I use the desktop address bar constantly. Right click on your taskbar, go to toolbars, and check Address. It takes up a lot of room in the taskbar, but just unlock your taskbar, and drag the address bar to the top of the screen (for instance).

I have custom toolbars created in a similar way along the right edge of my screen (and on my wider but shorter laptop, I have them on the left as well). Not as flashy as a lot of app launchers, but it's built into windows and it gets the job done.

bmearns

@SEARCH ENGINES: Great call, I'm going to add that one!

Gina Trapani

Don't forget ReadyBoost for Vista

SEARCH ENGINES

Scalvo2 - that key combo was one I wish I knew about ten years ago. Thanks! Well, thanks to all of you too.

busbodger

Okay, ID the icons in that desktop pic that are to the right of Picassa please?

Are you going to do a similar article for Linux? Please?

I use Opera in Linux and Windows (work) b/c of all of the shortcut-keys I can define. The less I have to switch from the keyboard to the mouse and the less clicking I have to do the better life is.

What I have not done is take advantage of voice recognition to be able to speak my needs to the computer. Not private enough at work and not quiet enough at home.

I think the interconnectability is the direction software programmers ought to be working. Ways to present the information you've gathered in more creative ways.

busbodger

Win + Pause/Break

For System Properties.

Scalvo2

fyi... Win+L works in Vista as well.

The How-To Geek

I saw this one here on lifehacker, IIRC: Add a shortcut to the Desktop on the start menu, to allow easy browsing of the local system. I don't use it a lot, but when I do, I find it quite handy.

jtimberman

@BaseVilliN: Good point! Added, thanks. :)

Gina Trapani

Just tried in Gnome [Alt-F2] entered '.' and /home directory comes up in Nautilus :-)

neergrm

Alt-Shift-Tab can be very useful in conjunction with Alt-Tab when you have several windows open, since it cycles through in the opposite direction.

Win-Tab & Win-Shift-Tab also cycle through windows, but just by highlighting their taskbar presence. Press Enter to open the selected window. Very useful when giving presentations (esp. remotely) and you don't want to make it obvious what you have open.

MichaelTV

CTRL+ESC? You don't have a Windows key?

BaseVilliN

Adding the address bar, making my taskbar double high and auto-hide has been invaluable to my productivity. Quick Launch, the Address Bar, (Google Desktop Search), and the language bar on top, and the bottom for running Apps.

Another key combination that I'm always astounding people with is Ctrl-Shift-Esc. This handy combo brings up Task Manager directly. How this isn't one of the first things any developer learns is beyond me!

GilbertErik

@iBSOD for iPhone: Yeah, that's been a problem for me since I use OS X. When I'm using IE or Firefox in a Vista Virtual Machine i press Apple+L and Vista locks up. Apple+L on os x is the hot key to get to the address bar :-\.

Joseph

yep. win+L locks in vista as well.

thanks for the other tips :)

iBSOD for iPhone

I think that mojopac deserves an honourable mention =)

Dooga

For applications that can run from a USB drive, the best place to look is The Portable Freeware Collection. While the PortableApps.com launcher and "installers" do make things easy, there are so many more apps out there, and there are other lauchers that use relative paths (to avoid drive letters) and can be run from USB drives, like PStart.

@busbodger: I'll fin in the gaps that kureshii left for you:

foobar2000, Notepad++, Paint.net, Launchy, Foxit Reader, Syncback, Gaim (now Pidgin), 7Zip

All can be run from USB except Syncback - Cobian Backup is a great portable alternative.

joelena

@GilbertErik: Thanks for the Ctrl-Shift-Esc one.

Here's a really cool one for your Quick Launch bar: Open your Quick Launch folder (c:\Documents And Settings\{username}\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch) and make folders in there, even subfolders too. Your Quick Launch bar will now have cascading pop-up menus.

CJ

I know I'm slightly off-topic (this only applies if you *can* install applications), but I saw Alt-Tab and I thought of the updated Task Switcher. The original Task Switcher showed you icons when you switched; the new one shows you a screenshot of the window, which if you have a lot of similar windows open, makes it easier to switch to another window. You can get it as part of the Windows Power Toys for XP. So not technically third-party, so it still is relevant. :-)

CJ

@iBSOD for iPhone and @The How-To Geek: Thanks y'all, updated the post.

Great stuff here! Keep the comments coming!

