NWA-PCUG Newsletter Article, April 2012
Discovering Windows 7 – Part 22
By Neil Stahfest, Vice President,
Tacoma Area PC User Group, Washington December 2011 issue,
the Data Line
http://www.tapcug.org
NCStahfest (at) msn.com (click to email author)

The Windows operating system contains a number of built-in functions to display files, change display settings, change mouse settings, etc. Most of these functions can be accessed in more than one way. By pressing the Windows logo key (the key with the waving Windows flag – usually to the left of the space bar) either alone or in combination with another key enables you to work with Windows without using a mouse or other pointer device. For example, instead of clicking on the Windows Start Button to open the Start Menu, just press the Windows logo key. More examples follow:

File search - If you want to find a file you could click on the Windows Start button and then type the name of the file in the search box that appears above the Start button. This requires that you take one hand off the keyboard, grab the mouse, point at the button, left click and then take your hand off the mouse to enter the file name.

Using the Windows logo key, you can search without removing your fingers from the keyboard. All you have to do is simultaneously press the Windows logo key and the F key. When the search box appears, just enter the file name you are looking for.

Copying between folders - Do you ever need to move files from one folder to another? I frequently copy or move files to a flash drive. I also move pictures from my digital camera to my computer.

The usual way to copy or move files is to both folders at the same time so you can see the contents. To do this you is to open one folder, click to reduce the size of the folder to less than full screen, then move your mouse pointer to the top of the windows and click and drag the folder to the side until it “snaps” to file one side of the screen. Then you open the second folder, reduce the size, click and drag it to the other side of the screen. Then you click and drag to copy or move file from one folder to the other.

Using the Windows logo key method, you open one folder, hold down the Windows logo key and press the right arrow key to move it to one side of the screen. Next you open the second folder, hold down the Windows logo key and press the left arrow key to move it to the left side of the screen. Then you copy or move files from one folder to another in the usual manner.

Windows mobility center - Do you have a portable computer? Try pressing the Windows logo key and the X key. This opens the Windows Mobility Center. From this menu you can adjust screen brightness, check battery power and turn on or off your wireless network connection.

Connecting to multiple displays - Do you ever connect your computer to more than one display or a projector? Try pressing the Windows logo key and the P key. This brings up Windows projection controls. Use the arrow keys to switch between the choices available.

Windows properties - Do you know what your computer’s system properties are? What version of Windows are you using? Is it 32-bit or 64-bit operating system? How much RAM (memory) is installed? What processor is installed in your computer? These are questions I frequently ask when I’m looking at someone else’s computer. There are several ways to find this information but the easiest way is to simultaneously pressing the Windows logo key and the Pause key (you may have to scroll to see all the contents of this Window).

As you can see the Windows logo key can be pretty useful. It lets you directly access many Windows functions without going through the Windows Control Panel or using your mouse and provides a faster way to control Windows. To learn more, click on the Start button, select “Help and Support” and type “shortcut keys” in the search box.

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