10+. Freely customize Windows colors (in the Control Panel) to give your computer a personal look. But if your memory is low or hard disk is slow, don't use wallpaper or screen savers; they take a lot of resources.  

10+. Don't use desktop themes! They may look and sound cool but they really slow you down.

10+. Right-click on most icons, buttons, and other screen objects to see a menu of additional operations available for that item.

10. Multitask. Under Windows, you don't have to close one program to start up another.  While your current Windows program is active, press down the START key on your keyboard to bring up the Start menu; then, with your mouse, select the program you want to start.  Or, if you can see its icon on your desktop, click on it.

(Windows keyboards have two 'START' keys; each one is marked  by a "Windows" icon.  They are in the bottom row, between the CTRL and the ALT keys, on both sides of the space bar.)

While Windows is running, the Task List will always be there to let you switch between your active tasks. You can see your open tasks by pressing ALT+TAB (that is, holding ALT and pressing TAB). Each icon belongs to a program that is currently open; the 'list' of icons will stay visible as long as you keep the ALT key down. Then, while you are still holding ALT down, tap the TAB key until you select the task you want; when it's selected, release the ALT key.

If you've already got several programs open, use the Task List to see if a program is already active before you start another copy of it: hold down ALT, press TAB, and look for the icon of the program you want to use. If it is active, just select it from the Task List. This avoids starting multiple copies of the same program and helps keep you from running out of memory. 

If you can see your Task Bar on your Desktop, you will see that it contains buttons that duplicate the icons in your Task List.  Clicking one of these buttons on the Task Bar is another way to switch between active programs.

Hot switch between your two most recently used applications with ALT+TAB.  First hold down the ALT key, then press Tab.

Finally, don’t run too many tasks at once. Windows can quit working.

Some programs are smart enough to know if they are already running, and don't start new copies of themselves, but instead return you to the copy already running.

9. If you have Windows 95 or an older version of Windows 98, install the Active Desktop.  Active Desktop is included in Windows 98 Second Edition Gold and Windows ME.  If you are using Windows 95, Active Desktop is installed with Internet Explorer v.4.  The next 3 items work rely on Active Desktop.

The "Show Desktop" icon is your friend.  It looks like a little shovel but that icon is supposed to be a pen or pencil on an uncluttered desk blotter.  What it does is minimize every one of your open programs so you can see your desktop.   From there you can open any additional program you wish (by clicking on its icon on your desktop, or by using the START menu).  You can also return to a program that is already active (by double-clicking its button on the Task Bar at the screen bottom).   (Only for Active Desktop)

You can see your desktop any time by holding the START button and pressing the M key.  The START+M combination Minimizes all the active programs, so you can see your desktop.  This is the shortcut-key combination for showing your desktop.  NOTE: Some windows don't minimize with this method; you may have to use the "Show Desktop" icon for these.  (Only for Active Desktop)

You can explore your computer any time by holding the START button and pressing the E key.  The START+E combination starts Windows Explorer and opens up your "My Computer" folder.  (Only for Active Desktop)

Tip #9 isn't for everybody:   If you use Windows 95 or Windows 98 First Edition, and you skipped IE 4 and went directly to a higher version of Internet Explorer, you may not be able to install Active Desktop unless you uninstall the newer IE, install IE 4, and then upgrade it back to your original (but newer) IE version.

8. To keep your desktop icons in tidy rows and columns, and make them stay where you put them, right-click on your desktop, anywhere that is away from an icon, and clear the "Auto Arrange" flag on the little menu.  Then right-click on the desktop again and press "Line Up Icons". 

7. CTRL+Z undoes your most recent change in most Windows programs, even when you are typing text into dialog boxes. If you make a mistake while typing something into a field, you can restore it to what it was with CTRL+Z.

