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.

Fixed Windows update cannot currently check for updates because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer

If you try to search for Windows Updates and you are using Windows Vista and above you may get this error:
"Windows update cannot currently check for updates because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer"

There are two fixes that seem to solve this problem the last one worked for me.

1. If it was caused by a corrupt windows update folder then we need to rename it and then allow windows update to create a new fresh folder (note you will have to install a lot of updates again)

First step is to deactivate the windows update service you can do this by clicking on start and in the run/search box type in cmd  and then right click cmd and choose Run as Administrator.

When cmd opens type net stop wuauserv and press enter you will get a success message.

Leave cmd open for now you, can minimise it.
Lets go to My Computer and navigate to C:\Windows and find the folder named SoftwareDistribution,
right-click this folder and choose rename and name it SoftwareDistribution.old and press enter.

Next step is to go back to cmd and type the following net start wuauserv ,press enter and then type exit to close cmd for good.

You can restart the computer and see if it helped.

If you still have the same problem try the next procedure.

2.This involves updating the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver and you can download the file from here:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c02219204&cc=nl&lc=en&dlc=en&product
even though it's for HP , I have a Toshiba and it installed and worked fine since most laptops have the same Intel chipset.

Hope this helps anyone and good luck.

net stop wuauserv

net stop wuauserv

clicking on Firefox shortcut icon opens Internet Explorer browser instead.(solved)

When clicking on the mozilla firefox shortcut icon on the desktop or start menu Internet Explorer opens instead, also any links you try to open from programs such as messenger also open in Internet Explorer but in the homepage.
This was a tricky problem even reinstalling firefox didnt really solve it and all the shortcuts pointed to the correct path and firefox was my default Internet Browser.
The correct solution was to fix the Windows OS Default File Association types

You can download them here:
http://malwaretips.com/threads/default-file-association-fixes-windows-xp-vista-7-and-8-tested.12701/

I was using Windows Vista so I did all the registry fixes  like .exe, .com etc and after logging off and on again all was resloved.

5 things you should know before trying to fix your computer.

Let's face it everyone thinks they're a computer technician ,just need a screwdriver  patience and brains right?
Sometimes it's not as simple as it looks.
There a many factors and precautions to to consider before you even put that screwdriver in your hand.
I will list 5 important things that you should know before you even attempt to repair your computer.

1.One of the most important things is to have  a clean,clutter, hassle free workplace where you will be working on the computer.you need to place the side panels in one place ,computer parts and cables in another so make sure you have the space for it (and don't place it on the floor or carpet that's just silly.)
Also the right tools are handy to have too make sure the screwdrivers are the correct sizes and lengths too.
Using the correct tool for the job will make it much more pleasant.

2.ESD or ElectroStatic Discharge is how us humans can destroy and kill electronic components by just touching them.
Think of it as when rubbing your feet on the carpet and touching a metallic object like a door knob you receive a shock, though harmless to us can be deadly to the electronic components inside your computer (desktop or even laptop).
Before touching any component you have to either get an antistatic mat to place on your workspace ,ESD wrist strap to prevent you're body from sending any charge that will harm sensitive components.
If those items are not available then you can protect  the components  by touching anything metal on the computer case such as the power supply or chassis before touching anything electronic.
Remember to remove any fancy jewellery as well since this can cause ESD too.More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_discharge

3.Turn off all power to the computer and remove any external cables such as the power cord ,printers ,modems ,network cables ,printers as these devices can still be holding current and you don't want any current when working on the inside of a computer.

4.Backup ,Backup ,Backup.
This is very important if you are doing a software repair as opposed to a hardware (physical) repair.
cleaning viruses, messing around with important system files if you're not too experienced can cause a nightmare instead of a solution, and you don't want to do backups when it's in nightmare mode trust me.

5.Research before you start to try and fix your computer yourself, will you be able to do it ,do you have the expertise, will you be able to finish once you start ,research online to similar problems that others are experiencing and see if their solutions apply to you and if they do can you do it yourself?
Compare repair costs if you fix it yourself will it cost you more than to have a qualified technician fix it for you?

These are 5 of the things that one should consider before trying to fix their own computers at home or even at work.Sure there are many more out there but these are straight forward guidlines that need to be followed and considered.

If you try to fix your computer yourself then all I can say is
Good Luck.


Get computer assistance from computer experts at SuperGeek

Windows 7 64bit does not use all the memory installed

Had a laptop with windows 7 64bit edition and 4GB of Memory installed but the system would recognise 4GB but it said only 3GB is usable.
The problem here is that windows 7 has limited the usable memory to 3GB in the startup settings.
To fix this click Start ,type msconfig ,select the Boot tab and then select Advanced options , and uncheck the  Maximum memory option if activated click OK when done.
Then Apply and restart the computer.

Problem solved.

Windows 7 keeps reverting to 640x480 screen resolution

This one was a strange one every time you log into windows 7 the screen resolution would revert back to the lowest setting which in my case was 640x480 .
What was happening is that there is an option activated to boot windows 7 with a Base Video mode ,so even if you change the screen resolution back to what it was initially it would always revert back to 640x480 because that option is enabled.
To fix this click on Start ,type msconfig and in the General tab select Normal startup  ,Apply and restart.

Problem Solved.