Note: all new tips will be added at the top of this file. Also please check back regularly as this page is updated often.
The information here has been gathered from the online version of Smart Computing Magazine daily emails, which I subscribe.
***
If you’re sharing a workbook in Microsoft Office Excel 2010, you can easily stop sharing it. Click the Review tab on the Ribbon and then click Share Workbook in the Changes group. When the Share Workbook window opens, you’ll see the Editing tab. Make sure you’re the only person in the list of people who are using the document. Then uncheck the box next to Allow Changes By More Than One User At The Same Time.
Need to create a document that your colleagues can open with an older version of Microsoft Word than Word 2010? You have two options. One is to have them download the free Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack, which is available via Microsoft’s website. (This only gives them reading capabilities.) The other is to work in Compatibility Mode. Open your document and then click the File tab. Click Save As and then click Word 97-2003 Document from the Save As drop-down menu. Now send them the new copy of the document, which has a DOC extension. Note that this approach means they can open the document in older versions of Microsoft Office for editing and reading.
You can easily change the way Windows 7 interprets two-digit dates in Microsoft programs. Click the Start button and then click Control Panel. Click Clock, Language, And Region and then click Region And Language. Next, click the Additional Settings button and then click the Date tab. Finally, use the arrow buttons on the menu to adjust the year range in the Calendar section. Moving it upward prevents Windows from thinking you’re referring to the 1930s when you are entering dates related to the 2030s.
To change the decimal places in cells, select them and then click the Home tab, if it isn’t already selected. Click the Increase Decimal or Decrease Decimal icons.
To round a decimal number to the nearest whole number, type =ROUND(A1,0) into the cell. (Replace A1 with the cell that has the decimal you want to round and replace 0 with the number of decimal places you’d like it to be rounded to – or leave it as-is.)
Type =XX/X to divide XX by X, where “X” represents the number of your choice. Press the ENTER key.
To divide the number in one cell by the number in another cell, choose a separate cell in which you want to display the result and type =. Then click the cell of the number you want to divide and type /. Finally, click the cell of the number you want to divide by.
The line spacing between paragraphs is much bigger in Word 2007 and 2010 than in Word 2003. It’s 1.0 line spacing (without a space between paragraphs) in Word 2003, but 1.15 line spacing and 10 points after a paragraph in Word 2007 and 2010. To change line spacing for a portion of a document, click Change Styles in the Styles group of the Home tab and then click Style Set. Next, choose the Style Set you prefer.
The more you get to know Word 2010, the more you’ll explore its formatting options. There are tons of small customizations you can make, and it’s easy to find yourself so far from your original settings that you wish you could simply undo everything. You may well be able to do just that with the Undo button on your Quick Access Toolbar, but if not, select the text or objects in question and then click the Clear Formatting button, which is in the Font group of the Home tab. If the original still isn’t what you’re looking for, that Undo button will come in handy.
The line spacing between paragraphs is much bigger in Word 2007 and 2010 than in Word 2003. It’s 1.0 line spacing (without a space between paragraphs) in Word 2003, but 1.15 line spacing and 10 points after a paragraph in Word 2007 and 2010. To change line spacing for an entire document, select the text you’d like to change. Next, click the Line And Paragraph Spacing button in the Paragraph group of the Home tab. Choose the line spaces you’d like to see in that section of the document. You can also change spaces between paragraphs, here.
Worried about those guys in your office being able to read your personal emails? Next time you are sending a private or personal email through Microsoft Outlook, encrypt it so only you and your recipient can read them. Head to the Tools menu, then click on Options and select the Security tab. Enter a password you’ve shared with the recipient and no one who doesn’t know the password will be able to open the message.
New versions of Microsoft Office PowerPoint have Key Tips, which are special keyboard shortcuts. Press the ALT key to make the Key Tips appear on the Ribbon, the press the corresponding key on the keyboard to activate the feature or open the tab. For example, you can open the Insert tab in the Ribbon by pressing ALT and then pressing N. From there, you can press P to activate the Insert Picture command.
To add months to a date in Microsoft Excel 2010, enter a date in a cell (A1, for example). In another cell, type =EDATE(A1,[number of months you want to add]). Press ENTER to complete the formula. You can also do this without first entering a date in a cell. Simply choose a cell and type =EDATE(“[a date]”,[number of months you want to add]).
You can insert a check mark into a document via the Symbols menu, but a fast way to do it is to select Wingdings (from the Font menu on the Home tab of the Ribbon), press the ALT key, and type 0252. Note that you must use the number pad. Another hint: scrolling all the way to Wingdings in the Font menu is a pain. Instead, click it and then type wi. You’re there: Press ENTER and your cursor returns to the page with the Wingdings font.
New versions of Microsoft Office Word have Key Tips, which are special keyboard shortcuts. Press the ALT key to make the Key Tips appear on the Ribbon, the press the corresponding key on the keyboard to activate the feature or open the tab. For example, you can open the Insert tab in the Ribbon by pressing ALT and then pressing N. From there, you can press P to activate the Insert Picture command.
New versions of Microsoft Office Excel have Key Tips, which are special keyboard shortcuts. Press the ALT key to make the Key Tips appear on the Ribbon, the press the corresponding key on the keyboard to activate the feature or open the tab. For example, you can open the Insert tab in the Ribbon by pressing ALT and then pressing N. From there, you can press P to activate the Insert Picture command.
Here’s a handy shortcut for jumping to the Instant Search field in Microsoft Outlook 2010: Press CTRL+E. Keep in mind that, although Instant Search searches attachments, it doesn’t highlight keywords in them.
If you haven’t already installed Windows Search, you’ll receive a prompt whenever you open Microsoft Outlook 2010. Installing Windows Search will make this prompt go away (and it will let you enable Instant Search in Outlook), but that’s not the only way to disable the prompt. People who don’t want to use Windows Search can follow these directions: click the File table and then click Options. When the Outlook Options window appears, click the Search tab and then clear the Show Prompt To Enable Instant Search box.
If you don’t want anyone to view or edit the formula in a cell in Microsoft Office Excel 2010, you can easily lock it up. Select the cell (or cells) and then select the Home tab on the Ribbon. Click Format in the Cells group and then click Format Cells (which is at the bottom of the list). Now that the Format Cells window is open, click the Protection tab and then check the Hidden box. Click OK to save this change and then click the Review tab in the Ribbon. Click the Protect Sheet button in the Changes group. The Protect Worksheet And Contents Of Locked Cells check box is checked. If it isn’t, check it. Click OK and the formula is now locked.
By default, Instant Search in Microsoft Office Outlook 2010 searches only the current folder. If you’d like it to search all of your folders, click the File table and then click Options. When the Outlook Options window appears, click the Search tab and then click the All Folders radio button in the Results section. You can check a nearby box to add the Deleted Items folder to the search.
When you enter a formula in a cell in Microsoft Office Excel 2010, you typically see the formula only until you press the ENTER key, at which point you see the result, instead. If you’d like the formula itself to be exposed (instead of the result), simply select the cell and then press CTRL+`. (The ` is called a “grave accent” and is typically located on a key near the 1 key, in the upper-left corner of the keyboard.) Press CTRL+` again to toggle back to the default view.
A horizontal line spanning the width of a Word document can be helping in illustrating a clean break in a thought. AutoCorrect creates a number of different lines according to three characters you can type. If you type three consecutive hyphens, underscores, or equal signs and press enter, Word creates a line, bold line, or double line, respectively.
If you’ve ever created a numbered or bulleted list in Microsoft Word, you know that Word automatically makes formatting changes once it senses a pattern in your list. However, the auto-formatted text can become tedious to change when you want to begin a sentence with a number or bullet point without beginning a new list. If you want to turn off auto formatting in Word 2003, click the Tools menu, select AutoCorrect Options, choose the AutoFormat As You Type tab; remove the checkmarks from the Automatic Bulleted Lists and Automatic Numbered Lists, and click Apply. In Word 2007, click the Office button, Word Options, and Proofing; click the AutoCorrect Options button; select the AutoFormat As You Type button; remove the checkmarks from the Automatic Bulleted Lists and Automatic Numbered Lists, click OK, and click OK again.
Although many users consider the Ribbon easier to navigate than the menus of previous versions, anyone can find themselves searching in vain for a particular feature from time to time. Enter Search Commands, which is a plug-in for Office 2007 and Office 2010. The free software lets you search for those features by keyword. Visit officelabs.com to download it.
By default, Word 2010 saves to the DOCX format. If you regularly save documents to a different format (such as DOC, the format used by older versions of Word), you can make that format the default. Click the File tab and then click Options. Click the Save tab and then click the drop-down menu next to Save Files In This Format. Finally, click the OK button.
Visual slide transitions are even better when accompanied by audio. PowerPoint 2010 has sounds you can use and also supports sounds that you supply. To add as sound to a transition, click the Transitions tab (in the Ribbon) and then find Sound in the Ribbon’s Timing group. By default the Sound field is set to No Sound. Click the drop-down arrow and then select a sound from the list. If you plan to add your own sound, scroll to the bottom of the list and then select Other Sound.
Check mark symbols are easy to insert in Microsoft Excel 2010. Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon and then click Symbol. When the menu appears, click More Symbols. When the Symbol window appears, click the drop-down menu next to Font and then select Wingdings. Use the scroll bar to the right of the symbols to scroll down until you see the check mark symbols. (They’re at the bottom of the list, in our experience.) Click the symbol you want, click the Insert button, and click close. Your check mark is there.
Your chart won’t make much sense to people if they don’t understand what the ranges on your horizontal and vertical axes represent. To clear things up, add axis titles. Click your chart, which will make the Chart Tools section (which includes Design, Layout, and Format tabs) appear on the Ribbon. Click the Layout tab. Next, click Axis Titles and then click an Axis. Choose the title type you want. At this point, the axis title appears on the chart. Click it to enter new text. Then repeat these steps to create a title for the other axis.
You may have noticed that a Search Tools tab appears on the Ribbon in Microsoft Outlook 2010 when you enter a keyword in the Instant Search field. Use this tab to add additional search criteria.
You can insert a check mark into a spreadsheet via the Symbols menu, but a fast way to do it is to select Wingdings (from the Font menu on the Home tab of the Ribbon), press the ALT key, and type 0252. Note that you must use the number pad. Another hint: scrolling all the way to Wingdings in the Font menu is a painInstead, click it and then type wi. You’re there: Press ENTER and your cursor returns to the page with the Wingdings font.
Check mark symbols are easy to insert in Microsoft Word 2010. Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon and then click Symbol. When the menu appears, click More Symbols. When the Symbol window appears, click the drop-down menu next to Font and then select Wingdings. Use the scroll bar to the right of the symbols to scroll down until you see the check mark symbols. (They’re at the bottom of the list, in our experience.) Click the symbol you want, click the Insert button, and click close. Your check mark is there.
Presenters commonly advance slides by clicking with a mouse. If you’d like the slides in PowerPoint 2010 to advance automatically after a period of time, click the slide you’d like to change and then click the Transitions tab (in the Ribbon). Next, check the After box under Advance Slide in the Ribbon’s Timing group. At this point, you can use the Up and Down arrows to select the length the slide should run. (You can also enter the time via your keyboard keys and then press the ENTER key.)
The Chart Layout feature is one way to easily add a title to your chart in Microsoft Office Excel 2010. Click your chart to make the Chart Tools tab section (which includes Design, Layout, and Format tabs) appear on the Ribbon. Click the Design tab (if it isn’t already selected) and then find the Chart Layouts group. Click Quick Layout and then choose a layout that has titles in the places you want them. Finally, click the title to enter new text.
Because DVD and CD drives use laser light to read data, music, and movies from optical discs, any scratches on the data side of a disc can cause skips or errors. Always store CDs and DVDs in their cases or sleeves, and never set bare discs down on any surface that could scratch them. If you can't commit to these rules of thumbs, try buying discs with special scratch-resistant coatings.
Ever wanted to move the data in your Documents folder to another location on your PC? It’s easy to do in Windows Vista. Click the Start menu and select your User profile at the top of the Start menu. Right-click Documents, choose Properties, and click the Location tab. Then, click the Find Target button to pick the new folder destination for your files. Click OK and Vista will ask if you want to move your documents. Click Yes.
When you use Windows Vista Disk Cleanup, your Temp folder doesn't empty out completely. The only files the utility cleans out are those that have not been changed in a week. To be sure your Temp folder is completely cleared of unwanted material, click the Start button, select Run, type %TEMP%, and then press ENTER. From there you can delete files at will; be sure you know what you're deleting before you get rid of any files.
Defragmenting your computer periodically can greatly enhance the computer’s performance. While helpful, all defragmenting does is tidy up what is on your computer; to get rid of unnecessary files such as temporary Internet files and whatever is in your Recycling Bin, run Disk Cleanup as well. Think of it this way: Defragmenting sweeps the floor and Disk Cleanup takes out the trash. Click Start, Control Panel, Performance And Maintenance (in Category view), and Free Up Space On Your Hard Disk. The Disk Cleanup will run automatically. Once the analysis is complete, simply follow the prompts.
In today’s digital age, it’s becoming easier to work without using physical documents of any kind. The widespread use of email and PDFs have made exchanging letters and forms completely electronic, so it’s understandable that some businesses might not invent in a top-of-the-line laser printer. But when you do need to print a hard copy, consider using an online service such as Fed Kinko’s or emailing a local printer a copy of your work. Just ensure the printer you choose can open the document you send before you electronically transfer it.
Even if your business isn't in a dusty area, your computers can still fill up with an amazing amount of dust, hair, and dirt thanks to their intake fans. It will blanket your PCs' parts and act as insulation, preventing hot chips and drives from dissipating heat as they're supposed to. Carefully open your computers and blow out the dust with compressed air every six months or so. While you're at it, buy some filters made expressly for computer fans and sold at PC enthusiast and modder sites. Common sizes are 80mm, 92mm, and possibly 120mm (measured top to bottom or side to side, not corner to corner).
