Computer Tips n Tricks

Google search without Internet.

2008-04-17T10:53:00.002+05:30

In many offices access to internet is blocked for various reasons. Also many a times we have to search something important on the net but it’s not available.

Here is the method to get the search results from Google on your email.

1) Send an email to google@capeclear.com and put the search query in the “Subject” line.

2) Shortly you will receive and email with the search result of the query.

3) Once you get the search result, you can get the content of the URL by sending a mail to web@pagegetter.com and the URL required should be the “Subject” of the mail

This method is a bit lengthy, but is of great help when you can only access your office mails and the access to Internet is blocked.

Dropped your Mobile Phone or iPod in Water?? Rush to the Kitchen...

2008-04-09T12:17:00.000+05:30

What do you do when your iPhone or Blackberry gets wet in rain or you drop it in wash basin?

Since warranty of most electronics doesn’t cover water damages, heading to service centre might not be good idea, better head to your kitchen, yes you read to right, the kitchen.

First thing to do after your electronic item gets wet is to switch it off and separate the battery if possible.

Take a bowl wipe it with a cloth so as to make sure it is not moist, now fill it with some dry rice, place your device on it and again pour rice on it to cover it completely and place it a dry place.

Rice being natural desiccant of water will absorb most of the moisture from the device; let it be in rice bowl for at least 24 hours. DO NOT try to charge the device in the mean time.

For people in India please ensure that the rice you use is dry, as many households apply some amount of oil on rice to preserve it for longer duration, oil in this case creates a thin film on rice particle and obstructs the process of soaking the moisture.

This is a simple and cheap home remedy available to all of us, before heading to service centre for help.

Create Table without using mouse and menus

2008-04-02T23:09:00.000+05:30

Do you know its possible create Table without using mouse and menus in Microsoft word and Microsoft Outlook. Here its that…
Type the content ( +——+——-+——+ ) in Microsoft Word and press Enter . One row of a table will be created and for more rows you can press TAB.
Step 1:

+———–+————————+————-+

Step 2: After pressing Enter having the cursor at the last ‘+’.

Step 3: (press TAB to create more Rows)

In this ' + ' represents the column borders and ' – ' represents the length of the each column. It is one of the Easter Egg in Microsoft Word.

This Simple way can be used at urgent times.

Microsoft's new Alt+Tab PowerToy

2007-06-01T17:48:00.000+05:30

For those of you who use the Alt+Tab key combination to switch between open windows on your desktop, I am sure you have encountered times when you cannot distinguish one window from the other due to having more than one instance of the same program open.

Microsoft became aware of this draw-back after releasing the XP operating system and subsequently released a "Power Toy" to resolve this issue. The Power Toy resolves this issue by replacing the program icons with actual screenshots of your open windows. This way you can locate exactly which window you wish to switch to, which is immensely useful when navigating between several SAP windows at one time.

Attached are pictures of using the Alt+Tab key combination both pre- and post- installation of the Power Toy: As you can see in the first example, it is impossible to differentiate between the IE instances and the SAP instances by looking at the icons. In the subsequent example, the screenshot clearly differentiates the windows.

Here are the instructions to install: -Copy URL to browser:

download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Install/2/WXP/EN-US/TaskswitchPowertoySetup.exe

Choose "Run" from pop-up dialog box -Choose "Run" a second time, this will kick-off the installation of the Power Toy -Once you get the "Installation Complete" dialog, the toy is successfully installed.

No need to reboot your PC.

Tweaking Windows - 2

2007-04-26T17:40:00.000+05:30

Making Google the Default Search Engine in Internet Explorer:
Open registry editor by going to Start then Run and entering regedit and navigate to following three keys separately and change it as shown below:
[HKEY_CURRENT_ USER\Software\ Microsoft\ Internet Explorer\Main] "Search Page"=" http://WWW.google.Com ""Search Bar"=" http://WWW.google. Com/i.e. "
[HKEY_CURRENT_ USER\Software\ Microsoft\ Internet Explorer\SearchURL]""=" http://WWW.google. Com/keyword/ %S "
[HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINE\SOFTWARE \Microsoft\ Internet Explorer\Search]"SearchAssistant" =" http://WWW.google. Com/i.e. " .

Improving the Slow Boot up time:
There are a variety of reasons why your windows XP system would boot slowly. Most of the times it this has to do with the startup applications. If you would like to speed up the bootup sequence, consider removing some of the startup applications that you do not need. Easiest way to remove startup apps is through System Configuration Utility. Go to Start then Run and enter MSCONFIG and go to the Startup tab. Deselect/Uncheck application(s) that you do not want to startup at boot time.

