen Insert a nonbreaking hyphen
Ctrl+Shift+spacebar Insert a nonbreaking space
Alt+Ctrl+C Insert the copyright symbol
Alt+Ctrl+R Insert the registered trademark symbol
Alt+Ctrl+Period Insert and ellipsis
Printing and previewing
Shortcut Function
Ctrl+P Display the File | Print dialog box
Alt+Ctrl+I Switch in and out of Print Preview
Ctrl+Home Move to the document's first preview page
Ctrl+End Move to the document's last preview page
Working with styles
Shortcut Function
Alt+Ctrl+K Enable AutoFormat
Ctrl+Shift+L Apply the List style to the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+N Apply the Normal style to the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+S Apply a style to the selected text
Alt+Ctrl+1 Apply the Heading 1 style to the selected text
Alt+Ctrl+2 Apply the Heading 2 style to the selected text
Alt+Ctrl+3 Apply the Heading 3 style to the selected text
Working with tables
Shortcut Function
Tab Move to next cell in a row; Start a new row if pressed within a row's last cell
Shift+Tab Move to previous cell in a row
Alt+Home Move to the first cell in a row
Alt+End Move to the last cell in a row
Alt+Page Up Move to the first cell in a column
Alt+Page Down Move to the last cell in a column
Up Arrow Move to the previous row
Down Arrow Move to the next row
Enter Start a new paragraph within a cell
Ctrl+Tab Insert a tab within a cell
Working with documents
Shortcut Function
Ctrl+N Open a new document that is the same type as the current or most recently opened document
Ctrl+O Display the File | Open dialog box
Ctrl+W Close the current document
Ctrl+S Save the current document
Alt+Ctrl+S Split the document window
Alt+Shift+C Remove the document window split
Functions keys
Shortcut Function
F1 Display Word Help dialog box
Shift+F1 Open Reveal formatting dialog box or open context-sensitive Word Help
F2 Move selected text of object
Shift+F2 Copy the selected text
F3 Insert AutoText
Shift+F3 Change the case of the selected text
F4 Repeat last action
Shift+F4 Repeat Find or Go To
F5 Display the Edit | Go To dialog box
Shift+F5 Move to the last change
F6 Move to the next pane or frame
Shift+F6 Move to the previous pane or frame
F7 Display Tools | Spelling and Grammar dialog box
Shift+F7 Display the Tools | Language | Thesaurus dialog box
F8 Extend the selection
Shift+F8 Shrink the selection
F9 Update the selected fields
Shift+F9 Switch between a field code and its product
F10 Activate the Word menu bar
Shift+F10 Display the shortcut menu
F11 Move to the next field
Shift+F11 Move to the previous field
F12 Display the File | Save As dialog box
Shift+F12 Save the current document
Being the application with the most use, knowledge of the shortcuts involved would largely boost the efficiency of any user. Although this edition concentrates on Microsoft 2003, there exist Microsoft Office XP, 2000, 2007 and 2010. Majority of the shortcuts listed here can be used on all of them, including Linux word processors like Open Office. Whichever version you may be using, this article will still help me.
