Computer Tips Directory

How to Fix Your Slow Computer and Optimise it to Run Faster

2009-10-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

These are the steps that you need to take to have your PC runs fast again.

#1 Run windows Update. This will install the latest security updates and updates for windows files on your computer. Some people never run this or do not know how to and this can leave your computer open to attack and also leave older files on it that can slow it down.

To run windows update and make sure your PC remains updated you need to do two things.

• Go to windows start menu then all programs and click on windows update. This will take you to the windows update site. Select express update and let it update your PC.

• Go to control panel. Click on the security centre icon and then set automatic updates to on. This will ensure each time an update is available windows will automatically install it on your PC.

#2 Delete or remove spyware or adware. Lots of websites will install malicious software in your PC without your consent as soon as you visit them. Check your antivirus is up to date it protects your computer from these and these can slow your pc down.

• If pop ups frequently appear on your screen whenever you use the internet most probably you are already infected. Spyware steals your password and other information while adware displays annoying ads that continues to pop up.

# 3 Run a free windows registry scan. In ninety percent of cases, computer problems, error messages and other errors are due to windows registry errors.

The registry is the database that window system used to find where everything is it needs to run. Spyware and adware hide their entries to the programs you never used and eventually get corrupted and enable them to work.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware kenali dan kunjungi objek wisata di pandeglang

Automate Your Updates of Windows Drivers

2009-10-23T03:18:00.000-07:00

Windows device drivers often cause problems. You need to install a large number of drivers and also keep on upgrading them once new versions are released. Just getting audio to work with all applications can sometimes take very long time to sort out. Often this is due to problems with the audio drivers. A lot of applications will install their own drivers and configure your audio devices. Sometimes this stuffs up the audio for your existing applications. In worst case, driver problems can cause Windows to hang or to reboot.

This is not just a problem with audio drivers. Windows needs the right driver for every hardware device you are using. This includes basic devices, such as keyboard, mouse and screen, as well as every other device used by Windows, for example network interfaces, printers and faxes. Windows also uses device drivers for a number of software features. All in all, your PC has a huge number of different drivers installed.

Trying to solve Windows driver issues can easily take hours, without any progress being made. Generally, you need to disconnect hardware, reboot your PC numerous times and install or un-install drivers. This trial-and-error takes very long time, and you still may not find the right combination of drivers and versions that works with your PC devices.

Fortunately, most of the problems with Windows drivers can be eliminated by letting a software utility manage your drivers. The software scans your devices and then connects to a central database on the Internet which contains the latest versions of device drivers for Windows. The new drivers are automatically downloaded and installed by the software utility.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware Kenali dan Kunjungi Objek Wisata di Pandeglang

How to Handle the Windows Blue Screen Error

2009-10-23T01:14:00.000-07:00

By Arial Green

The damage or incompatibility between memory banks can lead to computing error. You can see it when booting, but it is impossible to start the computer and you are prompted that the memory has problems. If this happens, it means that your memory is damaged and cannot compatible with other hardware. In such condition, you have no choice but change the memory.

The shortage of virtual memory may result in computing error of system multiple-tasks. Virtual memory is shortcut to solve the shortage of system memory. It also requires larger space in the hard disk. However, some users fill their disks fully in order to make the most of space, on the contrary, due to the shortage of memory, the virtual memory is troubled with computing error which can lead to blue screen. So, it is wise for you not to choke up the disk, instead, you should remove temporary and swap files produced by system to free up the space. Or, you can configure virtual memory manually.

Blue screen problems often occur abruptly when performing a rather large program or saving and copying. It relates with three kinds of resources occupation. They are the resource of system, user and GDI.

The solution is open your resource monitor to check the rest resource. If all of them are less than 50% or worse, it is vulnerable to appear "illegal operation" or "blue screen". Therefore, it is a must to cut down the waste resource, unnecessary load programs and avoid running large programs simultaneously, such as pictures or video software.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

LANs, WANs, MANs, and VLANs

2009-10-14T14:52:00.000-07:00

The next type of network is called a Wide Area Network or WAN. Follow closely: WANs can connect several LANs and they tend to span across geographical territories such as cities, states, regions, and sometimes countries. WANs can have thousands of nodes as well and is not limited in that way. WANs generally refer to the geographical area of the network.

A Metropolitan Area Network or a MAN is larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN. This network encompasses an entire region or city. Think of a MAN as a city and all of its suburbs. Take Chicago for instance. The Chicago Metro area (apart from this term) normally includes the city of Chicago plus all first and second tier suburbs to the North, West, and South.

You will use LAN and WAN extensively throughout your networking career so it's good to recognize the and define the term straight away.

There is a new type of LAN that exists today thanks to a process called virtualization. It is called the Virtualized Local Area Network or VLAN. Virtualization is defined as creating a virtual (rather than an actual) storage device, operating system, server, or network resources. Essentially it's a method that networking professionals are using to divide up resources (such as partitioning a hard drive) to extend the availability of the resource (e.g., to make it go further than intended). It is a fairly new term and will be defined further in future articles.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Build a Computer Cheap

2009-10-13T23:51:00.000-07:00

Building a computer is not a hard task if you know the things to look for. You can also save a lot of money by building your own computer! The great thing about this is that there are numerous ways to you can achieve this! Let me break down the 3 steps in building the computer for you!

1. Researching and purchasing the parts - You can build computer cheap because of the fact that you have instant access to all the individual components of the computer at a cheap price. This means that the only thing you have to do is know which parts are compatible with another. Afterward, you want to go ahead and purchase the parts for building your PC.

2. Assembling PC - Assembling is probably the most important part in a build computer guide as numerous things can go wrong. This is probably the most challenging part for most people, and you will probably need guidance for this part! You want to either look in forums for people who are excellent at this already or find a video of it. If you can, the best option is to simply go online and purchase a guide that will teach you all the steps easily!

3. Testing/Troubleshooting - You want to make sure that you computer is fine. Now that you know how to build computer cheap, it is time to use the knowledge and apply it to life! This knowledge is powerful and will definitely help you in life if you choose to use it!

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Separating the Wheat From the Chaff

2009-10-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

Price should never be your only consideration when looking online for ink cartridges. Unfortunately, there are people who are peddling inferior merchandise at what seem like ultra cheap prices. Remember, you get what you pay for.

Having said that, there are websites providing great a product at very affordable prices, and this article will tell you what to look for.

One of the first things to look for is if the printer ink cartridges sold on a website are manufactured or remanufactured in ISO-9001 certified factories. If so, you can be sure the cartridges are made with the same quality standards as the original branded ink cartridges. This notification should be on the home page of the site selling them.

