Incredible XP Tips You Wish You Knew Before You Read This, Part II

Incredible XP Tips you wish you knew before you read this, Part II

In Part I, I wrote about using short cut keys while using XP. In this edition, I am going to be focusing on the run line. This is sometimes referred to as the start run line.

There are many built-in commands that may be run out-of-the-box. When these tips and tricks are employed, you will find yourself able to move through XP much faster and efficiently.

In order to find the run line (RL), you will need to click on the Windows Start Button.

From there, you will notice the Run command a few lines up from the start button. Click it. You may also you the following combination of keys: "WINDOWS KEY" + r

When you click the Run line, a new dialog box will appear. This is the box where you will be typing in these shortcuts.

Useful RL commands for the novice and end-user:
(These commands are every-day, useful commands that everyone can use)

CAPS Will only work if additional software has been installed

*Web-browsers:

iexplore Opens Internet Explorer
FIREFOX Opens Firefox

*Applications:

calc Opens the Windows Calculator
EXCEL Opens Microsoft Excel
FRONTPG Opens Microsoft Frontpage
msimn Opens Outlook Express
NERO Opens Nero
notepad Opens Microsoft Notepad
OUTLOOK Opens up Microsoft Outlook
pbrush Opens Microsoft Paint
POWERPNT Opens Microsoft Power Point
tourstart Opens the Microsoft Tour
WINWORD Opens Microsoft Word
wordpad Opens Microsoft Wordpad

*Audio/Video:

QUICTIMEPLAYER Opens Quicktimes Player
moviemk Opens Windows Movie Maker
realplay Opens Real Audios Player
wmplayer Opens Microsoft Media Player

*Games:
freecell Opens Freecell
pinaball Opens Pinball
spider Opens Spider Solataire

*Utilities:
clipbrd Opens the contents of the clipboard
control Opens the control panel
explore Opens Windows explorer
logoff Logoff the current user
magnify Opens the magnify utility
osk Opens the on-screen keyboard
printers Opens the printers panel
shutdown Shutdown the computer

*Exploring the computer:

You may also enter simple paths into the RL. For example:

C: Will open the contents of your hard drive
A: Will open the contents of your floppy drive
D: Will open the contents of your CD/DVD drive (usually)
?: Insert a letter for ?, this will open the contents of that
drive

In addition, you may enter a full file path like C:\windows. This will open the windows directory. Also, if you are currently in an explorer window, you may enter an internet address and your default web-browser will open, and vice-versa; You may also enter a local address, such as C:\windows , within your web-browser, and it will open the local path as well.

*Opening Web Pages:

By typing in a web-address using the RL, the default browser will automatically open. There is no need to start the web-browser first.

*Advanced RL commands:

.CPL commands:
(These are commands that open up specific control panels)

access.cpl Accessibility options
appwiz.cpl Add or remove programs
desk.cpl Display properties
hdwwiz.cpl Add hardware wizard
inetcpl.cpl Internet Explorer properties
intl.cpl Regional and language options
joy.cpl Game controllers
main.cpl Mouse properties
mmsys.cpl Sounds and audio device properties
ncpa.cpl Network connections
nusrmgr.cpl User accounts
odbccp32.cpl ODBC data source administrator
powercfg.cpl Power options properties
sysdm.cpl System properties
telephon.cpl Phone and modem options
timedate.cpl Date and time properties

.MSC RL commands:
(These are commands that open up Microsoft Management Console
Snap-ins. Some of these only work with XP Professional)

certmgr.msc certificates
ciadv.msc Indexing service
compmgmt.msc Computer management
devmgmt.msc Device manager
dfrg.msc Defragmenter
diskmgmt.msc Disk management
eventvwr.msc Event viewer
fsmgmt.msc Shared folders
lusrmgr.msc Local users and groups
ntmsmgr.msc Removable storage
ntmsoprq.msc Removable storage operator requests
perfmon.msc Performance monitor
services.msc Services
wmimgmt.msc Windows management infrastructure

There are others as well

*Creating your own RL shortcuts:

There are many ways to make RL shortcuts to applications. Some involve changing the registry and some involve other complexities. The following are the two easiest methods:

Method 1 (easiest, little risk):

1. Create a windows shortcut of the application you would like to
open by using the RL.

2. Save it to the Windows sub-directory. This is usually the
file path:C:\Windows.

3. Now you should be able to open the application using the RL.

Using the method works 99.9% of the time.