One of the senior partners is leaving for summer vacation and he's designated you to respond to his critical, time-sensitive emails while he's away. To save time, you can add his mailbox to your account for quick and easy access. You must have a Microsoft Exchange email account and the person who wants you to read and respond to email must give you reviewer permission. Once these things are in place, open Outlook, click Tools and Email Accounts. Click View Or Change Existing Email Accounts and Next. In the email list, click the Exchange account type and Change. Click More Settings and the Advanced tab. Finally, click Add and type the appropriate mailbox name you want to add to your user profile.
Outlook's Calendar is an indispensable tool for keeping track of your meetings and appointments, but you can also set appointments to act as reminders, such as sending a fax or embarking on the all-important late run. Open a new Appointment in Outlook and set the appointment to start and end at the same time. In the Reminder drop-down menu, set when you want to receive the reminder. This way, you can schedule reminders without blocking off time in Outlook.
To find out what components are in your WinXP computer, right-click the My Computer icon on the desktop. Click Properties, then click the General tab. This tells you what OS you are using, the processor speed, and amount of RAM in the computer. To view the actual devices, click the Hardware tab and then click the Device Manager. In the Device Manager you will see a list of every type of hardware in your computer. For example, if you click DVD/CD-ROM drives you will see each separate drive listed under that category. To see more information about any specific drive double-click it. This lets you see component info, such as the device status and if the device is enabled. You will also see what drivers the device is using and when they were last updated.
When you need a new power supply, one way to cut through all the nonstandard specifications that seem to be different for every manufacturer is to look at the continuous wattage rating’s temperature at which it was tested. All things being equal between two power supplies with the same peak wattage rating, the one rated at a higher temperature should be the more powerful (and probably more reliable) unit.
You can expedite your Firefox Web browsing by using some helpful keyboard shortcuts. Pressing CTRL-D adds a bookmark; you can access your bookmarks by pressing CTRL-B. If you want to open a link in a new window (as opposed to in a new tab), press SHIFT and then left-click your mouse. You can also open a link in your foreground tab by holding down CTRL and SHIFT, and then left-clicking your mouse.
If you frequently send correspondence to vendors or clients, a PIM (Personal Information Manager) program is ideal for helping you import existing contact information into your document and spreadsheet applications. There are a variety of PIM applications available for mobile phones and PCs, including PIM applications that integrate with the contacts in your Outlook calendar. Typically, most PIM programs also provide a way for you to efficiently search through your contact lists.
External hard drives offer outstanding speed as backup devices, and avoid the disc-swapping that plagues users who back up to CD or DVD. However, if you leave your backup drive turned on and plugged into your PC all the time, you place your backups at risk of being contaminated by viruses, worms, or other malware. Turn off your external hard drive when not in use. Click the green arrow icon in the System Tray first to tell Windows to safely shut down its connection to the drive so no unwritten data will be lost in transit.
If you use the Windows Vista calendar, there is a keyboard shortcut that is convenient and easy to use. To show just the date, press the Windows and the B keys, and then the left arrow key. To show the full calendar, press the Windows and the B keys, the left arrow key, and then ENTER.
It may seem like common sense to bookmark a Web page that you visit regularly. But what about organizing your bookmarks? Organizing your bookmarks can help you save time and potential frustration over lost links. Not sure where to start? In Internet Explorer, click the down arrow next to the Add To Favorites icon and select Organize Favorites. Click the New Folder button at the bottom left of the pop-up box. You can create as many folders as you want. Here are some folder name suggestions to help you get organized: Business (online banking, stocks, etc.), Entertainment (your favorite fun sites), Travel (your travel wish list or plans), Miscellaneous (weather, news, etc.) You can also create subfolders in any of your original folders; simply click the folder in which you want to add a subfolder and click New Folder.
The asterisk (*) isn't the only wildcard you can use in Microsoft Word to strategically search your text for specific words. The asterisk will search for a string of characters between two letter, but typing a question mark will search for only one letter. For example, if you type b?t, Word will find "bat", "bet," "bit," "bot," and "but." It won't find "boot" or "boat." To find words that begin with a string of letters, type (xxxxx), where xxxxx is the string of letters you choose. Conversely, you can search for words that end with a string of letters by typing (xxxxx). If you bracket letters between other letters, Word 2003 will search for words that have the bracketed letters. For example, typing w[io]n finds "win" and "won." For more precise searching you can combine wildcards. For example, (pre)*(ed) finds words such as "presented" and "prevented."
If you’re not careful, emails can quickly pile up in your inbox, and this can prevent crucial emails from reaching your inbox if your company has placed tight restrictions on the amount of data your inbox can hold. Click the Size column in your inbox, and Outlook will sort your email according to those with the largest file size. Deleting one email with a 2MB attachment is equivalent to deleting hundreds of a smaller emails and can spare you from hand-picking emails to delete.
If you regularly log out of your Windows XP/Vista computer instead of shutting it down, try this handy key combination to quickly switch user accounts or "lock" your computer, depending upon your security settings. Press the Windows key (next to the ALT key on many keyboards) and L at the same time. You'll still be logged on, but you'll be able to switch user accounts. If your account requires a password, your PC will be "locked" until you supply it. When you return to the same account, you'll see the same documents and applications that were open before you pressed Windows-L.
Microsoft Word has a convenient tool for research. With a few clicks of the mouse, you can be connected to a dictionary, thesaurus, and research websites automatically, all without leaving Word. There are two ways to research. One way is to click Tools and select Research (in Office 2003) or select the Review tab and, under Proofing, click Research (in Office 2007). A window will open in Word, and you can enter whatever you are searching for. A faster way is to simply press ALT and click on a word. The Research window will open up with definitions and thesaurus options of the word.
Even if you don’t want to walk around the office while talking on your phone, a wireless headset provides a number of advantages for those who work at their desk, such as the freedom to type with both hands and move around your desk area cord-free. There are number of wireless headsets available, including models that connect to a desktop phone, cordless phone, mobile phone, and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)-enabled computers.
Over time, the Desktop on your computer can become cluttered with icons for applications and shortcuts. If you don’t use a particular icon, select it and drag the icon to the Recycle Bin. Note the deleting a shortcut does not delete the application it is associated with, so you’ll still have access to the program. Make sure, though, that the item you wish to delete from your Desktop is actually a shortcut; if it's a file, deleting it will delete the file itself.
As time passes, the data on your hard drive slowly becomes fragmented, a problem that causes slower overall PC speeds. You should use the Windows XP/Vista's Disk Defragmenter tool every month or two to keep your computer working efficiently. From the Start menu or Windows icon, point to All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and click Disk Defragmenter. Click Analyze to see how badly your data is fragmented, then click Defragment to clean up your hard drive. This process may take hours, so it’s best to run the utility when you’re not using your PC.
If those recent documents that are listed in your Start menu are driving you nuts, you can clear them out. Right-click Start and select Properties. Click the Start Menu tab, and select Customize. Click the Advanced tab under the Customize Start Menu window. Now you can either click the Clear List option, which will just clear out all the recent documents, or you can uncheck the List My Most Recently Opened Documents checkbox to stop showing recent documents altogether.
When you are on the road, the battery life of your PC is essential. Minimize anything that will unnecessarily drain the battery. One of the biggest culprits that can especially drink battery power is audio applications. Avoid playing CDs in your optical drive—a spinning CD takes a tremendous amount of energy to play and will significantly reduce your battery life. If you want some music, listen to an MP3 player instead of playing it from your computer. Go a step further and mute all audio so that not even incidental sounds and musical prompts will eat into your battery’s power.
Your small business is doing well, and you've decided to move to a more expansive locale. Unfortunately, these bigger digs welcome almost everything but your wireless network. If you need your wireless network to cover more territory, buying a repeater is an affordable solution. A repeater essentially acts as the middleman between a wireless access point and any PCs beyond the access point's normal range. Many repeaters are compatible with wireless encryption standards, letting you securely grow your network without worrying about unwanted intruders.
One way to avoid spam is to avoid posting your email address online in forums or other public areas. Although you may think doing so is harmless, predators often scan forums for email addresses to send spam to. If you must type your email address in a blog posting or online forum, be creative. For example, instead of typing your address as myaddress@mydomain.com, type, "myaddress at mydomain dot com."
Sitting in the same position for hours at a time can cause neck and back pain, and slouching in your chair can exaggerate the problem. To avoid stress on your back, sit with your upper arms parallel to your spine and then move your chair close to your desk. Additionally, your entire back should be pressed against your chair back to evenly distribute pressure across your back. Finally, get up, stretch, or simply take a quick walk a few times a day to loosen up your muscles.
You don't work 24 hours a day (hopefully), so there's no need to leave your PC on all day. In addition to shutting your computer down at the workday's end, use standby or hibernate settings if you frequently step away from the computer throughout the day. As a rule, set these modes to kick in after 15 or 20 minutes of inactivity. Set the hard drive to hibernate after 30 minutes of nonuse. If you're using a screen saver, turn it off. Designed to lengthen the life of old CRT displays, screen savers aren't necessary with newer flat-panel LCDs. Some screen savers also draw on the graphics card, monitor, processor, and hard drive to function.
There are hundreds of symbols, icons, and foreign letters that are not present on a standard QWERTY keyboard but still find daily use in documents across America. The symbols available in Word include copyright and trademark icons, umlauts, accents, monetary symbols from all over the world, and many more. To insert a symbol, click Insert, then Symbol. Choose a symbol from the list or click More Symbols. When the dialog box appears, scroll through to find the symbol you need, click it, and click Insert. Click Close to get rid of the dialog box.
Computers generate quite a bit of internal heat, especially if they are running video or audio applications or multiple programs simultaneously. Excess heat over prolonged periods of time can damage components and connections, not to mention affect performance. All computers are equipped with fans that dissipate the heat, but sometimes they can't keep up, especially if the vents are blocked or occluded by dirt and dust. In addition to keeping the vents clear, you can keep your computer cool and healthy by keeping the room temperature lower and making sure air can circulate around your computer.
Microsoft Word is perfectly navigable with a mouse and a few clicks on the Ribbon, but it also has loads of keyboard shortcuts that you can take advantage of while you're typing away. Once learned, these can make your work significantly more efficient. Here are a few favorites:
CTRL-C copies a highlighted section of text.
CTRL-V pastes a copied section of text.
CTRL-X cuts any highlighted text; generally, the next step would be to paste the cut section somewhere else.
CTRL-D brings up the Font window; from here you can modify font, text size, character spacing, and styles.
END moves the cursor to the end of a line.
CTRL-K brings up the Hyperlink window.
SHIFT-F7 brings up the Thesaurus window.
CTRL-S saves the open document.
When you're working with a formula in Microsoft Excel, it's easy to accidentally assign the wrong range to a formula. For example, if you wanted to include A1 through A15 but you only set the formula to calculate cells A2 through A15, it's an easy fix. Double-click the cell containing the formula; a colored box will encompass any and all cells referenced by the formula. To expand or contract the range, click and drag a corner of an outer cell. The formula will automatically add or remove that cell from its reference.
It's tempting to think of netbooks as compact, inexpensive notebooks, but they're not as capable and versatile. Think of them primarily as portable Internet browsing devices that can also run Web-based applications and basic on-system applications. Netbooks also employ power-saving, single-core processors in an effort to keep prices down and extend battery life. Many netbooks also feature memory card readers.
Shopping for a notebook computer bag? Sure, it’s important to find one that will protect your laptop at a reasonable price, but give some thought to usability. Find a bag that opens wide, so you don’t have to scratch up your wrists trying to fish things out of a tight, zippered opening. Also, make sure that the carry handle and shoulder strap are padded, breathable, and not prone to slip. In fact, a strap that stretches a little will be the most comfortable as you walk around city streets.
If you are looking for more ways to extend the life of your laptop battery, there's one you might not have thought of yet. If you defragment your notebook's hard drive regularly, your hard drive will demand less power since it's not working as hard, which in turn will save battery life.
If you're constantly transfering business files between computer, you know the value of flash memory cards for storing all sorts of data, but investing in the wrong card can mean disaster. Many generic card manufacturers use error-prone memory that's much more likely to cause corrupted files. If you store important information on flash memory cards, buy only brand-name cards backed by a solid warranty.
If you're working with multiple worksheets in Excel, it can be tedious to click through each one. The fastest way to tab through all the sheets in an open Excel document is to press CTRL-PAGE UP or CTRL-PAGE DOWN; the former moves to the previous sheet while the latter activates the following sheet.
Adding tables to a PowerPoint presentation can really make a difference. Doing this in PowerPoint 2007/2010 is simple and effective. Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon and then select Table. A menu that lets you choose the number of rows and columns on the table will appear. Then, you can select a design and theme by going to the Design tab and choosing a theme. From there, you are ready to make a great table to add flair to your presentation.
Microsoft Word hides all the formatting marks by default in an open document. This keeps the interface clean and easy to work with. However, you may at some point wish to see the formatting, which can help you polish up a report, paper, or project. To do so, just press CTRL-SHIFT-8. To hide the formatting marks, press the shortcut keys again.
When working in Microsoft Excel, you can ditch your mouse. You can navigate from cell to cell with the arrow keys, and by holding down SHIFT-arrow keys, you can select large areas of cells. If you want to edit the contents of a cell, select it with the arrow keys and press F2. You'll be able to work with the cell as if you'd double-clicked it with a mouse.
Studies have found that turning off your PC at the end of the day can reduce energy usage by up to 60%. Note that you should check with your IT department before you do so at work, because file backups and other maintenance may need to be performed when you're gone.
After you've had your Windows XP computer for a while, you'll see that the All Programs section of your Start menu gets jumbled, and it becomes harder and harder to find the program you want. It's very easy to sort your programs alphabetically and make them easier for your eyes to locate. From the Start menu, click All Programs and then right-click any program. Click Sort By Name and Windows will rearrange the program names for you.
Your Microsoft Outlook calendar by default will show the entire month at one time. For a more detailed calendar view, you can alter the number of days shown on the screen anywhere from one day to a week. Press ALT and the number of days you desire to see; for example, click ALT-1 to see just one day at a time. To further customize the view, click and drag over as many days as you wish on the calendar on the left-hand side of the screen. With this function, you can view from one day to six weeks of your calendar at one time.
