78. Keyboard shortcuts using the Win Key (ÿ)

Believe it or not, that windows logo key that sits on the bottom of your keyboard actually has some useful functions besides opening the start menu. A whole generation of computers users has grown up thinking that that key was only there to frustrate users who accidentally hit it while playing Counterstrike and dropped back to the desktop.

Now we reveal the truth behind the Win Key...OK, overly melodramatic, but these are useful shortcuts, so read on!

ÿ = Open Start Menu
ÿ + D = Restore or minimize all open windows
ÿ + E = Start Windows Explorer
ÿ + F = Start Find Files/Folders dialog box
ÿ + L = Lock computer
ÿ + M = Minimize all open windows
ÿ + R = Start Run dialog box
ÿ + F1 = Start Help Menu and Support Center
ÿ + Tab = Cycles through all open programs and taskbar buttons. Press ENTER to select.
ÿ + Ctrl + Tab = Cycle through all open apps/games Taskbar buttons, Tray icons, Start Menu and Quick Launch toolbars (press Right or Left arrows to cycle through Toolbar and Tray items)
ÿ + Pause/Break = Open 'my computer' properties window.
ÿ + Shift + M = Restore all open windows
ÿ + Space = Scroll down one page at a time in Internet Explorer
ÿ + Back Space = Scroll up one page at a time in Internet Explorer.

Improving Windows XP boot speed

79. Disable floppy drive seek

The floppy drive seek BIOS option sets whether your PC will attempt to detect the floppy (a:) drive during boot up. Whether it finds one or not, once Windows has loaded it becomes irrelevant, as control of hardware devices including drives are handed over from the BIOS to the operating system.

Disabling the 'floppy drive seek' option in the 'advanced BIOS features' section of the BIOS can save you a few seconds on boot up, and since the setting has no actual effect, disable it.

80. Set primary display adaptor

Most motherboards have a BIOS setting entitled 'primary graphics adaptor' or 'Init display first' which affects whether the system will attempt to initialize an AGP graphics card or a PCI graphics card first.

While it has no effect on any other facet of system performance, setting the correct value here (many boards default to 'PCI') may save you a few seconds of booting time. This option can be found in the 'advanced chipset features' or 'integrated peripherals' sections of the BIOS.

81. Enable quick POST/memory test

Many motherboards have a setting in the BIOS which can instruct the system to skip through certain portion of the POST (Power On Self Test), speeding up boot times considerably. A variety of settings performing this function can be found on various motherboards.

Some examples are: 'perform quick memory test,' 'quick boot,' 'quick power on self test,' etc. Enabling these options will cause your system to boot faster.

Be advised that you should disable this option when you have made modifications to your computer's hardware, especially the memory.