Eight great Windows tips you may not know

For Windows XP through Windows 7 (Most work in Windows 8 with Classic Shell start menu installed)

1. Lock your computer

Press Win+L to lock your computer.

2. Switch user

Switch users without going through the Welcome screen. Click CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to open Task Manager. Click the “Users” tab in Task Manager, right-click a User name and select Connect.

3. Hibernate computer

Hold down the shift key in the shutdown dialog to change “Stand By” to “Hibernate”. Or just press H to hibernate instantly. You can also use the Power Control Panel to configure your power button to hibernate.

4. Choose details

Open Windows Explorer. From the View Menu, select “Choose Details” to select which file properties should be shown in the Explorer window. To sort items by a file property, check its name in the “Choose Details” in order to make that property available in the “Arrange Icons by” menu.

5. Display volume control icon in taskbar

To display the volume control icon in the taskbar, click Start/Control Panel then go to Sounds and Audio Devices and select “Place volume icon in the taskbar”.

6.Delete a file without sending it to the recycle bin

Hold down the shift key when deleting a file to delete it immediately. It won’t go to the Recycle Bin first, it will be deleted. Use with care.

7. Open your browser to full-screen mode

To run Internet Explorer, Firefox or Chrome in full-screen mode just press the F11 key. Press it again to return to normal-mode.

8. Go backward or forward when browsing the Web using only your mouse wheel

To move backward or forward while browsing the Web with Internet Explorer, Chrome or Firefox, hold the Shift key while turning the mouse wheel to go forward or backward.