Windows XP - On-screen Keyboard

Here's another XP secret revealed. Windows XP has an on-screen keyboard. You might need this if you can't get to your own keyboard. Here's how you do this: Open "My Computer" and browse to "C:/Windows/ System32" then double-click "osk.exe". You can use the keyboard using simple point and click commands. Handy thing to know, don't you think!


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Firefox Update, the "Googlebar" & "Spellbound"

For those of you who are using the Firefox browser, be advised that Firefox has been updated to Version 1.5. If you have been using the "Googlebar" extension from Firefox, you will find that it is no longer compatible with this version, so go to "Tools", "Extensions", scroll down to "Googlebar", right click on this item and select "Uninstall". While Firefox has not yet made a compatible "Googlebar" extension for Version 1.5, the good news is that Google has. The version from Google installs right into the Firefox browser and functions correctly. Be sure to read all the installation instructions so you know just what you're getting. The Google version can be found at the link below:

http://toolbar.google.com/firefox/

In addition, you may find that your "SpellBound" spelling checker has stopped functioning. This is because the "dictionary libraries" have not transferred correctly to Firefox Version 1.5. The easiest solution is to uninstall your present "SpellBound" program (go to "Tools", "Extensions", scroll down to "SpellBound", right click on this item and select "Uninstall"). Now, you can re-install "SpellBound" and the "libraries". You can find them both at the link below:

http://spellbound.sourceforge.net/.

Addendum:
If you still have compatibility problems the following program can solve them, but caution should be observed. This program is actually a program developers tool and not for the faint of heart. If you decide to use this, simply download it and install it into your Firefox Extensions just as if it was a regular extension but do nothing else. Just the installation of the program will present you with an option to use the tool to automatically overcome any incompatibilities. Remember, use caution with this program! It can be obtained by utilizing the link below:

http://users.blueprintit.co.uk/~dave/web/firefox/buildid/nightly.html



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Turn Off File and Print Sharing!

The file and printer sharing setting in Windows could leave you wide open to invasion from the Internet. So, turn it off, already!

In Windows 98 and ME, click Start, Settings and Control Panel. Then:
--Double click the Network icon
--Select Configuration and click the File and Print Sharing button
--Deselect file sharing and print sharing
--Click OK & OK. Restart the computer.

In Windows XP, double click the Network icon as before. Then:
--Right-click Local Area Connection
--Click Properties and the General tab
--Clear File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
--Click OK. Close the Network Connections window. Restart the computer.

If you must use file and printer sharing, be sure you have a firewall. I recommend Zone Alarm. If possible, disable file and printer sharing until you need it.


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Maintain Perfect Time!

Don't be surprised if you occasionally end up late for a meeting when you rely on your PC's clock. Most computers do a poor job of keeping time, losing as much as a couple of seconds a day. That may not seem like a big deal, but let it go on for a few months and it's more than enough to put your PC's clock several minutes on the slow side.

Windows XP users can solve this problem easily. Simply right-click the clock in the corner of the taskbar, click Adjust Date/Time, select the Internet Time tab, and check the Automatically synchronize with an Internet time server box. When your computer connects to the Net, it will periodically check in with an atomic clock and make sure that you have the correct time.

Thanks to PC World!(link)

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Firewall Protection?

Anytime you're connected to the Internet your PC is exposed to the whole world. If it is not protected properly, crackers can detect the PC, probe it for vulnerabilities, exploit them to gain access to your machine and either openly wreak havoc by stealing and/or deleting data, or secretly plant malicious code that turns your PC into a zombie to be part of an attack on somebody's server or network. This issue is especially important for PCs with a highspeed connection to the Internet via DSL or cable modems because they are prime targets for crackers.

To find out how vulnerable your machine is, visit this excellent web site that offers some online tools to test your machine's security. Open your browser, go to http://grc.com/default.htm and click on "Shield's UP!". Read the information on this page, then click "Test My Shields!" and "Probe My Ports!". These tests check for obvious vulnerabilities of your PC and you might be surprised at the results. Chances are you have a number of open and/or visible ports that can make your machine a target for crackers.