Another tell-tale sign that the site carries quality printer ink cartridges is a money-back guarantee. Sites offering a guarantee are sure of the quality of their product.

Also, check and see if the online ink cartridge store offers a warranty against defects in workmanship and materials. The stores carrying the best quality product will provide a full one-year warranty.

One thing that many people overlook when checking out the quality of an online printer ink cartridge site is the shipping fees. If a website offers a low, flat shipping rate on all orders, you can be sure they offer quality cartridges. They know they don't have to squeeze more money out of you on your order because you will be so pleased with their product, you will come back often.

When you find all these things in a website, you know that you will be buying the best printer ink cartridges at the best prices.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Tips to Building a Comprehensive Protection Strategy

2009-05-26T02:36:00.000-07:00

Computer viruses can harm computer systems to varying degrees; from being a nuisance to crippling a system. Regardless of the extent, when a computer does get infected, it creates an unnecessary expense to either the business or the home. Unfortunately, installing a virus protection program isn't all you need to do anymore to be protected. The following tips will help you to build a strategy for protecting yourself from future infections.

Install antivirus software and keep it up to date. While it isn't all you need to do, it is the minimum amount of protection you should have. A search of the internet for the term 'antivirus software' will turn up numerous respectable antivirus programs that can be used, some of them even free for home users. Regardless of which program you use, make sure it is kept up-to-date on a daily basis. Almost all programs allow you to automate this process.

Keep your software updated. And I don't just mean Microsoft products. Some programs are more important than others but all programs are susceptible to having mistakes that need fixing. Even the Mac OS has patches that should be installed. The Microsoft products can be addressed by using the Automatic Updates software however, we'd recommend contacting your computer administrator on how to best configure your settings.

Use a Spam filtering service for your email. This can benefit you in two ways. First, it reduces the amount of junk mail that comes into your network reducing the chances of a user accidently opening an infected attachment. Second, should an affected file be sent to your email, the service will filter it before it ever gets to your network, reducing the risk of it infecting anyone else.

Create and enforce a policy limiting what software users can install. Arguably the least costly yet most difficult to implement tip, limiting what software your users are allowed to install on their systems can have a big impact on the success of your virus protection strategy. If users are not accustomed to installing software, they will be less likely to accidentally install an affected program if prompted to do so. Additionally, if the users do not need to be installing software, IT administrators can lock down the PCs to further reduce the chance of an infected program being installed.

Use OpenDNS. A free service that allows a business, or home user, the ability to watch and filter all internet traffic. Policies can be setup to block certain types of traffic or even specific sites. The service also maintains its own list of blocked sites to help protect users from going to a site that is known to be infected or contain malicious content. Whether you are trying to protect a small network at your house or the one in your office, these six tips can help you to build a comprehensive strategy to reduce your exposure to a computer virus attack.

supported: Eriuqs Spires Healthy Recreation

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Best Way to Delete Duplicate Files and Recover Valuable Disk Space

2009-04-22T00:50:00.000-07:00

In this article we will discuss how to delete duplicate files, and about duplicate file remover, at length. In this era of rapid changes, our hard drive makes it possible to store millions of documents, videos, and songs on it. As a result of this, it becomes more and more difficult to find the information we need.

The hard drive has so much capacity and we end up downloading stuff that we don't really need without thinking much. As a result, a lot of copied content or useless information gets stored into the computer which slows down the system and makes it difficult to identify data. And the final mess is when we realize this data is adding to confusion and needs sorting out, that it is hardly possible to find and remove duplicate files manually.

But a special software or duplicate file remover is available in the market, which helps to delete duplicate files. This tool helps to find and remove unnecessary copies of your files, accurately. It also helps to find and remove mp3s and pictures. They can be sent to recycle bins or can also be moved to a separate folder.

Having loads of duplicated files, creates a big mess and clutter in the system which like mentioned earlier, makes it slow. Also these duplicate files take up a lot of unnecessary space. The only way to reclaim this space is with the help of duplicate file remover. This helpful software helps to clean up your computer, leaving you with the original files..

For people who have to keep a large collection of any type of digital media, be they photos or music, chances are that you'll end up with many copies of the same document or song. And unless you remove all the unnecessary copies, your hard drive will become full with things you don't really need. Duplicate file remover program helps to find and remove copies that are not required, and thus helps to create a neat and organized library of digital data.

Duplicate file remover program is useful tool that helps the hard drive clean up from duplicate files and create additional space on the drive. This software tool is the most reliable and efficient disc clean up utility to find and remove unwanted copies, on both - your local computer as well as computer network.

If you are able to successfully identify and delete duplicate documents with duplicate file remover, you can claim back lost hard disk space by locating and erasing multiple copies of that same song, or video.

Duplicate file remover is equipped to find copies of multiple types. It can find text, binary, music and also video or image files. It helps to remove the copies which may not be required.

Duplicate file remover has multiple advantages. It helps to identify & recover wasted disk space. It helps to reduce the time and media that is used for backups. Once you remove the unnecessary copies, you will also reduce the time used to perform virus scans.. To delete duplicate files from the system also means you are increasing free space on laptops and memory disks which comparatively have smaller hard disks and space created by deleting unneeded copies, comes in very handy.

This software also helps to remove duplicate files to eliminate synchronization problems. It runs and works much faster and swiftly as compared to other programs in that category besides being very safe and reliable.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

6 Tips For Optimal Computer Speed

2009-04-01T02:12:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been in the middle working on your computer and suddenly it froze, crashed or came to a slow crawl? And you had to restart, lost your work, lost time and felt so enraged that if you had an ax...STOP! Don’t kill the computer. Here are 6 tips on how to speed up a computer.

1. INCREASE VIRTUAL MEMORY:

Virtual memory is the space your computer uses when it's short of RAM (Random Access Memory), which is the memory used when running programs like Office Suites.

Resetting the virtual memory usage on your computer, also referred to as pagination, is great way speed up a computer.

To access and reset the Virtual Memory:

On the Start menu,click My Computer. The My Computer window is displayed. Click View System Information. The Systems Properties dialog box is displayed. In the Systems Properties dialog box click the Advanced tab. Under Performance, click Settings. The Performance Options dialog box is displayed.

In the Performance Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab. Find the Virtual memory area. Click Change. The Virtual Memory dialog box is displayed. There you can make changes to the custom pagination. DO NOT exceed the limit given in the properties box of your windows system.

2. STORING FILES ON THE MAIN DRIVE:

Do not store lots of data on the main drive, which is where you install your windows operating system. Storing software like games, finance programs and other software on another drive of your computer is another way to speed up a computer’s performance.

