Q&A of the Week: Moving Up a Directory in Windows

Question: Erin, I am more of a keyboard person (using my mouse only occasionally) and know all kinds of shortcuts (for moving around Windows directories) with the keyboard. I was looking for one that would move you back up a directory when opening a file. This would be the equivalent of hitting that back arrow with your mouse.

Deb A., Breckenridge

Note to readers: A “directory” is another name for “folder.”

Answer: Hi there, Deb. I'm not sure which version of Windows you're using, so here are the answers for XP, Vista and 7. (Oh — and keep in mind that yes, many times your previous folder is the same as the folder directly up from where you are — but not always!):

— Windows XP: Hitting the Backspace key will move you up one level. Alt + left arrow key moves you back to the previous folder.

— Windows Vista & Windows 7: Hitting Alt + up arrow key will move you up one level. Alt + left arrow key will move you back to the previous folder. (Note: This information was pulled directly from Microsoft.com; I do not run Windows Vista or 7 myself.)

Reader Suggested Website of the Week: Just for Yoga Lovers!

Juliana in Silverthorne recently shared this link with me, explaining that she loves the awesome yoga classes offered on the site (which is run by a Denver-based company): www.YogaDownload.com. Find music for meditation or yoga classes, shop for yoga-related products and download free yoga videos. You can also sign up for a membership (with pricing starting as low as $2.95/week) for access to unlimited streaming videos of live classes as well as a complete download of a yoga class each week.

Grab Bag: Your Five Links of the Week

1. http://tinyurl.com/25hy2ps — Having trouble sleeping? It's possible the culprit may be your laptop. Or smartphone. Or iPad. Today's gadgets are fabulous, but some of their by-products (such as the artificial light they emit) can actually be the root of problems we try to solve through unrelated solutions. Learn about the theory that proposes our glowing gadgets are fooling our brains into thinking it's daytime ... at night.

2. http://tinyurl.com/ddaw3a — The web-hosting industry is ugly. It's spammy. There's lots of deception. Though you'd like to think your research has lead you to a great decision, it's very possible you've been tricked. Check this 3.5 minute YouTube video to learn more. (And yes, it's weird, but there really is no sound in this video.)

3. http://tinyurl.com/25b9qn — Still not clear what RSS is or why you'd ever want to use it? Then this fun 3-and-a-half minute video is absolutely a must-see for you!

4. http://tinyurl.com/2w2jjeg — Harboring serious concerns about your privacy on Facebook? Have a look at this article to learn about ReclaimPrivacy, a simple little bookmarklet that can help you be as private as you'd like.

5. http://tinyurl.com/2c7appv — A cool, interactive, drag-and-move infographic showing the country's most targeted books. You know. The books that, for some bizarre reason, cause seemingly normal people to bombard librarians with demands that they be removed from the shelves.

eRin pheiL is the owner of timeforcake (www.timeforcake.com), a web design/development studio in Frisco. She can be reached via e-mail at erin@timeforcake.com.