... Windows Tips 'n Tricks 23 ...
As he teaches, so he learns.

Right-click on any blank area of your Windows desktop. Choose Properties. Then click on the Background tab. Use the up and down arrows to change your background (wallpaper). Click OK and you're done.

Changing or adding wallpaper is pretty easy in any version of Windows, but you shouldn't go wild for two reasons:

• Huge, ornate wallpaper files take up a lotta memory, which can slow down Windows. If Windows starts running sluggishly, stick with a boring gray backdrop. Or use a tiny piece of wallpaper and tile it across the screen.

• Huge wallpaper files take up a lotta space on a hard drive. Don't fill up the hard drive with frivolous wallpaper that you don't use. When wallpaper gets boring, delete the files or copy them to a floppy disk to trade with friends.

If you've enabled Windows Active Desktop feature and use the Web style setting and single-click mode, you might find the underlining unattractive--or even downright annoying. Fortunately, you can eliminate the underlining, while still enjoying the convenience of single-clicking. Open My Computer or Windows Explorer and choose View, Folder Options from the menu. Select the Custom, Based On Settings You Choose option (if it isn't already selected), then click the Settings button. Select the Underline Icon Titles Only When I Point At Them option and click OK, followed by Close to apply the new settings. Your icons and filenames will retain their normal appearance until you move your mouse pointer over them.

Need to know what day it is? Just move your cursor until it rests on the time in the lower right-hand corner of the task bar. After a second or two, the day of the week and the date will appear.

Adding new hardware to your computer isn't as easy as adding a new software program, but here's some tips to consider.

First of all, know what's in your computer. That means, find out exactly what's hiding in there by opening the case, and checking it all out. Not very practical advice? OK, then dig around inside using software. The next bunch of tips tell you how.

To see what processor is installed and how much Random Access Memory (RAM) you've got, right click My Computer (on your Desktop) and select Properties (or use the Windows Logo key+Pause, or hold down the Alt key while double clicking.

To see what size your hard drive is, go for My Computer once again. Double click the My Computer icon to open, then right click the drive letter you're interested in (usually 'C') and click Properties.

To see what type of video card (also called a video display adapter, or graphics card) you have installed, right click the Desktop, and choose Properties from the context menu. When you see the Display Properties dialog box, choose the Settings tab. You'll see the brand and model of the monitor installed (or it may just list "Plug and Play Monitor") along with the video card that makes it work.

To see what kind of hardware is installed in your computer (that wasn't already covered above), open the Control Panel ( Start. Settings. Control Panel) and double click the System icon. Click the Device Manager tab for a complete list.

Click down the list of installed hardware. You can click the Properties button after highlighting a particular item, and you'll see more details on drivers, settings, and other info that may just bore you to tears.

Interesting stuff this. Just don't go messing around, ticking and unticking, unless you know exactly what you're doing.

Let's say you don't understand a button or an option in a Windows dialog box; it happens, one can't know all the buttons. Before you go searching through Help for an explanation, try this: Right-click the option or button and click the What's This? button. Instantly, a box of instructions appears.

As an alternative, you can use the Question Mark button in the upper-right corner of the dialog box. Click the Question Mark, then click the item about which you have a question.

When searching for files, folders, or types of files, you can type a partial name with wild cards. The wild cards are ? and *. The question mark stands for one letter and the asterisk stands for one or more letters. Following is a sampling of other Find options that you can enter in the Named field. (In Windows Me, it's the "Search for files or folders named" field.):

NOTE: abc stands for any three letters.

* stands for all files and folders

*.* stands for all files and folders

*. stands for all files . No files or folders (a file can't be named "dot.")

.exe stands for no files or folders (because a filename cannot start with a period)

abc stands for all files and folders with abc in the name (including extensions)

exe stands for all files and folders with exe in the name or extension; most likely executable files

*.exe stands for all files with exe in the extension only

*abc* stands for all files and folders with abc in the name

*abc stands for all files with abc as last letters in the name (not including extension)

*abc? stands for all files with abc as second-to-last letters in the name (not including extension)

?abc stands for all files and folders with abc as at least second letters in the name if not later.

