Windows Tips to Help Your Computer Run Better

If you’ve been a user of Windows for any length of time, you are probably aware of the improvements and enhancements that Microsoft has continued to add with each new edition. Some versions had more problems than others, but any issues that surfaced were immediately addressed and corrected. There have been good reports and reviews for Windows 7. It looks like Windows 8 will be even more powerful. There are many techniques and features you can use with whatever version of Windows you have that will make using your computer easier and more efficient.

Some people prefer using their mouse, while others like to avoid it as much as possible. Whichever camp you fall into, it can be helpful to learn some keyboard shortcuts. The truth of the matter is, many folks haven’t learned the majority of uses they can put their keyboards to in order to work more efficiently. There are websites you can explore that can teach you hundreds of ways to use your keyboard that you can’t even imagine. Do you like to view your pictures full screen? Press the Windows key and the UP arrow key and your screen will be maximized. Reverse the procedure to minimize your view. Press the Windows key in conjunction with the DOWN arrow key. If you want to see a preview of the file you’ve selected, simply press Alt + P. You can use this to preview images of photos you have saved, as well as videos or text documents. This, of course, is just a small sampling of the keyboard shortcuts that are available.

One feature you should regularly run is the defragmentation tool. Because they don’t understand what defragmentation is, many computer users don’t use this useful tool. Other people just don’t want to mess with it. Defragmentation is easy and it can make Windows perform much better. Those of you who create a lot of files, or download a lot of stuff, really need to defrag regularly. Defragmentation allows your files to be reorganized in a way that makes them faster to find and conserves disk space. On each disk, you only have to go to Properties and select defragmentation. Defragmentation doesn’t take long unless you have a lot of files on your hard drive that haven’t been defragged lately. You can also automate defragmentation, so that your computer performs it on a regular schedule so you don’t have to think about it.

It’s not unusual for computer folks to quickly clutter the desktops on their PC a lot more than they junk up their actual desk. It isn’t long before you have so many programs and files littering your desktop that you have trouble locating the one you want. If it’s your custom to have several files and/or programs running simultaneously, the confusion can escalate

Windows 7 has a Shake feature that makes it much easier to keep track of what you’re doing. All you have to do is shake the Title Bar back and forth after you click on it. The other windows that you have open will show up minimized in your Task Bar. Another shortcut to do this is to press the Windows Key and the Home Key at the same time. Do you think this is silly? Well, try it and you will see that it’s better to not be distracted by a bunch of open windows.

There is no end to the types of tips and shortcuts that Windows offers you. Once you’ve started using them, you will want more. You probably don’t want to spend time learning these things just for the sake of it; it’s best to stick to the ones that are relevant to what you actually use your computer for. Do some research on the internet and you will find a lot more tips and shortcuts for using the Windows Operating System. We’ve just given you a taste of what’s available.