SHEEPMANIA

=**__TRY THIS SITE!!!__**= [] =**__Here is 10 hints, tips and hacks that you could do to a windows 7 computer or laptop__**=

**1. Single Click Screen Lock**
You can lock your computer using the **Win+L** keyboard shortcut. Here’s another way to do it with a single mouse click. Right-click on your desktop, select //New, Shortcut.// In //Type the location of the item//, enter **rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation**. Click Next, name the shortcut “˜Quick Lock’, and //Finish//

**2. Customize Sticky Notes**
You can format your Sticky Notes, by selecting text and using different keyboard shortcuts as shown in this screen capture:

**3. Use New Accessories**
Don’t forget to use the revamped accessories in Windows 7. With WordPad, you can open and save Office 2007 //.docx// and Open Document //.odt// documents. The improved Calculator can convert units, and calculate dates, fuel economy, mortgage and lease payments. Paint has new brush strokes, shapes, and grid support. Paint and WordPad have Print Preview and the Ribbon UI, which brings customizability and live formatting previews.

**4. Use Check Boxes in Windows Explorer**
You can select non-adjacent files in Explorer using Ctrl-click, but there is an easier way using check boxes. In Explorer, click //Organize,// then select //Folder and search options.// On the **View** tab, under //Advanced Settings//, scroll down to select //Use check boxes to select items.// Now you can easily select multiple items using only the mouse.

**5. Shortcut to Run Program as Administrator**
You can **Ctrl+Shift+Click** on a taskbar icon to run the application as an Administrator with full rights (provided your account has permissions). Simply **Shift+Right-Click** on any program shortcut to run it as a different user, if for example you need higher privileges when logged in with your child’s account.

**6. Boost performance with ReadyBoost**
ReadyBoost improves your system performance by using faster USB Flash Drives instead of slower hard disks for system operations. It works best using flash drives with at least 1 GB of storage. Simply insert your flash drive, and if it meets certain performance benchmarks, Windows 7 will ask you if you want to use it for ReadyBoost and recommend the size to reserve.

**7. Secure USB Drives with BitLocker**
Secure your USB flash drives using BitLocker encryption. Right-click on your USB drive in //My Computer//, select //Turn on BitLocker// and follow the instructions to protect sensitive data on your thumb drives. The next time you use your USB drive on another computer, it will prompt you for the password before allowing you read-only access to your flash drive. You can even use the drive on older computers running Windows XP/Vista. This may not work on the servite computers as they have lock this privelage to lock your USB drive or hard drive so if you want to lock your usb you have to do it at home on a Windows 7 or Windows XP/Vista

8. Create a System Recovery Disc
A system recovery disc helps you in situations where Windows cannot start successfully. Your Windows 7 installation disc also serves as a recovery disc. When Windows 7 comes pre-installed on computers, you will need to create a system recovery disc.

Click //Start,// enter and run **recdisc.exe**. Insert a blank CD/DVD in your burner, and click //Create Disc//. =**__ Caution __**= Follow the next two tips //only if you’re knowledgeable enough to edit the Windows registry//. Before making any changes, make sure you back up your registry.

**9. Faster Thumbnail Previews[[image:http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/thumbnailpreview.gif align="left" caption="thumbnailpreview"]]**
The taskbar shows thumbnail previews of opened windows when you hover the mouse over the program icon. By default, it takes a little time for the preview to appear. Make the previews appear faster with this registry tweak: Go to Start, enter and run **regedit**. Navigate to //HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse.// On the right, open the **MouseHoverTime** key and reduce its value from the default 400 to around 150. Be careful, as decreasing it further may cause problems.

**10. Faster Shutdown**
Start **regedit** and navigate to //HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control.// Find the **WaitToKillServiceTimeout** key on the right, double-click to edit and change it from the default 12000 (12 seconds) to 2000 (2 seconds) or above. This setting tells Windows how long to wait before prompting you that a service is not responding to the shut down request. This may help speed up your shutdown if you have any such services running. These are some of the best Windows 7 tips we found. Did we miss any of your favorites? Share with us in the comments!