Method 2 (a little harder, but still easy in comparison to others,
some risk):

1. Open the control panel and choose Systems Properties.

2. Choose the Advanced tab and click Environment Variables.

3. From the Systems variables section, highlight Path and
click edit.

4. Go to the end of the entry name Variable value: and insert
this: ;c:\shortcuts

***Do not change anything else, or you may cause severe problems
withother applications and their function!

***REMEMBER, YOU ARE ADDING THIS TO THE EXISTING LINE, NOT DELETING
WHAT IS ALREADY THERE!

5. In the dialog boxes, click ok, then ok, then ok.

6. Create a directory (folder) called shortcuts in your C:\ ,
root directory. The address line should read, C:\shortcuts when
you open it.

7. Create a windows shortcut of the application you would like to
open by using the RL.

8. Save it to the shortcut sub-directory you just made in the
previous steps.

9. Now you should be able to open the application using the RL.

Obviously, when you understand the above process, you may label and locate the directory anywhere you wish. By using the 2nd method you will be able to organize your shortcuts in a much cleaner fashion.

~J. Pisano (c)2006

YOU MAY VIEW THIS ARTICLE WITH EXTRA PHOTOS BY VISITING:
http://jpisano.com/blog/?p=54

Prof. Joseph M. Pisano is the Assistant Chairman of Music and Fine Arts & Director of Music and Fine Arts Technology at Grove City College, Grove City, PA. Just Audiobahn

Collectible Porcelain Dolls and the Collectible Antique Doll

Playing with dolls is almost every little girls favourite pastime and while some girls almost never totally give up their toys, others make a hobby out of it and collect collectible porcelain dolls. Collectible Dolls are wonderful items for children and adults alike. Collectible dolls can be made of porcelain, or can be a reminder of a childhood past, which is the effect Cabbage Patch kids have on many people. However, for a true taste of American history, one need look no further than the American Girls Collection for a perfect collectible doll.

The American Girls Collection was first designed by an educator named Pleasant T. Rowland. She was unhappy with how most dolls were created with the concept of adulthood (in particular motherhood) in mind. Rowland thought that dolls for girls should have more of a focus on girlhood itself, and thus the American Girls Collection was born.

These collectible dolls represent a cross-section of the cultures, economic backgrounds, and societal problems that many young girls had to deal with over the course of American history. Each collectible doll has a story, and each story comes in the form of a corresponding book series. These books highlight such issues as slavery, child labour, and poverty.

Porcelain dolls have been a special item almost from the very minute they were invented. It was never a toy for a little girl to play with but more for an adult to collect and treasure. Collectible porcelain dolls are very delicate with unique features and carefully designed details.

Each and every little detail is taken in consideration when a collectible porcelain doll is appraised because any and every little damage especially to the face, which is the most fragile, will bring its value down on the collectors market.

The thing to remember about a collectible antique doll is that at one point it is usually the best friend and confidante of a young girl, often dressed and played with and may have been repaired along they way. Knowledge is imperative for anyone anticipating starting a doll collection to ensure that they are getting what they pay for in their collection.

Another key to having a collectible antique doll is that original clothing and accessories will often set you back perhaps more than the price of the doll itself. As people begin their collections it is not unusual for them to pick up well-worn dolls with the thought of restoring them to original condition. Bear in mind, a good pair of shoes for a collectible antique doll, such as French bisque, could cost about $100. Original clothing for some dolls can cost several hundreds of dollars.

Many collectible antique dolls come in all shapes and sizes with some, like a frozen china doll, being less than two inches tall. It should be noted that a frozen doll is one that does not move at all. These and other collectible antique dolls are available and although their prices have risen recent years, there are still bargains to be found.

Additional points to look for are the clothing as quality collectible antique dolls also came with original clothing and many of the outfits rivalled your dresses in quality, fit and prices. It isnt unusual for an original dress to cost upwards of $500 in good condition. In fact, there are some people who own valued collectible antique doll clothing but the dolls are of inferior condition. They are focusing on the threads not the doll.

There are a vast number of collectible porcelain dolls which make the treasures of a true collector, from baby dolls to dolls representative of different national costumes, the list and the fascination is endless. Again, the details are what make one collectible porcelain doll more valuable than the other.

Copyright 2006 Michael SavilleWii Play Controller