Let's all take XP to "The Farm"

That's right folks, it's time to let go of Ol' Yella. 

XP is far too old to keep going. It's like that old cat that the crazy lady down the street keeps giving 16 shots of various medications per day,  plus blends it's food and helps it go to the washroom as needed. I know you love the thing, but you have to let it go! The Patch theory works here too, whether you refer to patches of fur missing, or patches required to keep operating, this many patches should indicate something to you.

OK, you are probably wondering why I am being so mean to your beloved XP, after all, it's been with you for the entirety of your child's life, you were taught how to use it properly way back when, and it is sooooo much faster than all the other Operating Systems. According to Microsoft, speed advantages (if any - my opinion!!!) and familiarity matter not, you should move on to protect yourself, your family and more importantly, the rest of us.

Above chart (blurry; sorry)  Found here:
http://blogs.technet.com/srd/archive/2010/01/15/assessing-risk-of-ie-0day-vulnerability.aspx

You see what Microsoft is trying to tell you, buy new stuff! Well, maybe it's not that simple, here's how it works:

The vulnerabilities not only allows malicious users to get into your machine, but as the China based IE 6 Exploited incident should have taught you, malicious users are using your old machine as a doorway into the secure side of the internet, where some of us are trying to hide, thank you!

This is me desperately urging all users of IE 6 and XP (or older) to upgrade. At the very least Install Google Chrome! It's fast, clean and well, I love it. OK, maybe you don't like Google, IE 7 and IE 8 are free! So is Opera and Firefox and others, just move away from IE 6!!!!!!!!!

XP is another story, it will cost you to stick with a Microsoft OS, (Vista or Windows 7 people, don't think older is better here!) but Linux is always free!


Alright, I have been mercilessly cruel, and for this I apologize. However, I do strongly believe in what I have said about moving away from IE6 and XP, so please let me know what you think? Have I fallen for the sales pitch? Have my years of happiness using Vista (since nearly day one of market release) and Google Chrome (since day one! Yes, day 1 of beta market release) all been an illusion?

Keep in mind that I do not game on the above described machine, Programming and Web development business only, is this the difference? Do my large programming tools and database applications pale compared to video games?

Tips & Tricks: Keyboard Shortcuts

You might be surprised how many people I have encountered recently that are not familiar with some of the keyboard shortcuts available on a typical Microsoft Operating System.

Even now there is a list of some basics displayed on the screen for me:

Shortcuts: press Ctrl with: B = Bold, I = Italic, P = Publish, S = Save, D = Draft

Here is my comprehensive list of keyboard shortcuts designed for XP; most work in Vista, Windows 7, and some linux/unix OS's:

General keyboard shortcuts

•	CTRL+C (Copy)
•	CTRL+X (Cut)
•	CTRL+V (Paste)
•	CTRL+Z (Undo)
•	DELETE (Delete)
•	SHIFT+DELETE (Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin)
•	CTRL while dragging an item (Copy the selected item)
•	CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item (Create a shortcut to the selected item)
•	F2 key (Rename the selected item)
•	CTRL+RIGHT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word)
•	CTRL+LEFT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word)
•	CTRL+DOWN ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph)
•	CTRL+UP ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph)
•	CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Highlight a block of text)
•	SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document)
•	CTRL+A (Select all)
•	F3 key (Search for a file or a folder)
•	ALT+ENTER (View the properties for the selected item)
•	ALT+F4 (Close the active item, or quit the active program)
•	ALT+ENTER (Display the properties of the selected object)
•	ALT+SPACEBAR (Open the shortcut menu for the active window)
•	CTRL+F4 (Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
•	ALT+TAB (Switch between the open items)
•	ALT+ESC (Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened)
•	F6 key (Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop)
•	F4 key (Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
•	SHIFT+F10 (Display the shortcut menu for the selected item)
•	ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the System menu for the active window)
•	CTRL+ESC (Display the Start menu)
•	ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name (Display the corresponding menu)
•	Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu (Perform the corresponding command)
•	F10 key (Activate the menu bar in the active program)
•	RIGHT ARROW (Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu)
•	LEFT ARROW (Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu)
•	F5 key (Update the active window)
•	BACKSPACE (View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
•	ESC (Cancel the current task)
•	SHIFT when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing)
•	CTRL+SHIFT+ESC (Open Task Manager)

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

If you press SHIFT+F8 in extended selection list boxes, you enable extended selection mode. In this mode, you can use an arrow key to move a cursor without changing the selection. You can press CTRL+SPACEBAR or SHIFT+SPACEBAR to adjust the selection. To cancel extended selection mode, press SHIFT+F8 again. Extended selection mode cancels itself when you move the focus to another control.

