Windows Vista Tips and tricks ~ Tricks Planet

Change Windows Using Flip 3D
In XP, switching between applications with the Alt+Tab key combination was a neat trick, but you should check out Flip 3D, new in Vista, which allows you to see a small thumbnail of each application as you cycle through them.To use the Task Switch view and Flip 3D, Windows Aero must be enabled

Example of the new Flip 3D feature.

As Figure 6.57 shows, the new Flip 3D feature provides a much better image of the currently open applications/windows. It's actually a live thumbnail, so you can see the current state of the application/window.

To bring up Flip 3D, simply press the Windows logo key+Tab. Keep pressing the Tab key (while holding the Windows logo key) to cycle through the applications/windows. After you see the application/window you want, just release the Windows logo key and the selected window/application will fly into position.

You can also flip through the applications/windows with the arrows on the keyboard or the scrolling wheel (if you have one) on your mouse. Choose whatever works best for you.

To cancel out of Flip 3D without choosing a different application/window, press the Esc key. This way, you don't have to flip back to the screen you were originally on if you changed your mind and want to stay.

Use Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are one of the biggest advantages "computer geeks" have over the average user. Unlike other computer tasks, keyboard shortcuts aren't self-learned, that is unless you go through a lot of trial and error. Using keyboard shortcuts can save a great deal of time. (I use many, with Ctrl C, V, and X being my most used, especially for this book!) Therefore, for your reference, Table 6.1 lists many common shortcuts. Some of the shortcuts shown in Table 6.1 are specific to Vista, whereas some worked in previous versions of Windows.

Table 6.1. Common Vista Keyboard Shortcuts

Action	Shortcut
Open or close the Start menu	Windows logo key
Show desktop	Windows logo key+D
Show Windows Sidebar and gadgets	Windows logo key+spacebar
Open Quick Launch shortcuts	Windows logo key+# (1, 2, 3, etc.)
Open Computer	Windows logo key+E
Open Windows Explorer	Windows logo key+E
Minimize all windows	Windows logo key+M
Restore minimized windows	Windows logo key+Shift+M
Change task selection on Taskbar	Windows logo key+T
Open Task switch	Alt+Tab
Open 3D Flip—Task switch	Windows logo key+Tab
Open the Run prompt	Windows logo key+R
Open Search tool	Windows logo key+F
Lock the PC	Windows logo key+L
Access the System properties	Windows logo key+Pause/Break
Prevent AutoPlay when a disc loads	Shift
Run executable with elevated privileges	Ctrl+Shift+Enter
Perform the Copy function	Ctrl+C
Perform the Paste function	Ctrl+V
Perform the Cut function	Ctrl+X

Tip

A trick to learn more keyboard shortcuts is to look through the menus in any program and note the keyboard shortcuts to the right of each command.

Display a Menu of Items on the Start Menu

Setting up some of the links and shortcuts on your Start menu to expand into a menu can save you from a few clicks here and there. For example, instead of clicking on the Computer shortcut and then having to click on the C drive, you can set up the Computer shortcut as a menu and then all you have to do is hover over the Computer shortcut on the Start menu and select the C drive. Figure 6.1 shows an example.

1) Clicking on Start menu items with an arrow opens a submenu showing the contents of that item.

2) Submenu showing contents of Computer.

Here's how to display menus for links and shortcut items on the Start menu:

1.	Right-click on the taskbar and select Properties,

1) Right-click on the taskbar.

2) Choose Properties.

2.	Select the Start Menu tab,

3.	Follow these steps if you're using the Classic Start Menu option:

a. Click on the Customize button,

b. In the Advanced Start Menu Options section, check the items you want to be expanded as a menu. Vista allows you to expand Control Panel, Documents, Network Connections, Pictures, and Printers.

a. Check the items you want to expand on the Start menu.

4. Follow these steps if you're using the Start Menu option:
a. Click on the Customize button,

b. Indicate which items you want to be expanded as a menu by checking the Display As a Menu option, on the appropriate item(s). Vista allows you to expand Control Panel, Documents, Network Connections, Pictures, and Printers.