Working with text and paragraphs
Shortcut Function
Ctrl+A Select all text in a document
Ctrl+Shift+A Format selected text as all caps
Ctrl+B Bold the selected text
Ctrl+C Copy the selected text or object
Ctrl+Shift+C Copy the format of the selected text
Ctrl+D Display the Format | Font dialog box
Ctrl+E Center the selected paragraph
Ctrl+Shift+H Apply hidden text formatting to the selected text
Ctrl+I Italicize the selected text
Ctrl+J Justify the selected paragraph
Ctrl+K Insert a hyperlink within the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+K Format select text as small caps
Ctrl+L Left align the selected paragraph
Ctrl+M Indent the selected paragraph from the left
Ctrl+Q Remove paragraph formatting from selected paragraph
Ctrl+R Right align the selected paragraph
Ctrl+T Apply a hanging indent to the selected paragraph
Ctrl+U Underline the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+D Double-underline the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+W Underline the selected words but not spaces
Ctrl+V Paste cut/copied text or object
Ctrl+Shift+V Paste copied format
Ctrl+0 Add/Remove one line space before the selected paragraph
Ctrl+1 Apply single-space lines to the selected text
Ctrl+2 Apply double-space lines to the selected text
Ctrl+5 Apply 1.5-space lines to the selected text
Ctrl+Spacebar Remove selected text's manual character formatting
Shortcut
Function
Ctrl+Equal Sign Subscript the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+Plus Sign Superscript the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+Q Apply Symbol font to the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+F Change the selected text's font
Ctrl+Shift+P Change the selected text's font size
Ctrl+Shift+> Increase the selected text's font size by one point
Ctrl+Shift+< Decrease the selected text's font size by one point
Ctrl+] Increase the selected text's font size by one point
Ctrl+[ Decrease the selected text's font size by one point
Shift+Enter Insert a line break
Ctrl+Enter Insert a page break
Ctrl+Shift+Enter Insert a section break
Alt+Ctrl+Minus Sign Insert an em dash
Ctrl+Minus Sign Insert an en dash
Ctrl+Hyphen Insert an optional hyphen
Ctrl+Shift+Hyphen Insert a nonbreaking hyphen
Ctrl+Shift+spacebar Insert a nonbreaking space
Alt+Ctrl+C Insert the copyright symbol
Alt+Ctrl+R Insert the registered trademark symbol
Alt+Ctrl+Period Insert and ellipsis
Printing and previewing
Shortcut Function
Ctrl+P Display the File | Print dialog box
Alt+Ctrl+I Switch in and out of Print Preview
Ctrl+Home Move to the document's first preview page
Ctrl+End Move to the document's last preview page
Working with styles
Shortcut Function
Alt+Ctrl+K Enable AutoFormat
Ctrl+Shift+L Apply the List style to the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+N Apply the Normal style to the selected text
Ctrl+Shift+S Apply a style to the selected text
Alt+Ctrl+1 Apply the Heading 1 style to the selected text
Alt+Ctrl+2 Apply the Heading 2 style to the selected text
Alt+Ctrl+3 Apply the Heading 3 style to the selected text
Working with tables
Shortcut Function
Tab Move to next cell in a row; Start a new row if pressed within a row's last cell
Shift+Tab Move to previous cell in a row
Alt+Home Move to the first cell in a row
Alt+End Move to the last cell in a row
Alt+Page Up Move to the first cell in a column
Alt+Page Down Move to the last cell in a column
Up Arrow Move to the previous row
Down Arrow Move to the next row
Enter Start a new paragraph within a cell
Ctrl+Tab Insert a tab within a cell
Working with documents
Shortcut Function
Ctrl+N Open a new document that is the same type as the current or most recently opened document
Ctrl+O Display the File | Open dialog box
Ctrl+W Close the current document
Ctrl+S Save the current document
Alt+Ctrl+S Split the document window
Alt+Shift+C Remove the document window split
Functions keys
Shortcut Function
F1 Display Word Help dialog box
Shift+F1 Open Reveal formatting dialog box or open context-sensitive Word Help
F2 Move selected text of object
Shift+F2 Copy the selected text
F3 Insert AutoText
Shift+F3 Change the case of the selected text
F4 Repeat last action
Shift+F4 Repeat Find or Go To
F5 Display the Edit | Go To dialog box
Shift+F5 Move to the last change
F6 Move to the next pane or frame
Shift+F6 Move to the previous pane or frame
F7 Display Tools | Spelling and Grammar dialog box
Shift+F7 Display the Tools | Language | Thesaurus dialog box
F8 Extend the selection
Shift+F8 Shrink the selection
F9 Update the selected fields
Shift+F9 Switch between a field code and its product
F10 Activate the Word menu bar
Shift+F10 Display the shortcut menu
F11 Move to the next field
Shift+F11 Move to the previous field
F12 Display the File | Save As dialog box
Shift+F12 Save the current document
76 keyboard shortcuts for moving faster in Windows Vista
As is normal with Windows, Microsoft has provided a huge number of keyboard shortcuts to make interaction with the product easier for those who enjoy the productivity that almost 100 percent keyboard use can supply. Below is a list of Vista keyboard shortcuts that are available when you're working on the Vista desktop, in Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer), in the Vista Sidebar, in dialog boxes, and in Vista Help.
