Create WiFi Hotspot using Command Prompt

The following are the steps to create a WiFi hotspot using Command Line:

a) Open an Administrator Command Prompt.
b) Type netsh and press enter.
c) Type wlan and press enter.
d) Create a hosted network by typing the following command:

set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=NetworkName key=password

e) Type the following command to start the created hotspot:

start hostednetwork

f) Anytime when you're done, type the following to stop it:

stop hostednetwork

Add Computer Shortcut to Windows (7 & 8) TaskBar

The Windows 7 and 8 Taskbar has the Libraries Shortcut pinned to it which takes you to the Libraries i.e. Documents, Music etc. but not to MyComputer. Here is how to add My Computer.

a) Unpin the Libraries shortcut from the taskbar.

b) Right Click on Desktop and click on New > Shortcut.

c) Type the following in the location:

C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:MyComputerFolder

d) Click Next. Type any name for the shortcut and click Finish.

e) Right Click on the shortcut and click Pin to Taskbar.

100+ keyboard shortcuts you ought to know

Keyboard shortcuts are an excellent way to do your work faster. In this post, we'll introduce you to some of the most commonly used keyboard shortcuts in Windows.

The General Shortcuts

Some really general shortcuts that you often used.

• CTRL+C (Copy)
• CTRL+X (Cut)
• CTRL+V (Paste)
• CTRL+Z (Undo)
• Delete (Delete)
• Shift+Delete (Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin)
• CTRL while dragging an item (Copy the selected item)
• CTRL+Shift while dragging an item (Create a shortcut to the selected item)
• F2 key (Rename the selected item)
• CTRL+RIGHT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word)
• CTRL+LEFT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word)
• CTRL+DOWN ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph)
• CTRL+UP ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph)
• CTRL+Shift with any of the arrow keys (Highlight a block of text)
• Shift with any of the arrow keys (Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document)
• CTRL+A (Select all)
• F3 key (Search for a file or a folder)
• Alt+Enter (View the properties for the selected item)
• Alt+F4 (Close the active item, or quit the active program)
• Alt+Enter (Display the properties of the selected object)
• Alt+Spacebar (Open the shortcut menu for the active window)
• CTRL+F4 (Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
• Alt+Tab (Switch between the open items)
• Alt+ESC (Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened)
• F6 key (Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop)
• F4 key (Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
• Shift+F10 (Display the shortcut menu for the selected item)
• Alt+Spacebar (Display the System menu for the active window)
• CTRL+ESC (Display the Start menu)
• Alt+Underlined letter in a menu name (Display the corresponding menu)
• Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu (Perform the corresponding command)
• F10 key (Activate the menu bar in the active program)
• RIGHT ARROW (Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu)
• LEFT ARROW (Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu)
• F5 key (Update the active window)
• Backspace (View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
• ESC (Cancel the current task)
• Shift when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing)

Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts

• CTRL+Tab (Move forward through the tabs)
• CTRL+Shift+Tab (Move backward through the tabs)
• Tab (Move forward through the options)
• Shift+Tab (Move backward through the options)
• Alt+Underlined letter (Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option)
• Enter (Perform the command for the active option or button)
• Spacebar (Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box)
• Arrow keys (Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons)
• F1 key (Display Help)
• F4 key (Display the items in the active list)
• Backspace (Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box)

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Shortcuts

• Win (Display or hide the Start menu)
• Win+BREAK (Display the System Properties dialog box)
• Win+D (Display the desktop)
• Win+M (Minimize all of the windows)
• Win+Shift+M (Restore the minimized windows)
• Win+E (Open My Computer)
• Win+F (Search for a file or a folder)
• CTRL+Win+F (Search for computers)
• Win+F1 (Display Windows Help)
• Win+ L (Lock the keyboard)
• Win+R (Open the Run dialog box)
• Win+U (Open Utility Manager)

Accessibility Keyboard Shortcuts

• Right Shift for eight seconds (Switch FilterKeys either on or off)
• Left Alt+left Shift+PRINT SCREEN (Switch High Contrast either on or off)
• Left Alt+left Shift+NUM LOCK (Switch the MouseKeys either on or off)
• Shift five times (Switch the StickyKeys either on or off)
• NUM LOCK for five seconds (Switch the ToggleKeys either on or off)
• Win +U (Open Utility Manager)

Windows Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts

• END (Display the bottom of the active window)
• HOME (Display the top of the active window)
• NUM LOCK+* (Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder)
• NUM LOCK++ (Display the contents of the selected folder)
• NUM LOCK+- (Collapse the selected folder)
• LEFT ARROW (Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder)
• RIGHT ARROW (Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder)

Shortcut Keys for Character Map

• After you double-click a character on the grid of characters, you can move through the grid by using the keyboard shortcuts:
• RIGHT ARROW (Move to the right or to the beginning of the next line)
• LEFT ARROW (Move to the left or to the end of the previous line)
• UP ARROW (Move up one row)
• DOWN ARROW (Move down one row)
• PAGE UP (Move up one screen at a time)
• PAGE DOWN (Move down one screen at a time)
• HOME (Move to the beginning of the line)
• END (Move to the end of the line)
• CTRL+HOME (Move to the first character)
• CTRL+END (Move to the last character)
• Spacebar (Switch between Enlarged and Nor mal mode when a character is selected)

Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Main Window Keyboard Shortcuts

