Browser Shortcuts - Speed Up Your Surfing:
Ctrl + Enter
When you type "orkut" into the address bar and press Ctrl + Enter, you will be automatically taken to http://www.orkut.com.
This is a very useful shortcut, you’ll thank it from saving you from typing in all those www.’s and .com’s when you just want to get to somewhere.
Alt + Ctrl + Enter will open the site you want in a new tab.
But what if you want to get to a .org? Such as Wikipedia? Well, the answer is simple. Press Shift + Ctrl + Enter.
This is quite a handy shortcut. It lets you close a browser tab without reaching for the tiny red x with your mouse.
So, the next time you’re surfing in Firefox and need to close something fast, remember - Ctrl + W !
A Shift + Enter will take you to a .net, like xptricks.net! So the next time you want to visit, just type xptricks and press the magic keys. Bookmarking me will also do just fine ;) (Press Ctrl + D to bookmark)
Showing posts with label Tips and Tricks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips and Tricks. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The “Hibernate” function on Windows XP
The “Hibernate” function on Windows XP:
The hibernate function on Windows XP is basically the same as stand by, but with one difference. The files and programs you have open will temporarily be saved onto a specific location on the hard drive, instead of RAM.
This means that the computer can be switched off while hibernating and it will consume no power. When you turn your Windows XP on again, everything will open instantly, just like after a standby. No startup screens and waste of time.
How to hibernate?
Another mystery is why the hibernate button isn’t shown on the shutdown menu by default. After all, hibernating is a lot better than standing by -no power consumption, longer than standby, computer can be turned off and makes no noise…
Anyway, to hibernate, go to the shutdown menu as usual: Start -> Turn Off Computer and hold down the shift key to relpace “stand by” with “hibernate”, It’s as easy as that.
The hibernate function on Windows XP is basically the same as stand by, but with one difference. The files and programs you have open will temporarily be saved onto a specific location on the hard drive, instead of RAM.
This means that the computer can be switched off while hibernating and it will consume no power. When you turn your Windows XP on again, everything will open instantly, just like after a standby. No startup screens and waste of time.
How to hibernate?
Another mystery is why the hibernate button isn’t shown on the shutdown menu by default. After all, hibernating is a lot better than standing by -no power consumption, longer than standby, computer can be turned off and makes no noise…
Anyway, to hibernate, go to the shutdown menu as usual: Start -> Turn Off Computer and hold down the shift key to relpace “stand by” with “hibernate”, It’s as easy as that.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
How to Conserve Laptop Battery Life
How to Conserve Laptop Battery Life
Sure, HP managed to squeeze out 24 hours of battery life from one of their laptops. But we all know how possible that is in real-world conditions.
Still, maximizing battery life is a laudable goal, because that means you get more for each charge, or more what you pay for electricity.
Laptops may be as different as the residents of a cosmopolitan city, but there are some universal “truths” when it comes to prolonging battery life:
1. Dim Your Screen. Lots of juice keeps your screen bright. So, if you’re in a bright area anyway, why not shave off some levels your display brightness?
2. Turn Off What You Don’t Need. Don’t need to surf? Goodbye WiFi. No need to sync with your phone? Off with the Bluetooth.
3. Stick to Simple Apps. No CGI Rendering Please! Why waste time by forcing your laptop to do something intensive, when it won’t be able to do it as quickly when on AC?
4. Take Care of Your Laptop Battery. By treating it well, namely by plugging it only when it’s almost out of juice, you make a battery capable of carrying more power for a longer period of time.
Sure, HP managed to squeeze out 24 hours of battery life from one of their laptops. But we all know how possible that is in real-world conditions.
Still, maximizing battery life is a laudable goal, because that means you get more for each charge, or more what you pay for electricity.
Laptops may be as different as the residents of a cosmopolitan city, but there are some universal “truths” when it comes to prolonging battery life:
1. Dim Your Screen. Lots of juice keeps your screen bright. So, if you’re in a bright area anyway, why not shave off some levels your display brightness?
2. Turn Off What You Don’t Need. Don’t need to surf? Goodbye WiFi. No need to sync with your phone? Off with the Bluetooth.
3. Stick to Simple Apps. No CGI Rendering Please! Why waste time by forcing your laptop to do something intensive, when it won’t be able to do it as quickly when on AC?