Click OK.

a. Checking Display As Menu makes the Control Panel menu fly out from the Start menu.
b. Checking Display As a Link makes the Control Panel window open.

Use the Sync Center

Windows Vista comes with a new program, called Sync Center, to help you synchronize files between supported mobile devices and your computer. Many mobile devices support this type of synchronization, such as portable music (MP3) players, digital cameras, mobile phones, and USB flash drives. In addition, Vista Business and Ultimate editions also allow synchronization of files and folders on network drives.

Tip

The Windows Mobile Device and Sync Center in Vista takes the place of an older synchronization application you might have used before, called ActiveSync, with previous versions of Windows.

Here's how to set up a device with Sync Center:

1.	Plug the mobile device into your computer.
2.	Install any software/drivers that came with the device.
3.	Open the Start menu and open Sync Center by following this path: All Programs, Accessories, Sync Center

4.	Click the Set Up New Sync Partnerships link, as pointed out in Figure 6.64, in the tasks pane on the left

Double-click on the device you want to set up.

Follow the onscreen directions to set up the sync partnership.

Tip

If the device doesn't appear on the list, it might not be supported for use with Sync Center. You should check the device manufacturer's website for more information. You might have to use their software to sync or they might offer a driver to install that will enable support with Sync Center.

Adjust Audio Levels per Application

A new feature of Vista, not in prior versions of Windows, allows you to control the audio levels for some individual applications. This can be especially useful if you have a desk job and boredom has struck. Now you can play games with the volume down, while still hearing other sounds such as from your work applications; so it sounds like you're working!

To adjust the audio levels for individual applications, you use the Volume Mixer:

1.	Double-click on the Volume icon in the system tray.
2.	Click the Mixer link,The Volume Mixer dialog box opens.

3.	Adjust the volumes using the slider bar.

Use the Snipping Tool to Capture Screenshots

Windows now includes software to capture screenshots, called the Snipping Tool. This tool allows you to save an image of your screen or a selected area or window. You can save the image in several different formats: PNG, GIF, JPEG, or MHT.

Those who have previously used the Print Screen button on their keyboard to capture screenshots will greatly appreciate this addition to Windows. It saves you from a tedious and crude process, which consists of pressing the Print Screen button to copy an image of your current screen to the Clipboard, pasting the image into an editor (such as Paint), and then manually cropping and manipulating the screenshot for the window or area you want to save.

Here's how to access and use the Snipping Tool:

1.	Open the Start menu, and open the Snipping Tool by following this path: All Programs, Accessories, Snipping Tool
2.	After you open the Snipping Tool, you'll automatically be in the capturing mode. You can move your cursor around to select a window and click to snip it. Hitting your Esc key will get you out of the capturing mode.
3.	After you snip, a preview window will appear where you can make edits to the image and save it.
4.	You can use other Snipping methods, such as a Full-screen capture, by clicking the New button's arrow on the Snipping Tool. After you're ready to capture images, click the New button.
5.	Remember, you configure additional settings by clicking the Options button on the Snipping Tool.

Use Computer Lock for Security When Leaving

Are you concerned about the security or privacy of your PC and its data? If so (and you should be), this tip is for you. As you might know, when you need to leave the computer, you can lock it so others can't use it without the password. Of course, you must have a Windows account password enabled for the locking feature to serve its purpose.

Tip

If you didn't enable a password for your Windows Vista account, you can easily do it now so that you can take advantage of the locking feature. Open Control Panel, double-click User Accounts, and click the first link, Create a Password for Your Account.

Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and click the Lock This Computer button (which was also in Windows XP),

Use the new Lock option on the Start menu,

Choose Start.

Click the arrow on the bottom right of the Start menu.

Choose Lock.

If you're good with keyboard shortcuts, there's another quick way to lock your PC. Just press the Windows logo key+L and your PC will be instantly locked, which also works in Windows XP.

Tip

The next topic shows how you can add a shortcut to your desktop and/or the Quick Launch toolbar that will lock your computer.

