PC Hints and Tips

Before you make any major changes in Windows, you should always set a System Restore point that you can roll back to in the event of any problems arising. Points are often created automatically for you but it never hurts to create another, just to make sure. To use System Restore in Vista, click Start and type ‘restore’ (without the quotes) into the search box. In XP, go to Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools and click System Restore. From here, you can manually create a System Restore point or return your computer to a previous set-up.

Simply right-click the picture and then click Set as Background.

Insert your Windows Installation disc and boot from there. At the ‘Welcome to Setup’ screen, hit R to start the Recovery Console. Once this has loaded, type ‘fixboot’ (without the quotes), hit Enter and then try rebooting your system. This should solve the problem, if it doesn’t, repeat the process but this time type ‘fixmbr’ (again, without the quotes).

In Windows XP, you can rename multiple files simultaneously. Select all the revelant files, then right-click and select Rename. Type in your chosen title and they will be all renamed according to what you entered, with a number in brackets to differentiate between them.

If you need to leave your computer in hurry but want to keep documents safe from prying eyes, you can lock your Desktop by pressing the Windows key and the L key at the same time.

When you have three or more files opened in the same application, WIndows saves space by combining them in a single Taskbar button. To prevent this from happening, right-click the Start button and select Properties. Click the Taskbar tab and deselect the option ‘Group similar taskbar buttons’.

If you’re struggling to find programs in the Start menu, you can reorder it alphabetically Just right-click any program in the menu and select ‘Sort by name’.

You can move your most frequently accessed programs to the top of the Start menu. Click Start, All Programs, right-click the program shortcut you want and select ‘Pin to Start Menu’.

To turn your favourite snaps into a screensaver, right-click the Desktop, select Properties and click the Screen Saver tab. From the drop-down list select My Pictures Slideshow, or click Settings to choose a different folder of photos on your hard disk.

To cut your click rate in hald, open any folder, then go to Tools, Folder Options. In the ‘Click items as follows’ section, select ‘Single-clic to open an item (point to select)’ and click OK.