Tips and Tricks to Make Life with Technology Easier

[abhay6547]

So I don't know if a thread like this has been created before (I googled it and nothing seemed to come up) so I'm taking the chance to start it now. We all have those really quick and short tips or tricks that make things like surfing the internet or using certain applications just a bit easier. I want this thread to be the place where we all share some things we know to help each other out.

 

My quick tip:    - Clicking the scroll wheel button on a link opens it in a new tab (I use this all the time)

[Nineshadow]

alt + tab ( or windows key + tab) is the greatest thing ever.

 

You can also use CTRL + Tab to switch tabs.

 

CTRL + E = Open Computer

[T.Vengeance]

Same goes for clicking the scroll wheel on a tab to close it

[abhay6547]

Same goes for clicking the scroll wheel on a tab to close it

 

See, I did not know that and it's going to help me a bunch! Thanks!

[qwertywarrior]

a unique feature on my older computer

kicking the right side panel short circuit something and shuts down the pc when ur to lazy to turn it off

[Nineshadow]

a unique feature on my older computer

kicking the right side panel short circuit something and shuts down the pc when ur to lazy to turn it off

Yours did that too?

<3

[ViruZ_HUN]

alt + tab ( or windows key + tab) is the greatest thing ever.

 

You can also use CTRL + Tab to switch tabs.

 

CTRL + E = Open Computer

that is so 80s, use the mice:D

[MrCthuntoo]

It blew my mind when I found you could open task manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

 

Also if you're ever helping somebody with a software issue and trying to figure out where they're going wrong, get them to run Problem Step Recorder (Open Run then type PSR.exe) until their problem occurs, then get the person to save and send you the file it generates.

 

Shift + Right click an object to bring up more options. Some useful features this brings up are the options to run software as a specific user and to copy the full path location of a file.

 

If you're scripting in a command line and need the path of a file, you can just drag the file onto the window and it will get it for you.

 

Process Explorer is a more advanced Task Manager and you are able to see which related processes are hanging and thus causing a program to freeze or crash (You can also do this via resource monitor by going to CPU, right clicking on a process and clicking 'Analyze Wait Chain'.

 

When copying files, it's best doing so in a new process by shift + right clicking on the folder and choosing 'Open in new process', that way if your main instance of explorer crashes, it will not interrupt your copying.

 

Work in an office environment? LANMessenger is a great IM app that you can install on a memory stick and use to chat with your coworkers anywhere in the office. No signing in or setting up of accounts.

 

Got an old piece of software on your computer that you no longer have the disc for and can't find the download? Use PickMeApp to copy and create an install file.

 

Got the program but need the key? Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder can recover keys for a bunch of programs.

 

Launch a program as admin from your taskbar by holding Ctrl + Shift when clicking the icon.

 

You can mount virtual hard drives (.vhd files) using disk manager.

[abhay6547]

It blew my mind when I found you could open task manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

 

Also if you're ever helping somebody with a software issue and trying to figure out where they're going wrong, get them to run Problem Step Recorder (Open Run then type PSR.exe) until their problem occurs, then get the person to save and send you the file it generates.

 

Shift + Right click an object to bring up more options. Some useful features this brings up are the options to run software as a specific user and to copy the full path location of a file.

 

If you're scripting in a command line and need the path of a file, you can just drag the file onto the window and it will get it for you.

 

Process Explorer is a more advanced Task Manager and you are able to see which related processes are hanging and thus causing a program to freeze or crash (You can also do this via resource monitor by going to CPU, right clicking on a process and clicking 'Analyze Wait Chain'.

 

When copying files, it's best doing so in a new process by shift + right clicking on the folder and choosing 'Open in new process', that way if your main instance of explorer crashes, it will not interrupt your copying.

 

Work in an office environment? LANMessenger is a great IM app that you can install on a memory stick and use to chat with your coworkers anywhere in the office. No signing in or setting up of accounts.

 

Got an old piece of software on your computer that you no longer have the disc for and can't find the download? Use PickMeApp to copy and create an install file.

 

Got the program but need the key? Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder can recover keys for a bunch of programs.

 

Launch a program as admin from your taskbar by holding Ctrl + Shift when clicking the icon.

 

You can mount virtual hard drives (.vhd files) using disk manager.

 

Awesome tips!

[MrTomnus]

I didn't know some of this stuff O_o

 

A few of my own I've found:

 

Press Windows Key + 1-9 and it will open up the corresponding program in your taskbar. Say Chrome is the first program on the left of your taskbar. Press Win + 1 and it'll open! If I want to open my taskbar programs quickly I just hold Win and move along the number keys You can do the same thing to hide the program

 

Press Windows Key + D to hide all open applications. Neat if your desktop is cluttered or if you like admiring your wallpaper.

 

In Chrome, press Ctrl + Shift + T and your least opened tabs will open. Handy if you accidentally close Chrome or a tab.

 

Ctrl + Alt + vowel will insert an accented letter. For example: á é í ó ú. I use this a lot for typing Beyoncé (I type her name a lot, I'm a big fan)

 

That's all I can think of.

[Caspur]

Rainmeter for your PC

[pspfreak]

Instead of going to someones house to fix a software problem, you can use teamviewer (if their computer isnt completely screwed up). Ive used it to help someone who live ~8 hours from me.

since i like telling stories—

This guy had brought his computer to one of those repair places, and they told him they dont know what happended to ~50% of his hdd space. I told him to get teamviewer, and i then was able to remotely install easeus partition manager, and saw that half his hdd was unpartionened space. i then managed to give him back the space by extending the partition, and all was good again.

[SirReallySam]

Clicking the scroll wheel on a link opens it in a new tab.