Create a Shortcut to Lock Your Computer

As discussed in the previous tip, you can lock your PC (when using a password-protected Windows account) to provide security when leaving your desk. In addition to the ways already discussed in the previous tip, you can add a shortcut to your desktop and/or the Quick Launch toolbar to have another option at your fingertips when locking your PC:

1.	Right-click on the desktop, point to New, and then click Shortcut.
2.	In the location field, enter the following rundll32.exe user32.dll, LockWorkStation

3.	After clicking Next, enter a name for the shortcut and click Finish.
4.	For even quicker access to the Lock shortcut, you can add the icon to the Quick Launch toolbar. Just drag the new desktop icon and drop it into the Quick Launch area.

Auto-Login to Bypass the Logon Screen

If you have multiple user accounts on your PC but you're the main user, you might want to enable auto-login. That way, you don't have to click your account icon on the logon screen each time the PC is booted up. Then, if you need to access the other accounts, you can choose Switch User from your account to access the logon screen.

Caution

Keep in mind that enabling auto-login for accounts that use password protection defeats the idea of the protection it provides. Someone can just boot up the PC and it will automatically load into your password-protected account. It's best to use the auto-login feature if you aren't worried about others getting into your account.

Here's how to enable auto-login:

1.	Open the Start Menu, type "netplwiz," and press Enter. If using the Windows Classic Start menu, you need to click on Run, enter "netplwiz", and click OK.
2.	Uncheck the Users Must Enter a User Name and Password to Use This Computer option,

Choose the user account you want to allow to log on automatically.

Select Users Must Enter a User Name and Password to Use This Computer.

3.	Click Apply.
4.	In the Automatically Log On window, enter the username and password (twice) for the account you want to auto-login, and click OK.
5.	Click OK to exit.

Add Providers to Live Search in Internet Explorer 7

You might have noticed the new Live Search feature added to Microsoft Internet Explorer 7, which gives you quick access for your web searching needs. By default, the Search box uses Microsoft Live Search; however, you can add other search engines such as Google or Yahoo!, and even topic-related sites such as Amazon, Monster, or eBay. If the site you're looking for isn't already on the list, you can manually add it, which allows you to use just about any website with searching capabilities.

After you've added search engines to the list, you can specify one of the sites for the default that's searched when you simply type something in the field and press Enter (or click the Search button). Then to search the other sites, you type something in the field, click the arrow, and select the site you want to search. is why the new searching feature is so great—you have many search engines and websites to search from by just a few clicks of the mouse!

Here's how to add providers to the Instant Search box in Internet Explorer 7:

1.	In Internet Explorer, click the arrow next to the Search box and select the Find More Providers option. A web page appears,

2.	Simply click on a site to add it to the Instant Search box, or manually add it by following the directions in the Create Your Own section. You'll be prompted to confirm that you want to add the site. Click Add Provider.
3.	If you want to make the search engine or website your default search provider, check the appropriate check box.
4.	Click the Add Provider button to proceed.

Change the Home Page of New Tabs in Internet Explorer 7

By default in Internet Explorer, you are prompted with the Welcome to Tabbed Browsing page when clicking on a new tab. However, this might be slightly annoying and you might wonder why it doesn't just open your defined home page instead.

Well, good news, you can easily make new tabs go to your start page:

1.	Open Internet Explorer 7.
2.	Click on Tools on the menu bar and select Internet Options.
3.	Click the Settings button in the Tabs section,

4.	Check the Open Home Page for New Tabs Instead of a Blank Page option,

Click OK.

Now that you fixed that issue, there's something even better: You can set multiple home pages to open in different tabs each time you start your browser. Like many other web users, you likely have more than one favorite website. Here's the solution to this dilemma:

1.	Open Internet Explorer 7.
2.	Click Tools on the menu bar and select Internet Options.
3.	In the Home Page box, enter your desired website addresses.
4.	Click OK.

To see the changes, you must first close and reopen any currently open web browsers. The next time you open Internet Explorer, it should automatically load tabs for each of the websites you just specified.

