68 Extend your monitor

If the graphics card in your PC supports two display outputs, you can connect the same PC to two monitors or to a projector and a monitor.

This 'extends' your desktop so that you can now move applications and browser windows between the two screens.

So you can be giving a PowerPoint presentation on, say, the big screen, while checking on the latest soccer results on the second screen - and still use only one PC.

If your PC is running on Windows 7, you can extend your desktop easily too.

Press the Windows key on the keyboard together with the left or right arrow key, depending on which screen you want your visuals to be shown.

69 New system restore

With earlier Windows operating systems, you cannot tell which application or driver was deleted or what unwanted application was put in when you use System Restore, a tool that rolls back the system to a previous state before a glitch or fault occurred.

With Windows 7, all will be revealed. This tool will list all the programs and drivers that are affected at a restore date.

Right-click on Computer and select Properties, System Protection, System Restore and Next.

Then, select the restore point or date. Click Scan and the tool will reveal the programs and drivers that would have been deleted or recovered at a particular restore point.

70 Multiple projections

Have you ever taken a laptop to a business meeting and then spent a long time trying to connect the laptop to a projector?

All the wires are connected but you cannot remember which buttons to push to enable a simultaneous display on the screen and your laptop.

With Windows 7, it is a simple case of hitting the Windows+P button. A pop-up then displays the four options you will need.

The first is the default laptop display. The second mirrors the laptop display on the projector. The third extends the laptop view to the projector while the last one displays the view solely on the projector.

71 Taskbar shortcuts

Keyboard fans can navigate the new Taskbar as easy as 1, 2, 3.

The new Taskbar allows users to lock icons of oft-used programs on it. To open the programs, hit the Windows button and the number denoting the icon's position on the Taskbar.

So, if you have Internet Explorer (IE), Word and iTunes on the Taskbar, hit Windows+1 to get to IE, Windows+2 to get to Word and so on. Hitting Windows+T brings up a thumbnail preview of all the open windows.

72 Web searches from Start

To perform Internet searches in Windows 7, go to the Start Menu and enter 'gpedit.msc' in the Start Menu search box to access the Group Policy Editor.

Then double-click on User Configuration in the right pane and select Administrative Templates, followed by Start Menu and Taskbar.

In the list of settings, double-click and enable 'Add Search Internet link to Start Menu'.

73 Problem recorder

If you have problems installing or uninstalling software or removing a virus, here is an additional tool.

The Problem Steps Recorder documents all the steps performed on the computer and creates a zip file so that every detail can be shared and studied.

You can then send the file to those helping you so that they can investigate every action you took and correct your missteps.

Click Start and type in 'psr.exe', press Record to start the process and end the recording before creating the zip file.

This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life.

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