Windows Taskbar Tricks
Windows Key + #
Tapping the Windows key opens the Start menu — or Start screen on Windows 8. But holding the Windows key down while pressing a number key is equivalent to clicking a taskbar icon. For example, press “Windows Key+1″ is the same as clicking the first taskbar icon. If the program isn't open, it will launch. If it’s running in the background, you’ll switch to it. If it’s the foremost window, it will minimize. Yes, it’s just like clicking the taskbar icon.
Open New Application Windows
Sometimes you might be using a program, but you want to quickly open a new window. For example, you might want to open a second web browser window or a second instance of Microsoft Word.
To open a new window, hold the Shift key while you click a taskbar icon. This also works with the “Windows Key+number key” shortcut above, so you can open a new window with a keyboard shortcut.
If you prefer using the mouse, you can also middle-click an app icon on your taskbar.
Pin Web Apps
If you’re like most Windows users, you probably use a lot of Web apps. You can break them out of your browser and pin them directly to your taskbar, if you like.
In Chrome, navigate to the webpage you want to put on your taskbar, click the menu button, select “Tools,” then “Create application shortcuts” to create the taskbar shortcut.
In Internet Explorer, first navigate to the webpage you want to pin. Drag and drop the webpage’s icon from Internet Explorer’s address bar to your taskbar.
Mozilla Firefox doesn't support this feature — sorry, Firefox users.
Get the Classic Start Menu and Explorer Features in Windows 7
Have you switched to Windows 8 and just can’t get used to the new Start menu? Well, there is a tool, called ClassicShell, that allows you to get the classic Start menu from Windows XP in Windows 7. You can also choose to get the features from the classic version of Windows Explorer.
A nice side benefit of ClassicShell is when you shut down or restart your computer, you get the classic shut down screen.
download classicShell
http://sourceforge.net/projects/classicshell/files/
how to use ClassicShell Adds Classic Start Menu and Explorer Features to Windows 7
Add "My Computer" or any folder to Your Windows Taskbar
like to have the quickest access possible to folders on my desktop, which usually means putting something onto the taskbar if possible. You can add the Computer menu as a folder on the taskbar for the easiest access to your drives. You could also use this tip for any folder you want.
To add a folder to the taskbar, just right-click on the taskbar and choose the Toolbars menu, and then click on New Toolbar.
Just find the folder that you want… in this instance we’ll select the Computer icon and then click on Select Folder.
Now you can see the Computer folder right there on the taskbar. If you click the little arrows it will pop up and let you browse through all your drives.
Tapping the Windows key opens the Start menu — or Start screen on Windows 8. But holding the Windows key down while pressing a number key is equivalent to clicking a taskbar icon. For example, press “Windows Key+1″ is the same as clicking the first taskbar icon. If the program isn't open, it will launch. If it’s running in the background, you’ll switch to it. If it’s the foremost window, it will minimize. Yes, it’s just like clicking the taskbar icon.
Open New Application Windows
Sometimes you might be using a program, but you want to quickly open a new window. For example, you might want to open a second web browser window or a second instance of Microsoft Word.
To open a new window, hold the Shift key while you click a taskbar icon. This also works with the “Windows Key+number key” shortcut above, so you can open a new window with a keyboard shortcut.
If you prefer using the mouse, you can also middle-click an app icon on your taskbar.
Pin Web Apps
If you’re like most Windows users, you probably use a lot of Web apps. You can break them out of your browser and pin them directly to your taskbar, if you like.
In Chrome, navigate to the webpage you want to put on your taskbar, click the menu button, select “Tools,” then “Create application shortcuts” to create the taskbar shortcut.
In Internet Explorer, first navigate to the webpage you want to pin. Drag and drop the webpage’s icon from Internet Explorer’s address bar to your taskbar.
Mozilla Firefox doesn't support this feature — sorry, Firefox users.
Get the Classic Start Menu and Explorer Features in Windows 7
Have you switched to Windows 8 and just can’t get used to the new Start menu? Well, there is a tool, called ClassicShell, that allows you to get the classic Start menu from Windows XP in Windows 7. You can also choose to get the features from the classic version of Windows Explorer.
A nice side benefit of ClassicShell is when you shut down or restart your computer, you get the classic shut down screen.
download classicShell
http://sourceforge.net/projects/classicshell/files/
how to use ClassicShell Adds Classic Start Menu and Explorer Features to Windows 7
Add "My Computer" or any folder to Your Windows Taskbar
like to have the quickest access possible to folders on my desktop, which usually means putting something onto the taskbar if possible. You can add the Computer menu as a folder on the taskbar for the easiest access to your drives. You could also use this tip for any folder you want.
To add a folder to the taskbar, just right-click on the taskbar and choose the Toolbars menu, and then click on New Toolbar.
Just find the folder that you want… in this instance we’ll select the Computer icon and then click on Select Folder.
Now you can see the Computer folder right there on the taskbar. If you click the little arrows it will pop up and let you browse through all your drives.