Windows XP Software Tips

MS Windows XP Tips

PLEASE NOTE: The software tips and shortcuts shown below may also work if you’re using the Office 2007 version.

Tips concerning keyboard shortcuts may still work in 2007; in addition, tips that involve using the lower Office version’s ‘menu’ options may have an equivalent function in 2007 using the new Ribbon and OFFICE button (that replaces the previous menu/toolbars). We will be revising our Software Tips pages as part of our upcoming web redesign and we’ll make necessary additions at that time.

TIP #1: GET BACK TO THE DESKTOP QUICKLY

Minimize all your open Windows at once by clicking on the 'Show Desktop' icon from the Quick Launch toolbar. To restore your windows, click on the 'Show Desktop' icon again.

TIP #2: Add A SHORTCUT TO YOUR DESKTOP

Right click on the START button, and then click Explore. Browse to the Folder, File or Program from the Folders list. Click once to highlight the item and from the File menu, choose Create Shortcut. Right click on the shortcut icon created and select Send To and then click Desktop.

Another easy way to create a shortcut: Rightmouse click on your Desktop, select 'New,' select 'Shortcut,' a wizard begins, click the [BROWSE] button find the program .exe file, or the file you want to create a shortcut of, highlight it and click [OK], click [NEXT], give the shortcut a name (that you'll see under the shortcut), click [FINISH]

TIP #3: KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

Win Key (between the CTRL and ALT keys) - to open the Start Menu
Arror Keys - To move around the menu items
ALT + F4 - To close an open item.

TIP #4: TOGGLE BETWEEN THE TWO FOLDER VIEWS IN WINDOWS EXPLORER

By default, Windows Explorer will display using the Folder Pane. But, you can click the Folders icon on the toolbar to display the Menu Pane.

TIP #5: CHANGE YOUR WALLPAPER

Right click anywhere on your desktop and select Properties. Select the Desktop tab, and click an item in the Background list. In the Position drop-down menu, you can choose to Center, Title or Stretch.

TIP #6: ADD A FOLDER TO THE TASKBAR

Right click on the Tasksbar, and select Toolbars and click New Toolbar. Browse to the Folder you want and all the items in your chosen folder will be added to your taskbar. You can remove the toolbar from the Taskbar by right-clicking on the tasksbar and choosing the item to remove the check mark.

TIP #7: SHOW HIDDEN PROGRAMS OR SYSTEM FILES

In Windows Explorer, select the Tools menu and then choose Folder Options. Select the View tab. Under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders

TIP #8: RENAME A SERIES OF FILES

Open the Folder containing the files you want to rename. Highlight the files you want to rename and if the files are not adjacent to each other, you can press the CTRL key and click each item in the list you want to select. From the File menu, choose Rename. Type the new name and then press enter. The files in the series you selected will be renamed to the file name you specified followed by a number inside parenthesis.

TIP #9: SYSTEM SETTINGS

You can quickly open the System Properties dialog box by holding down the Windows key and pressing Break.

TIP #10: DETERMINE WHICH FILES ARE ENCRYPTED

In Windows Explorer, open the folder and on the View menu, select Choose Details (the choice was Choose Columns in Windows 2000). Select the Attributes check box from the Details list. Encrypted files show a letter E in the Attributes column. New to Windows XP, you can set an option to display encrypted files a certain color. On the Tools menu, choose Folder Options, select the View tab, and select Show Encrypted or Compressed NTFS Files in Color.

TIP #11: QUICKLY FIND THE POWER OPTIONS DIALOG BOX

Right click on the desktop and choose Properties. Choose the Screen Saver Tab and then click on the Power Button. Your Power Options dialog box will appear. You can protect your files during a Power Outage by configuring your PC or laptop for hibernation. Check the Hibernation Tab and then select Enable Hibernate Support check box.

TIP #12 - QUICKLY LOCK YOUR COMPUTER

You can create a shortcut and move it to your Taskbar or Quick Launch Bar to quickly lock your PC:

Right click on the desktop and point to New and then click Shortcut.
In the "Type the location of the item" box, type %windir%\system32\rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation (has to be typed in exactly and it is case sensitive).
In the "Type a name for this shortcut" box, type a name such as Lock PC
Drag the new shortcut to the Quick Launch bar (next to the Start button).

