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Scalable Fabric - Microsofts Hidden Tool
Microsoft have created many small programs that people don't get to know about, as they are hidden in the depths of the Microsoft website. Lots of these programs can be very useful as well as fun. Scalable fabric is one of those fun programs. It creates an area on your desktop defined by blue coloured boundries. You can then drag open windows onto it and view them as little images (see image below).
To download it go to: http://tinyurl.com/lzv45
 
Finding out advanced information about your PC
If you want to find out information about your PC which you can't usually find in Windows without hunting around the control panel, then you can get Belarc Adviser. Its a free program that looks at all your PCs settings and specifications and displays it in your web browser.
To get the latest version go to :
 
Permanantly Uninstalling Programs
Most of the time when you uninstall a program is leaves behind files, and registry keys which build up over time. If you are constantly installing and uninstalling different programs even more data gets piled up. However Revo Uninstaller will get rid of leftover files and registry keys, scanning after you have uninstalled a program. Its free, and works on Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Server 2003.
To download go to: www.revouninstaller.com
 
Creating Custom Toolbars for the Taskbar
If you have a particular folder you like to have quick access to often, then you can add your folder to the task bar (see picture). To do this right click on an empty area of the Taskbar and select Toolbars. Then select ‘New Toolbar’. A dialog comes up asking you to select a folder. Select the folder you want (you can click the ‘+’ to get to the sub-folders) and click OK. You have now created your toolbar. You can browse the files or folders within the folder you chose and clicking on a file will open it.
 
Using Boolean operators with search engines
Most search engines use boolean operators which allow you to 'tell' the search engine what to do with your key words.
 
The OR operator is useful when searching for two different words with a similar meaning, such as city OR urban. The search engine will look for web pages containing the word 'city' or 'urban'.
 
The NOT operator will exclude some key words. For example if you type: puddings OR deserts NOT crumble.
 
The NEAR and AND operators tell the search engine to find two words together on a web page. The NEAR operator will allow up to 10 words between the two key words you specify. For example: John NEAR Smith.
 
Note: when you type in an operator is must be in capital letters. 
 
Shortcutting Windows
This week we have some useful keyboard shortcuts which will work on Windows XP: 
 ShortcutWhat it does
Alt+EscSwitches to the next open window 
Alt+Space barOpens the control menu for the current program 
Window+FOpens the search dialog for Windows 
Window+MMinimises all the open windows and shows the desktop 
Windows Key When you just press the window key it open the start menu 
Window+EOpens Windows Explorer 
 
Painting with .NET style
If you like using winows Paint but need some more features then get Paint .NET the free painting tool with many features at your hands. Layers, gradient effects are all included. Its completely free and not too big a file size either.
Download it here (min requirements: Win XP SP2 or later 256MB RAM)
 
Tweaky Tips
If you have a lot of pictures on your pc that you like to go through now and then, you might find that the thumbnail images are a bit too small to be of use. Well with Tweak UI (Win XP only avaliable from http://http://tinyurl.com/2meyw ) click on explorer then thumnails and you can change the thumbnail size in pixles. Tweak UI also contains many options that can change the way Windows XP works!
 
Caps Lock Unlocked
It's really anoying for typists that use two fingers because you accidently hit the CAPS LOCK KEY AND ALL YOU TEXT COMES OUT IN CAPS. To change the text to lower case without needing to re-type it just select the text and press Shift + F3.
 
Launchy
Got loads of programs stored in the Start menu that it takes you 5 minutes to find what you want? Get Launchy, a small program that runs in the background waiting for you to launch it. Launchy creates an index of all the links in the start menu so that you can search quickly throught them.