Rick's Daily Tips

How to create a Desktop shortcut to any folder

Posted on April 18, 2013

microsoft-windows Do you open the “Computer” utility and navigate to the same folder on a regular basis? If so, why not create a shortcut to that folder and place it on the Desktop?

One the shortcut to your favorite folder is on your desktop, you can double-click on it Windows will open that folder immediately instead of you having to navigate to it every time.

This might seem like a trivial matter, but if you open the same folder several times a day, having a shortcut to it can be a real time saver.

Here’s how to create a Desktop shortcut to a specific folder: [Read more…]

Can you free a stuck Windows program? Well, maybe…

Posted on April 18, 2013

It happens to all of us on occasion: the dreaded hung program. After spending the better part of an hour typing in a long text document or editing an important photo, the program window freezes and we get the infuriating “Not Responding” error message.

All of that hard work has been for naught, right? Well, maybe not… A nifty little Windows utility called Resource Monitor just might save the day.

But before I explain how to try freeing up your stuck programs, let me explain a little bit about why programs stop responding in the first place. Programs running under Microsoft Windows do not run in a vacuum. They typically interact with a number of Windows processes, and even other software programs.

If one of the processes or programs that the program you’re working with encounters a problem, it will often cause the program you’re working with to just sit and wait while it tries to finish the task at hand. The problem is the task at hand will sometimes never be completed, hence the stuck program.

The next time a program stops responding before you’ve had a chance to save your work, try this: [Read more…]

Microsoft seems to be considering big changes for Windows 8

Posted on April 17, 2013

Has Microsoft finally learned the value of listening to their customers? It appears that they just might have. Losing sales and market share by the boatloads will usually spur some soul-searching.

Reports leaking out of Redmond indicate that Windows 8.1 (aka Windows Blue) just might have a Start Button/Start Menu as well as an option for booting directly to the Desktop instead of the highly unpopular Start Screen. I for one hope the leaked information is true.

Many great companies have made major blunders (Is anyone reading this old enough to remember the “New Coke”?), but the smart ones eat a bit of crow and reverse course. It appears that the powers that be at Microsoft just might have a clue after all.

What do you think? Will they add these much-in-demand features back to Windows 8.1? Should they? I’d love to hear your opinions.

How to speed up your Start Menu

Posted on April 17, 2013

microsoft-windows Does it seem like it takes forever for your Start Menu to display after you click the Start Button? There are several things that affect the speed of your menus that are beyond your control, but there is one that you can control with a simple Registry hack.

Important: Editing the Windows Registry can render your system unstable or even unable to boot up properly if something happens to go wrong. That’s why if you choose to follow the instructions below you do so at your own risk.

You also agree that it won’t be my fault if you begin having three birthdays a year, your car gets damaged by an out-of-control shopping cart in the WalMart parking lot, or your PC becomes unstable or refuses to boot up properly.

If you agree with everything I just said in the preceding paragraphs, follow the steps below to speed up your Windows Start Menu: [Read more…]

Q&A: How do I make the Windows 8 Maps app display distances in kilometers?

Posted on April 15, 2013

Question from Joyce B.: Hi Rick. I just moved from Des Moines, Iowa to Vancouver, British Columbia and of course I brought my new laptop with me.

I love the Windows 8 Maps app, but now that I’m living in Canada I need for it to display distances in kilometers instead of miles. How do I make it do that? Thanks.

Rick‘s answer: Hi Joyce! I hope you enjoy your new home north of the border. I have a feeling that you will since Canada is such a beautiful country and the people are sooooo nice!

To answer your question, here’s all you need to do to make the Windows 8 Maps app display distances in kilometers: [Read more…]