Topic 16 of 28: Making Computing life Easier
Thu, May 25, 2000 (03:04) |
Marcia (MarciaH)
Ideas which may help you use your computer more easily or inventively.
114 responses total.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 1 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, May 25, 2000 (03:05) * 15 lines
Changing the Shut Down Screen
Everyone is familiar with the shut down screen for Windows.
What you may not know, however, is that you can change it
to display an image different from those lovely clouds. The
shut down screen is saved as a file called LOGOW.SYS in the
Windows folder. Your paint program can open it up. The
picture is actually 320 x 400 and Windows stretches it. To
create your own display, make a picture that is 640 x 480.
When you're done, set its size for 320 x 400 and save it as
LOGOW.SYS in the Windows folder. Be sure that the picture
uses no more than 256 colors.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 2 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, May 25, 2000 (13:22) * 18 lines
The Rear Window Messenger
This gadget contributes to a nicer decorum on the highway.
The Rear Window Messenger is an LED Matrix sign contained
in a plastic enclosure that mounts easily on your back
window. The system comes programmed with three different
messages: "Sorry," "Thanks," and "Help." Just push a couple
of buttons on the remote-control unit and up pops your
little message for the guy who just let you in. Messages
cannot be changed, and we think this is probably a good
thing.
The Rear Window Messenger runs on the car's 12-volt supply.
It retails for $89.95 as item number 60256E at
Hammacher-Schlemmer. They can be reached at (800) 543-3366
or on the web at http://www.hammacher.com.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 3 of 114: computer spring (sprin5) * Thu, May 25, 2000 (13:52) * 1 lines
Don't worry, there will an upgrade that changes with any message anyone wants, "up yours", "let me in please" and "don't bother knockin'" will become popular.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 4 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, May 25, 2000 (13:56) * 2 lines
*laugh*
It is frightening to think what may appear when they become self-programmable!
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 5 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, May 26, 2000 (12:15) * 12 lines
Keep the Taskbar Out of Sight
If you're tired of looking at the Taskbar all the time,
just hide it! To enable this feature, from the Start Menu
click on Settings and then Taskbar. The Taskbar Options tab
will appear and you'll see a box that says "Auto hide."
Check that box to hide the Taskbar. To activate it, simply
point the mouse at the bottom of the screen and the Taskbar
should pop back up.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 6 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, May 30, 2000 (14:33) * 15 lines
Lose the Extra Fonts
If you have more fonts than you use, you're wasting
precious disk space. To find out how many fonts are on your
system, open the Fonts Control Panel
(Start/Settings/Control Panel/Fonts). There you'll find a
list of all your installed fonts. Double-click a font's
name to get copyright info and file size, as well as an
example of what the font looks like at sizes up to 72
points. Delete any unnecessary fonts and you'll free up a
bunch of disk space.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 7 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, May 31, 2000 (03:36) * 34 lines
CNET Microsoft Windows Tip of the Day - Tidy Up the Reg
Tidy Up the Registry
The Windows Registry is a database of all your system's
settings and software. Whenever a Windows 95 or 98 program
is installed, removed, or modified, Windows updates the
Registry to reflect the change - or at least, that's how
it's supposed to work.
Real life is less tidy. System crashes, buggy uninstall
programs, and plain old bad luck can clutter your Registry,
leaving it full of improper associations, bogus lists of
installed programs, and all sorts of other junk that can
slow down and even crash your operating system.
If you really know what you're doing, you can clean the
Registry with RegEdit (the Windows Registry editor). For
most users, though, we suggest a safer alternative:
Microsoft's RegClean. This download hunts down and removes
bogus Registry entries automatically. It can also reverse
any changes you make and restore your previous Registry if
something goes wrong. Most uninstallers, such as
CleanSweep, also clean your Registry - and do a better job
than the free RegClean. Make a routine of cleaning the
Registry and Windows 98 will run faster and more reliably.
Download RegClean at this site:
http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10106-108-23283.html
Read CNET's CleanSweep review by clicking here.
http://www.cnet.com/software/0-3757-7-1559622.html
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 8 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, May 31, 2000 (03:41) * 1 lines
Someone who knows about this, is it safe for me to do???? I need to get rid of junk in there (NEC assistant) and stuff... I'll pass it by David, as well...
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 9 of 114: computer spring (sprin5) * Wed, May 31, 2000 (09:43) * 1 lines
Good tip. I've never tried either RegClean or CleanSweep, I'd check some authoritative reviews first. See if there are any caveats before messing with your registry.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 10 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, May 31, 2000 (13:47) * 13 lines
I asked my son and he responded
The registry is such a sensitive thing, I wouldn't fool with it if stuff is
working okay. My machine at home has an intermittent freezing problem that I
have been trying to fix. I bought the latest McAffee which came with FirstAid.
FirstAid found about 43 problems in my registry in my computer that is 11 months
old. It fixed the freezing problem, but caused others. In the course of fixing
the other problems, I brought back the freezing problem. Again, if it works,
don't fix it!
Then I told him of various problems I have starting up and he responded
Yuck, what a mess. Well, maybe you should try it then. Good luck!
Guess I will try it - it comes from MicroSoft...!
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 11 of 114: computer spring (sprin5) * Wed, May 31, 2000 (18:13) * 1 lines
As long as you have a backup machine and are prepared to restore your machine. You might want to use something like a rewriteable CDRom and a program like Nero Burning ROM to make a mirror image backup of your CDrom once you get it to a stable place. then you can always get back to that place.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 12 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Jun 1, 2000 (17:16) * 15 lines
CNET Microsoft Windows Tip of the Day - Go Easy on Video
If your screen redraws slowly or you experience other video
glitches, your video card may be working too hard. Some
video cards claim to offer screen resolutions and color
depths they can't actually support. If you think your card
might be maxed out, try bumping down the color depth or
screen resolution a notch in the Display Control Panel
(Start/Settings/Control Panel/Display) or right-click the
desktop and choose Properties. Unless you're a graphic
designer, you probably won't notice the difference between
32-bit true color and 16-bit high color, anyway.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 13 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Jun 1, 2000 (17:17) * 1 lines
The best I have available is Iomega Zipdisks
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 14 of 114: computer spring (sprin5) * Fri, Jun 2, 2000 (07:19) * 1 lines
That should work ok.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 15 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jun 2, 2000 (12:46) * 1 lines
It is just such an intimidating thing to contemplate doing that I am hanging with the status quo so far......*sigh*
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 16 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jun 2, 2000 (13:41) * 20 lines
Don't Autostart Anything
Nothing's slower than having to wait for your computer to
launch a bunch of programs each time it starts up. To stop
a program from launching at start-up, just open
C:WindowsStart MenuProgramsStartUp in Windows Explorer and
delete that program's shortcut.
Windows 98's System Information tool
(Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System
Information) gives you an even more detailed list of
autostarting programs. Just expand the Software Environment
menu and choose Startup Programs. This will show you any
programs that are automatically launched by the Registry.
To keep these programs from autostarting, consult each
application's help file.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 17 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jun 5, 2000 (14:06) * 13 lines
Stop the Floppy Scan
When Windows 98 boots up, it wastes time scanning for new
floppy drives. You can reclaim these lost seconds via the
System Control Panel applet (Start/Settings/Control
Panel/System or right-click My Computer and choose
Properties). Select the Performance tab, click the File
System button, select the Floppy Disk tab, and uncheck the
option "Search for new floppy disk drives every time your
computer starts." Voila!
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 18 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Jun 7, 2000 (00:10) * 21 lines
Delete Junk Programs
Unused programs clutter your hard drive, robbing you of
valuable space and ultimately slowing down system
performance. Hard drive clutter also causes conflicts with
the useful apps on your system. Our test machines showed
significantly faster performance and increased stability
when we simply removed a few unused programs.
To get your hard drive squeaky clean, use an uninstaller
application, such as Norton's CleanSweep Deluxe from
Symantec. CleanSweep keeps track of unused files, schedules
cleanup jobs, and removes applications more completely than
the Windows Add/Remove Programs utility. If you're on a
budget and can't afford CleanSweep, try a shareware
uninstaller or keep a close watch on the applications you
install and remove any that cause problems.
To read CNET's CleanSweep Deluxe review, click here.
http://home.cnet.com/software/0-3757-7-1559622.html
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 19 of 114: computer spring (sprin5) * Wed, Jun 7, 2000 (11:10) * 4 lines
If you have a Windows NT System, here are some good file system cleanup tips (even though this site has stopped updating).
http://personal.cfw.com/~tkprit/files/filesroot.html
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 20 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Jun 7, 2000 (19:37) * 33 lines
Speed Up Reboots
If you think Windows 98 takes too long to boot, you can
remove the built-in two-second delay in the OS's start-up
sequence. Here's what you need to do:
1. Under the Start button, select Find/Files or Folders.
2. Enter msdos.sys in the Named box and C: in the Look In
box. Then click Find Now.
3. When the file appears, right-click it and select
Properties from the pop-up menu.
4. Click to remove the check marks from the Read-Only and
Hidden attributes, then click OK.
5. Right-click msdos.sys, select Open With from the pop-up
menu, enter Notepad as the opening program, and then click
OK.
6. Under Options, enter BootDelay=0 or BootDelay=1 on its
own line. (This represents respective delays of zero
seconds and one second, both of which are faster than the
default.)