6. Use the Windows clipboard to avoid retyping the same text over and over.

It’s easiest to get to the Windows clipboard by using its "hotkeys. " CTRL+C (or CTRL+INS) copies highlighted stuff from screen to the clipboard. CTRL+X (or SHIFT+DEL) 'cuts' the highlighted stuff; these copy the highlighted stuff from screen to clipboard and then clear it from the screen. CTRL+V (or SHIFT+INS) copies stuff from the screen to the clipboard. You’ll usually use it for text but graphics can go into the clipboard too.

The Windows clipboard hotkeys also work when you’re typing text in dialog boxes, or your favorite Windows word processor, and even in Notepad.

5. Make your DOS programs run in Windows screens by pressing ALT+RETURN (holding ALT while pressing RETURN) while the DOS program is on the screen. This lets you see more than just one DOS job at a time. If you use a mouse, you can use the Windows clipboard to cut and paste text between DOS or WINDOWS program screens too: right-click in the top of the DOS window and choose 'Edit', or use the icons on the toolbar.  If you don't see the toolbar, right-click in the top of the DOS window and flag the 'Toolbar' selection.  You will be able to copy, cut and paste to and from your DOS program as though it were a Windows program.

4. Make up a folder on your desktop that includes your most frequently used applications. This will prevent your having to open twenty folders when you look for your tools. Create the new folder by right-clicking on your desktop, then choosing "New", then picking "Folder". After you choose OK, you’ll see on your desktop a new, empty folder with a name like "New Folder". Give the folder a helpful or humorous name so that it will stand out.  (Change the folder's name at any time by highlighting its icon and pressing F2, or right-clicking on it and selecting "Rename".) Fill the new group by copying icons for your frequently-used programs from other folders. If you have Active Directory installed, you can copy shortcut icons directly from the pulldowns of the Windows Start menu and sub-menus.

To copy an icon using the mouse, move the mouse to the icon, press and hold the CTRL key, then press and hold the left mouse button, As you move the mouse, you’ll see the original icon stay put while the copy moves with the mouse (a little plus sign [+] will travel with the copy). You can drop this icon copy into your new group by moving the mouse to the destination group and letting go of the mouse button.

To copy an icon using menus, right-click on the icon you want to copy, then choose "Copy"; then left-click in the folder or on the desktop where you want the copy to go, right-click to see the menu again, then choose 'Paste'.

3. Make Windows automatically start the first programs you use. There are programs for which you turn your computer on.  You know what they are: your task list, daily schedule, phonebook, or email program.  Make them start by themselves: copy the icons for these programs into the STARTUP group.  Open the STARTUP group by right-clicking on your START button and choosing 'Explore'.  In the left panel, "Start Menu" is highlighted; close underneath it you'll see an folder labeled "Programs".  Double-click on the word "Programs", or click on the plus sign [+] to the left of that word. Underneath "Programs" find and click on the folder marked "StartUp" (they are alphabetical, so you may have to scroll down to the S's).  At this time, the right panel will show the contents of your StartUp folder.  These programs start automatically when Windows starts.  Now you have the place to which you'll copy your icons.   Copy them from wherever they may be now.  See Tip #4 about how to copy icons.

2. Assign shortcut keys to your most frequently used programs. This allows you to really quickly switch to an active program, or to launch a program from the desktop if the program is not already active. Right-click on the icon for the program which is to have the shortcut key.  Choose Properties.  At the top of the Properties window select the Program tab.  In the Program properties window, click in the 'Shortcut Key' box and press the keystroke combination you want to use as a shortcut to this program.  Click "Apply" or "OK" to save the shortcut. From now on (or until you come back to the Properties screen to clear that box), your chosen shortcut keys will switch to that program.

Be careful doing this for DOS programs: Shortcut keys for DOS programs sometimes launch a new copy of the program whether there is another one running or not.  This helps:   have only one shortcut icon for each DOS program, and keep these shortcut icons in folders other than the desktop.

1. Use security software:  an Internet Firewall, an Antivirus Package, and a Trojan Detector.  Windows is the target for malicious hackers the world over.  I like ZoneAlarm, McAfee, and Ad-Aware respectively. Even if you never connect to the Internet, you should still have an Antivirus Package and a Trojan Detector.