If you’ve had your computer for a while, take a look at your mouse. Pay particular attention to the left mouse button – the one you’re used to clicking all the time. Is the plastic a little bit worn from where you’ve clicked it a few bajillion times? Maybe there’s a little bit of “finger-dirt buildup” lingering right around the sweet spot where you’re used to resting your finger. Now, look at your right mouse button. If you noticed much “wear and tear” on the left button, see how the right button compares. If it looks like you’ve never even clicked the poor neglected thing, this week’s article is for you.

“Right-clicking” is typically used to bring up “context-sensitive menus.” In other words, when you right-click something, you are presented with options that are specific to whatever it was that you right-clicked. For example, if you’re using Windows 2000 or Windows XP, try right-clicking your “My Computer” icon. When you do, you’ll be presented with a small context-sensitive menu that lists shortcuts to several areas of your system. One of your options is “Properties.” Clicking “Properties” in this menu will display information about your computer, such as what kind of processor you have, how much RAM, and exactly what version of Windows you’re using, such as “Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2.”

Right-clicking the “My Computer” icon also gives you access to a really handy system tool when you select “Manage” from the context-sensitive menu. The “Manage” menu option lets you access the Windows Device Manager, where it lists all of the nuts-and-bolts components and drivers that Windows is using. “Manage” also lets you view error logs, disk management features and see a list of “Services.” These areas aren’t always for the faint of heart, but feel free to look around to your heart’s content. Just don’t make changes that you’re not comfortable with or don’t understand.

If you right-click your Desktop (not on an icon, but just about anywhere else that isn’t being used by a program or shortcut), you can select “Properties” from the little menu that appears. This takes you directly to the area of Windows where you can change your desktop background, screen saver, display resolution and lots more.

In programs like Microsoft Word, right-clicking a page lets you change the properties of that document. Right-clicking a selected word or group of words (or even every word in a large document) will let you change the font, alignment, line spacing and many other things. Right-clicking a cell in Excel gives you options for that cell.

Don’t forget tool bars! At the top of most applications like Word, and even Internet Explorer, right-clicking a blank area of the toolbar (all the buttons along the top of the program’s window) lets you modify the toolbar to add or remove button.

There are thousands of shortcuts directly under your right mouse button. Click away and discover quicker ways to get things done!

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[Author’s Note: “Ask the Geek” is published weekly in the Stratford Star - the penultimate reading experience for residents of Stratford, Texas, population 1,920. It is posted on WritersCafe.net for posterity. Feel free to comment, but I can’t promise you’ll make the Star.]