7. Close Notepad and save your changes on the way out.
8. Return msdos.sys to its hidden, read-only state.
(Right-click it, select Properties from the pop-up menu,
and check the Read-Only and Hidden check boxes. Then click
OK.)
9. Quit and restart Windows.
Warning: Any time you make changes to your SYS files, it's
a good idea to back up your important files and have your
original Windows disk on hand in case you need to
reinstall.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 21 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Jun 8, 2000 (14:44) * 20 lines
Control Panel Shortcuts
Your Control Panel makes easy work of configuring Windows
98, but if clicking through Start/Settings/Control Panel
gets on your nerves, here's a quick fix: Open the Control
Panel folder, select the icons of your frequently used
applets (hold down Ctrl while you click for multiple
selections), then drag them onto your Start button. The
Start menu will open, allowing you to place your new
Control Panel shortcuts wherever you want.
We suggest leaving them in the root of the Start menu and
renaming them something unique (go to C:\Windows\Start Menu
in the Windows Explorer, right-click the icon, and choose
Rename). That way, you can access them with just a click of
the Windows key (or Ctrl-Esc if you don't have a Windows
key) and the first letter or number of the shortcut's name.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 22 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jun 9, 2000 (12:33) * 11 lines
Back Up Your Registry Files
To be safe, manually back up the Registry before you make
any changes. Go to Start/Programs/Accessories/System
Tools/System Information. Once you've opened the System
Information application, click Tools in the menu and select
Registry Checker. After a quick scan of your system,
Registry Checker will offer to make a backup. Click Yes to
replace the oldest backup file with a fresh one.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 23 of 114: computer spring (sprin5) * Fri, Jun 9, 2000 (15:36) * 1 lines
Real good idea! The registry is a fragile thing.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 24 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jun 9, 2000 (19:47) * 1 lines
yup and mine is messed up already, I'm afraid
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 25 of 114: Maggie (sociolingo) * Sat, Jun 10, 2000 (03:58) * 1 lines
Thanks for the reminder! Registry backed up today using Norton Utilities. Marcia, did you update your virus protection? (You told me to bug you about it.)
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 26 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Jun 10, 2000 (17:01) * 2 lines
nope - son busy and I really don't want to back up this one as it is.....but it IS better than having it go blank on me and my not being able to restore it. Which reminds me... Alexander reminded you and he has not responded to my email.
I am most concerned!
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 27 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Jun 10, 2000 (17:05) * 2 lines
can't get around the NEC assistant problem
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 28 of 114: Maggie (sociolingo) * Sat, Jun 10, 2000 (17:15) * 1 lines
I found my problem was the firewall my ISP had. Now I've changed ISP I don't have the problem anymore.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 29 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Jun 10, 2000 (23:36) * 1 lines
Fascinating. My firewall, though it was tedious to set up, makes my computer much more efficient. It is unobtrusive and is fun to check up on pings.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 30 of 114: Maggie (sociolingo) * Mon, Jun 12, 2000 (12:11) * 1 lines
Yup, no problem with the personal PC firewall program I use, but the ISPs one was a PAIN!
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 31 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jun 12, 2000 (16:16) * 18 lines
I finally deleted my firewall because it was making other problems on the computer. *Sigh*
Access Taskbar Shortcuts With One Click
If you want to quickly access an item but don't want to
wade through your Start menu categories, make a
super-shortcut from your taskbar. Simply right-click the
taskbar located at the bottom of your screen. From the
pop-up menu, select Toolbars/New Toolbar. From the New
Toolbar dialog box, open the Start Menu folder from the
Windows directory. You'll find that all items listed on
your Start menu are in the Programs subdirectory of this
folder. Choose the program or file you want to easily
access and Press the OK button. A single-click shortcut
should appear on your taskbar bar.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 32 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jun 13, 2000 (17:02) * 35 lines
Optimize Your Virtual Cache
Do you notice your system periodically stalling while the
hard drive thrashes? This phenomenon is often caused by the
Windows virtual cache feature. Like onboard caching, this
cache is designed to reduce disk access, but it can easily
grow large enough to put a dent in your performance. If
you've got 32MB of RAM or more, try setting the cache size
at a fixed number. We recommend 4MB for systems with less
than 48MB of RAM and 8MB for those with 48MB or more.
Here's how to set it up:
1. Run SysEdit. (Select Run in your Start menu, type
SysEdit in the text box, and press Enter.)
2. Click the system.ini window.
3. Scroll down to the [vcache] section. If you don't see
one, type in [vcache] as a new heading.
4. If you have 48MB of RAM or less, enter these two lines:
MinFileCache=0
MaxFileCache=4096
5. If you have more than 48MB of RAM, enter these two
lines:
MinFileCache=0
MaxFileCache=8192
6. Close SysEdit, saving changes on the way out, and
restart Windows.
Warning: Tweaking the Registry is risky; you're taking your
system into your own hands. To be safe, manually back up
the Registry before you make any changes.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 33 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Jun 14, 2000 (17:18) * 38 lines
Hide Your Run Tracks
Old DOS heads never poke around in Explorer to click
program icons. They just select Start/Run, enter the
filename, and start the program without any mouse work.
Better yet, they press the Window key-R combo on their
104-key keyboard to launch the Run dialog. The only problem
is that Run maintains a history list, which means people
can see what you've been running. (The Start menu's
Documents list was worse until Windows 98 let you
right-click and delete items on it.) Here's how to cover
your tracks in the Run dialog box:
1. Back up the Registry.
2. Launch RegEdit by selecting Run from the Start menu and
entering RegEdit.
3. Under HKEY_CURRENT_USER, select
Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/RunMRU.
4. Find the items in the right hand pane that you want
removed from the Run history list.
5. Select the commands you want removed one by one and
press Delete to remove them.
6. Save your changes as you quit RegEdit and restart
Windows.
To remove the entire Run history (the useful entries and
the ones you want kept secret) run TweakUI. Select
Start/Control Panel and double-click the TweakUI icon.
Click the Paranoia tab and select the histories you want to
delete.
Warning: Tweaking the Registry is risky; you're taking your
system into your own hands. To be safe, manually back up
the Registry before you make any changes.
Click here for more information.
http://www.help.com/cat/2/191/192/193/tip/4018.html
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 34 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jun 19, 2000 (18:01) * 11 lines
Set The Current Date First
If you lose all power to your PalmPilot (because of dead
batteries, for instance), make sure to set the correct date
before HotSyncing your data. If you don't, all the alarms
stored in your PalmPilot that have passed will go off at
once. This will also happen if you set your PalmPilot to a
date before these alarms, then change it back to the
correct time. This tip was submitted by PalmGear H.Q..
- Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 35 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jun 19, 2000 (18:02) * 36 lines
Rename the Recycle Bin
You can rename most anything on the Windows desktop by
right-clicking its icon and selecting the Rename option.
But the Recycle Bin doesn't have that option and we'd
prefer to call it Trash, in honor of the Macintosh icon.
Sure enough, both RegEdit and TweakUI make this easy to do.
Here's the RegEdit way:
1. Open RegEdit (select Run in the Start menu and enter
RegEdit in the text box).
2. Open HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and locate CLSID (the Class ID
option). Scroll down to the
{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} key and click it.
3. In the right hand window, double-click (Default) and
change the name from Recycle Bin to whatever you prefer.
4. Click OK and close RegEdit.
5. To make the new name take effect, click once anywhere on
the desktop and press the F5 key.
And here's the TweakUI way to rename your recycle bin:
1. Select Start/Settings/Control Panel and launch TweakUI.
2. Under Desktop, right-click Recycle Bin and select
Rename.
3. Type in the new name and click OK.
Warning: Tweaking the Registry is risky; you're taking your
system into your own hands. To be safe, manually back up
the Registry before you make any changes.
Click here for more information.
http://www.help.com/cat/2/191/192/193/tip/4018.html
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 36 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jun 20, 2000 (18:24) * 26 lines
Customize the Start Menu
Come on--do you really need your Start menu to include the
item Log Off [your name]? If you're using a networked or
shared computer, maybe. But the rest of us could happily
axe the thing. (If you need to restart Windows, just select
Restart from the Shut Down menu and hold down the Shift
key.) Here's how you do it:
1. Back up your Registry and launch RegEdit.
2. Under HKEY_CURRENT_USER, select
3. Select Edit/New/Binary Value.
4. Name the new entry NoLogOff.
5. Press Enter and set the value to this: 01 00 00 00.
6. Save your changes as you quit RegEdit and restart
Windows.
Warning: Tweaking the Registry is risky; you're taking
your system into your own hands. To be safe, manually back
up the Registry before you make any changes.
Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Policies/Explorer
.
Click here for more information.
http://www.help.com/cat/2/191/192/193/tip/4018.html
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 37 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jun 20, 2000 (18:27) * 14 lines
Palm OS Tip of the Day
Attaching Notes To Appointments
If you attach a note to the appointment, you can choose
whether the note is added to all occurrences of that
appointment or just the single appointment you selected.
Also, a quick way to attach a note is to use the Attach
Note Command graffiti stroke. Do a command stroke (lower
left to upper right) and then do an "A". This is
universally used in all the built-in applications. This tip
was submitted by PalmGear H.Q..
- Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 38 of 114: computer spring (sprin5) * Tue, Jun 20, 2000 (18:35) * 1 lines
Cool! Always looking for Palm tips.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 39 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jun 20, 2000 (18:45) * 1 lines
That is the second one - just signed up for them the other day... For you, of course!