If you've got two computers at your desk, you don't need a separate keyboard, mouse, or monitor for each PC. You can connect the peripherals to a KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switch and share the display and input hardware. Many KVM switches also include inputs for printers and other USB peripherals.
The pointing device on your notebook PC doesn't always make it easy to click the Address bar in Internet Explorer. So next time, just press the F6 key instead. This will place the cursor in the Address bar and highlight the text inside, too.
Microsoft Outlook's calendar usually displays dates in a consecutive manner, but if you have particularly busy dates that occur on different days of the month, you can view them in one pane. When you view your Calendar in Outlook, find the pane that contains the mini-calendar. Hold CTRL and click the dates on the mini-calendar you want to display. Outlook will display your schedule for the days you select in the right-hand pane.
By keeping the status of your Bluetooth device to "non-discoverable" when you are not using Bluetooth, you will help keep other Bluetooth users from accessing your mobile device without your knowledge. If you need your Bluetooth active, you can switch it to "discoverable" at any time. This will disable other Bluetooth users from sending text messages, stealing information and mobile phone commands from your phone.
Flash drives are great for traveling because they are small, lightweight, and easily tucked into your pocket or briefcase. Unfortunately, they're also easy to lose because they're small, lightweight, and easily tucked away. Before leaving for a trip, take the files you've put on your flash drive and email them to a Web-based email account such as Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail, or Gmail. This way, you're files will be safe, even if you lose your laptop and flash drive.
Never cover a monitor's ventilation holes. Doilies, sticky notes, cats, and miniature horse blankets from your trip to New Mexico may be part of your work area, but don't let them keep your CRT or LCD display from getting rid of excess heat. Your monitor may also last longer if you blow canned air into its ventilation grilles once in a while, just as you should do to the inside of your PC.
To improve security and functionality, most programs offer an "update" feature that allows the application to search for and download the latest version from the manufacturer. Many programs can be configured to check for updates each time you open the program. For best results, make a list of the applications you regularly use and, once a month, open the applications, select the update feature, and allow the application to update itself.
In Internet Explorer, you can make a number of adjustments to change how Web pages will print, so the Web page can better fit your printouts. Open IE, click the File menu (you might need to press ALT to display the File menu option) and select Page Setup. You can change the values in the Margins fields, and you can also set up the page to print in either Landscape (horizontal) or Portrait (vertical) mode. It's also possible to configure IE to print specific Header and Footer information.
Among an external hard drive's advantages over adding a second internal drive to a PC is the fact that an external unit typically receives power from an AC adapter. Hard drives take a lot of power to start their disks spinning when you turn a PC on. If the computer's power supply is only marginally able to run the rest of the devices as it is, it might not be able to start the PC at all should you install another internal drive. You can buy drive enclosures to turn internal hard drives into external ones for about $25 and up. Be careful to buy one with the correct interface for the drive you have (such as EIDE [Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics] or SATA [Serial ATA]) and a cable interface supported by your computer (such as USB 2.0 or eSATA).
If you get an email urging you to update your eBay, PayPal, or bank account information, chances are it's false. An easy way to tell in Outlook is to hover your mouse pointer over the hyperlink in the message. If the URL reads something like "www.paypal.com" in the message, but some other address such as "www.vali-dationcgi.org" shows up in the floating box next to the pointer as you hover, you can be pretty certain you should delete the email. Phishing emails attempt to get you to provide personal information by mimicking emails from legitimate companies. Most companies will never ask you to verify account information with an email, so beware any such correspondence.
Many types of viruses and malware use known vulnerabilities in Microsoft's Windows operating system to find a loophole into your computer. Typically, the Windows Update patches fix the known issues and help keep your PC secure. If you don't want Windows to automatically update, at least configure Windows Update to notify you of the latest patches, so you can check out if there are any security updates that may be needed to fix holes in Windows.
Some PCs have the annoying habit of changing the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) boot drive setting every time you connect a new hard drive before startup. Some are bad enough about it that they'll assume that any newly connected drive must be the boot device (which it almost never is). If you've attached an external drive by USB, FireWire, or eSATA, make sure not to power it on until your computer's OS (operating system) has loaded. If you've connected an internal drive, however, you'll need to enter Setup after starting the PC. Reset the hard drive priority list so that the proper boot drive is at the top, then save your changes and exit. Your computer should boot up normally now.
The perfect product for a small business owner looking to implement a wireless network and share the company laser printer is a wireless router with an integrated print server. Such a router is marginally more expensive than a standard wireless router, but it lets you connect a printer (usually through a USB interface) for your networked PCs to share. And if you already have an existing wireless network, a number of companies make wireless print servers, which you can easily add to your network to share a printer without stringing wires across the room.
Sometime when you're working hard and fast, you just want a shortcut to put in mundane information, such as the date and time. In Microsoft Excel, you can do just that by pressing CTRL-; (semicolon) to insert the current date or CTRL-SHIFT-; to insert the current time. Note: Be sure your computer's date and time are correctly set before you do this.
This is a function in Microsoft Word that you may not know about; the ability to toggle through lower- and uppercase letters. How often have you needed to capitalize letters in a word or capitalized a letter by accident? Just highlight the letters or words in question and press SHIFT-F3. The case of the letters will alternate between all lowercase, capitalizing the first letter of each word, and all uppercase.
It's easy to create a chart in Microsoft Excel; this is handy if you're working on a document that needs to be presented in a cleaner format than a typical Excel spreadsheet. First, highlight all the data that you want to make into a chart. Then, press F11; your chart will appear immediately. Save it and display it on your screen or print it out for others to see in a meeting.
In many cases, online banks and finance programs save data in the .CSV (comma separated value) format. To open a .CSV file in Excel, you'll need to save the file to your hard drive, open Excel, click the Office button, select Open, and click the Text Files (*.txt, *.prn, *.csv) option from the drop-down menu. Note that you may still need to adjust the width of the columns to fit the data.
Tired of disconnecting your USB devices, external monitor, mouse, keyboard, and network connection every time you want to work away from your desk? Many laptops offer docking stations that let you connect all your peripheral devices to the docking station, so you can simply pop your laptop out of the docking station to take it with you. Visit the manufacturer's Web site to find a laptop docking station that's compatible with your notebook.
It's only natural to wonder what happens to your personal data if you sell your PDA or smartphone. Is the buyer going to try selling Amway to your friends and family? The best way to protect your personal data before you sell your device is to perform a hard reset or a wipe function. Consult your user manual for information about performing a hard reset or wipe, but normally you accomplish this by selecting a wipe option in the device's menus or inserting a paper clip into the reset hole while pressing the power button. Release the power button and then remove the paper clip. You should be asked to confirm the hard reset in some manner (usually by pressing a specific button).
Paragraphs in Microsoft Office applications may be easier to move around than you think. Highlight a paragraph, press ALT-SHIFT, and press the Up or Down arrows to move the paragraph up or down the page. This is handy for when you're working on a Word document and need to move whole sections quickly or for when you need to shift around bullet point in PowerPoint.
Attaching a Word document to an email in Outlook is a relatively painless task, but a helpful feature in Word lets you eliminate this unnecessary step and send a document directly from within Word. After you establish an email account in Microsoft Outlook, you can use Word to easily email your document. In Word, click the Office button, point to Send, and click Mail or one of the other options.
Free municipal and college hotspots are popping up everywhere, and data thieves are taking advantage of them to lift your information. Hackers establish open networks and access users' information at will. Beware a public network unless you can confirm its SSID (Service Set Identifier; it's public name) or you are at a reputable business with Wi-Fi access and only that network is within range.
It's easy to start up your notebook to see if there's a wireless signal within range, but you still have to wait for your computer to finish its startup processes. This procedure becomes tiresome after a few sessions, so instead, you might want to consider investing in a Wi-Fi signal finder. These devices—some of which are small enough to fit on a keychain, turn on instantly to tell you if there's a signal nearby, and if so, exactly how strong that signal will be for your PC. You can buy one of these detectors for less than $40.
If it's been a while since you last traveled with a notebook, better test how long its rechargeable battery will last. Over time, lithium-ion and other rechargeables lose their ability to store a charge, just like car batteries. You don't want to be stuck in a meeting or conference with no access to AC power when your battery does a disappearing act. If your notebook doesn't hold up to typical usage for a reasonable amount of time under battery power, it may be time to consider a new battery.
If you're like many laptop users, you take your computer everywhere. Portable computing means that your storage devices will undoubtedly absorb more abuse from bumps and scrapes than those left behind on a desktop PC. Some storage technologies aren't well-suited for the road, hard drives can break if they suffer a hard blow, and CDs and DVDs are easy to scratch to the point that you can't read them. That's where USB flash memory drives often shine. These drives are small enough to fit on a keychain, and they come in tough plastic cases that make them very difficult to damage.
You can quickly calculate and display information about a selected group of values on Excel's status bar, which is located at the bottom of each worksheet. To do this, select the cells you want to add and then view the total (Sum) on the status bar. But don't stop there. You can also display a wealth of other information about a selection by right-clicking the status bar and then choosing functions such as Average, Minimum, or Maximum on the pop-up menu.
If you use Excel frequently, you're probably already familiar with many basic Excel keyboard shortcuts. However, there are some little-known shortcuts that can help you work even more efficiently in selecting ranges and moving around a worksheet. For example, you can quickly select an entire data region (a range of data cells bordered by empty cells) by clicking one of the cells and then holding down CTRL-SHIFT-* (asterisk). Another way to select a data range is to place your cell pointer in the range and then press CTRL-A; press CTRL-A a second time to select the entire worksheet. You can also press CTRL-Spacebar to select the column where your cell pointer is located. Another helpful keyboard shortcut is to press END followed by an Up, Down, Left, or Right arrow key to efficiently move the cell pointer to the outermost edge of a data range.
If you suddenly find that none of your computers has Wi-Fi Internet access, first shut down your modem and router, and then restore power to them in that order. This often resolves such issues. It's always possible that you really do have no Internet access, possibly because of a problem with your ISP (Internet service provider). Call to see if the ISP is receiving any reports of outages. You can test the router itself by taking it out of the loop and connecting a system directly to your broadband modem. If the system can connect without the router, the router may be at fault; swap it out, if possible, and see if the problem is resolved. (Don't leave the computer connected directly to the modem; without the router in the loop, you're missing an important layer of protection against hackers.)
It's frustrating to click a Web site link, only to receive an error message indicating that your browser can't load the page. When this happens, you can click Reload or Refresh a few times to see if this rectifies the problem; if not, you may have to try more rudimentary tactics. This sometimes happens because the link is old and the desired information has been moved. Delete words at the end of the URL, one by one, and attempt to reload the page after each change. Often, this will let you load a similar page, and then you can find a current link to your desired information from there.
You can display multiple clocks on your Windows Vista desktop that show the local times for up to three time zones. To configure the clocks, click Start and Control Panel. Double-click the Date And Time Control Panel (in Classic View) and click the Additional Clocks tab. Check the box next to each clock you want to display and use the drop-down menu to select the Time Zone you wish to use and click OK. You can display all three clocks by clicking the clock on the System Tray.
If your Windows Vista PC seems to load more slowly than it used to, you can stop some of the applications that load when you start Vista to make the PC start up more quickly. Click the Start button, choose All Programs, and select Windows Defender. Select the Tools buttons, click Software Explorer, and click Startup Programs under the Category box. Select the application (or applications) that you want to disable at startup and click Disable.
AutoCorrect usually provides a helping hand by fixing common spelling errors automatically, but you can also use it to create symbols that spice up your document and can make it more accurate. For example, typing (c), (r), and (tm) create ©, ®, and ™ symbols, respectively.
There can be times when you're working with a bulleted or numbered list when you want to add a new line without tacking on a number or bullet. Perhaps you want to add a parenthetical note below an entry without making it part of your list. If you hold SHIFT and press ENTER, Word will add a new line to your list without a bullet a number. When you want to resume numbering or bulleting, don't hold the SHIFT key any longer.
If you find the interface of Office 2007 programs too cluttered for your taste, or if you simply want more room to work on-screen, you can minimize the Ribbon when not in use. To do this, right-click any Ribbon tab and choose Minimize The Ribbon in the context menu. To restore tab options, right-click any Ribbon tab again and deselect Minimize The Ribbon. Alternately, you can double-click any active tab to minimize the Ribbon. When you want temporary access to Ribbon options, click the tab that has the commands and features you need. To restore the Ribbon again, you can double-click any tab. And if you prefer to use your keyboard to toggle between the Ribbon’s minimized and restored states, press CTRL-F1.
If you're using Internet Explorer and you come across a Web page with information you want to preserve, there are two good ways to keep the information without having to use a Web browser to bring it back up. The first and simplest way is to print it; it never hurts to have a hard copy of information you need. Another method is to save the Web page as an .MHT (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) file, which is essentially just a snapshot of the page. In this format you can send the page to others or double-click on it to open it directly. To make a .MHT file from a Web page, click File (press the ALT key to reveal the File menu if you don't see it), click Save As, and in the dialog box be sure to select the .MHT file type. Tell the computer where to put the file and click Save.
If you find yourself in the situation of needing to use a public computer to connect to the Web, know that the Web site history and cookies you generate during your Web session are left behind and accessible by those using the system after you unless you manually delete them. Internet Explorer 8 includes a feature the keeps this information private. It's called, appropriately, InPrivate. Activate it by clicking Safety and InPrivate Browsing.
When you're working on a document, it can be tedious to constantly have to adjust font sizes manually. Or perhaps you're working on a project with various types and sizes of fonts and need a way to quickly compare sizes. Whatever your needs, you can easily increase or decrease font sizes in Microsoft Office applications. Highlight the text and press CTRL-SHIFT-< to make the font smaller and CTRL-SHIFT-> to make the font larger.
