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Windows XP Tips

This week the computing tip will focus on some useful tips for Windows XP. Windows XP is the operating system on your computer. It is where you save files, runs programs, etc. It is the software that makes your computer work!!

Anything that will save us time can be very useful, and these tips should do just that! Remember, if you have ideas for the Computing Tip of the Week,please send them to Pat Fellows.

Print from My Documents and Other Folders

There are many times we search through our My Documents folder looking for a file we need to print. Did you know you can print the file from My Documents without opening the software used to create the file? Once the file is located, right-click on the file and select Print. This will send the file to your default printer.

Pin Programs to the Start Menu

Everyone has a few programs that are used regularly. If they are not on the Start Menu, they can easily be added or "pinned" to the Start Menu. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Click on All Programs
2. Find that favorite program and right-click on the icon
3. Click on Pin to Start Menu

Here is the Start Menu with the new program, SnagIt 8, pinned to the menu.

Sort Programs on your All Programs Menu Alphabetically

If your All Programs list is like mine, it has become very unorganized over time. To sort those programs so they appear alphabetically, follow these steps:

1. Click Start
2. Click All Programs
3. Right-click any icon
4. On the menu, click Sort by Name

The example below shows the unsorted list on the top and the sorted list on the bottom.

Unsorted Menu

Sorted

Create a Shortcut to a Program, File or Folder on the Desktop

To add a shortcut to a Program, click on Start and then on All Programs, right-click on the Program you want a shortcut to. The menu will have a "Create Shortcut" option. Select that option. The shortcut will appear as the program name with a (2) next to it. Drag that item to the Desktop or right-click on it and select cut and then go to the desktop and right-click, then click on paste. This will paste the shortcut to the Desktop. If you don't like the (2) in the name of the shortcut, you can remove the (2) by renaming the shortcut and removing the (2).

To add a shortcut to a File or Folder, go to My Documents or the location of the folder or file. Right-click on the file or the folder and select Create Shortcut. This will create a shortcut to the file or folder and place it at the end of the list of folders and files. You can then right-click on the shortcut and select cut. Then paste it on the desktop by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting paste.