Change Power Button on Start Menu

By default, the Power button on your Start menu is set to put your PC in Sleep mode. Though this might be fine for some, you might want the Power button to simply shut down your PC. For example, if you usually choose to shut down your PC instead of putting it into Sleep mode, then you're likely aware that it takes an added click to the arrow on the Start menu to shut down your PC. In other words, it's a waste of time. Reconfiguring the Start menu Power button shaves a few seconds off the usual process.

Tip

If you don't like the Sidebar always taking up space on your screen, you can either close Windows Sidebar (by right-clicking on it and selecting Close Sidebar) and keep any gadgets on your desktop, or you can stop the Sidebar from appearing in front of other windows (by right-clicking on the Sidebar, selecting Properties, and unchecking the Sidebar is Always on Top of Other windows option), which makes it only accessible when viewing your desktop.

Here's how to change the setting for your Start menu Power button:

1.	Open the Start menu and select Control Panel.
2.	Double-click on Power Options.

3.	Click the Choose What the Power Button Does link, as shown in Figure 6.11, in the tasks pane.

Tip

You might also be interested in getting back the Log Off button (which was a staple in Windows XP).

4.	In the Power Button Settings area,choose either Do Nothing, Sleep, or Shut Down from the drop-down list.

Click this drop-down menu...
...and choose what action Vista should take when the Power button is clicked.

5.	Click Save Settings.

Set Up Additional Clocks for Other Time Zones

Windows Vista allows you to set up two additional clocks, which can be very useful if you need to regularly reference the time from another zone. For example, you might set up an additional clock for a place you frequently visit or call.

Here's how to set up an additional clock:

1.	Click on the time. In the lower-right corner of Vista.

Click the clock on the taskbar.
From this window, choose Change Date and Time Settings.

2.	Click on the Change Date and Time Settings link.
3.	Select the Additional Clocks tab.

4.	Check one of the Show This Clock boxes,

Click Show This Clock to add another clock to the desktop.
Choose the time zone for the new clock.
Name the clock.
Click Show This Clock to add yet another clock if desired.

5.	Using the drop-down menu, select the desired time zone for the clock, enter your preferred display name for the clock in the appropriate box, and click OK.

After you set up another clock, you can see the time by hovering over the clock, in the lower-right corner of Vista.

Hover your mouse over the clock on the taskbar.

Times for all clocks you've set up appear.

You can also click on the clock to view the actual clocks with the calendar.

Resize Icons with the Mouse

Windows Vista has three different default desktop icon sizes to choose from: Large, Medium, and Classic. you can change between these sizes by right-clicking on the desktop, choosing View, and then selecting the desired icon size.

Right-click the desktop.

Choose View.

Select Large Icons, Medium Icons, or Classic Icons.

These aren't the only options you have, though. You can basically make your own size, very small to very large.

Custom icons made very small

Custom icons made very large

Just having a choice between three different desktop icon sizes is an improvement from Windows XP, which only had one real default size and—if you were lucky enough to find it buried in the desktop effects preferences—a setting for larger icons. However, if you have a mouse with a scrolling wheel, Vista allows you to get exactly the size that's right for you.

Here's how to do it:

1.	Simply click on your desktop or Computer/Windows Explorer.
2.	Hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard.
3.	Scroll your mouse's wheel forward and back to change the size of the icons.

Tip

You can also use the scrolling wheel on your mouse with Flip 3D. You can activate Flip 3D by pressing the Windows logo key+Tab and then using the wheel to flip through the windows instead of pressing the Tab key or keyboard arrow.

For more information about this feature refer to #94, "Change Windows Using Flip 3D."

This feature wasn't only created to have some fun and play pranks on people (though it is good for that). It was created to help those with eyesight problems as well as appease those who prefer a minimalist approach to desktop organization. It's also useful for sizing thumbnail icons when viewing photos in Thumbnails view.

Tip

The Search box is included on the Start menu by default; however, if you cannot locate it, it's likely because you've disabled it or have chosen the Classic Start menu.

To change the Search box settings, right-click on the taskbar, click Properties, and click the Start Menu tab. Ensure the Start Menu option is checked, click the Customize button, and make sure the Search option is marked.