When you manually enter a URL in Internet Explorer, it can be a hassle to use your mouse to select the Address bar, highlight the URL, and delete the current Web address. To expedite the process, press F6 on your keyboard and your cursor will automatically move to and highlight the current URL in the IE Address bar. Because highlighted text is automatically deleted if other text is entered, you can simply type your new URL in the IE Address bar.
Understanding who's privy to the list of recipients to one of your emails can help you avoid a potentially embarrassing interoffice gaffe. Knowing Cc stands for carbon copy and Bcc stands for blind carbon copy is fairly common computing knowledge, but the blind carbon copy can be tricky to grasp initially. When you send an email, everyone will see the recipients in the To and Cc fields, but anyone in the Bcc field will remain hidden from all other recipients, even other recipients in the Bcc field. For example, if you want your recipients to remain unaware of the other recipients, include your own email address in the To field and put everyone else's email in the Bcc field.
If you try to burn a CD, but your drive won't open, the most likely explanation is that your drive is stuck in an attempt to read a damaged or unreadable disc. Power down your system, then gently probe the small hole just below the tray (often on the right side) with a straight, sturdy piece of wire, such as a straightened paper clip. This should trigger the drive door's opening mechanism, and you'll be able to slowly pull it the rest of the way open. Remove the disc, close the drive, and start up your system. If this problem persists, you may need to look at replacing the drive.
One critical component of any notebook is its screen. Most obviously, the diagonal size, presented in inches, has a direct effect on the physical size of a laptop. For instance, a notebook with a 17-inch screen is significantly bulkier (and typically heavier) than a model with a 15.4-inch display. Likewise, a 17-inch or larger unit absolutely dwarfs a 13-inch computer. A bigger screen will give you more "real estate" when you're working with applications. It will also make movies, photos, games, and online video seem more engaging.
All else being equal, however, the larger the display, the shorter the laptop's battery life. For this reason, and for better color and brightness, many manufacturers now sell laptops with power-efficient LED backlighting instead of old-fashioned CCFLs (cold cathode fluorescent lamps).
It's not hard to predict: If you pick a portable hard drive that's too bulky to carry with you, you'll wind up leaving it at the office. Or at home, or in your hotel room, or in your rental car. A good rule of thumb is that if you wouldn't hesitate to slip a drive into your pocket, it's undoubtedly slim enough and sleek enough to ride shotgun in your laptop bag. Look for drive enclosure features such as rounded corners, beveled edges, and smooth surfaces. Be aware, though, that a glossy, dark finish may show fingerprints.
Shutting down Windows 7 is a simple matter of clicking Start and Shut Down. If you find yourself logging off or putting your computer to sleep more often than you shut it down, you may want to customize the Shut Down button. Right-click the Start button and choose Properties. Then, on the Start Menu tab, click the Power Button Action drop-down menu and make a selection. Click OK. Now when you click Start, you'll see the chosen action instead of Shut Down. It's an easy way to make your computing a little simpler.
The WIN key (Windows Logo key) is a useful shortcut key. Pressing it will open the Start menu, which is a helpful shortcut in itself. But it doesn't end there. Press WIN-Spacebar to make windows transparent for a quick peek at the Desktop. WIN-F opens a search box. WIN-HOME minimizes all but the active window, and WIN-R opens the Run box.
Encryption is the most important feature to enable on a wireless network. When you set up a wireless network in your operating system, be sure to turn on the strongest encryption format that your router and wireless adapters all support. Currently, WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) provides the best protection for consumer wireless networking products. WPA is still useful, although it's been proven vulnerable. And WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is no longer considered safe, but it's better than nothing.
Choose an encryption passphrase (password) of at least eight mixed letters and numbers. If your router supports case sensitivity and special characters, add some capital letters and punctuation marks. You'll need to enter this pass phrase on each PC the first time you add it to the newly encrypted network.
If your external storage drive connects to a USB or FireWire hub, ensure the hub has power and that its connector is plugged into the computer. Some external USB storage devices may not work when connected to a USB hub. If the drive isn't recognized, directly connect it to the computer's USB port.
With storage, you have three criteria to consider: size, speed, and price. In general, get the largest-sized drive you can afford. Your lifestyle can help you decide: If you use your notebook to store movies, music, or images, size becomes paramount. If you use your notebook for business and hate wasting time while the machine retrieves documents, speed may be more important than size. In that case, consider a solid-state drive—but be prepared to pay twice as much for half the capacity.
If you haven't already done so, change your router's login name and password from the factory defaults. For example, all new routers from a particular vendor might be accessible with the username "admin" and a blank password. Hackers know this, so change your login credentials to something different. Access yoru router settings according to the router manufacturer's instructions, such as by typing 192.168.1.0 into your PC's browser.
Automated spyware and antivirus tools are great, but they're no substitute for a little bit of vigilance on your part. After all, Spybot Search & Destroy won't automatically protect against a program you installed on the machine yourself, and ZoneAlarm won't block a program you secured for Internet access. A little watchfulness goes a long way. Got an email from someone you don't know? Immediately trash it without opening it. Even if your email program automatically opens your new messages in a reading pane, it's a good idea never to download an unexpected attachment.
No matter what the pop-ups tell you, don't click anything that jumps unsolicited onto your screen claiming to be able to fix a virus or spyware problem. These pop-ups are more often than not carriers of spyware and viruses in the guise of an actual message from your OS (operating system). A general rule of thumb is that if it opens in a browser window and you didn't specifically point your browser toward it, don't click it. Just close the window and go about your business.
Did you just close Internet Explorer 8 when you meant only to close a tab? Oops. Tabbed browsing can be a hazard if the wrong settings are in place. First, don’t despair. As soon as you recognize the error, restart IE and, in the Tools menu, click Reopen Last Browser Session. In many cases, this will save your set of open tabs on the last IE window you had open. To keep this from happening again, use the Tools menu to access Internet Options. In the Tabs section on the General tab, click Settings. Checkmark the Warn Me When Closing Multiple Tabs box.
Many people can work for hours with no problem on smaller notebook keyboards and are perfectly comfortable using touch pads or track sticks instead of mice. If you'd be more comfortable with full-sized input devices, your options are almost limitless. You can connect (wired or wireless) mice and keyboards to just about any notebook—or to a dock or port replicator attached to the notebook. If you're a number cruncher, consider adding an external 10-key numeric keypad for those long stretches spent dealing with budgets and expenses. At most, these require a free USB port or the ability to “pair” (wirelessly connect) a Bluetooth device with your Bluetooth-equipped notebook. (Speaking of which, you can easily add Bluetooth functionality to your notebook by purchasing a USB Bluetooth module for your system; then you can connect with a multitude of wireless Bluetooth devices, including keyboards, headsets, and mice.)
Your older notebook may offer nothing more than a standard CD-ROM drive. Can you replace that CD-ROM with a DVD drive? The answer depends on your exact make and model, but often you can do so simply by unscrewing and removing the existing unit, dropping in the updated replacement, and perhaps updating the drivers. Things are even simpler if your notebook has a slot that accommodates a removable optical drive. If none of this applies to your notebook, however, consider an external DVD drive; these can be connected via USB and most will need to be plugged into a wall outlet.
Hard drives are all about storing and accessing data: You want to store as much of it as you can, and you want to access it as quickly as possible. Therefore, capacity is not the only important criterion; speed is also a consideration. Replacing a hard drive is normally not much more complicated than adding memory: Remove a bottom panel, remove the screw(s) holding the drive in place, carefully disconnect the power and data cables from the drive, and gently remove the drive from the drive caddy.
Hard drive sizes have jumped dramatically in order to accommodate the proliferation of enormous (and enormously powerful) applications and the gigantic video, audio, and image files we now use on a regular basis. These days, a 120GB or larger drive is standard in a notebook, and 250GB is not uncommon. In addition to size, drives are rated according to how fast the platters—the magnetic disks on which data is stored—spin. Today's drives typically spin at 7,200rpm or better, and many spin at 10,000rpm. The faster the drive spins, the more quickly data can be retrieved, assuming that the drive's head mechanisms can move to the correct place on the platter and find the appropriate data. That component of a drive's performance is known as "seek time," and it's measured in milliseconds; it's one of the specs you'll want to consider when looking at new drives. A drive with a 12ms or 13ms seek time is typical, and plenty fast enough for most of us. A faster drive requires more sophisticated head mechanisms and more efficient software, which helps explain why faster drives cost more than slower ones.
Memory is the single most cost-effective upgrade you can make to any computer. Buy as much as you can afford, and add more later if your system can handle it. Adding RAM will speed up your computer, from boot-up to shutdown. Applications that dragged before will seem lightning-quick, and although adding memory has no direct effect on your hard drive, even some files that took forever to load will pop up on-screen much more quickly because there was actually concurrent processing going on of which you were unaware.
Adding or replacing memory normally involves removing a bottom panel from your notebook, locating the "sticks" of RAM, popping them out of their slots, and then inserting the new RAM. Fairly straightforward, but if you'd rather not mess with it, techs can easily handle the job. Keep in mind that you need to buy memory that's compatible with your make and model of machine. Most memory vendors maintain some sort of online tool that allows you to determine what type and how much memory your system will take. If you buy your RAM from a big-box store, the store's computer department may give you a break on installation. Keep in mind that there are limits to how much RAM a system can recognize; there's nothing to be gained—and occasionally something to be lost—by installing more RAM than your system knows how to handle.
Installing a better, faster processor is probably not worth the trouble. Notebook motherboards are not designed for processor upgrades—although you could certainly install an identical replacement if yours has died. If you did somehow manage to install a more powerful CPU, you'd now have a cooling problem, possible memory issues, etc. This upgrade is almost never a viable option in a notebook; if you really can't live with your current processor, then it's time for a new computer. But stay tuned: There are other ways to increase your system's speed and power.
So your computer is apparently infected with malware, but running a scan with your usual security software hasn't rooted out the culprit. By all means, don't give up on the software you're using. Make sure it has received all of the recently released updates by selecting the "check for updates" or similarly named option (typically found in a program's Help menu) or by heading to the support section of the manufacturer's Web site. Also use Windows Update to install any Windows security patches you may have missed. Once you're sure your security software and OS (operating system) are both up-to-date, run the scan one more time. If your computer is still showing signs of an infection, it's time to move on to other methods. Just because your security software didn't find the problem, that doesn't mean other programs won't. You can download a program such as Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (www.malwarebytes.org) to scan your computer a second time to see if it can catch something your program missed. Always perform a full scan as opposed to a quick scan when you suspect your computer has been infected. And be sure to turn off all other security software you have on your computer, because sometimes programs can interfere with each other.
Your machine’s CPU is literally its core, and an underpowered processor will slow you down. Especially in portables, though, the optimum processor generally requires a balance of speed, power, energy consumption, and heat production. You want as much of the first two as you can get and as little of the last two as possible. Chipmakers offer CPUs designed specifically to provide that balance. Intel's new 2010 Core processors, for example, offer an impressive combination of speed and power, coupled with low energy consumption.
Streaming is playing a video or audio file that resides on the Internet or on a different computer across a network. Internet radio, video sharing, and movie rental sites use streaming. If your Internet streaming is constantly being interrupted, shut down other downloads, restart the streaming application, and try again. If conditions don't improve, try restarting the stream later on. Broadband is essential, at least for video streams. With a fast connection, you should be able to view video at its highest resolution available.
Also known as 802.11n, Wireless N routers support data transfer speeds up to 300Mbps (megabits per second). Besides faster downloads and transfers, the speed increase means that the network is fast enough to stream videos and music. With a Wireless G router, the connection may occasionally drop out and create a choppy viewing or listening experience. All wireless N routers operate on the 2.4GHz frequency, so the signal is backward-compatible with any device that has an 802.11b/g/n adapter. You can also invest in a dual-band wireless N router, which sends out signals over both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, to help you avoid interference that can slow down your transmission speeds.
Shopping for a laptop? Note that laptops are classified into types, or categories. Here's a quick look at some of the most popular groupings. Desktop replacement. These laptops pack the power of a larger desktop PC, yet in a more portable form factor.
Mainstream. General users who need an all-purpose notebook without a lot of bells and whistles should consider a mainstream model.
Ultra portable. If portability is key, look for an ultra-portable model that weighs only a few pounds.
Netbooks. As small as a paperback book, netbooks are extremely easy to tote around, although they don't always have the same power as their bigger brothers.
Tablet PCs. Take digital notes using a tablet PC’s stylus. Convertible tablets look a lot like a traditional laptop with a twistable screen.
Most PCs use traditional hard drives for file storage. Over time, the continual data writes and deletions of everyday PC usage start to take a toll on a drive's data transfer speed. As a hard drive's capacity fills with files, it stores new information on parts of the disks that are slower to write and read. Moreover, a very full drive will pose problems for the OS (operating system), which requires a certain amount of free drive space to run properly. Therefore, you should occasionally run a utility, such as Windows' Disk Cleanup or Piriform's CCleaner (www.piriform.com) to get rid of "junk" files. While you're at it, uninstall programs you no longer need.
Also, as free space dwindles into small chunks, a drive starts to store large files in fragments. This bogs down reads and writes, too. Use an automatic defragmentation utility to keep your computers sprightly.
Occasionally, you may be unable to access a Web site that you visited previously without any troubles. This can happen if the Web site's ISP (Internet service provider) temporarily disabled the site, if the administrator failed to renew the Web registry data, or if too many people try accessing the site at the same time. Often when a site you access is unavailable, you will receive the "HTTP 404 Not Found" error message. One way to know if a site is temporarily down is to check another commercial site to see if your Internet connection is active. If you can access some sites but not one particular site, you may simply need to try accessing the site at a later time. You can also try deleting your Internet temporary files. To do this in Internet Explorer 8, for instance, open the Tools menu and select Internet Options. Next, click the Delete button under the Browsing History section, make sure the select Temporary Internet Files, and click Delete again. When you delete these temporary files, IE can access Web sites instead of using possibly outdated local files on your computer for a particular site.