3. RESETTING START UP MENU:

The speed with which your computer boots depends on the amount of programs that are set to be started automatically at booting. Removing unnecessary and unwanted programs from the start up process can greatly speed up a computer at the start up level.

4. TURN OFF SYSTEM RESTORE:

Having the system restore option on takes a lot of space from the hard drive. Freeing up a lot of physical memory by turning off system restore can significantly speed up a computer.

To access and turn off System Restore:

Click START, then click ACCESSORIES, then click SYSTEM TOOLS, then click SYSTEM RESTORE. Once there you can edit settings and then turn off the system restore option.

5. CLEANING INTERNET CACHE AND COOKIES:

Temporary Internet files affect browser speed. Regularly cleaning the cache and cookies will make your browser and computer perform at a faster speed.

To Clean Internet Cache and Cookies:

click Tools from your browser toolbar and click on Internet Options to delete and clear cache and cookies. This should be done on a regular basis to ensure ongoing improvement of computer performance and browser speed.

6. DEFRAGMENTING THE DISK:

Regularly defragmenting the drive will speed up a computer.

This tool can be accessed from the Start Menu then Accessories then System Tools.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Speed Up My Computer Without Upgrading

2009-02-03T21:05:00.000-08:00

The resource boosts of an archive of computer tips such as 10 easy steps to speed up your computer- without upgrading, 3 summer computer tips and many more.

A Goldmine for those who love computer tips. It is the collection of computer tips including more than fifty tips about computer how to empty the temp directory regularly, empty temporary internet files regularly, checking your hard disk for problems, Or, you can do a few of the performance tweaks yourself, turning off Active Desktop, How to Install and run a good AntiVirus program to keep out viruses, A lot of computer users have Spyware and don't even know they have it, much less how to get rid of it. If your computer has been taking you to websites that you don't want to go to, or if you get pop-ups when you aren't even on the Internet, or if your computer has been running extremely slowly lately, for no reason, you probably have Spyware.

To defragment your hard drives (in any Windows operating system), double-click on My Computer. Right-click on the c-drive and click on Properties. Click on the Tools tab and choose the bottom button, to Defragment Now and many more tips.

Thinking about getting a new computer, but with all the choices out there are you getting a little overwhelmed? Well why not look into building your own computer? By building your own computer you can get all the options you really want, whether you need a graphics design machine, game machine or just a simple word processor. You can tailor the computer to your specific needs. Now I know what you are thinking, "Isn't building a computer difficult? I don't want to screw anything up." Well with a little reading, assembling your computer will be cake.

Supported: avtorentacars

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware avtorentacars

Basic Computer Troubleshooting Tips

2009-01-02T01:58:00.000-08:00

1. Check all connections

Are the power cords plugged in? If using a power cord, does it work with other electrical items?
Is the monitor cord to the PC connected?
Are keyboard and mouse cables fastened securely?
Is the network cable connected to computer and hub or wall connection? Is there a green link light on?

2. Turn computer off, wait 30 seconds and turn on again.

3. Narrow down problem

Have you added new software recently? Could impact other functions.
Is it a hardware problem? (monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer); try each component with another computer to see, if they work.
A keyboard error could be a loose connection or a stuck key. Check cable connections and run hand over the entire keyboard. Reboot computer. PC's have batteries that have a life, of about 3 years. If computer keeps asking what time it is, you need to replace battery. Can be found on the motherboard. Cost about $10 at Radio Shack, etc.

4. Have, you deleted, moved, or renamed files recently?

5. Has computer been moved (even a few inches)? - Check connections.

6. When you turn on computer, listen for beeps - one is very good, two to four beeps is usually a memory problem. More than four beeps can be a motherboard problem. (# of beeps also depends on which BIOS system is used).

7. Is the ‘num lock key’ on for using number keys at right of keyboard?

8. If your computer continually beeps .at you it could be, frozen and must be rebooted or shutdown. Try Ctrl, Alt, Delete at the same time. As a last resort, turn off power and wait 30 seconds to turn on. Win95 systems will prompt you to do a scandisk check - go ahead with this.

9. Mouse isn't working - try cleaning the ball. Sometimes the driver for the mouse will be missing. Copy mouse files from another computer and copy to problem machine. Most of the time there is no software to load for the mouse – just plug in and use. Mice do wear out, so check with other machines.

10. Monitor problems --- screen arrangement looks weird? - There are adjustments for vertical, horizontal, etc., on most monitors.

11. Printers used with Win95 systems have a troubleshooting guide built in by double clicking on My Computer and opening Printers. Choose the printer and use the Help files. Is the printer clean? Does it need a new cartridge? Try turning off and on again. Make sure you are choosing the correct printer in Print Setup. Are connections secured? 12. If you get a memory error, you either need to delete unused files and programs or buy more memory.

13. How much memory do I have? Type in mem at the DOS Prompt (C:/) on 3.1 systems. In Win95, open My Computer, right click on C: and choose properties. On both systems watch the scrolling numbers in the upper left corner when you turn on the computer.

14. Need a formatted disk to save on? With 3.1 system - at C:\ type, a:format or use, the, Main Menu, File, Manager, Diskettes. In Win95, use My Computer and right click on A: drive and choose Format. There are two capacities to choose from - 720 and 1.44. Use 1.44 for HD (High Density) and 720 for DD (Double Density). Disks must be formatted to save files. Transfer files after a year of heavy use to another diskette. Floppy disks do wear out and you can lose all your files.

15. You may want to make a copy of a diskette (for example – Integrade before you turn it in to the SIMS operator). In Win95, open up My Computer, put original floppy in the disk drive and click once to highlight. Choose the File Menu and select Copy Disk. Follow onscreen instructions. To use DOS to make a copy of a floppy disk, click Start, Run and type in: DISKCOPY A: A: and follow the instructions on the screen.

16. Computer will not boot or reboot with a diskette in A: drive unless it is a system disk. System disk can be used to boot a system that cannot boot on its own. Should keep a system disk for each system in use.

17. On Win95 systems, if a blue screen with writing appears, choose Exit without Saving. The computer should continue on to the desktop. 18. Is my hard drive full? Open My Computer, and choose File Menu, Properties. Sometimes, you will have two hard drives. Is one full and the other almost empty? May need to move files to the other hard drive. Contact your school technology trainer for assistance.

