Bring up a command prompt, pointing to any folder

Slowly, as each new version of Windows debuted, it seemed the venerable Command Prompt kept getting shuffled closer and closer to the exits, resigned to submenus or deep into obscure context menus and kept breathing only with the help of add-on software like Microsoft’s Power Toys. If you’ve still got a space in your heart for the stark prompt, though, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s at least holding its own in Windows 7.

Without installing any special software, you can launch a Command Prompt from any folder, and the prompt will emerge automatically pointing at that folder. (This was possible in Vista, too.) All you need to do: Find the folder in Windows Explorer or on the Windows Desktop, hold down the Shift key, and right-click the folder. In the context menu that unfolds, select the option Open command window here. (This option only appears when the Shift key is included in the action sequence.) You’ll get that comforting old monochrome window ready for your “DIR” command:
 

 
This isn’t the only way to launch a prompt, of course. You can still find the familiar Command Prompt launcher option in the Start menu, under All Programs > Accessories, which you can pin to the taskbar if you’re a real command-line aficion. (To pin it, right-click Command Prompt in the Start menu, left-click on Pin to taskbar.) And if you really use the prompt enough to make a desktop shortcut worthwhile, too, navigate in Windows Explorer to C:\Windows\System32, find the file cmd.exe, right-click on it, choose Send To from the pop-up menu, and select the Desktop (create shortcut) option to make a discrete icon happen.

Access the Windows Desktop without minimizing anything

In the first tip, we showed you how to get to the Windows Desktop by hovering over or clicking on the new transparent zone in the lower-right corner of the screen—a.k.a., the Aero Peek feature. But perhaps you access your Windows Desktop constantly, or it contains lots of nested folders that are home to your everyday working files. You can get fast-click access to them from the taskbar without minimizing all your windows and losing your place.

You’ll have to set this up, though. Right-click on the taskbar, and choose Properties, to launch the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog. Under the Toolbars tab, check off the Desktop button.

Hit OK, and a mini-menu called “Desktop” appears in the taskbar, followed by two angle brackets (>>). Click it, and you’ll see all of the items on your Windows Desktop, complete with nesting folders. Now it’s easy to access anything on your Windows Desktop without having to navigate back to it. Especially useful: The Computer entry in this menu lets you browse your PC’s entire drive-and-folder hierarchy from here (including any networked drives).

Rotate your desktop background photos

We have to admit that we were secretly excited to see what lovely new desktop backgrounds came with Windows 7, and we did see some snazzy ones. (Plus, Click here to see how to unlock some hidden backgrounds.) But imagine our elation when we realized we didn’t have to commit to just one background, but could put as many as we liked in a slide show that would constantly re-invent our desktop.

Right-click on an empty area of your desktop and select Personalize. (Or do it the old-fashioned way by going into Control Panel and selecting Change desktop background under Appearance and Personalization.) Click on Desktop Background on the bottom for a selection of available photos. (You will already be in this menu if you got there via the Control Panel.)

If the images Windows offers aren’t good enough for you, use Browse to navigate to your own photos you have saved on your PC. Hold Ctrl while you click to select as many backgrounds as you like. Once you’ve made your photo selections, click the check box next to Shuffle, then choose how often you would like your background to rotate (from every 10 seconds to every day). Click “Save changes,” and enjoy the show.

How to Make the Computer Icon Display on the Windows 8.1 Desktop

The Computer icon that you’re used to seeing in Windows 7, Vista, and XP is now not available on the Desktop in Windows 8.1. However, it is not gone completely. There’s an easy way to bring it back.
NOTE: The Computer icon is now called This PC.
To put the Computer icon on the Desktop, right-click in any empty space on the Desktop and select Personalize from the popup menu.

On the Personalization dialog box, click the Change desktop icons link in the list on the left.

On the Desktop Icon Settings dialog box, select the Computer check box so there is a check mark in the box. You can also choose to display other Desktop icons, such as the Control Panel and User’s Files. Click OK.

Close the Personalization dialog box by clicking the Close (X) button in the upper, right corner.

Double-click on the This PC icon on your Desktop to open Windows Explorer and access your folders, devices, drives, and network locations.