Windows 7: Shake Your Desktop to Clean It Up

If you run multiple programs simultaneously, your desktop can get extremely cluttered with windows open everywhere. This can get annoying if you are working on one program and want to minimize all other open windows.  In previous version of Windows, you have to minimize them individually wasting taking your precious time, but Windows 7 has a built in feature called Aero Shake.

With Aero Shake, you can minimize all other open windows except the one in focus with a couple shakes of your mouse.

Click and hold the title bar of the window you want to keep on the desktop and while still holding that window, shake it quickly back and forth until all other windows minimize to the taskbar.

To make them return, shake the title bar again.  You can also perform the above step by holding the Windows key + Home key combination but that would not be much fun.

Windows 7:  Run Multiple Copies of Applications from the Taskbar

When it comes to running applications, the Windows 7 taskbar works a couple different ways.  It’s used to launch programs, also to switch between programs by clicking its icon, and also switch to that program after it’s is running by clicking its icon.

If you want to launch a second instance of the program, there is a no way out to do this because when you click on its icon, you only switch to the running instance.

Here’s how to get around that: If a program is already running and you want to launch a second instance from the taskbar, hold down the Shift Key and click the icon. A second instance will launch. Another way out is to right click the running program icon in the taskbar and then again click the program name. You can keep launching new instances this way.

Windows 7 Tip:  Launch Taskbar Applications without Using Your Mouse

You can launch any program on the taskbar without a mouse.

Press the Windows key and the number that corresponds to the position of the application on the taskbar from the left.   For example, Windows key + 1 to launch the left most application on the taskbar, Windows key +2 key to launch the second left-most application and so on.

For comprehensive list of the Windows shortcuts open Help and Support and type Windows Shortcuts and press enter to get the list.

Windows 7 Tip:  Add a Video Link to Your Start Menu

The Windows 7 start menu includes links to your Pictures and Music Folder, but not to your Videos folder.  If you watch a lot of videos and want to link to them in your start menu, here’s what you can do:

1.  Right click on the Start Button and select Properties.
2.  On the screen that appears, go to the start menu tab and click Customize.
3.  In the dialog box that appears, scroll to the bottom, look for the Videos section. 

Shortcuts for the Windows Internet Explorer 8 Address Bar

You can use the Internet Explorer shortcut keys to perform lots of different tasks quickly or to work without a mouse.  Find these shortcuts here.    

Calculate Fuel Economy in Windows 7

Need a quick way to calculate a vehicle's true fuel economy based on its distance and fuel used?   Or, calculate a vehicle's expected versus actual fuel usage based on the distance and manufacturer quoted fuel economy? To perform these calculations in gallons and liters (litres) you do not need to visit websites or download additional software - just use the Windows 7 calculator.

Show or Hide the Taskbar Icons in Windows 7

If you find the Windows 7 Taskbar too cluttered, you can prevent the clock as well as the volume control, network notification, power level and/or action center icons from appearing.  If you often do not need these notifications or functionality this may be desired.  Learn how to clean up your taskbar here.

Window Keyboard Shortcuts for 7

• Win+Left Arrow and Win+Right Arrow dock the window to the left and right side of the screen
• Win+Up Arrow and Win+Down Arrow maximize and restore/minimize
• Win+M minimizes everything
• Alt+Up, Alt+Left Arrow, Alt+Right Arrow navigate to parent folder, or browse Back and Forward through folders in Explorer
• Win+Home minimizes/restores all open windows except the active window
• Alt+Win+# accesses the Jump List of program number ‘#’ on the taskbar

Take Control of Pop Ups

Despite good intentions, User Account Control pop-ups were one of the most annoying aspects of Vista, and a feature that most of us immediately disabled after a clean install.  UAC in Windows 7 displays fewer warnings, but you can also fine-tune its notification habits by launching the UAC Settings from the start menu. 

Just type “UAC” in the Start Menu search field and click the result. We find that setting just above “Never notify” gives a comfortable balance between attentive security and incessant nagging.

Go to System and Security – Action Center – User Account Control Setting.

Need to Write on Slides During a Presentation?

When you use Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 to deliver your presentation, you can circle, underline, draw arrows, or make other marks on the slides to emphasize a point or show connections. 

Learn how at:  http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint/HA100966971033.aspx?pid=CH100673601033

Customize How Excel Opens with Command-line Switches

You can customize the way that Microsoft Office Excel 2007 starts by adding switches and parameters to the startup command. For example, you can prevent the startup screen from appearing when you start Office Excel 2007, or you can have Excel open a specific file when it starts.  

Check it out here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HA101580301033.aspx

What To Do with All Those Holiday Photos? 

Now that the holidays are over you may be looking for ways to take all those lovely pictures and do something nice for a presentation.  You may have forgotten about the older package I have recommended in the past called PhotoStory3.  Yep, it still works on Windows 7.

Outlook E-Mail Signatures Protect You From Lawsuits
 
Do you hate typing your name and contact information at the end of each e-mail you create?  Would you like to include legal disclaimers to help protect you and your company?  Then use an Outlook “signature” to automate the insertion of this information.

3 Easy Steps To Get 7 Years Of Hassle-Free Service Out Of Your Laser Printer

Printers - the necessary evil of every office. From paper jams and error messages, to problems like smearing, misfeeds, and ghosting, printers can really make your blood pressure rise. Plus, it’s easy to sink thousands of dollars into maintenance and repairs. If you want to avoid common printer problems AND save yourself a small fortune on replacements and repairs, follow these 3 easy steps.