Love to get a Smart TV!!

No need, just connect your windows Laptop/Desktop to your LCD television using the image on the right.  TIP: if you’re using a HDMI lead to connect your computer to the LCD television you might have to change your default sound to ” Realtek HDMI Output” to have the sound coming from the television speakers.  To make this even easier you can leave a shortcut on the desktop that will allow you to change back to your “speakers” as the default sound when you’re not using the television.   Just go to “Control Panel”  from your start menu, go to” Hardware and Sound” and when the ” Sound”  speaker icon is seen: right-click on it and select “Create Shortcut”.   Great to watch all those Free movies online on the big screen: Recession Busters Post ( ps. watch that limited bandwidth!!).  Or watch your netflix films on the big screen.    For even more fun why not connect your iPad 2 to your television.  Follow the information from my post under the heading: Using the Ipad to do a PowerPoint Presentation on a TV or Using a Projector

Change Size of Desktop Icons

Here’s a very cool trick.  If you have a wheel on your mouse, click on the desktop and then press and hold the Ctrl key while turning the mouse wheel to shrink or enlarge your icons.

Access web pages quickly (Vista & Windows 7)

Visiting a website is a two-stage process: first open a web browser, then type in the address. To speed things up add an address bar to the Windows Taskbar. Right-click an empty section of the taskbar if there is a tick next to ” Lock the Task-bar ” remove it.

If the pop up disappears, just right-click again on the empty space of the taskbar again and just hover the mouse over Toolbars and click on Address. A tiny address bar will appear-type in any website’s address and it will open in your web browser of choice.

Use Flip 3D (VISTA & Windows 7)

Flip 3D is one of Window’s most impressive tricks, but many people don’t even know it exists. With several programs or windows open, hold down the Alt key and push the Tab button a few times-Windows 7 will cycle through the windows in a useful but dull way.

Now, try holding down the Windows key and pushing Tab a few times, Windows 7 will use the impressive-looking Flip 3D system to change between the windows, allowing you to view each one as they change.

Advanced Windows short-cuts (VISTA & Windows 7)

Windows is full of keyboard short-cuts  but there are a few that every user should know. Hold down the Windows Key(on the Keyboard), then try passing these letter keys: E will launch Windows Explorer, R will launch the Run box, F will launch the Find utility, M will minimise all open windows to show the desktop, and L will instantly lock the computer,( pretty useful if you have to leave the pc for any time and don’t want your stuff to be disturbed.).  Holding down the Ctrl button and the + button will make the contents on the screen larger including the text.  Just typed a whole essay in Microsoft Word with caps lock on!! no worries easily changed by holding down the Shift button on the keyboard and F3.  

Restore a docked or maximized window to its original size and position.

Windows 7 and 8.x let you dock an open window to the left side of the screen. This is handy for putting two windows side by side on the desktop. But what if you want to restore a docked window to its former size and location? Just double-click in the title bar and the docked window is back to where it was. (One exception to this that I have noticed is Word 2013, which first maximizes.)

Double-clicking in the title bar can also toggle between a maximized window and a window with the original size and location. Although switching between a maximized window and the original can also be done with the maximize button, the title bar is a much bigger target. On touch screens, this could be useful.

Quick ways to open another instance of a program or feature

 

Sometimes you want to have several instances of something open. For example, it is often convenient to have File Explorer open in two separate windows in order to carry out some file operation. Clicking the usual way on the File Explorer taskbar icon won’t work to open a second window. However, if you use the mouse middle-button to click a taskbar icon of an already open program, a second window will open. Another way is to hold down the Shift key while clicking with the usual left button. Applies to Windows 7 and 8.x.

Quickly minimize all open windows except the active one

 

It isn’t unusual to end up with quite a few open windows on the desktop. If you want to reduce the clutter, an easy way to minimize all but the active window is use the keyboard shortcut Winkey+Home. To restore all the minimized windows to the desktop, repeat Winkey+Home. Applies to Windows 7 and 8.x.

Another (but trickier) way to minimize all windows except one is to place the mouse pointer in the title bar of the window you want to stay open, hold down the left click button, and shake the window back and forth several times. For example, try three shakes left-right-left. Applies to Windows 7 and 8.x.

Using a Single Mouse click on your PC

Want to open files and folders with a single click instead of a double-click? No problem, follow these steps to change your settings in Windows 7 and Vista. (Tip: Just reverse actions to restore to original settings)

When you surf the Web you can click on a link with just one click and your browser takes you where you want to go, so why must you double-click to open files and folders in programs like Windows Explorer or My Computer? Essentially you are doing double the work.

If you want to change this to a single click, here is how to do it.

1. Click Start and then select Computer.

2. Click Tools at the top of the screen, then Folder Options

3. Under the General tab, select “Single-click to open an item,” then click Ok.

Tip:  IF the toolbar is not visible follow the instructions below

1. Click Start and then select Computer

2. Press the Alt key, then Tools, Folder Options

3. Under the General tab, select “Single-click to open an item,” then click Ok.

Change Start menu power button in Windows Vista

By default, the power button in Vista’s Start menu activates sleep mode rather than switching the computer off. To fix this open the Control Panel, ( might need to change to classic view) then Power Options, and click the “Change plan settings” link beneath the currently selected power plan.

Click “Change advanced power setting’s and expand the “Power buttons and lid”entry. Expand the “Start menu power button” entry, click the menu next to Setting and select Shut down before clicking OK.

Take a picture of the computer screen!

Did you finally finish that game that you’ve been working on for two months? Now you can have proof!  Or you just want a copy of a photo from online!!.   Copy and paste a picture of the screen by pressing the “Print Screen – SysRq” key (to the right of “F12”) on your keyboard, opening Paint, and clicking “Paste.”  This button will copy everything on screen, including the task bar. This is also a great way to show off a website design.   See How to Take a Screenshot of the Entire Screen for more ideas.

Plenty more Tips and Tricks Here for Windows 7

Customize your Windows 7 desktop – Full tutorial Here