19. Once you have tried all the basis options of troubleshooting, maybe you have been able to either fix your own problem or narrowed it down. Contact the school technology trainer or TUG person for additional help. If they need assistance, they will complete a work order for your computer to be serviced by a system technician.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

4 langkah untuk membersihkan komputer dari virus

2008-10-11T12:16:00.000-07:00

Setelah virus pada komputer Anda dapat menyebabkan komputer Anda untuk memperlambat, memasang iklan dan mengintai hati-hati, atau membiarkan hacker ke dalam komputer untuk mencuri informasi Anda. Mengetahui bagaimana untuk membersihkan Anda terinfeksi virus komputer adalah mudah. Berikut ini adalah beberapa tips untuk menunjukkan bagaimana Anda.

Segera setelah anda berpikir komputer Anda mungkin terinfeksi Anda harus putuskan komputer anda dari Internet dan apapun jaringan Anda mungkin pada komputer. Ini adalah untuk memastikan bahwa virus tidak menyebar ke komputer lain.

Jika Anda memiliki anti-virus program terinstall pastikan sudah diperbarui pertama kemudian menjalankan penuh sistem pencarian. Anti-virus tidak dapat mendeteksi virus jika program ini tidak diperbarui.

Beberapa program anti-virus akan mendeteksi virus, tetapi tidak akan mampu untuk menghapusnya. Jika ini kasusnya, anda dapat mendapatkan program yang berbeda dengan mendownload dari komputer yang tidak terinfeksi atau anda dapat pergi ke toko komputer lokal dan mendapatkan satu ada yang berbeda.

Sebagian besar anti-virus program akan meminta Anda untuk me-restart komputer Anda setelah selesai scanning. Setelah Anda restart komputer Anda menjalankan scan lain untuk memastikan bahwa virus hilang. Bila Anda me-restart komputer pastikan bahwa itu masih terputus dari Internet dan jaringan lainnya. Setelah Anda yakin bahwa virus hilang, kembali komputer.

Supported Bulgaria Avtorentacar SEO Racer

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Software Piracy

2008-03-31T22:18:00.000-07:00

Software piracy is the unauthorized copying of software. Most retail programs are licensed for use at just one computer site or for use by only one user at any time. By buying the software, you become a licensed user rather than an owner. You are allowed to make copies of the program for backup purposes, but it is against the law to give copies to friends and colleagues.

Software piracy is all but impossible to stop, although software companies are launching more and more lawsuits against major infractors. Originally, software companies tried to stop software piracy by copy-protecting their software. This strategy failed, however, because it was inconvenient for users and was not 100 percent foolproof. Most software now requires some sort of registration, which may discourage would-be pirates, but doesn’t really stop software piracy.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

IP Spoofing

2008-03-30T22:16:00.001-07:00

A technique used to gain unauthorized access to computers, whereby the intruder sends messages to a computer with an IP address indicating that the message is coming from a trusted host. To engage in IP spoofing, a hacker must first use a variety of techniques to find an IP address of a trusted host and then modify the packet headers so that it appears that the packets are coming from that host. Newer routers and firewall arrangements can offer protection against IP spoofing.

E-mail Spoofing
It is forging an e-mail header to make it appear as if it came from somewhere or someone other than the actual source. The main protocol that is used when sending e-mail -- SMTP -- does not include a way to authenticate. There is an SMTP service extension (RFC 2554) that allows an SMTP client to negotiate a security level with a mail server. But if this precaution is not taken anyone with the know-how can connect to the server and use it to send spoofed messages by altering the header information.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)

2008-03-27T22:12:00.000-07:00

It is the acronym for small computer system interface. Pronounce it skuzzy. SCSI is a parallel interface standard used by Apple Macintosh computers, PCs, and many UNIX systems for attaching peripheral devices to computers. Nearly all Apple Macintosh computers, excluding only the earliest Macs and the recent iMac, come with a SCSI port for attaching devices such as disk drives and printers.

SCSI interfaces provide for faster data transmission rates (up to 80 megabytes per second) than standard serial and parallel ports. In addition, you can attach many devices to a single SCSI port, so that SCSI is really an I/O bus rather than simply an interface. Although SCSI is an ANSI standard, there are many variations of it, so two SCSI interfaces may be incompatible. For example, SCSI supports several types of connectors.

While SCSI has been the standard interface for Macintoshes, the iMac comes with IDE, a less expensive interface, in which the controller is integrated into the disk or CD-ROM drive. Other interfaces supported by PCs include enhanced IDE and ESDI for mass storage devices and Centronics for printers. You can, however, attach SCSI devices to a PC by inserting a SCSI board in one of the expansion slots. Many high-end new PCs come with SCSI built in. Note, however, that the lack of a single SCSI standard means that some devices may not work with some SCSI boards.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

CD-RW (Compact Disk – ReWritable) disk

2008-03-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

It is short for CD-ReWritable disk, a type of CD disk that enables you to write onto it in multiple sessions. One of the problems with CD-R disks is that you can only write to them once. With CD-RW drives and disks, you can treat the optical disk just like a floppy or hard disk, writing data onto it multiple times.

The first CD-RW drives became available in mid-1997. They can read CD-ROMs and can write onto today’s CD-R disks, but they cannot write on normal CD-ROMs. This means that disks created with a CD-RW drive can only be read by a CD-RW drive. However, a new standard called MultiRead, developed jointly by Philips Electronics and Hewlett-Packard, will enable CD-ROM players to read disks create by CD-RW drives. Many experts believe that CD-RW disks will be a popular storage medium until DVD devices become widely available.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Warm Boot

2008-03-17T22:08:00.000-07:00

Warm boot refers to restarting a computer that is already turned on via the operating
system. Restarting it returns the computer to its initial state. A warm boot is sometimes necessary when a program encounters an error from which it cannot recover.

On PCs, you can perform a warm boot by pressing the Control, Alt, and Delete keys simultaneously. On Macs, you can perform a warm boot by pressing the Restart button. It is also called a soft boot. Contrast with cold boot, turning a computer on from an off position.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Discussion Lists

2008-03-15T22:05:00.000-07:00

If you participate in discussion lists, which allow advertising, or you maintain "Bulk Emailing Lists", please don’t make a pest of yourself. If your name is seen too often, then some people will NEVER join you. They will send unsubscribe requests. If you are on a

discussion list, people may unsubscribe or just ignore you. Make yourself a pest and you will defeat yourself. This is called loss of mind share. Another reason some people are tolerant of un-solicited e-mail is that all it takes is a couple of keystrokes and offending mail is gone. If they do not like what the person is sending (such as, solicitation to visit or receive pornography) they are willing to write a polite email and ask to be deleted from their mailing list. I have never been refused. Perhaps Mr. Internet BEAR has a use after all.