Vista Desktop
Shortcut Function
Windows key Opens or closes the Start menu
Windows + D Displays your desktop
Windows + E Opens the Computer window
Windows + F Opens the Search window
Ctrl + Windows + F Searches for computers (if you're on a network)
Windows + L Locks your computer or switches users
Windows + M Minimizes all windows
Shift + Windows + M Restores minimized windows
Windows + R Opens the Run dialog box
Windows + T Cycles through programs on the Taskbar
Windows + U Opens the Ease of Access Center
Ctrl + A Selects everything in a window
Ctrl + C Copies selected items
Ctrl + X Cuts selected items
Ctrl + V Pastes cut or copied items
Ctrl + Y Redoes an action
Ctrl + Z Undoes an action
F1 Displays Help
F2 Highlights the label of a selected item for editing
F3 Opens the Search window
Ctrl + F4 Closes the current document
Alt + F4 Closes the current item or program
F5 Refreshes a window
F6 Cycles through elements in a window or on the desktop
F10 Activates a program's menu bar
Shift + Windows + F10 Displays the shortcut menu for a selected item
Delete Deletes selected items to the Recycle Bin
Shift + Delete Deletes selected items permanently
Alt + Enter Displays the properties of a selected item
Ctrl + Esc Opens the Start menu
Alt + Esc Cycles through items in the order you opened them
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Opens the Windows Task Manager
Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock Turns the Mouse Keys feature on or off
Hold for five seconds + Num Lock Turns the Toggle Keys feature on or off
Windows + Pause Displays the System Properties dialog box
Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen Turns the High Contrast feature on or off
Right Shift for 8 seconds Turns the Filter Keys feature on and off
Press Shift five times Turns the Sticky Keys feature on or off
Alt + Spacebar Opens the shortcut menu for the current window
Alt + Tab Switches between open items
Windows + Tab Cycles through open items with Flip 3-D
Ctrl + Alt + Tab Displays open items (use the arrow keys to switch between them)
Ctrl + Windows + Tab Displays open items with Flip 3-D (use the arrow keys to cycle through them)
In Windows Explorer
Shortcut Function
Alt + D Moves to the Address bar
F4 Displays the Address bar drop-down list
Ctrl + N Opens a new window
F11 Maximizes/minimizes the current window
Left arrow Collapses a selection or selects its parent folder
Alt + Left arrow Shows the previous folder
Right arrow Displays the current selection or selects its first subfolder
Alt + Right arrow Shows the next folder
Asterisk (keypad) Displays subfolders within a selected folder
End Displays the bottom of the current window
Home Displays the top of the current window
Minus Sign (keypad) Collapses the selected folder
Plus Sign (keypad) Displays the contents of the selected folder
In the Vista Sidebar
Shortcut Function
Windows + G Cycles through gadgets
Windows + Spacebar Brings all gadgets to the front; selects Sidebar
Tab Cycles through Sidebar controls
In a dialog box
Shortcut Function
F1 Displays Help
F4 Displays items in a drop-down list
Backspace In Save As or Open dialog, opens a folder one level up from a selected folder
Enter Works like a mouse click for some selected options
Spacebar Selects or deselects an active check box
Tab Moves forward through dialog box options
Ctrl + Tab Hops from tab to tab
Shift + Tab Moves backward through dialog box options
Ctrl + Shift + Tab Hops backward from tab to tab
In Vista Help
Shortcut Function
Alt + A Displays the customer support page
Alt + C Displays the Help And Support Contents
Ctrl + F Opens Find dialog box for the current topic
Alt + N Displays the connection settings menu
Ctrl + P Prints a help topic
F3 Moves to the Search box
F10 Displays Options menu
Alt + Home Displays the Help And Support home page
Vista Desktop
Shortcut Function
Windows key Opens or closes the Start menu
Windows + D Displays your desktop
Windows + E Opens the Computer window
Windows + F Opens the Search window
Ctrl + Windows + F Searches for computers (if you're on a network)
Windows + L Locks your computer or switches users
