Speed Up A Slow Running Computer
Incorrect virtual memory settings may be slowing
your computing experience. Let Windows manage
your computer's virtual memory. Go to "Start,"
"Control Panel," "System," click on the "Advanced
tab," then the "Settings" button under
"Performance," again select "Advanced," click on
the "Change" button under Virtual Memory, select
"System Managed Size," then "Set" and "OK." It's easier than it sounds.
Make Your Computer Run More Smoothly
By pressing the buttons "Ctrl+Alt+Del" all at the same time you
will bring up your Windows Task Manager. This will tell you what
applications and processes are currently running. Remove any you
don't need to help unburden your computer.
Avoid Lightning Strikes
The only guaranteed way to avoid lightning damage is to turn off the
computer. Disconnect it from the wall outlet and the telephone.
How Do I Backup My Registry?
Often times you'll be directed to backup your registry before making
any changes to it. But how do you back it up and then how do you
restore it if something goes wrong? Click
here for directions.
Computer Stopped Responding, How Do I Shut It Down?
First, try holding down the CTRL, ALT and DELETE buttons. The Task
Manager should appear and you might be able to shut down just the
application that's in trouble. If not, press the ON button on your
computer and hold it until it shuts off.
Check Your Hard Disk Space
Go to your desktop. Double click on the "My Computer" icon. Right
click on your hard disk (usually drive C). Click "Properties" to see the amount of disk
space left on your computer.
Open Your Computer In Safe Mode. (All Windows)
If Windows won't open correctly try rebooting and
pressing the F8 key before Windows loads. Use your
arrows keys to select "Safe Mode." Once open, try
to correct the cause of problem.
Bypass The Recycle Bin (XP)
Delete items without sending them to the Recycle Bin by right clicking on the Recycle Bin and choosing properties, under the Global tab check "Do not move files to the Recycle Bin Remove files immediately when deleted". Click Apply then OK.
Cleaning Computer - Say It Don't Spray It.
Whenever you are cleaning any part of a computer, avoid
spraying liquids directly at the computer, keyboard, or other
devices. Spray into a cloth that is as dust and lint free as
possible.
Keep A Sound System
Keep your computer running well by fixing problems that
arise from regular usage by using a system maintenance
utility like Norton Systemworks. Optimize system speed,
fix registry and Windows problems, recover deleted files,
cleanly remove applications and clean-up Internet clutter.
Gain Space on Your Hard Drive (Internet Explorer)
Gain space on your hard disk by deleting temporary files,
click the "Tools" menu, click "Internet Options...," under
the "General" tab click "Delete Files..."
Housekeeping. (Win98/XP)
To automatically run Disk Defragmenter, ScanDisk, Windows Critical Update Notification, and other chores regularly, click My Computer, Scheduled Tasks. Click the desired tasks and choose dates/times. With XP click "Start," "Control Panel," "Scheduled Tasks," and click "Add Scheduled Task."
Defragment Monthly. (Win XP)
To clean up the fragmented files on your
hard drive. Click "Start", click "All Programs",
click "Accessories", click "System Tools" click
"Disk Defragmenter."
Use Your Disk Defragmenter Alone
Windows Disk Defragmenter organizes your hard drive and makes your
system faster. It uses a great deal of space on your hard drive while
it organizes your files. It is best to not use any other programs
while running Disk Defragmenter.
Decompression
Don't compress the contents of your hard drive
to save space. Apparently it will slow down
your whole machine.
Compress Individual Folders To Save Space
Highlight folder, right click, click "Properties". Click
"Advanced..." button. Select "Compress contents to save space."
Fan Club
Clean the fans inside your PC case to keep
them operating at optimum efficiency.
Desktop:
Pick Your Desktop Background From The Web
Right click any image on the Web and then click "Set as Background."
If the image doesn't fit well, right click blank space on desktop.
Click "Properties," then "Desktop" tab. Scroll to find your new image
(Internet Explorer Wallpaper) and then click "Apply."
Stop Asking Me If I Want to Cleanup My Desktop Icons
Right click on blank desktop area. Click "Properties" and select the
"Desktop" tab. Click "Customize Desktop." Clear the box next to "Run
Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days."
Shutdown Your Computer With One Click
Go to your desktop. Right click on a blank spot and point to "New," then click on "Shortcut." In the "Create Shortcut" window, type the following...
For Windows 95, 98, or Me copy and paste: C:\windows\rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindows
For Windows XP type or copy: SHUTDOWN -s -t 01
Click the "Next" button.
Adding Programs To The Quick Launch Area
To add a program to the Quick Launch area(to the right of your
"Start" button), drag the shortcut from your desktop. That will leave
shortcuts in both places. Accessing programs via the Quick Launch
area avoids fighting your way back to the desktop.
Place A Web Site Shortcut Icon On Your Desktop (IE)
Right click your mouse on the Web page you want
a shortcut to. Select "Create Shortcut." Easy.
Adding Wallpaper To Your Desktop (XP)
Right click on your desktop, click "Properties."
Click the "Desktop" tab, and choose from available
background images or select "Browse..." and
find an image on your computer.
Save a Web Page to Desktop
Open Internet Explorer and browse to the page you want to save.
Resize the page so you can see your desktop. In the URL address
box you'll see the Internet Explorer logo. Simply left click and hold the
blue logo and drag it over to your desktop. A shortcut icon will
be created.
Make A New Folder On Your Desktop (Desktop)
Right click on an open space on your desktop.
Click on "New." Click on "Folder." Type any name
for the folder you want.
Renaming an Icon (Desktop)
Right click on an icon. Then left click "Rename".
After you have typed the name click the desktop
and it will be renamed.
Change Shortcut Icon On Desktop (Desktop) XP
Right click shortcut icon. Click "Properties",
click "Shortcut" tab, click "Change Icon."
Place the following address in window.
C:\WINDOWS\system32\shell32.dll
Click "Ok" for an icon selection.
Automate Your Windows Updates (Desktop)(XP)
Right click "My Computer" icon on your desktop
and choose "Properties." Click "Automatic Updates"
tab. Select "Keep My Computer Up To Date."
Create Shortcuts On Your Desktop (Desktop)
Right click on desktop and select "New."
Then select "Shortcut." Click "Browse" in
the pop-up window to find the item you want.
Disappearing windows (Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0)
Minimize all windows at the same time by pressing a Windows
logo key and the letter "m" simultaneously.
Tidy up that mess you call a desktop (Desktop - Windows 95, 98, ME, XP)
To arrange icons on your desktop by name, type, size
or date, right click on an empty space, left click "Arrange Icons,"
left click your choice.
Easy Access. (Desktop - XP)
Add all desktop items to your taskbar.
Right click on a blank space on the taskbar,
click "Toolbars", click "Desktop."
Arms getting shorter? (Desktop - 98/XP)
Increase the text size of icons and folders by
right clicking the desktop, choose Properties,
Appearance, select Icon from the Item: menu,
then you can change both size and font.
Babies and bath water. (Desktop)
When you right click a Win9x desktop icon and choose Delete, a message appears asking if you wish to send (program name) to the Recycle Bin. Worry not, only the icon goes.
The shortest distance is a shortcut. (Desktop)
You can add more than Web pages and programs to your desktop. Have a frequently used folder? Right click on it in Windows Explorer, left click Send To, left click Desktop (create shortcut).
A shortcut by any other name. (Desktop)
Often desktop shortcuts have poorly foreshortened names e.g., "Shortcut to My Favo." Right click on the shortcut, left click Rename and create something useable.
Hide everything! (Desktop - 95/98/XP)
Minimize all windows at once by right clicking an empty space on the taskbar (normally at the bottom of your screen) and opt for Minimize All Windows or Show The Desktop.
Take control. (Desktop - Win95/98/XP)
Use your Control Panel a lot? Put it on your desktop by opening and resizing My Computer, then dragging the Control Panel icon to your desktop. When asked if you want to create a shortcut, click “Yes.” For XP click "Start" drag and drop "Control Panel" icon to desktop.
Create Screensaver Shortcuts
Click "Start" and "Search" then "All files and folders" and type .scr and hit the search button. Results will show all your screensavers, right-click the one you can't get enough of and choose "Create Shortcut".
Where'd My Quick Launch Bar Go?
If your Quick Launch bar is not displayed, right-click an
empty area on the taskbar, point to "Toolbars," and then
click "Quick Launch."
Access Your Desktop Quickly
Two ways: Press Windows button + M on your keyboard or click on the
Desktop icon in the Quick Launch toolbar.
Fonts:
Font memories. (95/98/XP)
Can't recall what all the fonts you have installed look like? Print them out. Go to Start, Settings/Control Panel, Fonts (single or double clicking as your setup requires). Select the ones you want and chose Print from the File menu. Have plenty of paper and toner.