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 40 of 114: computer spring (sprin5) * Wed, Jun 21, 2000 (08:39) * 3 lines
I wish I could find a better browser for my Palm VII. I've looked around.
On my Palmphone, the telnet and email apps are awesome. I can really access anything on the net with the Palm Phone.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 41 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Jun 21, 2000 (14:16) * 18 lines
I'll keep mt eyes peeled for a good browser..
Palm OS Tip of the Day
HotSync Time-Out Problems?
If you're having a problem with HotSync timing out before
it syncs your mail, try this before each HotSync: Hold both
the down and up buttons and tap in the upper right corner
of the screen. Tap OK in the dialog box that appears. This
turns off the "time-out" feature, and your PalmPilot will
wait patiently while your mail syncs. This tip was
submitted by PalmGear H.Q..
- Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 42 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Jun 21, 2000 (14:18) * 26 lines
Windows Tip of the Day -
Change Your Name
Did your PC come with Windows 98 preinstalled? Do people
snicker that your Office documents are stamped with an
author name like "Valued Gateway Customer," which brands
you as a clueless newbie? This can be changed. Here's how:
1. Back up your Registry and launch RegEdit.
2. Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, select
Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion.
3. Double-click the RegisteredOrganization or
RegisteredOwner options and type in your real name (or an
interesting pseudonym, if you prefer).
4. Exit and restart Windows.
Warning: Tweaking the Registry is risky; you're taking your
system into your own hands. To be safe, manually back up
the Registry before you make any changes.
Click here for more information.
http://www.help.com/cat/2/191/192/193/tip/4018.html
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 43 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Jun 21, 2000 (14:28) * 10 lines
Fine-Tune Your Searches
Fine-tune the way IE 5 searches for information on the
Internet by clicking the Search button on the toolbar and
selecting Customize. You can specify which search options
appear in the window and which sites are used for a range
of searches. If you select the Autosearch Settings button,
you can alter how an Autosearch is performed and what
happens when likely sites are returned.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 44 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Jun 22, 2000 (13:27) * 17 lines
Beware The Power Of AutoComplete
In Internet Explorer, some sites' search fields will retain
entries you've made in the past when AutoComplete is
active. Try explaining why "divorce law" pops up as a
possible match when your spouse uses HotBot for a search of
his own. To turn off this part of AutoComplete, choose
Tools/Internet Options, then click the Content tab. Click
the AutoComplete button in the personal information section
and uncheck the Forms box in the AutoComplete Settings
dialog.
- Internet Tip Provided by CNET Help.com
Help.com | Answers for Tech Questions
http://www.help.com?tag=ex.em.tip_internet.txt.hp
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 45 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Jun 22, 2000 (13:29) * 18 lines
Palm OS Tip of the Day - Add Custom Info To An Address Book Entry
Add Custom Info To An Address Book Entry
The Address Book app provides four custom fields that you
can rename anything you want. However, renaming a custom
field affects all Address List entries using that field. To
add custom information for a single entry without using a
custom field, attach a note to the entry. Everything in the
note will show up in the Address View, just as if you had
used a custom field. This tip was submitted by PalmGear
H.Q..
- Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Help.com | Answers for Tech Questions
http://www.help.com?tag=ex.em.tip_palm.txt.hp
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 46 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Jun 22, 2000 (13:47) * 26 lines
Don't Play Favorites
As if the Windows Start menu weren't already cluttered
enough, IE 4 and later versions add a cascading menu to the
Start menu that displays the Favorites folder. Too much!
Luckily, the cascading menu is easy to remove. Here's how:
1. Back up your Registry.
2. Launch RegEdit (select Run from the Start menu, type
RegEdit in the text box, and press Enter).
3. Under HKEY_CURRENT_USER, select
4. Select Edit/New/DWORD value.
5. Change the default name to NoFavoritesMenu.
6. Press Enter and change the contents of the Value Data to
1.
7. Save your changes as you quit RegEdit and restart
Windows.
The Favorites menu will still be available from windows in
Explorer, but it won't be cluttering your Start menu.
Warning: Tweaking the Registry is risky; you're taking your
system into your own hands. To be safe, manually back up
the Registry before you make any changes.
Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Policies/Explorer
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 47 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jun 23, 2000 (18:16) * 29 lines
Remove Add/Remove Items
So you uninstalled a program the Windows way--using Control
Panel's Add/Remove Programs. And yet, the listing is still
there and when you try to uninstall it, you get an error
message. Or, perhaps you want to prevent someone from
uninstalling a program somewhere down the line. One
Registry hack can take care of both of these contingencies:
1. Make sure you have a current backup of the Registry.
2. Launch RegEdit.
3. Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, locate
Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Uninstall.
4. Under Uninstall, locate any keys you don't want and
press Delete to remove them.
5. Save your changes as you quit RegEdit and restart
Windows.
Sure enough, Add/Remove Programs now doesn't list the item
or items you've deleted.
Warning: Tweaking the Registry is risky; you're taking your
system into your own hands. To be safe, manually back up
the Registry before you make any changes.
Click here for more information.
http://www.help.com/cat/2/191/192/193/tip/4018.html
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 48 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jun 23, 2000 (18:18) * 14 lines
Open Files Quickly
You can open any file on your computer without opening
Explorer using IE 5's desktop integration. Right-click the
Taskbar and choose New Toolbar in the Toolbars menu. When
the window pops up, choose My Computer and click OK. When
you minimize the new toolbar, you can access any of your
disk drives, or even the Control Panel and Dial-Up
Networking, right from your Taskbar.
- David Henderson
- Internet Tip Provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 49 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jun 26, 2000 (18:03) * 31 lines
Hide Annoying File Extensions
Like any command line fan, we like to see the extensions of
files we're exploring. But with some file types, such as
icons, cursors, and (in some cases, when they've been
changed) bitmaps, you don't need to see the extensions.
Luckily, it's possible to suppress file extensions in some
types of files, while all the others stay intact. Here's
how:
1. Pick the file extension to suppress, then back up the
Registry.
2. Launch RegEdit.
3. Under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, locate the file extension you
want to suppress.
4. Right-click the extension name and select New/String
Value.
5. Name the string value NeverShowExt and don't change the
Data value.
6. Save your changes as you quit RegEdit and restart
Windows.
Warning: Tweaking the Registry is risky; you're taking your
system into your own hands. To be safe, manually back up
the Registry before you make any changes.
Click here for more information.
http://www.help.com/cat/2/191/192/193/tip/4018.html
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 50 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jun 26, 2000 (18:04) * 22 lines
Get A Window On History
Hitting Ctrl-H in Netscape Communicator brings up the
History window, which has a record of all the sites you've
visited. You can sort and search the URLs or site titles
and link back to any pages you forgot to bookmark.
To sort the History list, select the View menu and any of
its options: By Title, By Location, By First Visited, By
Last Visited, By Expiration, and By Visit Count. The menu
also lets you sort any of these views in ascending or
descending order.
To search the list for a site or sites, select Edit/Search
History List, choose from the drop-down boxes, and fill in
the text box to define your search. To include an And
parameter in your search, click the More button and fill
out the second set of boxes that appears. Right-clicking
And changes it to an Or parameter.
- Internet Tip Provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 51 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jun 26, 2000 (18:09) * 24 lines
Terry I can't find where you put your palm pilot program so here goes the hint for the day:
Get A Window On History
Hitting Ctrl-H in Netscape Communicator brings up the
History window, which has a record of all the sites you've
visited. You can sort and search the URLs or site titles
and link back to any pages you forgot to bookmark.
To sort the History list, select the View menu and any of
its options: By Title, By Location, By First Visited, By
Last Visited, By Expiration, and By Visit Count. The menu
also lets you sort any of these views in ascending or
descending order.
To search the list for a site or sites, select Edit/Search
History List, choose from the drop-down boxes, and fill in
the text box to define your search. To include an And
parameter in your search, click the More button and fill
out the second set of boxes that appears. Right-clicking
And changes it to an Or parameter.
- Internet Tip Provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 52 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jun 27, 2000 (16:09) * 31 lines
Use a Bitmap Image as a 16-Color Icon
To use a bitmap image as a 16-color icon, rename the .bmp
file to a file with an .ico extension. To do so, follow
these steps:
1. In Windows Explorer, click Options on the View menu.
2. Click the "Hide MS-DOS extensions for file types that
are registered" check box to clear it and click OK.
3. Locate the .bmp file you want to use as an icon.
4. Use the right mouse button to click the .bmp file and
click Rename on the menu that appears. Rename the file with
an .ico extension.
Windows automatically recognizes that you want to use the
bitmap image as an icon. The image is resized to icon size
and converted to 16 colors.
To use the .ico file as an icon for a shortcut, follow
these steps:
1. Use the right mouse button to click the shortcut and
click Properties on the menu that appears.
2. On the Shortcut tab, click Change Icon.
3. Type the name of the .ico file in the File Name box or
click Browse and locate the .ico file.
4. Click OK and then click OK once more.
This tip was submitted by Microsoft.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 53 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Jun 28, 2000 (22:39) * 40 lines
Boot to a Command Prompt by Default
To configure Windows to boot to a command prompt
automatically, follow these steps:
1. Restart your computer. For Windows 95, when you see the
"Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and choose
Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu. For Windows 98,
press and hold down the CTRL key after your computer
completes the Power On Self Test (POST) and then choose
Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.