Windows + M Minimizes all windows
Shift + Windows + M Restores minimized windows
Windows + R Opens the Run dialog box
Windows + T Cycles through programs on the Taskbar
Windows + U Opens the Ease of Access Center
Ctrl + A Selects everything in a window
Ctrl + C Copies selected items
Ctrl + X Cuts selected items
Ctrl + V Pastes cut or copied items
Ctrl + Y Redoes an action
Ctrl + Z Undoes an action
F1 Displays Help
F2 Highlights the label of a selected item for editing
F3 Opens the Search window
Ctrl + F4 Closes the current document
Alt + F4 Closes the current item or program
F5 Refreshes a window
F6 Cycles through elements in a window or on the desktop
F10 Activates a program's menu bar
Shift + Windows + F10 Displays the shortcut menu for a selected item
Delete Deletes selected items to the Recycle Bin
Shift + Delete Deletes selected items permanently
Alt + Enter Displays the properties of a selected item
Ctrl + Esc Opens the Start menu
Alt + Esc Cycles through items in the order you opened them
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Opens the Windows Task Manager
Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock Turns the Mouse Keys feature on or off
Hold for five seconds + Num Lock Turns the Toggle Keys feature on or off
Windows + Pause Displays the System Properties dialog box
Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen Turns the High Contrast feature on or off
Right Shift for 8 seconds Turns the Filter Keys feature on and off
Press Shift five times Turns the Sticky Keys feature on or off
Alt + Spacebar Opens the shortcut menu for the current window
Alt + Tab Switches between open items
Windows + Tab Cycles through open items with Flip 3-D
Ctrl + Alt + Tab Displays open items (use the arrow keys to switch between them)
Ctrl + Windows + Tab Displays open items with Flip 3-D (use the arrow keys to cycle through them)
In Windows Explorer
Shortcut Function
Alt + D Moves to the Address bar
F4 Displays the Address bar drop-down list
Ctrl + N Opens a new window
F11 Maximizes/minimizes the current window
Left arrow Collapses a selection or selects its parent folder
Alt + Left arrow Shows the previous folder
Right arrow Displays the current selection or selects its first subfolder
Alt + Right arrow Shows the next folder
Asterisk (keypad) Displays subfolders within a selected folder
End Displays the bottom of the current window
Home Displays the top of the current window
Minus Sign (keypad) Collapses the selected folder
Plus Sign (keypad) Displays the contents of the selected folder
In the Vista Sidebar
Shortcut Function
Windows + G Cycles through gadgets
Windows + Spacebar Brings all gadgets to the front; selects Sidebar
Tab Cycles through Sidebar controls
In a dialog box
Shortcut Function
F1 Displays Help
F4 Displays items in a drop-down list
Backspace In Save As or Open dialog, opens a folder one level up from a selected folder
Enter Works like a mouse click for some selected options
Spacebar Selects or deselects an active check box
Tab Moves forward through dialog box options
Ctrl + Tab Hops from tab to tab
Shift + Tab Moves backward through dialog box options
Ctrl + Shift + Tab Hops backward from tab to tab
In Vista Help
Shortcut Function
Alt + A Displays the customer support page
Alt + C Displays the Help And Support Contents
Ctrl + F Opens Find dialog box for the current topic
Alt + N Displays the connection settings menu
Ctrl + P Prints a help topic
F3 Moves to the Search box
F10 Displays Options menu
Alt + Home Displays the Help And Support home page
56 keyboard shortcuts to move faster in Windows XP
Using a computer involves clicking and clicking and clicking. The process of dragging the mouse to the spot that needs to be clicked could take some time (especially if the mouse is dirty), not so much though but enough to do something else, if you knew a shortcut. Every operating system and application program can be manipulated with a keyboard shortcut. At times you may find that the same shortcut could be used for several other applications. Once you are acquainted with a collection of shortcuts for a given OS or application, you can use a lot of it on others.