Customize Logon prompt with your Own Words:
Open Registry by going to Start then Run, entering regedit and Navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINE\SOFTWARE \Microsoft\ Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ Winlogon] . In right pane, look for key by the name "LogonPrompt". Set its value to whatever text you want to see displayed at login screen.

IP address of your connection:
Go to Start then Run. Enter 'cmd' and then enter 'ipconfig' .Add the '/all' switch for more info .

Making Folders Private:
Open My Computer Double-click the drive where Windows is installed (usually drive (C:), unless you have more than one drive on your computer). If the contents of the drive are hidden, under System Tasks, click Show the contents of this drive. Double-click the Documents and Settings folder. Double-click your user folder. Right-click any folder in your user profile, and then click Properties. On the Sharing tab, select the Make this folder private so that only I have access to it check box.

To change Drive Letters:
Go to Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management, Disk Management, then right-click the partition whose name you want to change (click in the white area just below the word "Volume") and select "change drive letter and paths." From here you can add, remove or change drive letters and paths to the partition.

Removing the Shortcut arrow from Desktop Icons:
Goto Start then Run and Enter regedit. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ ROOTlnkfile. Delete the IsShortcut registry value. You may need to restart Windows XP.

Customize Internet Explorer's Title Bar:
Open Registry by going to Start then Run and Enter regedit. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_ USER\Software\ Microsoft\ Internet. Explorer\Main. In right hand panel look for string "Window Title" and change its value to whatever custom text you want to see.

Disabling the use of Win Key:
If your are a gaming freak then you must be sick of the Win key in your keyboard. To disable use of Win key, open registry by going to Start then Run and entering regedit. Navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINE\SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSe t\Control\ Keyboard Layout]. In this, look for value of "Scancode Map". Its binary data so be extra careful: Set its value to "00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 00 00 5B E0 00 00 5C E0 00 00 00 00" to disable the win key.

Restarting Windows without Restarting the Computer:
This one is again is. When you click on the SHUTDOWN button, make sure to simultaneous press SHIFT Button. If you hold the Shift key down while clicking on SHUTDOWN button, you computer would restart without restarting the Computer. This is equivalent to term "HOT REBOOT".

Stopping XP from displaying unread messages count on Welcome Screen:
To stop XP from displaying count of unread messages, Open registry and navigate to [HKEY_CURRENT_ USER\Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentV ersion\UnreadMai l] and look for the data key "MessageExpiryDays" . If you do not see this key, create one DWORD key by the name "MessageExpiryDays". Setting its value to 0 would stop Windows XP from displaying the count of unread messages.

Modify Color Selection of Default Theme:
Open registry by going to Start then Run. Entering regedit, navigate to [HKEY_USERS\ .DEFAULT\ Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentV ersion\ThemeMana ger] and locate the key "ColorName". Right Click on it and select modify its value from "NormalColor" to "Metallic"Click Ok, and exit regedit and restart your computer.

Tweaking Windows - 1

2007-04-25T17:00:00.000+05:30

Uninstalling Windows Messenger:

XP hides some system software you might want to remove, such as Windows Messenger, but you can tickle it and make it disgorge everything. Using Notepad or Edit, edit the text file /windows/inf/ sysoc.inf, search for the word 'hide' and remove it. You can then go to the Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel, select Add/Remove Windows Components and there will be your prey, exposed and vulnerable.

Increasing Band-Width By 20%:

Microsoft reserves 20% of your available bandwidth for their own purposes like Windows Updates and interrogating your PC etc To get it back: Click Start then Run and type " gpedit.msc" without quotes. This opens the group policy editor.

Then go to:Local Computer Policy à Computer Configuration --> Administrative Templates --> Network --> QOS Packet Scheduler and then to Limit Reservable Bandwidth.

Double click on Limit Reservable bandwidth. It will say it is not configured, but the truth is under the 'Explain' tab I.e. "By default, the Packet Scheduler limits the system to 20 percent of the bandwidth of a connection, but you can use this setting to override the default." So the trick is to ENABLE reservable bandwidth, and then set it to ZERO. This will allow the system to reserve nothing, rather than the default 20%.It works on Win 2000 as well.

Renaming The Recycle Bin icon:

To change the name of the Recycle Bin desktop icon, click Start then goto Run, write Regedit and press Enter. It opens Registry Editor. Now in Registry Editor go to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ ROOT/CLSID/ {645FF040- 5081-101B- 9F08-00AA002F954 E}
And change the name "Recycle Bin" to whatever you want (don't type any quotes).

Managing Tasks:

You can at last get rid of tasks on the computer from the command line by using 'taskkill /pid' and the task number, or just 'tskill' and the process number. Find that out by typing 'tasklist', which will also tell you a lot about what's going on in your system.

