34. Place Your Internet Favourites on Your Start Menu

Here's a quick tip which saves you a step or two in opening your web browser to commonly used web sites. Right click on the start button and choose 'properties,' then hit the 'customize' button. Choose the 'advanced' tab and scroll down the 'start menu items' box until you reach the 'favourites menu' option. Check it to add your IE favourites list to the start menu as a new tree.

35. Restore Your Essential Data

Have you ever lost access to your computer's hard drive, either by accidental formatting, partitioning or other accidental circumstances? Can't even boot your computer into Windows, let alone find out what's wrong? Don't panic, we can help.

PCStats has published an effective guide to restoring lost data under these circumstances. It remains one of our most popular articles ever, and it could save you a serious amount of money if you need to get your data back. Check out PCstats look at Hard Drive Data Recovery if you need more advice on the topic.

36. Enhance the Windows calculator

The Windows XP calculator is simple, but lacking in many functions, even if you use the 'view' menu within the application to change it to scientific calculator mode. Microsoft has provided a free addition for the XP calculator that, apart from a new look, adds a whole range of conversion functions plus

The 'calculator Plus' application can convert a range of measurements, and even comes with a currency converter that can download rates from the European exchange (currently only for European currencies though). You can also manually enter exchange rates via the 'currencies' option in the 'file' menu. If you don't like the new look you can revert to the old by going to 'view' and selecting 'classic view.' Calculator plus can be downloaded here.