4. Take Care of Your Laptop Battery. By treating it well, namely by plugging it only when it’s almost out of juice, you make a battery capable of carrying more power for a longer period of time.
Trick To Increase Browsing Speed for IE and Firefox
You really don’t need to tweak your browser in case you are using Firefox because it is a browser which has been specially designed for optimized and fast browsing but if you can make it even a little more fast that would certainly be a treat for you. Likewise there is a trick to make Internet Explorer 6 fast too. Browsers are designed to work with fast connections but with this trick even dial-up users can experience fast and smooth browsing.
Optimize Firefox and IE Browsing Speed
I shall be teaching you two tricks which work separately on Firefox and Internet Explorer. It doesn’t require you to be some expert rather all you have to do is change some registry values and you are done. I have also included a video tutorial for those who want to see it step by step visually. This is perhaps one of the oldest tricks to optimize Firefox and IE but it still works great.
Trick to Increase Firefox Speed
1. Open firefox and in the address bar write about:config and press enter
2. Double click network.http.pipelining and set it to True
3. Double click network.http.pipelining.maxrequests and set value to 10 from 4
4. Right click and create a new string nglayout.initialpaint.delay and set its value to 0
You are done. Enjoy lightning fast Firefox browsing and now for IE.
Trick to Increase Internet Explorer Speed
1. Go to Start –> Run and type regedit
2. Select HKEY_CURRENT_USER –> Software –> Microsoft –> Windows –> Current Version –> Internet Settings
3. Increase the values (DECIMAL) from default to a higher value e.g. 10
Optimize Firefox and IE Browsing Speed
I shall be teaching you two tricks which work separately on Firefox and Internet Explorer. It doesn’t require you to be some expert rather all you have to do is change some registry values and you are done. I have also included a video tutorial for those who want to see it step by step visually. This is perhaps one of the oldest tricks to optimize Firefox and IE but it still works great.
Trick to Increase Firefox Speed
1. Open firefox and in the address bar write about:config and press enter
2. Double click network.http.pipelining and set it to True
3. Double click network.http.pipelining.maxrequests and set value to 10 from 4
4. Right click and create a new string nglayout.initialpaint.delay and set its value to 0
You are done. Enjoy lightning fast Firefox browsing and now for IE.
Trick to Increase Internet Explorer Speed
1. Go to Start –> Run and type regedit
2. Select HKEY_CURRENT_USER –> Software –> Microsoft –> Windows –> Current Version –> Internet Settings
3. Increase the values (DECIMAL) from default to a higher value e.g. 10
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Vodafone Connect to Friends: SMS from Facebook
I love it when companies get together to create a combined service, and being the Facebook addict that I am, I’m particularly excited about this. The new Vodafone Connect to Friends service will let you send texts and picture messages directly from Facebook. To get started, all you need to do is install the ‘Vodafone Connect to Friends’ application to your Facebook profile (don’t lie, I know you’ve got one) and you’re ready to arrange catch-ups with mates to your heart’s content.
This application is far more useful than all of those pointless quizzes that let you discover what kind of colour you are. Vodafone Connect to Friends allows users to send messages not only to their online Facebook friends but also to non-Facebook users and groups.
Fear not if you’re an Orange or O2 fan, this application can be used by anyone regardless of their choice of UK mobile operator. An added advantage of this service is that if you decide to head off to Mumbai, New York, or anywhere else in the world for a holiday, you can still text your mates from overseas at UK rates.
Once you subscribe, Vodafone provides a handy 25 free text credits to get you started. When you’ve run out of credit after arguing about which Pizza Express to meet at, you can top up again through their online payment system Pay4it.
If you’re already a Vodafone prepaid user, you can get any additional credits deducted straight away from your topup account. Alternatively if you’ve not feared a long-term relationship with your phone company and have a contract, you will see additional credits on your monthly bill.
If we’ve wetted your appetite enough for Vodafone Connect to Friends, check out the new application at Facebook or Vodafone. Or for more information, check out the Press Release below.
September 8th 2008
VODAFONE PILOTS NEW MESSAGING APPLICATION ON FACEBOOK: VODAFONE CONNECT TO FRIENDS
Vodafone UK is trialling a unique service that enables all UK mobile users to send text messages from their Facebook profile to friends. The pilot service will be extended later this month to also include picture messages.
