Windows Vista / Getting Started

Can't Keep Track of Open Windows

You don't have to keep track of all those open windows. Windows Vista does it for you with a secret key combination: Hold the Alt key and press the Tab key, and the little bar appears, displaying the icons for all your open windows. Keep pressing Tab; when Windows highlights the icon of the window you are after, release the keys. The window pops up.

Or, if your PC has powerful enough graphics, click the Flip 3D button next to the Start button. Vista "floats" all the open windows onscreen. Click the window you want to bring to the forefront. Or, flip through them all by pressing Tab or your keyboard's arrow keys.

Or, use the taskbar, that long strip along the bottom of your screen. The taskbar lists the name of every open window. Click the name of the window you want, and that window hops to the top of the pile.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Some Things You Don't Like in Windows Vista
  2. Can't Stand Those Nagging Permission Screens
  3. Can't Copy Ripped CDs and Purchased Music to My iPod
  4. The Menus All Disappeared
  5. Parental Controls Are Too Complicated
  6. The "Glass" Effects Slow Down My Laptop
  7. Can't Figure Out How to Turn Off My PC
  8. Windows Makes Me Log On All the Time
  9. The Taskbar Keeps Disappearing
  10. Can't Keep Track of Open Windows
  11. Can't Line Up Two Windows on the Screen
  12. It Won't Let Me Do Something Unless I am an Administrator!
  13. Don't Know What Version of Windows I Have
  14. My Print Screen Key Does not Work