2. Type the following lines. Press ENTER after each line:
attrib -s -h -r msdos.sys
edit msdos.sys
3. Change the line that reads
BootGUI=1
to read:
BootGUI=0
4. Save the msdos.sys file and close the editor.
5. Type the following line and press ENTER:
attrib +s +h +r msdos.sys
6. Restart your computer.
When the computer restarts, it automatically boots to a
command prompt. To load the Windows graphical user
interface (GUI), type win at the command prompt.
This tip was submitted by Microsoft.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 54 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Jun 28, 2000 (22:41) * 18 lines
Have FTP Both Ways
Downloading files from FTP servers via Netscape Navigator
is nothing new, but Communicator allows you to upload files
as well. The syntax for FTP is
ftp://user:password@site.com/directory/. If you leave out
just the password but do put in the username
(ftp://username@ftp.site.com), you'll be prompted for a
password. This lets you bookmark the site so that no one
else will have access to it. If you leave out the username
and password, you use the standard anonymous FTP login, so
it's ftp://site.com/. While connected to an FTP URL, you
can drag and drop files from your desktop to the Navigator
window to upload them to the server (assuming you have the
proper permissions).
- Internet Tip Provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 55 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Jun 29, 2000 (13:20) * 11 lines
Walk Through Multiple Windows
You can cycle through all open Navigator, Mailbox, and
Discussion windows by repeatedly pressing Ctrl-Tab. This
shortcut doesn't work in Composer, as it is not supported
by a Mac.
- Internet Tip Provided by CNET Help.com
Help.com | Answers for Tech Questions
http://www.help.com?tag=ex.em.tip_internet.txt.hp
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 56 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Jun 29, 2000 (13:22) * 23 lines
Enable Support for Multiple Languages in Windows
To install multiple language support in Windows, follow
these steps:
1. Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
3. Click the Windows Setup tab.
4. Click the Multilanguage Support check box to select it.
5. Click OK.
To enable support for a specific language after doing the
above, follow these steps:
1. In Control Panel, double-click Keyboard.
2. On the Language tab, click Add.
3. Click the language you want to use and then click OK.
4. Click OK.
This tip was submitted by Microsoft.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 57 of 114: computer spring (sprin5) * Fri, Jun 30, 2000 (11:02) * 1 lines
Wow, I always use alt tab. Control tab is like lightnin'
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 58 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jun 30, 2000 (22:29) * 25 lines
Start Disk Cleanup With a Command Line
Disk Cleanup helps free up space on your hard drive by
searching your drive, and then listing the temporary files,
Internet cache files, and unnecessary program files that
you can safely delete. To start the Disk Cleanup tool and
specify the hard disk to clean by using a command line, use
the following steps:
1. Click Start and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type the following line and then press
ENTER:
c:\windows\cleanmgr.exe/[drive]
Where [drive] is, type the drive letter of the hard disk
you want to clean.
This tip was submitted by Microsoft.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Help.com | Answers for Tech Questions
http://www.help.com?tag=ex.em.tip_windows.txt.hp
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 59 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jul 3, 2000 (23:51) * 16 lines
Verify Faster
To avoid having to reload a cached document, Navigator
stores retrieved Web pages in memory caches and disk
caches, and checks each newly requested document against
both. This approach can save time if Navigator finds a
document, but it can waste time if the program checks the
caches too often. To avoid this delay, select
Edit/Preferences from the main menu. Next, click the plus
sign (the triangle on Macs) next to the Advanced category,
then click the Cache category that appears. Under Document
In Cache Is Compared To Document On Network, check either
the Once Per Session or the Never option.
- Internet Tip Provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 60 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jul 3, 2000 (23:52) * 21 lines
Install and Run Clipboard Viewer
The Clipboard Viewer is not installed by default in
Windows. To install Clipboard Viewer, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
3. Click the Windows Setup tab.
4. Click System Tools and then click Details.
5. Click the Clipboard Viewer check box to select it and
then click OK.
6. Click OK.
To run Clipboard Viewer after you install it, click Start,
point to Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and click
Clipboard Viewer. You can use Clipboard Viewer to view the
contents of the Clipboard.
This tip was submitted by Microsoft.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 61 of 114: computer spring (sprin5) * Tue, Jul 4, 2000 (08:10) * 1 lines
Office 2000 has a multiple clipboard which saves 10-12 items, but it becomes a hassle at a time like the little moron that runs around the screen getting in your way.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 62 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jul 4, 2000 (12:32) * 1 lines
Is he worse than paper clip man on Word???
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 63 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jul 4, 2000 (17:15) * 15 lines
Verify Faster
To avoid having to reload a cached document, Navigator
stores retrieved Web pages in memory caches and disk
caches, and checks each newly requested document against
both. This approach can save time if Navigator finds a
document, but it can waste time if the program checks the
caches too often. To avoid this delay, select
Edit/Preferences from the main menu. Next, click the plus
sign (the triangle on Macs) next to the Advanced category,
then click the Cache category that appears. Under Document
In Cache Is Compared To Document On Network, check either
the Once Per Session or the Never option.
- Internet Tip Provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 64 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Jul 5, 2000 (15:21) * 12 lines
Take Control Of Your Appearance
To set Netscape Communicator to display your choice of text
and background color for the Web pages you view, pull down
the Edit menu and select Preferences/Appearance/Colors. On
the right side of the dialog box, select a text color and a
background color (you can also select colors for unvisited
and visited links). If you select the Always Use My Colors
overriding document check box, you will see your colors in
place of those specified for the Web page.
- Internet Tip Provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 65 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Jul 6, 2000 (16:09) * 25 lines
Create A Custom Toolbar
Netscape Navigator 4.0 includes a new personal toolbar that
makes it easier to manage the bookmarks folder. (The Mac
version of Navigator doesn't include the personal toolbar.)
The personal toolbar displays the links from the toolbar
folder of the Bookmarks file. To see it, select View/Show
Personal Toolbar from the main menu; if the toolbar is
currently minimized, click its small horizontal bar to
display the bar.
To add the current Web page to the personal toolbar, move
the cursor over the Page Proxy icon next to the Netsite box
in the Location toolbar. When the cursor turns into a hand,
drag the Page Proxy icon onto the Personal toolbar. To move
an existing bookmark into the Personal toolbar, click the
Bookmarks icon, select Edit Bookmarks from the drop-down
list, select the appropriate bookmark, and drag it into the
Toolbar Folder. It will immediately appear in the personal
toolbar. You can even add your Messenger Inbox or a desktop
folder to your customized toolbar. Just drag and drop its
icon onto the toolbar.
- Internet Tip Provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 66 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jul 7, 2000 (17:15) * 10 lines
Fun With Folder Content Columns
When examining a folder's contents in the Details view, all
you see is columns! Mix it up a little by dragging column
dividers to adjust column widths. If you're feeling really
crazy, you can drag a column header (title) to another
horizontal location to switch the order in which the
columns display.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 67 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jul 7, 2000 (17:17) * 14 lines
Kill Your Mouse
Did you know Opera can be run exclusively from your
keyboard? F8 takes your cursor to the Address field, while
F9 makes normal navigation possible. Type 1 or 2 to switch
between open windows. Esc works like the Stop button to
stop the current document from loading. Ctrl-F2 opens your
Hot List (similar to Favorites in Internet Explorer or
Bookmarks in Netscape). These are only the most frequently
used keyboard commands and shortcuts. Hit Ctrl-B to see the
entire list.
Click here to download Opera
http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10058-100-1889857.html
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 68 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jul 10, 2000 (13:22) * 18 lines
Stop Squinting
Too young for reading glasses? Opera has the easiest zoom
features of any browser around. Just click the arrow at the
lower right corner of the screen, next to where it usually
says "100%." This will open a small menu where you can
select a zoom setting from 20 to 1,000 percent of the
original page, with instant results. You can also zoom in
and out by hitting the plus (+) and minus (-) keys on your
numeric keypad; hitting the multiplication key (*) defaults
back to 100 percent. Opera will open all windows with your
favorite setting by default. Just go to the Preferences
menu, select Document Window, and adjust the default
scaling.
Click here to download Opera
http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10058-100-1889857.html
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 69 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jul 10, 2000 (22:55) * 18 lines
Lighten the Load With Disk Cleanup
Windows 98 stores files in the Recycle Bin and in temporary
directories for easier access. However, Windows saves so
many files that eventually the waste can outweigh the ease.
Speed up your computer and free some hard drive space with
Disk Cleanup. From the Start button, select Disk Cleanup
from System Tools in the Accessories menu. A pop-up window
will appear to ask which drive you want to clean. Disk
Cleanup will then quickly scan your hard drive to analyze
the drive's wasted space. Once it finishes, the Disk
Cleanup window will display the amount of wasted space for
each file type that can be cleaned out. Check the boxes
next to each file type you want to erase and press OK. The
program will prompt you for deletion confirmation and clean
your machine.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 70 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jul 11, 2000 (16:14) * 15 lines
Cut and Paste Keyboard Shortcuts
Make cutting and pasting in Windows 98 a snap with keyboard
shortcuts. To quickly use the copy command, press Ctrl-C.
