Computersight -

Windows changed the face of computers when it was launched by Microsoft in the 90’s.

Microsoft continues to add new elements to windows every year to make it more accessible.

Every computer user knows the value of windows. Microsoft windows is probably the most used operating system in the world and with hundred of functions added every year to its fold, there’s always scope for the users to extract new gains.

Most of the users are well aware of the detailed windows utility, but still there are few hidden functions which you perhaps missed out.

Here are five tips to make your Microsoft windows XP work faster and easier.

• You can access My documents from the Taskbar and it’s the simplest and easiest way to ease your work load. It doesn’t make your life any easier when you have to go back to the start menu to reach my documents every time you need to reopen old files.

Now, it’s much easier. Go to the toolbar by right clicking the task bar. Select new toolbar, run to my documents folder and click ok. You may now access the entire contents of the folder to the far right of the taskbar every time.

• You can lock your windows desktop with a click. You may know that your desktop could be locked by you in a hurry with a press on the windows key and L simultaneously. Still, there’s a process which is surprisingly easier and faster.

Go to the desktop, right click on any empty space, take your browser to the new icon, and select folder. You would notice a dialogue box opens up, type “rundll32.exeuser32.dll,LockWorkStation” on the dialogue box and drag the shortcut to the Quick Launch bar. You could name it if you like. You could now lock your desktop whenever you want by clicking the button.

• Your computer could be programmed to get automatic windows updates from your desktop. One of the better features of windows which normally go unnoticed is the option to update your windows from the desktop. Go to the empty space on your desktop and right click. You would find a new icon, take your mouse and select a folder. A dialog box crops up on the screen, type in “www.windowsupdate.com” and click next. Choose a name as you could easily identify the icon on your desktop. Click finish.

Now you could manually update your windows at ease from your desktop. Double click the icon and the process would work.

• Name your hard disks. Your computer carries more than one hard disk and you perhaps face difficulty in identifying each of those. What should you do then? Make life easier and name each of those according to the files that they carry. If you are a fan of jazz music, why not store all your jazz musical contents on a particular drive and name it jazz. Likewise, you may name others accordingly.

Go to My Computers, right click the hard disk that you wish to name, choose a name and rename the hard disk

• Few windows keyword shortcuts you should know. There are many keyword shortcuts that you are aware of, still few relatively easier ones had been missed by you. What are they?

If you look to launch your windows explorer, then press windows key and E simultaneously. Press windows key and M to minimize each and every open file on your desktop. Pressing windows key and L would lock your desktop.

Help yourself with these friendly tips and enjoy working with windows XP.