# Useful computer tricks... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 21, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974 "2010-08-21T15:47:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/81 "2010-08-25T08:42:53Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > A rather simpler method than yours is to right-click My Documents (or whatever), go to the Location tab, and change the target path to c:\documents (or whatever) Yes, that’s what I meant when I said you can change the location. But the annoying “My…” folder still shows up as a separate entity under your user folder at the top of the navigation pane. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/82 "2010-08-25T13:01:39Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > [This link](http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/29922442/how-can-i-open-2-excel-files-in-two-excel-windows-using-multi-mon.aspx) explains the process! Sweet Jesus, I feel like I control the universe now! ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/83 "2010-08-25T13:07:36Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > > [@Munch](#): > > > > That’s great! > > > > Or…it would be if I knew how… > > It’s quite long-winded (but only needs to be done once). > > [This link](http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/29922442/how-can-i-open-2-excel-files-in-two-excel-windows-using-multi-mon.aspx) explains the process! Wow. That one is great. I always had to open two instances of Excel then open the documents directly from Excel. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Kivick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/65b543/32.png) [@Kivick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kivick)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/84 "2010-08-25T19:10:02Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > > [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > > > You can also press Alt+Print Screen to make it take only the in focus window. > > I was just going to post this one. As a software developer I am always getting screen shots of error messages from our users, except that they use “Print Screen” and send me the entire desktop with a tiny little error message in the middle that I can barely read. Alt+PrintScreen rocks. > > You can use Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys to rotate the display. It’s fun to use this one to mess with someone at work who has walked away from their computer without locking the desktop first. Iam pretty sure this only works on computers that are using Intel Graphics cards.. I did this once on accident.. ---
**Author:** ![Kivick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/65b543/32.png) [@Kivick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kivick)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/85 "2010-08-25T19:11:49Z")
> [@Cugel](#): > > In XP’s Task Manager, if you hold down the control key and then select Shut Down-\>Restart, Windows will restart immediately without going through the shutting down process. Not the recommended procedure, but sometimes you need to just to put a bullet in a hanging program that’s being an arse. Iam not seeing this option in the task manager. This would be handy too! Can you elaborate? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/86 "2010-08-26T03:27:24Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > You can use Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys to rotate the display. I am SO going to end up in deep shit at work because of this. Wh00t! ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/87 "2010-08-26T07:12:50Z")
> [@Kivick](#): > > Iam not seeing this option in the task manager. This would be handy too! Can you elaborate? [http://home.arcor.de/bananas02/task.jpg](http://home.arcor.de/bananas02/task.jpg) Hold down the control key before making clicking the selection. ---
**Author:** ![Kivick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/65b543/32.png) [@Kivick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kivick)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/88 "2010-08-26T13:57:49Z")
> [@Cugel](#): > > > [@Kivick](#): > > > > Iam not seeing this option in the task manager. This would be handy too! Can you elaborate? > > [http://home.arcor.de/bananas02/task.jpg](http://home.arcor.de/bananas02/task.jpg) > > Hold down the control key before making clicking the selection. Interesting.. I dont have a shut down option. (Win XP pro sp3) Maybe our group policy is hiding it. ---
**Author:** ![pantheon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@pantheon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantheon)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/89 "2010-08-26T18:10:17Z")
This one seems glaringly obvious, but can be a huge relief for office drones who haven’t stumbled upon it yet. In many versions of Outlook if you mistype an email address, it shows up forever in the autocomplete dropdown- increasing the chances of re-sending to wrong addy, and annoying in general. You could turn-off Autocomplete, but damn it’s handy. You could also nuke the entire autocomplete cache but who wants to do that. I swear I had someone almost cry with relief when I pointed out you could simply arrow down in the autocomplete dropdown and hit the Delete key on your keyboard to remove these typos. ---
