YourComputerCoach

TIPS & TRICKS that Save Time

LOCATING A SPECIFIC ICON ON A CLUTTERED DESKTOP

It is sometimes difficult to rapidly locate a specific icon on your Desktop if you have a great number of icons displayed. However, a convenient method to locate an icon (if you have a familiarity with the names that are assigned to the various Desktop icons) is available. Perform the following procedure. Click on a vacant area of the Desktop. On the keyboard, press the letter key that represents the first letter of the name of the icon you are attempting to locate. An icon having the initial letter of its name corresponding to the letter key that you pressed will be highlighted.

If this is not the icon you are searching for, press the same letter key once more. If you continue to press and release this key, all icons whose names begin with the same initial letter will be highlighted, one at a time in alphabetical order. When you locate the desired icon, you can proceed with your normal procedure for using a Desktop icon to activate a program.

Right-Click with the Keyboard

To right-click with the keyboard, make sure the desired object has the focus, and press Shift-F10.

Using the SHIFT Key

You can use the Shift key for many additional features. Try some of the following tasks while holding down the Shift key:

• Hold down the Shift key when you delete a file. This will keep the file from being sent to the Recycle Bin. Beware, this means that the file has actually been deleted and can no longer be restored
• Hold down the Shift key when you double-click on My Computer, Network Neighborhood or the Recycle Bin. This will open these items in the dual-paned Windows Explorer
• Hold down the Shift key when you double-click on any Folder. This will open the folder in the dual-paned Windows Explorer
• Hold down the Shift key when you click the Yes button from within the Shut Down Windows dialog box when you select Restart. This will restart Windows only (not completely re-boot the computer). This is useful if all you want to do is just activate some Windows-only changes
• If you hold down the Shift key when you right-click on an icon, the option Open with... will be available so that you can open the file using a program other than the program normally associated with that file

Go to a Folder Quickly

If you have a folder buried deep inside a tree, but you know it's name, here is how to go to that folder Quickly:

1. Press Start, select Run
2. In the Open: box type the name of the Folder
3. Press OK

Note I: If there is a space in the Folder name, enclose the name with "  ".

Note II: If the folder is not on your C:\ drive, include the Drive letter followed by a colon (:) sign (drive:\foldername).

See All Open Windows and Bring Selected One to the Front

Hold down ALT and press TAB to toggle forward between open applications. ALT+SHIFT+TAB will toggle backwards.