Similarity breeds…something. (95/98/XP)
You're picky about your fonts and want to know which look similar. Go to Start, Settings/Control Panel, then double-click the Fonts icon. Click the View menu and choose List Fonts By Similarity. Select the font of interest in the window to see which others bear a likeness.
The font you want.
Which font for your Web site? These are on most computers: Arial, Arial Black, Comic Sans MS, Courier New, Georgia, Impact, Symbol, Times New Roman, Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Wingdings.
Font size on the fly (Internet Explorer 6)
To increase or decrease the font size on a Web page,
press Ctrl while turning your mouse wheel. (Also works
in other Windows programs.)
Google:
Narrow Google Search Results By Subtracting Terms
Get better search results by excluding terms with
a minus sign. For example: apple -tree -fruit -iphone -mac.
Visit the Google Labs Periodically
Go to Google Labs and see
what's cooking.
Use Google To Search Your Computer
Download Google Desktop which is much faster at searching files on your computer
Google * Search
Search Google by replacing any word in a phrase with an * (The
Empire State building is * feet tall) and the results will show Sites
that complete the phrase.
Use Google For A Reverse Phone Number Lookup
In the U.S. just use the format xxx-xxx-xxxx, and
place the number in the Google search window.
Seems to work better for business numbers than home numbers.
Calculate With Google
Need to do a quick mathematical calculation or conversion? Search the
equation in Google and get the
answer plus results containing the equation.
Sync My Google Calender With My Cell Phone Calendar
Free registration with GooSync
required. Press the sync button on your mobile device
to synchronize your Google Calendar and the calendar on your mobile
device. Doesn't work with all phones.
Think Google First
If you need a technical question answered try just putting it in the Google search window. Often times you'll be directed to a forums page where someone asked that same question.
All Things Google
You're not making full use of Google unless
you click on the "more »" symbol at their
home page. Discover toolbars, local searches,
catalogs and more.
Who's Calling? (Google)
Don't recognize a phone number on your
Caller ID? Type number into Google and
see if anything turns up.
Could You Be More Specific? (Google)
Be specific. You'll get more accurate search results if
you ask for a 1957 Chevy instead of antique cars.
Find That Coupon Code - (Google)
Buying online but don't have the coupon code that would
save you money? Try typing the store name the words
"coupon code" into the Google search engine.
Froogle It
Go to the Google homepage, click on Froogle and enter the name of a product you wish to find shopping info on.
Hardware/Peripherals:
What Screen Resolution Is My Computer Set To
Right click on blank part of desktop screen. Click on "Properties,"
and "Settings."
Monitor Ergonomics
OSHA says...
Put monitor directly in front of you and at least 20 inches away.
Place monitor so top line of screen is at or below eye level.
Place monitor perpendicular to window.
What's Up With Flash Drives?
Flash Drives, also known as Thumb Drives, USB Drives, Keychain
Drives, UFD, Pocket Hard Drives etc. consist of a small printed
circuit board encased in a plastic or metal casing, making the drive
sturdy enough to be carried about in a pocket. They have no moving parts,
are compact, fast, and reliable. You plug them into your computer via
a USB port and they act as a hard drive. They are great for
transferring files from one computer to another.
Speed Things Up With RAM
Looking for a system speed boost? Try adding memory (RAM). That can
prevent your PC from using virtual memory on your hard drive which
slows things down.
Recycle or Donate Your Old Computer and Peripherals
Dell Computers will recycle your old Dell products at no cost. Buy a
new Dell and they'll recycle any brand for free. Even better how
about donating your computer to help disabled and disadvantaged
children and adults. Check out Dell's recycling policies here.
Return Your Empty Ink Cartridges For Coupons
Staples offers a $3 coupon toward a future purchase of ink or toner when HP, Lexmark? or Dell cartridges are recycled.
Ye Olde Paper Clip Trick
If your CD or DVD is stuck inside your computer you can manually retrieve it by pushing the end of a paper clip into the small hole located at the front of your disk drive.
Create a Shortcut to Your Printer (XP)
To make it easy to access print options or stop your printer, click on "Start," select "Control Panel", then "Printers and Other Hardware", then click "View installed printers or fax printers", right click on your printer name and select "Create Shortcut". Place shortcut on your desktop.
Cleaning Keyboard Keys - Someone's Gotta Do It.
Pry off the offending key using a small screwdriver. Then use
a soft cloth and some computer cleaner, rubbing alcohol, or
distilled water to clean the key socket. Then press down on
the key to snap it back into place.
The squeaky modem. (Windows 9x, Me)
Tired of dial-up noise? Click "Start," "Programs,"
"Accessories," "Communications," "Dial-Up Networking."
Right click your ISP dialer. Click "Properties," "General"
tab, "Configure." Change "Speaker volume." Whew!
Prolong Your Monitor's Life. (Desktop - Win9x Me, XP)
Click on "Start," "Settings" and/or "Control Panel,"
"Power Options or Management." Select time
to turn monitor off when not in use.
Make Changes To Your Mouse Controls (XP)
Click "Start," "Control Panel," "Printers and
Other Hardware," "Mouse!"
Scratch That. Not!
When handling CDs you have to be careful not
to scratch EITHER side. The top side contains a
metal coating that reflects the laser light.
Stopping auto pain. (Windows 98, Me)
Don't want CDs to start automatically? Right click
"My Computer," click "Properties," "Device Manager" tab.
Click "+" next to "CDROM." Right click your drive, click
"Properties," "Settings" tab. Remove check from "Auto
insert notification" box. Reboot computer.
Avoid Hissing Speakers
Avoid using the maximum volume on either the
internal sound card or the speakers themselves.
Click on the speaker icon in the system tray. Adjust
the volume control to half of full.
Optical vs. Digital Zoom
Optical zoom is really the only "zoom" that should be considered when purchasing a camera. Digital zooming is basically just enlarging the existing image - which degrades it.
No More Repeated Letterssssss
Designed for those with difficulty typing, Windows offers
FilterKeys. When FilterKeys are turned on, the computer will
ignore brief or repeated keystrokes or slow the repeat rate.
To turn on FilterKeys go through "Start" to your "Settings"
or "Control Panel." From there click on "Handicapped Accessibility"
and then select "FilterKeys." For some Windows you can also hold
down the right Shift key for eight seconds to activate this feature.
Not My Friend Flicker (XP)
To eliminate screen flicker, increase the monitor's refresh rate.
Click "Start" "Control Panel," "Appearance and Themes" and "Display."
Select the "Settings" tab. Click the "Advanced" button near the
bottom of the window. Click "Monitor" and select your refresh rate.
Internet Explorer:
Find IE7 Problems By Managing Add-ons
To find out if your IE problems are with the
Add-ons go to the "Start" button, "All Programs",
"Accessories" , "System Tools" and then select
"Internet Explorer(No Add-Ons)". If the problem
stops go to the IE menu bar and click "Tools",
"Manage Add-ons", "Enable or Disable Add-ons" and
try to find the cause by stopping and starting each Add-on.
Internet Explorer Add On
Unleash the power of Internet Explorer with IEPro free add-on. Make your
browsing faster and more responsive. IEPro gives you Tabbed Browsing
Management, Spell Check, Inline Search, Super Drag Drop, Crash
Recovery, Mouse Gesture, Tab History Browser, Web
Accelerator, Webpage Capturer, AD Blocker, Flash Block, Greasemonkey
like User Scripts platform, User Plug-ins, Google sponsored search and more.
Take Control of Text Size (I.E.)
Open browser, click on "Tools," then "Internet Options." Click on
"Accessibility." Check "Ignore font sizes specified on webpages."
Choose your text size by clicking on "View," and "Text Size." Then
choose your size.
Protect Your Favorites List IE7
Backup your favorites to an external drive for safety. Click "File," then "Import and Export...," from the Wizard pick "Export Favorites."
"Browse..." to find your backup drive.
Close All Your Tabs Except The Current One
Have a bunch of taps open? Avoid closing each tab
manually by right-clicking the only tab you want
to remain open in the browser and select "Close Other Tabs."
Zoom In With IE7
While browsing the Net you might have noticed a magnifying glass and
a "100%" sign in the lower right corner of your monitor. Click on the
little down arrow and then click "Custom." You can set your
magnification up to 1000%.
Manage Browser add-ons in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (IE)
Open "Internet Explorer," under "Tools" select "Internet Options"
then "Programs" and then the "Manage Add-ons" button. Here you can
enable or disable add-ons and delete ActiveX controls. It's a great
way to stop some spyware. Don't worry about making a mistake, you can
always enable items later.