Drag a window too far and it is pretty much off screen -- so far to the side or bottom that you won't necessarily be able to find it or click on it for mouse dragging. If you think that's the problem with a missing window, get it back into place:

1. Hold down the Alt key and press Tab repeatedly until the window you need becomes highlighted.

2. Press Alt+Spacebar and press the Down Arrow until Move highlights.

3. Press Enter.

Now you can use the arrow keys to move the window to a more comfortable position.

Every once in a while, you may encounter an application that tends to work its way off the edge of your screen after several uses, hiding the title bar--and sometimes the entire window--so you can't drag it back into place. Although you can close the application by right-clicking on its button in the taskbar, the program will likely reopen in its off-kilter spot. When this happens, you'll have to use your keyboard to reposition the wayward window. Use Alt+Tab to cycle through your open windows and select the problem application (even if you can no longer see its window on your desktop). Then press Alt+Spacebar, followed by the letter M. The window can now be moved by using the four directional arrow keys. Look for the outline of a box and continue pressing the arrow keys until it's centered on your desktop. Press Enter to anchor the window in place.

You can reorganize your open windows on your desktop as follows:

1. Right-click the Taskbar.
2. From the pop-up menu, choose Cascade Windows, Tile Windows Horizontally, or Tile Windows Vertically.

Cascaded and tiled windows are easy to get rid of, or at least to put out of the way. When you have multiple windows open on-screen, you can right-click the Taskbar, and from its pop-up menu you can choose Minimize All Windows. You can resurrect them all by right-clicking the Taskbar menu again. Then choose Undo Minimize All.

I'm sure you have noticed a difference in the behavior of the menus, tool tips, and even application windows; rather than simply appearing, they roll out or slide in when accessed. You can control this behavior through Windows' Display properties. Right-click on a blank area of the desktop and choose Properties from the context menu. Click the Effects tab and select or deselect the Animate Windows, Menus, and Lists option as you wish.

If you're the type of user who regularly tinkers in his or her Windows file, you know what a pain it is navigating to the Windows folder via the mouse. Well, using the Run dialog box, there's a lightning-fast way to open the Windows folder. Go to Start, Run. Type .. that's dot, dot [two periods]) in the Open box and click OK. The Windows folder pops open for you instantly. Did you know that one period gives you the desktop?

The Windows key on your keyboard wasn't put there just to get in the way of your pinkie finger as it reaches for the Control key. Aside from activating the Start menu, you can use the key in conjunction with other letter or function keys to access frequently-used Windows applets and features. If you're trying to break free from your mouse to build up some productive speed throughout your workday, make a note of these shortcuts. To use a shortcut, press the two (or three) keys indicated simultaneously, and then release.

[WINDOWS+Tab]: Cycle through the buttons on the Taskbar.

[WINDOWS+F]: Display Find: All Files (to search for a file or folder).

[CTRL+WINDOWS+F]: Display Find: Computer (to search for a shared computer).

[WINDOWS+F1]: Displays Windows Help.

[WINDOWS+R]: Displays the Run command.

[WINDOWS+BREAK]: Displays the System Properties dialog box.

[WINDOWS+E]: Launches Windows Explorer (an alternative to clicking My Computer).

[WINDOWS+M]: Minimizes all open windows.

[SHIFT+WINDOWS+M]: Restores all minimized windows.

The trick is in trying to memorize all these combinations.

Note: This tip applies to Windows 98.

If you're sick of that flying Windows logo that shows up each time you start Win98, here's the cure:

1. Click on Start and then choose Find.
2. In the Find dialog box, type "msdos.sys" (sans quotes).
3. Double click the file and in the Open With window scroll to Notepad..
4. On the msdos.sys page, find the Options section and add Logo=0
5. Choose File, Save and then Exit the Notepad.

Now when you start Windows you'll get right to work without the Windows flying by.

Are you ever curious to know what's going on behind the colorful Windows logo while Windows is loading? Press the Esc key when Windows starts loading to view the goings-on behind the pretty pictures. This feature also comes in handy if you are trouble-shooting startup errors and need to track what's happening.

While computering, you encounter several types of windows. Following are a few pointers on how to use them:

• A window must be active before you can select any of its commands or use any of its features. To activate a window, click anywhere on it. The active window is immediately placed on top of the desktop and its title bar becomes highlighted.

• Change the size of a window by dragging its borders with the mouse or by using the Size command.

• To move a window on the desktop, position the mouse pointer somewhere on the window's title bar and drag the outline to the new location.