•	CTRL+TAB (Move forward through the tabs)
•	CTRL+SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the tabs)
•	TAB (Move forward through the options)
•	SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the options)
•	ALT+Underlined letter (Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option)
•	ENTER (Perform the command for the active option or button)
•	SPACEBAR (Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box)
•	Arrow keys (Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons)
•	F1 key (Display Help)
•	F4 key (Display the items in the active list)
•	BACKSPACE (Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box)

Microsoft natural keyboard shortcuts

•	Windows Logo (Display or hide the Start menu)
•	Windows Logo+BREAK (Display the System Properties dialog box)
•	Windows Logo+D (Display the desktop)
•	Windows Logo+M (Minimize all of the windows)
•	Windows Logo+SHIFT+M (Restore the minimized windows)
•	Windows Logo+E (Open My Computer)
•	Windows Logo+F (Search for a file or a folder)
•	CTRL+Windows Logo+F (Search for computers)
•	Windows Logo+F1 (Display Windows Help)
•	Windows Logo+ L (Lock the keyboard)
•	Windows Logo+R (Open the Run dialog box)
•	Windows Logo+U (Open Utility Manager)

Accessibility keyboard shortcuts

•	Right SHIFT for eight seconds (Switch FilterKeys either on or off)
•	Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN (Switch High Contrast either on or off)
•	Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK (Switch the MouseKeys either on or off)
•	SHIFT five times (Switch the StickyKeys either on or off)
•	NUM LOCK for five seconds (Switch the ToggleKeys either on or off)
•	Windows Logo +U (Open Utility Manager)

Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts

•	END (Display the bottom of the active window)
•	HOME (Display the top of the active window)
•	NUM LOCK+Asterisk sign (*) (Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder)
•	NUM LOCK+Plus sign (+) (Display the contents of the selected folder)
•	NUM LOCK+Minus sign (-) (Collapse the selected folder)
•	LEFT ARROW (Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder)
•	RIGHT ARROW (Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder)

Shortcut keys for Character Map

After you double-click a character on the grid of characters, you can move through the grid by using the keyboard shortcuts:

•	RIGHT ARROW (Move to the right or to the beginning of the next line)
•	LEFT ARROW (Move to the left or to the end of the previous line)
•	UP ARROW (Move up one row)
•	DOWN ARROW (Move down one row)
•	PAGE UP (Move up one screen at a time)
•	PAGE DOWN (Move down one screen at a time)
•	HOME (Move to the beginning of the line)
•	END (Move to the end of the line)
•	CTRL+HOME (Move to the first character)
•	CTRL+END (Move to the last character)
•	SPACEBAR (Switch between Enlarged and Normal mode when a character is selected)

Microsoft Management Console (MMC) main window keyboard shortcuts

•	CTRL+O (Open a saved console)
•	CTRL+N (Open a new console)
•	CTRL+S (Save the open console)
•	CTRL+M (Add or remove a console item)
•	CTRL+W (Open a new window)
•	F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)
•	ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the MMC window menu)
•	ALT+F4 (Close the console)
•	ALT+A (Display the Action menu)
•	ALT+V (Display the View menu)
•	ALT+F (Display the File menu)
•	ALT+O (Display the Favorites menu)

MMC console window keyboard shortcuts

•	CTRL+P (Print the current page or active pane)
•	ALT+Minus sign (-) (Display the window menu for the active console window)
•	SHIFT+F10 (Display the Action shortcut menu for the selected item)
•	F1 key (Open the Help topic, if any, for the selected item)
•	F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)
•	CTRL+F10 (Maximize the active console window)
•	CTRL+F5 (Restore the active console window)
•	ALT+ENTER (Display the Properties dialog box, if any, for the selected item)
•	F2 key (Rename the selected item)
•	CTRL+F4 (Close the active console window. When a console has only one console window, this shortcut closes the console)

Remote desktop connection navigation

•	CTRL+ALT+END (Open the Microsoft Windows NT Security dialog box)
•	ALT+PAGE UP (Switch between programs from left to right)
•	ALT+PAGE DOWN (Switch between programs from right to left)
•	ALT+INSERT (Cycle through the programs in most recently used order)
•	ALT+HOME (Display the Start menu)
•	CTRL+ALT+BREAK (Switch the client computer between a window and a full screen)
•	ALT+DELETE (Display the Windows menu)
•	CTRL+ALT+Minus sign (-) (Place a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing ALT+PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)
•	CTRL+ALT+Plus sign (+) (Place a snapshot of the active window in the client on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)

Microsoft Internet Explorer navigation

•	CTRL+B (Open the Organize Favorites dialog box)
•	CTRL+E (Open the Search bar)
•	CTRL+F (Start the Find utility)
•	CTRL+H (Open the History bar)
•	CTRL+I (Open the Favorites bar)
•	CTRL+L (Open the Open dialog box)
•	CTRL+N (Start another instance of the browser with the same Web address)
•	CTRL+O (Open the Open dialog box, the same as CTRL+L)
•	CTRL+P (Open the Print dialog box)
•	CTRL+R (Update the current Web page)
•	CTRL+W (Close the current window) MS Article# 301583

Happy Navigating.