Gina Trapani

1) In the quick-launch bar I put shortcuts to my most used apps, My Documents, My Computer and the desktop (but use Win-D when my hands are on the keyboard). I size it carefully so that less used ones are accessible via an extra click (on the >>).

[url=http://imageshack.us][img=http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/5003/quicklaunchhi1.jpg][/url]
[url=http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=216&i=quicklaunchhi1.jpg][img=http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/5003/quicklaunchhi1.14d0a37f1f.jpg][/url]

2) As my keyboard lacks relevant keys in Office I use AutoCorrect to convert L= to £ and E= to €.

Dave61

@BaseVilliN: It's the only Winkey-related shortcut that works if by happenstance you find yourself at a machine/keyboard with one =(

@busbodger: unknown, notepad++, (looks like) paint.net, unknown, foxit reader, looks like some syncing software i used sometime ago, GAIM, 7zip. I'm guessing notepad++, foxit, gaim and 7zip are the portable variants.

Memorise some of the useful Run shortcuts, especially if you use them often (if not, create your own shortcuts for them and put in your home directory as described above, or in system32 folder).

Off the cuff: "mspaint" (Paint), "calc "(Calculator), "dfrg.msc" (Windows Defragmenter), "wmplayer" (Windows Media Player, which I still use for short MP3 playlists), "winword/powerpnt/excel/outlook" (should be guessable; this is for 2003 though, not sure for 2007).

Also, "stickynot" & "journal" (for Tablet PC users)

kureshii

To change Default printers, create shortcuts (1 per printer) with the command line
rundll32.exe printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /y /n "printername"

Google rundll32 for a whole bunch of other tricks using this command.

Cornflower

A few more shortcuts (sorry if some of these are well known or obvious):

Win+M - Minimize all (just like Win+D)
Shift+Win+M - Undo Minimize all

Although the description above says Win+D toggles the desktop, it seems to be a bit quirky as far as what application comes back on top when doing it repeatedly. Shift+Win+M is more predictable - the app that was in focus before minimizing will return in focus (and you can use it after either Win+D OR Win+M).

Also, F3 is listed as "file search" above, but that's only when Explorer (or the taskbar) is in focus. F3 (like CTRL+F) is generally a standard for "find" within applications. However, the combo Win+F always brings up Explorer's file search.

Alt+Esc - send the current window to the back.
Shift+Alt+Esc - brings the back-most window to the front

CTRL+Tab - cycle through open windows (or tabs) in the current application
Shift+CTRL+Tab - same in reverse order

Win+F1 - brings up Windows Help

zkam

@BaseVilliN: The laptop I use ( IBM Thinkpad T4x range ) does not have a windows key!
Does anyone know how to do a WIN+L on that one ? CTRL-ESC-L does not work...

zjo

Other useful text snippets in the run bar can have you ready to send email and visiting any web site.

mailto:someone@theiremail.com

(I'm sure someone may chime in about adding subject and even body text)

www.lifehacker.com and hit enter

Fox Mulder

i was using portable apps on my thumb drive for a few weeks before i realized i could just put them on my company's intranet drive. (firefox especially) runs much, much faster.

fleshtone

@zjo: On Thinkpads, it's typically the right Alt key that's set to emulate the Windows key. If not, you can use the Keyboard Customizer Utility to assign the key assignment.

dataguy

I cant believe no one mentioned the new Vista cycle where you can get a really flashy 3d preview of all your open programs, kinda like [ALT] + [TAB]

I believe it is
[ALT]+[FN]+[TAB]

either that of windows in place of fn... ia m not on my vista computer right now... its really cool though!

xdeliriumx

Noone mentioned the new Vista cycle where you can preview windows in a very flashy 3d visual.. kinda like alt tab

I believe it's

[ALT]+[FN]+[TAB]

or maybe [FN] is the Windows Key (I am not on my vista computer)
Its really cool.

xdeliriumx

The name of any shortcut you put in the Windows folder can be accessed by the Run dialog. So if you want to start Firefox you could put a shortcut to it in the Windows folder.

A better strategy I use is I've added the path to a folder I keep in the C: drive I call RunCommandShortcuts to the Path system variable in Environment Variables dialog in System Properties. I do this to because I like to stay out of the Windows folder as much as possible.

I also like to give the shortcuts as short of name as possible, two letters or less if possible. My Firefox shortcut is named "f". Windows-r then "f" then Enter starts Firefox.

You guys should really do an article about what can be done with shortcuts. I have shortcuts set to open xplorer2 to a specific folder, to open Firefox to specific sites, to run Synctoy on specific folders, to run various Fastcake commands. I wish there was a website that listed programs startup switches.

pschroeter

I almost forgot!