I have decided to begin this series with an Operating System. I will take Windows XP and Vista since they are found on majority of systems now.
Let the icon represent The Windows key. It is normally located between the Ctrl and Alt keys on most keyboards. However, some vendor keyboards and some laptops do not have this key.
Note: Majority of the shortcuts have a + sign in between. The existence of the plus means a combination of keys i.e. you press the keys involved simultaneously to activate the command.
Have fun…
Keystroke Function
Opens the Start menu
+ E Opens My Computer in Windows Explorer
+ Pause/Break Opens the System Properties dialog box
+ U Opens the Utility Manager
+ R Opens the Run… prompt
+ F Opens the Search for Files and Folder window
+ Ctrl + F Opens the search for computers on the network
+ M Minimize all windows
+ Shift + + M Maximize all windows (after minimizing them)
+ D Minimize all windows to the desktop, and then restore all Windows
+ L Lock Computer
+ Tab Cycle through the open programs on the Taskbar
+ B Selects the first item in the System Tray; use the arrow keys to cycle through the items and use the Enter key to open a selected item in the SysTray
Alt + Tab Switch between open programs
Alt + F4 (in a program) Closes the program
Alt + F4 (from desktop) Opens the Windows Shutdown/Restart dialog box
Alt + Enter Opens the Properties page of a selected item
Alt + Esc Cycle between open programs in the order that they were opened
Alt + Spacebar In the active window, this brings up the corner dialog box for Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize, or Close
Shift + Insert CD/DVD Inserts a CD/DVD without triggering Autoplay or Autorun
Shift + Delete Permanently deletes an item (rather than sending it to the Recycle Bin)
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Opens the Windows Task Manager
Ctrl + drag an icon Copies that item
Ctrl + Shift + drag an icon Creates a shortcut for the item
Right-click + drag a file Brings up a menu to copy, move, or create a shortcut
PrtScn Takes a screen shot of the entire screen; go into a photo program (the Windows program "Paint" will also work) and hit Paste to edit and save the screen shot
Alt + PrtScn Takes a screen shot of only the active Window; hit Paste in a photo program to edit and save the screen shot
F1 Opens the Windows XP Help
F2 Rename selected item
F3 Opens Windows search for files and folders
F5 (or Ctrl + R) Refresh Internet Explorer page, or refresh any other window
F6 Cycle through the different types of elements that can be selection on a screen or window
F10 Selects the menu bar in the active program (usually "File") so that you can use the arrow keys to navigate through the menus and the Enter key to select
Shift + F10 For a selected item, this does the same thing as a right-click with the mouse
Tab Move through the different elements on a page or the fields in a form
Shift + Tab Move backward through the different elements on a page or the fields in a form
Ctrl + A Select All
Ctrl + C Copy
Ctrl + X Cut
Ctrl + V Paste
Ctrl + Z Undo
Ctrl + Y Redo
Ctrl + P Print
Ctrl + O Open
Ctrl + Esc Opens the Start menu
Ctrl + Backspace Deletes the entire word to the left
Ctrl + Delete Deletes the entire word to the right
Ctrl + Right arrow Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next word
Ctrl + Left arrow Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
Ctrl + Down arrow Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
Ctrl + Up arrow Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
Ctrl + Shift + Arrow keys Highlight a block of text
Click Shift 5 times Turns StickyKeys on or off
Hold down the right Shift key for 8 seconds Turns FilterKeys on or off
Hold down Num Lock for 5 seconds Turns ToggleKeys on or off
Make your own custom keystroke for a program Right-click on the icon of a program or shortcut; go to Properties; click on the Shortcut tab; enter your custom keystroke combination in the "Shortcut key" field (it will only let you assign key combos that aren't already taken)
I have decided to begin this series with an Operating System. I will take Windows XP and Vista since they are found on majority of systems now.
