Quick tips

Use the 'Start' button for web browsing. Enter (or paste) a URL in the 'Run' window, press 'Enter and the page will open in your browser.

Here's a slick trick for IE4+ Favorites folders that refuse to stay alphabetized. First, make certain that your Recycle Bin is not set to automatically delete. Open C:\Windows\Favoritites then left-click on 'Edit' and choose 'Select All'. Right-click on any entry and choose 'Delete' to move everything into the Recycle Bin. Open the Recycle Bin & choose 'Restore' to return everything to its place, nicely organized.

Often, conflicts that arise when from software installation is due to a newer file (.dll, .ocx or the like) getting overwritten by an older version. To find out, hit the 'Start' button, then 'Run' and type "VCMUI" (without the quotes). This will launch Windows Conflict Manager, showing the dates of the files on your system and allowing instant swapping of old-for-new.

Ever wonder when the web page you're viewing was really updated? Type "javascriptalert:(document.lastModified)" (without the quotes) into the address bar.

To open a new instance (multiple) of a browser window, just hold down the 'Shift' key when you click on a link.

To find a key word in search engine results or in any text document, hit 'Ctlr' and 'F' simultaneously.

To get an accurate reading of your modem connection speed, open 'My Computer', 'Dial-Up Networking' then right-click on your Internet connection to access 'Properties'. Click the 'Configure' button, then the 'Connection' tab and then 'Advanced'. In the "Extra Settings' window, type "w2" (without the quotes) then OK your way out. This should show a much more accurate reading that 115,200 or whatever you saw previously.

You can 'lasso' a number of icons or files simultaneously on your desktop or in any window by left-clicking and holding the button down near them. Then just use the cursor to draw a rectangle encompassing the items you want to select and have your way with them (drag, move, send to, or delete).

Trivia: The animated gif that changes from a globe to the Windows logo in the upper-right-hand corner of the Internet Explorer browser is called a 'throbber'.