TIP #13 - ZIP FILES AUTOMATICALLY USING WINDOWS XP's BUILT-IN CAPABILITY OF HANDLING ZIP FILES

In Windows XP you can now compress Zip files by using the 'Send To' option and placing the files in a Windows XP compressed folder. Here's how:

To send your files to the compressed (zipped) folder:

Highlight (select) the files you want to 'zip'
Rightmouse click on any one of the highlighted files, and select 'Send To', then 'Compressed (Zipped) Folder'
o NOTE: The 'zipped' file looks like a file folder with a zipper.

o The Zip file appears as a manila file folder icon with a zipper on it.

To copy and decompress the zipped files:

Right-click the compressed folder icon, select 'Extract All'

ALERT: If you have a Zip program already installed on your machine, you will not see the "compressed folders" feature--you will need to use your third-party program to manage Zip files.

TIP #14 - OPEN THE CONTROL PANEL FAST

If you want to get to your Control Panel fast, here’s a way you can do it through the START button:

Touch the ‘Windows’ key (to the right of the left CTRL key on your keyboard), then touch R (on the keyboard)
<at this point the ‘Run’ window appears>
Type: control
Then touch the [ENTER] key
<The Control Panel opens up>

TIP #15 - GREAT PC SUPPORT SITE

Visit http://www.bootdisk.com/ for lots of support utitilities including:

instructions for making a bootable disk for various Operating Systems
drivers for various hardware devices
software updates
error messages w/ explanations for what they mean

TIP #16 - USING THE WINDOWS 'MAGNIFIER' ACCESSIBILITY FEATURE

The visually impaired can now make a screen more readable by using Windows "Magnifier" capability (under Accessories). The magnifier creates a separate window that will display the magnified image
of a portion of your screen.

To set/change the magnification:

Click START button
Select PROGRAMS, select Accessories, select Accessibility, select Magnifier
<the 'Magnifier' dialog box appears where you can determine the necessary degree of magnification - you also turn the feature on and off in this window>

The magnifier creates a separate window that will display the magnified image of a portion of your screen.

You can click EXIT to exit the Magnifier

TIP # 17 - RECORD, PLAY & ORGANIZE YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC IN XP

Windows XP has Windows Media Player that enables you to record and organize your music, and you can also play your favorite songs.

You can copy your music easily from audio CDs or from the many radio stations on the Internet that you may listen to. You can also organize the music you copy onto the hard drive into play lists that you can play in Windows Media Player. You can copy your music onto your MP3 player or other portable devices.

TIP # 18 - NEW FEATURE - COPY AND MOVE FILES OR FOLDERS USING 'FILE/FOLDER FUNCTIONS' IN LEFT PANE OF MY COMPUTER OR MY DOCUMENTS FOLDER

NEW - While you're in My Computer or My Documents, you can now copy or move folders/files (anything you have selected) by using the left pane of the windows.

When you select folder/files, you can then quickly do the following by clicking on the links in the 'File and Folder Tasks' area (on the left pane of your window):

==If you select a single file, 'Move this File' and 'Copy this File' appears

==If you select a single folder, 'Move this Folder' and 'Copy this Folder' appears

==If you select multiple files/folders, 'Move the Selected Items' and 'Copy the Selected Items' appears

Tip # 19 - You can Quickly Maximize or Restore your Open Programs' Windows

You can quickly maximize a program's window by using the maximize button or by double clicking anywhere on the program's title bar. Double click on the program's title bar again to restore the program's window.

Tip # 20 - Placing the Volume Control on the Windows Taskbar:

You can place the volume control on the Windows Taskbar. Here's how:

1. Select the 'Start' button, select 'Control Panel' and then select 'Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices'.

2. Click on the Sounds and Audio Devices icon and then check the 'Place Volume Icon in the Taskbar' check box. Click 'Ok' to close the dialog box.

The speaker icon should now appear next your clock on the Windows Task Bar (lower right corner of your screen).

Tip # 21 - Turn on the Underline that Indicates Shortcut Keys:

In earlier versions of Windows, letters of menu items would be underlined to indicate that you can press the Alt key plus the underlined letter to activate the command. Here's how you can turn these back on in the Windows XP operating system:

1. Right click anywhere on your desktop and select 'Properties' from the menu that appears.

2. Select the 'Appearance' tab.

3. Click on the 'Effects' button and uncheck 'Hide Underlined Letters from Keyboard Navigation Until I Press the Alt Key'.

