[//Nathan]

Since I could never be bothered to RTFM, I tend to jump right into programs and do the obvious, missing some helpful tips along the way. Surely I'm not alone in this practice.

The object of the "Game" is quite simple - post a tech tip that, when you heard it, made you think something like "wow, I didn't know you could do that!" and which has helped you at all. Open to all operating systems and applications, though it'll be more enlightening if you stick to something many people use... e.g. Firefox, MSIE, Windows XP, maybe a popular game even...

But I'm hoping someone will learn a thing or two they didn't know before... myself included.

Did you know...
...that pressing CTRL+ALT+DELETE twice on Windows XP's Welcome Screen replaces the Welcome Screen with the old-style Windows 2000 logon screen? (By default, XP Pro "hides" the main admin account... you could unhide it, or you could use this hint to keep it hidden from n00bs who don't know this trick, just because.)

[Why Two Kay]

You can get a more advanced user accounts management by going to Start --> Run and type control userpasswords2. This works in XP Home and Pro.

[Sebastian Mares]

You can display the properties of a file or folder by holding ALT while pressing Enter or double clicking.

You can open Windows Explorer by pressing WIN+E.

You can open the Run menu by pressing WIN+R.

[Tseia]

You can bring up the log-off screen by pressing WIN+L - and then if you press L again it selects the log-off button, logging you off, so you can press WIN+L, L to log yourself off quickly.

Everyone'll know it but try going to about:config in Firefox and playing. Or even better, about:mozilla

[Stephen]

Tseia, on Mar 9 2006, 10:04 AM, said:

You can bring up the log-off screen by pressing WIN+L - and then if you press L again it selects the log-off button, logging you off, so you can press WIN+L, L to log yourself off quickly.

On which version? 2000 it didn't do anything and on XP it either brings up the locked screen or the log in screen depending on whether or not you have fast user switching enabled

[Tseia]

Oookay. We have XP Pro on this computer and, as you say, it goes to the login screen currently. Maybe because I'm on the guest account rather than the admin one I normally use. Very strange though, you're quite right. I'll test this later.

Edit: Ah hah! I was misremembering what I used to do. You press WIN, L, L rather than WIN+L, L. WIN brings up the start menu, L selects "Log off" and brings up your logging off options and L logs you off. Not sure what happens if user switching is disabled. My bad.

[//Nathan]

We have fast user switching turned on, and L does nothing at the Welcome Screen, so Win+L, L is out... but I did Win, L, and saw that the L is underlined, so I'm sure that does work.

I did not know about holding Alt while double clicking to bring up properties. That will be helpful - one of the first things I do upon a reinstallation is unhide the Application Data folders in the profiles to quickly get at the Firefox profiles, so that will be a time saver.

[Brendon Koz]

WIN+M = minimize all windows
WIN+D = toggle desktop and open applications (show desktop, but pressed again will return windows to their original positions)
WIN+L = Lock
WIN+R = Run

I think there's a couple more but I can't remember them...and other people have already stated a few that I just mentioned.

If you use a Laptop (or a keyboard) without a windows key and wish to lock it when you're away from it, you can use the command sequence below in a RUN command, or you can make a shortcut to it from your desktop (or other place) like I did:
%windir%\System32\rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation
(There are many, many more shortcuts like this...)

If you need/want an icon for a shortcut, a lot of icons are prepackaged in Windows from other executable files and/or DLLs. So why download them if you don't have to? A large repository of icons are within the shell32.dll file:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\shell32.dll
So when choosing "Change Icon", just browse to that file.

You can create your own "Quick Launch" menus on your start bar if you want... Drag a folder to your task bar to the immediate right of the " < " next to the tasktray (where the icons and clock are). It'll create a text menu with the same name as the folder, and a scrollable popup menu for all the contents in the folder. (Note: Shortcuts to other folders in this folder will not expand, it will only be clickable to open up the other folder.)
...or if you'd prefer, right click on the taskbar and go to "Toolbars", then choose "Create New" and navigate to your folder.

You can manually manage your Start bar (and programs groups) by manipulating the file system. Open up Explorer (i.e.: My Computer -> Local Drive) and browse to C:\Documents and Settings\ and then either "All Users" or your username, and then Start Menu. Here you can interact with the shortcuts like you would in any other folder. You can create new folders to create a new program group (and stuff other groups into it (i.e.: Microsoft Office + Microsoft Office Tools + Powertoys = Microsoft Products).

"What version of DirectX is on this thing?!"
Start -> Run -> Type in: "dxdiag" -> click "OK"... This will also allow you to configure and debug certain problems you might be facing with your video and sound.

Should I continue?

[UBERHOST.NET]

In the Windows Start > Run box, type %appdata% to go into your Applications Data folder. This works even if your system files are hidden.

[Starnox]

In OS X if you right click on a file and then press alt 'Open with' changes to 'always open with' and 'get info' changes to 'show/hide inspector'.

[Quillz]

You can turn your Windows XP Home Edition installation CD into the Windows XP Professional installation CD.

http://www.dvhardwar...rticle5261.html

[Keven Fox]

Something I just discovered and seems quite odd, but I've recreated the issue.

Okay, set your user password to numbers using Windows XP (I've tested on Home and MCE)

Now reboot. Notice how the NumLock turns itself off? Change the password to text. Reboot.

NumLock turns on again on startup.

[Gerard Boyers]

For Windows XP:

The easiest form of user management is through the Local User Manager:
Start -> Run -> lusrmgr.msc (XP Pro or Windows Server only)

A nice quick way to access System Properties:
Win + Pause/Break

Want to open windows explorer to get into mydocs or anywhere?
Win + E

Not got a windows key? A quick way to access the start menu:
Ctrl + Esc

In Firefox, you can configure some hidden extra options for faster performance:
In the address bar, type "about:config"

[Mat (FDNZ)]

If there is a message/dialog box on your screen, you can press Ctrl+C to copy the contents of the message box (including buttons!) to your clipboard