Four Great Windows Tips You Probably Never Knew

Here are 4 great windows tips packed with great little pieces of windows information which you may find usefull.

-- Switch users fast. If you're working on a PC with multiple user accounts, you can bypass the welcome screen when you switch users. Open the Task Manager (click a blank spot in the taskbar and select Task Manager from the pop-up menu), click on the Users tab, right-click on a user name, and choose Connect.

-- Get clearer fonts on your LCD display. There's an easy way to boost the clarity of text on your flat screen. Right-click an empty area of your desktop and click Properties. Click the Appearance tab and then the Effects button. If it's not checked already, check the second option ("Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts") in this window, and set the pull-down menu to ClearType. On-screen text will now appear considerably sharper.

-- Hibernate Windows manually. Putting your PC into Hibernate mode is a smart way to save power. It operates in a similar fashion to Stand By mode -- it leaves you logged in with your apps running for a quick restart, but it completely shuts down your computer, which saves much more power than Stand By. This makes it handy for laptops, where battery drain is always a concern. When you're in the Shut Down menu, hold down the Shift key and the Stand By option becomes Hibernate.

-- Download TweakUI. Microsoft's downloadable suite of PowerToys includes one of our favorite utilities: TweakUI. This handy app gives you a plethora of ways to customize Windows XP, including changing the location of the My Music and My Documents folders, adjusting Windows' appearance, altering the contents of the Start Menu, and more. It's at least 10 tips in one!