One type of Bulk E-mail is acceptable for all occasions. This Bulk E-mail is one where a person has asked to be placed on the list. It is this type of e-mail whether it is a newsletter or a discussion list that has always been accepted on the Internet.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

E-mailing

2008-03-01T22:03:00.000-08:00

E-mailing a person for the first time may be a little bit tricky. When posting to anyone for the first time, there are several things to keep in mind. One should keep in mind that one may be violating a person’s carefully guarded privacy or violating a personal or company or other rule someone thought up. Be polite. And be prepared for a wide range of welcomes from friendly to outright rude and crude. On the other hand, you may be extending a hand of friendship, which will develop into a relationship for life.

In general, there are three types of e-mail communities as defined by economic pressure. In these groups, there are three types of individuals:

Those who like to talk via email and will accept almost anything at least once and enjoy the Internet for personal reasons;
Those who are online for business; entertainment is the least of what they want to get online;
Those who may be a member online purely for their own reasons and do not want to
be bothered by anyone except the privileged few they let in.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Partition

2008-02-28T23:15:00.000-08:00

To divide memory or mass storage into isolated sections. In DOS systems, you can partition a disk, and each partition will behave like a separate disk drive. Partitioning is particularly useful if you run more than one operating system. For example, you might reserve one partition for Windows and another for UNIX.

In addition, partitioning on DOS and Windows machines can improve disk efficiency. This is because the FAT system used by these operating systems automatically assigns cluster size based on the disk size: the larger the disk, the larger the cluster. Unfortunately, large clusters can result in a wasted disk space, called slack space. There is an entire sector of the software industry devoted to building utilities that let you partition your hard disk.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)

2008-02-17T17:57:00.000-08:00

Pronounce it WIZ-zee-wig. Short for what you see is what you get. A WYSIWYG application is one that enables you to see on the display screen exactly what will appear when the document is printed. This differs, for example, from word processors that are incapable of displaying different fonts and graphics on the display screen even though the formatting codes have been inserted into the file. WYSIWYG is especially popular for desktop publishing.

Note that the WYSIWYGness of an application is relative. Originally, WYSIWYG referred to any word processor that could accurately show line breaks on the display screen. Later WYSIWYGs had to be able to show different font sizes, even if the screen display was limited to one typeface. Now, a word processor must be able to display graphics and many different typefaces to be considered WYSIWYG. Still, some WYSIWYG applications are more WYSIWYG than others. For example, many desktop publishing systems print text using outline fonts (PostScript fonts, for example).

Many of these systems, however, use corresponding bit-mapped fonts to display documents on a monitor. What you see on the display screen, therefore, is not exactly what you see when you print out the document. In addition, standard laser printers have a resolution of at least 300 dpi, whereas even the best graphics monitors have resolutions of only 100 dpi. Graphics and text, therefore, always look sharper when printed than they do on the display screen. And colors often appear differently on a monitor than they do when printed out.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Internet address

2008-02-09T17:52:00.000-08:00

It is an Internet address. While you are in your browser (which you are probably in now) you will see a section at the top of the page that is titled “location”. If you type in the address of someone’s web page and hit enter, your browser will take you to that page. However the address you type in the location bar must be an exact match.

Load
It means download and upload. If someone asks how long did the page take to load? He/She is referring to the time it takes a page to appear on your screen. If a web page is loading slowly it means that it’s taking a long time to fully appear on your screen. You can often scroll through a page and look at the parts that have loaded while the rest of the page continues to load. Also, you can usually click a link on the page you are loading and link to another page without waiting for the current page to fully load.

Once you access to the Internet you are online. Often people will say they are online meaning they have access to the Internet and have an e-mail address, but may not necessarily be connected to the Internet at that moment.

What you need while surfing the web. Some web pages seem to take forever to fully appear on your screen - [Patience].

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Selecting Items by Access Key or by Name

2008-02-05T20:49:00.000-08:00

Most dialog box controls, menu titles, and menu items have underlined access keys. You can press ALT along with the access key to activate the control or menu anywhere within the active window. If an item doesn't have an underlined character, its access key is the first character in its name.

Access keys can sometimes be used without the ALT key for choosing controls or menu items. Use access keys without ALT to select items from an open menu. You can choose a dialog box control by typing its access key alone, except when the focus is on an edit box, a list box, or another control that expects typed characters. Therefore, using the ALT is a more reliable method.

Choosing controls in this way normally activates them, except when more than one item has the same access key. In that case, it will navigate to the next item assigned that key, but will not activate it. You must then press ENTER to activate it.

Within a list box, list view, tree view, or on the desktop, you can select an item by typing the first one or more characters in its name. You can begin typing a new name by pausing, and in some cases by pressing BACKSPACE. Pressing the same character more than once at the beginning of a name will select the next item beginning with that character.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Newsgroups

2008-01-29T17:50:00.000-08:00

Also called Usenet, they are groups that often have nothing to do with news. Newsgroups are a worldwide system of ongoing discussion groups among people on the Internet who share a mutual interest.

There are a large number of newsgroups available. Discussion is not in real time; it is done through leaving messages and reading messages that other people have left. If you can think of a subject you can probably find a Newsgroup for it. If you have an interest in a subject, the Newsgroups are well worth your time. To learn how to use Newsgroups, just check out the help section of your browser.

Word Of Caution: Never give your real (permanent) E-Mail address in the Newsgroups.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Spam (or Spamming)

2008-01-22T09:52:00.000-08:00

It is generally agreed that Spam is unwanted email. Many believe that Spammers are abusers of the email system.

Spam is an ugly word that is over used and means any unsolicited e-mail, one e-mail or dozens or hundreds of thousands. Many individuals do not mind a little of it. They are afraid of missing an opportunity to meet a new friend or of finding a useful service or business opportunity. Other individuals make studies of what is said on these e mails. One can really get an education on ad writing from these e-mails.

Still others even sign up for the mailing lists or participate in an activity, which makes them a target for unsolicited mails. Still other individuals do “Unsolicited Bulk E-mail” and know the cost is to receive "Unsolicited Bulk E-mail” in return. It is one cost of doing “Unsolicited Bulk E mail." If you participate in discussion lists, which allow advertising, or you maintain "Bulk E- mailing Lists", please don’t make a pest of yourself. If your name is seen too often, then some people will NEVER join you. They will send unsubscribe requests. If you are on a discussion list, people may unsubscribe or just ignore you. Make yourself a pest and you will defeat yourself. This is called loss of mind share.