Work Around For a Disabled Back Button (IE)
Right click your "Back" button for a list of sites previously visited.
Removing Addresses from Browser's Address Bar
It's as simple as deleting your "History" files. In I.E. click on
"Tools," and "Internet Options." Click on delete browsing history.
See Colon Forward Slash (IE)
Typing C:/ into your browser window and clicking
"Enter" will open Windows Explorer with all your
hard drive folders on display.
Quick Access to Favorite URLs (I.E.)
If you have a long list of links running across your links
bar and down the right side of the IE screen, you can
access them quickly by clicking on the double arrow
on the far right of the links bar. Then just press the letter
on your keyboard that matches the link name you want.
Delete Temporary Internet Files
Right-click your Internet Explorer icon on your desktop and choose "Properties".
In the "General" tab, in the "Temporary Internet Files" section click "Delete Files...".
Click "Okay".
Add Icons To Link Favorites (Internet Explorer)
Right click on a favorite, select "Properties." Under the
"Web Document" tab click on the "Change Icon..." button.
Type C:\WINDOWS\system32\shell32.dll in the window
and press enter. Double click the icon you want.
Toss Your Cookies. (Internet Explorer)
Disable, enable, or choose your cookies by going to IE's
"Tools" menu, "Internet Options…," "Privacy" tab. There
you'll find several levels of protection.
Font size on the fly (Internet Explorer 6)
To increase or decrease the font size on a Web page,
press Ctrl while turning your mouse wheel. (Also works
in other Windows programs.)
Save Passwords Automatically (Internet Explorer)
Have IE save your passwords without asking
you first. Click on "Tools," "Internet Options,"
click on "Content" tab. Open "AutoComplete"
and uncheck "Prompt me to save passwords."
Customize your shortcuts (Internet Explorer)
Right-click a Links bar shortcut, click "Properties." Click the
"Change Icon" button to select a different one for the shortcut.
Alphabetize Your List of Favorites (Internet Explorer)
Click on favorites menu, select one of your entries and
right click the mouse. From menu that opens select
"Sort by Name."
Setting Your Security Settings (I.E.)
Open Internet Explorer, click "Tools," "Internet Options...,"
click "Security Tab," click "Custom Level...," click on
Medium or High.
Fill in the http: in I.E. (Me, 98, XP)
You can add "http://www. .com" to your URL, if you've typed
the middle part, by just pressing "Ctrl" and "Enter" together.
Add to Favorites with one keystroke (I.E.)
Press CTRL+D.
Access files from within Explorer Browser (Windows 98/ME/XP)
Just type in the drive letter followed by a colon
and click "Go". Example: c:
Browsing Keystroke Shortcuts (Internet Explorer)
Alt-Home - Brings up your default home page.
Alt - Left or right arrow - Back and forward paging.
F5 - Refreshes current page.
You'll need a longer Links bar. (Internet Explorer)
Drag any Web page's icon from the Address bar directly
to the Links bar. Or drag any link from a Web page, your
Favorites bar, or your desktop onto the Links bar.
I.E. tool chest. (IE)
You can customize the Internet Explorer toolbar
by right clicking on any empty area in it, click
Customize… then add or delete icons and spacers
to your heart’s content. The later the version the
more goodies.
Keep Internet Explorer Quiet. (IE)
Stop the clicking by opening "Control Panel"
Click on "Sounds" then click "Sounds" tab.
Scroll down the "Events:" list and find the
"Windows Explorer" section and click on
"Start Navigation". In the "Sounds" drop-
down menu select "None" Click "Apply".
Website Popularity. (IE)
Discover any Website's average traffic
ranking by clicking on "Tools", "Show Related Links."
The End Of History. (IE)
Launch Internet Explorer.
Click on "Tools" then "Internet Options."
Click on the "General" tab.
Under the history section change the days
to keep in history to 0. Click "Okay."
One size doesn't fit all.
Windows recalls your browser window’s size on shut down, then reopens it the same size. To change it, resize the last open window before shutting down.
Constipated browser?
If Internet Explorer seems sluggish, click the Tools menu, select Internet Options..., delete Temporary Internet Files.
Open wide.
For the largest viewing area in Internet Explorer go to Full Screen Mode by pressing F11. Hit it again to return.
Internet Explorer and F6.
Rather than highlighting an address with your mouse to change it, click F4 or F6
and be amazed.
Space launch.
Sick and tired of scrolling down Web pages with your mouse in Internet Explorer? Hit the spacebar to move down one window at a time.
E-Z Open Part 2. (95/98/XP)
Browsing with just one window is like driving with one eye. You can do it, but why? To quickly open a new window hold Ctrl and press n. Works in Netscape and IE. Try it in other applications.
“Darn! I thought I bookmarked it.”
Internet Explorer stores up to three weeks’ of sites you've visited. Click the History icon (looks like an oven knob, but is probably a sundial). Now you have to try to recall the day.
Search and ye…
In Internet Explorer’s search mode click Customize to choose which engines you prefer.
Let your browser do the walking.
Weak from typing www. and .com? In newer versions of Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer just enter the secondary domain name (in our case, thepocket) in the address box, hit Ctrl+Enter in Netscape or Enter in IE.
Back (Button) To The Future
Sometimes a site's coding will disable your "Back" button. This
causes the open window to reload each time a visitor clicks the "Back"
button. You can work around this by closing the new window and
returning to the original browser window or by right-clicking the
"Back" button and selecting the page you want from the drop-down list.
So, You Wanna Cover Your Surfing Tracks? (I.E.)
Click "Tools," "Internet Options...," and select the "General" tab.
Under "Temporary Internet files," click the "Delete Cookies..."
button. Click "OK." Next, click the "Delete Files" button. Mark the
checkbox labeled "Delete all offline content." Then click OK. Lastly,
click the "Clear History" button.
Changing Pop-up Blocker Settings
Open Internet Explorer, Click "Tools" menu, point to "Pop-up
Blocker," and then click "Pop-up Blocker Settings...". Set filter
level to Low, Medium or High. Add URL addresses of sites you want to
let popups appear. See other options.
iPod/iPhone:
Maximize iPhone Battery Life
For proper maintenance of a lithium-based battery, it's important to
keep the electrons in it moving occasionally. Be sure to go through
at least one charge cycle per month (charging the battery to 100% and
then completely running it down). For ways to save on daily battery
life go here.
Turn Your iPhone into and eBook reader
Open iPhone and tap your "AppStore" button. Tap on the "Search" icon
at the bottom. Type in "Stanza." Tap "Search." Download
"Stanza application." You can now download free books, magazines and
newspapers. You can also purchase books. Read them on your phone,
adjust font color, size etc.
Download iPod Songs to Your Computer
Use this iTunes
workaround to download your iPod songs to anywhere on your
computer. Not for iPhone or iTouch.
Optimize iPod Battery Life
Optimize the lifespan of your iPod battery by frequently charging it.
Apple suggests you discharge it once a month, then charge it to reset
the gauge, which shows how much charge is left.
Un-Freeze Your iPhone
Randomly iPhones just freeze up. To get it working again press and
hold the round "Home" button while pressing and holding the silver
button on the top right of the phone (the sleep/wake button). Hold
down both buttons until the phone goes black or shows a silver Apple
logo or you're given the option to slide the power off.
Use iPhone to Identify Music
At the application store on your phone download the free program
called "Shazam." When you need to identify a song open the Shazam
application and press the "Tag Now" button. Point the bottom of your
iPhone towards the music source for about 20 seconds. That's it.
iPhone - Save Money Abroad
Turn off the EDGE service to avoid large charges. Press "Settings"/press "General"/Press "Network." Turn "Data Roaming" off.
Getting Album Artwork on Your iPhone
Pull up the iTunes Website. Go to "Advanced" menu and select "Get
Album Artwork."
Keyboard Shortcuts:
Help!
While using most Windows-based programs, pressing F1 on your keyboard will bring up the program’s “Help.”
Access System Properties
Press the Windows icon key and the Pause/Break key to open System Properties. This window gives you information about your computer system. Handy when online with tech support.
Access System Properties
Use the "Windows" and "Pause/Break" keys to bring up your computers System Properties. Handy if you're online with tech support.
Some Neat Keyboard Shortcuts
To skip to the top of the page: press "Home"
To search within the page: Ctrl + F
To reload the page: Ctrl + R
Stop loading the page: Esc
To go to your Home Page: Alt + Home
To view your Favorites: Ctrl + I
Access System Properties
Use the Windows and Pause/Break keys to bring up your computers
System Properties. Helpful when you need to know what your operating
system is, what service packs you've added, your CPU speed or amount
of RAM you have.
Shut Off Computer
Click the Windows icon key then the "U" key twice. (Windows Key-U-U)
Don't hold the Windows key down.
