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Windows Tip: Navigational Tips

    

 

Phillip Baker

 

 

 

Windows Tip It's easy to navigate Windows with these keyboard shortcuts.

·         Alt + Tab: This moves to the next open application window.

  • Alt + Spacebar: This opens a dialog box to maximize, move, and resize windows.
  • Ctrl + Home: This brings you to the top of a page.
  • Ctrl + End: This brings you to the bottom of a page

Windows Tip: Shift Key Shortcuts

    

Phillip Baker

 

 

 

 

Windows Tip Windows has a few shortcuts that allow you to compute without the mouse. The Shift key is the gateway to five of these useful shortcuts.

·         SHIFT+F10: Equivalent of right-click

  • SHIFT+DEL: Deletes immediately without removing to the Recycle Bin
  • SHIFT+TAB: Moves to previous control in the dialog box (TAB alone goes forward, SHIFT+TAB backward)
  • Press Shift when inserting a CD-ROM and you can skip auto-run
  • Pressing Shift while holding down CTRL and dragging to the desktop or to a folder creates an instant shortcut. (Of course, you can do the same thing by clicking and holding the right mouse button, letting go on the desktop, and choosing "create shortcut.")

Windows Tip: Change Desktop Icons

    


Give your PC that personal touch with customized desktop icons,

By Phillip Baker

 

 

 

Windows TipIf you're tired of staring at the standard desktop icons, don't despair. You can easily change your icons. My Briefcase doesn't have to look like a briefcase. Change it to look like something else. Follow along with Chris as he shows you how on today's episode of "Call for Help."

Follow these directions to get started:

  1. Download an icon library or a program to extract icons from .dll and .exe files. A good place to find one of these libraries or programs is at Hotfiles.
  2. After you've downloaded an icon library or found a replacement icon, make a note of where it is located on your hard drive.

Follow these directions to change icons:

  1. Click the Start menu, choose Settings, and then choose Control Panel.
  2. Double-click the Display icon.
  3. Select the Effects tab from your Display Properties dialog box.
  4. Single-click the Icon you'd like to replace from under Desktop icons and click Change Icon.
  5. Choose the replacement Icon from the list and click OK. If you'd like to select an icon that isn't listed, click Browse and navigate to an icon in your icon library. Click Open and select OK.

How can I change the Windows startup screen?

    



By Phillip Baker

 

 

 

The startup screen is a file called logo.sys, it's an odd-shaped file stored in your Window Directory.

You can use any graphics file to perform this task.

www.annoyances.org

You have to use Windows Paint to save a file as logo.sys

The problem is that even though the file is displayed as 640X480, it's stored at 534X400 - so you have to squeeze the file down to that size. It won't lok normal on the screen, but when it launches, it will look normal again.

DEMO: make the Call for Help logo be the start up screen

DEMO: changing the shutdown screen to say something else

STEPS: http://www.annoyances.org/win95/win95ann2.html#03

"Make duplicates of the files LOGOS.SYS and LOGOW.SYS in a temporary folder. These files are located initially in your Windows folder. LOGOW.SYS is the one that reads "Please wait while...," and LOGOS.SYS is the one that reads "It is now safe to...,"

These files are just standard bitmaps, so rename the extensions of these duplicates to .BMP. You can use any graphics editor to edit these files, such as MSPaint, Photoshop, or Paint Shop Pro.

The files are 256-color windows bitmaps (RGB-encoded, but not RGB color), 320 x 400. Since the aspect ratio (width / height) of these files are not standard 4:3, like most computer screens, the bitmaps will appear vertically elongated.

To make your new design conform to this aspect ratio, resize the bitmap to 534 x 400 while you're working on it. Make sure to resize them back to 320 x 400 when you're done.

Save your changes, and rename the extensions of your new files back to .SYS.

Last, copy the new files back into your Windows folder. It might be smart to back up your original files.

While you're at it, you can create a startup screen as well (using the above method). Just call the file LOGO.SYS, and place it in the root directory of your boot drive (usually C:). Note: If you're using disk compression, like Stacker or Doublespace, you'll need to put the file in the original boot drive (sometimes H:).

To remove the startup logo altogether, edit the file C:MSDOS.SYS, and add the line LOGO=0 to the Options section. Note: This will only work, for some reason, if you have a custom startup screen in your root directory. For more information, see Contents of the Windows95 MSDOS.SYS File. This setting can also be changed with TweakUI, one of Microsoft's PowerToys.

Note: If you delete LOGOW.SYS and LOGOS.SYS altogether, Windows95 will exit to DOS instead of shutting down (more information). - submitted by Rich Graves

Note: Some users have reported that the machine reboots instead of shutting down when these logos are replaced. If this happens to you, make sure the bitmaps are not corrupted, and using no more than 256 colors.

Note: If you're using DriveSpace or another disk compression utility, and want to create your own startup screen (as described above), make sure you put LOGO.SYS in the root directory of your host drive (which may not be drive C:). - submitted by Michael "

______________________

[Q:START SCREEN/10903]

[VMAIL/how can i change thw windows startup scr]

[PHONE=(209)586-6074 work/(209)586-6325]

[SET LOCALE=]

[Writer=kal]

[Show=Call For Help]

[Talent=]

[GRAPHIC=]

[CG=9053-Startup Screen]

[CG=9060-Lisa/Sonora, CA]

(VMAIL-Lisa/Sonora, CA-How can I change the Windows startup screen? )

[VMAIL-Lisa/Sonora, CA-How can I change the Windows startup screen? ]

--THIS IS A SILLY BUT FUN PROJECT

--DEMO LOGO.SYS

--256-COLOR WINDOWS BITMAP

-RGB-ENCODED, 320X400

--RESIZE 534X400

(SETUP-CALL FOR HELP LOGO, .BMP SCREENSAVER)

[CG=]

[RUNS=]

[06/02/1998]

[10:28:58]

Windows Tip: Function Key Fun

    


Learn more about those strange keys at the top of your keyboard.

