Create a Keyboard Shortcut for Your Favorite Folder

Reader Jim has a documents pamphlet that he uses regularly, and wants to know if there's a way to pin it to the Taskbar for fast and well-situated access. (He also notes that he loves Hassle-Free PC, indicating he's an especially smart individual.)

Regrettably, while Windows 7 lets you pin programs and several files to the Taskbar, it doesn't let you pin folders. Nonetheless, there's another lightning-fast way to access a favorite booklet, and that's by setting up a keyboard shortcut. Here's how:

1. Open Windows Explorer and sail to the folder in interrogative. Let's say it's called "Client Files" (which is on the button the name of the folder Jim's after).

2. Right-click the folder and choose Send to, Desktop (create shortcut).

3. Straight off minimize all open Windows and find the newly created shortcut icon on your screen background. It'll cost labeled Customer Files – Crosscut.

4. Far-right-click that shortcut and choose Properties.

5. Within the Shortcut tab, suction stop inside the Shortcut key field.

6. Now you have to determine what keyboard cutoff you need. It could live something the like Ctrl-Shift-F or Ctrl-Elevation-Q. I recommend using around combination of Ctrl-Shift, Ctrl-Alt, or Shift-Alt, just to void conflicts with former programs (which are more in all likelihood to use just one of those keys). For sake of argument, let's live with Ctrl-Shift-F. Beseech that combining, and you'll see IT come out in the Shortcut key field.

7. Click OK to complete the process.

Instantly, whenever you press Ctrl-Shift-F, even when exploitation some other program, your Client Files folder will magically appear. By the style, you can use this method to quick-launch favorite apps as well; but right-suction stop a desktop shortcut and repeat the process.

Causative Editor program Rick Broida writes nigh business and consumer technology. Ask for help with your PC hassles at hasslefree@pcworld.com, or try the treasure trove of helpful common people in the PC World Community Forums.