[AbvAvgUser]

This list is NOT exhaustive. I am still learning. There may be many more than what is listed below. Hope these ones are useful and increase speed and productivity. Feel free to post more uses.

Please don't forget to vote on the poll. That will let me know whether this was worth the effort.

1. Open a hyper-link on a web-page in a new Window:
****************************************
While clicking on the link, keep the Shift Key pressed. This surely is faster than right-clicking and selecting "Open in new window"


2. To prevent an CD-ROM from starting automatically on loading in CD-ROM Drive:
************************************************************
Keep the Shift Key pressed while inserting it. For example, if you want to play an audio CD (not switched to MP3 yet?), keep shift pressed while you close the tray and keep it pressed for a couple of seconds more.


3. To change file association
**********************
When you double click on a .htm file it will open in Internet Explorer. What if you want .htm files to open in Opera or Netscape everytime you double click on them? Here's the trick. Follow these simple steps:
a. Select any .htm file (i.e. click on it once)
b. Keep the Shift Key pressed and Right click on that file
c. Select "Open With...". This option is not available on right click if you don't follow these steps
d. In the window that opens, put a tick next to "Always use this program to open this type of file".
e. Select the program from the list (Opera in this case). If it is not in the list, click on "Other...".
f. Click on OK.


4. To skip Startup menu programs
*************************
There are some shortcuts in the Start-Up folder of your Start Menu. Programs associated with these shortcuts get executed everytime you start your machine. If on an occassion you want Windows NOT to execute these programs, just keep the Shift Key pressed while your machine is booting.


5. To select continuous files (in My Computer, Windows Explorer, etc.)
****************************************************
If from a list of 500 files, you want to select file number 23 to 123, you can click on file number 23, press the shift key and click on file number 123. Simple, all the files in between (including the two) get selected. You can also use Ctrl key to select all the files, but this is many times faster and convenient.

If from the list you want to select file number 23 to 56 and also file number 100 to 125, follow the following simple steps:
a. Click on file number 23.
b. Keep Shift key pressed and click on file number 56.
c. Keep the Ctrl key pressed and click on file number 100.
d. Keep the Shift + Ctrl key and click on file number 125.


6. To select text with arrow keys
(in Notepad, MS Word, Excel, etc.)
**************************
Position cursor at the start of the text. Keep the shift key pressed while you move the cursor to the end of the text with arrow keys, PgUp, PgDn, Home, End, etc.


7. To restart quickly
***************
Keep the Shift key pressed while you click on OK in Shut Down Window. This will only restart Windows and not your machine (i.e. there will be no POST, etc.)


8. Close the selected folder and all of its parent folders
(My Computer only)
*****************************************
Keep the Shift Key pressed while you click on the close button


9. Create a shortcut
***************
Keep CTRL+SHIFT pressed while dragging the file


10. Delete an item immediately without placing it in the Recycle Bin
**************************************************
Keep the Shift key pressed while you click on delete or press the Del key or drag the file to Recycle Bin


11. Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
***************************************
This can be achieved in three ways
a. Right Click the item
b. Press the Right Click Button the keyboard
c. Press Shift + F10. This will display the full menu with all the options. Something similar to point 3 above can be performed.

[anglin_fool]

wow, so much I didnt know.

Ok where is the right click button on the keyboard? next to the 'any' key?

[pvc9]

Between the Windows key and right Ctrl key! The key with something like a document+an arrow!

[aewarnick]

This has nothing to do with the shift button but I think it is eisier. This will add open with to the right click menu permanantly!

TO ADD "OPEN WITH" FOR ALL FILES--

Place the following in a text file and rename it as a .reg file with no spaces (can use_though). Double click on it and it will update the registry.

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\openas\command]
@="C:\WINDOWS\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1"

Now go to start\run, type regedit, find your new entry. If default, when you are highlighted on command doesn't have--

C:\WINDOWS\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1

then double click on default and put it in.

[websurfer]

I know the title is for Windows 98, but I ave a little trick for XP. Press the shift key 5 times in a row. You will see a window popup. That is sticky keys. It lets you use the Ctrl Alt Shift and Windows key by pressing one at a time instead of having to hold them!