Quick Source Tips

These steps work in Windows Vista and Windows 7:

1. Click the Start button.

2. Select All Programs.

3. Right-click the Startup menu.

4. Select Open from the resulting menu.

5. Locate and select the shortcut to the program you want to run at startup.

6. Click and drag the shortcut to the Startup folder.

7. Click the Close button when you are finished.

Here are some really useful keyboard shortcut to help you navigate in Windows Vista. In an open Explorer window:

• Alt + Up arrow key: takes you to the next directory up in your folder hierarchy. Keep pressing Alt + Up arrow key to quickly get to your Desktop folder.
• Alt + Right arrow key: takes you forward.
• Alt + Left arrow key: takes you back.
• F4: opens the address bar pop-up menu.

The Windows key (located on your keyboard between the Alt and Ctrl keys) allows you to utilize some nifty shortcuts in Windows Vista:

• Windows Key-Opens or closes the Start menu
• Windows Key + D-Displays the desktop
• Windows Key + M-Minimizes all windows
• Windows Key + SHIFT + M-Restores minimized windows
• Windows Key + E-Opens Computer folder
• Windows Key + F-Opens Search window
• Windows Key + L-Locks your computer or switch users
• Windows Key + T-Cycles through programs on the taskbar
• Windows Key + TAB-Cycles through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
• Windows Key + SPACEBAR-Brings all gadgets to the front and select Windows Sidebar
• Windows Key + G-Cycles through Sidebar gadgets
• Windows Key+U-Opens Ease of Access Center
• Windows Key+X-Opens Windows Mobility Center

My personal favorite and one that I use several times a day is Windows Key + M. It is a quick way to clear your screen…especially when the boss is coming!

You can make your Desktop look cleaner by hiding the text under an application icon.

1. Right-click the icon on your Desktop.
2. Enter Alt + 255. (You must use your keypad to enter the numbers.)
3. Press the Enter key.
4. Optional: To hide text on another icon you must enter the combination twice (Alt + 255, Alt + 255), to hide text on a third icon you must enter the combination three times, etc.

Note that it is not recommended to do this for folder or file icons.

1. Click the Microsoft Windows Start button.
2. Select Control Panel from the resulting menu.
3. Click the Hardware and Sound shortcut.
4. Click the Sound shortcut.
5. Click on the Sounds tab.

From here you can select an option in the Program box, and then click the arrow on the Sounds box, and select a sound or select (None) from the resulting menu. For example, do you hear little clicky sounds in your sleep? Every time you click on a open a folder or file in Windows Vista it makes an annoying click sound. To turn this off, select Start Navigation in the Program box. Click the arrow on the Sounds box, and select (None) from the resulting menu.

Every morning my little girl greets me when I go to my login screen in Windows Vista.

Just click the Start button and select Control Panel from the resulting menu. Click the User Accounts shortcut and click the Change your account picture shortcut. Click the Browse for more pictures shortcut. Locate and select the file you want to use and click the Open button.

I love this Windows Vista tip that I just learned! You can add shortcuts to folders on your computer, including My Computer and the Desktop, to your Taskbar in Windows Vista. Right-click in the Taskbar, select Toolbars, and select New Toolbar from the resulting menu. Locate and select the folder you want to create a shortcut to, and click the Select Folder button. Now, just click the arrow beside the folder name in the Taskbar, and select the item you want to open.

For more Windows Vista tips and tricks, check out our Windows Vista Quick Source Guide.

When you are in an open folder, you can quickly resize the icons in that folder. Hold the Ctrl key and scroll the mouse wheel until the icons are the size that you want.

Thanks to our friend @picnerd on Twitter…”you can also do this to icons on your desktop”

This is a really cool feature that I just learned about in Windows Vista. You can use handy checkboxes to select items in a folder window. Open the folder window you want to add checkboxes to. Click the Organize button and select Folder and Search Options from the resulting menu. Click on the View tab and check the Use the check boxes to select items. Click the OK button.

Want to make working in Windows Vista even faster? Instead of having to double-click to open an item, you can change it to a single click. When you make this change, the item will be selected when you place your mouse pointer over it.

1. Click on the Start button.
2. Select Control Panel from the resulting menu.
3. Select Classic View in the left pane.
4. Double-click the Folder Options button.
5. Check the Single-click to open an item (point to select) box.
6. Click the OK button.