Tech Tips & Tricks

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Microsoft Sysinternals, originally created by Mark Russinovich to “host his advanced system utilities and technical information”

Microsoft PowerToys: Utilities to customize aspects of Windows (multiple languages supported, and a video walk-through)

  • Always on Top
  • PowerToys Awake
  • Color Picker
  • FancyZones
  • File Explorer add-ons
  • File Locksmith
  • Hosts file editor
  • Image Resizer
  • Keyboard Manager
  • Mouse Utilities
  • Paste as Plain Text
  • PowerRename
  • Quick Accent
  • Registry Preview
  • PowerToys Run
  • Shortcut Guide
  • Text Extractor
  • Video Conference Mute

  • Thanks to student Tony Pierce, who showed me the following…
    When you’re in an MMC Management Console, or Windows Explorer, that has columns in the details pane you can hit CTRL + + (hold CTRL, then hit “+” twice in a row) and it will magically expand every column in the details pane to fit the maximum value in any column. This was one of the few remaining reasons which required a “rodent” (mouse). Thanks, TonyP!
     
  • Your RDP/Terminal Services client has several valuable shortcuts…within the TermServices client window click on the Help button to do a search for the string “shortcut”.
     
  • Customize your Windows XP “Start” button (from Annoyances.org)
     
  • List of all Windows MMC Console Files (.MSC files) (For the purpose of making shortcuts and launching tools from the Start Menu)
     
  • List of Windows Control Panels (.CPL files). Launch any Control Panel from the “Run…” command using its file name, such as “ncpa.cpl” to launch the Network Connections Control Panel
     
  • List of popular executable names to easily launch from the “Run…” command
  • Are you new to the command prompt environment. Download and walk through the exercises in this file to gain proficiency.
  • Want to learn more about cryptography? Download all the chapters from this excellent book (referenced elsewhere on this site), “Cryptography Decrypted” by H.X. Mel

Wallpaper Tricks and Fun

Microsoft Teams