Useful WIndows Shrotcut Keys

Key combinations have been a useful part of Windows since the early days and most people don't even know they exist here is a list that will work with every version of Windows that is in use today

Windows system key combinations

• F1: Help
• CTRL+ESC: Open Start menu
• Windows Logo Opens 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 Logo + P brings up monitor options for multiple monitors 

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

Microsoft Natural Keyboard keys

• Windows Logo: Start menu
• Windows Logo+R: Run dialog box
• Windows Logo+M: Minimize all
• SHIFT+Windows Logo+M: Undo minimize all
• Windows Logo+F1: Help
• Windows Logo+E: Windows Explorer
• Windows Logo+F: Find files or folders
• Windows Logo+D: Minimizes all open windows and displays the desktop
• CTRL+Windows Logo+F: Find computer
• CTRL+Windows Logo+TAB: Moves focus from Start, to the Quick Launch toolbar, to the system tray (use RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW to move focus to items on the Quick Launch toolbar and the system tray)
• Windows Logo+TAB: Cycle through taskbar buttons
• Windows Logo+Break: System Properties dialog box
• Application key: Displays a shortcut menu for the selected item

Microsoft Natural Keyboard with IntelliType software installed

• Windows Logo+L: Log off Windows
• Windows Logo+P: Starts Print Manager
• Windows Logo+C: Opens Control Panel
• Windows Logo+V: Starts Clipboard
• Windows Logo+K: Opens Keyboard Properties dialog box
• Windows Logo+I: Opens Mouse Properties dialog box
• Windows Logo+A: Starts Accessibility Options (if installed)
• Windows Logo+SPACEBAR: Displays the list of Microsoft IntelliType shortcut keys
• Windows Logo+S: Toggles CAPS LOCK 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

Cisco Web Ex mini Version for Video conferences

Free version now available for small businesses up to 3 per meeting

This ideal for anyone that has a small business and needs to online meetings with clients across the world

https://signup.webex.com/webexmeetings/basic.html?TrackID=1029919

New Intel Ivy Bridge Processor

Intel has finally released the new 3rd generation series of Intel Core processors. This 3rd generation of the Intel Core processors brings many new features and improvements over the earlier 2nd generation of processors. In this article, I am going to point out some of these exciting features that every computer enthusiast ought to know.

What is the name of the new processor series from Intel?

Ivy Bridge is the codename of Intel’s new processor family. Ivy Bridge supersedes the earlier Sandy Bridge processor family. While Sandy Bridge is considered as the 2nd generation Intel Core processor family, Ivy Bridge is the 3rd generation of the Intel Core processors.

What is the main difference between Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge?

The main difference is the the process architecture. Ivy Bridge uses the 22 nm architecture while Sandy Bridge uses 32 nm architecture. This means that Ivy Bridge can pack more electronic components in a smaller area, giving better power efficiency and performance.

Intel has also introduced a new 3D transistor technology in the Ivy Bridge processors. They are also called tri-gate transistors. According to Intel, this new architectural design would result in Ivy Bridge providing better performance while consuming significantly less power compared to an equivalent Sandy Bridge processor.

How much faster are the Ivy Bridge processors?

Intel has not yet released all the Ivy Bridge processors. At the time of writing this article, only the high-end i7 and i5 processors have been released. The base clock frequency of these processors ranges from 2.8 GHz (for Core i5-3450S) to 3.5 GHz(for Core i7-3770K). Later this year more affordable entry-level i5 and i3 processors would be released.

What other notable features are present in Ivy Bridge?

1.       HD graphics – Ivy Bridge processors have in-built GPU chip inside them. The GPU supports DirectX 11 (Sandy Bridge supports version 10.1), OpenGL 3.1 (Sandy Bridge supports version 3.0). Ivy Bridge processors have the Intel HD4000/HD2500 GPU chips. This means that you do not need an add-on graphics card.