Removing Shared Documents folder From My Computer window:

Open registry editor by going to Start then Run and entering regedit. Once in registry, navigate to key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ My Computer \ NameSpace \ DelegateFolders

You must see a sub-key named {59031a47-3f72- 44a7-89c5- 5595fe6b30ee}. If you delete this key, you have effectively removed the shared documents folder.

Widely used Keyboard shortcut

2007-04-23T01:00:00.000+05:30

Windows >

Rename a selected item

[F2]

Open the drop-down list box in Windows Explorer.

[F4], Pressing F4 again, moves the keyboard focus back to the previously used item

Open a folder tree of a selected folder, when working in Windows Explorer. Also to expand everything under the current selection back to a previously opened state.

[+]

Bypass the AutoPlay feature when you insert a CD-ROM; to suppress the AutoExec macro in MSWord.

[Shift] (while inserting the CD, or while opening Word)

Delete items permanently-without moving them to the Recycle Bin.

[Shift] + [Delete]

Display a shortcut menu that shows a list of commands relevant to a selected object-same as right-clicking the mouse.

[Shift] + [F10] or the Application key (the key next to the right-hand Windows key)

Expand the view of everything under the current selection-when working in Windows Explorer.

Asterisk

Microsoft Office >>

Word >

Insert a comment

[Alt] + [Ctrl] + [M]

Insert a Date field into a document.

[Alt] + [Shift] + [D]

Increase the font size of selected characters.

[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [>]

Powerpoint >

Advance to the next slide

[N], Left-Click, [Spacebar], [Right Arrow], [Down Arrow], [Enter], or [Page Down]

Return to the previous slide

[P], [Backspace], [Left Arrow], [Up Arrow], or [Page Up]

Show or hide the arrow pointer

[A], or [=]

Erase drawing on screen

[E]

Excel >

Move to the left between nonadjacent selections.

[Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Left Arrow]

Insert the AutoSum formula; works within a cell or formula bar of a spreadsheet.

[Alt] + [=]

Select the entire active column

[Ctrl] + [Spacebar]

Move to the last cell on the worksheet.

[End] + [Home]

Display a shortcut menu that shows a list of commands relevant to the selected object.

[Shift] + [F10]

Insert blank cells into a row or column.

[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [+]

Select all cells that are directly or indirectly referred to by formulas in a selected area.

[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [{]

Internet Explorer >

Add Bookmark

[Ctrl] + [D]

Auto-complete .com Address

[Ctrl] + [Enter]

Full Screen

[F11]

Home Page

[Alt] + [Home]

Reload

[F5], [Ctrl] + [R]

Select Location Bar

[Alt] + [D], [F6], [F4], [Ctrl] + [Tab]

Select Search Bar

[CTRL] + [E]

Windows Media Player 9 >

Play an item

[Enter], [Spacebar]

Switch to full mode (on the anchor window menu)

[Ctrl] + [1]

Shuffle the playback order of items in a playlist (in skin mode)

[Ctrl] + [H]

Repeat the playlist (in skin mode)

[Ctrl] + [T]

Increase the volume

[F10]

Decrease the volume

[F9]

Mute the volume

[F8]

Play or pause

[Ctrl] + [P]

Stop playback

[Ctrl] + [S]

Winamp >

Always on top toggle (all but playlist editor).

[Ctrl] + [A]

Play or restart a track

[X], [5] on the numeric keypad

Stop a track.

[V]

Stop a track with fade-out.

[Shift] + [V]

Pause or restart a track.

[C]

Play the next track.

[B], [6] on the numeric keypad

Rewind 5 seconds.

[Left Arrow], [7] on the numeric keypad

Fast-Forward 5 seconds.

[Right Arrow], [9] on the numeric keypad

Turn the volume up.

[Up Arrow], [8] on the numeric keypad

Turn the volume down.

[Down Arrow], [2] on the numeric keypad

Sort the playlist by Title.

[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [1]

Sort the playlist by File Name.

[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [2]

Sort the playlist by File Path and Name.

[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [3]

Randomise the playlist.

[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [R]

Photoshop 7 >

Fit an image in the window.

[Ctrl] + [0] (zero)

Get 100 per cent magnification.

[Alt] + [Ctrl] + [0] (zero)

Zoom in or out.

[Ctrl] + [+] and [Ctrl] + [-]

Scroll an image with the hand tool.

[Spacebar] + drag, or drag view area box in Navigator palette

Select the background colour.

[Alt] + click, while Color Picker is selected.

Draw marquee from center (if no other selections are active).

[Alt] + drag

Move type in image.

[Ctrl] + drag type when Type layer is selected

Align top, centre, or bottom.

[Shift] + [Ctrl] + [L], [Shift] + [Ctrl] + [C], or [Shift] + [Ctrl] + [R] (while the Vertical type tool is selected)