To easily cut text or graphics, press Ctrl-X. To paste from
the clipboard, press Ctrl-V. To quickly highlight the text
you want to cut or copy, place the cursor at the start of
the first character you want to select and depress the
Shift key while using the arrow keys to highlight the
selection. You can also quickly navigate through text
moving one word at a time by depressing Ctrl and the arrow
keys. To undo any command, press Ctrl-Z.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 71 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jul 11, 2000 (18:10) * 18 lines
Stop Splashing Me!
Tired of seeing that splash screen every time you start up
Opera? Now you can make it stop. Open Notepad or any text
editor, and edit the file in your Windows directory called
opera.ini. There should be a section called [USER PREFS].
If not, go ahead and add one. Then enter (or edit) the
following statement:
SHOW SPLASH SCREEN = 0
Save your changes and Opera will never splash you again.
Click here to dowload Opera
http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10058-100-1889857.html
- Internet Tip Provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 72 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Jul 12, 2000 (14:10) * 14 lines
Make Opera Support Java
You can give Opera the Java support it needs! Download and
install Sun's Java at
http://www.operasoftware.com/support/operate.htm#35003,
then copy the file named NPJava32.dll from C:\java
plug-in\bin to C:\program files\opera\plugins. That's all
there is to it.
Click here to dowload Opera
http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10058-100-1889857.html
- Internet Tip Provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 73 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Jul 12, 2000 (14:45) * 22 lines
Use the Caps Lock and Num Lock Key Alerts
Perhaps the capitalization and number lock keys are among
the most useful keyboard keys, allowing the user to toggle
between upper and lower case or between numbers and arrow
keys on the numeric keypad. But they can also impede
productivity when accidentally hit, changing case or
function. Don't let yourself be caught in the wrong mode
unawares. You can change your settings so that you're
alerted whenever the Caps Lock or Num Lock key is hit. A
mild, high-pitched tone will indicate that Caps Lock or Num
Lock has been turned on, and a slightly lower tone will
indicate that one of these features has been turned off. To
activate these alerts, select Settings/Control Panel from
the Windows 98 Start menu. Double-click the Accessibility
Options icon. From the Accessibility Properties window,
select the Keyboard tab. Under the ToggleKeys section,
check the box labeled "Use ToggleKeys," click the Apply
button, and then click OK.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 74 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Jul 13, 2000 (19:29) * 12 lines
Fill in Web Forms With Ease
If you want Opera to fill in Web forms it encounters with
your personal information automatically (such as e-mail
address and phone number), go to the Preferences menu and
select Generic/Personal Information and fill in your
details. From now on you will be able to copy those details
into any text box or form you come across as you surf the
Web. When you find a form, right-click in the text field
and select the appropriate text to insert from the context
menu.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 75 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Jul 13, 2000 (19:34) * 14 lines
Using the Windows Key
Use your Windows key to open a variety of commands quickly.
The Windows key, denoted by the Microsoft symbol on recent
keyboards, will access the Start menu when it's pressed.
You can also depress the Windows key and press the letter E
to launch Windows Explorer. The Windows-F combination will
launch the File Finder. To minimize all windows, press the
letter M while holding down the Windows key. Conversely,
you can maximize all windows by depressing the Windows key
and pressing Shift-M. To access the Start menu's Run
command, simply hold down the Windows key and press the
letter R on your keyboard.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 76 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jul 14, 2000 (13:18) * 16 lines
Manage the Size of the Recycle Bin
If your Recycle Bin looks less like a bin and more like a
dumpster, keep your trash manageable by setting its hard
drive space. Make sure the percentage of disk space your
Recycle Bin uses is small. To do so, right-click the
Recycle Bin from your desktop. From the pop-up menu, select
Properties. Click the Global tab from the Recycle Bin
Properties window and select the radio button labeled "Use
one setting for all drives." Next, move the slider labeled
"Maximum size of Recycle Bin" to control the percentage of
hard disk space the Recycle Bin can occupy. Move the slider
to the left so that the Recycle Bin occupies less space or
move it to the right to increase maximum hard drive
percentage.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 77 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jul 14, 2000 (13:19) * 35 lines
Customize Your Cache
Sometimes a browser's method of caching seems illogical. At
times, pages visited recently have not been cached, while
older pages remain cached. However, you can call the shots,
and decide which pages you wish to cache and how often.
Explorer users can do so by setting up an Internet Explorer
subscription. To do so, when adding a site to your
Favorites list, check the box labeled, "Make available
offline." Then, simply click on the Customize button to
begin the Offline Favorite Wizard. First, decide whether
you want subpages to be cached as well by choosing the
"Yes" or "No" radio button and clicking Next. You can then
decide how often you wish the page to be cached in the next
step, by selecting "I would like to create a new schedule"
and selecting the Next button. Decide how often you would
like the page to be cached by specifying number of days,
and a time to synchronize, and press Next. As most sites do
not require a password, you can usually press Next to
bypass the last step. Explorer will then cache the page
according to your specifications.
Netscape users can access Preferences from the Edit menu.
Navigate to the Advanced/Cache directory from the
Preferences window. You can then specify how much disk and
memory space you wish to occupy with cached pages. You can
also specify to which folder you wish to save cached pages.
In addition, you can decide how often pages are compared to
their cached copies, and then updated. Under the heading
labeled, "Document in cache is compared to document on
network," select the radio button for "Once per session,"
"Every time," or "Never," according to your preference.
Click OK to save changes.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 78 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jul 17, 2000 (20:46) * 15 lines
Discover A Site's Details With WHOIS
By using the WHOIS command, you can find out the registered
name, server addresses, and e-mail of the registrar of a
specific domain. Most UNIX users can generally access this
command by simply prefacing a domain name with the WHOIS
command. Other users can access the
HREF="http://www.networksolutions.com/cgi-bin/whois/whois">
WHOIS service online. Keep in mind, however, that
oftentimes this information can be outdated. Also, it is
considered bad etiquette to overuse or abuse information
obtained by this service.
- Internet Tip Provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 79 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jul 17, 2000 (20:47) * 24 lines
Change Your Language Settings
Make Windows speak your language by customizing your
settings to a tongue other than English. To do so, click
the Start button and select Control Panel from the Settings
submenu. Double-click the Keyboard icon and click the
Language tab from the Keyboard Properties window. Next,
click on the Add button and choose the language you want to
use from the pull-down menu. Click the "Set as Default"
button to make the highlighted language your default
language. You can switch languages easily with the keyboard
by selecting one of the hotkey options listed under the
"Switch Languages" heading. Select the radio button of the
hotkey you wish to add and press that key sequence anywhere
in Windows 98 to switch languages.
By checking the box labeled "Enable indicator on the
taskbar," you can access a system tray icon that will
switch your language for you. Once all settings are to your
liking, click the Apply button to effect changes. Click the
OK button to close the Keyboard Properties window.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 80 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jul 18, 2000 (18:57) * 15 lines
Customize Your Telnet Colors
Turn your Telnet terminal technicolor by customizing your
hues. Select Preferences from the Telnet Terminal menu.
From the pop-up dialog box, click the Background Color
button. Click the background color you want in the pop-up
palette and click the OK button. Once you return to the
Terminal Preferences dialog box, click the Fonts button.
From the Font dialog box, select the font color you want
from the Color pull-down menu under the Effects heading.
Click OK twice to save your settings.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 81 of 114: computer spring (sprin5) * Wed, Jul 19, 2000 (13:08) * 1 lines
CRT has this and a lot more.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 82 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Jul 19, 2000 (14:56) * 18 lines
Yeah, I know!!!
Silence Line Noise
Sometimes, when accessing the Internet, you might encounter
trouble logging on, surfing, or the appearance of extra
characters as you attempt to use UNIX-based features. This
is caused by "line noise," or interference in your phone
line, caused by faulty wiring, moisture, or other factors.
You can test for line noise by picking up the telephone
receiver (when you are not connected to the Internet), and
listening for line static, or crackling noises. You can cut
down on line noise by using shorter phone cords to connect
your computer to the telephone jack. If all else fails, you
can always contact your local telephone provider, and ask
that a technician be sent out to analyze your line quality.
- Internet Tip Provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 83 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Jul 19, 2000 (14:57) * 13 lines
Create a Printer Shortcut
Print anything you want in a snap by creating a printer
shortcut. Select Settings/Control Panel from the Start
menu. Double-click the Printers icon. Once you're in the
Printers folder, drag your printer icon onto the desktop. A
prompt window will appear confirming that you want to
create this shortcut. Click the Yes button. You can now
drag any file onto your new printer shortcut, and the print
job will begin immediately.
Tip provided by CNET Help.com
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 84 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Aug 22, 2000 (01:29) * 12 lines
Today's Windows 98 Tip: Fun With Folder Content Columns
When examining a folder's contents in the Details view, all you see is columns! Mix it up a little by dragging column dividers to adjust column widths. If you're feeling really crazy, you can drag a column header (title) to another horizontal location to switch the order that the columns display.
If you've got Windows 98 tips of your own that you'd like to share, submit them here.
Get more Windows 98 how-tos and tips here.
Get answers to your Windows 98 questions here.
Looking for more help with Windows 98? Try our Windows 98 Help Directory, a complete listing of books, tutorials, online courses, and more.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 85 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Aug 23, 2000 (00:20) * 12 lines
Today's Windows 95 Tip: Get Fast Access to Your Screensaver
To have instant access to your screensaver, simply create a desktop shortcut pointing to the desired SCR file (usually located in Windows\System).