Another reason some people are tolerant of un-solicited e-mail is that all it takes is a couple of keystrokes and offending mail is gone. If they do not like what the person is sending (such as, solicitation to visit or receive pornography) they are willing to write a polite email and ask to be deleted from their mailing list. I have never been refused. Perhaps Mr. Internet BEAR has a use after all. One type of Bulk E-mail is acceptable for all occasions. This Bulk E-mail is one where a person has asked to be placed on the list. It is this type of e-mail whether it be a newsletter like this one or a discussion list that has always been accepted on the Internet.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

What is Cookie

2008-01-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

A "cookie" is an Internet site’s way of keeping track of you. It’s a small program built into a web page you might visit. Typically you won’t know when you are receiving cookies. Ideally a cookie could make your surfing easier by identifying you, tracking sites you visit, topics you search, and get a general feel for your preferences. This can make surfing easier, faster, more personal, and more efficient. It can also be used to collect your e-mail address for marketing (spamming) purposes.

You can set your browser to warn you before you accept cookies or not accept them at all. Check your (advanced) browser settings. Keep in mind that some secure sites, such as stock trading sites, won’t work if you don’t accept their cookies.

First Party Cookies is an Cookies from the site you are visiting.

Third Party Cookies is Cookies from a different site than the one you are visiting. For example, on About.com if there is a Double-click add on the page there is probably also a Double-click cookie.

Session Cookies. Temporary cookies used as long as you are accessing a site. For example, when you log onto About.com a session cookie is created. Each time you visit another About.com forum or post a message it uses this session cookie. Without this session cookie you would have to log in each time you post a message or visit another forum.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Turn off keyboard repeat trick

2008-01-11T20:24:00.000-08:00

We enabled a keyDown and keyUp listener but we wanted to have a key stay pressed and navigated through the menu and then when the keyUp is triggered to close the device connection. But we ran into an issue with the key repeat trigging the keyDown event. So after some looking we found out that you can turn off keyboard repeat.

Here is how in Win XP:
1. Setting -> Control Panel -> Accessibility Options
2. Filter Keys check the 'Use FilterKeys'
3. Click Settings button
4. Filter options select 'Ignore quick keystrokes and slow down repeat rate'
5. Click settings
6. Select 'No keyboard repeat'
7. Click 'OK'
8. Notification Uncheck 'Beep when keys pressed or accepted'
9. Click 'OK'
10. Click 'Apply'
11. Click 'OK'

Now you can hold a key down and have the keyDown event trigger and navigate while holding it down and then the keyUp event will trigger when you let go of the key.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Windows Explorer keys

2008-01-05T20:43:00.000-08:00

The Windows Explorer displays the contents of a computer, drive or directory. The Windows logo key+E opens the Windows Explorer at any time, and it can also be started from Programs on the Start menu. It normally has two panes, the left pane showing a tree view of your folders, and the right pane showing the contents of one folder.

Windows Explorer can also show a single-pane, without the tree view. In this case it normally hides the toolbar unless you explicitly turn it on using the View menu. The same information is can be accessed using the My Computer icon from the desktop, and in the standard Open and Save As dialog boxes.

In the View menu offers a choice of icon displays. The Large Icons view displays the contents of a drive or directory as large icons in horizontal rows. The Small Icons view displays the same information in small icons in horizontal rows. The List menu item displays directories and files as small icons in vertical columns. The Details view displays files as a single column of icons with multiple columns of information about each file.

Files and folders can be moved or copied by using the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands from the Edit menu or by shortcut keys. Moving a program icon does not change the performance of the program. Deleting a program icon does not delete all the files associated with the program, so install or delete programs using the Add/Remove Programs option in Control Panel.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Make A Mistake? Undo It!

2007-12-30T19:27:00.000-08:00

Make A Mistake? Undo It!
Don't worry if you've just deleted a file by accident, or erased an entire block of text. To get it back, just click on EDIT | UNDO at the top of your screen.

Save Hard Drive Space
Do you frequently forget to remove files from the Recycle Bin? If so, you're keeping a lot of junk on your computer and it's using up valuable hard drive space. You can force the Recycle Bin to only use a small percentage of your hard drive. On your desktop, right-click on the Recycle Bin and choose PROPERTIES. A scroll bar appears on the multi-tabbed dialog box which follows. Adjust it.

QuickView Utility
Do you know about the Quick View utility? It's an excellent feature of Windows that allows you to view many kinds of files without actually opening them up.
To use it, just right-click on a file and select "Quick View." Is "Quick View" not present, even for things such as Notepad text files? Maybe you did not install it. To remedy this situation, click on the "Start" button, choosing "Settings."

On the window that appears, double-click "Add/Remove Programs." On the multi-tabbed dialog box that appears, click the "Windows Setup" tab. Double-click "Accessories." Now, check "Quick View" if it isn't already. Keep clicking OK until all of the windows that you open close down. You may need to insert the original Windows disk if prompted.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

5 Steps To Keep Your PC Safe Online

2007-12-30T03:01:00.000-08:00

There are some simple steps you can take to ensure your PC remains protected while you surf the Web. Following these tips can help protect your PC from virus, spyware and other online threats.

1. Update Windows
Microsoft regularly releases free downloads to fix security problems with Windows, Internet Explorer and other Microsoft software such as Office. Read Update Windows to find out how you can get these important updates.

2. Install A Firewall
A good firewall such as ZoneAlarm will prevent programs from accessing the Internet without your permission, and block access to your PC from intruders.

3. Check For Viruses
Malicious virus code can infect your PC’s system files and damage your important data. Read Check For Viruses which explains how to use an anti-virus program to find and remove malicious programs.

4. Remove Spyware
Spyware is malicious code that tracks your movements on the Internet and can even affect your PC's performance. Read Remove Spyware which explains how to get rid of malicious spyware and adware.

5. Browse More Safely
The latest web browsers such as Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox 2 offer security features like pop-up blockers and phishing filters to keep you safe when visiting web sites.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows fix my computer computer repair tips computer repair

Watch As Your Computer Boots Up

2007-12-29T01:15:00.000-08:00

In computer language, "Boot Up" simply means start up. You can watch what happens during the boot up process by pressing the Escape key on your keyboard, "Esc," just as the Microsoft Windows logo comes up.

You'll see a lot of text scrolling by. To stop the text so you can see it more closely, hit your Pause key. To continue scrolling, hit any key on your keyboard.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Remove Spyware

2007-12-28T03:53:00.000-08:00

Spyware tracks your movements on the Web and can affect your PC's performance. This guide explains how to protect your PC and remove spyware.