Let the icon represent The Windows key. It is normally located between the Ctrl and Alt keys on most keyboards. However, some vendor keyboards and some laptops do not have this key.
Note: Majority of the shortcuts have a + sign in between. The existence of the plus means a combination of keys i.e. you press the keys involved simultaneously to activate the command.
Have fun…
Keystroke Function
Opens the Start menu
+ E Opens My Computer in Windows Explorer
+ Pause/Break Opens the System Properties dialog box
+ U Opens the Utility Manager
+ R Opens the Run… prompt
+ F Opens the Search for Files and Folder window
+ Ctrl + F Opens the search for computers on the network
+ M Minimize all windows
+ Shift + + M Maximize all windows (after minimizing them)
+ D Minimize all windows to the desktop, and then restore all Windows
+ L Lock Computer
+ Tab Cycle through the open programs on the Taskbar
+ B Selects the first item in the System Tray; use the arrow keys to cycle through the items and use the Enter key to open a selected item in the SysTray
Alt + Tab Switch between open programs
Alt + F4 (in a program) Closes the program
Alt + F4 (from desktop) Opens the Windows Shutdown/Restart dialog box
Alt + Enter Opens the Properties page of a selected item
Alt + Esc Cycle between open programs in the order that they were opened
Alt + Spacebar In the active window, this brings up the corner dialog box for Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize, or Close
Shift + Insert CD/DVD Inserts a CD/DVD without triggering Autoplay or Autorun
Shift + Delete Permanently deletes an item (rather than sending it to the Recycle Bin)
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Opens the Windows Task Manager
Ctrl + drag an icon Copies that item
Ctrl + Shift + drag an icon Creates a shortcut for the item
Right-click + drag a file Brings up a menu to copy, move, or create a shortcut
PrtScn Takes a screen shot of the entire screen; go into a photo program (the Windows program "Paint" will also work) and hit Paste to edit and save the screen shot
Alt + PrtScn Takes a screen shot of only the active Window; hit Paste in a photo program to edit and save the screen shot
F1 Opens the Windows XP Help
F2 Rename selected item
F3 Opens Windows search for files and folders
F5 (or Ctrl + R) Refresh Internet Explorer page, or refresh any other window
F6 Cycle through the different types of elements that can be selection on a screen or window
F10 Selects the menu bar in the active program (usually "File") so that you can use the arrow keys to navigate through the menus and the Enter key to select
Shift + F10 For a selected item, this does the same thing as a right-click with the mouse
Tab Move through the different elements on a page or the fields in a form
Shift + Tab Move backward through the different elements on a page or the fields in a form
Ctrl + A Select All
Ctrl + C Copy
Ctrl + X Cut
Ctrl + V Paste
Ctrl + Z Undo
Ctrl + Y Redo
Ctrl + P Print
Ctrl + O Open
Ctrl + Esc Opens the Start menu
Ctrl + Backspace Deletes the entire word to the left
Ctrl + Delete Deletes the entire word to the right
Ctrl + Right arrow Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next word
Ctrl + Left arrow Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
Ctrl + Down arrow Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
Ctrl + Up arrow Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
Ctrl + Shift + Arrow keys Highlight a block of text
Click Shift 5 times Turns StickyKeys on or off
Hold down the right Shift key for 8 seconds Turns FilterKeys on or off
Hold down Num Lock for 5 seconds Turns ToggleKeys on or off
Make your own custom keystroke for a program Right-click on the icon of a program or shortcut; go to Properties; click on the Shortcut tab; enter your custom keystroke combination in the "Shortcut key" field (it will only let you assign key combos that aren't already taken)
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