In TweakUI under "About" select "Tips" the click save tips to get a text file full of helpful shortcuts.

Boter

For the tip on setting the "Shortcut Keys" - You don't have to clutter your desktop.

Storing (or editing) the shortcuts in your Start menu >program folder also enables the shortcut keys

I keep mine in a subfolder called "My Shortcuts" that I back up to my thumb drive.

Boter

@zjo: seconding dataguy, the solution is usually to remap the right Alt key to the Windows key. If you don't have the Lenovo app installed and just want to make this one change, you can use Scott Hanselman's registry key to remap it: [www.hanselman.com]

Shmoo

Right-click the Toolbar and go to Toolbar -> New Toolbar... When you pick a folder you'll get a new pop up menu on the tool bar with the contents of the folder you picked. I keep aliases of all my Putty sessions in a folder and access them this way. I also keep an auto-hide toolbar at the top of the screen with several menus of this type in it.

ibodog

Very similar to Win+D is Win+M, which minimizes all windows, but it's not as useful. (You can't go back to working on the windows you were on easily)

I never knew about Win+D until now; thanks Lifehacker.

Earth KING

@zjo: The Win+L functionality to lock the workstation can be mimicked by this command:

rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation

(Note that the only space in the command is after rundll32.exe)
You could create a shortcut (right-click on your desktop), and in the "location of the item" enter this command. Click "Next", give the shortcut a name (like "Lock"). Then right-click the new icon, and choose properties. Define a shortcut key (like Ctrl+Alt+L). Then drag the icon onto your start menu, or the Quick Launch area of your taskbar.

This doesn't seem to work quite as smoothly (On my machine it takes a few seconds to kick in via hotkey, but it works immediately by clicking the icon).

zkam

i like
Win + E

Turis

@BaseVilliN: Nope, no Windows key here. Just a lovingly-restored August 1991 vintage IBM Model M. We don't need no steenkin' Weeendows key!

jswilson64

@Earth KING: see my earlier comment - use Shift+Win+M to go back after using Win+M (actually works better than Win+D in my experience).

zkam

@zjo: To lock your machine:
Personally, I've always used Ctrl-Alt-Del, Enter (or space)

This works in Win2k fine, and XP if the machine requires Ctrl-Alt-Del to login (optional for workgroups, required for domains).

Ctrl-Alt-Del brings up the (something) menu (I should know its title but I don't), space or enter activates the selected button which is defaulted to "Lock Workstation."

(I only learned about Win-L a month ago; I've used Ctrl-Alt-Del / enter for year.)

Antediluvian

I hate the windows key, just gets in the way. Typing this on a classic cherry keyboard, it's lovely. I use a custom toolbar named ^ so it's doesn't take up much room. Rapid access to everything I need.

decays

Another one that I just learned and have been using is Shift + Delete when an object is selected skips the Recycle Bin completely. This works in XP, don't know about Vista.

HMGS

I would like to see some productivity tips for Linux.

AvgJoe

This post was sent from heaven. I have very recently switched from the Mac to Windows (yeah, I know...) and had no idea about these shortcuts. Thanks a lot!

copiloto

1) If you use 'Run as...', when the dialog box pops up, hold <DOWN> for a second or two until everything stops changing, then press <TAB> to change to the password box. Type it in and press <ENTER>. Done.

2) <WINKEY-R> makes for a great temporary, single-line memo pad. Just type out that phone number or whatever, hit <ENTER>, then exit the error box that will show up. Voila! It will stay available until your run box queue fills up, so you have plenty of time to copy it into whatever you need to.

3) Speaking of copying, while you may have known that you can cut & paste selected text by simply dragging it, you may not have realized that you can hold down <CTRL> and copy it to the new location.

4) If you haven't updated to IE7 yet, then this simple command will give you an explorer window running as another account.
runas /user:newuser "c:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore -e -nohome"
Change the user name to whatever you want. I use it while in a limited account to give me a full-admin explorer window.

5) If you are on a shared computer, it can be handy to have a 'public bulletin board', so you can post things for the other users that will show up automatically when they log in. Just create a text file in Shared Documents, and create a shortcut to it in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.

6) While you are typing a folder/file name at a command prompt, you can press <TAB> to automatically complete it. Wrong result? Press <TAB> again to bring up the next match.

7) A browse window allows you to create a new folder but not name it? No problem! Just click on the folder name and press <F2>. You can now rename the folder.