• CTRL+O (Open a saved console)
• CTRL+N (Open a new console)
• CTRL+S (Save the open console)
• CTRL+M (Add or remove a console item)
• CTRL+W (Close window/tab)
• F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)
• Alt+Spacebar (Display the MMC window menu)
• Alt+F4 (Close the console)
• Alt+A (Display the Action menu)
• Alt+V (Display the View menu)
• Alt+F (Display the File menu)
• Alt+O (Display the Favorites menu)

MMC Console Window Keyboard Shortcuts

• CTRL+P (Print the current page or active pane)
• Alt+- (Display the window menu for the active console window)
• Shift+F10 (Display the Action shortcut menu for the selected item)
• F1 key (Open the Help topic, if any, for the selected item)
• F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)
• CTRL+F10 (Maximize the active console window)
• CTRL+F5 (Restore the active console window)
• Alt+Enter (Display the Properties dialog box, if any, for the selected item)
• F2 key (Rename the selected item)
• CTRL+F4 (Close the active console window. When a console has only one console window, this shortcut closes the console)

Remote Desktop Connection Navigation

• CTRL+Alt+END (Open the m*cro$oft Windows NT Security dialog box)
• Alt+PAGE UP (Switch between programs from left to right)
• Alt+PAGE DOWN (Switch between programs from right to left)
• Alt+INSERT (Cycle through the programs in most recently used order)
• Alt+HOME (Display the Start menu)
• CTRL+Alt+BREAK (Switch the client computer between a window and a full screen)
• Alt+Delete (Display the Windows menu)
• CTRL+Alt+- (Place a snapshot of the active window in the client on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)
• CTRL+Alt++ (Place a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing Alt+PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)

Internet Explorer navigation

• CTRL+B (Open the Organize Favorites dialog box)
• CTRL+E (Open the Search bar)
• CTRL+F (Start the Find utility)
• CTRL+H (Open the History bar)
• CTRL+I (Open the Favorites bar)
• CTRL+L (Open the Open dialog box)
• CTRL+N (Start another instance of the browser with the same Web address)
• CTRL+O (Open the Open dialog box, the same as CTRL+L)
• CTRL+P (Open the Print dialog box)
• CTRL+R (Update the current Web page)
• CTRL+W (Close the current window)

Add Run option to Windows 7 Start Menu

The Run option in Windows is very frequently used. Even though we have the shortcut Windows Key + R for the Run command we may need it in the start. By Default Windows 7 does not have Run.. in the start menu like XP had. 
Follow these simple steps to add it:

a) Press Windows Key + R to open Run dialog.

b) Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.

c) Under User Configuration click on Administrative Templates and then click on Start Menu and Taskbar.

d) Look for Add Run command to the Start Menu and double click it.

e) Choose Enabled. Click OK and you're done.

Add your favorite Softwares and links to your Desktop Context Menu (Right Click Menu)

You keep your favorite programs and links on your desktop, pinned to your taskbar but what if you like or use something as frequently as your right click? Everyone would want to add their favorite programs to their Right Click (Context) Menu on your desktop.

Edit your Context Menu

Windows does not normally have an option to add or delete entries from the right click menu but there is always a way.

There are two ways to do the same :
a) Use FContext Tweaker. (Very easy)
b) Use Registry Editor. (A bit advanced)

Let us go by the easy one for now (advanced will be discussed in some later post). Here are the steps:

a) Download FContext Tweaker from http://sourceforge.net/projects/fcontexttweaker/ (Only about 1.2 MB)

b) Open the downloaded software.

c) Go to Tweak > Desktop Context Menu > Add Custom Items.

Tweak > Desktop Context Menu > Add Custom Items

d) In the Add Program tab click on the '...' button next to Command.

Add Custom Items

e) Browse for the Executable (.exe) file of your favorite application.

f) Click on '...' near Icon and browse for the Icon file (.ico) only if you want to add a custom icon (leave whatever comes in that field if you want to use the default icon of the program).

g) In the Text enter the name that you want to see for your favorite program.

h) In Position select the Position (Top, Center or Bottom) according to your pref.

i) Tick on the Extended <Shift+Click> if you want the program to appear only when you right click the desktop while pressing Shift Key.

j) Click on Add Program button and your program will be added successfully. 

Click Add Program

Item added successfully.

See the added 'Music Player' Option

HOW TO REMOVE AN ADDED PROGRAM:

a) Go to Tweak > Desktop Context Menu > Current Items.

b) Select the Program you want to remove from the list and click the Delete Button to delete it.

Deleting Item

P.S.: FContext Tweaker is tested on Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Change the Icon of Your Flash Drive (Pen Drive)

Change the icon of your flash drive (SD Card or Pen Drive) such that it appears the way you wish it to appear on every computer you plug in the device to. 

Follow these simple steps : 

1) Take any icon file (a file which has a .ico extension) you want to see as your flash drive icon and rename it to "flashicon.ico" 

2) Copy this file to your flash drive.

3) Open Notepad and type the following :
  
  [autorun]
  icon=flashicon.ico

4) Save the file as "autorun.inf" (with quotes i.e. a file named autorun with extension as .inf) directly in your flash drive.

5) Now go to your flash drive and hide both these files i.e. "flashicon.ico" and "autorun.inf".

6) Eject your flash drive and plug it in again to see your desired icon.

P.S. - In case you don't know what is a .ico (icon) file you can download free icons from http://www.iconspedia.com or you can re-size your own desired image (jpeg or preferably png)  to 32 x 32 pixels or 64 x 64 pixels and save it as an icon (.ico) file using Photoshop or GIMP.