What ScreenSwift does is allow you to create flash desktop wallpapers that actually behave just exactly like a flash file. This isn’t some stagnant image. You can either store the entire flash movie as a wallpaper and when you want to see the movie action select the “Play” button and get some popcorn.
There is nothing to the set up. All you need are some .swf files—which… Continue reading
Would you like to have one of your pictures as a desktop background? It’s easier than you think!
1. Figure out your screen resolution. Before you begin, you’ll need to figure out what size the final image needs to be. Fortunately, this is really easy. Just right-click a blank area on your desktop and select Properties from the resulting menu. Then, click the Settings tab on the resulting… Continue reading
I’m sure this has happened to you: a window strays outside of the visible desktop area and you can’t seem to grab it with your pointer.
All is not lost.
Click the button for it down in the toolbar to bring it into focus. Hit Alt+Spacebar and it will bring up a System menu (Restore, Move, Size, etc.) Usually this shows up in the upper left hand corner… Continue reading
Are you tired of the icon associated with your Word docs? Maybe you want all JPEGs to have a unique icon. Well, it can be done. Yes, you can give custom icons to all files of a certain type.
First, if you don’t have any custom icons yet, check out Leo’s IconArchive for over 10,000 free ones to choose from…
http://www.iconarchive.com/
Save them to a folder, maybe… Continue reading
Q:
In Windows XP, my “Show Desktop” icon down in the taskbar disappeared. How do I get it back?
A:
I get questions on this all the time. it even happened to someone here at WorldStart HQ. “Show Desktop” is not a normal program and you can’t just make a shortcut or reactivate it in a normal way.
What you’ll need to do is… Continue reading
When I got my new computer it didn’t have a “My Computer” icon on the desktop. Maybe the manufacturer didn’t want the average person messing around in there, but how else could I access the CD drives and such? Well, fortunately it was an easy fix.
Not only did I find “My Computer” there, but there were other things that could be turned on and off. Let’s take a look… Continue reading
Do you have something that requires a name but you don’t want anything in it? You could just throw nonsense in there, but a blank space would be best. Well, guess what? There is an invisible character! This special character is the equivalent of a space.
Hold down ALT then type 0160 (Alt+0160) on the number keypad at the right side of your keyboard.… Continue reading
In Windows XP, when I go to my programs it takes up my whole screen. Is there a way to make them into a list or something?
This has always been a pretty annoying feature in XP, but I discovered a remedy.
Right-click the Start Button and choose Properties.
Q:
Is there a way to make my Desktop icons bigger?
A:
You can use this tip to make them bigger or smaller. I’ll also show you how to change the label font and its size.
Windows XP:
Right-click the desktop and choose “Properties” Select the “Appearance” tab then click the “Advanced” button.
Under “Item”, pick “Icon” from the drop down list. Under “Size” use the arrow… Continue reading
Q:
My desktop shortcuts have a solid color behind the names and it blocks my wallpaper. Isn’t there a way to make it clear?
A:
The solid box behind a shortcut label can be very annoying, especially if you have dozens of icons on your desktop.
It doesn’t take much to change this if you have Windows XP.
Right-click “My Computer” and choose Properties (or hold down… Continue reading
Q:
How do I add items to my Start Menu?
A:
As you know, the Start Menu is the control center of your PC accessed by clicking the “Start” button down in the lower left-hand corner or by typing the Window key. Adding items to it isn’t that difficult.
Since there are two sides to the Start Menu, let’s start with the left…
If the item you want… Continue reading
When you do Ctrl+Alt+Delete in Windows XP you should get the Windows Task Manager. There you’ll see a list of running applications (programs). There is also a tab for “Processes” with a bunch of cryptic names like “SynTPEnh.exe” and such.
That said, let me tell you about a neat little trick to find out what processes match up with running applications…
Hit Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring up Task Manager. Choose an… Continue reading
Q:
OK, call me crazy, but I like my messy desktop. Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn’t seem to understand this and every now and then makes me run the Desktop Cleanup on my Windows XP machine. Sure, I click the little “X” on the reminder balloon to make it go away, but nooooooo—within seconds it’s back. No amount of screaming seems to help, so I’m forced to go though their stupid
Q:
For some reason my desktop looks like it’s in safe mode or something. How do I fix it?