DeadlyDad

@Joseph: it's CTRL + L for the location bar in FF mate.

nka

Ugh. Stupid mark up symbols.
When your PC Boots up, Tab, Tab will focus on the login box

pobox90210

Disconnect your mouse.
At home my mouse died last weekend and I haven't had a chance to replace it. You soon learn shortcuts...if you want ot that is.
When your PC Boots up, will focus on the login page where yuo can enter your password.
then you've got
Win-R to enter applications names to get them to run
Win-S to Search
Win-L to Lock
Win-D to go to Desktop (minimize EVERYTHING)
Win-M to minimize everything (except things that run on your desktop like sticky Notes)
Win-E - File Manager/Windows Explorer.
Alt-Tab to cycle through open applications.
When you have an application open, there's
Alt-F4 to close it
Alt-Space N to minimize the application
Alt-Space M to Maximize.

Some new ones I learnt through losing my mouse were mainly in IE.
Crtl-Q - Showall open tabs in dinky pics. (navigate using arrows)
Ctrl-W - Close Tab
Ctrl-T - New Tab

Lose your mouse for a day. See how you cope.
:-D

pobox90210

@copiloto: Why would you switch from Mac to Windows? It's usually the other way around.

nka

@GilbertErik: I've been using that for awhile. Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Lol. Don't ask how I found out...

"It was one bored day in highschool..."

ph15h needs a nu job

Ugh, I type this in this morning but it dodn't go through....

Another tip in Firefox to stop you going to the mouse (which I think has only been mentioned recently, but it's worth saying again) -

Press CTRL + L to begin typing in the Address Bar and CRTL + K to start typing in the search bar (hold CRTL and press cursor-down to change the search engine).

da5id_nz

@pobox90210: You got one wrong...
Alt-Space M is Move, not Maximize. Alt-Space X is Maximize.

BTW, the Move keyboard shortcut can be very handy in a particular scenario:
You have a dual-monitor setup, and you disconnect the 2nd monitor without switching to 1-monitor mode (i.e. with the laptop special function key or the display properties control panel). You have an application that was on the 2nd monitor the last time it ran. You start it up now, and it never appears. Why? Because it is being displayed on the now non-existent 2nd monitor. Solution: Press Alt-Space M and use the arrow keys to move the window onto the current (single) display. Better yet, just START moving the window with the arrow keys, then move the mouse and the window will follow the mouse movement (much faster).

zkam

Another one similar to ibodog's suggestion. If you need a quick folder toolbar then drag the folder from explorer to the right or left edge of your screen and let go. Voila a new toolbar.

SirSmiley

in firefox

F5 refreshes
F6 puts you at the address bar
F6-TAB puts you at the search bar

i use these more than anything

mfusion

VIS(Very Important Shortcut): ALT+Enter

Crtl + K (go to search bar), type search string, ALT Enter (to open in new tab)
ALT Enter also works in address bar...

dauid

I wanted to mention that in Vista, you can simply use Win as a replacement for Win-R, since bringing up the Start menu brings up the Run box at the same time.

daddydave

"Active Desktop To-Do list" is my favorite.
And I create a simple batch file in the same directory for I can add To-Dos instantly via Launchy.

-------------------
@echo off
ECHO ・%* ^ >>d:\deskapp\todolist.html

--------------------
save this batch scripts as ToDo.bat in your to-do list's directory and associate the Launchy's filetype index.

And then all you need to type
ToDo, hit Tab, type your todos, hit Enter, and reload(F5) your desktop.

firealien

ZKAM - re: "Move" option.

Thank you so much. I have had times when a window is out of reach on my screen, and I couldn't access it. I used right-click --> Move on the taskbar, but didn't know that you had to use the ARROW KEYS to make it work.

I can hardly wait for my next application window arrangement disaster! I'll be ready!

DanYHKim

oh, I forgot to type
＜ｂｒ＾＞
after ・%*

firealien

Useful Window keys:
[support.microsoft.com]

I keep the Address Bar on my Task Bar, and have a single batch file called "r.bat" in my WINDOWS directory; location is not critical, as long as it is somewhere in your Windows search path. This is set up as a program launcher. Typing "r fc" in the Address Bar will launch Free Commander, "r npp" for Notepad++, etc. It's a matter of preference; you could have a separate launcher batch file for each application.

taodude

@taodude: Sounds useful. What's in your "r.bat" file? A list of the aliases and the path to the executable?

emegus

The Vista Start Menu search and the Quick Launch numbers shortcut are the greatest additions to Windows ever. I love being able to hit Win, type the first couple of letters of any program, hit Enter, I'm off to the races. That trick alone is why I don't understand all the Vista hate in the world.

