Launch Applications Fast

You can use number keys to launch applications quickly through the Windows XP Start menu. Click on the Start button and point to 'Programs' Find one of your often used applications, and drag it to the top box of the Start menu. Before you let go of the mouse button, make sure the pointer is between two apps listed in that box, if there are any, so that a black line appears. If your using Classic mode, hold down the 'Ctrl' key. Now release the mouse button to place a shortcut to the program at the top of the Start menu. Let go of the Ctrl key, right-click on the shortcut, select 'Rename' and add a number in front of the name (example: '1 Internet Explorer' '2 Outlook Express'), but don't use the same number twice. As a result of this trick, the next time you click on the Start button or press the 'Windows' key, you can press a number key to launch the corresponding application.