Windows keyboard shortcuts

Here are the keyboard shortcuts for Windows XP through windows 7 ,some probably will work with Windows 8 as well.

Windows system key combinations

• F1: Help
• CTRL+ESC: Open Start menu
• ALT+TAB: Switch between open programs
• ALT+F4: Quit program
• SHIFT+DELETE: Delete item permanently
• Windows Logo+L: Lock the computer (without using CTRL+ALT+DELETE)

Windows program key combinations

• CTRL+C: Copy
• CTRL+X: Cut
• CTRL+V: Paste
• CTRL+Z: Undo
• CTRL+B: Bold
• CTRL+U: Underline
• CTRL+I: Italic

Mouse click/keyboard modifier combinations for shell objects

• SHIFT+right click: Displays a shortcut menu containing alternative commands
• SHIFT+double click: Runs the alternate default command (the second item on the menu)
• ALT+double click: Displays properties
• SHIFT+DELETE: Deletes an item immediately without placing it in the Recycle Bin

General keyboard-only commands

• F1: Starts Windows Help
• F10: Activates menu bar options
• SHIFT+F10 Opens a shortcut menu for the selected item (this is the same as right-clicking an object
• CTRL+ESC: Opens the Start menu (use the ARROW keys to select an item)
• CTRL+ESC or ESC: Selects the Start button (press TAB to select the taskbar, or press SHIFT+F10 for a context menu)
• CTRL+SHIFT+ESC: Opens Windows Task Manager
• ALT+DOWN ARROW: Opens a drop-down list box
• ALT+TAB: Switch to another running program (hold down the ALT key and then press the TAB key to view the task-switching window)
• SHIFT: Press and hold down the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypass the automatic-run feature
• ALT+SPACE: Displays the main window's System menu (from the System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the window)
• ALT+- (ALT+hyphen): Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window's System menu (from the MDI child window's System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the child window)
• CTRL+TAB: Switch to the next child window of a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) program
• ALT+underlined letter in menu: Opens the menu
• ALT+F4: Closes the current window
• CTRL+F4: Closes the current Multiple Document Interface (MDI) window
• ALT+F6: Switch between multiple windows in the same program (for example, when the Notepad Find dialog box is displayed, ALT+F6 switches between the Find dialog box and the main Notepad window)

Shell objects and general folder/Windows Explorer shortcuts

For a selected object:

• F2: Rename object
• F3: Find all files
• CTRL+X: Cut
• CTRL+C: Copy
• CTRL+V: Paste
• SHIFT+DELETE: Delete selection immediately, without moving the item to the Recycle Bin
• ALT+ENTER: Open the properties for the selected object

To copy a file

Press and hold down the CTRL key while you drag the file to another folder.

To create a shortcut

Press and hold down CTRL+SHIFT while you drag a file to the desktop or a folder.

General folder/shortcut control

• F4: Selects the Go To A Different Folder box and moves down the entries in the box (if the toolbar is active in Windows Explorer)
• F5: Refreshes the current window.
• F6: Moves among panes in Windows Explorer
• CTRL+G: Opens the Go To Folder tool (in Windows 95 Windows Explorer only)
• CTRL+Z: Undo the last command
• CTRL+A: Select all the items in the current window
• BACKSPACE: Switch to the parent folder
• SHIFT+click+Close button: For folders, close the current folder plus all parent folders

Windows Explorer tree control

• Numeric Keypad *: Expands everything under the current selection
• Numeric Keypad +: Expands the current selection
• Numeric Keypad -: Collapses the current selection.
• RIGHT ARROW: Expands the current selection if it is not expanded, otherwise goes to the first child
• LEFT ARROW: Collapses the current selection if it is expanded, otherwise goes to the parent

Properties control

• CTRL+TAB/CTRL+SHIFT+TAB: Move through the property tabs

Accessibility shortcuts

• Press SHIFT five times: Toggles StickyKeys on and off
• Press down and hold the right SHIFT key for eight seconds: Toggles FilterKeys on and off
• Press down and hold the NUM LOCK key for five seconds: Toggles ToggleKeys on and off
• Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK: Toggles MouseKeys on and off
• Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN: Toggles high contrast on and off

Dialog box keyboard commands

• TAB: Move to the next control in the dialog box
• SHIFT+TAB: Move to the previous control in the dialog box
• SPACEBAR: If the current control is a button, this clicks the button. If the current control is a check box, this toggles the check box. If the current control is an option, this selects the option.
• ENTER: Equivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with the outline)
• ESC: Equivalent to clicking the Cancel button
• ALT+underlined letter in dialog box item: Move to the corresponding item

Reference:https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/126449

How to release and renew an IP address using ipconfig

Here is a method to release and renew your computers local  ip address from the DHCP server quick and easy.
Click Start ,search for cmd and open cmd.exe (if you use Windows XP then click on Run instead of typing in the search box, and if you use Windows Vista then right-click on cmd.exe and select Run as Administrator.)

