Windows Tips & Tricks

Setup Environment Varibles for Windows , Unix , Linux, LUM Platforms

2011-06-13T04:34:00.000-07:00

Environment variable are the one whose value gets automatically set to our desired value on system start up or shell start up We often need to set environment variables on Windows, Unix , Linux, LUM Platforms. Here are simple steps to setup environment variable values on various operating systems.

Windows Platforms:

On your desktop or File Explorer you can find My Computer (Note: it should not be the shortcut but actual My Computer), right click on that and click on Properties in the content menu
Go to Advanced tab, click on Environment Variables button which show following UI
If you want to create environment variable for you user only then add it in top section and to create it system wide add it in bottom section.

Unix, Linux, LUM Platforms

For all Linux, Unix flavors, you can go to you HOME director, there you can find hidden file named .profile or else to set environment variable for all the users make entry in /etc/profile but this requires super user permission
Open .profile file in any editor and make entry to set the variable and export the variable for example if you want to set JAVA_HOME you can add following line to .profile file
```
 
    JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/java/java-1.5
    export JAVA_HOME
```
The save this file and restart the shell, you can find the environment variable automatically set.

Hidden Programs in Windows

2007-04-16T03:21:00.001-07:00

You can access all these programs by going through START/RUN.

SQL Client Configuration - cliconfg
System Configuration Editor - sysedit
System Configuration Utility - msconfig
System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately)- sfc /scannow
System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot)- sfc /scanonce
System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot) - sfc /scanboot
System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Setting)- sfc /revert
System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache)- sfc /purgecache
System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to size x)-sfc/cachesize=x
System Information - msinfo32.
Task Manager – taskmgr
System Properties - sysdm.cpl
Task Manager – taskmgr
TCP Tester - tcptest
Telnet Client - telnet
Tweak UI (if installed) - tweakui
User Account Management- nusrmgr.cpl
Utility Manager - utilman
Windows Address Book - wab
Windows Address Book Import Utility - wabmig
Windows Backup Utility (if installed)- ntbackup
Windows Explorer - explorer
Windows Firewall- firewall.cpl
Windows Magnifier- magnify
Windows Management Infrastructure - wmimgmt.msc
Windows Media Player - wmplayer
Windows Messenger - msmsgs
Windows Picture Import Wizard (need camera connected)- wiaacmgr
Windows System Security Tool – syskey
Windows Update Launches - wupdmgr
Windows Version (to show which version of windows)- winver
Windows XP Tour Wizard - tourstart
Wordpad - write
Password Properties - password.cpl
Performance Monitor - perfmon.msc
Phone and Modem Options - telephon.cpl
Phone Dialer - dialer
Pinball Game - pinball
Power Configuration - powercfg.cpl
Printers and Faxes - control printers
Printers Folder – printers
Private Character Editor - eudcedit
Quicktime (If Installed)- QuickTime.cpl
Real Player (if installed)- realplay
Regional Settings - intl.cpl
Registry Editor - regedit
Registry Editor - regedit32
Remote Access Phonebook - rasphone
Remote Desktop - mstsc
Removable Storage - ntmsmgr.msc
Removable Storage Operator Requests - ntmsoprq.msc
Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof) - rsop.msc
Scanners and Cameras - sticpl.cpl
Scheduled Tasks - control schedtasks
Security Center - wscui.cpl
Services - services.msc
Shared Folders - fsmgmt.msc
Shuts Down Windows - shutdown
Sounds and Audio - mmsys.cpl
Spider Solitare Card Game - spider
Malicious Software Removal Tool - mrt
Microsoft Access (if installed) - access.cpl
Microsoft Chat - winchat
Microsoft Excel (if installed) - excel
Microsoft Frontpage (if installed)- frontpg
Microsoft Movie Maker - moviemk
Microsoft Paint - mspaint
Microsoft Powerpoint (if installed)- powerpnt
Microsoft Word (if installed)- winword
Microsoft Syncronization Tool - mobsync
Minesweeper Game - winmine
Mouse Properties - control mouse
Mouse Properties - main.cpl
Nero (if installed)- nero
Netmeeting - conf
Network Connections - control netconnections
Network Connections - ncpa.cpl
Network Setup Wizard - netsetup.cpl
Notepad - notepad
Nview Desktop Manager (If Installed)- nvtuicpl.cpl
Object Packager - packager
ODBC Data Source Administrator- odbccp32.cpl
On Screen Keyboard - osk
Opens AC3 Filter (If Installed) - ac3filter.cpl
Outlook Express - msimn
Paint – pbrush
Keyboard Properties - control keyboard
IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration) - ipconfi/all
IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents)- ipconfig /displaydns
IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents)- ipconfig /flushdns
IP Configuration (Release All Connections)- ipconfig /release
IP Configuration (Renew All Connections)- ipconfig /renew
IP Configuration(RefreshesDHCP&Re-RegistersDNS)-ipconfig/registerdns
IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID)- ipconfig/showclassid
IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class ID)- ipconfig /setclassid
Java Control Panel (If Installed)- jpicpl32.cpl
Java Control Panel (If Installed)- javaws
Local Security Settings - secpol.msc
Local Users and Groups - lusrmgr.msc
Logs You Out Of Windows - logoff.....
Accessibility Controls - access.cpl
Accessibility Wizard - accwiz
Add Hardware - Wizardhdwwiz.cpl
Add/Remove Programs - appwiz.cpl
Administrative Tools control - admintools
Adobe Acrobat (if installed) - acrobat
Adobe Designer (if installed)- acrodist
Adobe Distiller (if installed)- acrodist
Adobe ImageReady (if installed)- imageready
Adobe Photoshop (if installed)- photoshop
Automatic Updates - wuaucpl.cpl
Bluetooth Transfer Wizard – fsquirt
Calculator - calc
Certificate Manager - certmgr.msc
Character Map - charmap
Check Disk Utility - chkdsk
Clipboard Viewer - clipbrd
Command Prompt - cmd
Component Services - dcomcnfg
Computer Management - compmgmt.msc
Control Panel - control
Date and Time Properties - timedate.cpl
DDE Shares - ddeshare
Device Manager - devmgmt.msc
Direct X Control Panel (If Installed)- directx.cpl
Direct X Troubleshooter- dxdiag
Disk Cleanup Utility- cleanmgr
Disk Defragment- dfrg.msc
Disk Management- diskmgmt.msc
Disk Partition Manager- diskpart
Display Properties- control desktop
Display Properties- desk.cpl
Display Properties (w/Appearance Tab Preselected)- control color
Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility- drwtsn32
Driver Verifier Utility- verifier
Event Viewer- eventvwr.msc
Files and Settings Transfer Tool- migwiz
File Signature Verification Tool- sigverif
Findfast- findfast.cpl
Firefox (if installed)- firefox
Folders Properties- control folders
Fonts- control fonts
Fonts Folder- fonts
Free Cell Card Game- freecell
Game Controllers- joy.cpl
Group Policy Editor (XP Prof)- gpedit.msc
Hearts Card Game- mshearts
Help and Support- helpctr
HyperTerminal- hypertrm
Iexpress Wizard- iexpress
Indexing Service- ciadv.msc
Internet Connection Wizard- icwconn1
Internet Explorer- iexplore
Internet Setup Wizard- inetwiz
Internet Properties- inetcpl.cpl