Tip #22 - Magnify the Windows Character Map (which allows you to add accented characters to foreign words) and Insert a Character in MS Word:

1. Click on the Windows 'Start' button. Click on 'Programs', click on 'Accessories', click on
'System Tools' and then click on 'Character Map'.
2. For a better view, press and hold your left mouse button and drag over specific characters. You will see a larger view of each character appear. Or, click once on any character for a larger view of that character.
3. Before closing this dialog box, take note of the "Character Map Number" appearing in the lower right corner of the window.
4. To insert a character in a Word document, you can use the Insert menu and then select Symbol OR press and hold the ALT key and using the numeric keypad, enter the Character Map Number (see step 3 above) and then release the Alt key. For example, ALT+0164 will insert ¤.

Tip #23 - After You Turn Off the Language Bar in Windows XP, You Cannot Turn it Back On

Microsoft's Knowledge Base offers the following solution:

Click the Start button, and then choose Control Panel.
Select 'Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options'.
Select 'Regional and Language Options'.
Select the 'Languages' tab, and then click 'Details'.
On the 'Settings' tab, click 'Language Bar'.
Click to select the 'Show the Language Bar on the Desktop' check box, and then click 'Ok'.
Click 'Ok' to close the dialog box.

For more information regarding this problem, please visit http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=819783

Tip #24 - Extend the Life of Your Battery

Here's some tips on extending your laptop's battery life:

Fully drain and recharge your batteries once a week by leaving the laptop unplugged from the wall and turned on for a few hours and then plug the laptop back in to the AC to recharge.
Regularly clean the contact on your rechargeable batteries and charger using cotton and rubbing alcohol.
In the Control Panel, open Power Management and make sure that it reports it is running on a laptop. If it is set to run on a laptop, it will shut off the hard drives when they aren't being used and turn off the screen.
When you are not using devices connected to your laptop (such as PC cards), remove these so that power will not be on for these devices.
Leave a CD-ROM disc in the CD-ROM drive. The operating system checks the drive regularly to see if there is a CD-ROM inserted in the drive and it uses less energy if it finds a disc.

Tip #25 - Redirecting Documents from Default 'My Documents' Folder

You don’t need to put your data in the ‘My Documents’ folder that Microsoft identifies as the default within Windows.

To redirect the My Documents folder:

- Right click the My Documents icon and select ‘Properties’
- With the ‘Target’ tab in front, click the Target box and type the path to the drive and folder where you want to store you files.

NOTE: In Win98, you can click [Browse], select the folder, then [OK] If the folder doesn’t exist Windows will create one for you.

- Recent versions of Windows will also offer to move the contents of the existing My Documents folder to the new location. If you don’t want to do this, click NO.

You can redirect My Music, My Pictures, My Videos, and other built-in Windows folders also:

- Use the rightmouse button to drag each folder’s shortcut to a new location and then choose ‘Move Here’

Finally, to change the name of any of these folders:

- Select its icon, click its name (or touch [F2]), type a new name, and touch [ENTER]

TIP #26 - Move, But Don’t Remove Excess Fonts

If your computer is slowing down during the boot process because of too many fonts, you may want to MOVE your fonts to another location (not remove them)—in that way you can easily get them back, if needed.

Steps to moving fonts to another location:

1. Create a folder on your hard drive called ‘Excess Fonts’
2. Open the folder using Windows Explorer
3. Click the START button, select ‘Run’
4. Type: fonts
5. Then touch [ENTER] to bring up your fonts folder in another window
6. Select the fonts to remove (doubleclick a font to see how it looks), but be sure to KEEP
- Arial
- Courier
- Courier New
- Modern
- MS Sans Serif [two may appear as MS Reference]
- MS Serif
- Symbol
- Tahoma
- Times Roman
- Wingdings

7. When you move a font, bring along its bold and italic variation as well.
8. Drag unwanted fonts to the Excess Fonts folder you created
9. If you ever need one of the fonts, simply open the folders again and drag the font back to the original Fonts folder.

Tip #27 - Create a Desktop Shortcut to Shut Down Windows

You can create an icon on your desktop to shut-down your computer. Here's how:

Right click anywhere on the background of your desktop.
Select New from the menu that appears and then select Shortcut.
In the 'Type the location of the item' text box, type shutdown -s -t 0 (The last character is zero and not the letter o). Click Next.
Give your shortcut a name such as Shutdown. Click Finish.
To give your new shortcut a different icon, right click on the new shortcut and select Properties from the menu that appears. Select the Shortcut tab and click the 'Change Icon' button.
Select an icon from the list that appears by double clicking on it. Click Ok.

