To empty the Documents folder on the Start menu:

1. Right click on the Windows Taskbar and select
2. Properties from the pop-up menu.
   
3. Click on the Start Menu's Programs tab.
   
4. Click on the Clear button

To disable automatic starting of a CD-ROM:

Insert your CD-ROM and hold down the Shift key until the drive light goes out.

A quick way to run the Microsoft Windows Explorer:

Right click on the Start button and select Explorer from the pop-up menu.

To quickly display the Start Menu:

Press Control+Esc.

To quickly display today's date:

Leave the mouse pointer over the clock (displayed within the Window Taskbar) for a few seconds.

To rename a file or folder in Windows Explorer:

1. Select the file you want to rename.
   
2. Press the F2 key.
   
3. Enter the new name for the file and press the Enter key.

To create a folder on the Desktop:

Right click on the Desktop background, from the pop-up menu displayed select New, from the sub-menu displayed select Folder.
Enter the name for the folder and press Enter.

To see how long you have been online:

Double click on the connection icon in the Windows Taskbar and a pop-up menu will display the duration of your current call.

To quickly reset the time or date:

Double click on the clock displayed in the Windows Taskbar and change options as required.

To run the Windows 3.x File Manger:

1. Click on the Start button.
2. Select the Run command.
   
3. Type "WINFILE" and click on the OK button.

To delete an item without sending it to the Recycle Bin:

Depress the Shift key while deleting an item.

To quickly refresh the Windows Explorer window:

Press the F5 key.

To quickly copy a file to a floppy disk using the Microsoft Windows Explorer:

Right click on the file and select Send To 3 1/2" Floppy.

To make sure a file or folder is displayed first within the Microsoft Windows Explorer:

Change the first character of the file name to an underscore character.

To view the properties for an icon:

Hold down the Alt key and double click on the icon.

To cycle between currently running program windows:

Press Alt+Tab.

To free up disk space:

Empty the contents of the Recycle Bin.

To create a Desktop shortcut to an item displayed within the Microsoft Window Explorer:

1. Start the Windows Explorer within a window.
   
2. Select the item for which you wish to create a Desktop shortcut.
   
3. Drag and drop the item to the Desktop while depressing the Ctrl and Shift keys

To copy an item from one folder to another within the Microsoft Windows Explorer window:

By default when using the Explorer dragging a file from one folder to another moves it. If you wish to copy a file hold down the Ctrl key while dragging.

To move a file from one disk to another:

By default when using the Windows Explorer dragging a file from one disk to another copies it. If you wish to move a file hold down the Shift key while dragging.

To expand all subfolders within the Microsoft Windows Explorer:

Click on the folder you wish to expand and press the asterisk(*) key on the numeric keypad.

To format a floppy disk within the Microsoft Windows Explorer:

Right click on the Floppy drive icon and select the Format command.

To select more than one file within the Microsoft Window Explorer:

Hold down the Ctrl and click on the files you wish to select.

To select a block of files within the Windows Explorer:

1. Select the first file in the block.
   
2. Hold down the Shift key and click on the last file in the block

To find the file pointed to by a shortcut:

1. Right click on the shortcut icon and select Properties.
2. Click on the Shortcut tab.
   
3. Click on the Find Target button

To change the icon used by a shortcut:

1. Right click on the shortcut icon and select Properties.
   
2. Select the Shortcut tab.
   
3. Click on the Change Icon button and browse to find a new icon.

To select more than one Desktop icon within a rectangle:

On the Desktop, drag and drop across the icons you which to select with the right hand mouse button depressed.

To select all items within a folder:

Press Ctrl-A.

To display file name extensions within Microsoft Windows Explorer:

Click on the View drop down menu and select Options.
Display the View tab. Make sure the Show all files button is ticked and the button called Hide MS-DOS file extensions is not ticked.

To print more than one file at a time directly from the Microsoft Windows Explorer: NOTE: You must select printable files, i.e. not executable or system files!

1. Click on the first file that you wish to print and while depressing the Ctrl key select the other files you which to print.
   
2. Right click over one of the selected files and from the pop-up menu displayed select Print.

To edit the Windows Shutdown screens: USE WITH CAUTION - ONLY IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH EDITING SYSTEM FILES!

1. Start the Paint program supplied with Windows.
   
2. Click on the File drop down menu and choose the Open command. Display the contents of the Windows folder.
   
3. Type Logo.sys or Logow.sys into the Filename text box and click on the Open button

To find a file containing a known portion of text:

Right click on the Start button and the Find command from the pop-up menu.

To search the entire disk, select the Name and location tab and then enter the root directory in the Look in section of the dialog box:

1. Make sure the Include sub-folders check box is ticked.
   
2. Select the Advanced tab.
   
3. In the Containing Text section of the dialog box enter the text you are searching for.
   
4. Click on the Find Now button.

To tile two (or more) programs on the screen:

Right click on the Windows Taskbar and select either Tile horizontally or Tile vertically.
NOTE: Does not work for minimized programs, only those running in a window, or full screen!

To simultaneously minimize all your windowed (or full screen) programs:

Right click on the Windows Taskbar and select Minimize all windows.

To display the Windows Taskbar at the top (or the side) of the screen:

Drag and drop the Taskbar to the top or side of the screen, as required.

To 'Autohide' the Taskbar:

Right click on the Taskbar and select Properties.
Make sure the Taskbar Options tab is selected.
Select Autohide and click on the OK button. The Taskbar will then disappear. To re-display the Taskbar, move the mouse pointer to the edge of the screen.

To set a default page for the Internet Explorer:

1. Click on the Internet Explorer icon and select Properties.
   
2. Select the Navigation tab and in the Address text box
3. Enter the URL of the web site you wish to view when the Internet Explorer is run.