A few goodies I’ve picked up over the years.
 

It’s Not A Browser, Dammit!

In Windows 95, each folder opened its own little window.  This was just perfect, as you’d have the files sitting right there in front of you, and moving and copying files between folders was real easy.

With Windows 98 and all subsequent Windows since then, they’ve given it the ‘browser look’, where you only look at one folder at a time, hitting the ‘Back’ button to go back to the previous folder.

You know, just like a browser.

News Flash for Microsoft:  This is not the Internet!

If you’d like Windows to open each folder in its own window, go to Control Panel, ‘Folder Options’:

WinXP — Check the second option in the top two areas

Vista & Win7 — Check the "Open each folder in its own window"

Now your system looks and acts like a normal Windows system.  Want to move a file from one folder to another?  Just open both folders and d-r-a-g the icon over.  Want to make a copy of it, instead?  Hold the Control key down and d-r-a-g the icon over.  It’s a helluva lot easier than trying to remember what was where.

Most computer users have little rules when it comes to shuffling files around.  Always copying from the left of the screen to the right of the screen is very common.  That is, the source file’s window is on the left and the target window is on the right.
 

Where to Place Default Windows Files

These are files that are accessed through the Control Panel, like the mouse pointers used in "Mouse", the backgrounds used in "Display", and the sounds used in "Audio Devices":

• Put any background pic you like in the "Windows" folder, then you can access it through the "Background" tab of the Display Properties box.  It’ll be listed in the "Wallpaper" box.
   
• Put any sound files you want Windows to play when you do something, like flush the Recycle Bin, in the "Media" folder inside the "Windows" folder.  Your sound files can now be accessed through the "Audio Devices" icon on the Control Panel, ‘Sounds’ panel.
   
• Cool pointers go in the "Cursors" folder inside of the "Windows" folder.  Access them through the "Mouse" icon on the Control Panel, ‘Pointers’ panel.
   
• Any fonts you wish to add to the system should be copied to the "Fonts" folder in the Control Panel.  Just drag them into the box.
   

Using ‘Details Mode’ Effectively

Open a window that has lots of files in it, go to the View Menu and select "Details".  See the "Name", "Size", "Type" and "Modified" boxes at the top of the window, right above the entries?  Click on the "Size" box and it will organize the files (not the folders) in the window by file size.  Click on the "Size" box again and it will reverse the listing.

You can also sort them by File Type, which would be handy in a large folder, to separate the various types of files so you can find the one you’re looking for.  And you can sort them by Modified, which basically means by date.  A quick example:

You’ve added something to a small text file in a large folder full of text files.  Later, you can’t remember the name of the file.

Open the folder, view in Details mode, then click on the Modified box.  Now the files are sorted by date, so the file you’re looking for should be right near the top or bottom of the window, depending upon which way it’s sorted.  Click on the Modified box again to reverse the sort.
 

Cluttered Desktop, Cluttered Mind?

Cluttered Desktops are so common that I suppose it won’t do any good lecturing you to keep it clean.  If you’re just letting icons hang around as temporary storage, that’s okay.  It’s when people start relying on them to run programs that things get annoying, simply because other windows and programs will be in the way.  Programs are properly started via the Start Menu, the ‘Quick Launch’ tool bar, or something like a pop-out menu program like Square One that pops out when you touch the side of the monitor with the pointer.

Also, take advantage that Windows has a "virtual Desktop", in that you can temporarily move windows out past the margin, leaving just enough to grab later with the pointer and bring back into view.  Most other computer types don’t allow you to move the folder windows past the edge of the screen, so appreciate this nifty feature.
 

Closing Multiple Windows At Once

You open a folder.  Then another inside of that one.  Then another.  And another.  And another.  You find the file you’re looking for.  You copy it, delete it, read it, whatever.  Now it’s time to close all the windows.

Hold the left Shift key down and close the last one you opened.  Zip!  They all close down.  This only works for that one continuous ‘string’ of windows that you’ve opened, not every window on the screen, but it can be a big help.
 

Reassociating Files

You’re installing some program.  You’re not really paying attention.  In your innocence, you click on "Typical" install.

Uh-oh.

Suddenly, every picture, movie clip and song on the computer has a funny-looking icon and some strange program opens up when you double-click on them.  Bummer!

What this means is that whatever you just installed has just associated itself with all of the multimedia file extensions.  ".jpg", ".gif" and ".bmp" for pictures, ".avi" and ".mpg" for movie clips, ".mp3" and ".mid" for songs.  Double-bummer!

And the sad thing is, uninstalling the program probably won’t put everything back where it was.  The best you can do is click on an icon with the RMB, open the Properties, hit the "Change" button and go find the proper program. You’ll have to do this with each file extension.

And pay more attention in the future!
 

Minimizing Stubborn Programs

Some programs won’t minimize when they’re running.  If it’s some 2-hour video render, this can get a tad annoying.  There are two ways to force it to close, each with a plus and a minus:

• To minimize everything that’s open, hit Windows-D.  The Windows key is usually on both sides of the space bar, the one with the little logo on it.  This will allow you access to the Desktop.  The hitch is that as soon as you open something else, the first program will come popping back up.  But if that one quick access is all you need, then no big deal.
   
• The second way takes an extra step, but it’s permanent.  Either hit Ctrl-Alt-Del or click on the Task Bar with the right mouse button and open the Task Manager.  Click on the ‘Applications’ tab, highlight the program’s name with the right mouse button and select "Minimize" from the drop-down menu.  Some programs won’t even pop back open when you click on their Task Bar entry until they’re finished.  To re-access the program while it’s running, do the above but select ‘Maximize’.

The Windows key actually has a number of functions, but I’ve never found any of them to be of any use.  If you have kids in the room and want to dash to the kitchen for a few minutes, hitting Win-L will lock the keyboard and keep things safe while you’re away.  For a complete list of keyboard shortcuts, try this site.