What are shortcuts?  Shortcuts are “pointers” to programs or folders or files.  They are not the actual (original) program or folder or file.  When you click on a short cut to a program (or folder or file), it’s like clicking on the original program.  A shortcut is distinguishable from the original by the little arrow in the lower left hand corner of the icon.  Check out your desktop – do you have any shortcuts on it?

So you can make a shortcut to a program (or folder or file) that you use a lot and place iton your desktop so that you have easy access to it. 

When you click on the Start Menu and then click on All Programs (or Programs), you actually see many shortcuts to original programs (or folders or files).  It’s good to have those shortcuts in the Start Menu but it is still rather cumbersome to use those shortcuts.  If you use a shortcut in the Start Menu a lot – like several time s everyday, why not make a copy of that shortcut on your desktop.

Here’s how:

1. First, be sure there are no open windows – then click on the Start Menu
2. Point to All Programs (or Programs)
3. Find the program for which you want make a shortcut on the desktop.
4. Right-click on the program and drag it to the desktop. 
5. Release the right mouse button.  You will get a pop-up menu with 3 choices. Click on Copy Here.

That’s it – you just copied a shortcut on your desktop.  That was easy enough.

Well, there is another way to do the same thing which may be easier.

Do This:

1. Click on the Start Menu and point to All Programs (or Programs)
2. Find the program for which you want make a shortcut on the desktop.
3. Right-click on the program (don’t hold down the button)
4. Point to Send To, and click on Desktop (Create Shortcut)

Wow – that was really easy!

Note that if you use this method, you must right-click on a program and not a folder (yes – there are folders in the Start Menu).

Well, you can use either way to create your shortcuts.  If you later decide you don’t want or need that shortcut, you can drag it to the Recycle Bin.  Remember, you are deleting the shortcut to a program, not the original. 

Try making some shortcuts of your favorite programs so you don’t have to go to the Start Menu so often. 

Next week – some more cool shortcut tips