Advanced Cut and Paste
Place your cursor at the first character you want selected
and while holding down the SHIFT key, click next to the
last character you want selected.
Copy and Paste Text (Keyboard Shortcuts)
First find the text you would like to copy. Then
highlight it by holding down the left mouse button
and dragging the cursor over the text. Then hold
down the Control key (Ctrl). While holding the
control key hit the "C" key. Find the place you
want to paste the text. Right click in that spot.
While holding the control key hit the "V" key. The
text you copied should now appear.
Cut and Paste Text (Keyboard Shortcuts)
Another keyboard shortcut is to hold down the
Control key and hit the "X" key. This cuts the text
out of whatever it was in. Control-X="Cut"
Browsing Keystroke Shortcuts (I.E.)
(Alt+Home Key) - Brings up your default home page.
(Alt+Left/Right arrow keys) - Back and forward paging.
(F1) - Brings up Explorer Help contents.
(F3) - Brings up search engine.
(F4) - Highlights the address bar.
(F5) - Refreshes current Web page.
(F11) - Opens Explorer to full page.
(Ctrl+F) - Brings up the Find window.
(Ctrl+W) - Closes the currently open window.
(Spacebar) - Use to scroll down.
Fill in the http: in I.E. (Me, 98, XP)
You can add "http://www. .com" to your URL, if you've typed
the middle part, by just pressing "Ctrl" and "Enter" together.
Add to Favorites with one keystroke (I.E.)
Press CTRL+D.
Windows Operating Systems
(Ctrl+Alt+Del) - Brings up the Close Program dialog box. From there you can highlight the program that you wish to close.
(F1) - Help
Scroll Through Web pages Without Your Mouse
Press the space bar to scroll down a Web page and the Home key to return to the top of the page.
Select All
Press CTRL + A to highlight everything on your screen for copying.
Use the Backspace Bar to Navigate File Menus
You can move "Up One Level" through files and folders by hitting the backspace bar.
More Keyboard Shortcuts (IE)
Ctrl + F5 Refreshes current Web page.
Ctrl + N Opens a new browser window.
Alt + Home Go to your home page.
Use Shortcut Keys to Launch Applications (98,Me,NT,XP)
Right click on any shortcut icon on your
desktop. Click on "Properties." Click inside the
"Shortcut key" window. Now type your key
selection. Start with either "Ctrl" and or "Alt"
(without the quotes) and then pick another key.
Example: Ctrl Alt Z
NT users need to use Ctrl and Alt.
What?
Ever wondered why menu headings have underlined letters (e.g. "File")? Hold down the Alt key, press the underlined letter on your keyboard to open that menu.
Access Your Desktop Quickly
Two ways: Press Windows button + M on your keyboard or click on the
Desktop icon in the Quick Launch toolbar.
Display Your Web Searching History
To display the History pane in IE, click the History button just
under the menu bar or press CTRL-H.
Microsoft Office:
Convert 2007 Word Docx back to Doc
Use this free online
converter to open 2007 Word files that have the new docx format.
Inserting the Date and Time (MS Excel)
In an Excel document you can insert the date into a cell using
Ctrl + ; or you can insert the time by using Ctrl + : (note that
this involves hitting shift as well to make the colon).
A Tab By Any Other Name. (Windows Excel)
Tired and confused by standard worksheet tab titles?
Make your own by right clicking a tab, selecting
"Rename," and do so. Have fun.
Belly up to the toolbar. (Excel 2000)
Right click a blank area of the menu toolbar and chose
from 16 additional toolbars, plus customize your own.
MS Word:
Password Protect Word 2007 Documents
Click on "Logo" in upper left. Click on "Prepare"
and then "Encrypt Document." Type in your password twice and you're set.
Creating a Bulletted List in MS Word
To create a list in MS Word with bullets, first type a * then
leave a space and type the first item of the list. When you
hit enter to move to the next line, the * will become a bullet,
and another bullet will appear on the second line for you to
continue your list. To stop the list and return to regular text,
hit enter twice.
More Word Keyboard Shortcuts (MS Word)
Ctrl+S is save, Ctrl+P is print and Ctrl D is font.
Romancing The Letter (MS Word)
Accented letters for romance languages can
be created by doing the following:
To create an acute accent press Ctrl + ' (apostrophe),
and the letter you want accented.
To create a accent grave press Ctrl + ` (accent grave),
and the letter.
To create a tilde press Ctrl Shift + ~ (tilde) and the letter.
To create a caret Ctrl+Shift +^ (CARET), and the letter.
And so on.
Copyright That (MS Word)
Place the c and r in a circle for copyright and registered
without opening up the symbol chart. Word will turn
(c) into a circle with a c inside and it will do the same for (r).
"Gotta match?" (MS Word)
When pasting fancy text into a Word document its
format is retained. To make it more like your current font,
first click "Edit," "Past Special…" From the pop-up menu
select "Unformatted Text."
Make a bold statement. (Word 2000)
If you want bold, italicized or underlined text, don't reach
for the mouse. Just hit "Ctrl" and the letter "b" "i" or "u" to
activate or deactivate those emphases.
Makes no sense. (MS Word)
MS Word doesn't make it easy to create a cent sign. Take up
the pocket change fight: simultaneously press Ctrl and /.
Then press the letter "c" for this ¢.
MS Word squiggly underline grief.
If you misspell a word in Word 97+, or it doesn't recognize it, a squiggly line appears and you can't copy it with a right click. Highlight the word and use the Edit menu.
Classified ads.
Need to know how many characters are in your Word document? Click File, Properties, Statistics. You'll find character counts and lots more.
Fast getaway.
Have a mess of incriminating documents open in Word and want to close them all, quickly? Hold Shift, click File and you’ll see the option "Close All." You’ll be prompted to save the ones that need it.
Character Map? (95 & 98)
You've probably come across this in Word. It’s the thing that lets you insert uncommon characters and symbols in a document (like a copyright or registration mark). Good news: you can use it in other Windows apps as well. Find it in Start, Programs, Accessories.
Painting with MS Word. (Word 95 & Word 97)
You've handsomely formatted a Word document and want to do another the same way. Highlight the portion with the format to be duplicated, click that little, yellow-stained paint brush on the toolbar, then “paint” over the new text.
Capital idea. (Word 95 & 97)
You've pasted an all-caps line into Word but want upper and lower case. Highlight the line, click Format, click Change Case…, choose Sentence case.
Whoa! (Win95 & 98)
The faster your CPU the harder it is to highlight portions in MS Word – they flash by too quickly. Place your curser at the beginning or end of the section you want highlighted, hold down the Shift key, then put your curser at the other end. Presto!
Password Protect Your Word Files
To password protect Word documents open the document you want to
protect. Click the "Tools" menu and choose "Options". Click the
"Security" tab. Type your password in the "Password To Open:" field.
It can be up to 15 characters and is case-sensitive.
Try Another Browser Mozilla Firefox is free, fast, easy to customize and less likely to be hacked. Use both Firefox and Internet Explorer to see which you like best.
Speeding Up My FireFox Browser
FireFox caches pages for your "Back" button which slows it down going
forward. Type about:config into the URL window. Scroll down until you
find browser.sessionhistory.max_total_viewers Double click it and
change -1 to 0. This makes new pages open faster but back button
pages will open a little slower.
Test Your Internet Speed
Are you getting the upload and download speeds your Internet provider
promised you? Try this fun speed
test site.
Online Help For Students
Use the Internet Public Library to
access magazines, newspapers and books. The Free Library is an
invaluable research tool and the fastest, easiest way to locate
useful information on virtually any topic. EdHelper is a great educational
resource for younger students.
Create PDFs Online
Create PDFs without a PDF writer. Use PDFOnline. Upload Word, PowerPoint, Excel and others and then convert to PDF.
Need A File Uncompressed
Use the Wobzip Website
to uncompress unusual files you might receive
in an email such as: 7z, ZIP, GZIP, TAR, BZIP2,
RAR, CAB, ARJ, Z, CPIO, RPM, DEB, LZH, SPLIT, CHM, ISO.
Ripping CDs At Higher Quality
If you have the storage space you can change the
settings on your Windows Media Player to a lossless codec.
This will give you the highest quality audio. In
the Media Player right click the "Rip" tab and
click "More Options..." In the "Format" window
pick "Windows Media Audio Lossless." This can use up to 411MB per CD.
My Cell Phone Fell In Some Water - What Do I Do?
Retrieve it as fast as possible. Remove and dry the battery and the
Sim card if it has one. Clean phone with denatured alcohol or rubbing
alcohol to remove minerals. Gently dry the phone with a hair dryer
and then place it in a container of uncooked rice overnight.
