A Few Old Computer Tricks and Tips: Windows

1. Backup - Backup - Backup - Backup - Backup - Backup -  Backup ...and in case you weren't listening... Backup!
2. Defragment your hard-drive(s) on a regular basis to  consolidate free space. This may not be quite as vital today, as  our drives approach and often exceed a terabyte in size, but it's  still important.
3. Referring back to tip number one, always be sure you have an  up-to-date backup before applying major software updates.
4. Use the Windows installer to delete programs, don't just throw  them in the trash.
5. Clean out temporary Internet files and Internet history on a  regular basis.
6. Make sure that the size of the Recycle Bin and your web  browser cache are within reasonable limits. You don't need  gigabytes of garbage and/or stored web pages.
7. Make sure that the computer has an up-to-date video driver.  This can be a common cause of display and spontaneous reboot problems.
8. Alt key keyboard shortcuts:
• ALT+underlined letter in menu: Opens the menu
• ALT+SPACE: Displays the main window's SYSTEM menu
• ALT+TAB: Switch between open programs
• ALT+ENTER: Open the properties for the selected object
• ALT+DOWN ARROW: Opens a drop-down list box
• ALT+F4: Quit program
• ALT+F6: Switch between multiple windows in the same  program
• ALT+double click: Displays properties
9. Ctrl key keyboard shortcuts:
• CTRL+A: Select all the items in the current window
• CTRL+B: Bold
• CTRL+C: Copy
• CTRL+G: Opens the Go To Folder tool
• CTRL+I: Italic
• CTRL+U: Underline
• CTRL+V: Paste
• CTRL+X: Cut
• CTRL+Z: Undo ( Undo the last command)
• CTRL+ESC: Open START menu
10. Function Keys
• F1: opens help
• F2: rename object
• F3: find all files
  
• F4: selects the "Go to A Different Folder" box on the taskbar,  and moves down the entries
• F5: refreshes current window
• F6: moves among panes
• F11: Toggle between full screen and regular view of the  browser window