NOTE:=
There is no need to go to start/run all the time...You can also start the run menu directly by using the shortcut key for that and that is windows key+r...{windows key means that key which is situated between ctrl and altr key,,if anybody does not know}

KEY-BOARD Shortcuts

2007-04-16T03:11:00.000-07:00

Here are some of most useful key-board shortcuts.

Copy = Ctrl+c
Cut = Ctrl+x
Paste = Ctrl+v
Undo = Ctrl+z
Delete = Delete
Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin:= SHIFT+DELETE
To copy selected item, CTRL while dragging an item
Create shortcut to selected item, CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item
Rename selected item, F2
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word, CTRL+RIGHT ARROW
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word, CTRL+LEFT ARROW
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph, CTRL+DOWN ARROW
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph, CTRL+UP ARROW
Highlight a block of text, CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys
Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document, SHIFT with any of the arrow keys
Select all, CTRL+A
Search for a file or folder, F3
View properties for the selected item, ALT+ENTER
Close the active item, or quit the active program, ALT+F4
Opens the shortcut menu for the active window, ALT+SPACEBAR
Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously, CTRL+F
Switch between open items, ALT+TAB
Cycle through items in the order they were opened, ALT+ESC
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop, F6
Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer, F4
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item, SHIFT+F10
Display the System menu for the active window, ALT+SPACEBAR
Display the Start menu, CTRL+ESC
Display the corresponding menu, ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name
Refresh the active window. F5
View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer. BACKSPACE
Cancel the current task. ESC
SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive Prevent the CD from automatically playing.

Use these keyboard shortcuts for dialog boxes:=

Move forward through tabs, CTRL+TAB
Move backward through tabs, CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Move forward through options. TAB
Move backward through options. SHIFT+TAB
Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option. ALT+Underlined letter
Carry out the command for the active option or button. ENTER
Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box. SPACEBAR
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons. Arrow keys
Display Help. F1
Display the items in the active list. F4

Helpful accessibility keyboard shortcuts:=

Switch FilterKeys on and off. Right SHIFT for eight seconds
Switch High Contrast on and off. Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN
Switch MouseKeys on and off. Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK
Switch StickyKeys on and off. SHIFT five times
Switch ToggleKeys on and off. NUM LOCK for five seconds