For more info click here.
How Can I Download and Watch YouTube Videos?
Download the vDownloader
application. Cut and paste the YouTube video's URL into the program.
It will download it and convert it into either an AVI or Mpeg program
which should run on your computer.
Make My Mobile Phone Battery Last Longer
1) Turn off Bluetooth setting when not using it.
2) Go into settings and reduce the "Brightness" setting.
3) Lower backlight duration.
4) Avoid games, Internet & photo usage.
How Can I Send Music Files To My Friends?
You could probably send one or two via your email. But this could
clog your recipient's email box. For a larger number of songs try
uploading them via Transfer
Big Files.
Download Music Online Without Fear Seeqpod will find music all over the Net. Set up free account and create your own play lists.
Using free audio software, you can record any music playing on your computer to your hard drive.
Using Your MP3 Player Through Your Car Stereo System
If you have a cassette player, just buy a cassette adapter. Plug the adapter into your mp3 player and the cassette part into your cassette player. Done. No cassette player? Click here for more options.
Send Huge Files
To send hugh files (up to two gigabytes) for free go to Transfer Big Files. Use
the Website's "Browse" button to bring up your file. Type in your
recipient's email address and you're done. They will email your
recipient the URL where they can download your file.
Recycle or Donate Your Cell Phone
Don't throw that old phone in the trash. Donate or Recycle. Learn here.
Retrieve Your Lost Cell Phone
Have the very first name/number listed in your cell phone's address book be yours. Use a land line number.
Make the "name" be: Return This Phone..."
Cell Phone Light
If you need some light try opening your cell phone and using it as a temporary flashlight.
Incoming Caller ID Number A Mystery?
Try using http://www.switchboard.com/
to get a name or use http://fonefinder.net to
discover your callers location.
Making It Easier To CAPITALIZE
If you often find it difficult to type capital letters because you
have to hold down the shift key, you can turn on a feature
called StickyKeys which allows you to simply tap the shift
key before a letter you wish to capitalize instead of having
to hold it down. It is designed to allow typing with one hand.
To activate StickyKeys in Windows95 or higher go to "Start" and
then to either "Settings" or "Control Panel." From there click
the "Handicapped Accessibility" button and then select "StickyKeys."
Try Your Enclosed Games
To open the games that came with your computer, click "Start,"
point to "All Programs," point to "Games," and then click the game
you want to open.
MP3 vs. WAV Files
1MB in the .mp3 format equals about 10MB in the .wav format. Mp3 files are compressed and parts of the audio are removed. So you save downloading time and space on your computer but give up some listening quality when you switch from WAV to MP3.
Print Only The Part of the Webpage You Want
Hold the left button of the mouse down and drag it over the portion
you want printed. This selects the portion of the page that will be
printed. From the browser menu click "File" and "Print." Under the
"General" tab pick "Selection." Click "Print."
Capture Images From Your Monitor
Press the "Print Screen" button to capture
the entire screen image. Press the Alt-Print Screen
key combination to capture just the active window.
Printing Out A Screen Capture
Capture screen image my clicking the "Print Screen" button on your
keyboard. Open the "Paint" program and click "Edit" and "Paste."
Click "File" and "Print."
Undelete A File
Your deleted files are stored in the Recycle Bin.
To undelete it, double click on the Recycle Bin
icon on your desktop. Select the file you want to
restore. Click on "Restore this item."
Notepad:
Take a note. (95/98/XP)
Notepad, often overlooked, allows you to time and date stamp entries. If that kind of thing is important to you, make an entry, click Edit, click Time/Date.
That’s a wrap.
WIN95 Notepad doesn't “wrap” text – it just keeps on heading right forever. To make long text readable, click the Edit menu and select Word Wrap. In WIN XP click on "Format" then "Word Wrap".
Outlook Express/Email:
Send a Text Message from Your Computer
Just use your computer's email client and put the following in the
address field: the phone number of the cell phone you want to text@teleflip.com
Send a File Too Large for Email
Have a file too big to send via email? Upload it to YouSendIt.com (up to 100MB free)
and they will notify your recipient where to download it.
You Didn't Win The Lottery
Any email that arrives in your mailbox claiming you've won the
lottery is a scam. Never send money to any group that
claims once you send them money they will send you even more money.
They won't. Got it?
Use Email To Send Text To Mobile Phones
Address your email to the cell number and use "@teleflip.com" as the
domain name. For example, if the number is (508)555-1212, send the
text message to 5085551212@teleflip.com. That's it.
Easily Reduce Photo Size For Emailing
Pull up your photo in Windows Explorer. Right click and choose "Send To",
Select "Mail Recipient." Select, "Make all my pictures smaller." Easy!
Outlook Express Business Cards. (vCards)
To create and send (vCards) open the "Tools" menu and
click "Stationary". From the Mail tab, click Signature. Under
the Personal Business Card section click New. After entering
all the information you want, click OK to save it. Then select the
card from the list and check the box for "Attach card to all
outgoing messages". Finally, click OK to save your settings.
Hiding Your Recipients Email Addresses. (Email)
When sending the same email to multiple recipients
you can hide all their email addresses. Just place your
own address in the To: field. Place the other names in
the Bcc: field. Bcc field isn't showing? Try clicking
on "View" or other menu choices to bring it up.
Missing Link (Outlook Express)
To link a word, name, phrase to a Web site, make sure
you're in the “Rich Text” format, highlight the text to link.
Click on the tool bar’s link icon, or click the “Insert” menu
and choose “Hyperlink…” Fill in the full domain name,
including http://.
Mail Within Mail (Outlook Express)
Do the same as above, but when the “Hyperlink”
window appears, next to “Type” select “mailto:”
then fill in email address. Looks fancier than a
bare, naked address.
Guess the address. (Outlook Express)
A speedy way to address a message is to start typing
the recipient's name in the “To:” line. As you fill in
letters Outlook Express will guess which moniker you want.
Read in peace. (Outlook Express)
By default, Outlook Express checks for new messages
every 30 minutes. To change this, click the Tools menu,
then Options, the General tab. Modify "Check for new
messages every."
Snoop around. (Outlook Express)
Outlook Express doesn't reveal everything in
the message headers. To get the full story, right
click on a message (above the preview pane),
left click Properties, Details tab, Message Source…
Let your fingers to the walking. (Outlook Express)
If you want the Outlook Express address book in alphabetical
order, click Name tab. You can also sort by E-Mail Address,
Business Phone or Home Phone. (click View menu, Sort By for more options).
Take this message and (_____) it! (Outlook Express)
Outlook Express allows you to pre-program what automatically happens to certain incoming messages. It can forward, file, respond, copy, flag, delete, and so on. To explore the exciting possibilities click the drop-down Message menu on the toolbar, then choose Create Rule From Message.
No email message before its time. (Outlook Express)
When composing an important message in Outlook Express click File, Save. It will go into your Drafts folder and not get sent until you've perfected it.
Belly up to the Outlook Express toolbar. (Win95 & 98)
Don't settle for the way your computer maker setup OE. Right
click on any part of the icon toolbar and choose Customize.
Threading your email. (95 & 98) (Outlook Express)
Using Outlook Express you can automatically mark messages that pertain to a subject of interest. Select an Inbox message of import, click Watch Conversation on the Message menu. Once you tire of it all, go back and turn it off.
Email auto-play. (Outlook Express)
Sure you can attach sound files to an Outlook Express message, but you can also make them play upon opening. Click anywhere in the message area of a new email, then select Background from the Format menu, click Sound. Once you've chosen a sound tell it how many times to play – like forever, man.
Hidden agenda. (Email)
When emailing to a group of unrelated recipients don't put all the destinations in the To or Cc lines. Some may not want their addresses revealed. Put yourself in To and all else in Cc.
What a drag! (95 & 98) (Outlook Express)
We'll bet when you attach a file to an Outlook Express message you click Attach then go slowly hunting through Explorer. Instead, size down the Explorer and O windows so you can see both, then drag the desired file into your message.
Spelling counts. (Outlook Express 5)
You've pasted a lot of text into an Outlook Express message and added your own pithy comments. Yet all you want to spell check is your own priceless prose. Highlight (select) just that then click the Spelling icon. Done.
Folder maker. (Outlook Express 5)
To create a folder in Outlook Express it’s not necessary to go to File. Just right click on any current folder.
Email OOPS! (Outlook Express)
Ever send an email message and seconds later wish you hadn't? Using Outlook Express click Tools, Options…, then the Send tab. Clear the Send messages immediately box. Sending a message will put it in the Outbox until you click Send/Recv.
Send an email attachment from anywhere on your hard drive (Windows XP)
Find the file you want to sent, right click, then click Send To and then Mail Recipient. Windows will open a new email message with the file attached. Just add the recipient's address and a message and send it off.
