Windows 7 Tips How to Create and use invisible desktop folders

How to Create and Use invisible desktop folders

An invisible folder on your desktop would be quite cool, but Windows does not allow you to set such a property for folders. However, a small trick can let you have invisible folders. Go to 'Start | All programs | Accessories | System tools |Character map’. In the list of displayed characters, search for an empty box and select it. You can ‘Select’ it and ‘Copy’ it to the clipboard and then close the Character Map. Now right-click on the desktop with your mouse and create a new folder with the option ‘New - Folder’. Paste over the name proposed by Windows with the character copied from the Character Map using the [Ctrl]+[V] key combination. This was the first trick now you have what looks like a nameless folder on your desktop.

To make the icon of the folder disappear, right-click on the now nameless folder and select the context command ‘Properties’. In the following dialogue, click on ‘Other icon’ in the ‘Customize’ tab. As before in the Character Map, search and mark a space without content under ‘Choose an icon from the following list’. Then confirm your choice with ‘OK’ and close the ‘Properties’ dialogue with ‘OK’ as well. Your folder will have disappeared. To open it, You have to know its position and must double-click on the correct spot on your desktop.

Note that the invisible folder will reveal itself when you drag with the mouse to select and cover a large area of the desktop or when you use the arrow keys to move between icons. 

                                                

Windows 7 or 8 Tips Set a slideshow as the desktop background

 Set a slideshow as the desktop background on Windows 7/8

A slideshow of preset image folders can be set as the desktop background by using the option "Change all images". The images are changed with a short cross fade by default. The time interval for replacing the individual images can be configured in the Registry. For this, type "regedit" in the Start menu, press the Enter key and click "Yes" on the User Account Control dialogue box. Once the Registry Editor opens, navigate to the key "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Personalization\Desktop Slideshow"..Now click in the right side panel and generate the new entry "AnimationDuration" with the command "Edit | New | DWORD value". Now open the new value with a double-click for editing. Change the base to "Decimal" and enter the desired duration in milliseconds. For example, a value of "0" will result in an immediate change without any animations and a value of "5000" will result in a smooth cross-fade animation. Confirm your changes with "OK" and close the registry editor. The changes will be effective immediately.

                                                                    

Keyboard shortcuts for Windows 8

Keyboard shortcuts for Windows 8

THE MOST USEFUL SHORTCUTS 

In order to orient oneself quickly in the new version of Windows there are few key shortcuts that make working it a lot easier All the shortcuts from Windows 95 and even earlier will continue to work, but the list has been expanded to cover many more functions. Now you can manage all your running programs and Windows features with just a flick of the wrist.

1.           + C                           Show the Charms bar
2.           + H                           Open the 'Share' panel
3.           + I                             Open the 'Settings' panel
4.           + K                           Open the 'Devices' panel
5.            + W                         Open the Search tool for settings

APPS AND DESKTOP

1.                                                Toggle to Start screen 
2.              + Q                            Open the Search tool for apps
3.              +   +                           Zoom in  
4.              + -                              Zoom out 
5.              + C                             Show app's Charms
6.              + Tab                          Toggle between running apps
7.              + Shift + Tab               Toggle between apps backwards
8.              + Shift + .                    Snap app to the lefT

                                                                 

SYSTEM

1.             + L                              System shutdown options
2.              + P                             Projector and screen mirroring
3.              + U                             Open the Accessibility Center
4.              + X                            Show quick shortcuts and tools
5.              + V                            Cycle through notifications
6.              + Space                      Change language or keyboard
7.              + O                              Lock the screen orientation

                                                           

DESKTOP

1.              + F                                 Open the search tool for files
2.              + D                                 Show the desktop
3.              + M                                 Minimize all windows
4.              + Home                           Minimize all background windows
5.              + R                                 Open the 'Run...' dialog box
6.              + E                                  Launch Windows Explorer
7.              + Enter                            Use the Windows Narrator
8.               + ,                                  Peek at the desktop

                                                                     

Windows 7 Tips Creating Virtual Drives

Creating virtual drives under Computer

If you have administrator rights, you can create virtual drives with the help of built-in tools and use them in Windows Explorer. Technically, the operating system creates a special file for every virtual drive, inside which all the data in the drive is saved.

       You can defi ne a virtual drive in ‘Disk Management’. You will find this option in ‘Computer management’ under ‘System and security | Administrative tools’. Double click ‘Computer management and click on ‘Computer management (Local) | Storage | Disk Management’ in the left pane.

 Click on the context command ‘Create VHD’ (Virtual Hard Disk) in the Action menu. In the following dialogue, specify the path and the file for saving the virtual hard disk under ‘Location’. As with any other dialogue, you can click ‘Browse’ to identify a location. The file name must be added manually. The file must end with ‘.vhd’. In ‘Virtual hard disk size’, define the size you wish it to have. In order to maintain performance, leave it at the ‘Fixed size’ option rather than selecting ‘Dynamically Expanding’. Confirm the settings with ‘OK’.

       Now, Windows creates a VHD file of the size you have specified. Subsequently you will have access to the virtual hard disk in the Details area of the ‘Disk management’ window. Before you input anything, you must right-click the drive and allow the initialisation process to take place. Accept the settings in the following dialogue with ‘OK’. Subsequently, format the hard disk by clicking its icon with the right mouse button and by selecting the context command ‘New simple volume’. Follow the wizard's instructions. While doing so also specify the drive letter for your new virtual hard disk.

       If you would like to delete a virtual drive, click its icon with the right mouse button in Disk Management and select ‘Delete the virtual hard disk’ in the context menu. With ‘Delete file for virtual hard disk after un mounting’, you can specify whether the operating system should delete or retain the VHD file for later use. This can come in handy for keeping fi les confi dential or simply to help you organize your data.

                                                  

Recovering Windows from beyond the screen Windows Trick

Recovering windows from beyond the screen

Windows allows you to move windows even beyond the visible area on the desktop. However, if you find you cannot work in these windows after that, you might have some trouble. By simply using the key combination (Alt) + (Tab) you can activate a lost window even beyond the visible area. You must press the combination a number of times to reach the desired window. The popup box in the middle of the desktop will show you when you have reached it with a highlighted icon or thumbnail. Then press [Alt] + [Space] and then [M]. The cursor changes to a cross arrows cursor and you can easily move the active window using the keyboard arrow keys. If you have forgotten to which side of the desktop you have moved the window to, you must experiment a bit till it appears in the visible area. When the window is at the desired location on the screen, you can drop it there with [(ENTER)]

                                               

Windows 7 Tips and Trick

Adding direct links to files and folders in ‘Computer’ view in Windows Explorer

The navigation area in Windows Explorer lets you get to any file or folder on your PC. You can click on the different drives, directories and files and for frequently required fi les and applications, you can add short cuts right in the first screen you see. For this purpose, you must first ensure that the Windows Explorer shows hidden folders and files. Click ‘Organize | Folder and search options’ and make sure that the ‘Show hidden files, folders and drives’ option is activated under ‘View’.

            Subsequently, go to C:\User\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Short cuts in Windows Explorer. Create additional short cuts to folders and programs by clicking the right mouse button in an empty area of the Explorer window and then clicking on ‘New’ | ‘Shortcut’ in the context menu. In the future, these will appear in your Explorer window below ‘Network addresses’ whenever you select ‘Computer’ from the navigation pane.