What Is Spyware?
Spyware is malicious code that infects your PC and can manifest itself as things such as unwanted browser toolbars and pop-ups, or if your browser homepage suddenly changes without your knowledge. Spyware also takes the form of tracking files that watch where you go on the web in order to create a marketing profile of you that will be sold to advertisement companies. Not only is it a source of irritation but it also infringes on your privacy too.

Removing spyware is an important step in the process of cleaning unwanted files and programs from your PC, keeping it secure and fixing problems. Fortunately there are programs available to help you track down and remove these unwanted files. There are several commercial security packages that offer antispyware tools as well as other features.

Ad-Aware and Spybot are two free programs you can use to fight spyware.

Download Ad-Aware SE Personal from the Lavasoft web site.

Technorati tag : computer computer repair windows computer checks software hardware

Restore A Deleted File

2007-12-27T23:57:00.000-08:00

If you've deleted something that you wish you hadn't, it may not be too late to get it back. As long as you haven't emptied your Recycle Bin you can restore it to where it once was.

On your desktop, double click on your Recycle Bin icon. Find the file you want and click on it once to highlight it. Then, at the top of the screen, click FILE | RESTORE. The file will disappear right before your eyes.

However, if you go back to where you deleted it from, you'll find it, safe and sound.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Add A Program To Your Desktop

2007-12-26T23:55:00.000-08:00

Sometimes going through that START menu can be a chore. It can be easier to add a shortcut to a frequently used program to your Desktop. To accomplish this, navigate to the desired program by clicking on START | PROGRAMS | DESIRED PROGRAM.

Once there, right click on the name of the program. Choose SEND TO | DESKTOP (Create
Shortcut). An icon will be added to your desktop.

By the way, this technique will also work with other things as well. Documents or Favorites, for instance. Don't be afraid to experiment.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Expand Your Taskbar

2007-12-25T23:51:00.000-08:00

If you have too many programs open, your Taskbar can get pretty crowded. If you need more room, carefully hold your mouse over the top of the Taskbar until the cursor changes shapes. It will become a line with an arrow at both ends. Once you've got the arrows, drag your Taskbar up as far as you need to.

Move Your Taskbar
Your Taskbar does not have to be at the bottom of your screen. You can move it anywhere you like. Hold your mouse over the Taskbar. While holding the left button down, drag it to the top or the left or right.

Using FIND
Ever forget where you placed a file? Use your FIND utility. Click on START | FIND | FILES OR FOLDERS. Type in the name of your file and search.

View All Open Programs At Once
If you'd like to view each and every open program at the same time, you can. Find an empty space on your Taskbar and right click. Choose either "Tile Windows Vertically" or "Tile Windows Horizontally."

Add A Program To Your START Menu
If you want to add a program that is on your desktop to your START menu, just drag and drop. Hold your mouse over the program icon, left click. While holding the mouse button down, drag it and drop it onto your START button.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Keyboard Repeat Rate

2007-12-24T01:16:00.000-08:00

When you hit the Backspace key on your keyboard and hold it down, the cursor just continues to
move until you let go of the key.

If the cursor is moving too slow, or too fast, you can change the rate. Open your Control Panel
and double click on Keyboard. Under the "Speed" tab you can increase or decrease the repeat
rate.

Check For Viruses

2007-12-23T03:35:00.000-08:00

Malicious virus code can infect your files and cause you to lose important data. This guide explains how to install an anti-virus program to protect your PC.

What Are Viruses?
Computer viruses are malicious programs designed to cause annoyance and even damage to computer data. They spread by infecting files and by automatically sending e-mails to everyone in your address book. There are new virus threats everyday. It is essential to take steps to protect your PC.

What Can I Do About Them?
If you suspect you already have a virus on your computer, or if you just want to keep your computer safe from the threat of viruses, there are several virus-detection programs which will scan your system and let you know if any malicious programs have been found.

There are many commercial and free anti-virus programs available on the Web, all with different features and levels of security. This tutorial uses AVG Anti-Virus.

Download AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
AVG Anti-Virus can be downloaded from the AVG website. Scroll down the page and click Download Free Version. Under the Windows section, click the link to download the file under AVG Free for Windows installation files. Click OK to save the file to your PC. Scroll down the page and click Download Free Version. Under the Windows section, click the link to download the file under AVG Free for Windows installation files. Click OK to save the file to your PC.

Technorati tag : computer computer checks windows internet software computer troubleshooting

Update Windows

2007-12-22T03:09:00.000-08:00

Microsoft regularly releases free downloads that help fix security problems with Windows, Internet Explorer and other software including Office. This guide explains how you can get these important updates.

What is Windows Update?
The Windows Update service provides a way of checking whether your Windows operating system needs any updates.

This can include security fixes, and software and hardware updates. It is essential Windows is kept up-to-date to prevent malicious programs taking advantage of security flaws to harm your PC.

You can download and install updates by visiting the Microsoft web site, or set your PC to automatically download the files in the background while you work. Note that ‘updating’ is not the same as ‘upgrading’. To upgrade your version of Windows from an older version to XP you would need to buy a Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade package. Updating Windows only ensures that you have the latest files for your particular Windows version such as XP.

Technorati tag : computer checks tips windows computer repair software hardware

Check Your System Resources

2007-12-21T05:34:00.000-08:00

Do you ever get a message telling you that your system resources are low and that you should quit some programs? Annoying, isn't it? Anyway, you can keep tabs on just how much of your resources you're using by going to your desktop, right clicking on My Computer and choosing PROPERTIES.

Under the Performance tab you can view the percentage of resources you're using. If your available resources are below 40% you might want to open less programs at start up. To learn how to do that, view our start up tip.

View Your Hard Drive Space
To see how much hard drive space you've used, and more importantly, how much you have left, Windows offers you a handy pie graph.
Open up your My Computer program. Right click on [C:]. Click PROPERTIES.

Keyboard Shortcuts
Did you know that technically your mouse is a luxury? If for some reason you find yourself without a mouse, don't panic. Visit this page to learn the necessary keyboard shortcuts.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

View Your IP Address

2007-12-19T05:24:00.000-08:00

First, what is an IP address? The technical definition goes something like this: "An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a 32-binary digit number that identifies each sender or receiver of information that is sent across the Internet.

When you request an HTML page or send e-mail, the Internet Protocol part of TCP/IP includes your IP address in the information." To find out what your IP address is, click on START | RUN. Type in "WINIPCFG" without the quotes.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Quick Minimize & Maximize

2007-12-18T19:30:00.000-08:00

Quick Minimize & Maximize
To quickly minimize any open window, double click on its "Title Bar." Double click again to maximize.