Privacy/Security:
Use Log In Password To Protect Folders
Right-click the folder you want private, choose "Properties." Click
"Sharing" tab. Check, "Make This Folder Private." Click "Apply," and
"Okay." You need to have a log in password for this to work.
You Didn't Win The Lottery
Any email that arrives in your mailbox claiming you've won the
lottery is a scam. Never send money to any group that
claims once you send them money they will send you even more money.
They won't. Got it?
Quick Way To Lock My Computer
Click the "Windows" and "L" key. This locks Windows until you unlock
it. To unlock it, press Ctrl + Alt + Del. If you have a password,
you'll need to enter it.
Add Privacy to your Media Player (XP)
To stop the player from sending out a unique
identifier when you request streaming media
open the Media Player and select "Tools."
Select "Options..." Select "Privacy" if available.
Uncheck "Allow Internet site to uniquely identify
your Player."
Phishing With A Hook
Phishing is the process of sending out emails in hopes of tricking a
few people into giving out their personal information. Don't be one
of those people. Your bank or other major institutions won't ask you
for this information in an email. Also, if you follow an email link,
check to be sure the URL address is real. If in doubt call the
company in question.
Avoid Phishing Scams
If you get a Paypal or bank notice in your email and it provides a link to their Website. Place your cursor over the link and check the URL address at the bottom left of your screen. If there are any funny numbers or letters in the beginning of the address - it's probably fake.
Creating a Password for your Computer (XP only)
Left click the "Start" button on your desktop.
Click "Control Panel." Then click on "User Accounts".
Click on "Change an account." Click the account you
want to change. Select "Create a password." Once
there select a password. Then follow directions.
Better Passwords
Your passwords should consist of at least 8 characters. Include letters, numbers, and symbols.
Password Protect Your Word Files
To password protect Word documents open the document you want to
protect. Click the "Tools" menu and choose "Options". Click the
"Security" tab. Type your password in the "Password To Open:" field.
It can be up to 15 characters and is case-sensitive.
Setting Your Security Settings (I.E.)
Open Internet Explorer, click "Tools," "Internet Options...,"
click "Security Tab," click "Custom Level...," click on
Medium or High.
Save Passwords Automatically (Internet Explorer)
Have IE save your passwords without asking
you first. Click on "Tools," "Internet Options,"
click on "Content" tab. Open "AutoComplete"
and uncheck "Prompt me to save passwords."
So, You Wanna Cover Your Surfing Tracks? (I.E.)
Click "Tools," "Internet Options...," and select the "General" tab.
Under "Temporary Internet files," click the "Delete Cookies..."
button. Click "OK." Next, click the "Delete Files" button. Mark the
checkbox labeled "Delete all offline content." Then click OK. Lastly,
click the "Clear History" button.
Turning Firewall On and Off. (XP)
Click "Start," click "Control Panel," click "Network
Connections," right click on the icon representing
your connection. Click "Properties," click on "Advanced"
tab. Click in box next to "Protect my computer..."
Software Applications:
Adobe Reader Won't Install On Vista?
If you can't get Adobe Reader to install on a computer running Vista,
you'll need to turn on the User Account Controls. Go to the "Control
Panel" and under "User Accounts" select Turn "User Account Control"
on. Restart the computer and the installation should finish.
Free Remote Computer Access
For access and control of your remote computers for free try LogMeIn.
Convert Most Documents to PDF for Free (XP)
Convert nearly any document to Adobe's Portable Document Format free.
Use Acro Software's CutePDF
Writer. No watermarks, no ads.
Maximize Window Size on Application Launch.
Open your application, maximize the window using the
maximize button in the top right corner. Press either the Shift
or Ctrl key on your keyboard and close the application window
by clicking on the X in the upper right corner.
"Book 'em, Danno!"
If you're running Microsoft Bookshelf and have plenty of space on your hard drive, put it there. It responds much faster and frees up your CD or DVD drive.
Disable MoneySide Pop-Ups. (Win XP)
Click on "Help" menu in MoneySide
and click "Settings". Chose "Never"
"Open MoneySide" option.
What?
Ever wondered why menu headings have underlined letters (e.g. "File")? Hold down the Alt key, press the underlined letter on your keyboard to open that menu.
E-Z open. (95 & 98)
If your motor skills make it a challenge to click the little box in the top right-hand corner of an application window to enlarge or reduce it, just double click anywhere along that adjacent colored bar. Also you may try right clicking the bar for a menu of options.
One Click Access To Your Program Files
Place your cursor over the "Start" button. Press down and hold your
mouse button down. Slide cursor over "All Programs" and then slide it
over the specific program you want to run. Release button and voila, it opens.
The Start Menu:
Getting your ducks in a row.
Newly added programs don't appear in alphabetical order when you click Start, Programs. To make it so, left click those you wish to move and drag them into place.
Start button, revised. (Win95 & 98)
Wanna add or delete stuff from your Start button? Click Start, Settings, Task Bar & Start Menu… Add or subtract programs to your heart’s desire.
Start your programs.
Have a few favorite applications? Add them to your Start menu by dragging the programs' icons onto the Start button.
Clean Up Your Start Menu.
Click on "Start." Right click on item you want to
remove. Click on "Remove From This List."
Keep Programs From Being Bumped From the Start Menu.
Click "Start" then right-click the program name and click "Pin to Start menu".
Alphabetize Your "All Programs" Listings
Click "Start" and "All Programs" Pick any folder,
right click, and select "Sort By Names".
One Click Access To Your Program Files
Place your cursor over the "Start" button. Press down and hold your
mouse button down. Slide cursor over "All Programs" and then slide it
over the specific program you want to run. Release button and voila, it opens.
Access The Start Menu Without a Mouse (XP)
Press CTRL-ESC to open the Start Menu and then use the arrows to navigate and the "Enter" key to run programs and make selections.
The Start/Run Window:
Change a Drive Letter (The Start/Run Window) (XP)
Click "Start" and "Run." Type "diskmgmt.msc" without
the quotes into the window. Press "OK." Right click on
drive letter and select "Change Drive Letter." Click
"Change" and select a new letter.
System Information (Start/Run Window)
Click "Start" click "Run..." Type in "msinfo32" without
the quotes and click "OK." A window opens with
lots of information about your computer system.
Control Startup Items (Start/Run Window)
Click "Start" click "Run..." Type in "msconfig" without
the quotes and click "OK." This brings up your System
Configuration Utility. Click the "Startup" tab and check
items you want or don't want started during the startup
of your computer.
Take A Website Shortcut (Start/Run Window)
If you haven't started your Internet browser you can
click on "Start" and then "Run." Type in the URL and press "Ok."
As long as you're running Windows, your default browser will
start, and take you directly to that Web page.
Create a Shortcut to the "Run" Option
Click "Start" then drag the "Run" button to your desktop.
Disable the error reporting feature. (Windows XP)
Click "Start" and "Run." Type "msconfig" without
quotes into the "Open" window and click "Ok."
Click the "Services" tab and remove the check
from the "Error Reporting Service" box.
What Version of Windows Do I Have? (XP)
Click "Start," click "Run...," type in
"winver" without the quotes. Click "OK."
Taskbar/System Tray:
Disable Those Unwanted System Tray Applications
Click "Start," "Run," and type in "msconfig" without the quotes. Click "Ok."
Click the "Startup" tab. Unclick the startup items you don't need anymore.
Click "Ok." Don't remove items unless you know what they are.
Rush hour on the Windows Taskbar.
If your Taskbar is too full to read individual items, position your mouse pointer on top of the Taskbar until you see a double-headed arrow. Left click and drag upwards to make room for all those open windows.
Window cleaner. (98/XP)
Need more room to view Web and program pages?
Right click the Taskbar (center section at bottom of screen)
and choose Properties. Uncheck "Always on top." Now you
can drag any page to the screen's bottom. And drag it back up.
Windows speed trap.
To determine your dial-up speed, hover your mouse pointer over that little double computer icon in your system tray.
Little Taskbar Trick
To add your name of some other message to your
taskbar. Create a new folder on your hard drive. Go to
My Computer, Local Disk, File, New, Folder. Give this folder
the name you want on your taskbar. Right click on empty
space on your taskbar. Select "Toolbar," "New Toolbar."
Choose the folder you created and click "Okay."
Viruses/Spyware:
Free Can Be Good
Because virus writers know Norton and McAfee
are the major anti-virus companies they write
viruses to avoid them. As a backup try using
Trend Micro a free online anti-virus program.
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
SpyBot Search & Destroy Finds Startup Files.
Open SpyBot and click on "Tools" and then "System Startup".
Uncheck any files that you don't want to load on start up.