If it's essential that the data on a notebook not fall into the wrong hands, consider a service that allows you to remotely trace the location of your notebook and delete the contents of the hard drive. For instance, Absolute Software's LoJack For Laptops ($59.99 for Premium Edition; www.absolute.com) can watch for a lost computer, identify it when it connects to the Internet, analyze the data, and provide information that will help law enforcement officials recover and return the lost notebook to you. The Premium Edition of LoJack also allows Absolute Software to remotely erase the sensitive files on your hard drive.
Because many accessories, including mice, portable storage devices (such as a flash drive or a portable hard drive), and a variety of adapters require a USB port, be sure the notebook you choose has at least four. Additionally, a built-in memory card reader will let you transfer media right from the card to the computer, without having to pack a memory card reader in order to work with photos and videos from a conference or other event. When it comes to choosing among video ports such as VGA (Video Graphics Array), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), and DisplayPort, consider both your future and legacy products. VGA and DVI are older video graphics technologies, while HDMI and DisplayPort were created within the past few years to accommodate high-definition and high-resolution video. Having both HDMI and DisplayPort connections is important, because each technology supports different types of video products, such as cameras, high-definition camcorders, Blu-ray Disc players, HDTVs, and monitors.
Additionally, an eSATA (external Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) port and a FireWire port are handy for some external hard drives and optical drives (although you'll find fewer and fewer FireWire devices as that interface is fading quickly from view). The eSATA standard is ideal for transferring large amounts of information to storage because it's faster than both USB and FireWire technologies.
A powerline network relies on a network that all homes already include by default, the power network. The electrical system in your home consists of one or more fuse boxes and copper wiring that runs between each power outlet to give your electronics the current they require to operate. A powerline network simply taps into this existing network and uses the copper wiring to pass data bits between powerline network adapters. Powerline adapters utilize a technology called OFDM (orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing), which enables the copper wiring to carry multiple data streams even while powering appliances and devices throughout your home. The latest devices also work independent of line voltage and current frequency to provide a consistent and reliable networking experience. This Internet access solution makes a lot of sense because there's always an outlet near the computer and another outlet near the Internet-enabled devices you'll likely be using. And if you can plug in a power adapter and an Ethernet cable, you can install and configure a powerline network yourself in minutes.
For prolonged storage, charge your battery to about 40% and place it in the refrigerator (not the freezer). Be sure to allow it to warm up to room temperature before use in order to avoid condensation; otherwise moisture on the battery might get into your notebook. If you have a spare battery, use one normally and store the other in the refrigerator until it's needed.
The most effective way to maximize your battery life is to avoid heat. Use notebook cooling pads and stands, and don't store the computer in your car on hot days. Some experts recommend removing the battery when you’re running under fixed power, but that doesn't always work: Some notebooks won't run at all without a battery present, and some manufacturers worry that the empty battery compartment might collect moisture or dust.
• A dual-band router creates two 802.11n wireless networks, one in the 2.4GHz band and one in the 5GHz band. You can configure each one with different passwords and security credentials. • Because the 5GHz frequency will be relatively free of interference, it will provide faster Wi-Fi speeds. Thus, you should connect to it for streaming video or audio, downloading music, playing online games, copying files over your Wi-Fi network, or other tasks that require a speedy connection. • Connect to the 2.4GHz network when you're checking email or browsing the Web. If there are multiple computers on your home network, the 2.4GHz frequency may seem faster than it used to, because you aren't sharing the connection with another computer that's downloading files or streaming video on the 5GHz frequency.
The Start Search field at the bottom of the Start menu lets you access a powerful search tool in Windows Vista and Windows 7. Type a few letters of any file (or word contained in a file) you wish to find, and Instant Search will immediately supply possibilities in the Start menu's Search window. Windows looks for matches even in file contents and attributes, not just file names, so you may be surprised by some of the odd results it suggests. The number of possibilities will decrease the more specific your search becomes, meaning the more characters you type.
Buried within the Control Panel's Action Center is the Reliability Monitor. (Type reliability monitor in the Start Search field and press ENTER.) As the name implies, the monitor itself won't improve Windows performance, but it will give you clues to help troubleshoot Windows application problems and find a remedy so Windows can perform better in the future. Windows ranks overall reliability on a scale from 1 (lowest reliability) to 10. The line graph and numerical ratings don't give you much information, apart from confirming your worst fears. ("I knew this system was falling apart!") More useful is being able to corroborate informational events, shown with an "i" in a blue circle with subsequent increases in application failures. For instance, if you see that Windows installed a security update on Monday followed by a significant increase in app crashes, you can probably guess that the update is to blame and then roll back the software change.
There are always dust particles floating around in the air, and it’s not difficult to notice when they settle on the tops of our electronics. But we tend to forget that those same dust particles that create dusting chores also circulate through our computer cases and settle on the components inside. When you get around to dusting the computer room, don’t forget to occasionally pop open the computer case and, with a can of compressed air, blow away the dust that has accumulated on the components. Clean cases provide better airflow and ultimately fewer overheating issues.
After years of being pestered by Windows' pop-up notification messages in the System Tray, we now have in Windows 7 more granular control over the warnings that really matter. In the Start menu Search box, type Action Center to bring up this console. Click the Action Center Settings link to see options for toggling off or on different security and maintenance messages.
Windows bogs down over time, burdened with all of those background programs that load during startup. Some of those you need, but some just take up unnecessary boot seconds and are never used during an average Windows session. To disable unnecessary items, type msconfig in the Start Search field, select msconfig, and go to the System Configuration window's Startup tab. Uncheck anything that isn't useful or necessary. Some entries are pretty cryptic and require Web searching to figure out.
For many years, Microsoft has tried to make Windows look as silky and smooth as possible. But looking good soaks up system resources. If you can live without some of the visual bells and whistles, you can regain a bit of lost performance. Dig into Start, Control Panel, System And Security, System, and Advanced System Settings. Click the Settings button in the Performance section. In the Performance Options pop-up window, you'll see a long list of visual elements and effects within Windows 7, most of which are enabled by default as part of the Let Windows Choose What's Best For My Computer option. You can select Custom, then pick and choose which items to disable. For a fast, slash-and-burn approach, pick Adjust For Best Performance to turn off all effects. This will result in a blander interface but better response times, particularly if you use integrated graphics or a trailing-edge graphics card.
If you see a Device Is Not Ready message when trying to print, check your connections. This message indicates that Windows does not recognize the printer as being ready to accept data. Check the printer power and cable and make sure it is turned on and online. If you are using a network printer, make sure the network is up and you have the appropriate print permissions. (NOTE: There are other, similar variants to this message, as well.)
To ensure that your computer is fully protected, you should use both an antivirus and antispyware program on your PC. These two utilities will cover most of your security needs. Antivirus software will block worms, Trojans, and other nasty files from taking root in your computer's hard drive, while antispyware software will scan your computer for potential threats, such as keyloggers and phishing scams, so that your sensitive information isn't compromised. Many security utilities include both an antivirus and antispyware program in one package, though each of these programs can also be found separately.
If you have a lot of data on your PC, adding an external hard drive to your notebook or desktop setup could help improve your PC's performance. You'll be able to avoid bogging your system down with additional files. This will help save your computer's main hard drive from normal wear and tear, thus helping it last longer.
Hooking up a number of devices to the back of your PC in addition to all of the plugs you need to connect to a surge protector can quickly become a tangled and confusing mess. To maintain a cleaner appearance and to keep all of your cables quickly identifiable, use Velcro straps that wrap around your extra cords and label them with masking tape.
Similar to your computer, a graphics card comes with its own memory, so it can store video data and effectively render images at millions of pixels per second. The more memory the video card offers, the higher the video resolution your PC can handle. That being said, if you don't play video games at the highest settings or render video at HD quality, a graphics card with 512MB (or less) of video memory will be sufficient. Graphics cards also feature an internal processor. Look for a card with a core clock with better than 500MHz clock speed for best results.
Some desktop computers may not have a graphics card. Instead, the computer’s motherboard has a chip that performs the video processing. The biggest downside to integrated graphics is that the video chip shares your computer's memory, otherwise known as RAM, which degrades the PC's overall and video processing performance.
One puzzle for Windows 7 users is how to open a new instance of a program that already has an open window, because pressing the icon on the Taskbar simply highlights the open window. For mouse users, the answer is found in clicking the middle mouse button or depressing the scroll wheel on a program’s Taskbar icon. For a pure keyboard alternative, use the SHIFT-WIN (the Windows logo key)-number combo to open a new instance of the program that matches the number slot on the Taskbar.
Here are some preventive rules you can follow to ensure that all of your passwords are reliable.
• Don't reuse the same password on different sites. For instance, don't use your Facebook password to log in to your bank account.
• Do change your password regularly. Updating it will give you an extra security boost.
• Don't share your passwords with others. If someone wants to use your computer, ask them to log on as a Guest.
• Do mix upper and lowercase characters and symbols if possible.
• Don't choose passwords that would be obviously vulnerable, such as your name, birth date, spouse's name, or car statistics.
Without warning, your notebook may reboot itself or shut down completely. Although a number of different issues could be the cause, there are three common possibilities. First, if you upgraded the hardware in your notebook, some components may be incompatible, causing the system to shut down to avoid damage. If you are experienced in notebook components, you may try removing or replacing a newly installed component to see if the shutdown error persists. If you are certain that the failure is not hardware-related, check to make sure that the air intake fans are not impeded or blocked with dust or debris. Blocked fans decrease the amount of cool airflow into your notebook, and if the computer gets too hot, it will shut itself down as a precautionary measure to prevent component damage.
Automatic reboots or shutdowns could also be the result of a virus. If you have an antivirus program installed on your notebook, make sure it is up-to-date and then run a full scan of the hard drive. If you don't have an antivirus program, buy one or download a free program such as AVG Free Anti-Virus (free.avg.com). Once your antivirus program is ready to go, run a full scan to search for any malware. The antivirus program may find several issues, and hopefully the shutdown culprit will be one of them. When the scan is complete, follow the program's instructions to remove or quarantine any discovered malware.
Today, many consumer electronics devices are networkable, and each has one or more reasons to go online. Once the sole province of computers, your network is now part of a vast entertainment grid. For instance, many new TVs can show you useful info through widgets (small programs) as well as longer content from third-party vendors. For instance, you could get a morning heads up on your busy day with a local weather widget on your TV screen. Later, after work, you could relax with a streaming movie download, thanks to your HDTV's support for your Netflix subscription.
Windows XP and Windows Vista were available in 64-bit versions that promised to deliver snappier performance and an increase in available memory space, but both operating systems suffered from poor driver and application support. WinXP also suffered from the lack of available 64-bit compatible hardware.
Win7 is available in both 32- and 64-bit versions, but you don't need to figure out in advance which one you want. Microsoft ships both versions in retail copies of Win7, letting you pick the one you want to install. These days, 64-bit processors and systems are the norm, at least for desktops and most laptops, so 64-bit compatible drivers and applications are readily available.
Common hard drive speeds you might come across are 4,200rpm, 5,400rpm, 7,200rpm, and 10,000rpm. Keep in mind that faster drives tend to be more expensive, although cost is also mitigated by how much storage capacity a drive has. For example, a 60GB drive rated at 7,200rpm may actually cost less than a 500GB drive rated at 5,400rpm. When shopping for a computer or hard drive, keep in mind what you need the hard drive for. If you're looking for an external hard drive or a second internal hard drive with lots of backup storage for all your files, a slower drive (4,200rpm or 5,400rpm) with a large capacity—say, 500GB or more—is just fine.
However, if you're looking for a hard drive to boost your system's overall performance, opt for a drive with a smaller capacity that's clocked at 7,200rpm or 10,000rpm.
If you don’t want that irritating confirmation dialog box popping up every time you try to delete something, you can turn it off. To do so, right-click the Recycle Bin, select Properties, and deselect the Display Delete Confirmation Dialog checkbox.
Occasionally, you may need to use Administrative credentials to run a program. To do so in Vista, right-click the program and choose Run As Administrator. This same option is available in Windows 7. Hold down the SHIFT key while right-clicking in Win7, and you’ll also see an option for running the program as a different user on the system. Click here and you’ll be prompted to log in with a username and password.
By default, the Recycle Bin uses approximately 10% of the available space on your hard drive. When you exceed this allocation, the Recycle Bin will automatically delete its older files to make room for the newly deleted ones. The files that have been in the Recycle Bin the longest are the first to go. If you want to increase the size of the Recycle Bin to avoid this, or if you want to reduce its size to recapture unused disk space, right-click the Recycle Bin and select Properties. To separately configure each drive's Recycle Bin, make sure you select the radio button next to Configure Drives Independently. Click the tab associated with the drive you'd like to make changes on. Finally, move the slider to the correct size (given as a percentage of overall drive space) and click Apply.
The hottest Internet connectivity technology these days is 3G. Smartphones and some netbooks and laptops include 3G chips. Whereas wired Ethernet access is gained by subscribing to a cable-based service, 3G coverage comes from mobile phone companies; thus, you subscribe to 3G through your mobile service provider, not a cable provider. Many service providers offer unlimited use for a monthly fee, not unlike how you pay for wired Ethernet service. Others allow users to pay for a certain amount of usage each month and pay ala carte for additional 3G use, similar to many mobile phone payment plans.
Although slower than a typical Wi-Fi network, 3G offers acceptable Internet performance for mobile devices. The primary benefit of 3G is that coverage is far greater than Wi-Fi. Instead of being confined to a hotspot built on a wired Ethernet connection, 3G Internet access is available anywhere your mobile service provider offers coverage.
Noise cancelation is one of the key features to look for in a Bluetooth headset. Most office environments are noisy, and factory and road environments can be even worse. Car noise can drown out just about anything you're saying to the person on the other end of your phone call. Such noise won't do much for your ability to hear them, either.
Noise cancelation comes in two common flavors: basic systems that use a single microphone for voice pickup and noise cancelation and twin-mic systems, which usually do a better job of squelching noise by comparing the signal levels received at each mic. If the levels are identical, it's considered a background noise that can be removed. Dual-mic headsets may be the better choice for factory or driving environments. Single-mic systems are less expensive and a good choice for office environments.
