Find Windows System info with Windows key + Pause/Break shortcut

If you need to find hardware details of your Windows PC, like any of the following -

• Version including Service Pack used
• Window Experience Index
• Processor
• RAM
• System type (32-bit or 64-bit OS)
• Computer name, domain & workgroup settings
• Windows Product Id & whether Windows is activated

... there is a easy keyboard shortcut to reach for this info rather than going for it through Control Panel - Windows key + Pause/Break


I discovered this shortcut in this Scott Hanselman article that has other great tips for maintaining your PC

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HOW TO show/hide items in the Windows 7 Start menu

Recent Items is a Start menu option that I frequently use to pick files I last worked on. I was surprised to find that option as well as the Run command that developers infrequently need, missing from the Windows 7 Start menu. It turns out that these items are just hidden. You can control showing or hiding any items in the Start menu. To enable Recent Items or customize how links, icons & menus look & behave in the Start menu, follow these steps:

• Right click on the Windows 7 Taskbar & select "Properties" from the context menu
• In the Taskbar & Start Menu Properties dialog box that opens, select the "Start Menu" tab.
• From the Start Menu tab select the Customize button. 
• Select or de-select the customization options that you require

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Dashboard-like info with Browser tabs, Windows 7 Taskbar tabs

Browser tabs & Windows 7 Taskbar tabs are turning self-aware. 

This is how my browser looked the other day:

I had the summary of all that was happening within those browser tabs because of the ubiquitous AJAX code running inside all those webpages which was dynamically updating the page title.

In Windows 7, a Taskbar tab representing a browser can show the download progress of a file being fetched within that browser visually as a green flowing gel.

Hotmail  has added email notifications to its pinned site that displays the number of new messages directly in the taskbar.

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HOW TO track time for multiple time zones in Windows 7 & Vista

In our highly globalized world, we may sometimes have to keep track of not just our time but also the time in other countries due to business reasons or to follow a live sports or event broadcast on TV that is happening in another part of the world.

Did you know, you can track the time in up to two countries/time zones besides your own, right from the system tray in Windows 7 & Vista?

To configure the extra clocks, click on the time in the system tray & within the dialog box that opens, click on the "Change date & time settings..." link.  In the new dialog box that opens, select the Additional Clocks tab & configure them to show upto 2 new clocks.

If just two are not enough for you, pick a gadget from the Windows Live Gallery, that can handle even more.

While the additional clocks cannot handle Daylight Saving Time(DST), the primary clock is intelligent enough to do the conversion for you.

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