Tip #28 - Inability to Open or Save GIF and JPEG Files in MS Paint if MS Office is NOT Installed

If you are running Windows XP and do not have MS Office installed, you may have noticed that you are unable to Open or Save JPG or GIF image files using the MS Paint program.

This is due to the fact that MS Paint uses the image filters installed when MS Office is installed. Without these image filters, MS Paint cannot open GIF or JPEG files and you would have to use another image editing software package to open or save gif and jpeg files.

Tip #29 - Removing the Desktop Cleanup Wizard

If you find the Desktop Cleanup wizard annoying, you can remove this wizard. Here's how:

Right-click anywhere on the desktop and choose Properties from the menu that appears.
Select the Desktop tab and click on the Customize Desktop button.
Uncheck the 'Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days' check box. Click Ok to close the Desktop Items dialog box.

If you decide that you want to manually run the Desktop Cleanup wizard even though it will not automatically prompt you every 60 days, you can do so by right clicking on the desktop, choosing Properties, selecting the Desktop tab, clicking on the Customize Desktop button and clicking the 'Clean Desktop Now' button.

Tip #30 - Remove the "Send a Report to Microsoft" Prompt.

When WIndows XP crashes or hangs, you will see a message prompting you to send an error report to Microsoft. If you do not want this message prompt to appear, here's how you can disable it:

Click the Start button and right click on the My Computer menu option.
Select Properties from the menu that appears and select the Advanced tab.
Click the 'Error Reporting' button and select the 'Disable error reporting' option button.
Click Ok and click Ok again to close the System Properties dialog box.

TIP #31 - Setting a Default Folder ‘View’

You can set a default folder view so that when you open a window, the folders will show exactly in the view you choose (Example: viewing all folders/files in a ‘details’ view.

To set a folder default of your choice, you can:

1. Go into MY COMPUTER or WINDOWS EXPLORER
2. Set the VIEW of the folder to something that you prefer
3. Using the menu, select VIEW/select option (Example: Details)
4. Then, from the menu, select VIEW/Folder Options
5. The Folder Options window appears and you can set the default for all your folders
6. Click on the View tab, and then click on the [Like Current Folder] button

NOTE: You can always return to the Windows default by going into the View tab again and selecting the [Reset All Folders] button

Tip #32 - Taskbar Tips

The Windows taskbar displays all open folders and running programs. Here are a few Taskbar Tips:

1. If you have several programs open and you want to bring a particular program to the front, click on its name on the taskbar.

2. If you want to open a file in a program that is displayed on the taskbar, drag the file and hover over the program's icon on the taskbar keeping the left mouse button held down. After a few moments, the program will open with the file.

3. If the taskbar disappears, press CTRL+Esc for it to reappear.

4. If the task bar is too small, place your mouse over the edge of the task bar until your cursor changes to a double arrow then hold down the left mouse button and drag up to resize the task bar.

5. If the task bar is too large, place your mouse over the edge of the task bar until your cursor changes to a double arrow then hold down the left mouse button and drag down to resize the task bar.

Tip #33 - Mouse Doesn't Work?

If your mouse is not working correctly, here are a few things you can try:

If there is no mouse at all - make sure that your mouse is plugged into the back of the computer snuggly and then restart Windows XP.
You can see the mouse pointer on the screen but it won't move - try adding the mouse again as New Hardware (Start, Control Panel, Add Hardware Wizard).
Mouse jumping around the screen - this is an indication that your mouse is dirty. Turn the mouse upside down and twist off the round cover. The mouse ball will pop out. Wipe off any dust and/or dirt. Reassemble the mouse.
If the left and right mouse buttons seem to reverse - the left and right handed configuration may have changed in Control Panel. Press Start, Control Panel and double-click Mouse. Verify that the configuration is set correctly.

Tip #34 - Computer Not Responding?

When nothing on-screen moves except the mouse pointer, the computer is frozen up solid. Try the following to correct this problem:

1. Press Esc twice.

2. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. If the Windows Task Manager appears, look at the list of running programs for one that is listed as "not responding". Click the name of the program and then click the End Program button.

3. If MS Windows is still not responding, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to reopen the Windows Task Manager and click the 'Shut Down' button. Your computer should shut down and restart.

4. If the preceding approaches don't work, push the computer's Reset button and when the 'Turn Off Computer' box appears, choose 'Restart'.