With Windows 7, Microsoft consolidates the many warnings of Windows into one place and usually only gets in your face with a little Action Center flag icon located in the Notification Area. If you'd like to open the Action Center, type action center in the Start search field and press ENTER. If you have third-party backup, antispyware, network access protection, or other apps handling certain tasks, feel free to turn off Windows’ integrated nagging about these items. Everybody’s favorite item to crank down is the User Account Control slider. We don't recommend going below the second-lowest setting.
Reading errors are usually due to smudged, scratched, or defective discs. Clean a troublesome disc with a CD/DVD cleaning spray from a consumer electronics store. The water vapor from your breath can do in a pinch. Wipe the disc's recorded surface in straight lines from the inner hole to the outside edge with a clean, soft cloth. Never rub a disc sideways or in circles. Any contact with a cloth leaves microscopic scratches on a disc, but scratches that run radially from the center of the disc outward usually won't cause skips like ones that follow the spiral track of data around the disc. Occasionally run a special lens-cleaning disc through your drive or disc player to remove dust from the laser lens. If all else fails, try reading the disc in a different drive.
Sensitive information may find its way into the wrong hands in various ways: A netbook may be lost; an unauthorized user might remove data from the stolen system; or an employee could transfer data using a USB drive to an unsecure PC on the corporate network and, consequently, put confidential data at risk. Encrypting your netbook is one security measure that can help protect you against data loss. Full disk encryption is the safest call for your work and personal information. If the netbook contains data or information you don't want anyone to see, you should consider running encryption software that, at the very least, has a secured storage area where you can save sensitive data.
Regardless of how well you password-protect a netbook, you also should never underestimate physical safeguards. Don't set your netbook down where someone could easily snatch it if you should turn your back for a few minutes. And make note that some people report netbooks are easy to misplace because of their miniature sizes.
When vendors make drives tougher than normal, they describe them as "ruggedized." A ruggedized drive should, in theory, be able to take a harder knock than a typical drive without losing your data. Ruggedized drives usually have tough enclosures with shock-absorbing material inside. Hard drive manufacturers do their part by adding accelerometers to certain models. When the accelerometers sense that the drive is falling, they tell the read/write heads to park on special ramps off the disk(s). With the heads parked, there's less of a chance of data loss because the heads can't smash into the sensitive recording layer on the disk(s) on impact.
In general, most flash-based drives have a higher shock tolerance (in Gs, or multiples of gravity) than most portable hard drives.
Truth be told, most laptops have more than enough processing speed for typical mobile computing tasks. In the vast majority of usage scenarios, you’ll spend most of your time waiting on either your main storage drive or a network/Internet connection. You’ll only notice the benefits of additional processing horsepower when you’re doing personal tasks such as encoding media files, playing games, or editing video. As for memory types (such as DDR2 and DDR3) and clock speeds (such as 1,066MHz), higher numbers are better. We recommend at least a dual-core processor. Bear in mind, though, that CPUs with more cores and higher clock speeds (in GHz) tend to reduce battery life.
Network connections can stop working every once in awhile. Network connections will inexplicably fail sometimes but can usually be restored simply by turning off your router for a few moments and then turning it back on. If Internet access is affected (and it isn’t your service provider’s fault), turn off your modem, too; after its connection is re-established, turn your router back on.
In Windows 7, your Windows key can be very powerful. Learn some of these primary combos for great mouse-free interface control.
WIN (the Windows logo key)-Down arrow: Restore down a maximized window or minimize an open window that is not maximized
WIN-Left/Right arrow: Snaps current window to the left or right edge of the Desktop and sizes it to fill half the screen
WIN-G: Show Gadgets
WIN-T: Activates Taskbar. Use directional keys to navigate Tasks. Pressing ENTER will open the program or switch to its open task.
If you're in the market for a new router, here are a few things to keep in mind.
• Nearly all wireless routers also offer some wired ports.
• 802.11n routers deliver Wi-Fi faster than 802.11g routers.
• Wireless routers with MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) technology feature a longer range and improved signal strength.
• A model with a built-in firewall will help keep cybercriminals from reaching your PCs.
If you're having trouble connecting to a wireless network with your notebook, you should eliminate the easiest problems first. Check to see if wireless capabilities are enabled on your notebook. Many notebooks have a switch to turn this feature on or off. If your computer can't detect a wireless signal, check to make sure this switch didn’t slide into the Off position accidentally.
You probably know that the CTRL-ALT-DELETE key combo brings up a full screen of options that includes logging off, switching a user, changing a password, and calling up the Task Manager. Of course, most of us press the three-button combo to access the all-important Task Manager, where we can abort hanging programs and processes. You can circumvent this time-consuming interim screen altogether and bring up the Task Manager directly by using the CTRL-SHIFT-ESC combination instead. This command will call up the Task Manager directly.
In Windows 7, if you have several open windows, grab the top of the frame of one window, and shake it back and forth. The rest of the open windows will minimize. The keyboard shortcut for the same function is WIN (the Windows logo key)-Home. Now press WIN-Down arrow to minimize the current window and WIN-Up arrow to maximize it. Pressing WIN-Right arrow or Left arrow will dock the current window to the right or left edge of your Desktop.
When it comes to searching for any file on your PC, you only need to click the Start button and enter a word or two in Windows 7. Windows Search will generate a list of relevant results that are categorized by keywords, such as Programs, Music, and Control Panel, to make it easier to locate what you're looking for. Windows 7 also introduces a feature called Jump Lists, which displays the most common actions you perform within a particular program. For example, when you right-click the Internet Explorer icon, you'll see your most frequently and recently visited Web sites, while Microsoft Word will display the documents you access regularly.
Wi-Fi, whose technical label is 802.11, uses four possible standards: a, b, g, and n. The latest standard is 802.11n, which provides the best combination of transmission speed, range, security, and flexibility. If you have a choice, go with 802.11n.
Keep your Wi-Fi network private by activating your router's password-protected encryption. By following the directions included in your router's users manual, you can set up a password on your router to prevent strangers from wirelessly connecting to your network. Such uninvited guests will leech part of your bandwidth and may also have more nefarious schemes in mind, such as exploring files on your hard drive or using your service for illegal activity.
Surge Protectors ensure the electrical current running to your desktop or laptop computer doesn't exceed proper levels. Plugging your computer into a surge protector will protect it from potentially serious damage. Portable models will protect your laptop when you're on the go for work or play.
Most new systems come with 3GB or more, which will let operating systems such as Windows Vista or Windows 7 run smoothly. However, 1GB is acceptable for scaled-down PC systems, such as netbooks.
Windows 7 gives the user direct access to all of the internal troubleshooting tools so you can run them any time. To find this feature, open the Control Panel. In the Explorer Address bar, click the arrow to the right of Control Panel and click All Control Panel Items. Click Troubleshooting. The first time you do this, Win7 offers you the option to get the latest troubleshooting information and apps from Microsoft. Agreeing to this will give you access to both locally installed apps and online data. In the task pane to the left, click View All to see all of the programs you can troubleshoot. If you’re having a problem with one of the items on the list, click it and follow the on-screen troubleshooting steps.
Windows 7 tries to fix the bothersome User Account Control as well as update pop-ups that Vista introduced, but you can further tweak the notification policies easily. In the Start search box, type Action Center and press ENTER to open a console that presents a wide range of customization options, including Change Action Center Settings, which manages the pop-up balloon notices for all of your Windows Updates, and Change User Account Control Settings, which gives you a slider to adjust the sensitivity of the UAC warnings.
For the computer guru who loves to tinker under her computer's hood, upgrading her PC's internal hard drive to a higher-capacity model can provide more room for digital collections and computer games, with storage capacities that can reach into the terabyte range. Internal drives boast high read and write speeds, which make them a more efficient option than external models. Available connections for internal models include EIDE (Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics), Ultra ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment), and SATA (Serial ATA). SATA will offer maximum transfer rates, but EIDE and Ultra ATA are compatible with older computers.
You can never be too careful with your personal information. Some Web sites will disguise themselves as sites you trust and use phishing tactics to steal sensitive information you enter, and if your computer downloads a keylogger, it will attempt to obtain passwords, logins, PINs, and more by recording every keystroke you make. To fend off these Web nasties, look for antivirus and antispyware software that protects your computer while you surf the Web by blocking potentially infected Web sites.
Never click links in email messages or download attachments if you're not 100% certain that it's from a reliable source. Even so, if the email seems odd, double check with the sender before proceeding—it's possible that his email account has been hacked by a spammer.
In order to avoid a data loss disaster, invest in an external hard drive. This device will serve as a separate location where you can save your PC's photos, music, and important documents from a data loss disaster. Most external hard drives have preloaded backup software that will help you choose the files or folders you want to automatically back up, so be sure to look for that feature.
This depends on what devices you want to network and your connection preferences. If you value the flexibility of connecting electronics without wires and being able to access a connection anywhere in your house, go with a wireless network. A wired network connection is more reliable, but your device support is limited by the number of ports on the router. A Wi-Fi network can be secured with WEP (Wired Equivalency Privacy) or WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access). However, a wired network, or an Ethernet-connected network, provides a more secure data transfer, as only the devices that are plugged in can access the connection.
Although we highly recommend having an antivirus program installed, updated, and running on your computer, especially when using email, some antivirus programs will stop you from opening certain types of attachments. When you can't open a legitimate file, check your antivirus' security settings. You may have to go as far as disabling the program temporarily. When you're finished viewing the attachment, make sure you re-enable the antivirus program and restore any security settings you may have changed.
A quick and easy way to keep unruly cords under control is to use plastic zip ties to bundle cables together. Loosely gather cords, making sure not to create too much tension where they join their respective components, and group them together using a zip tie. Also be careful not to pull the zip tie too tight. You don't want to kink any cords. While you're back there, it's also a good idea to label cords so you can easily determine which one goes where if you ever need to change things around. Taking the time to organize now can save you a tremendous amount of time and frustration in the future.
The next time you need to have two Web pages open at once, or you want to be able to easily backtrack to a page you've already visited, utilize your Web browser's tabbed browsing option. Instead of opening an entirely new window for each Web page you have open, this feature (available in most browsers) will add a tab to the top of your current Web browser window with another Web site page opened. When you want to toggle between the different Web sites you've visited, simply click on the tabbed Web page you want to see. Most Web browsers will let you open a new browser tab by pressing CTRL-T.
Using a laptop for long periods of time can cause it's components to heat up, which isn't comfortable for your legs and puts stress on your system. To prevent potential damage from overheated components, use a cooling stand underneath your notebook. Not only will this allow you to compute without a hot device sitting in your lap, but it will also allow air to circulate underneath your laptop and to cool it as it operates.
Invest in a good printer if you plan on using it a lot for a variety of projects. Be sure to invest in quality ink and paper, as well, if you're printing out important documents, such as wedding invites, programs, resumes, or important presentations. A printer with scanning and fax capabilities will ensure your printer will meet all of your needs with just one device.
There are good reasons to turn in your desktops for laptops. You can look at things in terms of either total power draw or total efficiency, meaning performance per watt. According to EfficientProducts.org, "the average desktop computer (without its accompanying monitor) now consumes 200 to 400kWh per year of electricity (nearly as much as a highly efficient refrigerator). Laptops consume about 80 to 140kWh per year." But although a laptop consumes one-third to one-quarter of the power of a desktop, it definitely offers more than one-third of the performance. CPU and graphics manufacturers have made tremendous strides in bringing their mobile products to parity or near-parity with desktop components. Chip cores are often made using the exact same architectures. Only customizable details, such as frequency, amount of memory, and bus speeds, tend to vary between desktop and mobile processors.
Vista organizes all information and applications pertaining to networking in its handy Network And Sharing Center, which you can access through the Control Panel. In the Classic View, just double-click the Network And Sharing Center icon. In the Vista view, click Network And Internet and then click Network And Sharing Center. You can also just type Network And Sharing Center in the Search box after you click the Start button. From here, you'll be able to set up a new network, monitor your network, and add any new devices to your network.
If you have too many CDs lying around, transfer them onto your computer to digital form. You can then store them on an MP3 player or a media extender. It will be easy to search and organize your music and take it with you on long road trips, plus you’ll have a backup of your music collection, should a CD get lost or stolen.
Most users could enhance their online security by doing the following:
1. Install and configure a firewall.
2. Turn off unnecessary networking software.
3. Download and install Windows updates on a regular basis.
4. Secure your Web browser by using such options as setting its "security zones."
Before you begin opening your computer to clean internal dust, turn the system's power off and unplug the main power cord. You may also want to disconnect the mouse and keyboard cords and other cables from the back of the PC if there is heavy dust present. You'll need to remove at least one side panel from the case (both, if possible) using a screwdriver if needed. An antistatic wrist strap will help discharge the electricity that's built up in the PC. If you don't have one, touching a metal portion of the case should discharge built-up electricity. To get most of the dust out of your PC, a can of compressed air works great. Compressed air cans are just a few dollars each, readily available, and also work well for cleaning keyboards. Inside the case, use short bursts of air to blow the debris from the inside out toward the vents and grilles. Moving from top to bottom, hold the can several inches from any components to prevent condensation from forming. Don't blow compressed air directly into a CD, DVD, or floppy diskette drive. Be sure to clear the dust from fan blades.
If you plan to use an external hard drive as a storage device for your photos or videos, look for a model that offers multiple inputs and outputs, such as FireWire or HDMI. This will let you directly connect your camera or camcorder to the hard drive, helping you speed up the file upload process. With a few added ports, you'll be able to make device connections quickly, and you won't have to dig around the back of your PC's tower or use up the few ports available on your laptop.
Reading errors with CDs or DVDs are usually due to smudged, scratched, or defective discs. Clean a troublesome disc with a CD/DVD cleaning spray from a consumer electronics store. The water vapor from your breath can do in a pinch. Wipe the disc's recorded surface in straight lines from the inner hole to the outside edge with a clean, soft cloth. Never rub a disc sideways or in circles. Any contact with a cloth leaves microscopic scratches on a disc, but scratches that run radially from the center of the disc outward usually won't cause skips like ones that follow the spiral track of data around the disc. Occasionally run a special lens-cleaning disc through your drive or disc player to remove dust from the laser lens. If all else fails, try reading the disc in a different drive.