Use the Show Desktop Shortcut on the Taskbar Menu

You might have been fortunate enough to discover the Show Desktop shortcut in Windows XP. For those who weren't, using this shortcut will save a great deal of clicks (and essentially time) on the Minimize button to reveal the desktop. This is especially true for those who multitask and have many windows and programs open at once.

Tip

If the Quick Launch toolbar is missing, you can enable it by right-clicking on the Taskbar, selecting Toolbars, and clicking Quick Launch

For example, clicking the Minimize button for several windows and/or programs to get to the desktop can take an extra five seconds. Suppose you do this six times a day; you waste 30 seconds a day, and over three hours each year! Using the Show Desktop shortcut takes you directly to the desktop and doesn't waste any time. There are two ways to access this shortcut:

Click on the Show Desktop icon, in the Quick Launch toolbar.

Click the Show Desktop icon in the taskbar.

Or, right-click the taskbar and...

...choose Show the Desktop.

Right-click on the Taskbar and click Show the Desktop

Create a Shortcut to Network Connections

Although the new Network and Sharing Center might be great for the average consumer, it can be quite a nuisance for advanced users because of the added steps to access many of the networking configuration settings. Although Windows XP's networking area didn't offer an exceptionally user-friendly interface, it was quick and easy to access certain network settings if you knew what you were looking for.

For example, disabling or enabling a connection only took a right-click on the Network Status icon in the system tray; however, in Vista you have to open the Network and Sharing Center, click on a link to open the Network Connections window, and then you can disable/enable a connection.

To save a few clicks each time you need to manage your network connections, you can create a desktop shortcut directly to the Network Connections window; here's how:

1.	Right-click on the desktop, point to New, and then click Shortcut.
2.	In the location field, enter the following explorer.exe ::{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}

3.	After clicking Next, enter a name for the shortcut, and then click Finish.

If you want, you can even apply the Network Connections icon to the shortcut. Here's how:

1.	Right-click the icon and select Properties.
2.	Click the Change Icon button.
3.	Enter the following into the text field %SystemRoot%\system32\netshell.dll

Choose the location to search for icons here.
Choose the icon you want to use from the ones appearing here.

4.	Click OK to select the icon and click OK on the shortcut properties window to exit and apply the changes.

Tip

For even quicker access to the Network Connections window, you can add the icon to the Quick Launch toolbar. Just drag the new desktop icon and drop it into the Quick Launch area.

Select Files Using Check Boxes

Have you ever been selecting multiple files by holding down the Ctrl key, you accidentally press or click something, and—BAM!—all the files open? (It happens to me at least once a month!) Well, you'll be thankful for the new check box feature and if you've been fortunate enough to not have experienced this yet, you might not ever if you use the check boxes to select files.

Vista's new check boxes allow you to select multiple files simply by clicking check boxes instead of Ctrl-clicking as you had to do in XP.

Here's how to enable the check box feature:

1.	Open Computer, either via the Start menu or the desktop icon.

2.	Click the Organize button and select Folder and Search Options,

From Computer, choose Organize...
...and then select Folder and Search Options.

3.	Click the View tab.
4.	Scroll down and mark the Use Check Boxes to Select Items option.

Use a USB Flash Drive to Improve PC Performance

Do you have a USB flash (thumb) drive that has some spare space? Would you like to speed up your PC? (Who doesn't?) You're in luck, a new feature of Windows Vista called Windows ReadyBoost allows you to use that spare space to do just that—speed up your computer!

1.	Insert the USB drive into one of your computer's USB ports. The AutoPlay dialog box opens a few seconds after plugging the drive in.
2.	Click the Speed Up My System button on the AutoPlay window,

If the AutoPlay window doesn't open, you can access the same location by opening Computer or Windows Explorer, right-clicking on the device drive, selecting Properties, and clicking on the ReadyBoost tab. Then, you can proceed to the next step.

3.	Select the Use This Device option,

Select Use This Device.
Use the slider to tell Vista how much of the drive you want to use, or...
...type in a specific number of MB you want to use here.