You can protect your machine by closing these security holes with the help of a program called a firewall. Firewall software monitors your Internet connection and filters all traffic to keep undesired traffic out and only allows legitimate traffic through. There are a number of software firewalls available on the Internet and in stores. The one we recommend is ZoneLab's Zone Alarm. You can download a free version (for personal use) from ZoneLab's web site at http:///www.zonelabs.com. Note that you should only have one firewall program installed and operational at a time to avoid conflicts between them.

After installing Zone Alarm, go back and perform another Shields UP! Test and Port Probe. You should see a big difference and find that all tested ports are now closed and in stealth mode.

Since Steve Gibson did an excellent job at explaining firewalls, the tests, and the dangers, and the topic is beyond the scope of this article, we'll refrain from going more into detail at this point, but you are encouraged to read more about this fascinating topic at http://grc.com/su-explain.htm.

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WinMX failure?

For those of you who may be using "WinMX" to download music, you may have noticed that this program ceased to function a few days ago when the WinMX servers were changed due to an RIAA regulation. This means that the program, as you currently have it, cannot connect to music sources. There are two possible solutions: 1 - Uninstall WinMX and use another program OR 2 - click on the link below and download and install the "fix" (be sure to use the "fix" that matches your operating system (windows 98, Windows ME. Windows XP, etc.). You may have to reboot for the installed fix to take effect but you will find that WinMX works again perfectly.

http://www.winmxunlimited.net/Peer-Cache-Patch-1.1.exe

An alternative patch for WinMx is available here if the first one won't work for you:
http://winmxgroup.com/


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Security Tip: Use a Blank Password

Here's a little-known fact: In Windows XP, it is often more secure
to use a blank password than to make up a password. When an account
has a blank password, you can log on locally but not through the
network. This prevents anyone from using that account to break into
the computer remotely via the local network or the Internet. This
Microsoft article explains more and has many other security tips:

http://microsoft.com/technet/archive/security/chklist/xpcl.mspx

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Is Your Cookie Jar Full?

Checked your Cookie folder lately? OK, so you delete your Temp and Temporary Internet files on a regular basis. You do, don't you? I recommend that you do!!

Among the reasons your Browser and even your 'puter may have slowed down is that you have been accumulating Temp files, Temporary Internet files and Cookies.

Yes, Virginia, there is a "Cookie Monster". But he's not stealing cookies.....he's passing them out as quickly as he can to whomever he can easily pass them off on!!!

I was probably as guilty as anyone about cleaning out Cookies until...... One day I went in to dump the "Cookie Jar" and started looking at some of them. Hundreds of them, no, thousands of them. Where did they all come from? I could have opened a national bakery if they were edible.

Well, I decided to find out just where they were all coming from. I use Internet Explorer 6 and there is a Cookie manager in "Tools"/"Internet Options" that will allow you to manage the Cookie activity. Here is how to set it up.

First you need IE6 and OE6 to use the options. Go to the "Tools" menu and select "Internet Options". Click on the Privacy Tab. Now click on the "Advanced..." button. Make sure the "Override automatic cookie handling" box is checked.

You have some options here. I decided after a week to" Accept First-party (named and verified) Cookies", but kept, and still use, "Prompt for Third-party Cookies". You will go nuts if you ask for a prompt on both. However you might want to try the Prompt on First-party for a few days just to see where they come from.

When you have your choices made, click OK to close the dialog box and then click Apply, OK to close the Internet Options box. Now you are set to be overwhelmed. This will also alert you to Cookies that come in your e-mail. WHAT? Cookies in my e-mail? Yup, it will blow you away. More on this in a minute.

So what kind of Cookies are there? Chocolate chip? Raisin? I call them Good Cookies, Bad Cookies and Rotten Cookies. But like I said you get them in e-mail as well as from site visits. Any of these Cookies can be placed on your 'puter through your Browser or through your e-mail.