If your computer can't find your scanner, the first thing to do is check that it is plugged into a power source and properly linked to the computer. If your scanner is connected to the computer with a USB cable, use the cable that came with the scanner. If you are using a different USB cable, it should be no more than 6 feet long. Try plugging the USB cable into a different USB port on the PC. If the USB cable is plugged into a USB hub, try connecting the cable directly to the computer. If you have another compatible cable, try replacing the current cable.
As a precautionary measure that will help protect your hearing, many MP3 players offer an audio level limit. To help save your hearing for years down the road, take a look in your MP3 player's menu settings and adjust this option. Your ears will be thankful.
The Recycle Bin consumes a lot of hard drive space by default. You can control this by right-clicking Recycle Bin on your Desktop and clicking Properties. Select the drive you want to adjust, select the Custom Size radio button, type in the number of megabytes you want to reserve for the Recycle Bin in the appropriate field, and click Apply. Bear in mind that 1,024MB equals 1GB.
Note that even when their power switch is in the off position, some electronic components aren't actually turned completely off. Instead, they continue to draw a small amount of current, sometimes referred to as vampire power. If a component has an LED display that's always on, or if it spends its downtime in standby mode, ready to receive a signal from a remote control, then it's continually sipping electricity. To keep these devices from using electricity, it is often necessary to unplug them completely.
When upgrading consumer electronic or computing devices, be careful about how you dispose of old items. If you can't sell them, and they're still operable, donate devices to a school, church, or civic group. If they're broken and beyond repair, check out the recycling program at your local CE retailer. Electronic devices often contain chemicals, so simply throwing them in the trash is often a bad choice.
If you're constantly out and about, you may not find time to recharge your mobile devices, such as a cell phone, digital audio player, or digicam. There are many universal charging products available that can help you power up a dying electronic device, and your options will vary. From an AC adapter for your car cigarette lighter to solar panels that are earth-friendly, consider a portable power option that will keep your devices ready at all times.
Instead of endlessly clicking the Refresh button in your Web browser with your mouse, just hit F5. This will automatically reload the Web page you're trying to access with one simple press of a key.
Regardless of the fact that you, like everyone else, have dozens of passwords and PINs to remember, never write them down or keep them in a Word document. If someone were ever to locate that document, you'd be in serious trouble. Instead, use a password manager program. Or, better yet, come up with a code you use for every password. For example, perhaps you use a few of the same characters for every password but add in something unique for the rest of each password. If you have a structure for creating passwords in place, you won't have to remember a password—just your own system.
Just as you need to destroy paper documents with sensitive information to protect yourself from identity theft, so should you be careful to destroy other media before you toss it. This is especially true of computer hard drives. Even if you erase your hard drive when you give it away, sell it, or discard it, that data is still there and can be retrieved by an enterprising thief. Be sure you overwrite that data with a DoD (Department of Defense)-approved program. You can also degauss the drive (using magnetism to wipe the drive clean) if you have the right equipment or simply smash it to bits with a hammer in a pinch.
Although a list of things to check won't catch every PC problem you encounter, you'll be surprised at how often simple steps can lead to troubleshooting success. Whether you're kicking off a troubleshooting session or at your wits' end after hours of fruitless research, here are some good tips to try.
Is the PC's power supply switch turned on? Some PCs have a power switch at the back. Make sure it hasn't been switched off.
Are all cables connected? Loose connections regularly cause headaches. Remove and reconnect each plug firmly, even if you're sure it's connected.
Are all peripherals turned on? Make sure a powered-off print server isn't preventing your printer from working.
Does the Device Manager display any problems? Check this tool for red Xs, which indicate a malfunctioning or disabled device.
Is there a new driver? Updated drivers often fix hardware problems. If you can't find new drivers (check the manufacturer's Web site), try reinstalling your existing driver.
Have you installed software updates? Software publishers sometimes release patches via their Web sites. Also, check to see if your software recently installed updates automatically. In rare cases, a software update may introduce problems.
You should never click links in email messages or download attachments if you're not 100% certain that it's from a reliable source. Clicking such links or opening such atachements could make your computer vulnerable to outside threats. Even if you recognize the sender, but the email seems odd, double-check with the sender before proceeding, it's possible that his email account has been hacked by a spammer.
Unfortunately, you have very little control over the people managing a hotspot. What you can do is safeguard your computer so you can use hotspots without fear of opening your computer to everyone. The first step to protecting your computer is making sure that your firewall and anti-malware software is running and has all the latest updates. Your firewall will keep intruders from gaining access to your computer—just be sure to set your firewall to block all incoming traffic—and your anti-malware software will stave off most attacks. Also, keeping your notebook's operating system and software updated with security patches and other updates will give your computer an additional layer of protection.
You can adjust the color surrounding windows by right-clicking an empty area of the Desktop, clicking Personalize, and clicking Window Color And Appearance. You can create a custom color simply by clicking the Show Color Mixer drop-down menu and adjusting the sliders until you get the color you want. Click OK when you finish.
Laptops are designed for portability, which means we handle them a lot. Smudges and fingerprints are a common sight on most laptop screens, but you don't have to put up with them. Using a tissue or the sleeve of your shirt is one option, but it's not a good one. Screens can be easily scratched if you use the wrong material to wipe them down. Instead, spend a few bucks on a cleaning cloth that's specifically designed for computer monitors. Tuck it away in your laptop bag, and you can easily deal with a smudgy screen.
The TV stand is a staple item in most media rooms. When making your selection, be sure to keep the size and the weight of your TV in mind, as well as features that may be useful. For example, consider ventilation provisions, which help prevent overheating, and cable wire management, which can help keep wires neat and tidy. Properly managed cables can also make it easier to figure out which cable belongs to each home-theater component, in turn simplifying cleaning and adding or removing components.
Reduce the number of automatic saves in word processors and other software, if your productivity won't suffer for doing so. Auto-saving can cause your hard drive to work harder than it needs to, resulting in more power consumption.
Netbooks, ultra-compact portable computers, are a good fit for many computer users. The basic, often inexpensive space-savers appeal to many users. Keep in mind that they have limited post-purchase expandability, though. To ensure ease of portability in netbooks, space is at a premium, and interior components fit together like a puzzle. Netbook makers don't use motherboards with big footprints, so these devices can't accommodate many internal tweaks.
Of all the peripherals attached to your computer, the display draws the most power. Go green and dim the brightness of your screen to help save energy. Many monitors have display brightness adjustment buttons on the bottom or side of the display. Some computers will even let you adjust the brightness automatically. For example, the Energy Saver screen on Mac computers has a feature that will automatically reduce the brightness of the display before the display goes to sleep. Refer to your computer's user manual for instructions specific to your screen. Although reducing the brightness too much may cause eyestrain, there's certainly no harm done by darkening the screen when you're not using it.
Portable USB hubs let you connect a few extra peripherals to your laptop while you're out of the office or even to your desktop system. USB ports let you connect all sorts of electronic goodies to your computer, but what if you have more gadgets than ports? A USB hub is an affordable way to ensure you can connect all of your peripherals.
If you're looking to lighten the load for your Vista system, consider turning off or disabling some of Vista's built-in features that are going unused. Click the Start Orb and type features in the Start Search field. Press ENTER, and the Programs And Features control panel will open. In the Programs And Features control panel, click the Turn Windows Features On Or Off link to the left. You'll be presented with a list of all of Vista's features; the items that are checked are enabled. Browse through the list and remove the check mark from the items you don't use, such as Windows Meeting Space, Optional Tablet PC Components, or the Fax And Scan tools. If your not sure what a feature does, do some research before opting to disable it.
Given the increasing importance of wireless connectivity, be sure you can add the necessary cards to communicate with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, if they aren't already built into your machine. And if visual imaging or gaming is a priority, you may want to be able to upgrade the graphics card or add another. With some forward thinking, you can be sure your new computer will deliver peak performance for years to come.
Contrast ratio is a measurement of a computer monitor's darkest black compared to its brightest white. Avoid purchasing a monitor with a ratio lower than 500:1. The higher the ratio (1,000:1, for instance), the more details you will see in photos and games.
The first thing you should check when your cable modem connection goes down is whether or not your television is working. Because the coaxial cable is bringing both the TV and Internet signals down the same pipe to your home, turning on your cable TV is a quick way to make sure there's not a major problem with your cable provider. If your cable television is working, then check all the connections to and from your cable modem to make sure that a cable hasn't been unplugged. The indicator lights can give you some clues about which cables to check. If all the lights are on and all the cables are snugly affixed, reboot your PC. This can solve a good chunk of computer problems.
If this doesn't help, you can also reset the modem at the same time. Resetting the modem is easy if there's a reset button (usually you just hold it down for five seconds or so, or use a paper clip to press it if it's a recessed button), but you may want to follow these steps to ensure a proper "hard" reset. First, unplug the power cord from the back of the modem. Next, unplug the connection to your PC, either USB or Ethernet. Then, wait a couple of minutes. You can reboot your PC again during this time just to ensure you're working with a clean slate. Finally, reconnect the power cord and PC connection. You'll need to wait a minute or two while the cable modem re-establishes communication with your provider and your PC. This step often does the trick when your connection is down.
If you still don't have a connection to the Internet, call your provider to find out what's going on.
Although easy to forget, your scanner, printer, and other peripherals attached to your computer draw power from one source or another. Many of us turn off our computers regularly but forget about these extra devices. By getting in the habit of shutting down these extra items regularly, you'll save some energy.
To protect your privacy on a computer that's used by many people, when logging in to a site, uncheck any option such as "Remember My Password" or "Remember Me," since it may not be you who's using the computer tomorrow. Similarly, if the Web browser offers to remember a login or password, choose "No" or the equivalent, and make sure you completely log out of anything you've logged in to, for the same reason. When finished, tell your browser to forget as much about you as possible: In Internet Explorer 7, choose Delete Browsing History from the Tools menu. In Firefox, select Clear Private Data from the Tools menu.
If you have a home network, only share what is necessary instead of flagging entire drives for sharing. To do this in Vista, click Start, click Computer, and right-click the hard drive. Select the Sharing tab, click Advanced Sharing, and remove the check from the Share This Folder box before clicking Apply to disable sharing for the drive. Click the Network And Sharing Center link in that tab to adjust the Sharing And Discovery options. The links at the bottom let you see which files and folders are currently being shared, and the options in the Sharing And Discovery section let you fine-tune your settings.
Troubleshooting to determine whether a cable or connector is the culprit is straightforward and involves two simple steps. First, always check to make sure the connector at the end of a cable is securely and correctly in place. Typically, connectors attach to their components, plugs, or slots in only one way (in other words, many connectors are keyed). If properly reinserting a connector solves your issue, you're done! A word of warning: Inserting or plugging a connector into the right spot should not require much force. If you are struggling with a connector and find yourself tempted to force it in place, make sure you are inserting the connector properly. Forcing a connector to connect incorrectly will most likely result in a broken connector or component.
The second step is determining whether a cable is at the root of a problem you may be experiencing. Sometimes although be it rarely a cable is defective. The best way to determine if a cable is defective is to simply replace it with another cable. If the problem is solved, you've successfully determined that the cause of your issue is a faulty cable. If not, then you have some more troubleshooting to do.
When you set up your computer, spend some time managing the cables. Route wires so that they have a little slack and make sure that they don't hang over one another and create a trip-hazard. Bundle wires together and tie then with a twist-tie or Velcro tie (which can be found at electronics and hardware stores). Wind up any excess wires so that they don't collect dust. Your computer area will not only look nicer, but also benefit your computer, as well-routed wires can help with proper air flow around your computer.
The new computer you received for Christmas is great. Now all you need is a computer desk so you can keep all your work materials in one convenient place. When looking at computer desks, hutches, armoires, and work centers, keep in mind that your computer needs room to breathe. Avoid purchasing a desk that forces you to place your computer tower into a cubby hole where the airflow is greatly reduced. Without the proper airflow, computer components can heat up and won't perform their best. Cubby holes with an opening in the front and back are generally OK.
If you suspect your PC has a virus and there are any files you don't want to lose, resist the temptation to hunt for that virus right away. Although your antivirus software may be able to remove the problem without disturbing your OS (operating system), you can't predict the sorts of trouble you may run into. This is an especially important step if you haven't yet installed antivirus software. Although most program installations go smoothly, we've experienced more than our fair share of software and hardware installations that crippled our test PCs' operating systems. Back up your files to a CD, DVD, or other removable media—not to another PC. Some viruses infect documents and other popular file types, which means that your own files may carry the virus to the removable media. You'll need to scan your backup media with an antivirus program before you return the files to your computer or move them to another PC.
When you have a home computer that the whole family uses, it's not surprising that you have various software programs that you buy to create projects and accomplish tasks. There's your card-making software, the genealogy software, photo-editing software, and software for your digital camera, printer, word-processing program, and recovery software for your computer. Needless to say, you have a lot of discs to keep track of. It's a good idea to choose a designated place to store your software discs. You'll always know where to find the disc you need, and because they are always put away, you can avoid potential damage to your discs.
These devices are designed to minimize muscle strain and other problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Ergonomic keyboards and mice are ideal for those who use their computers for several hours a day.
Many users log off their computer every night as a way to try to keep unwanted people from accessing their files on the computer. Instead of logging off of your computer every night, restart it. In doing so, you will enable Windows to refresh itself and remove temporary files. It will also let your computer free memory and other resources that some of your hardware and software will not release, thereby making your computer work more smoothly and at a faster rate.
You can make the overall text size in Vista larger or smaller by right-clicking an empty portion of the Desktop, clicking Personalize, and clicking Adjust Font Size (DPI) on the left column. Click the Larger Scale (120 DPI) radio button to make text larger or click the Custom DPI button and use the slider to fine-tune text. Click OK to accept your changes.