A click of prevention. (Antivirus - Win or Mac)
Though some virus checkers automatically download
updated virus lists, it’s wise to check for them manually
the first time each day before you download email
or go surfing.
Virus Hunting Via Ctrl-Alt-Delete
Click on "Ctrl-Alt-Delete" to bring up the Task Manager.
Click on the "Processes" tab. This will show you the various
processes running on your system. Most will be legitimate
but if you find a suspicious looking item, type it into a search
engine to check it out.
Manage Browser add-ons in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (IE)
Open "Internet Explorer," under "Tools" select "Internet Options"
then "Programs" and then the "Manage Add-ons" button. Here you can
enable or disable add-ons and delete ActiveX controls. It's a great
way to stop some spyware. Don't worry about making a mistake, you can
always enable items later.
Website Related:
Shopping At Amazon
If you do a significant amount of shopping at
Amazon you might consider getting their Visa
credit card. You earn points per dollar for all
purchases plus three points per dollar for purchases
on the Amazon site. 2500 points equals $25.00.
Pasting passwords. (95 & 98)
It’s frequently impossible to right-click paste a password at a Web site. All you see is gray. Next time, once you've right-click copied one, place your cursor in the password window and do a Ctrl-V. Some security, huh?
Scroll Through Web pages Without Your Mouse
Press the space bar to scroll down a Web page and the Home key to return to the top of the page.
Web Redecorating.
To change the color of links on Web pages, click the
"Tools" menu, click "Internet Options," and then click
the "Colors" button.
View Web pages in Full Screen
Press the F11 key to expand a Web page to full screen and press it again to return to normal.
See Who's Providing Content on Web pages You Visit
Go to IE's View menu and select Privacy Report to see what Websites are sending content and if their cookies were allowed or blocked.
Back (Button) To The Future
Sometimes a site's coding will disable your "Back" button. This
causes the open window to reload each time a visitor clicks the "Back"
button. You can work around this by closing the new window and
returning to the original browser window or by right-clicking the
"Back" button and selecting the page you want from the drop-down list.
Windows Accessories:
Make Yourself A 60 Second Sound File. (Windows Accessories 95, 98, ME, XP)
Plug a microphone into your computer. Click "Start,"
"Programs," "Accessories," "Entertainment," and
"Sound Recorder." Press the red dotted button and start
singing!
Eye-hand uncoordinated? (Windows Accessories)
Windows Calculator can be operated with your
mouse, your keyboard's number row, or your number
pad (if "Num Lock" is on). "Start," "Programs," "Accessories,"
"Calculator."
Windows Explorer:
Place "Windows Explorer" Icon on Your Desktop
Click "Start," click on "All Programs," click "Accessories" and
highlight "Windows Explorer."
Right-click on "Windows Explorer" and choose "Send to..." then select
"Desktop."
Bring Back Directory Tree on Left (Windows Explorer)
If the directory tree in left window is missing just
click "View," "Explorer Bar," and "Folders."
Need To Know A Folder's Path And Name? (Windows Explorer)
Open Windows Explorer. Click "View," "Toolbars,"
and make sure "Address Bar" is checked. Look for
the word "Address" at top of page and pull it left
if the window isn't showing. Clicking on folders at
left will cause their address to show. Click on the
window and cut and paste.
Make prints directly from Windows Explorer (Windows Explorer)
Find the file you want to print in Windows
Explorer and right click it. Select "Print."
Not sure what the file looks like? Right click,
select "Preview" and then "Print."
Shortest distance to Windows Explorer (Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0, XP)
Press the Windows logo key and the letter "e" simultaneously.
But be quick or you'll open a bunch of them.
Is this a drag or what?
Can't remember under what circumstance a dragged file is moved, copied or a shortcut is created? Use your right mouse button instead of the left and a pop-up menu will give you choices.
Everybody into the pool.
Want to drag a bunch of adjacent files? Left or right click near one and drag your pointer until the magic box encompasses them all.
Select, don't settle. (95/98/XP)
You can select adjacent files by clicking on the first one then, while holding the Shift key, click the last. To choose non-adjacent files hold the Ctrl key while selecting. Finally, you can do both: Shift select for a group then add others with Ctrl select.
Which one doesn't belong? (95/98/XP)
In Windows Explorer you want to select a bunch of files leaving out only a few. Ctrl click on the ones you don't want then click Edit, Invert Selection.
Un-OOPS. (98/XP)
You may not have noticed Windows 98 Explorer has an undo icon which works just like the ones you've grown to love in other Windows applications.
Open says me. (98/XP)
You're dragging a file in Windows Explorer to a subdirectory but discover you failed to first expand the top folder. Fear not, hold the dragged file over the top folder a few seconds and the subdirectories will appear.
Oh, go to… (Win95 & 98)
Right clicking a file in Windows Explorer brings up a menu including Send To. Add another folder to the menu by creating a shortcut for it and dragging it to C:\Windows\SendTo.
Windows Media Player:
Playback Keyboard Shortcuts for Media Player 9
Use Ctrl + P to pause or resume play.
Use Ctrl + S to stop play.
Use Ctrl + E to eject a CD or DVD.
Add Privacy to your Media Player (XP)
To stop the player from sending out a unique
identifier when you request streaming media
open the Media Player and select "Tools."
Select "Options..." Select "Privacy" if available.
Uncheck "Allow Internet site to uniquely identify
your Player."
Adjust Audio Quality in Windows Media Player. (WIN XP)
Open Media Player and click on "Tools" then "Options".
Move the slider control for either more CD space or
for the best stereo quality.
Click Apply.
Sound advice. (Windows Media Player 7.1)
If you transfer a Windows Media Video clip to your
portable MP3 player, the video will be removed and
just the audio track copied.
"Turn that down!" (Windows Media Player 7.1)
Adjust the volume using these hot keys: F8 Mute;
F9 Decrease Volume; F10 Increase Volume.
Windows Vista:
Use Vista's Windows Easy Transfer If
you upgrade to Windows Vista you can transfer the
following files and settings from a Microsoft
Windows-based computer to a Windows Vista-based computer:
. Files and folders
. E-mail settings
. Contacts and messages
. Program settings
. User accounts and settings
. Internet settings and favorites
. Music
. Pictures and videos
Use Built-In Speech Recognition (Vista)
You'll need a microphone. Click "Start," "Control Panel," and then
"Ease of Access." Double-click "Speech Recognition Options." Click
"Start Speech Recognition." Then go through the setup which involves
setting up a microphone and speaking to set volume levels. Then run
the speech tutorial to learn the basics.
Vista Sidebar Gadgets (Vista)
Add free gadgets to Windows Vista Sidebar by visiting
here.Parental Controls (Vista)
Filter the content of what your children view on the Web, choose
which games they can play, stop them from using specific programs,
and control when they use the computer. Go to the "Start" Menu,
"Control Panel," "User Accounts," "Parental Controls" and "Family
Safety Options" and select Set up parental controls for any user.
Synchronize (Vista)
Vista's Sync Center lets you synchronize the data on different
devices from one central location. Keep contact lists current,
update music libraries, and sync any files or folders. Go to the
"Start" Menu, "Control Panel," "Network and Internet," and then "Sync
Center." Turn on the device you wish to sync and connect it to your
computer directly or wirelessly. Next click "Set up new sync
partnerships," select the device from the list, click on "Set Up" and
then choose your settings and schedule.
Connect A Bluetooth Enabled Device To A Computer Running Vista
Most new computers will have a Bluetooth adapter built in, if not
you'll need to buy one and plug it into a USB port.
Next turn on your mobile device and make it discoverable. To do this
check the info that came with it or go to the manufacturer's Website.
To install go to the "Start" menu, click on "Control Panel",
"Hardware and Sound", "Bluetooth Devices", "Add" and then follows the
instructions.
Customizing Windows Sidebar
Download and install cool Sidebar Gadgets from
this Web site.
Add Additional Clocks in Your Taskbar (Vista)
Right click over clock in taskbar. Click on "Adjust Time/Date." Click
on "Additional Clocks" tab. Pick one or two additional times.
Get Your Computer's Health Report (Vista)
Click on "Control Panel," click "System and Maintenance" then "Performance Information and Tools." In the Tasks
list click "Advanced tools." Click the last item which is "Generate a system health report."
Windows Vista TV Recorder
Use your PC as digital video recorder and record live TV. All you
need is an internal TV tuner card and Vista Media Center (Available
in Vista Premium and Ultimate) to play, pause and record TV shows.
Vista Quick Launch
Quickly launch programs by pressing the Windows button and typing the
first letters of an application and then hit enter.
Can My Current Computer Run Vista?