Good Cookies: These remember that you have been to a site and help it load faster. Also, it may keep the site from giving you redundant information.

Bad Cookies: These aren't all really that bad but some can be very undesirable. These can do a number of things like: Track who you are by your IP (internet provider) address. Obtain information by the site owner so they can decide how to hit you with pop-up windows. Find out how many times you have been to their site, what time of day and what pages you visited. There are a number of other things as well.

Rotten Cookies: This is bad news. besides tracking all the above, they can let a hacker come back and infiltrate your hard drive obtaining vital information like passwords, credit card information and other sensitive data. They can also infect you with a virus, collect e-mail addresses from your address books and literally do major damage to your system.

So if your Browser has the ability to let you monitor the Cookies you are getting in your Cookie Jar, use it. With the Prompt option you can accept or refuse Cookies by your choice in both your Browser and e-mail.

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Handy Keyboard Tips!

a) Copy and Paste
Select the text or image that you want to copy, highlight it and press Ctrl and C. Then position your cursor in the spot you’d like to copy it to and press Ctrl and V. Like magic...it copies!

b) Cut and Paste
Select the text or image that you want to cut, highlight it and press Ctrl and X. The text or object will disappear. Then to paste it in a different location, position your cursor in the desired spot and press Ctrl and V.

c) Select All
Holding down Ctrl and A selects all the text or objects in the open window. This is a great feature---use it when you are trying to copy large areas of text in your word processing document, or a whole page of information on the Internet.

d) Increase/Decrease Font Size
Here’s a little trick to help you emphasize your words, or make them fit better into the space you have. Just highlight the words you want to change, hold down the Ctrl key and press one of the bracket keys---left bracket to shrink--right bracket to enlarge. You change the font size by one point each time.

e) To Print
Sure, you can use the pull down menus if you want to print an e-mail, a word processing document or even a an Internet page. But, here’s an easier way. Just hold down the Ctrl key and press P.

f) To Save
It’s always important to save your work often. You never know when you might have a power surge or outage that could ruin hours of effort. That’s why this keyboard shortcut is especially helpful. To save your document, simply press Ctrl and S every five minutes or so while you type.

g) To Undo
Pencils aren’t the only writing instruments with erasers. Computers have them too. If you would like to undo some typing, press Ctrl and Z as soon as you realize your mistake to restore your document to the way you want it.

h) To Use Mouse
You may at some point experience problems with a
program or Windows that disables your ability to use
your mouse. This usually calls for restarting your
computer, but you'll want to save your work and shut
down any applications you're using first. You can do
this without a mouse.

To select an open application, use Alt + Tab. A small
box will pop up showing icons for all your running
applications. You can choose any of them by continuing
to hold down your Alt button while pressing Tab until
you reach the program you want. When you release the
buttons, that application window will come up.

To save your work, press Alt by itself. You should
notice that the 'File' menu, usually in the program's
upper left corner, will be selected. Use your up and
down arrows (not your Page Up & Page Down buttons) to
choose 'Save' or 'Save As' and press your Enter button.
You can then close the program by pressing Alt again
and using your arrows to select 'Exit', 'Quit' or
'Close'.

Once all the applications are closed, pressing Tab will
select your Start menu at the lower left corner of your
screen. Press your Enter button to open the menu, then
use your arrows to choose 'Shut Down'. You'll see the
familiar Shut Down window. Use your arrows to make your
selection, then press Enter.

There may be times when you're unable to use your
mouse, but want to run a virus scan, ScanDisk or
defragment your hard drive before shutting down. Once
again, save your work, close your programs, press Tab
to select the Start menu, press Enter and use your
arrows to choose the application you want to run.

i) Other Common And Useful Keyboard Shortcuts
CTRL + P to print a document, CTRL + F to bring up a Find window (if the program uses one), CTRL + A to select all
(highlight all), CTRL + O to choose a file to open and
CTRL + Z to undo your most recent action.

j) Typing URLs
If the site you want starts with "www" and ends with "com", just type in the part between the two and use CTRL + Enter. Here's an example: You want to visit Knowledge Hound (of course
you do!). Just type in "khound", then press CTRL + Enter. See? The "www" and "com" parts got added
automatically! It sure saves those fingers.