Vodafone Connect to Friends lets Facebook users send texts and picture messages without having to switch from PC to mobile simply by installing the ‘Vodafone Connect to Friends’ application to their Facebook profile. The application allows users to send messages not only to their online Facebook friends but also to non-Facebook users and groups. Vodafone Connect to Friends can be used by anyone regardless of their choice of UK mobile operator.
Once people subscribe, Vodafone provides 25 free text credits to get customers started. Further messaging credits can be bought securely via the online payment system Pay4it.
Prepay customers will get any additional credits deducted straight away from their topup accounts. Contract customers will see additional credits on their monthly bill highlighted as “Vodafone Connect to Friends.” An added advantage of this service is that travellers can also text their friends from overseas at UK rates.
“With more than 20 million social network users the UK alone it is the perfect market in which to test a Vodafone service that allows all mobile users to send texts and picture messages via the Facebook experience,” says Pieter Knook Vodafone Group Internet Services Director. “Through this partnership Vodafone aims to continue its commitment to provide easy access to communication services and communities by bringing the worlds of mobile and PC Internet together. This is a ground breaking social networking opportunity for all UK mobile users.”
This application is far more useful than all of those pointless quizzes that let you discover what kind of colour you are. Vodafone Connect to Friends allows users to send messages not only to their online Facebook friends but also to non-Facebook users and groups.
Fear not if you’re an Orange or O2 fan, this application can be used by anyone regardless of their choice of UK mobile operator. An added advantage of this service is that if you decide to head off to Mumbai, New York, or anywhere else in the world for a holiday, you can still text your mates from overseas at UK rates.
Once you subscribe, Vodafone provides a handy 25 free text credits to get you started. When you’ve run out of credit after arguing about which Pizza Express to meet at, you can top up again through their online payment system Pay4it.
If you’re already a Vodafone prepaid user, you can get any additional credits deducted straight away from your topup account. Alternatively if you’ve not feared a long-term relationship with your phone company and have a contract, you will see additional credits on your monthly bill.
If we’ve wetted your appetite enough for Vodafone Connect to Friends, check out the new application at Facebook or Vodafone. Or for more information, check out the Press Release below.
September 8th 2008
VODAFONE PILOTS NEW MESSAGING APPLICATION ON FACEBOOK: VODAFONE CONNECT TO FRIENDS
Vodafone UK is trialling a unique service that enables all UK mobile users to send text messages from their Facebook profile to friends. The pilot service will be extended later this month to also include picture messages.
Vodafone Connect to Friends lets Facebook users send texts and picture messages without having to switch from PC to mobile simply by installing the ‘Vodafone Connect to Friends’ application to their Facebook profile. The application allows users to send messages not only to their online Facebook friends but also to non-Facebook users and groups. Vodafone Connect to Friends can be used by anyone regardless of their choice of UK mobile operator.
Once people subscribe, Vodafone provides 25 free text credits to get customers started. Further messaging credits can be bought securely via the online payment system Pay4it.
Prepay customers will get any additional credits deducted straight away from their topup accounts. Contract customers will see additional credits on their monthly bill highlighted as “Vodafone Connect to Friends.” An added advantage of this service is that travellers can also text their friends from overseas at UK rates.
“With more than 20 million social network users the UK alone it is the perfect market in which to test a Vodafone service that allows all mobile users to send texts and picture messages via the Facebook experience,” says Pieter Knook Vodafone Group Internet Services Director. “Through this partnership Vodafone aims to continue its commitment to provide easy access to communication services and communities by bringing the worlds of mobile and PC Internet together. This is a ground breaking social networking opportunity for all UK mobile users.”
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
SECURITY, PRIVACY TOOLS
SECURITY, PRIVACY TOOLS
CCleaner (F)
Removes unused and temporary files from your system.
TrueCrypt disk encryption (F)
Keeps your secrets secret and tell snoops to bugger off.
ARCHIVE, SYNCHING, DOWNLOAD TOOLS
ARCHIVE, SYNCHING, DOWNLOAD TOOLS
Super Flexible File Synchronizer
Advanced, full of high-end features, and is the class of the category. Comes in Linux, Windows, and even Mac versions.
WinRAR
The master of all archive tools, WinRAR can do almost everything.
