WindowsXP Interface Tips VII

18. Add the Admin Tools to the Start Menu

If you often find yourself using the administrative tools accessible from the Windows XP control panel, you can actually add these to the start menu for easy access.

To do this right clicks on the start button and select 'properties.' Click the 'customize' button next to the 'start menu' option. Choose the 'advanced' tab. In the 'start menu items' box, scroll down until you find the 'administrative tools' entry. Change the option to 'display on the all programs menu and the start menu.'

19. Closing Multiple Taskbar Items at Once

Here's a quick tip which might help you in navigating your taskbar and desktop. You can highlight and close multiple taskbar windows at once by using the same syntax you use for selecting multiple files in Windows Explorer.

Simply hold down the CTRL key and click on each taskbar item you want closed. They will all become selected, and you can right click on any one of them and choose 'close group' to close all selected windows.

20. Using 'Groups' in Windows Explorer

Displaying items by group is a convenient feature available in Windows Explorer, but one that many people do not know about or use. Give it a try and maybe you'll discover an easier way to organize your cluttered folders.

To use groups in Windows Explorer navigate to the folder you wish to group and go to 'view\arrange icons by\' then select the 'show in groups' option. Now, whenever you choose an 'arrange icons by' option such as name, date modified or size, Explorer will group them in categories depending on each file's properties.

This is especially handy when searching for files of a specific type.