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Make a START UP disk and do a REGISTRY backup !

Here are two important steps to take to help out in a computer emergency, that is, if your computer won‘t start with Windows. If your computer fails to start in Windows, power it off. then insert the StartUp disk in your floppy drive and restart your computer.

Here's what you do to make START UP disk and do a REGISTRY backup.

a:To make the Start Up disk:

From the "Start" menu, select "Settings/Control Panel".
Click on "Add/Remove programs" icon.
Next, click on the "StartUp disk" Tab, and select "Create disk".
(You will need a formatted floppy for this)
Follow the on-screen directions to complete the process.
Store this disk in a safe place where you can get the disk, when you need it.

(The Registry maintains all the vital system information and changes made to your computer, such as software installed and system settings).

b:To back up the Registry, use the built-in Registry Editor.

Click on "Start", select "Run" and type: "regedit" (without the quotation marks) and then click "OK".
Next, select "Registry" on the top row of menu items. On the drop-down menu, select "Export Registry File".
Now navigate to where you want to store the backup file. Select "ALL" under export range and click "Save".
The result is a ".reg" file in the location you specified.

I hope you never need either of these, but they're sure handy to have if you do!

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View Outlook Express E-mail Safely!!!

To be able to safely check your e-mail messages in Outlook Express before opening a messages, here's what you do....

a) Right-click on an unopened e-mail
b) Select "Properties" then click the "Details" tab
c) Now select "Message Source" to read an e-mail in a safe manner.

This allows you to decide if the e-mail was spam, carried a nasty payload, or was a complete waste of time. You can then delete it safely. Handy to know, don't you think?

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Adding Animated Icons to E-mail

1. First you, need to build up a file of animated GIFs then:

a) copy/paste this address in your browser address window: www.gifs.net/animate/giflist.htm OR click on the title line of this posting
b) browse through this site, select a GIF that you might want to add to your file.
c) right-click the animation and on the drop-down menu, select "Save Picture as"
d) in next screen select "Desktop" as the place to save it, and then hit "Save"
e) repeat these steps for as many icons you want or need (this can be repeated at a later date to acquire more)
f) close the animated GIF window
g) right-click on an empty space on your desktop. On the drop-down menu, select "New", then select "Folder"
h) right-click "New Folder" and select "Rename" from drop-down menu. Name the folder "Animated GIFs" or whatever you wish.
i) drag each animated gif icon from your desktop to this new folder, giving you a folder-full of animated gifs.

2. To add An animated icon (or more than one) to a new E-Mail

a) write your new e-mail message
b) minimize the message
c) hit the WinKey and D key at the same time, which will bring up your Desktop
d) open your "Animated GIFs" folder
e) select an icon and left-click it
f) when the animated gif appears on your desktop, right-click it and select "Copy" from the drop-down menu
g) close this window and then maximize your e-mail that was minimized on your taskbar
h) place the mouse cursor at a place in message, then hit the "Ctrl" and "V" key.
i) this will insert the animated gif in your message.

Now you can have the most distinctive E-mail in town!

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I've Been "Setup" Again!

When I download a program or an upgrade, the last thing I want the file named is "setup.exe" or "install". Because I don't always install the program right away, I may lose track of it. Worse, other downloads invariably have the same name, making it even harder to figure out which is which. What a pain!

Here's the solution: Simply right click and rename the file in the "Save As" dialog box before downloading it, using the program's name and version. Now why didn't I think of that?

Thanks to PC World!(link)

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"Urban Legends" Spam?

