Alternate Program Close
If you have a window or program running minimized to the Task Bar and want to close it without maximizing it for others to see, here is how.

Go to the Task Bar and right click on the window or program button, then left click on close.

 

Start Menu Program List
Windows XP displays the most recently used programs in the start menu for quick use.

Here is how to increase or decrease the number of used programs that the Start Menu displays, and how to clear the list. Right click on the Start Button, and left click on properties. This will open the Menu Properties box. In Menu Properties, left click on the Customize button.

Here you can increase or decrease the number of programs listed on the Start Menu, and you can, if you like, clear the list by left clicking on the Clear List button.

Then left click OK on both dialog boxes to set your changes.

 

Remember Briefcase?
By default Windows XP does not set up Briefcase file backup. If you want to activate it in XP, just right click on an empty part of your desktop.

Then, go to New, and left click on Briefcase. That will install it on your desktop. Now you can simply use it like you did in other versions of Windows.

If Briefcase is not available as a choice, use this procedure instead. Click on Start, then click on Run.

In the Run text box type syncapp and click OK. This will install Briefcase on your desktop.

 

XP System Search
XP offers some really powerful file search capabilities. Click on Start, and then click on Search.

This will open the search results window.

Here you can search for pictures, music, files and documents that you just can't seem to find on your computer. You can also search for listings in your address book, and search the Internet. Help for file searching is also provided.

 

My Pictures Slide Show
Windows XP has some really great options for viewing your pictures and photos. Here we will show how ASW XP users can preview and view photos using Windows XP preview and slide show. First, go to the taskbar and click on your ASW File Folder.

In the ASW File Folder, click on My Pictures.

When the My Pictures folder opens, you will see a film strip type preview on the bottom of your pictures and picture folders. If you have additional folders, put the mouse over the folder to select it, or click on the folder to preview all the pictures in it. To view the pictures as a slide show, click on View as slide show.

The picture viewer will open showing the first picture. In the upper right corner you have the slide show control bar. You can pause the slide show, or manually view the pictures. When your done click the X to close the viewer and you will return to your pictures folder.

You can navigate through your various folders by using the Back and Forward buttons in the top left just like in your web browser.

 

Keeping Your Time Correct
Windows XP offers the option to keep your Windows time accurate to the second. Once the option is set, when you are connected to the Internet, Windows XP will check for the correct time on a weekly basis and correct it automatically. Broadband users are always connected, so this task is done on a weekly basis whenever you are using Windows XP.

Here is how to set this option. Click on Start, then on Control Panel in the start menu.

In the Control Panel, click on the Date and Time icon to open the date and time properties.

In the date and time properties box, click on the Internet Time tab. Click the check box next to Automatically synchronize with an Internet time server. Then click OK on the bottom to activate this option. Now your system clock will be corrected on a weekly basis right over the Internet so you will always have the correct time. Tip: Clicking on the Update Now button will check and correct the time immediately.