**Author:** ![Pseudocode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/59ef9b/32.png) [@Pseudocode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pseudocode)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/90 "2010-08-26T23:50:14Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Flying Windows + E opens Windows Explorer. (“Flying Windows” being the Windows key. As I press it, I always think “flying windows” in my head, so it’s become my name for that key.) I use this all the damn time. > > Flying Windows + D returns you to the desktop, I think. Yep. Pressing it again returns you, but not necessarily to what you were doing before. At least, not in my Windows XP at work. It’s a lot like Flying Windows + M that \*\*Enright3 \*\*posted. Windows+\ will run the shortcut at position \ in your quick launch bar. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/91 "2010-08-27T00:12:10Z")
> [@pantheon](#): > > This one seems glaringly obvious, but can be a huge relief for office drones who haven’t stumbled upon it yet. In many versions of Outlook if you mistype an email address, it shows up forever in the autocomplete dropdown- increasing the chances of re-sending to wrong addy, and annoying in general. > > You could turn-off Autocomplete, but damn it’s handy. You could also nuke the entire autocomplete cache but who wants to do that. I swear I had someone almost cry with relief when I pointed out you could simply arrow down in the autocomplete dropdown and hit the Delete key on your keyboard to remove these typos. Who types email addresses? Is this common practice and I’m just a mouth-breathing slacker since I always cut and paste them instead or typing? I mean, I can type up to 120 wpm (normally closer to 80-90) so one would think it wouldn’t be a big deal for me, but I still refuse to do it. Is there something wrong with me? Should I be punished? ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/92 "2010-08-27T08:39:58Z")
> [@pantheon](#): > > This one seems glaringly obvious, but can be a huge relief for office drones who haven’t stumbled upon it yet. In many versions of Outlook if you mistype an email address, it shows up forever in the autocomplete dropdown- increasing the chances of re-sending to wrong addy, and annoying in general. > > You could turn-off Autocomplete, but damn it’s handy. You could also nuke the entire autocomplete cache but who wants to do that. I swear I had someone almost cry with relief when I pointed out you could simply arrow down in the autocomplete dropdown and hit the Delete key on your keyboard to remove these typos. FTR, this trick works anywhere in Windows, not just in Outlook. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/93 "2010-08-27T09:06:07Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > Who types email addresses? Is this common practice and I’m just a mouth-breathing slacker since I always cut and paste them instead or typing? If a client gives me an email address over the phone I’ll need to type it in. Copy/paste only works if you have the info available electronically in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Aghris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@Aghris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aghris)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/94 "2010-08-27T11:57:00Z")
Every one knows how to click with the mouse, most people know to use double-click. But not many people know that you can also triple-click on text to select the whole paragraph. Many Windows Key combinations have already been mentioned, but in Vista and above Windows+TAB lets you leaf through the open windows. CTRL+Windows Key+TAB keeps this leafing window open so that you can browse through the open windows with the mouse wheel. In Windows Explorer, numeric \* lets you open all subfolders of a folder. In Internet Explorer, backspace (when not in an area where you can type) lets you go back one page. ALT+arrow key left does the same. ALT+arrow key right goes one page further if you went back before. ---
**Author:** ![pantheon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@pantheon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantheon)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/95 "2010-08-27T12:30:20Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > Who types email addresses? Is this common practice and I’m just a mouth-breathing slacker since I always cut and paste them instead or typing? I mean, I can type up to 120 wpm (normally closer to 80-90) so one would think it wouldn’t be a big deal for me, but I still refuse to do it. > > Is there something wrong with me? Should I be punished? I don’t have time to cut and paste OR type them- if it’s a regular contact all I have to do is tab thru my To/CC/BCC fields, hit the first letter of their name/username and it’s typically the top autocomplete choice, so I can hit enter and hit the next letter of the next address I need, repeat ad infinitum. The confusion comes when someone else mistypes an address, everyone replies all, and everyone gets it added (incorrectly) to their contact list (if using Outlook/OE). If someone has provided you a contact in the body of an email, and fat-fingered it, C&P’ng also perpetuates the typo and resulting returned mail. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/96 "2010-08-27T12:53:30Z")
In a web browser hit ALT + D to highlight the address bar. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/97 "2010-08-27T13:49:38Z")