7-Zip (F)
Powerful open source archiver that lets you move to 7z format if you choose. Great for splitting files, too.
UltraISO
Image utility for creating, editing, and converting CDs/DVDs.
Teleport Pro
High-end, easy-to-use tool for getting (leeching) data or entire websites. Launch up to ten simultaneous retrieval threads, access password-protected sites, filter files by size and type, search for keywords, and much more. It has the most fully-featured webspider available, and it handles today's more complex websites flawlessly.
NeoDownloader
Download photos, music, movies, and walk away.
PRINTING, FONTS, PDF
PRINTING, FONTS, PDF
Virtual printing utility that saves you a ton of paper every year.
PDF Factory Pro
Damn fine and highly accurate PDF printer utility. You'll love it.
Foxit PDF Reader (F)
Small, clean, fast, and free, Foxit renders PDF files with great speed.
OFFICE TOOLS
OFFICE TOOLS
MoffSoft Calculator
Simple, powerful, flexible, customizable. Does every damn thing.
Master Converter
Now I know that kbps is a measure of bandwidth!
Visual Thesaurus
Oh god, this app will make you a word smackfu master.
FILE MANAGEMENT; RENAMING
FILE MANAGEMENT; RENAMING
XYplorer File Manager
Best all-around customizable file manager with great support, customizable keyboard shortcuts, scripting, and incredible search capabilities. XYplorer also offers both a free, older version and a Lifetime license option if you prefer at a fraction of the cost of Directory Opus.
Bulk Rename Utility (F)
A well-designed fast, easy renamer with all its functions on one screen.
WORD PROCESSING
WORD PROCESSING
OpenOffice Writer (F)
The Open Source powerhouse with a universal file format, great usability, and runs on every platform. Also check out IBM's Lotus Symphony.
Zoho Writer (F)
Zoho brings never-seen-before tools to the word processor. I love this.
Google Docs (F)
Fast, responsive, and doesn't let you make a mistake.
LaTeX (F)
A typesetting program for technical and scientific documentation (among other tasks).
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
SYSTEM TOOLS
Autoruns (F)
Lets you control what programs run during Windows' system boot.
Process Explorer (F)
Shows you info about which handles and DLLs processes are opened or loaded.
VMWare Workstation
Virtualization app that allows you to evaluate software safely or use when needed.
Everest Diagnostic Utility
Incredible system diagnostics and benchmarking app.
TuneUp Utilities
Corrects problems and optimizes your system.
Find and Run Robot (F)
Rapidly find programs or documents with one key press.
CopyWipe
Securely overwrite data when retiring a HD or prevent data from being recovered.
Eraser (F)
Wipes clean all the free space on your computer, truly erasing all deleted files.
Friday, September 5, 2008
13 Killer Excel 2007 Shortcuts
13 Killer Excel 2007 Shortcuts:
1. Apply the outline border to the selected cells. [ Ctrl-Shift-& ]
2. Apply the Date format with the day, month, and year.[ Ctrl-Shift-# ]
3. Apply the Time format with the hour and minute, and AM or PM. [ Ctrl-Shift-@ ]
4. Enter the current time. [ Ctrl-Shift-: ]
5. Enter the current date. [ Ctrl-; ]
6. Hide the selected rows. [ Ctrl-9 ]
7. Hide the selected columns. [ Ctrl-0 ]
8. Alternate between displaying cell values and displaying formulas in the worksheet. [ Ctrl-` ]
9. Display the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Replace tab selected. [ Ctrl-H ]
10. Display the Insert Hyperlink dialog box for new hyperlink. [ Ctrl-K ]
11. Display the Print Preview window. [ Ctrl-F2 ]
12. Switch to the next workbook window. [ Ctrl-F6 ]
13. Display the Macro dialog box to create, run, edit, or delete a macro. [ Alt-F8 ]
1. Apply the outline border to the selected cells. [ Ctrl-Shift-& ]
2. Apply the Date format with the day, month, and year.[ Ctrl-Shift-# ]
3. Apply the Time format with the hour and minute, and AM or PM. [ Ctrl-Shift-@ ]
4. Enter the current time. [ Ctrl-Shift-: ]
5. Enter the current date. [ Ctrl-; ]
6. Hide the selected rows. [ Ctrl-9 ]
7. Hide the selected columns. [ Ctrl-0 ]
8. Alternate between displaying cell values and displaying formulas in the worksheet. [ Ctrl-` ]
9. Display the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Replace tab selected. [ Ctrl-H ]
10. Display the Insert Hyperlink dialog box for new hyperlink. [ Ctrl-K ]
11. Display the Print Preview window. [ Ctrl-F2 ]
12. Switch to the next workbook window. [ Ctrl-F6 ]
13. Display the Macro dialog box to create, run, edit, or delete a macro. [ Alt-F8 ]
How to access FTP servers without any software
FTP is used for transfer of large files. Bloggers and webmasters use FTP frequently for uploading files to their server space all the time.