This tip was submitted by Barry Kortekaas. If you've got Windows 95 tips of your own that you'd like to share, submit them here.
Get more Windows 95 how-tos and tips here.
Get answers to your Windows 95 questions here.
Looking for more help with Windows 95? Try our Windows 95 Help Directory, a complete listing of books, tutorials, online courses, and more.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 86 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Aug 23, 2000 (17:31) * 15 lines
There must be a LINUX topic but I could not find it so...
let me know and Iwill eamil it to you. There are too many greater than signs in it to allow posting.
Today's Linux Tip: How Do I Update (For Example) the System's Perl Documentation?
Because program source and documentation files accumulate on machines that have been in operation for a long time (like McGee's closet), it's a good idea to get acquainted with the *nix way of doing things (really, no sarcasm intended), to make sure that you know what's on your system. In short, let the computer do it for you in the background.
The following BASH shell script uses the programs find, egrep, and sed to search directory hierarchies for the text string "=head1" that signals the start of a Perl POD (plain old documentation) module. It then constructs and executes a shell script to generate the formatted documentation from those files.
The programs that do the actual formatting are pod2man and pod2text. They are Perl scripts that call Perl library modules. The programs pod2latex and pod2html can also be added to the script, if they're present on the system. Place the shell script below in a file called makepods, then make the file executable with the shell command:
chmod +x makepods
Remember to run chmod +x to make this shell script executable as well. This is an example only; it is not the only way that cron jobs can be configured. Please consult your local documentation. YMMV (your mileage may vary). The author assumes no responsibility for its use, misuse, or abuse, and so on.
This tip was submitted by Linux FAQ. If you've got Linux tips of your own that you'd like to share, submit them here.
Get more Linux how-tos and tips here.
Get answers to your Linux questions here.
Looking for more help with Linux? Try our Linux Help Directory, a complete listing of books, tutorials, online courses, and more.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 87 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Aug 23, 2000 (22:51) * 12 lines
Today's Printers Tip: What's the Bottom Line?
The price tag shouldn't be the only cost you consider when shopping for a printer. You should also factor in the costs of special paper needs, special input trays, ink cartridges or toner, printer drums, and how often you will need to replace these items during the life of the printer.
If you've got Printers tips of your own that you'd like to share, submit them here.
Get more Printers how-tos and tips here.
Get answers to your Printers questions here.
Looking for more help with Printers? Try our Printers Help Directory, a complete listing of books, tutorials, online courses, and more.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 88 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Aug 23, 2000 (23:29) * 194 lines
This Week's Shareware Dispatch
1. PC File of the Week
CHOICECASTER
Nothing beats streaming videos over a fast Internet
connection, but launching multiple video players for different
file formats can be a real chore. Fortunately, ChoiceCaster
can help. This all-in-one, customizable media player supports
QuickTime, RealPlayer, and Windows Media Player formats,
provided you have the proper plug-ins installed on your
system. You can launch the supported audio and video files
from a single control panel, search online using its
integrated Web browser, and find content online using a media
guide that lists live events, Webcasts, and more. The guide
even includes a library feature that scans your disks for
supported files.
FACT FILE:
Version: 1.0
Size: 2,040K
Developed by: eSynch Corp.
License: Freeware
Requirements: Windows 95/98/NT/2000
Mediate your multimedia:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evM0BxpGx0p0D84k
______________________________________________________
2. Recent Additions to the Shareware.com PC Library
ADVANCED DISK CATALOG
Version: 1.31
Size: 1,730K
Developed by: Elcom Ltd.
License: Shareware ($20)
Requirements: Windows 95/98/NT/2000
Build a searchable catalog of hard disk and CD-ROM files:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evM0BxpGx0p0D85l
CHRIS UNINSTALL MANAGER
Version: 1.0
Size: 340K
Developed by: Christophe Bertrand
License: Freeware
Requirements: Windows 95/98/NT/2000
Replace the Windows Add/Remove Programs utility:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evM0BxpGx0p0D86m
CUTERIP
Version: 1.20
Size: 1,240K
Developed by: YuanSoft Corp.
License: Shareware ($20)
Requirements: Windows 95/98/NT/2000
Create your own MP3 files from audio CD tracks:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evM0BxpGx0p0D87n
INSTACROPPER
Version: 2.0
Size: 840K
Developed by: UtahSoft
License: Freeware
Requirements: Windows 95/98/NT
Crop scanned images and automatically eliminate white space:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evM0BxpGx0p0D88o
INTER FAX
Version: 7.0
Size: 1,320K
Developed by: UK Software
License: Freeware
Requirements: Windows 95/98/NT/2000
Send faxes anywhere using your PC and an Internet connection:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evM0BxpGx0p0EAA8
______________________________________________________
3. Mac File of the Week
PEPPER
There are many development-oriented text editors available for
the Mac, but Pepper offers a few powerful benefits over its
competition. First, it has a clean editing interface, with no
obnoxious pop-ups or complicated toolbars. It also
incorporates full support for Perl syntax searches, includes
useful coding templates, and can store commonly-used code
snippets in its Accelerator Editor. Pepper even features low
memory requirements, despite having multiple levels of
undo/redo capabilities. In addition to Perl, it supports
C/C++, HTML, Java, Oberon-2, Pascal, Python, Rez, Shell, and
TeX. This version adds a strong online Help system.
FACT FILE:
Version: 3.0.1
Size: 1.3M
Developed by: Hekkelman Programmatuur
License: Shareware ($45, site license available)
Requirements: PowerPC processor, System 8.6 or better,
2.5M free disk space
Pepper up your text:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evM0BxpGx0p0EABA
______________________________________________________
4. Recent Additions to the Shareware.com Mac Library
PRESIDENTS3000
Version: 1.01
Size: 908K
Developed by: Ken Winograd/Space-Time Associates
License: Shareware ($20, site license available)
Requirements: PowerPC processor
Know your presidents in this basic hangman puzzler:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evM0BxpGx0p0EACB
DATEPASTER
Version: 1.01
Size: 391K
Developed by: Satinder S. Sidhu
License: Freeware
Requirements: Should work on any Mac
Copy and paste long-form dates without consulting your calendar:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evM0BxpGx0p0EADC
MORTGAGE MAKER
Version: 2.2
Size: 297K
Developed by: Nick Parlante
License: Freeware ($10 for professionals, site licenses available)
Requirements: Should work on any Mac
Check out your mortgage and loan options:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evM0BxpGx0p0EAED
SLIDER
Version: 1.0.4
Size: 206K
Developed by: RavenWare
License: Freeware
Requirements: PowerPC processor
Have slippery fun with a multi-level geometric game:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evM0BxpGx0p0EAFE
WORLDS APART
Version: 2.1
Size: 1.6M
Developed by: Suzanne Britton
License: Freeware
Requirements: System 7 or later, QuickTime 3.0 or later,
2.5M free RAM
Play along with this "interactive fugue" for the Mac:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evM0BxpGx0p0EAGF
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 89 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Aug 24, 2000 (01:34) * 37 lines
Tweak Freak Dispatch
A newsletter from CNET Help.com
http://www.help.com/
August 23, 2000
-----------------------------------------------
This Week on Tweak Freak: Find and Fix Finicky System Files
-----------------------------------------------
Never run into a corrupted file or a system conflict in Windows 98? Lucky you.
Fortunately, there's a tool for those of us (or the majority of us, to be more precise) who are all-too-familiar with the dreaded Blue Screen of Death. The Windows 98 System Information utility lets you diagnose conflicts and repair corrupted files through a variety of individual tools for Internet Explorer, DirectX, and other Windows components. You can open System Information by clicking the Start menu, then selecting Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information. Here's how to operate some of the more useful tools to keep your system running smoothly and swiftly.
Note: It's a good idea to shut down other programs while using the System Information tools to avoid conflicts.
** KEEP YOUR SYSTEM FILES IN ORDER
Use the ever-handy System File Checker to verify the integrity of the files in the Windows\System folder (among others) and replace corrupted system files. To open the System File Checker, select it from the Tools menu in the System Information window. To begin, make sure the radio button in front of "Scan for altered files" is checked and then click the Start button. If nothing's wrong, you'll see a dialog box that says the System File Checker has finished. Click the Details button if you'd like to see how many files the Checker scanned and any changes it noted; otherwise, click OK.
If you'd like System File Checker to notify you if any system files have been changed or deleted, click the Settings button in the main window and then in the Settings tab, check the boxes in front of "Check for changed files" and "Check for deleted files." The next time you run System File Checker, it will notify you of results in either category.
** DIAGNOSE DIRECTX PROBLEMS
DirectX, the application program interface that enables your system for audio and 3D video, can often get a little gimpy over time. The tests in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool allow you to find out if everything's running smoothly. Select DirectX Diagnostic Tool from the Tools menu in the System Information window to open it.
Click any of the tabs at the top, from DirectX Files to Display to Network, and check the Notes section at the bottom. This area will let you know if there are any problems found in this segment of DirectX. The Display, Sound, Music, and Network tabs allow you to run tests on different aspects of DirectX to ensure that each one is working properly. For example, click the Display tab and then click the Test Direct3D button to examine your system's 3D graphics handling ability. The Diagnostic Tool will render a spinning cube in both software and hardware and ask you if it displayed on your screen.
