I manually setup this hack in Windows XP. Thoughtfully, it’s built into Windows Vista. Just Shift-click any folder, and then click Open Command Window Here to open a command prompt.

Now if I could just figure out how to always open an Administrator command prompt…

Hold down the control key while scrolling your mouse wheel up or down to quickly zoom in or out. This works on your desktop to make the icons bigger, in your Pictures folder (or any folder with thumbnails) to make the thumbnails larger, and it even works in programs such as Internet Explorer and Microsoft Word to scale the text and graphics.

This is a HUGE help if you have a high-resolution monitor, and i love the huge Recycle Bin.

The Quick Launch toolbar gives you one-click access to your favorite programs. Windows XP had it too, but Windows Vista adds keyboard shortcuts for the first ten programs.

To enable the Quick Launch toolbar (if it’s hidden), follow these steps:

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Two of the best ways to improve your computer productivity are:

• Reduce the number of times you move your hand from your mouse to your keyboard
• Reduce the distance you need to move your mouse for repetitive actions

You can accomplish both of these by programming the special keys that are on most new mice, such as the two buttons on the side of the mouse in the picture above. If you have a Microsoft mouse like I do and you’re using Windows Vista, you’ll need to download the latest version of IntelliPoint. Vista shipped with a beta version of the software.

After you install the software, follow these steps to configure your special buttons:

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One of the best ways to improve your computer productivity is to take advantage of the programmable keys on your keyboard and mouse to save yourself some keystrokes. If you have a Microsoft keyboard like I do and you’re using Windows Vista, you’ll need to download the latest version of IntelliType. Vista shipped with a beta version of the software.

After you install the software, follow these steps to configure your special keys:

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I’m addicted to the AutoCorrect feature in Word–I use it to both fix common misspellings and to shorten long phrases. For example, if hold they Shift key down too long and type “VIsta”, Word will automatically fix it for me by changing the second letter to lowercase: “Vista”. Similarly, I can add custom AutoCorrect entries to allow me to type long, common phrases with just a couple of letters. For example, I can type “WV” and Word will automatically replace it with “Windows Vista”. This is helpful if you’re a good typist, but if you’re a bad typist, this can be a godsend.
Here’s the problem: I don’t always write in Word. Right now, I’m typing in a browser window, which doesn’t have AutoCorrect. Here’s the answer: Type Access.

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You can run a command prompt or any application as an administrator by right-clicking it and then clicking Run As Administrator. If you always run an app as an administrator, you can usually change a setting to automatically elevate privileges.

You have to follow different steps to always run the command prompt as an administrator:

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