How-To Geek
Stupid Geek Tricks: Shrink the XP Volume Control
If you’ve just done something in front of a non-geek that surprises them enough to ask “How’d you do that?”, you’ve probably performed a Stupid Geek Trick. Usually these tricks aren’t anything complicated, just little known fun tricks that we like to share.
For today’s Stupid Geek Trick, we’re going to show you how to shrink the XP volume control with a keystroke. And just so I can use my favorite wallpaper, we’re talking about the volume control when you double-click on the Volume icon in the tray.
Once the dialog is up, hit the Ctrl+S key combination…
And your volume control should shrink down to a mini version! Using the same key combination again will change it back to the big version.
Note that you can also remove some of the sliders that you might not use by going to Options \ Properties, and then unchecking everything you don’t need.
In case you are wondering, this doesn’t work in Vista. Got any more fun geek tricks? Share them in the comments.
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Comments (15)
Programmer by day, geek by night, The Geek, also known as Lowell Heddings, spends all his free time bringing you fresh geekery on a daily basis. You can follow him on Google+ if you'd like.
- Published 09/29/08
That is funny tricks ^^ thank you Geek
pretty kool!!!
Why is this not in the settings? I actually NEED this in order to see all my sliders!
don’t know why, but i love this one, volume control looks better right now :)
ty
In Vista, if you want rename multiple files in Explorer without having to resort to mouse + click + f2 each time. When renaming a file, instead of pressing enter when you’re done, press tab. Explorer will automatically advance to the next file in the list.
Not sure if this works on folders, but you can try.
Cheers!
I like this. Thanks Geek
If you close the shrunken dialog with CTRL+CLOSE, it will stay that way next time.
Thanx CHRIS, that works on folders too.
It works on windows 2000 too
Nice Trick! it’s very useful… don’t anyone know how to reduce volume without even clicking the volume button..
the geek shall inherit the earth :D
Nipuna wrote:
> do[es]n’t anyone know how to reduce volume without even clicking the volume button..
I just got a keyboard with a volume-control knob on it. It controls the Master Volume slider in the Volume Control window. Yes, you can adjust the volume without having to mess with any windows. The Volume Control window doesn’t have to be in Front.
This is a cheap keyboard that came with a Dell-Outlet computer. It’s a safe bet there are other keyboards with a volume control, also. For an online retailer, I like newegg.com (just one of a million satisfied customers).
what I like a lot (on XP) when copying a lot of files onto an external drive where I already copied some of them before: On the confirm overwrite dialog there is a “yes to all” button, but no “no to all” button. However, if you hold Shift while clicking “No” you get a “No to all” which is exactly what you want at that moment.
is there anyway to show volume control on vista? I mean those wave, line in, etc. controls…. :)
You forgot that you are not talking to stupid Geeks, and needed to tell them that what the devil was “Valume Control” and what does it do to or for computer owners. Anoosh.