Remove Your Speaker Icon
To save a little room, you can remove the speaker icon that resides in your system tray on the bottom right corner of your screen. Click on START | SETTINGS | CONTROL PANEL. Double-click MULTIMEDIA. Click on PROPERTIES. the box next to "Show volume control on the taskbar" so it is unchecked. Click "OK."

See How Long Windows Has Been Running
Click on START | PROGRAMS | ACCESSORIES | SYSTEM TOOLS | SYSTEM INFORMATION. In the window that pops up, look at "Uptime" on the right side. You'll see many days, hours, minutes, and seconds Windows has been running since your last restart.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Delete Your Temporary Files

2007-12-18T19:25:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, many Windows files leave unnecessary files in the TEMP directory from time to time. These files may be unneeded data files, files that the program has simply "forgotten" about, or files created and not deleted due to a program's abnormal termination.

You can free up some room on your hard drive by visiting the WINDOWS\TEMP directory in your Windows Explorer and delete the files there.

Be Careful! Definitely DO NOT delete files that were created today, or yesterday... files created several weeks ago are usually safe to delete. If you are not sure which files to delete then do not worry about using this "trick" unless your drive space gets too low.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Opening A Program With Keystrokes

2007-12-18T19:22:00.000-08:00

Did you know you can assign certain keystrokes to open a program? This way you won't have to stop what you're doing and double click on it with your mouse. Right click on the chosen program on your desktop and select PROPERTIES. Click on the Shortcut Tab. In the text box labeled SHORTCUT KEY, type your chosen letter. Ctrl + Alt will automatically be added. Click OK. Now hit CTRL + ALT + letter.

Shrink Your Toolbar Size
Is your toolbar taking up too much room? Customize it! You can shrink the size of the buttons, and if you know what each button does, you can remove the text labels underneath the buttons.

Click on the "View" menu, choose "Toolbars", and then select "Customize". On the "Customize Toolbar" dialog box that follows, you can add or remove icons (buttons) to and from the toolbar, shrink the size of the icons, and change how text is displayed near the icons, if at all.

When you are done modifying the toolbar, press "Close" to exit this dialog box.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Hide Your Taskbar

2007-12-17T01:14:00.002-08:00

Your "Taskbar" is the tool bar at the very bottom of your screen. It's where all of your open programs and applications reside.

To hide it, find an empty space on the Taskbar and right click your mouse. Select PROPERTIES. Under the "Taskbar Options" tab, check the box next to "Auto Hide." Click OK.

Now, to view your Taskbar, move your mouse down to the bottom of your screen. Your Taskbar will appear.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Bypass Your Recycle Bin

2007-12-17T01:14:00.001-08:00

Most of us know that when we delete a file, we're not really deleting it, but sending it to our Recycle Bin. There, the file will sit until we empty the Recycle Bin, or restore the file to it's original location.

If you are sure that you want this file gone, and don't want it hanging around your Recycle Bin, hold down the SHIFT button on your keyboard while deleting it.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Windows Clipboard

2007-12-17T01:12:00.001-08:00

This should really be under the heading of "Copy And Paste." Copying and pasting is merely a way of moving something from one place to another. The most common thing moved around with this technique is text. You have a program on your computer that you can't see. It's called a "Clipboard." It is there for one purpose only; to hold the text (or graphic, or whatever else you're moving) as long as you need.

The catch is, the clipboard will only hold that text until another block of text is placed on it. It only holds one clipping at a time. Let's say you've typed out a letter to your mother in your Windows Notepad. Now, you're ready to move it to your e-mail program to send it. To do this, you need to first "Copy" it to your clipboard. To copy the text, place your mouse at the beginning of the text you want to copy. Hold down your left mouse button and drag the cursor to the end of the text. Lift up your finger. The entire text will be highlighted.

To save it to your clipboard, or "Copy" it, you can do one of two things. You can go to the top of your screen and click EDIT | COPY. Or you can hold down CTRL + C on your keyboard. Now, although it seems like nothing happened, it did. The highlighted text has been placed on your Windows Clipboard. Don't believe me? You can view it. Click on START | PROGRAMS | ACCESSORIES | SYSTEM TOOLS | CLIPBOARD VIEWER. See?

Now, to put the text into your e-mail program, or wherever else you want to move it to, you need to "Paste" it. Go to wherever you want to paste the text in. Click your mouse where you want the text to start. To paste the text, you can do one of two things. You can click on EDIT | PASTE or you can hit CTRL + V on your keyboard. While this sounds very confusing, it's really not. Once you've done it once or twice, you'll be a pro.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Add Frequently Used Programs To Your QuickLaunch Bar

2007-12-17T01:09:00.000-08:00

In Windows 98, you have a handy tool bar called the "QuickLaunch Bar." It allows you to start up a program with just one click without having to go to your desktop or using your START button. The QuickLaunch Bar is located directly to the right of your START button. If you've never customized it, you probably have icons for Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Outlook Express, and a button that takes you directly to your desktop, among others.

It's easy to customize your QuickLaunch Bar. To remove an icon, simply right click on it and choose DELETE. Don't worry, you're not removing the program from your computer. Just from your QuickLaunch Bar.

To add an icon, simply left click on the icon on your desktop (If the program you want isn't on your desktop). Without lifting your mouse finger, drag it to your QuickLaunch Bar. Once there, lift your mouse finger and the icon will appear. (This technique is called "Drag and Drop" and is outlined)

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Changing Your Desktop Icons

2007-12-17T01:05:00.000-08:00

If you ever get bored with the same old icons sitting on your desktop, there is a solution. Many of the programs on your desktop offer lots of different icons.

First, right click on the icon you'd like to change. Select PROPERTIES. Then, click on the "Change Icon" button under the "Shortcut" tab. Select the icon you prefer and click OK.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

View The Source Of A Web Page

2007-02-03T05:28:00.000-08:00

Ever wondered what a web page looks like underneath all the colors and pictures? Well, wonder no more. Next time you're on a web page go to the top of your screen and click on VIEW | SOURCE

Easy Access Dictionary Button
Have you ever been reading something on the web and come to a word that you don't know the meaning of? Dictionary.Com offers an easy access button that sits right on the tool bar in your browser.

Once the button is installed, all you need to do is highlight the mystery word and click the button. You'll be taken right to the definition of the word.

Filling Out Online Forms
When you're filling out a form on a web page, it can get a bit tedious typing in your name, then grabbing for the mouse to get to the next text field. There is an easier way to get from one text field to the next. Just hit the TAB key on your keyboard. To move back through the spaces, hit SHIFT + TAB.

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware