3 Windows Tips

Tip1. Copying Windows Error Messages

Sometimes Windows presents an error message like this:

Sometimes it even has a long address on it like 0x7773893a, but you can't highlight it to make a copy. You don't need to! Just click anywhere in the window and press Ctrl-C to copy. Even without highlighting, the window's text is copied into the clipboard. Then open notepad (or a word processing program) and press Ctrl-V to paste. You'll get something like this:

--------------------------- Microsoft Internet Explorer --------------------------- Cannot find 'file:⁄⁄⁄g:⁄'. Make sure the path or Internet address is correct. --------------------------- OK   --------------------------- This saves trying to type out the message.

Tip 2. Fatten your cursor!

I prefer a fatter default cursor. Instead of the skinny one that windows uses as a default. Some programs will define the cursor themselves, so it won't always work, but this tip will let you resize the default windows cursor used in many programs. My password program cursor for example looks like this:

For XP:

Control panel; Accessibility options; Display; Cursor Options. You can adjust both blink rate and width. I find a little wider better.

For Vista:

Control panel; Ease of Access Center; Make the computer Easier to see; Make things on the screen easier to see; thickness of blinking cursor

Tip 3. Arrange file lists by Group:

In Windows Explorer, you can have you arrange your file display into groups, depending on how you are sorting your files. So, if you sort by size they go: Tiny, Small, Medium, Large and Gigantic! If sorting by date they are: today, yesterday, Earlier this month etc.

If this is something you'd like then open Windows Explorer (Windows+E). With nothing selected right click on the file list and select "Arrange Icons by" the check "Show in Groups". This will group your files appropriately to the way they are sorted. If sorted by time you get Today, Yesterday, Earlier this Month etc.

If you decide you don't like it, just uncheck the Show in Groups option.

You may notice that this only works in the folder you are in. If you want this to be a general setting, then while still inside Windows Explorer pull down Tools, then select Folder Options and View. Then make sure that "Remember each folder's view settings" is unchecked and click "Apply to All Folders" as shown below.