If you run into any problems during your tests of DirectX (they'll be marked in the Notes section), click the More Help tab at the right. If the Restore button is visible, you can click it to have DirectX reinstalled. If this doesn't work, try solving your problem with the Windows DirectX Troubleshooter. Just click the Troubleshoot button. Still having problems? You can always download the latest version of DirectX from CNET Download.com.
** REPAIR, AUGMENT, OR ROLL BACK INTERNET EXPLORER
The Internet Explorer Repair Tool can be used to add components to an existing installation of Explorer, repair Internet Explorer, or return to a previously installed version of IE. Select Internet Explorer Repair Tool from the Tools menu in the System Information window to open it. Check the radio button in front of "Add a component" and click OK to expand IE's features. The IE setup program will run, and you'll be able to select the component(s) that you'd like to add from a list.
To fix current problems with IE, check the radio button in front of "Repair Internet Explorer" and click OK. The Tool will fix any problems it finds with Explorer and then require you to reboot your system.
To return to a previous version of IE that you had installed on your system, check the box in front of "Restore the previous Windows configuration." Click the Advanced button to see what versions you will be able to return to or click the OK button to automatically restore the previous version of Internet Explorer.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 90 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Aug 24, 2000 (20:18) * 119 lines
Get the Scoop on Web Services:
We are constantly updating our site to make it a better
place to find the right ISPs, Web Hosts, and Developers
for your Web Services needs. Do you have suggestions for
development? Are we missing features that would be helpful?
If you have suggestions for our listings please send
suggestions, comments and feedback our way at:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evg0BxpGy0t0DMKz
This Week:
Safe surfing: How to protect your child online
Kids are logging on to the Internet more than ever before,
playing games, chatting with friends, and getting help with
schoolwork. But the Web can be a perilous place, and no one
is more at risk than children are. From being stalked in
chat rooms to stumbling across porn and hate sites, your
kids may run into someone or something that's more than you
bargained for.
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evg0BxpGy0t0C5rF
News of the Week in Web Services:
Excite@Home, the nation's largest high-speed Internet service,
said Wednesday that it has topped 2 million subscribers, a
number that is closing fast on the largest dial-up ISPs.
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evg0BxpGy0t0EA6T
Seeking to respond to a growing market segment, Sprint PCS has
unveiled new products and services for business customers
that include faster connectivity and the ability to link
with a corporate intranet.
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evg0BxpGy0t0EA7U
Want faster Net access at a cheaper price? Some new kids on
the telecommunications block are taking on the Baby Bells
by offering businesses Net connections that are both
faster and cheaper than services from old-line telecom
providers.
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evg0BxpGy0t0EA8V
A significant "digital divide" still separates America's
technological haves and have-nots, but the have-nots are
catching up fast, according to a new survey.
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evg0BxpGy0t0EBAf
Web Services Tip of the Week:
10 Questions on E-Commerce
Interested in buying or selling online? Get answers to ten
key e-commerce questions.
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evg0BxpGy0t0EBBg
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************************************************************
Writing On the Wall, Latest User Reviews
See who is receiving all the ratings in the Web Service's
categories this week.
1. Internet Access
Big Planet in Dialup Access
Average User Rating
Value - 5
Quality - 5
Features - 5
For More Information:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evg0BxpGy0t0CHnU
2. Web Hosting
HiSpeed in Dedicated Servers
Average User Rating
Value - 4
Quality - 3
Features - 3
For More Information:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evg0BxpGy0t0DqUl
3. Web Developers
BestAuthor Web Site Design Studio in Web Developers
Average User Rating
Value - 5
Quality - 5
Features - 5
For More Information:
http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evg0BxpGy0t0C8sJ
*************************************** advertisement ******
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http://1.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=evg0BxpGy0t0CTI4
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 91 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Aug 24, 2000 (20:51) * 32 lines
CorelDraw Tips Newsletter
A newsletter from CNET Help.com
http://www.help.com/
August 24, 2000
***************************************************************
Today's CorelDraw Tip: Try the Page Curl Effect
The Page Curl effect gives the impression that a corner of an image has rolled in upon itself. You can select which corner of the image, the orientation and size of the curl, and its transparency level. You can also select colors for the curl and for the background that becomes visible when the image curls away.
To apply the Page Curl effect, first select the image, then choose 3D Effects/Page Curl from the Bitmaps menu. Select a Page Corner button, then customize your curl by selecting Vertical (to begin the curl at the top or bottom edge of the image) or Horizontal (to begin the curl at the left or right edge of the image). Move the Width and Height sliders to set the curl size--higher values result in a larger, wider curl; lower values result in a smaller, tighter curl. Adjust the color from the Color drop-down color picker menu.
If you've got CorelDraw tips of your own that you'd like to share, submit them here.
Get more CorelDraw how-tos and tips here.
Get answers to your CorelDraw questions here.
Looking for more help with CorelDraw? Try our CorelDraw Help Directory, a complete listing of books, tutorials, online courses, and more.
*************************ADVERTISEMENT**********************
Today IT service providers will bid against each other online to solve your problems.
Today you will find solutions you never knew existed.
Today ePeople opens the doors to an incredible new online marketplace.
www.ePeople.com
***************************************************************
ALSO IN CNET
Quicken 2001 Deluxe Beta v. Money 2001 Deluxe
Microsoft and Intuit are just about ready to release the latest versions of their veteran money management apps. You may be surprised to find out which app you should use. Curious?
Get the full scoop in CNET Software's reviews.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 92 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Aug 25, 2000 (18:27) * 10 lines
Paint Shop Pro Tips Newsletter
A newsletter from CNET Help.com
http://www.help.com/
August 25, 2000
***************************************************************
Today's Paint Shop Pro Tip: Paste to Size
When you have a large image to paste into part of another image, you can reduce the size of the portion you're pasting as you do it. Select the area in the target image into which you want to paste the clipboard contents and paste them by selecting, Edit/Paste/Into Selection. You can also paste into an irregularly shaped selection if you choose it using the Freehand tool first.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 93 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Aug 29, 2000 (00:03) * 12 lines
Today's Windows 98 Tip: Can the Animation
If you're bothered by Windows 98's animation, which you see when selecting menus, moving files or folders around, or selecting items from drop-down list boxes, you can turn it off. Right-click the desktop, select Properties from the pop-up menu, and click the Effects tab. Under Visual Effects, click to remove the check marks next to Use Menu Animations and Show Window Contents While Dragging. (While you're there, select Smooth Edges of Screen Fonts; this process, called antialiasing, makes small text easier to read.) Then click OK.
If you've got Windows 98 tips of your own that you'd like to share, submit them here.
Get more Windows 98 how-tos and tips here.
Get answers to your Windows 98 questions here.
Looking for more help with Windows 98? Try our Windows 98 Help Directory, a complete listing of books, tutorials, online courses, and more.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 94 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Aug 29, 2000 (00:04) * 12 lines
Today's Scanners Tip: Handheld Headaches
A handheld scanner may seem like the ultimate mobile tool for business travelers: it can scan quick bytes of information as needed, and it fits in a bag. But the reality is often a bit messier. In addition to being monochrome only, handheld scanners can scan a mere few lines at a time. Though high-end models have special software functions for straightening and stitching together scanned blocks, fixing scanned documents line by line is still a hassle. What's more, a handheld scanner worth owning will cost you at least $500. Unless mobility is a must, it's better to buy a nonportable scanner and wait until you get home.
If you've got Scanners tips of your own that you'd like to share, submit them here.
Get more Scanners how-tos and tips here.
Get answers to your Scanners questions here.
Looking for more help with Scanners? Try our Scanners Help Directory, a complete listing of books, tutorials, online courses, and more.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 95 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Aug 29, 2000 (00:06) * 16 lines
Today's Norton AntiVirus Tip: Did System Colors Change After Installing Norton AntiVirus 2000?
(Norton AntiVirus 2000)
Check the Windows Display properties to see if system display settings or color schemes have changed.
1. Right-click the Windows desktop, then click Properties.
2. Check the settings on the Background, Appearance and Settings tabs to make sure your colors and settings are set up properly.
This tip was submitted by Symantec. If you've got Norton AntiVirus tips of your own that you'd like to share, submit them here.
Get more Norton AntiVirus how-tos and tips here.
Get answers to your Norton AntiVirus questions here.
Looking for more help with Norton AntiVirus? Try our Norton AntiVirus Help Directory, a complete listing of books, tutorials, online courses, and more.
Topic 16 of 28 [computer]: Making Computing life Easier
Response 96 of 114: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Aug 29, 2000 (00:09) * 446 lines
WinFiles.com WinFile Update
(1) Will Windows Me pricing confuse consumers?
Windows 95 users will have to pay $30 more than their Windows 98
counterparts to upgrade to Microsoft's new consumer operating
system, in a promotional strategy that could end up confusing
customers instead of simply rewarding them. Microsoft announced
earlier this month that it will sell its new operating system for
home PC users for $59 through January. This promotional pricing
represents a new strategy for the software maker, which typically
sells upgrades to its operating systems for $89. In a break with its
own tradition, Microsoft has confirmed, it will sell the upgrade
under the name Windows Me Promotional Step-Up for $59 to people who
have Windows 98 or Windows 98 Second Edition. Windows 95 users will
have to pay the full $89 for their upgrade to Windows Me, or
Millennium Edition. After January, everyone will pay the full price.
