Windows XP and Vista Tips - Thousand Oaks - Page 3
SIZE UP THE SITUATION
Resize Windows to Specific Dimensions
Sizer (free, www.brianapps.net/sizer.html) displays the dimensions of any open window while resizing, making it an invaluable tool for web developers and anyone interested in grabbing screen captures. Manually resize a window to any resolution, or right-click and select a preset dimension, including any custom dimensions you create.
HIDE AND SEEK
Move Off-Screen Windows Back into View
It’s a shame that SLI and CrossFire still don’t support gaming on multimonitor setups, and to add insult to injury, there’s always at least one open window that gets stuck out of view when in single-monitor mode. You might be tempted to reboot or even uninstall/reinstall the offending application, but you needn’t resort to such drastic measures. Instead, right-click the application in the taskbar, select Move, and then use your arrow keys to bring the window back into view.
Build a Button (or Two)
Put your Restart and Shut Down buttons in plain sight – because you can
Forget about mucking around in the Start menu and instead create desktop shortcuts for shutting down and restarting your system. Right-click your desktop and select New>Shortcut. In the pop-up window, type shutdown – s-t 00 to create a shutdown shortcut and shutdown –r –t 00 to create one for restarting. Give your new shortcuts custom icons ( see page 24) and then drag them to the Quick Launch bar for even easier access.
EXPRESS YOURSELF
Change the Logon Background
Just like our clothes, our PCs are an extension of us, and we should dress them accordingly. Logon Studio (free, http://tinyurl.com/2kuys7) helps in this endeavor. The program lets you choose from a wardrobe of more than 500 logon backgrounds (http://tinyurl.commh7eq). Can’t find a style to suit your tastes? Make your own background from scratch or edit an existing background.
Continue to Page 4
Resize Windows to Specific Dimensions
Sizer (free, www.brianapps.net/sizer.html) displays the dimensions of any open window while resizing, making it an invaluable tool for web developers and anyone interested in grabbing screen captures. Manually resize a window to any resolution, or right-click and select a preset dimension, including any custom dimensions you create.
HIDE AND SEEK
Move Off-Screen Windows Back into View
It’s a shame that SLI and CrossFire still don’t support gaming on multimonitor setups, and to add insult to injury, there’s always at least one open window that gets stuck out of view when in single-monitor mode. You might be tempted to reboot or even uninstall/reinstall the offending application, but you needn’t resort to such drastic measures. Instead, right-click the application in the taskbar, select Move, and then use your arrow keys to bring the window back into view.
Build a Button (or Two)
Put your Restart and Shut Down buttons in plain sight – because you can
Forget about mucking around in the Start menu and instead create desktop shortcuts for shutting down and restarting your system. Right-click your desktop and select New>Shortcut. In the pop-up window, type shutdown – s-t 00 to create a shutdown shortcut and shutdown –r –t 00 to create one for restarting. Give your new shortcuts custom icons ( see page 24) and then drag them to the Quick Launch bar for even easier access.
EXPRESS YOURSELF
Change the Logon Background
Just like our clothes, our PCs are an extension of us, and we should dress them accordingly. Logon Studio (free, http://tinyurl.com/2kuys7) helps in this endeavor. The program lets you choose from a wardrobe of more than 500 logon backgrounds (http://tinyurl.commh7eq). Can’t find a style to suit your tastes? Make your own background from scratch or edit an existing background.
Continue to Page 4
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