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Windows User Interface
The Windows User Interface, or UI, is where we spend nearly all of our time, even when using other programs. We look at issues, tips and tricks relating to the Windows User Interface.
Can I Copy and Rename a file in a single step?
Windows Explorer is a fine tool, but there are still a few things you can't easily do with it. This calls for the Windows Command Prompt.
Can I avoid retyping error messages when I need to report them?
Many Windows error messages can often be quickly and easily copied to the clipboard with a single keystroke.
Do icons on my desktop mean programs are running or will they otherwise slow down my system?
Many desktops are completely cluttered with icons for various shortcuts. It doesn't affect the computer's performance, but it's still messy.
How do I access my Windows administrator account?
Windows administrator accounts aren't intended for continual use and can be hard to find. We'll look at logging in as administrator, and alternatives.
How do I change system fonts in Windows 7?
You can change system fonts in Windows 7 using the Window Color and Appearance dialog - if you can find it, that is. I'll show you.
How do I change the icon of a desktop shortcut?
Creating a shortcut is easy and there's an interface for changing the icon. Though not obvious, there's a large selection of icons to choose from.
How do I disable live taskbar previews in Windows 7?
Live preview shows a small version of a running application's window when you hover the mouse over its taskbar icon. I'll look at turning that off.
How do I find a file on my computer in Windows XP?
It's easy to forget, or never be told, exactly where a file is located on your hard drive. Fortunately, it's easy to search.
How do I find a file on my machine?
It's very easy to have Windows locate a file on your machine, but it's also easy to overlook a setting that will allow it to miss some as well.
How do I get Windows Explorer to display details by default in Windows 7?
Windows Explorer defaults to a simple view of the files on your machine. In Windows 7, you can change that default to include details with a few steps.
How do I get Windows Explorer to display details by default?
Windows Explorer defaults to a simple view of the files on your machine. You can change that default to include all details by following a few steps.
How do I get a Windows program to always open maximized?
Some folks like to run programs maximized; taking up the entire screen. If a program doesn't do that automatically, here are some steps that may help.
How do I get a pinned taskbar item to run with administrative privileges in Windows 7?
Pinning something to the task bar in Windows 7 is convenient, but appears to hide the "run as administrator" option. We'll find it.
User Account Control or UAC asks when programs need special permissions to do something. I'll look at when those are, and are not appropriate.
How do I make the taskbar smaller? Or larger?
It's easy to make the Windows taskbar smaller or larger - perhaps too easy since it can happen by accident. I'll show you how, and how to lock it.
How do I manage Windows Vista sidebar gadgets and turn the sidebar back on?
Windows Vista included a Sidebar and Gadgets you could display on your desktop. If you've lost your Vista sidebar gadgets we'll get them back.
How do I move an off-screen Window in Windows 7?
One of the ways to handle an off-screen window - particularly useful for Windows Media Center - has changed slightly in Windows 7.
How do I move my Windows XP taskbar back to the bottom of the screen? (Video)
Every so often, it's possible to end up with the Windows XP taskbar on the side, or even the top of your screen. It's a quick fix, as this video shows.
How do I remove the Documents item on my Start Menu?
Documents, or my Recent Documents, is Windows trying to be helpful by making it easy to access recent work. Sometimes it's a little too visible.
How do I set a custom icon for a desktop URL shortcut?
Windows 7 changed one of the ways to create desktop shortcuts from IE. I'll look at what's changed and how to create shortcuts that can be modified.
How do I sign in to Windows 7 automatically?
If you're willing to take the risk, configuring Windows 7 to sign in automatically is pretty easy; I'll walk through the steps and show you in video.
I accidentally deleted my Recycle Bin in Vista - how do I get it back?
It turns out to be fairly easy to accidentally delete the desktop Recycle Bin in Vista. Getting the Recycle Bin back is easy, just not obvious.
I can't see the top of a window, so I can't minimize, maximize or close - what can I do?
Sometimes windows can inadvertantly be positioned off screen, where your mouse can't reach them. The keyboard interface can.
I've lost my Windows Password! How can I log in?
If you have lost your Windows password there is no way to recover it, but all is not lost.
I've lost the password to my Windows Administrator account, how do I get it back?
It turns out that resetting an Windows account password is frighteningly easy, as long as you have access to the machine.
Making Your Own Taskbar Toolbar in Windows 7
Windows 7 doesn't have the 'Quick Launch Bar' that Windows XP did. I'll show you how I made my own.
My TaskBar is too small to be useful, what can I do?
The Windows Task Bar is a very flexible piece of screen realestate. There are many things about it you can change, or fix if they change unexpectedly.
My Taskbar is missing and I have no Start button - what do I do?
We'll look at solutions for several reasons that could make the Taskbar and Start button disappear.
My desktop Recycle Bin has disappeared - why, and how do I get it back?
While there are many reasons as to why your Recycle Bin can disappear, there is a fairly easy way to get it back.
Pages I visit open in a tiny window, how do I make it bigger?
Occasionally a program will open up in a tiny window, too small to be useful. We'll look at a couple of approaches to dealing with tiny windows.
The task bar on my windows XP machine has become hidden, how do I get it back?
The task bar can appear hidden if it's configured to auto-hide, or if the size has been configured to be too small.
The volume indicator has disappeared from my system tray, how do I get it back?
The volume indicator allows you to control the sound output by your computer. It can disappear, and the option to enable it has moved around a little.
What does it mean when a window turns white?
It's an application's job in Windows to draw what it wants to display in its window. A white window typically means that the application is unable to.
The Windows clipboard is a fundamental and exceptionally useful feature that many take for granted. I'll review what it is and what it's good for.
What's a screen shot and how do I make one?
A screen shot is an image of your entire computer screen and it is fairly easy to capture this image.
Where can I find a list of Windows' secret key combinations?
Microsoft has a list of helpful keyboard shortcuts in a knowledgebase article.
Where did file associations go in Windows Vista?
Several things are slightly different in Windows Vista, and the location of the File Associations dialog is just one.
Windows tries to manage the taskbar icons for you in a way that sometimes causes some to go missing.
Where is the Run command on Windows Start Menu?
Depending on your configuration and customization the Run command may not be visible on the Start menu. It's easy to make it show up.
Why are some of my file names blue?
Windows Explorer will display compressed files in blue. Files can be compressed to save disk space, but there are ramifications to consider.
Why can I not find a file that Windows search tells me is there?
In an effort to avoid confusion, Windows will hide certain files and folders by default. Naturally that often leads to more confusion.
Why can't I get the volume louder in Windows Vista and Windows 7?
Windows has several volume controls. Add to those a couple of additional volume controls and making things louder can quickly get confusing.
Why do I get "Access is Denied" when trying to copy a file?
Copying a file requires that you have access to both the source file and the intended destination. There are several reasons you might not.
Why is it so easy and quick to accidentally move a file when copying takes so much longer?
Accidentally dropping a file where you didn't intend to is easy in Windows Explorer. I'll look at how to recover it and why the error is so darned quick.
Windows tries to help protect you from accidentally deleting files with the Recycle Bin. How the Recycle Bin appears on disk can be a little confusing.