Changing the Defualt program for opening a file

Sometimes you install a software(for example an image viewer) and it get associated with its supported formats automatically. Whenever you open those files (images,pictures etc) they will be opened by the new software you have just installed. But you may like to open them with your old software.

For example you have installed an image viewer/editor like Photo Perfect Express or FastStone Image viewer and it associated with all image types. Whenever you open an image file, it will be opened by above mentioned software's. But suppose you are satisfied with the windows default image viewer like Paint and Windows Picture and Fax viewer and you want to open Picture files always with them NOT with any other software.

Then this tip is for you.

To change the program that opens a file

1. Right-click the file you want to open in a different program, and then click Properties.
2. On the General tab, click Change.
3. Click the name of the program in which you want the file to open.

Notes:

• This change affects all files that have the same file name extension as the file you selected. For example, if you change the program that opens a .jpg file, all .jpg files will open in this program.
• You can also change the program that opens a file by right-clicking the file, clicking Open With, and then clicking the program name. If the program you want is not displayed, click Browse.

Copying Files/Folders to another location

Most Windows tasks involve working with files and folders. Windows uses folders to provide a storage system for the files on your computer, just as you use manila folders to organize information in a filing cabinet.

Folders can contain many different types of files, such as documents, pictures, videos, and programs. You can copy and move files from other locations, such as another folder, computer, or the Internet, to folders you create. You can even create folders within folders.

To copy files/folders to another location:

• First go to the location of the file/folder which you want to copy.(For example you want to copy “Intel” folder from C Drvie)
• Click the file or folder you want to copy.
• Under File and Folder Tasks, click Copy this file or Copy this folder.
• Copy Items dialog box will appear.Select the destination Drive/Folder where you want to copy the file/folder and click on Copy button.

• The file will be copied to your selected location.

Clear/Disable Recent Documents History from Start Menu

Windows keep records of your recently opened documents. You could access your most recently opened documents by clicking the Start>Recent Documents.

Its a good feature if you have to open/edit some files often.

But it could be a privacy threat for you. There are always some files(Pictures, videos,documents etc) that you will never wanted to know some one about it. If you open these files these will be automatically added to the “Recent documents”. and someone could easily find them.

You could disable this feature by doing this:

• Right-click the Start button, and then click Properties.

• On the Start Menu tab, click Start menu, and then click Customize.

• On the Advanced tab, uncheck the “List my most recently opened documents” check box.

• The next time you click Start, the My Recent Documents folder will be gone from Start menu.

Note:

To clear Recent documents click On the Advanced tab, click Clear List to empty the My Recent Documents folder. This does not delete the documents from the computer.

Adding a Program at the top of the Start menu

If you use some programs frequently then you should add them at the top of Windows Start Menu for easier and quick access.

To display a program at the top of the Start menu in Windows XP

• Right-click the program you want to display at the top of the Start menu. You can right-click a program on the Start menu, in Windows Explorer, in My Computer, or on the desktop.

• Click Pin to Start menu.
• The program is displayed in the pinned items list in the area above the separator line on the Start menu.

Notes:

• You can remove the program from the pinned items list by right-clicking the program and then clicking Unpin from Start menu.
• You can change the order of the programs on the pinned items list by dragging a program to a new position.
• You cannot pin or unpin items using the Classic Start menu.

Adding "My Computer" to Windows Taskbar for Faster access

If you access different files from your hard drive often then you know what you have to do every time. You have to open my computer then c:/d/ or other drive and then the folder in which file is stored.

What if you could access them without opening my computer?

that’s my today’s tip.

You could access all contents of My computer from your taskbar through a cascading menu.

Here is how:

• Right click on Taskbar and point to Toolbars from Right click menu and then select New Toolbar.. from sub Menu

• Now Create New Toolbar Dialogue box will appear. Select My Computer from it and click the OK button.

• This will create a cascading menu near the Clock, from where you can easily access just about anything on your System.

• Its done.

How to Create a Shortcut on the Desktop

There are always some files which you use most often then others.You always need to open these files/folder by going to their original location.It may frustrate you.

What if you don't need to go to their original location to open them,access that file/folder in just one step

How? By creating a shortcut of that file/folder to your desktop.

Here is the step by step guide to create a shortcut to your desktop

• First go to the location of the file/folder of which you want to create shortcut.

1. Open My Computer.
2. Double-click a drive or folder.

• select the file/folder and right click on it.
• select send to from Right click menu and then desktop(create shortcut)from sub menu.

• Its done.

Now whenever you want to access them just click on its shortcut at your desktop and it will open instantly.

Note:

When you delete a shortcut to an item, the original item is not deleted. It still exists on your computer in its original location.

Changing Windows Star Menu Style

Windows XP has a new Start Menu style, which looks good and easy. But some people still prefer to view/use the Start menu in classic (Win98/2000) style.

Also the new Start Menu look is heavy on system resources and may slow down your PC if you have an old PC.

To change the Start menu style:

• Right-click the Start button, and then click Properties.

On the Start Menu tab, click one of the following options:

• To select the style from an earlier version of Windows, click Classic Start menu.
• To revert back to the default Start menu, click Start menu.

• The next time you click Start, the Start menu displays the new style.

• Its done.

Insert Special characters in your documents with Character Map

You can use Character Map to copy and paste special characters into your documents, such as the trademark symbol, special mathematical characters, or a character from the character set of another language.

You can also use Character Map to view the characters that are available in a selected font. Character Map displays the following character sets: Windows, DOS, and Unicode.

You can copy individual characters or a group of characters to the Clipboard and paste them into any program that can display them. Or, depending on the program you are using (such as WordPad), you can even copy characters by dragging them from Character Map directly into an open document.

Using Character Map, you can search for characters by Unicode character name or Unicode subgroup (such as arrows or mathematical operators) or by other special classifications.

You can also use Character Map to view and copy private characters that you have created using Private Character Editor.

If you know the Unicode equivalent of the character you want to insert, you can also insert a special character directly into a document without using Character Map. To do so, open the document and position the insertion point where you want the special character to appear. Then, with NUM LOCK on, hold down the ALT key while using the number pad keys to type the Unicode character value.

Delete files without moving them to Recycle Bin

Whenever you delete files they first go to recycle bin and then you have to open recycle bin to delete files permanently.

Suppose you have some extremely private files, you deleted them and You forget to empty the recycle bin, Then someone from your home/office who has access to that PC may restore them and open those files.

But you may delete files permanently without sending them to recycle bin.

There are two ways to do this. One is a selective method and second is permanent.

method 1: Its for those who only want to delete there chosen files permanently and other files goes to recycle bin.

• To delete a file permanently first select the file.
• After selecting it press Shift+delete key to delete it permanently.

OR

• Right click on the file and select delete from right click menu while holding shift key.
• confirm the file deletion by pressing Yes button.

method 2: Its for those who always wanted to delete files permanently without sending them to recycle bin.To do so

• Right click on Recycle Bin icon on your windows desktop.
• Select Properties from Right Click menu.
• Check (√) the box named "Do not move files to the recycle bin.Remove files immediately when deleted".
• click the OK button and its done

Now every file will be deleted without moving to Recycle Bin.