4.	By using the slider bar or typing into the field, choose how much space you want to dedicate to Windows ReadyBoost.

5.	Click OK to apply the changes and exit.

The space you specified will now be reserved for Windows ReadyBoost, which is represented by a cache file called ReadyBoost,

Caution

Here's how to enable auto-login:

1.	Open the Start Menu, type "netplwiz," and press Enter. If using the Windows Classic Start menu, you need to click on Run, enter "netplwiz", and click OK.
2.	Uncheck the Users Must Enter a User Name and Password to Use This Computer option,

Choose the user account you want to allow to log on automatically.
Select Users Must Enter a User Name and Password to Use This Computer.

3.	Click Apply.
4.	In the Automatically Log On window, enter the username and password (twice) for the account you want to auto-login, and click OK.
5.	Click OK to exit.

Caution

Here's how to enable auto-login:

1.	Open the Start Menu, type "netplwiz," and press Enter. If using the Windows Classic Start menu, you need to click on Run, enter "netplwiz", and click OK.
2.	Uncheck the Users Must Enter a User Name and Password to Use This Computer option,

Choose the user account you want to allow to log on automatically.
Select Users Must Enter a User Name and Password to Use This Computer.

3.	Click Apply.
4.	In the Automatically Log On window, enter the username and password (twice) for the account you want to auto-login, and click OK.
5.	Click OK to exit.

Refresh Your PC with a Nightly Reboot

Sometimes your PC needs a reboot to freshen up, which can help prevent lock ups and other performance issues and annoyances. However, like many others, you're probably not in the habit of regularly rebooting or shutting down your PC. A simple solution is to set up a nightly reboot. Therefore, it will automatically refresh every day, while not taking away from your computing time.

Follow these steps to set up a scheduled reboot:

1.	Open the Start menu, and then open Task Scheduler by following this path: All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Task Scheduler
2.	Click on the Create Basic Task link, in the action pane on the right.



3.	Enter a desired name and description, and click Next.

Name the task here.

4.	Choose the desired frequency, and then click Next.

5.	Set the frequency preferences, You can choose a start date and time, then set how often this task should recur automatically. Then click Next.



6.	Select the Start a Program option, and click Next.

Caution

You should be careful when working with scripting, as mistakes can cause problems. Follow these directions carefully.

If you want to learn more about scripting, you can refer to another book, such as Windows Vista Guide to Scripting, Automation, and Command Line Tools by Brian Knittel (Que, forthcoming).

7.	In the Program/scripts field, enter the following: %SystemRoot%\System32\shutdown.exe
8.	In the Add Arguments field, enter "–r", which tells Vista to reboot .

Enter a program or script here.
Enter optional arguments here.

9.	Click Next to proceed.
10.	Review the task properties and click Finish to create the new task.

To ensure you don't lose any work, you should save any open documents and close all applications before the reboot task runs.

Tip

You can also specify more arguments in addition to the –r, which tells it to reboot. Here are a few more arguments you could use:

-t: Tells it to wait a certain amount of seconds until it reboots.

-c: Lets you add a comment that pops up when the task is run.

-g: Used in place of –r. The only difference is that this option will open the applications that were running before the restart, after the scheduled restart.

Here's an example of how these arguments would be typed in the Add Arguments field:

"-g –t 120 –c "Auto restart in 2 minutes... ""

View List of Shared Files and Folders

An exceptional improvement in the networking features of Windows Vista is the ability to easily and quickly see all the folders you're sharing. It's very easy to forget which folders you've shared over time. Vista, however, enables you to always know exactly what is being shared and to whom. Therefore, you can better protect your data and privacy, which is particularly important for those who often use untrusted networks such as Wi-Fi hot spots.

Tip

It's a good idea to periodically check your shared folders, their permission settings, and their contents to make sure you don't unintentionally share something that's private or sensitive.

1.	Right-click on the Network Status icon in the system tray, and select Network and Sharing Center.
2.	Scroll all the way to the bottom of the Network and Sharing Center.

3.	To view the files and folders you are sharing, click on the Show Me All the Files and Folders I Am Sharing and Show Me All the Shared Network Folders on This Computer links,