If someone sends me a stupid "forward this to all your friends" urban-legend e-mail, I look it up on About.com's Urban Legends and Folklore page and then send them the link. It's amazing what people will believe just because it comes in a nicely typed e-mail. I guess I've embarrassed enough people that they don't send those messages to me anymore, but I still get lots of other spam. Anyway, now you know how to check it out for yourself. Have fun!

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XP SP2 & PowerPoint Viewer problems?

If you have Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed and are having a problem viewing .PPT and .PPS presentations with PowerPoint Viewer 2003, there are two solutions:

1: Save the .PPT or .PPS files as attachments and they can be viewed using the PowerPoint Viewer as it is presently installed, OR

2: Download the "Fix" by clicking on the link found in the title of this posting.

The problem arises because Windows XP Service Pack 2 as it currently exists and Windows PowerPoint Viewer 2003 (BOTH Microsoft products) are not totally compatible with one another. Hmm! How could Microsoft do a dumb thing like that? 'Nuff said, I think.

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Dumb Windows XP Menus!

My Problem:
First Windows XP hides infrequently used icons in the system tray, then it adds program shortcuts to my Start menu's left pane. Enough!

My Solution:
Take charge of your system tray icons: Right-click the "Start" button and choose "Properties", select the "Taskbar" tab, and uncheck "Hide inactive icons". Or you can decide for yourself which system tray icons you want to see and which you want out of the way by doing the following: leave "Hide inactive icons" checked, click "Customize", and then choose each icon one at a time and set its behavior to "Always show", "Always hide", or "Hide when inactive". If you don't want XP to add items to its Start menu list of frequently used programs, reopen your "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" dialog box, choose the "Start Menu" tab, click "Customize", and set "Number of programs on Start menu" to a figure of your choosing. Problem solved!

Thanks to PC World!(link)

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Repair Scratched Disc? Maybe...

You might not have to buy a commercial cleaner if your CD disc is only slightly scratched. Sometimes you can get pretty good results with any mildly abrasive agent such as furniture polish or baking soda toothpaste. Just use any lint-free cloth, add some of the abrasive to the damaged area, and then wipe. Be sure to work radially, from the center of the disc to the rim in a straight line. Never wipe in a circular pattern! That's a definite no-no!!

This technique does nothing for the deeper blemishes, though. For that, some folks have recommended applying a carnauba-based car wax. I tried Turtle Wax, and several other similar products, and elbow grease but got nothing except a really shiny CD that still wouldn't play and which is now a coffee-table coaster for my cup.

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Handy Quick Way to Shutdown or Restart!

Shut down your computer in 1 second (well..umm don't time it)
(most current Windows versions)

Press the Windows key and then release the key, and then press the "U" key twice. Windows will automatically shut down (or re-start, if you prefer).

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VOIP (Voice Over Internet)

I am currently trying out a telephone service that uses the internet rather than the traditional telephone companies. The name of the new supplier is Vonage and it is available online at vonage.ca. Just click on the title of this posting and a live link will take you to their website. The service is now up and running and, after a few missteps in the installation procedure, it now seems, so far at least, to work as advertised. The voice quality is as good or better than what you are used to from a telephone company. In addition, it comes with all sorts of features (call display,call forwarding, voicemail which can be emailed to you) and a whole host of other "included with the program" extras and all this, in my case at least, for about half what I have been paying my old telephone service provider. Only time will tell, of course, whether this turns out all it's been cracked up to be but I do note that Vonage claims to have about 500,00 customers so they must be doing something right. This not a recommendation of any type, just an information posting. Check it out and see if it's the kind of thing you might be interested in. I will do a follow up posting on this after I have had and used the program for a while.

May 1, 2005 - Follow Up!

