| Getting used to a new operating system is | | | | check it out; click on "Start", then click on |
| always hard, but there are many little tips | | | | "Documents" you will see the contents of your |
| and tricks that you can learn along the way | | | | documents folder, but unless you have turned |
| to make the transition much easier. | | | | on the menu bars, you will not see them. I |
| | | | cannot tell you how many times I was stumped |
| One of the tools available in Windows that I | | | | by the absence of these menu bars when I |
| use all the time is the Menu Bar. This is the | | | | first started using Windows Vista computers! |
| bar across the top of most program windows | | | | |
| that includes items like; File, Edit, View, | | | | Today, however, I have good news for you! If |
| Tools, Insert, Help, etc. The "Tools" menu is | | | | you are working on a computer that is running |
| especially helpful when I want to change the | | | | Vista, and you need to make a change or two |
| settings for a program or window. | | | | that you know you used to be able to find in |
| | | | the menu bar, you can make the menu bar |
| Let me give you a quick example: | | | | temporarily visible in Vista just by tapping |
| | | | the "Alt" key on your keyboard! |
| When I am hunting for a file, it is not | | | | |
| always visible with the default windows | | | | If you are using Vista, try it now by |
| settings, so I have to be able to view hidden | | | | following these steps; |
| files. To turn these hidden files on, I click | | | | |
| on "Tools" in the menu bar, then click on | | | | 1. Open a window by clicking on the "Start" |
| "Folder Options" and then click on the "View" | | | | orb (new name for the round buttons in Vista |
| tab in the folder options window. On the View | | | | and Office 2007" and then click on |
| page, I can quickly scroll down and click on | | | | "Documents" in the right hand side of the |
| "Show hidden files and folders", then I click | | | | start menu. |
| the "OK" button to save my changes. Once I | | | | |
| have followed these steps, it is much easier | | | | 2. Your documents window will open. You will |
| to find the file that I am hunting for, | | | | notice that there is no menu bar showing |
| especially if it is a hidden system file. | | | | though. |
| Once I have found my file, I can quickly go | | | | |
| back and follow the steps above to turn off | | | | 3. Now, tap the "Alt" key on your keyboard |
| the hidden files by clicking on "Do not show | | | | just once. The menu bar will appear near the |
| hidden files or folders". | | | | top of the window. It will stay visible until |
| | | | you use it, or until you tap the "Alt" key |
| In Windows Vista, the menu bar is not visible | | | | again. |
| in most windows. I find the loss of these | | | | |
| menu bars very frustrating because I am | | | | I can't begin to tell you how much time this |
| always changing settings using those menus. | | | | little trick has saved me when I am using or |
| If you are reading this article on a computer | | | | working on computers! |
| that is running Microsoft Windows Vista, | | | | |