Close or Minimize Windows With a Single Keystroke
If you spend way too much time positioning your pointer over the little Close or Minimize buttons in your open windows, or futzing with keyboard shortcuts like Alt-F4, try EscapeClose. This dandy piece of freeware can turn your keyboard's Esc key into an instant shutdown button that works with most applications. It can also turn the ~ (tilde) key into a minimize button for moving the currently open window to the taskbar.

If using these keys for windows management makes you nervous, EscapeClose has a safer mode in which the Esc key just moves the pointer to the window's close or minimize button, creating a two-step escape (Esc, click). EscapeClose is free, but for more windows-management options, spend $15 and get EscapeClose Pro. Click here to download the free version.
Send Windows-related questions to scott_dunn@pcworld.com. We pay $50 for published items. Click for more Windows Tips. Scott Dunn is a PC World contributing editor.
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