FTP transfers usually involve some software installed on the computer. The method usually involves connecting to a particular host server URl, and entering the username and password for access. FTP transfers may be primitive (they do not have much security), but they are still widely used.
FTP transfers usually involve some software installed on the computer. The method usually involves connecting to a particular host server URl, and entering the username and password for access. FTP transfers may be primitive (they do not have much security), but they are still widely used.
Avoid Win XP Re-activation
The time may come that you'll need to reinstall your Windows XP. It could happen. Maybe you'll add a new motherboard or hard drive. Maybe you'll get constant errors and problems that just won't go away. Or perhaps you're a neat freak who wants to rid yourself of clutter and start fresh with a clean operating system. If you do reinstall Windows XP, then you'll need to re-activate it too—that is, unless you keep this tip handy ;-)
See, the first time you activated XP it created a file called "wpa.dbl" that lives in the WINDOWS\system32 folder. By creating a backup of this file on disk, you can simply put it back into the folder after reinstalling XP and avoid the whole re-activation hassle. Here's how...
Go to My Computer then select your Hard Drive (usually drive C). Go to the WINDOWS\system32 folder and scroll way down until you find the wpa.dbl file.
See, the first time you activated XP it created a file called "wpa.dbl" that lives in the WINDOWS\system32 folder. By creating a backup of this file on disk, you can simply put it back into the folder after reinstalling XP and avoid the whole re-activation hassle. Here's how...
Go to My Computer then select your Hard Drive (usually drive C). Go to the WINDOWS\system32 folder and scroll way down until you find the wpa.dbl file.
How to break into audit mode during a manual install of Windows Vista.
Audit mode is a mode of Windows Setup that lets you bypass Windows Welcome so you can quickly access the desktop.
Audit mode is usually entered by running sysprep /audit command or using an answer file setting during unattended installation.
But if you install Windows Vista manually on a computer, you can also break into audit mode when the Windows Welcome screen appears by pressing CTRL+SHFT+F3.
This lets you get to the desktop quickly so you can add drivers, install applications, and do other stuff without having to go through all the steps of Windows Welcome.
Audit mode is usually entered by running sysprep /audit command or using an answer file setting during unattended installation.
But if you install Windows Vista manually on a computer, you can also break into audit mode when the Windows Welcome screen appears by pressing CTRL+SHFT+F3.
This lets you get to the desktop quickly so you can add drivers, install applications, and do other stuff without having to go through all the steps of Windows Welcome.
Disable the UAC feature in Vista
Are you tired of those User Account Control (UAC) prompts that appear whenever you're trying to run some admin tool on your Vista computer? They appear even if you're user account is a member of the Administrators group on your machine. That's because Protected Admins (PAs) normally run with the privileges of a standard user on Vista, which means to perform some administrative task or use an admin tool you have to first elevate your privileges to admin level, which is what the UAC prompt is designed to do.
How to start windows programs quickly with Run Command...?
The run option of Start menu is used to run a program or to open a document directly. If you
do not know the exact location of the program or document then click on Start button to open
Run and type the programs shortcut name to open it directly.
Run Commands
appwiz.cpl -- Used to run Add/Remove wizard
Calc --Calculator
Cfgwiz32 --ISDN Configuration Wizard
Charmap --Character Map
Chkdisk --Repair damaged files
do not know the exact location of the program or document then click on Start button to open
Run and type the programs shortcut name to open it directly.
Run Commands
appwiz.cpl -- Used to run Add/Remove wizard
Calc --Calculator
Cfgwiz32 --ISDN Configuration Wizard
Charmap --Character Map
Chkdisk --Repair damaged files
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