Lots of useful things you can do at the command (formerly “DOS”) prompt. Even if you aren’t old/experienced enough to remember when that’s where it \*all \* happened, it’s worthwhile to familiarize yourself with it a bit, because apart from tech tools, there are work-a-day things you can do through it that would not be possible through Windows Explorer. One thing that is often useful for me is generating text files of directory listings, using the “\>” switch to pipe output to a file. eg: at the prompt, I might type: dir “C:\users\Larry Mudd\Music” /b /s \> list.txt (if you are unfamiliar, “dir” gives a directory listing, “/b” uses a “brief” format, and “/s” makes it list subdirectories.) For bonus usefulness, you can use Find and Replace to change the slashes in the resulting file to commas, change the extension from .txt to .csv, and have a nice file that will open in excel or another spreadsheet program in an easily-manipulated table. Every year I use this trick to quickly make a batch file to copy 300+ insurance certificates from the insurer-provided master disc onto the network at work, with a little manipulation. They remain convinced that I’m a genius. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pantheon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@pantheon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantheon)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/98 "2010-09-02T20:37:27Z")
For those annoyed by the new Vevo-YouTube embedded ads (“Your video will start in 15 seconds”), you can hit F5 (or the usual refresh button) to refresh your browser. This seems to fool the “play ad on first viewing” and get straight to the good stuff. Also, if annoyed by all the little pop up text speech boxes on videos, you can go the lower-right corner of the video window, and just to the right of the maximize screen button is a button with an upward facing arrow. Clicking it opens up a couple other buttons, including “Turn annotations off”. Ah, relief. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/99 "2010-09-02T21:25:03Z")
> [@RhapsodyInBlue](#): > > If you’re doing a report in Excel that requires something with multiple lines of text within the same cell, like an address, press ALT + ENTER at the end of each line to generate a new line feed. I wish I had known this years ago! I’ve doing the stupid ‘hit space until it wraps’ kludge, which is… crappy to say the least. > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > If you want to save a pic off a web page but is blocked with some kind of copyright guard, or is part of a flash window, you can use a couple of alternate methods. > > This works in Foxfire. Don’t know if it works in IE. > > 1. R-click on a white part of the page > 2. Click View Page Info. > 3. Click the Media tab. > 4. It will show a whole list of the images on that page, and clicking on a list item shows the image on the space below. Hunt for the one you want then click Save As. This was vital at my old job when I needed to get logos. > [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > One thing that is often useful for me is generating text files of directory listings, using the “\>” switch to pipe output to a file. I ended up using this to get filenames of a shitload of images I wanted to put into a gallery. Soooo much faster than typing it! My little tricks: In Photoshop and Illustrator CS4 you can set up your own shortcuts using actions. Most programs will also let you change shortcuts. You just have to find the correct menu. My bosses think I’m magical, because I work SO fast. You know why? Because I learn the damn shortcuts! I don’t use the mouse or the menu to do anything but move stuff. Probably my only annoyance with Windows 7 is that I can no longer shut down the computer with just the keyboard (Win, up, enter, over, enter, I believe it was) Scheduled tasks is awesome. I had it set up to play some little scripts I made to pop up alert boxes to tell me to go to class, go to bed, etc. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/100 "2010-09-02T22:50:01Z")
> [@pantheon](#): > > For those annoyed by the new Vevo-YouTube embedded ads (“Your video will start in 15 seconds”), you can hit F5 (or the usual refresh button) to refresh your browser. This seems to fool the “play ad on first viewing” and get straight to the good stuff. > > Also, if annoyed by all the little pop up text speech boxes on videos, you can go the lower-right corner of the video window, and just to the right of the maximize screen button is a button with an upward facing arrow. Clicking it opens up a couple other buttons, including “Turn annotations off”. Ah, relief. For this, you, I shall marry? You wouldn’t marry me, a man, you say? Tsk, tsk, not a consideration at all. The devotion and worship you’ve engendered in me with this suggestion shall know no bounds, including those regarding Adam and Steve, lack of declarations of love, or pending judicial action re Prop 8 in California. Or, to simplify, I like it and hate embedded ads and annotations. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974.md?page=6)