Now type the following ipconfig /release and press Enter








When that completes then type ipconfig /renew and press Enter

Type Exit when done to close cmd.

cmd.exe error Only part of a readprocessmemory or write process memory request was completed. windows XP

When trying to open the command prompt or calculator in Windows XP you receive the following error:
Only part of a readprocessmemory or write process memory request was
completed

The solution that worked for me is to type the following in the Run dialogue box:
sfc /scannow  note: you will be asked to insert your Windows XP CD if errors are found.
If that doesn't solve it then a Windows XP repair install should also resolve it.
http://mycomputerdidwhat.blogspot.pt/2008/07/how-to-repair-windows-xp.html

Windows Live Messenger 2009 is not responding error windows xp

In Windows XP while trying to open windows Live Messenger 2009 or earlier you will get an error saying that Windows Live Messenger is not Responding and that it has to be closed.

After reading the steps listed on the Windows Live support page:
http://messenger-support.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8B3F39C76A8B853F!15940.entry
The option that worked for me was to uninstall Adobe flash player and Adobe shockwave player and then reinstall them.
You can do this by going to the Control Panel ,Add/Remove programs and uninstall them from there.
Or you can use the uninstall tool:
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/141/tn_14157.html
Then install the latest version from Adobe.com and Messenger should work.

invalid boot.ini file loading from C:\windows Windows XP

Before Windows XP loads the following message is briefly shown invalid boot.ini file loading from C:\windows and then windows loads normally.

The following steps from Microsoft worked a treat for me ,first make sure that your CD ROM drive is the first boot device.

1. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer.
2. When you receive the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM.
3. When you receive the "Welcome to Setup" message, press R to start the Recovery Console.
4. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you have to use from the Recovery Console.
5. When you are prompted, type the administrator password, and then press ENTER.
6. At the command prompt, type bootcfg /list, and then press ENTER. The entries in your current Boot.ini file appear on the screen.
7. At the command prompt, type bootcfg /rebuild, and then press ENTER. This command scans the hard disks of the computer for Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, or Microsoft Windows NT installations, and then displays the results. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to add the Windows installations to the Boot.ini file. For example, follow these steps to add a Windows XP installation to the Boot.ini file:
   
   1. When you receive a message that is similar to the following message, press Y:
      
      Total Identified Windows Installs: 1
      
      [1] C:\Windows
      Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All)
   2. You receive a message that is similar to the following message:
      
      Enter Load Identifier
      This is the name of the operating system. When you receive this message, type the name of your operating system, and then press ENTER. This is either Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.
   3. You receive a message that is similar to the following:
      
      Enter OS Load options
      When you receive this message, type /fastdetect, and then press ENTER
   4. Type Exit  and windows will load normally.

how to take ownership of a folder or drive in Windows XP

If you try to access information from a specific folder ,file or even drive that had a password on it you will probably get an access denied message in this case you need to take ownership of that file ,foler or drive.
First of all make sure the Security tab is enabled ,for more info see how to enable the security tab in windows xp
Right-click on the file ,folder or drive that you want to take ownership of and click on Properties and then Security now click on Advanced and then click on the Owner tab.
In the Name list select your user name or click on Administrator and then click on OK.

Note for folders and drives if you want to also take ownership of all the contents within them check the option Replace owner on subcontainers and objects  and then click on OK

how to disable error reporting in Windows XP

When windows encounters an error from the last shutdown or restart an error report is shown with details of the problem and if you want to send it to Microsoft.
I personally always click on send report because sometimes there is a solution to the error itself but for those who want to turn off this feature here is how to do it:
Right click on the My Computer icon on the desktop (or go to the System icon in the Control Panel)
Select Properties followed by the  Advanced tab.
Now click on the Error Reporting tab and check the option to Disable error reporting ,click on OK and then OK again on the Advanced tab menu.

how to disable the guest account in Windows XP

If you want to disable /turn off  the guest account in Windows XP then do the following:
Click on Start ,Control Panel ,User Accounts then click on Change an account select Guest and then click on Turn off the guest account .

To activate the account click on turn on instead of off.

Missing icons on desktop Windows XP

All the desktop icons have vanished only the taskbar is shown ,now what!
In this case there is a simple fix:
Right click the desktop and in the context menu select Arrange Icons By and make sure Show Desktop Icons is ticked.

If you want to only add the My Computer ,My documents ,Network icons on a new installation or computer then follow the steps in this article:
http://mycomputerdidwhat.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-add-my-computer-my-documents.html

Free download Windows Defender for Windows XP

If you want to use this program for Windows XP then you can get it for free from Microsoft.
Here is the link:
http://www.microsoft.com/DownLoads/details.aspx?familyid=435BFCE7-DA2B-4A6A-AFA4-F7F14E605A0D&displaylang=en

Error: Action failed for registry key AVG antivirus error

When trying to install the free AVG antivirus I received the following computer error:
Error: Action failed for registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows: creating registry key

After some research it seems to be a permission problem ,to solve this do the following:
Click Start ,Run and then type regedit and then OK.
Now navigate to that key in the registry ,start at the top left side and click to expand the keys one by one.

