Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts Tips

Posted on March 15th, 2009 in Windows 7 by Gil Kreslavsky

Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

Alt + P In Windows Explorer

Activate an additional file preview pane to the right side of the window with this new shortcut. This panel is great for previewing images in your photos directory.

Windows + ( + plus key) – Zoom In

Windows + ( – minus key) – Zoom Out

Pressing the Windows and plus or minus keys activates the Windows 7 Magnifier, which lets you zoom in on the entire desktop or open a rectangular magnifying lens to zoom in and out of parts of your screen. You can customize the Magnifier options to follow your mouse pointer or keyboard cursor. Keep in mind that so far, the Magnifier only works when Aero desktop is enable

CTRL + Mouse scroll Up/Down (Internet Explorer) – Zoom In and Out

Pressing the ctrl key and using a mouse scroller allows zoom+- to current web page

Windows + Up

Windows + Down

If a window is not maximized, pressing Windows + Up will fill it to your screen.
Windows + Down will minimize that active window. Unfortunately, pressing Windows + Up again while a window is minimized won’t return it to its former state.

Windows + Shift + Up

Like  the shortcut above, hitting these three keys while a window is active will stretch it vertically to the maximum desktop height. The width of the window will however stay the same. Pressing Windows + Down will restore it to its previous size.

Windows + Left

Windows + Right

One of the new features of Windows 7 is the ability to automatically make a window fill up half of your screen by dragging to the left or right. This pair of shortcuts performs the same function without your mouse. Once a window is fixed to one side of the screen, you can repeat the shortcut to flip it to the other side. This is useful if you’re extending a desktop across multiple monitors, which prevents you from executing this trick with a mouse.

Windows + Home

This shortcut performs a similar function to hovering over a window’s peek menu thumbnail in the Taskbar. The active window will stay on your desktop while every other open application is minimized. Pressing this shortcut again will restore all the other windows.

Windows + E

Automatically opens up a new Explorer window to show your Libraries folder.

Windows + P

Manage your multiple-monitor more efficiently with this handy shortcut. Windows + P opens up a small overlay that lets you configure a second display or projector. You can switch from a single monitor to dual-display in either mirror or extend desktop mode.

Windows + Shift + Left

Windows + Shift + Right

If you are using two or more displays (and who isn’t, these days?), memorize this shortcut to easily move a window from one screen to the other. The window retains its size and relative position on the new screen, which his useful when working with multiple documents. Utilize that real estate!

Windows + [Number]

Programs (and new instances) pinned to your Taskbar can be launched by hitting Windows and the number corresponding to its placement on the Taskbar. Windows + 1, for example, launches the first application, while Windows + 4 will launch the fourth. We realize that this is actually one key-press more than just clicking the icon with your mouse, but it saves your hand the trouble of leaving the comfort of the keyboard.

Windows + T

Like Alt + Tab (still our all time favorite Windows specific shortcut), Windows + T cycles through your open programs via the Taskbar’s peek menu.

Windows + Space

This combo performs the same function as moving your mouse to the bottom right of the Taskbar. It makes every active window transparent so you can view your desktop. The windows only remain transparent as long as you’re holding down the Windows key.

Ctrl + Shift + Click

Hold down Ctrl and Shift while launching an application from the Taskbar or start menu to launch it with full administrative rights.

Ctrl + Click

Hold down Ctrl while repeatedly clicking a program icon in the Taskbar will toggle between the instances of that application, like multiple Firefox windows (though not browser tabs).

Clean your OS with CCleaner – Cleans temporary files/cookies/logs/history and more

Posted on March 15th, 2009 in Tools by Gil Kreslavsky

CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool.
It cleans system unused files  – and by doing that  Windows runs faster and  valuable hard disk space is free again .
The utility also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history.
Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner. Fast and easy to use.

Cleans the following

Internet Explorer
Temporary files, history, cookies, Autocomplete form history, index.dat.
Firefox
Temporary files, history, cookies, download history, form history.
Google Chrome
Temporary files, history, cookies, download history, form history.
Opera
Temporary files, history, cookies.
Safari
Temporary files, history, cookies, form history.
Windows
Recycle Bin, Recent Documents, Temporary files and Log files.
Registry cleaner
Advanced features to remove unused and old entries, including File Extensions, ActiveX Controls, ClassIDs, ProgIDs, Uninstallers, Shared DLLs, Fonts, Help Files, Application Paths, Icons, Invalid Shortcuts and more… also comes with a comprehensive backup feature.
Third-party applications
Removes temp files and recent file lists (MRUs) from many apps including Media Player, eMule, Kazaa, Google Toolbar, Netscape, Microsoft Office, Nero, Adobe Acrobat, WinRAR, WinAce, WinZip and many more…
100% Spyware FREE
This software does NOT contain any Spyware, Adware or Viruses.

