Launching Your Favorite Programs Quickly

I am a man of conveniance, and I like to access things on my computer quickly. Therefore, inspired by PC Magazine writer Scott Dunn's article, "Six Windows Tweaks I Couldn't Live Without," I have written this Ask Presario article on two ways to launch your favorite programs quickly.

Option 1: Use Keyboard launches:
Did you know that you can assign a keyboard shortcut for the files and applications that you launch many times a day, such as the Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer? Simply right-click an application shortcut in the Start menu or on the desktop and choose Properties. Click on tthe Shortcut tab. Click in the 'Shortcut key' box and press your desired shortcut keys on your keyboard. Windows requires that your shortcut use at least two modifier keys ( Ctrl, Shift, or Alt), unless you press a function key (F1, F2, F3, etc.) or a key on the numeric keypad. Click OK, and your new keyboard shortcut is finished. If you change your mind later on, just return to this dialog box, click in the 'Shortcut key' box, and press Backspace. Then click OK and restart Windows.

Option Two: The Quick Launch Bar
My favorite way to access programs is via the Quick Launch bar. (If you don't see it, right-click the taskbar, choose Toolbars, and make sure Quick Launch is checked.) Drag any application, folder, or document icon to the toolbar to create a tiny icon that launches that item. I prefer to limit the Quick Launch toolbar to between six and eight icons to keep it from becoming cluttered and to make spotting individual icons easier. Keeping Quick Launch small also allows more room on the taskbar for other items. To make sure your icons don't move or get accidentally deleted, you can right click on the taskbar and choose the option, "Lock the Taskbar."

Read more!