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ADDING
TO "SEND TO" FEATURE
You can drag any shortcut to the Send To folder. Shortcuts
can be to a printer, fax, network drive, or Windows program.
How? Open Windows Explorer and find the item you would
like to add. Click the Start Button, and then click
Run. In the Open box, type SendTo (no space), and
press ENTER. Use the right mouse button to drag the item's
icon into the Send To window. Click Create Shortcuts
Here. The shortcut should now be on the Send To menu.
To check, Right-click a document or folder icon, click Send
To and your new menu item should show up in the dropdown
list.
OPEN WITH
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To open an associated file with a different program,
right-click the file. Click Open With. Under Choose
the program you want to use, click the program you want to
use, and then click OK. If you don't want all files of
this type to be associated with this program, clear the
check box before Always use the selected program to open
this kind of file.
Start Windows-Based Programs From The Command Prompt
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You can start Windows-based programs from the Run utility on
the Start Button by typing the name of the program you want
to run. For example, to start Notepad, click the Start
Button, click Run, then type notepad and press ENTER.
WINDOWS PRODUCT KEY
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You'll find the key either on a sticker on the outside
of your computer case or on the software CD sleeve.
Keep it in a safe place in case you need it for some reason.
For instance, if your hard drive dies and you replace it,
you'll have to reinstall Windows and if you have no key, you
cannot reinstall. Okay, you can with one of Microsoft's
generic Keys but you won't be able to activate it and
after 30 days, won't be able to get into your computer.
Don't wait until you have a problem to start looking for
your sticker or key. Look for it know so you'll have
it if you need it.
If you cannot find your sticker don't panic. There are
other ways you can find your key for the Windows version you
have installed on your computer.
For Windows 95, 98 and NT you can find the key in the
Windows Registry. Click the Start button then click
Run. In the space provided type regedit
and click OK.
For Windows 95 and 98 - When the Registry Editor opens,
navigate the left pane to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProductID.
You should see the ProductKey in the right pane.
For Windows NT - When the Registry Editor opens, navigate
the left pane to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProductID.
You should see the ProductKey in the right pane.
For Windows XP - You won't find the product key in the
Windows Registry. There are, however, utilities
available that will find it for you including
WinKeyFinder and
Magic Jelly Bean Key Finder.
CHANGING WINDOWS PRODUCT KEY
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You may never have to do this but then again, you might.
Let's say you need to reinstall Windows XP and because your
computer didn't come with a disk, you use your neighbor's
disk. You get through the setup and realize that you
were never prompted for the Product Key. Well, that
likely because your neighbor's disk came with their computer
and was set up to automatically put an OEM code in for the
product key. Now you have the same number your
neighbor has. Time to change the Product Key.
You can use one of the utilities above to change your
product key or follow the instructions below to do it
manually.
(The first section in the Registry only needs to be done
if Windows has already been Activated. If it has not,
skip to Second.)
First, go to the Registry by clicking on the
Start button, then click Run.
In the space provided type regedit and
click OK.
When the Registry Editor opens, navigate the left pane to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents.
In the right pane right-click ODBE Timer and select Modify.
Change at least one character in the Value Data: box to a
number 0-9 or a letter A-F, then click OK.
Close the Registry Editor.
Second, Click the Start button, then click Run.
In the space provide type %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe
/a
Click OK
Windows will open the Product Activation program.
Select the "Yes, I want to telephone a customer service
representative to activate Windows" option.
Click Next.
Select your location from the dropdown box
Then select Change Product Key Option and enter your product
key.
Click Update and close the window.
If Windows returns you to the previous screen, just select
the Remind Me Later option.
When the wizard is finished, reboot the system.
When Windows reboots you will be prompted to reactivate your
copy of Windows through the normal activation process.
(Unless you have XP Pro which does not need to be
activated.)
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