5. If not even the reset button works, use the power button to turn Off the computer, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on.

Tip #35 - Using Customized Photos for Windows Screensaver

You can customize the Windows Screensaver to use your own photo files. Here's how:

Make sure all your photos are in a single folder and that this folder only contains your photo files.
Right click on your Windows Desktop and choose Properties from the menu that appears. Select the Screensaver tab.
From the screen saver drop down list, choose 'My Pictures Slideshow'. Click the Settings button (to the right of the drop down list).
Click the Browse button and browse to the photo folder you specified in step one. Click Ok.
You can adjust the photo display speed and click Ok to close the Display Properties dialog box.

Your screen saver will now consist of a slide show with your photos.

Tip #36 - Change the Windows Media Player Interface ("Skin"):

The Windows Media Player Interface, called Skin, can be changed and here's how:

1. Open Media Player (Start, All Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, Windows Media Player).

2. Click on the 'Skin Chooser' button (from the menu appearing on the left side of the window).

3. Choose a skin from the list and a preview will appear. To see even more skin choices, click the 'More Skins' button (appearing at the top of the list).

4. Once you find a skin that you would like to apply, click the 'Apply Skin' button (appearing at the top of the list of skin choices).

Tip #37 - MS Home User Site

There is a new Microsoft site for home users. Visit http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=716713 to visit this one-stop resource for home users. At this site, you can access articles, tips, and links to the best support pages to help you be more productive.

Tip #38 - Add a Shortcut to the Start Up Folder

If you add a lot of programs to your Windows Start Up folder, you can make a shortcut to the Start Up folder on your desktop and then drag and drop programs onto this Shortcut. The programs added will automatically load upon Windows start-up.

Tip #39 - Movies, Play Back Quality

If your movies play poorly (jerky movement and not in synch with sound) in Windows Media Player, you can try the following to increase the quality of movie playback:

Install the latest driver for your video card.
Copy the movie file from a CD to your hard drive and play the movie directly from your hard drive.
Run the defrag utility that comes with Windows XP (Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Disk Defragmenter).
Play your movie in the default window size or full-screen.

Tip #40 - Windows XP Service Pack 2 and MS Word Dynamic Web Content

If your MS Word document contains dynamic web content such as background sounds, movies, or scrolling text, this content may not work properly with the Windows XP Operating System Service Pack 2. This is a known, OCX controls problem since these are not compatible with Windows XP SP2. For more information, please visit http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=886299.

Tip #41 - A Word About Passwords

As quoted from Microsoft, "A strong password is one that is at least eight characters, includes a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols and is easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess."

When creating any password (not just your College of Engineering Network Account Password), you can follow Electronic and Computer Services password policy. This policy is found at http://www.ecs.psu.edu/communications/support/AccPass.asp.

Tip #42 - The Difference between Stand By, Shut Down, and Restart

When you log off of your Windows XP System, you have several options. Here are some of the options along with the descriptions of each:

Standby or Hibernate features: Saves all your work and puts the computer in virtual sleep.

Shut Down: Choose this option when you're done for the day. When Windows XP leaves the screen, turn off the computer and the monitor, if Windows XP doesn't do it automatically.

Restart: Only choose this option when programs crashed, or Windows seems to be acting awfully weird. Windows XP turns off and reloads itself, hopefully feeling refreshed.

Tip #43 - Organize your Files into Groups

If you have a folder that contains subfolders and various file types, you can organize this folder's contents by following these steps:

1. Launch My Documents (double click on the 'My Documents' icon appearing on your desktop).

2. In the Windows Contents pane (left side), right click and select 'Arrange Icons By' and then select 'Show in Groups'.

3. Right click once more in the Windows Contents pane (left side), select 'Arrange Icons By' and select either 'Name', 'Size', 'Type', or 'Method'.

Tip #44 - Maximize vs. Full Screen Window

If you maximize a Window and you find that it is still not large enough, try displaying the Window at Full Screen. Here's how:

Press and hold the Ctrl key and then double-click the Window's title bar.

Tip #45 - Turning Off the Search Animation

When using the SEARCH feature of Windows XP, some people like the animated dog that appears in the Search pane, but others may want to turn OFF the feature or to change the animated character.

If you click the [SEARCH] button while in My Computer or Windows Explorer, to change or turn off the animated character, click the Change Preferences option, and choose the option you want.