CCleaner - Freeware Windows Optimization

Change windows vista default program association via registry

Posted on March 5th, 2009 in Microsoft,Vista by Gil Kreslavsky

Windows Vista allows users to change and set default program association for most sort of file extension via Control Panel’s “Set Associations” and “Set Default Programs” under “Default Programs” link.

default-programs assotiation

However, there is no option  to reset or restore file extension association  back to original settings as in   freshly installed Windows Vista OS.

List of programs out there under “Set Default Programs” link, such as Internet Explorer,  Outlook, Calender, Windows Mail, Windows Media Player, winamp, winzip and Windows Photo Gallery have defined their own default file extensions, types and protocols.
And, user can clearly set the program as the default program to use to open all file sorts and protocols it can open.
Even so, it may not be the default file association such a configured in Windows Vista originally.

Unless user remembers and knows the original file association and change the default program for the kind of file type accordingly using the graphical user interface (GUI) in Control Panel, else here’s another workaround to restore and reset the file association to the default Windows Vista version of file association.

  1. Click Start Menu, and when that happens type regedit in the Start Search and press ENTER.
  2. Navigate to the following registry branch: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\[ext] Replace the [exe] with the actual file extension that you want to restore . If you unsure, coup browse through all the sub-key under FileExts.
  3. Delete the sub-key named UserChoice.
  4. Exit from Registry Editor.

Fix Windows Vista Networking with netsh command

Posted on March 5th, 2009 in Microsoft,Vista by Gil Kreslavsky

Windows Vista Winsock TCP/IP stack settings may get corrupted, causing multiple errors  and questions with Internet connectivity. Winsock or Windows sockets configuration coruption can be result  to a lot of reasons such as installation of a networking software, or due to virus, trojan or malware spyware infection.

When Winsock protocol corrupts, the networking errors may handle your internet connectivity  include unable to surf the Internet with “Page cannot be displayed” error message in Internet Explorer or Firefox  even although the DSL/ADSL/cable Internet connection is connected. Sometimes, Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) stops working as well.Email and messaging programs stop working

To repair and reset the Windows Vista Winsock

  1. Click on Vista Start button, or you can use the “winkey + R”
  2. Type Cmd in the Start Search text box and hit on enter.
  3. Press Ctrl-Shift-Enter keyboard shortcut to run Command Prompt as computer Administrator.
  4. Type netsh winsock reset in the Command Prompt shell, and then press the Enter key.
  5. Restart your computer.

netsh command cmd example

What netsh winsock reset command performs are it resets Winsock Catalog to a clean state or default configuration.
It removes all Winsock LSP (Layered Service Providers) formerly installed, together with the probable malfunctioned LSP that spells loss of network packets transmission failure.
So all previously-installed LSPs must be reinstalled, and all settings returned to default.

Outlook Hyperlink Opening problem – “This operation has been canceled due to restrictions on your computer”

Posted on December 20th, 2007 in Microsoft,Other,Outlook 2002 XP,Outlook 2003,Outlook 2007,Windows XP by Gil Kreslavsky

“The operation has been canceled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator.”

Or “This operation has been canceled due to restrictions on your computer”

They are few solutions:

Reset Web settings

  1. Start Internet Explorer
  2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options .
  3. Click the Programs tab , and then click the Reset Web Settings button.
  4. Under Internet programs, verify that the correct e-mail program is selected
  5. Click to select the Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser check box.
  6. Click Apply, and then click OK.



Export the registry key from another computer

  1. Click Start, and then click Run
  2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK
  3. Locate the following registry key: HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Classes\htmlfile\shell\open\command
  4. Click the command folder.
  5. On the File or Registry menu (depending on your operating system), click Export
  6. Note the location of where the file will be saved. The registry file can be saved directly to the hard drive or floppy disk.
  7. Type a unique file name, and then click Save
  8. Quit the Registry Editor

Here is the Reg File

Other Possible Solutions

  1. Follow the instruction on the following KB articles:
    You receive an error message when you click a hyperlink in Outlook
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310049/en-us
  2. This issue may occur if there is a Group Policy object (GPO) that restricts what
    programs you can run. Programs can be restricted if either of the following
    policies in the domain organizational unit group policy or a local computer group
    policy have been applied:
    o Do not run specified Windows applications.
    o Run only the allowed Windows applications.
  3. In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\htmlfile\shell\open\command change
    “C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE” -nohome to
    “C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe” –nohome
    (and viseversa)
  4. Delete the DWORD value named DisallowRun. (or remove IEXPLORE.EXE) – To do so: Locate and then click the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
  5. to narrow the policy causing the issue to be:
    User Configuration \ Administrative Templates \ Windows Components \ Internet Explorer \ Browser menus\
    Disable Open in New Window Menu option — set this to DISABLE if it enable
  6. Disable the following Group Policy:
    User Configuration \ Administrative Templates \ Windows Components \ Internet Explorer \ Browser menusFile menu: Disable New Menu option
    File menu: Disable Open Menu option
    File menu: Disable closing the browser and Explorer Windows