OX4

@emegus: Nah, just plain spaghetti...

-----

@echo off

if "%1"=="npp" goto l_npp
if "%1"=="fc" goto l_fc
REM (compares for additional apps go here....)

echo Unknown command.
pause
goto hawaii

:l_npp
cd \prog\npp
start .\notepad++.exe %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9
goto hawaii

:l_fc
c:
cd "\Program Files\1Util\FreeCommander"
start .\FreeCommander.exe %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9
goto hawaii

REM (additional launchers here)

:hawaii
REM (end of program)

taodude

My favorite key combination is definitely Ctrl+Shift+ESC
It brings up everyone's favorite Task Manager, instead of going through whatever Ctrl+Alt+Del screen may occur (Particularly for Vista!)

Also, the Vista sidebar is wonderful. I have an app launcher on there for my main programs. (Sidebar ideal with Widescreen. Not so much 4:3)

Norumu

imp note:

Ctrl+Shft+Esc doesn't work for computers that are part of domains

However, it is also the thing that bagged me my job in the computer labs (They asked me how you can open the Task Manager if mouse not working, I surprised them with Ctrl+Shft+Esc. They were expecting Ctrl+Alt+Del; later, however I forgot all about C+A+D when it was the correct answer)

_||_

@OX4: Couldn't agree more.

BaseVilliN

@_||_: Sure it does. Mine's on a domain, and it works fine.

HeartBurnKid

@_||_: @HeartBurnKid: Ctrl+Shft+Esc also works for me on a domain but I got fed up with contorting my left hand to hit that key combo so I set up a shortcut to taskmgr.exe and assigned it the key combo Ctrl+Alt+End (my logic being that it's like CtrlAltDel)
For me it's in C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe

emegus

@taodude: Cool, that's what I thought.
I use the Address bar to type aliases to pass to IE and also use it like Run. I'd use Run for everything except the aliases I have in the registry don't work in Run. But I think I could set something up like your r.bat that would work. (And of course with the demise of the Address Bar in SP3 this becomes more pressing!)

emegus

Shortcuts are the greatest things I have come across. Saved me a lot of time and money.At 67yrs young,my memory seems to fade a bit.My wife wanted to redecorate my hobby room by repainting it.I saved a lot of time and money by buying a couple of texta pens and wrote all my shortcuts on the walls.Looks great and saves me scratching my head trying to remember which key combination to use

Foomanchew

I switch between Linux/UNIX and windows a lot, so I created an ls.bat (that runs dir) in the System32 directory.

absent_carlo

Comment on Make Windows More Productive Without Installing a Thing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC (Vista) : Seems to open the Task Manager WIN+TAB (Vista) : Flip 3D Window Selector WIN+U (XP/Vista) : Accessibility Features Pressing SHIFT five times (XP/Vista) : Sticky Keys Additionally, in both XP/Vista you can right click on any shortcut in your 'Start Menu' (that includes those inside subfolders) click on 'Properties' and assign your own shortcut key combination. From the Welcome Login Screen (if no one is logged in) you can press CTRL+ALT+DEL multiple times to bring up the classic Login Screen where you can type in a username and password. Handy for accessing an Admin account that is not shown on said Welcome Screen.

JasperNarbie

What about application virtualization? Thinstall lets you wrap-up an application in its own container which you can then run on Windows w\o having to worry about admin rights as Thinstall apps run in user-mode.
[www.vmware.com]
You can d\l an example of a Thinstalled application here -
[www.thindownload.com]

jindi

@Scalvo2: Why did I never know about this one??

Also, my school's library has lockdown to the point that right clicking doesn't work, keyboard shortcuts are iffy (Ctrl-N in IE gives an error message - and forget about even having IE 7 or firefox with tabs - they don't exist). Good thing I usually use my own laptop...

chaitov

No Windows key on your keyboard...
Copy the following text into a text file called Winkey.reg (important make sure the file is called this as some editors will save as Winkey.reg.txt)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,5B,E0,38,E0,00,00,00,00

Once you have the file saved double click it in an Explorer window and it will add to the key to your registry. (As long as you have local admin rights on the workstation)

The Winkey is then mapped to the AltGR on the right of the spacebar.

beejayeff