Tip #46 - Creating a Restore Point

A System Restore point provides a method to bring back a failing Operating System to a point in time when things were running smoothly. While your Operating System is running smoothly, you can create a Restore Point and here's how:

1. Click the Windows Start button and select All Programs. Select Accessories and then select System Tools and then select System Restore. The "Welcome to System Restore" window will appear.

2. Choose Create a Restore Point and then click Next.

3. The Wizard will ask you to provide a description for the restore point. You can enter something such as "Restore Point before installing Software Application X".

4. Click the Create button and the Restore Point will be created.

Tip #47 - Activating Windows XP

When you install Windows XP, you must activate the software. If you do not activate the software, it will stop working after 30 days. When you install Windows XP, a dialog box will appear prompting you to activate the software. Click the Activate button and the Operating System takes a "picture" of your computer's components, links them to the serial number on your copy of Windows XP, and sends that information to Microsoft. Upon activation, you will not be able to install this version of the Windows XP software on to another computer.

If you wish to install Windows XP on more than one computer, it may be more cost effective to purchase a special, multi-version license/MS License Pack.

Note: If you have no Internet connection, you will need to activate the software by calling Microsoft's toll free number.

Tip #48 - Burning Pictures to a CD

If you have a CD-RW/DVD_RW drive, you can burn a CD of all the pictures residing on your Hard Drive. Here's how:

1. Open Windows Explorer (Start button, All Programs, Accessories, Windows Explorer) and if displayed, close the Folders Pane on the left side of your Window (by either clicking on the Folders button on the toolbar or by clicking on the X appearing in the Folders Pane). Closing the Folders Pane will allow you to see the Copy to CD option.

2. Select the picture files you wish to copy, then click Copy to CD in the Picture Task list. If this does not appear, right click on one of the selected files and choose Send To and then choose CD Drive. MS Windows will store these selected files to a temporary "holding" area.

3. Click the Windows Start button, My Computer, your CD burner drive (most often drive D:), and Windows will display the contents of the temporary "holding" area.

4. Type a name for the CD such as My Photos and then click Next.

5. Click Finish and the files will burn to the CD.

Tip #49 - Article Describing How To Remove Unused Programs

Visit http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=3548158 to access an article published by Microsoft explaining how to remove old and unused programs safely from your computer.

Tip #50 - Secure Your Data

To secure your data:

1. Regularly back-up the data residing on your PC to help protect yourself from data loss.

2. If you are going to sell or give your PC to someone else, be sure to erase your data with a secure deletion program such as "Drive Scrubber" or "Digital Shredder" to remove all traces of your data. If you simply delete your data files, Windows XP will only mark the area on the hard disk where the file resides as rewriteable without actually deleting the file. This means that your data is still there until it is overwritten and with the right tools, the data in these "deleted" locations can even be recovered.

Tip #51 - New Windows XP Memory Protection

Windows XP with Service Pack 2 offers memory protection which means it can mark blocks of memory for data or executable code. This prevents intrusions, such as Trojan programs that try to place themselves in "data only" areas.

Tip #52 - Moving a Window That's Off the Screen

If you have a window that is off the screen and can see only a tiny part of the title bar, click on the part of the title bar that you can see and drag to place it on the center of your desktop.

If you cannot see any of the title bar, click on any part of the window that is showing and press Alt+Spacebar. A menu will appear. From this menu, choose Move and then use your arrow keys to move the window to where you can view it on your desktop, and then press Enter.

Tip #53 - Recover Deleted Items

If you accidentally delete a file stored on your hard drive, double click on the Recycle Bin icon appearing on your desktop. To restore the file to its original location, right click on the file and select Restore from the menu that appears.

Please note: You cannot use the Windows XP Recycle Bin to restore files that were deleted from a network drive, floppy drive, CD-RW, or USB drive. However, there are commercial software products available that can do this.

Table of Contents

Tip #53 - Recover Deleted Items

Tip #52 - Moving a Window That's Off the Screen

Tip #51 - New Windows XP Memory Protection

Tip #50 - Secure Your Data

Tip #49 - Article Describing How To Remove Unused Programs

Tip #48 - Burning Pictures to a CD

Tip #47 - Activating Windows XP

Tip #46 - Creating a Restore Point

Tip #45 - Turn Off Search Animation

Tip #44 - Maximize vs. Full Screen Window

Tip #43 - Organize your Files into Groups

Tip $42 - The Difference Between Stand By, Shut Down and Restart