2.      QuickSync Video – This feature is introduced in the Intel 3rd generation processors. It uses dedicated media processing to make video creation and conversion faster and easier. Whether you want to create DVDs, create, convert and edit 3D/2D videos, upload to your favorite social networking sites – everything is done in a jiffy.

3.      WiDi 3.0 – Wireless Display technology allows you to stream media content to a multitude of of your WiFi connected display devices. You can share a 1080p 60FPS video using WiDi.

4.      Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 – Using the Turbo boost technology, you can make your Ivy Bridge processors run faster than their base frequency. For example, a 3.5GHz iCore i7 can be made to run at 3.9 GHz for some time.

Do I need a new socket or motherboard for Ivy Bridge processors?

Not necessarily. The Ivy Bridge processors use the same LGA1155 socket that is used by the Sandy Bridge processors. This means that you can fit a new Ivy Bridge processor in your older 2nd generation motherboard.

But by using your new Ivy Bridge processor in an older 2nd generation motherboard/socket, you will not be able to use all the new features introduced in Ivy Bridge. For example, Ivy Bridge has inbuilt USB 3.0 and PCIe 3.0 support which will not work with older boards. So it is suggested that you invest in a new motherboard to get the maximum performance from your new processor. If you are going to buy a new motherboard, then you should know that the 3rd generation Core i7, Core i5 and Core i3 processors are best matched with the Intel Z77, H77 and H61 chipset boards respectively.

What kind of RAM is supported by the Ivy Bridge?

Ivy Bridge processors support the standard DDR3 RAM modules of up to 1600 MHz frequency.

How many cores do the Ivy Bridge processors have?

All the presently released processors are quad-core processors., i.e., they all have four cores. Some of the processors also support eight threads. Although threads are not physical cores but they work like your processor’s simulated cores. This is possible through the Intel Hyper Threading technology which lets multiple threads run on each of the cores of a processor.

There is a speculation that the entry-level Core i3 Ivy Bridge processors, which would be released later this year, will have only two cores.

What’s the difference between i3, i5, and i7?

What different types of the Ivy Bridge processors are available?

There are many types of processors in the Ivy Bridge family. The type is indicated by putting a suffix to the CPU model name. The following list explains these suffixes -

§ K – Unlocked, ready to be overclocked.

§ S – Performance optimized. Low power consumption.

§ T – Power optimized. Ultra low power consumption.

§ M – Mobile processors for mobile devices.

§ Q – Quad core processors.

Windows 7 and Vista god Mode

Here's a great "trick" that will allows you to have ALL the options to control your PC with Windows 7 in one folder.

NOTE: People are also reporting that this works in 32-bit Vista, but NOT 64-bit Vista.

1.	Open Windows Explorer and create a new folder Create the folder anywhere. For ease of use, I created mine in the Root directory/folder.  NOTE: Creating the folder on the Desktop might or might not work. The feedback seems to vary, so you'll just have to experiment with it.
2.	Rename the folder by pasting the name below exactly as it appears: GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} NOTE: You can name it whatever you want (within reason), I just use "GodMode" in this example.
3.	Enjoy! Start enjoy your all-in-one folder to control virtually every aspect of Windows 7. I'm still having fun going through and seeing all the stuff I didn't know was in Windows 7! ;-)

Conclusion

According to different feedback I've received, this is working in Vista and Windows 7. I tried XP and it does not appear to work there, so it appears to be something with the newer OSs only..

Windows 8 Start Menu

Yes the start menu has disappeared in Windows 8/  to make way for the METRO interface.
The metro interface is hard to get used to for those of us that have been used to the start menu since windows 95.  It is a step towards simplifying and unifying.

What do  I mean by this it will  be a cross platform OS the first if it kind it will work on Cell phones, Tablets and PC's simplifying the user experience

The START MENU is not lost thanks to Star Dock here is the link to get the program refered to as Start 8
http://www.stardock.com/products/start

Features

• - Adds a “Start” menu to the Windows 8 taskbar
• - Enables quick access and searching of your installed applications
• - Adds Run... option via right-click menu
• - Adds Shutdown... option via right-click menu
• - Choose a custom Start button image