A:
Sounds like a bit quality issue. You might notice after you’ve been in Safe Mode or played a game on your PC that the desktop looks strange–the icons are bigger, the colors are off, etc.
If you have an icon for your… Continue reading
Personalized Windows Color Scheme
Windows 9.x (XP instructions are below)
Windows has a look and feel that’s all its own thanks to the default color scheme’s use of gray. But if gray isn’t your color, don’t stick with it. Change your color scheme to something that fits your personality.
To customize your display scheme, follow these directions:
1. Single-click the Start button, mouse-over Settings… Continue reading
Have you ever had several windows open and needed to get to a shortcut on the desktop? I know I have. You have to minimize all three windows just to start the other program. But there is an easy way to fix this problem. Create a toolbar with your shortcuts in it!
Here’s how. First, right click on the windows toolbar on the bottom of your screen… Continue reading
Q:
How can I quickly get back to my desktop if I have lots of open windows?
A:
The best way is to hit the “Show Desktop” icon on your toolbar. One click and all your open windows will be minimized to your toolbar.
Now, one more little trick. If you want to get all the Windows back to their original size (restored) just click that “Show… Continue reading
Screen Saver Savvy
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to get your screen saver to run on *your* command and not after a certain amount of time has elapsed? Well, you guessed it, there is. You simply place a shortcut on your desktop for the screen saver(s) of your choice.
Now, before we start plopping little screen saver shortcuts all over your desktop… Continue reading
Does your mouse pointer get in the way while you’re typing? Wish there was a way to just make it go away, then pop back up after the deluge of keystrokes subsides? Well, I have just the solution, my friends!
For Windows XP:
Click Start>Settings>Control Panel and then double click Mouse.
In the Mouse Properties window, click on the Pointer Options
Q:
I just installed Windows XP, but I really don’t like the new look. Is there a way to make XP look like my earlier versions of Windows or am I stuck?
A:
Actually, you can switch it to the “classic” look with just a few strokes of your mouse.
Right-click a blank area on the desktop and select Properties from the resulting menu. Hit the Appearance tab… Continue reading
(Picture note: I keep my taskbar at the top of my screen, so that’s why the screen shots look like they are coming from the wrong direction.)
Do you use your control panel in Windows XP a lot? Are you the kind of person who is constantly “adjusting” things? Well, if you are, then you and I have a lot in common. Here’s a tip that will save us… Continue reading
Must… Have… Even More… Control!
Well, wow! Thanks to all of the faithful readers who wrote in with their favorite way to access their Control Panel.
(While my screen shots are taken from Windows XP, I’ve tried this on Windows 98 and it works the same way!)
1. This first idea involves creating another taskbar in which the Control Panel can live its happy life… Continue reading
Spunkier Menus
Are your menus a bit sluggish? Well, you’ll be happy to learn that you can speed up their display speed. This trick is most noticeable for sub menus (like on your Programs menu). I didn’t think I’d be that impressed with it when I first tried it, but these faster menus are better! It makes your computer seem a bit faster and more responsive.
Anyhow, in order… Continue reading
Q:
Help! I’ve been staring at the same boring Windows XP desktop image for months. How can I change it?
A:
It’s really not that hard at all…
The fastest and easiest way I’ve found is to right-click on your desktop and select Properties . From the resulting window, choose the Display tab.
Scroll through the list of images… Continue reading
You know how when you right-click inside a folder or on your Desktop , you get a menu with an item labeled ” New “? If you highlight it, you’ll get a sub menu that lets you create all kinds of new documents.
Well, it seems that every piece of software you install wants to stick an item on that
Q:
In Windows XP I’ve seen pointers that turn into cute little dinosaurs, musical instruments- all sorts of things. How do you do that?
A:
It’s really not hard at all. Plus it’s a fun way to make waiting for things to load more bearable.
In Win XP, you’ll first go to the Start menu, then the Control Panel … Continue reading
Yee-haw! Lasso Like a Computer Cowboy
Have you ever noticed that you can make little “boxes” on your desktop by holding down your left mouse button and dragging diagonally? Although it can be an entertaining distraction when you’re on a boring phone call, it actually has a purpose.
Here I am, lassoing icons:
You can use the technique on your desktop to make multiple selections by “lassoing” icons. Hit… Continue reading