The intuitive Search field in Vista replaces the Run command that graces Windows XP's Start menu. If you want to add the familiar Run command to your Start menu, right-click the Taskbar, select Properties, and click the Start Menu tab. Next, click Customize, select the Run Command checkbox, click OK, click Apply, and then click OK.
One of WinXP's nifty system-security features is the Roll Back Driver utility, which lets you uninstall problematic drivers for hardware and revert to the previous driver with a few mouse clicks. If you update the driver for a device and it begins causing problems, use this utility (you must be logged in at the Administrator level). Right-click the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties. Select the Hardware tab and under the General tab, click the Device Manager button. Select the device with the problematic driver. Click the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver.
When using the Internet at a hotspot, it's generally a good idea to stick to visiting secure Web sites. Try to avoid conducting any sensitive business, such as online banking, while using a public network. But, if you must complete that bank transaction, be sure you're on a secure site. One way to determine if a site is secure is if it has the small padlock icon on the bottom right of the screen. You can also check the URL; if it begins with https. it is secure.
Online storage and backup services have gained popularity in recent years, most likely due to the benefits of backing up and storing data online, and the cost to do so remains relatively low. Most companies offering online storage services charge monthly or yearly fees for using their server space, and some provide a small amount of free storage space while charging fees for larger storage capacities.
How portable is it? That's the paramount concern for a user on the go. Regarding external and removable storage gadgets, the smaller and slimmer they are, the better. Fingernail-sized USB flash drives and memory cards are about as tiny as storage devices get. Very few USB flash drives aren't comfortable to carry in your pocket. Some are built into stout aluminum cylinders for impact protection, while others come in keypad-protected security enclosures.
Most, but not all, portable hard drives can fit in a shirt pocket. Some drives are bulkier, especially those made with protective enclosures, but they still fit nicely into an accessory pouch in your laptop bag.
The majority of portable hard drives are bus-powered, meaning that they get all the power they need through one or two USB ports on your notebook. This is a major portability feature because it means that you don't have to carry around an AC adapter everywhere you go.
Finally, don't confuse "external" with "portable" in regard to hard drives. Although external models based on larger 3.5-inch drives have more storage space than portable drives, and cost less per gigabyte, they're too fragile to lug around. Leave them at home or at the office.
There are some easy ways to help keep your computer running healthy. First, configure your antispyware or antivirus program to run at least once a day. Most protection programs give you the option of choosing when the scan will occur, whether it's when the computer starts up, or at a specific time of day. Second, defragment your hard drive on a regular basis. Defragmenting combines fragmented files when possible, ultimately cleaning up your hard drive and making file access, and overall computer use, faster. Lastly, keeping your computer healthy means keeping your files safe. Regularly back up your most important files on an external hard drive or DVD, which ensures less data loss if something should happen to your computer.
Before you purchase computer software, such as a game or a greeting card creator, be sure to check the system requirements, which are generally listed on the side or bottom of the software box. Oftentimes, you will see two lists of system specifications: minimum system requirements and recommended system requirements. Verify that your computer meets the minimum system requirements for the software, but try to take the recommended requirements into account. If you meet the recommended settings, the program will run more smoothly. Attempting to run the program on the minimum settings may result in slow response times, reduced graphics settings, and difficulty using the software’s most advanced features.
Users familiar with the Control Panel may find it easier to view all of the Vista Control Panel icons at once rather than grouped in categories. If you're in this camp, Vista lets you display the Control Panel in Classic View. Click Start, select Control Panel, and then click the Classic View link in the upper-left corner of the window. To return to Vista's category-style layout, click the Control Panel Home link.
To change your Vista mouse pointer to a more classic scheme, right-click an empty area on the Desktop, select Personalize, and then click Mouse Pointers. From the Pointers tab, select None from the drop-down menu, and click OK to exit.
Today's digital camcorders make it easy to transfer both standard-definition and high-definition video from the camcorder to the computer. Whether you're using a miniDV, DVD, flash drive, or hard-drive camcorder, the device will need a cable to connect to your computer. The type of cable you need to use (USB 2.0 or FireWire) will depend on the type of camcorder you have. For example, hard-drive camcorders use the USB 2.0 interface, while miniDVs use FireWire. If you don't have the connection you need on your computer, you can always add a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) card equipped with the requisite ports (for example, USB 2.0 or FireWire) to your computer.
Notebooks come in all shapes and sizes. Some are thinner and lighter but may not have the same hardware capabilities as their thicker, heavier counterparts. If you plan to use your notebook for travel, you'll likely want something that's easy to haul through the airport and onto the plane. If you plan to use your notebook around the office, in the meeting room, and at home, you may trade ultra-portability for extra features. Generally, most notebooks intended for business use will be of a respectable weight and size, making at least this portion of the decision-making process a little easier.
Also called RAM (random-access memory), memory is an important part of the functioning of any computer. Memory serves as a slate on which the temporary information that the computer needs to run an application is stored. The amount of memory in your computer is important because even if you have a fast processor, your computer will perform sluggishly if it doesn't have enough memory. Without enough memory to solve a task, your processor has to write and erase data several times, which takes much longer than if there is enough memory to store the necessary data. The more memory a potential notebook has, the better. Generally, 2GB or more of RAM will be plenty.
Processing power is one of the most important features to consider when looking at a notebook. The processor is, as it has often been called, the brain of the computer. It is the component that receives instructions and tells your computer what to do. In most cases, you’ll see processor speeds listed in GHz (gigahertz). The higher the GHz rating, the faster the computer will be able to process information. Most computers today have multicore processors, meaning the work given to your computer will be divided up between two or more execution cores, decreasing the load on any one core and making task completion much faster. So how fast should the processor be in your new notebook? As always, the answer depends on your uses. But for general business applications such as word processing, email and Internet, and general entertainment such as listening to music or watching movies, a 1.5GHz to 3GHz dual-core processor will suffice.
If your printer won't operate, start by checking the simplest things. Start by verifying that the power cable is plugged into the printer and a wall outlet, power strip, or surge protector. Next, make sure the printer's power button is turned on and that the printer's data cable is connected to both the printer and your PC.
Next, make sure there isn't a sheet of paper stuck in the printer. If there was a paper jam earlier, your printer may not even attempt to print any more documents until you remove the paper that's stuck.
When vendors make drives tougher than normal, they describe them as "ruggedized." A ruggedized drive should, in theory, be able to take a harder knock than a typical drive without losing your data. Ruggedized drives usually have tough enclosures with shock-absorbing material inside. Hard drive manufacturers do their part by adding accelerometers to certain models. When the accelerometers sense that the drive is falling, they tell the read/write heads to park on special ramps off the disk(s). With the heads parked, there's less of a chance of data loss because the heads can't smash into the sensitive recording layer on the disk(s) on impact.
In general, most flash-based drives have a higher shock tolerance (in Gs, or multiples of gravity) than most portable hard drives. As for more long-term service life, evidence suggests that a hard drive will probably outlast the current generation of flash-based drives, all else being equal. Manufacturers are working on ways to extend the life of flash media. You can expect a current SSD to last for several years, for example. High-capacity SSDs should last longer than smaller ones because they have more room to spread out the wear and tear of data writing.
For storage convenience, a laptop mouse is typically smaller than a mouse designed for a desktop computer. A wireless mouse can communicate via either RF (radio frequency) or Bluetooth technology. Typically, a wireless mouse includes a wireless receiver for your PC. Optical mice use an LED (light-emitting diode) to reflect images back into the mouse, while laser mice use a laser. Generally speaking, laser mice are more accurate.
Vista hides the Menu bar (File, Edit, View, Tools, and Help) from view to put more emphasis on the toolbar icons (when they’re available) and the context menus that appear when you right-click a file or folder. To temporarily make the Menu bar appear on windows, folders, and utilities that support it, press the ALT key. To permanently recover the Menu bar, open the Start menu, select Computer, click Organize in the upper-left corner of the window, select Layout, and then click Menu Bar. A check mark will appear to confirm your selection.
To get back to a more recognizable Start menu, right-click an open space on the Taskbar, select Properties, click the Start Menu tab, select the Classic Start Menu radio button, and then click Apply. For a little more control over what appears in the Start menu, click the Customize button to add or remove items. Click OK when you're finished.
To disable the graphics and CPU-hogging eye candy, of Vista's Aero interface, right-click any open space on the Vista Desktop, select Personalize, choose Windows Color And Appearance, and then click the Open Classic Appearance Properties For More Color Options link at the bottom of the window. In the Appearance Settings dialog box, choose Windows Vista Basic to retain the look of Vista, or click Windows Standard for more of a Windows 2000 look. For an even more dated feel, you can select Windows Classic to apply the old gray and blue color scheme. Click Apply to enable the changes and press OK to close the dialog box.
Although you may think you're paying for the specifications of a laptop, you're also paying for its size. In order to cram the same amount of computing power into a smaller case, ultra-portable models often cost more than mainstream models for sometimes-similar hardware capabilities. If you're not going to be toting the laptop everywhere you go, it may be worth accepting an extra pound or two to save some money.
If Fido decided to chew on your computer's power cord and miraculously managed to escape electrocution, replace the cord immediately! A damaged cord could lead to much bigger problems and cause irreversible damage to your system—or, worse yet, to you. And don't go digging into your box of surplus electronic cords and equipment for a new power cord. When it comes to your PC's power cabling, it's best to get a replacement directly from the manufacturer.
To put your icons in order of how recently you've used them, tell Vista to sort them that way starting in the upper-left corner. Right-click an empty space on the Desktop and then choose Sort By and Date Modified.
You can move an icon to another spot on your Desktop by clicking and dragging it. In Vista, if it "snaps back" to rejoin the rest of the icons, right-click the Desktop, click View, and click Auto Arrange to uncheck it. To move a group of icons on masse, first click near (not on) an icon on the outside corner of the group and then drag the mouse pointer toward the opposite corner to draw a virtual box around the icons. This will select them when you release the mouse button, allowing you to move the group with a click-and-drag.
If a Search for a missing file proves fruitless, check to see if Windows isn holding the file in the Recycle Bin (double-click the Recycle Bin Desktop icon). Most files you manually delete remain in the Recycle Bin, taking up hard drive space until you empty the bin (click File and Empty Recycle Bin if you wish to empty it). By default, the Recycle Bin uses 10% of your hard drive's capacity. (Change this by right-clicking Recycle Bin, clicking Properties, and adjusting the Maximum Size Of Recycle Bin slider.) When the capacity is full, Windows drops off older files as new ones are added. If you have a large-capacity hard drive, your files can remain in the bin for a long time. If an accidentally deleted file is in the Recycle Bin, highlight it, click File, and click Restore to retrieve it.
Most users could enhance their online security by doing the following:
1. Install and configure a firewall.
2. Turn off unnecessary networking software.
3. Download and install Windows updates on a regular basis.
4. Secure your Web browser by adjusting controls in its "security zone."
External hard drives are useful for backing up important data. They vary in storage capacity from 20GB or 40GB up to 2TB (terabytes). USB and FireWire are the most common interface types and offer decent transfer speeds, and some external hard drives will actually come packaged with backup software.
Although it may be overstating the obvious, the most effective way to protect your notebook from theft is to never let it out of your sight, not even for a few seconds. When people will rob convenience stores at gunpoint for less than $100 in cash, it shouldn't come as any surprise to learn that criminals specialize in separating travelers from their $2,000 computers.
To add shortcut icons to your Desktop in Windows XP, click Start and All Programs. Find the application for which you want a shortcut and right-click it. From the pop-up menu, click Create Shortcut. This will create a shortcut that you can drag to your Desktop. In Windows Vista, click Start and All Programs and find the application for which you want a shortcut. Next, right-click the application, choose Send To, and click Desktop (Create Shortcut) in the resulting menu.
If you installed a new mouse, but Windows won't recognize it, a driver conflict may be the problem. If you didn't uninstall the previous mouse, it may be causing a hardware or device driver conflict. Windows Device Manager can identify hardware conflicts and device driver problems, as well as remove problem devices from your computer. You can either connect the previous mouse or use your keyboard to open and view the Device Manager. Press the Windows key to bring up the Start menu. Use the arrow keys to highlight Settings and Control Panel and then press ENTER. Select the System icon, press ENTER, and use the arrow keys to select the Hardware tab. Press TAB until you select the Device Manager button and press ENTER. Press TAB and press the Down arrow key until the Mouse icon is highlighted. Use the Right arrow key to display the installed mouse. An exclamation point indicates that a mouse has a driver conflict.
If all of your WinXP computers can access the Internet via a shared router, but they can't see each other, don't panic. You can easily solve this problem by configuring your PCs to recognize each other (and share files, folders, and printers) over the network. Although your computers are physically networked, they may not yet belong to a specific network group and may lack other settings (such as file sharing settings). Some networking devices include file-sharing programs that let you configure your network, but don't worry if your equipment doesn't include such software. Windows has a built-in Network Setup Wizard that can configure your computers and put them into a network group. Once you complete the wizard on each networked PC, you'll be able to see all of your network computers' shared folders in the My Network Places window and access any shared printers. To start the wizard, click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Communications, Network Setup Wizard, and then follow the Wizard's instructions.
To enable or disable the Sidebar in Vista, open Control Panel and double-click Windows Sidebar Properties. Deselect the Start Sidebar When Windows Starts checkbox to turn it off or select the checkbox to turn it on and then click Apply.
If you prefer to use WinXP's folder style in Vista, open Control Panel, double-click Folder Options, select the Use Windows Classic Folders radio button, and click Apply.
Vista has the built-in ability to set up an ad hoc or temporary network between two computers. (NOTE: ad hoc networks can only be set up wirelessly in Vista, so both PCs must have wireless capabilities and be within 30 feet of each other.) These direct networks are usually created for a short period of time in order to share files or an Internet connection. In order to set up an ad hoc network, click the Connect To A Network link under Tasks in the Network And Sharing Center. Click Set Up A Connection Or Network in the window that opens. Then click Set Up An Ad Hoc (Computer-To-Computer) Network, and a wizard will walk you through the steps.