But the company's decision to sell the promotional upgrade under a
separate name could cause confusion among consumers over possible
differences--if any--between the $59 and $89 upgrades, according to
Paul Thurrott, editor of the WinInfo newsletter, which tracks
Microsoft software news. "When a customer walks into a store, they
will see three different boxes for Windows Me," Wooster said.
Microsoft insists that the versions of the upgrades are exactly the
same, except for a "compliance checking mechanism" in the
promotional OS that locks out Windows 95 users. Microsoft
spokeswoman Laura Wooster confirmed that the Step-Up edition will
work only with Windows 98 and Windows 98 SE systems. "It's a way to
thank our customers who have upgraded to Windows 98," Wooster said,
noting that the upgrade from Windows 95 to Windows Me is more
complicated than the upgrade from one of the Windows 98 products.
The number of people who will miss out on the promotion is unknown,
but it may not be too many.
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0DPLa
(2) Tech giants slam Napster injunction
A broad coalition of technology and Internet companies are filing
legal briefs Friday that are bitterly critical of last month's court
decision against Napster, saying it could threaten the future of
much of the technology industry. The parties involved, including the
Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the Digital Media
Association (DiMA) and NetCoalition, are careful to say that they
are not explicitly supporting either side in the high-stakes
lawsuit. But each group's separate arguments go a long way to
support Napster in its battle against the Recording Industry
Association of America. The CEA includes giants such as Sony
Electronics, Apple Computer, Cisco Systems and hundreds of others
across the industry. DiMA is composed of many of the leading online
music companies, such as Listen.com and EMusic. NetCoalition is a
Washington, D.C.-based lobbying group that includes Yahoo, America
Online, Amazon.com and Excite@Home, among others. Several of the
trade associations contend that federal Judge Marilyn Hall Patel
misapplied copyright law that protects technologies with
"substantial non-infringing uses." If her decision is used as
precedent for other cases, it could threaten development across the
consumer technology sector, they say. Patel's decision late last
month sided with the record industry and said it is likely Napster
was at least partly liable for massive copyright infringement on the
part of its members. She ordered that the music-swapping site
prevent copyrighted material from being traded via its technology.
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0DQ6F
(3) AOL previews shortcut to sign-in online
America Online is quietly testing a new software feature that allows
its customers to use their AOL screen names and passwords as sign-
ins for other affiliated Web services. Dubbed "Screen Name," the
feature provides a shortcut for Net surfers who register for online
services by, for example, storing personal information commonly
requested by Web sites, such as names, ZIP codes and email
addresses. The feature lets AOL members enter their screen names and
passwords to complete the registration process, according to an AOL
preview site describing the service. An AOL representative declined
comment on Screen Name and said the company plans to take down the
preview site. A source close to AOL said the company is testing the
service but has no definite time frame for launch. The source added
that AOL will eventually increase features to make it easier to
purchase products online and is negotiating partnerships with third-
party online merchants. Most Web sites require customers to fill out
registration forms indicating name, age and other personal
information to qualify for premium services. The arrangement lets
sites gather demographic information from consumers to better target
advertisements or pitch products relevant to their interests. In
return, the companies offer people more control over what they see
and additional perks on their sites.
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0DPBQ
(4) Intel unveils new chip design for handhelds, cell phones
Intel Wednesday announced the successor to its StrongArm chip
architecture. Dubbed XScale, the design will power future
generations of handheld computers, mobile phones and the backbone of
the wireless network. Although Intel demonstrated a prototype
XScale-based chip running at 1 GHz, the company did not unveil
specific chips, saying those announcements will come later in the
year. At 1 GHz, an XScale chip would consume 1.5 watts of power. The
processor also could be run in the tens of milliwatts, albeit with a
hit in performance. Ron Smith, the Intel vice president who heads
the chip giant's wireless efforts, said the new design will enable
entirely new types of wireless devices that can be powered by a
single AA battery. "It's really going to open up a whole new range
of applications on a handheld," Smith said in a briefing with
reporters at the Intel Developer Forum in San Jose. Intel executives
said the company already has more than a dozen agreements to put the
chip in next-generation wireless phones, handheld computers and
devices that are something in between the two. In addition to
creating higher performance levels, Intel has made several
improvements to the design of the processor core with XScale. A
dynamic voltage management technique, similar to the SpeedStep
function on mobile Pentium III processors, allows chips using XScale
architecture to adjust their power consumption based on the task
being performed.
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0DQ7G
(5) Intel execs: Napster-like sharing will transform businesses
The peer-to-peer technology popularized by Napster could usher in
the next wave of the Internet and, in the process, save companies
billions of dollars by using computing power already in place, Intel
executives said Thursday. "Peer-to-peer is what we think is possibly
the next computing frontier," Pat Gelsinger, chief technology
officer of the Intel Architecture Group, said in a speech at the
Intel Developer Forum here. In peer-to-peer networking, individual
computers talk to one other, allowing computing tasks to be managed
among those computers instead of or in addition to using a
centralized network. The chip giant estimates that there is two-and-
a-half times the computing power in individual computers at a
typical large business than is available from its servers. By
harnessing the power of each computer to power the network and
distribute computing tasks, Intel executives said companies can save
billions of dollars. Intel knows from whence it speaks, having used
peer-to-peer networking to manage the complicated task of designing
chips since 1990. Gelsinger said the company has saved half a
billion dollars during the past decade by shipping simulations from
active computers to faraway systems that had been underused.
Gelsinger said that before Intel started the program, it was "buying
mainframes like candy" even though it was only using about 30
percent of the computing power of its workstations and 50 percent of
its server power. Now, about 70 percent of its workstations' muscle
is being tapped and servers are running at about 80 percent. To help
get other businesses thinking along these lines, Intel announced the
formation of a peer-to-peer working group with 19 initial members,
including IBM and Hewlett-Packard.
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0DPCR
*******************************************************************
4. LAST WEEK'S NEWEST SHAREWARE - sponsored by CNET Notebooks
Sick of being strapped to your desk? Check out CNET's reviews and price
comparisons on the hottest new notebooks on the market:
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0CXJf
Following is the top rated shareware that was updated on the WinFiles.com
Web site over the past week. For all the newest shareware, visit:
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0klR
WINner Updates:
IN AUTOMATION UTILITIES:
Updated ServiceMill 3.1.36 for WinNT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0BV1D
IN GRAPHICS EDITORS:
Updated Paint Shop Pro 7.0 Beta 5 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0yZN
IN FTP AND ARCHIE CLIENTS:
Updated FTP Voyager 7.2.1.0 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0kaG
IN GRAPHICS VIEWERS:
Updated ACDSee 3.1 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0pBo
IN INTERNET CLIENT SUITES:
Updated Netscape Communicator 4.75 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0DQ8H
GETIT Updates:
IN CD PLAYERS:
Updated Quintessential Player 3.0 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0BHq2
IN MAIL SERVER TOOLS:
Updated Mercur Mail Server 3.2 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0DRAR
IN AUTOMATION UTILITIES:
Updated Schedule 3.4.27 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0kRz
IN BACKUP AND COPY UTILITIES:
Added Outlook Data Backup Utility 1.0.2 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0kQy
IN FILE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR UTILITIES:
Updated SuperDIR 2000 8.12 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0BgCm
IN MULTI-PURPOSE PLAYERS AND EDITORS:
Updated WaveOut Lite 5.0 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0yYM
Added RealJukebox Basic 2.0 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0yYM
IN DIAL-UP NETWORKING DIALERS:
Updated DigitalWeb Ras+ Dialer 2000 1.5 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo03Q3
IN NETWORK INFORMATION TOOLS:
Updated NetInfo 3.8 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0o8d
IN HTML AND LINK VERIFICATION TOOLS:
Updated CSE HTML Validator Professional 4.50 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0kW5
TRYIT Updates:
IN SYSTEM ANALYSIS UTILITIES:
Added SysId 1.4a for Win95/98 on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0tN5
Added PassMark Performance Test 3.0 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0tN5
IN ACCESS CONTROL UTILITIES:
Added WinGuard Basic 2.0 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0yWK
Added AdjustCD 2000 5.0 for Win95/98 on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0yWK
Added Hack Tracer 1.2 for Win95/98 on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0yWK
IN WALLPAPER TOOLS:
Added Aladdin Sundial 3.0 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0DRBS
IN SEARCH AUTHORING TOOLS:
Added Check & Get 1.5 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0DRCT
IN DESKTOP TOOLBARS AND LAUNCHERS:
Updated Hidden Menu 1.4 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0C4RD
IN ANTI-VIRUS UTILITIES:
Updated NetSpyHunter 1.2 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0yXL
IN NEWSREADER TOOLS:
Added TuneZilla 1.0 for Win95/98 on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0kZ8
IN GRAPHICS EDITORS:
Updated imageN 1.2s for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0yZN
IN MPEG AUDIO PLAYERS AND EDITORS:
Updated Helium 1.5 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo03My
IN DISK ANALYSIS UTILITIES:
Added FATBuster 3.0 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0BKt8
IN FILE CATALOGING UTILITIES:
Added Advanced CATaloguer 1.0 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0kV4
IN COOKIE AND CACHE MANAGERS:
Added AnalogX CookieWall 1.01 for Win95/98/NT on
http://update.winfiles.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=e2h0BBFIH0Bo0DRDU
IN TEXT CHAT C