Sean Walther's Blog

Windows 7 Tips and Tweaks

Now that I have a new operating system, Windows 7 64-bit, I must tweak.

My first few ventures out on the net looking for information returned the following 2 helpful articles:

1. 20 Windows 7 Tweaks & Tips – Every Secret Uncovered to Date
   This covers a good number of the tweaks and tricks I had seen out there, including some very helpful and cool keyboard shortcuts.
2. Start Explorer in Drive View
   I hate having explorer open up to “My Music”, “My Videos” etc.  Who uses that really?  This tells you how to get it back to how it should be.
3. The Bumper List of Windows 7 Secrets
   A bit dated (January 2009), but still includes many hints about how to use Windows 7 to its fullest.

Some Keyboard Shortcuts That are Awesome

• Windows + Up
  Maximizes the window
• Windows +Down
  Lowers the window height, Max -> Restore, Restore -> Minimized (be careful, you can’t go from Minimized to Restore with Windows + Up, only Restore to maximized)
• Windows + Left
  Great for Side by Siding, this makes the window take up the left 50% of the screen it is on
• Windows + Right
  Exact opposite of Windows + Left, duh
• Windows + Shift + Left
  Great multiple monitor support — moves windows to the next monitor on the left
• Windows + Shift + Right
  Take a guess?  It moves windows to the monitor to the right
• Windows + Home
  Hides all “other” windows (hmm, just like on OS X) so you can focus.
• Windows + [Number]
  Just like in Vista, Windows + 1 corresponds to the first icon in the taskbar, Windows + 2 the 2nd, and so forth
• Windows + Shift + [Number]
  Haven’t seen this one listed yet, but it launches another instance of the application, instead of focusing on it.  Much like the old Vista quick launch functionality
• Windows + Space
  Lets you take a quick peak at your desktop through all the windows, it looks cool — not sure if there are many useful applications of this

I love how Microsoft is addressing the needs of the multiple monitor community.  Back in 1999 I thought I was among a very select crowd.  Nowadays almost everyone I know (especially in tech roles) has multiple monitors in at least 1 of their computing locations (usually work).

More to come!

Tags: Keyboard Shortcuts, Microsoft Windows 7, tip, trick, tweak, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 7 RC, Windows Key

The “Windows” Key

I just read an article at ZDNet called Do you use the “Windows” Key?.  

Of course the article is pointing out that many computer “experts” do not use the “Windows” key.  The authoer points out that there are things he didn’t know, and he is probably an extremely competent compuer user.

In just the past 5 years have I started extensive use of the windows key.  Until about 2003 I didn’t know many of the useful things that the windows key did.  There was one basic thing I knew the key did, open the Start menu.  

Back then I had created keyboard shortcuts to everything on my desktop giving me access to my frequent shared files, FTP software, notepad, various browsers, etc. 

For everyone’s benefit, here are my favorite Windows key uses:

• Windows + R – Opens up the Windows “Run” application, for executing shortcuts (this is by far my favorite way to use the Windows key, I can’t imagine how many times I’ve typed “Windows + R, cmd, enter”)
• Windows + D – Minimizes all windows, and show just the desktop (press it again to restore all of the windows)
• Windows + E – Launches the windows explorer window
• Windows + L – Locks your computer
• Windows + (1 – 9) – Access your Quickbar shortcuts on Windows Vista only (at least I’ve only used this on Vista), Windows + 1 is the first icon, Windows + 2 is the second, etc.

Additionally, here are some other Windows key functions that I don’t use as much:

• Windows + F – Opens up the find dialog box
• Windows + M – Minimizes all open windows (not sure how this is different than Windows + D)
• Windows + Shift + M – Restores all previously open windows to how they were before you Minimized them
• Windows + F1 – Windows Help
• Windows + Pause/Break – Opens up the system properties
• Windows + Tab (Vista Only) – Opens up the “visual” application tabs 

I did cheat and look the “additional” keyboard shortcuts up, and found them at: 

http://www.seoconsultants.com/windows/key/

Tags: Keyboard Shortcut, Shortcut, windows, Windows Key