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  technofile
Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983

5 more tips and tricks for Windows


Aug. 12, 2001


By Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2001, Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2001, The Syracuse Newspapers

   Here are five little things you probably didn't know you could do with Windows:
   1. Display a calendar. Am I saying there's a calendar hidden away in Windows? Yep. Double click the clock (the one that's usually in the lower right corner, unless someone moved it on your PC).
   You'll see a cute clock with old-fashioned hands and an easy-to-read calendar. For an even better calendar that pops up the same way, get TclockEX by Dale Nurden. It's free. Go to http://users.iafrica.com/d/da/dalen.
   2. Show the exact version of Windows your PC is running, as well as the model number of your PC's processor. Click your right mouse button on the icon called "My Computer," the slide the pointer down and click the left button on "Properties."
   This is handy if you need to know whether a PC you've bought used has been updated. On my Windows 2000 PC, the "Properties" information says "Service Pack 2," telling everyone that it's been updated.
   3. Change the icon for any shortcut you've created. When you make a shortcut, Windows assigns an icon to it based on the icon for the original file. Change to it anything else this way:
   Click your right mouse button on the shortcut icon, slide down and click the left button on "Properties," then click the left button on "Change Icon." You should see a lot of icons to choose from. Double click on the one you want, then click the "OK" button.
   (If you don't see any icons at all, click your left mouse button on the "Browse" button and see if you can find some among the files that show up.)
   4. Run a program from the keyboard.
   This technique uses a hotkey. I've written about hotkeys before, but I'll bet many of you figured such a complicated thing wasn't something you'd ever want to do. But it's too simple to ignore.
   Try this: Click your right mouse button on a blank area of the desktop. Click the left button on "New" and then on "Shortcut." Type CALC where you see "Type the location of the item:" and press the Enter key. Now type "Calculator" (without using quotes).
   Press Enter again. You'll see an icon for the Calculator on your desktop. Click your right mouse button on the icon and click your left button on "Properties." Where you see "Shortcut key:" type the letter "C." The "Shortcut key:" line will change to "Ctrl-Alt-C."
   Now click the "OK" button. You're done. Any time you press those three keys together -- Ctrl, Alt and C -- the Calculator will open on your screen.
   You can create keyboard hotkeys for any program, using the same technique. See the articles I've written about hotkeys. Check the "Computers" section of my site, at www.twcny.rr.com/technofile.
   5. Run any part of the Control Panel by itself.
   Open the Control Panel (click the Start button, then click "Settings" and then "Control Panel). Click your right mouse button on one of the icons in the Control Panel and hold the button down while you drag the icon out of the Control Panel window and onto your desktop.
   Let go of the button. Slide your pointer down and click your left button on "Create Shortcut(s) Here."