To test your system just download and run Window
Vista Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft. This software will examine
both your existing hardware and software to look for potential problems.
What is Windows ReadyBoost?
With Vista you can use
a (USB) flash drive, to improve performance
without having to add additional memory "under the hood."
The flash memory device serves as an additional
memory cache-that is, memory that the computer
can access much more quickly than it can access
data on the hard drive. Nothing to download.
Upgrade To Vista
Find out if your computer is ready for Windows Vista by running CNET's free Vista Upgrade Advisor and see recommendations if it's not.
Vista's Built-In Screen Capture
Click "Start" and type "snipping" (without the quotes) into the
search box. Click "Snipping Tool" in the list. Click "New." Click
and drag your cursor over the area you want to copy. Release your
mouse, the clip will appear in a new window. Click "Save" button.
Windows XP:
Rename Multiple Photos Easily (XP)
Open the folder with the photos in it and select "View" and then "Thumbnails."
Click "Edit" and then "Select All." Right-click the first photo, and
select "Rename" from the drop-down menu.
Windows XP will highlight the filename for the first photo, enabling
you to give it a descriptive name. After you type in the name, click
the white space outside of the photo. Windows applies that name with
a sequential number to each picture in the folder.
Sharper text. (WIN XP)
Right click on a blank area of your desktop and choose
"Properties." Click on the "Appearance" tab. Click "Effects..."
Check "Use the following method to smooth edges..."
In the drop down box select "Clear Type."
Sound Level Gone Down? (XP)
Click on "Speaker" icon in your system
tray and adjust volume. No icon visible?
Try "Start," "All Programs," "Accessories,"
"Entertainment," "Volume Control."
Start Menu overfloweth? (Windows XP)
Left click "Start," right click offending program, left click
"Delete." In XP click "Remove From This List." You won't
lose the program, just the entry. To rearrange: Left click
"Start," left click program and drag to desired position.
Optimize Virtual Memory (XP)
Click "Start," "Control Panel," "Performance & Maintenance."
Click "System" and check how much RAM you have under the
"General" tab. Now click the "Advanced" tab. Under "Performance"
click "Settings." Click "Advanced," tab. Under "Virtual Memory" click
the "Change" button. Make both the "Initial Size" and "Maximum
Size" 2.5 to 3 times the size of your RAM memory.
Before You Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (XP)
Install, update and run spyware removal software. Update
and run your anti-virus software. Update your firewall software.
Check with your computer manufacturer for the latest upgrade
to your Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) or System Setup File.
Back up or make a copies of files you can't replace. Then cross
your fingers. For more info go to the Microsoft link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx
What Are My Internal and External IP Addresses? (XP)
Click on "Start," "Run," then enter "command" and hit OK. Type in
"ipconfig" without quotes and hit enter. This is your internal
IP address. Click on the following link to find your external IP
address written in red.
http://www.whatismyip.com/
Help Speed Up XP (XP)
Turn off Windows indexing function to open and close programs
and files quicker. Go to the start menu button, select "Control
Panel," then "Performance and Maintenance," then "Administrative
Tools," then the "Services" shortcut and finally, highlight "Indexing
Services" and select "stop". Doing this will slow searches for files
on your computer, but it's easy to undo, just follow the same
steps and select "start".
Creating a Password for your Computer (XP only)
Left click the "Start" button on your desktop.
Click "Control Panel." Then click on "User Accounts".
Click on "Change an account." Click the account you
want to change. Select "Create a password." Once
there select a password. Then follow directions.
Assign Shortcut Keys For Shortcut Desktop Applications (XP)
Right click on desktop icon, click on "Properties." Place
a letter in the "Shortcut Key" window where is says "None."
The next time you wanna bring up a desktop application
just type Ctrl-Alt-(the letter you picked).
Make Sure Your File Extensions Are Showing (XP)
Open Windows Explorer. Click on "Tools" menu.
Click on "Folder Options." Click "View" tab.
Make sure "Hide extensions for known file types" is
not checked.
Is My CPU Maxed Out? (XP)
To view your Central Processing Unit's usage
in realtime click on Ctrl-Alt-Del and then the
"Performance" tab.
Find A Comfortable Skin For Windows Media Player (XP)
Open player via "Start," "Programs," "Windows Media Player."
Click "View," "Go To," "Skin Chooser" and double-clicking
a skin name in the list shown.
Before Making A Major Change To Your System (XP)
"System Restore" can return your computer system
to a time before things went terribly wrong. Click "Start,"
"All Programs," "Accessories," "System Tools", "System
Restore."
Place the "Show Desktop" Icon In Taskbar (XP)
To gain quick access to your desktop, right click
on an empty space in your taskbar.
Click on "Toolbars" and click on "Quick Launch."
The Quick Launch area will be placed in your
taskbar. Other icons that appear may be
deleted by right clicking on them and clicking
"delete." Conversely you may add existing desktop
icons to the taskbar by dragging them there.
Open Web Site Link In New Window (ME, XP)
Shift-Click to open a link in a new browser window
as opposed to right-clicking and selecting
"Open in New Window."
Running Scan Disk (XP)
Click "My Computer." Right click on "Local Disk (C)"
Click on "Properties." Click on "Tools."
Click "Check Now" under "Error-Checking"
Check the box that says "Scan for and attempt recovery
of bad sectors" This can take a long time (maybe an hour)
so let it run.
To Delete Temp Files (XP)
Click on "Start." Click on "Search."
Click on "All files and folders"
Type *.tmp in the top window.
Highlight files and delete to the Recycle Bin and
then delete them from there. The files may not
disappear from the search list until the recycle
bin is emptied.
Backup On-Screen Keyboard (XP)
If your keyboard ever goes kaput you
can open a virtual one on your monitor.
Click "Start," "All Programs," "Accessories,"
"Accessibility," "On-Screen Keyboard."
Disable Error Reports. (Win XP)
Eliminate those pesky little error dialog boxes by placing
your cursor over "My Computer" icon, right click and
choose "Properties". Click "Advanced", click "Error
Reporting" and then choose "Disable error reporting."
Delete your prefetch files (XP)
Open Windows Explorer and go to C:\Windows\Prefetch.
Free up some storage space by removing these files.
Any needed files will be created again.
Finding your IP address (XP)
Click "Start," "Run," type in "command" click "okay"
now type "ipconfig/all" in the black window. Press
enter. Look for the IP Address line.
Keeping Your Status Bar. (XP)
Opening more than one I.E. window causes the loss
of your status bar. To prevent that open I.E. select
"View" / "Status Bar." Press "Ctrl" while clicking the
"X" in the upper right corner to close I.E. Now open
"My Computer" and select "View" / "Status Bar." Now
go to "Tools"/"Folder Options" and select the "View"
tab. Click "Apply to all folders", click "OK" and close
Windows Explorer. (Wow!)
Speed Up Start Up. (XP)
Click "Start" then "Run" type "msconfig" into text
window then click "Okay." Click on the "Startup"
tab. Remove items you don't want launched at start up.
ScanDisk, Defrag, Backup. (XP)
Find all three by clicking on My Computer,
right clicking the drive you want, select
"Properties" and "Tools."
You Decide Which Programs Open Which Files (XP)
To change your file associations click on "My Computer,"
select the "Tools" menu. Select "Folder Options..." Click
the tab "File Types." Scroll through the "extensions" listed
and highlight the one you want to open with a different
program. Click "Change." Choose the new program you
want to use.
Another Way To Change File Associations. (XP)
Right click on any file type you want opened
by a different program. Select "Properties",
click the "Change" button. Select software
program you want to use.
Show Underlined Letters. (Win XP)
In Windows XP menu items are missing the underlined
letters. To view them click the "Alt" button.
Place Shortcuts On Your Desktop. (Win XP)
Right click "Start" then click "Explore"
Locate folder or file you want the shortcut to open.
Right click it and choose "Send To"
Pick "Desktop" (create shortcut).
Turning Firewall On and Off. (XP)
Click "Start," click "Control Panel," click "Network
Connections," right click on the icon representing
your connection. Click "Properties," click on "Advanced"
tab. Click in box next to "Protect my computer..."
Free Up Some Disk Space. (XP)
Use Disk Cleanup by clicking on "My Computer" on
your desktop. Then right click on the drive you want
to cleanup. Click on "Properties." Click on "Disk Cleanup."
What Version of Windows Do I Have? (XP)
Click "Start," click "Run...," type in
"winver" without the quotes. Click "OK."
Stop XP From Asking to Clean Your Desktop
Right-click an empty space on your desktop. Choose "Properties".
In the "Display Properties" window go to the "Desktop" tab and
click the "Customize Desktop" button. At the bottom remove the
check mark from the "Run Desktop Clean Up Wizard Every 60 Days".