Starting with HKLM (which is short for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.)


And then Software ,Microsoft ,Windows NT ,CurrentVersion ,Windows.

On the Windows key right click it and choose the option permissions.

On the permissions tab click on the Advanced button near the bottom right.

On the Advanced menu make sure all the users are set to Allow and not Deny ,if they are set to deny then select that user and click on Edit ,then click and mark the full control checkbox.

Restart the computer and AVG will now install.

If you get an access denied error when trying to change these settings then the best would be start the system in Safe Mode and then log in with the administrator account and try the steps from there.

Change your current antivirus to Panda Antivirus Pro 2010 and forget these problems.
Free trial period too :)

how to export your address book in Outlook Express 6

To export your address book contacts in Outlook Express 6 do the following.
Open Outlook Express and click on Address book or Tools ,Address book.
When the address book opens click on File ,Export and then Address Book (WAB).
Choose the destination and give it a name and then click on Open.

The address book has now been exported to be used on another computer or if you just want a backup.

how to save or export your email account in outlook express 6

If you want to save or export your email account in Outlook Express 6 to be used on another computer or to just make a backup do the following:
Open Outlook Express click on Tools ,Accounts and make sure the Email tab is selected.
Click on the current email account and then click on Export on the right hand side ,choose the destination and give it a name.

That's it.

If you want to import it on another computer do the same steps but click on Import on the right hand side.

how to install TCP/IP protocol in Windows XP

If you need to install TCP/IP on your computer ,in case you deleted it or some or other reason then do the following instructions from Microsoft:

Right-click the network connection, and then click Properties.

Click Install.
Click Protocol, and then click Add.Click Have Disk.
Type C:\Windows\inf, and then click OK.
On the list of available protocols, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click OK.

If Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) does not appear, follow these steps:
Click Start, and then click Search.
In the Search Companion pane, click More advanced options.
Click to select the following three check boxes:
Search system folders
Search hidden files and folders
Search subfolders
In the All or part of the file name box, type nettcpip.inf, and then click Search.
In the results pane, right-click Nettcpip.inf, and then click Install.

Restart the computer.

how to display the quick launch menu on the taskbar windows XP

The quick launch has the show desktop icon and also allows you to add shortcuts from your favourite programs to be "quick launched".

Here is how to display it on the taskbar if it already isn't.

Right-click on any free space on the taskbar and on the menu that appears select the option Toolbars and the toolbars menu appears click on the quick launch option to activate it.

It should now appear on the taskbar ,to be able to drag shortcuts to the quick launch toolbar make sure the taskbar is not locked.

how to create a bootable DOS startup disk in Windows XP

To create this disk open MY Computer ,right-click the floppy disk drive and choose Format.
in the format options section select the one that says Create an MS-DOS startup disk and click on Start.

The diskette is now bootable

Internet Explorer 8 system requirements

Internet Explorer 8 is finally here ,here are the system requirements from Microsoft.

Computer/Processor

Computer with a 233MHz processor or higher (Pentium processor recommended)

Operating System

Windows Vista 32-bit
Windows Vista 64-bit
Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 (SP 1) or higher
Windows XP 32-bit with Service Pack 2 (SP 2) or higher
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
Windows Server 2003 32-bit with SP 2 or higher
Windows Server 2003 64-bit with SP 2 or higher
Windows Server 2008 32-bit or higher
Windows Server 2008 64-bit or higher

Memory

Windows Vista 32-bit – 512 MB
Windows Vista 64-bit – 512 MB
Windows Vista with SP 1 – 512 MB
Windows XP 32-bit with SP 2 or higher – 64 MB
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition – 128 MB
Windows Server 2003 32-bit with SP 2 or higher – 64 MB
Windows Server 2003 64-bit with SP 2 or higher – 128 MB
Windows Server 2008 32-bit – 512MB
Windows Server 2008 64-bit – 512MB

Display

Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution monitor with 256 colors.

Peripherals

Modem or Internet connection; Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse, or compatible pointing device

how to search for people in your address book Windows XP

To search for people that are in your address book using the Windows XP Search program do the following;
Click Start ,Search then click on Printers, computers, or people then choose the option People in your address book ,make sure Address book is selected in the Look in section.
The last step is to fill in the persons name or details and click on the Find Now button.

how to remove or add the default games in Windows XP

Windows XP comes with some default games installed like Hearts and Minesweeper if you want to remove or add these games do the following;
(In order to install games you might be asked to insert your windows XP setup CD.)

Click Start and then Control Panel ,open Add or Remove Programs and then click on Add/Remove Windows Components in the left pane ,when that opens double click on the name Accessories and Utilities .
You can now double click on the Games section and add or remove the games that you want or don't want ,click OK when you have finished making the changes and finally click on Next to finalise the installation or removal.

how to disable the Automatic Desktop Cleanup Feature in Windows XP

To disable this somewhat annoying program from popping up do the following;
Right-click a free area on the desktop and choose Properties.
In the Display Properties menu click the Desktop tab and then click on Customize desktop ,uncheck the option Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days and then click OK.