Main > Technology > Computers > Operating systems > Windows
Speeding up Windows:
Turn off system restore. Only do this if you are an experienced user and keep regular backups.
Defragment your disk.
Install more memory (RAM). For XP, you should have at least 1GB, for Vista, at least 2Gb.
Prevent unneccessary programs from starting at boot-up.
View PDF files with a program like "Foxit reader", instead of Acrobat reader.
Use XP instead of Vista, unless you have a very fast system.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Technology > Computers > Operating systems > Windows
Keyboard shortcuts: Using the "Windows" key on your keyboard (bottom left) can speed things up. For example, "Windows-D" will bring your desktop to the top. Hitting "Windows-D" again will restore all your other applications as they were. Alt-tab will let you switch between applications (keep the alt-key held down). Tab and shift-tab is a quick way to move between different fields.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Technology > Computers > Operating systems > Windows
Shortcuts for tabbed-browsing:
1. Ctrl-click will open a link in a new tab, as will clicking the middle mouse button (or mouse wheel). Shift-click will open the link in a completely new window.
2. You can drag tabs to different locations on the tab bar.
3. Ctrl-T to open a new tab.
[guest]
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Main > Technology > Computers > Operating systems > Windows
Vista:
If you're using "Aero" interface,
Windows-Tab (Windows key and tab key together): brings up a nifty 3-D "switch between windows" dialog. Use your mouse wheel to scroll the windows, and click on the window you want to switch to.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Technology > Computers > Operating systems > Windows
Windows Key shortcuts:
Windows-D: Desktop (and restore apps).
Windows-R: Run dialog.
Windows-Tab: (with Aero) switch windows.
Windows-E: Explore.
Windows-F1: Windows help.
Windows-F: Find.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Technology > Computers > Operating systems > Windows
Windows-Pause_Break - System Properties
Windows-L - Lock the session
[guest]
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Main > Technology > Computers > Operating systems > Linux
For help using Linux, check internet forums.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Technology > Computers > Operating systems > Linux
To test Linux, try it 'live'. This means it is not installed onto your computer. You can trial-run a downloaded package from within Windows or straight from a CD (e.g. Knoppix).
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Technology > Computers > Operating systems > Linux
Take a test to find a distribution to suit you: link
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Technology > Computers > Operating systems > Linux > SuSE
For a free and excellent operating system, try the new openSUSE 11. Installation is easy. But you will need to install DVD-playing codecs separately from here: link (as the usual codecs are proprietary software)
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Technology > Computers > Operating systems > Linux > SuSE
Security: Like all Linux distributions, internet-security is not the issue it is in Windows because Linux installs all system files in a separate "root" partition inaccessible in the normal runlevel. It can only be accessed by a "root" password. However, SuSE ships with the AppArmor firewall should you think it necessary.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Technology > Computers > Operating systems > Linux > SuSE
Desktop environment: This presents a range of the typical user's applications, with variations. The options in SuSE are: Gnome, KDE 3.5, or KDE 4.0. Gnome is the simplest, and most stable; KDE 4.0 has less stability but most development.
Multiple desktops: A single desktop is basically the graphic user environment, that sits "under" all the programs/windows that are opened. It usually holds shortcuts to the user's favourite applications. To have multiple desktops, e.g. one for file management, one for internet and email, one for entering commands in the console, and so forth, do this:
Right-click on the toolbar panel, 'add widget' and choose KPager for as many desktops as you like. Give desktops short memorable names like 'fs' for filesystem, 'mu' for music, and these will display in the tiny KPager icon on the toolbar panel.
Attach applications to particular desktops by right-clicking on an application's titlebar and choosing either 'To Desktop: mu' or 'Advanced/Special Application Settings/Desktop/Apply Initially/mu'.
A short-cut: Alt+Tab or Alt+Shift+Tab cycles forwards or backwards through desktops.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Technology > Computers > Operating systems > Linux > SuSE
Short-cuts: Find shortcuts and tips in KTip.
- Use the command-line to run KTip (or any application or command).
- Type Alt+F2 to run the command-line.
- Type KTip in the command-line to run KTip.
- You can also browse URLs by typing them in the command-line.
Some useful shortcuts:
- Double-click on title bar of application to reduce it to titlebar only.
- Hold Alt key and left-click on window to drag and move it with the mouse. Hold Alt key and right-click and drag window to resize it.
- Middle-click pastes text after copying with left-click selection.
- Within Konqueror which is a file manager, web browser, and server file manager:
fish://username@hostname -this accesses server files you have ssh access to, when typed into the location bar in Konqueror;
gg:----- -fill the blank with a search term to search in Google;
help:/------ -fill the blank with application name to open the help handbook for that application;
F4 -open a terminal console at the current location to avoid having to change directories manually.
- Within Konsole, the terminal console, which is similar to Window's command-line program:
kmail --composer - typing this into the console has the email program open up only the composing window to send an email.
kellyjones00 (593)
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