By Phillip Baker

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Windows Tip All keyboards should hopefully come with at least 12 function keys. Commonly referred to as F keys, you'll usually find these arranged at the top of your keyboard numbered across from F1 to F12. Do you know what these keys do and how they can help you save time?

When you're working inside Windows, you can think of the F keys as nothing more than shortcuts to help you navigate around the operating system without using your mouse. That's part of the reason they're still found on keyboards.

The F keys also usually serve some purpose when applied to a specific program or piece of software. But don't think because an F key does something in one program that it will automatically do the same thing in another.

What do the F keys do?

F keys are most useful, but not always, when used in conjunction with Windows Explorer. Keep reading to find out all about F keys and how to use them. To demonstrate how some of the F keys work, you're going to need to open Windows Explorer.

To open Windows Explorer press the Start button, mouse over Programs (or All Programs if you're using XP), and select Windows Explorer. Or use this shortcut: Press the Windows button + E on your keyboard.

Once you've opened Windows Explorer, give some of these a try:

F1

  • If you want to get help while working in a selected program just press this key. If you press this key while working outside a program (like Windows Explorer or from the desktop) you'll launch a Windows-specific help program.
  • If you want to get Windows-specific help while working in a program, just press the Windows button + F1.
  • Press Shift + F1 to launch "What's This?" help.

F2

  • After navigating and highlighting a file or folder in Windows Explorer, just press this key to rename an item. It works just like right-clicking on a file or folder and selecting Rename. When you're finished renaming an object, just press Enter to move on.

F3

  • Press this key while working in Windows Explorer or on the desktop to generate the "Find Files" window. After searching for a file or folder, just close the Find Files window and go back to what you were doing.

F4

  • Press this key to open the Address bar in Internet Explorer.
  • To close an open window press Alt + F4.

F5

  • Press this key to refresh your active window in Internet Explorer or Windows Explorer.

F6

  • Press this key to move the cursor around the structure of the Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer.

F7

  • This key does nothing and shouldn't do anything in Windows when you press it. This key may have some function when working inside a program.
  • You can map this key to quick-launch programs if you read this article.

F8

  • Press this key to access Windows Startup Menu during boot up.
  • Show or hide information about a selected place or Pushpin (if available).
  • Accepts Microsoft's EULA when installing Windows.

F9

  • This key does nothing and shouldn't do anything in Windows when you press it. This key may have some function when working inside a program.
  • You can map this key to quick-launch programs if you read this article.

F10

  • Press this key to activate the menu bar in programs.
  • Press Shift + F10 to bring up the shortcut menu. This works similar to the Application key.

F11

  • Press this key to open your current Internet Explorer window to "full screen," completely filling your monitor and making all of the toolbars disappear at the top. This is also known as kiosk mode.

F12

  • This key does nothing and shouldn't do anything in Windows when you press it. This key may have some function when working inside a program.
  • You can map this key to quick-launch programs if you

Windows Tip: Control Key shortcuts

    

 

By Phillip Baker

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Windows Tip We've mentioned a few shortcuts that use the Control Key in the Cut and Paste Collection. The Control key can actually do a lot more than cut, copy, and paste.

·         Control + F4: Closes current window in mdi programs.

  • Control + ESC: Displays the start menu.
  • Control + Z: Undoes last command.
  • Control + B: Bolds highlighted text.
  • Control + U: Underlines highlighted text.
  • Control + I: Italicizes hightlighted text.
  • Control + A: Selects all items in current window.
  • Control + Tab: Moves through Property tabs.
  • Control + F: Opens the Find window. Type in what you're searching for.

Windows Tip: Shortcuts for Windows Key

    


Use the Windows key to speed up computing.

By Phillip Baker

 

 

 

CFH Windows TipThe Windows icon key located on the bottom of your PC's keyboard is a little-used treasure. Come watch Chris show you the many different ways the Windows key comes in handy on today's episode of "Call for Help."

Here's a list of things you can do with the Windows key:

·         Windows: Display Start menu.

·         Windows + D: Minimize or restore all Windows.

·         Windows + E: Display Windows Explorer.

·         Windows + Tab: Cycle through buttons on taskbar.

·         Windows + F: Display find: all files.

·         Windows + Ctrl + F: Display find: computer.

·         Windows + F1: Display Help.

·         Windows + R: Display Run command.

·         Windows + break: Display system properties dialog box.

·         Windows + shift + M: Undo minimize all windows.

Windows Tip: Toggle

    


Move between windows without using your mouse.

By Phillip Baker

 

 

 

CFH Windows TipYou are planning a trip to Hawaii. You have several browser windows open while you surf for the best hotel and flight fares. You have your email program open to ask friends where to find the best beaches. You also have Word open so you can chart your itinerary. How do you move from window to window, program to program, without using your mouse?

It's toggle time.

  1. Press Alt.
  2. While holding down the Alt key, hit Tab. A dialog box appears.
  3. Continue tapping the Tab key until you see the window you want to open.
  4. Release the Alt key.

Toggling allows you to move from window to window and program to program without using your mouse. It's a shortcut that will save your wrists.