Short Tips: Windows XP/Vista

1. Add a shortcut to a file in the Start menu

You can add shortcuts for frequently used files to your Start menu. Browse to the file name that you want to add; drag it to the Start button and hold for a while. When the Start menu opens, drag the file to where you want to create the shortcut and drop it. You'll see the shortcut icon appear.

2. Sort your files using the Details view

To search for or sort files within a particular folder, open the folder, click View and then Details. Your files will be listed with the details—name, date modified, size, and type—in columns. You can sort the files by clicking any column heading once (for newest to oldest) or twice (oldest to newest). You can then quickly locate the file you're searching for.

3. Add details to music, pictures, and videos

When you save music, pictures, and videos to your Windows XP computer, the Details view of that folder shows certain columns by default. To sort or search for files within this folder, you can add more columns to the Details view. Click View and then Details. Right-click any column heading and click More. Click the checkbox against the details you want to add and click Move Up or Move Down to fix their location in the Details view. Click OK.

4. Increase text clarity in Windows XP

You can adjust display settings so that on-screen text looks clearer to you. Right-click on the Desktop and click Properties. A dialog box will open; click the Appearance tab and the Effects button. Ensure that the checkbox against 'Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts' is selected. Then, click the down arrow under this option and select ClearType. Click OK and then click OK again to close the dialog box. You'll find most fonts clearer and easier to read with this.

5. Customize the buttons available on toolbars in Windows XP

You can add or remove buttons from toolbars available in some programs. Right-click the toolbar and click Customize. The Customize Toolbar dialog box opens—you can add, remove, or rearrange the buttons from here. Click Close when you're done.

6. Use the Quick Launch Toolbar

The Quick Launch bar is located to the right of the Start button and contains shortcuts to your frequently used programs. To display the Quick Launch bar, right-click the taskbar at the bottom of the screen, point to Toolbars, and click Quick Launch. Now, you can click the shortcuts on this bar to access your favorite programs.

7. Search the Control Panel in Windows Vista

If you're having trouble locating the various options in the redesigned Control Panel, type what you're looking for in the Search box of the panel. For instance, if you want to change sounds, type 'sounds' in the Search box. The search results will display the required options for you.

8. Resize the Quick Launch Toolbar

If you want to see all the programs on the Quick Launch bar, right-click the taskbar (the horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen) and click 'Lock the taskbar' to uncheck it. You will now see some handle marks appear on the edges of the Quick Launch bar. Drag the handle on the right to adjust the size of this bar.

9. Add or remove programs on the Quick Launch Toolbar

To remove a program from the Quick Launch Toolbar, right-click the Toolbar, select the icon of the program, and click Delete. Select Yes when asked for confirmation. To add a program, click its icon in the Start menu or on the Desktop and drag it to the Quick Launch Toolbar.

10. Add a toolbar to the taskbar

You can add many toolbars to the taskbar at the bottom of your screen. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and click Toolbars. Click the toolbar that you'd like to add. Click New Toolbar if you want to add a toolbar for a folder on your computer.