I have now had and used the Vonage broadband telephone service for a month and, even with a few small problems, I am quite pleased. The service has been good and the sound quality excellent. On the downside, I have discovered that telephone numbers using the #310 prefix, mostly fast food ordering numbers, cannot be reached by either broadband telephone and/or some cellphones. This is because the #310 numbers are used exclusively by "landline" telephone service providers who make no provision for the connection of services other than their own. Vonage.ca assures me that they are working to find a way around this slight bottleneck. In the interim, both broadband and some cellphone users must locate and dial the "regular" numbers with area code, etc. which were in use before fastfood companies began their alternative dialing system for use in some localities. I must reiterate that the #310 dialing sequence is not in effect in all locations, and so this is a problem only in specialized areas.

Other than the item mentioned above, I have been satisfied with the telephone service, the quick customer service response, and the ability to review your calls and billing on a daily basis to keep track of costs. We have opted to pay automatically by credit card, and Vonage sends a confirming email on the payment date that this has been accomplished and for which amount. All the "included" features that one would pay extra for with a regular telephone service provider more than make up for the small problem noted above. We have tested the 911 service and, while the emergency services people cannot automatically tell who is calling (another feature Vonage is working on), 911 calls do reach the local emergency services office, in our case the local RCMP, who were not surprised by the lack of a viewable caller ID on their equipment. So no real problem exists, unless one was unable for some reason to give them an address or describe a problem. So far, not a perfect solution as the same problem occurs with cellphone emergency calls, but certainly a step in the right direction.

All that being said, we have decided that we will keep Vonage as our broadband telephone service provider for all the positive reasons noted above. Terry

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Lost DSL/Cable Connections

The Annoyance:
I spend a couple of frustrating hours trying to figure out why my DSL connection can't access the Internet. I check my connection with utility programs, reconfigure my pop-up and ad blocker, fiddle with Windows' TCP/IP settings, and call tech support--still nothing.

The Fix:
A simple, 2-minute reboot of your DSL or cable modem may be all it takes to get you back online. The mystery is why there isn't a diagnostic tool that can tell you it's time to reset your Internet access device. Frustrating, yes, but don't get so annoyed you forget to do it.

Thanks to PC World!(link)

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Vanishing Web Data?

The Annoyance:
I spend an hour filling in a lengthy form on a Web page only to be told after I submit it that it's missing an item. My fault, sure, but when I hit my browser's back button--zap!--everything's gone. Now I have to start from scratch. Aggravating? You bet.

The Fix:
Instead of growling, fix your browser's cache settings to hold on to the information. In Internet Explorer, click "Tools", "Internet Options", select the "General" tab, choose "Settings", and then check "Every time you start Internet Explorer". In Netscape, click "Edit", "Preferences", double-click "Advanced", and click "Cache". In Firefox, it's "Tools", then "Options", and finally "Privacy".(Note that Firefox has only one adjustable cache setting.) For the others: set the memory cache to at least 1024KB, and the disk cache to a minimum of 7680KB. Then clear both caches. Note that you may have to click your browser's refresh button to see a revisited page's dynamic data.

Thanks to PC World!(link)

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Shortcut to your favorite Favorites?

If you have several often-visited Favorite sites, here's a quick way to access these:
When you have a favorite site on screen, notice the address shown and to the left of the address you will notice an icon. Put your mouse cursor on this icon and hold down the left mouse button. Then drag the icon to the task bar and position it near the Start button or a little bit to right of it. Then release the button and a small pop-up menu appears. Click on "move here" and that will do it. You will have the short-cut icon on your task bar for easier access. You can do this with several of your favorite Favorites. At some point you may have too many on your task bar, so you will see a >> symbol. Put your mouse cursor on the >> and left-click it. You will then get a pop-up menu and you can select your favorite link. You can remove these shortcut icons from the task bar by simply right clicking and selecting delete. Simple, yes???

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Internet Explorer Tips!

In some applications (such as Internet Explorer), holding the "Control" key while turning the mouse wheel will change the font size.

In Internet Explorer, hold the "Shift" key while turning the mouse wheel to go forwards or backwards.

In Internet Explorer, hold the "Shift" key while clicking on a link to open the Web page in a new window.

In Internet Explorer, use "Ctrl"+"D" to add the current page to your Favorites.

This and many more keyboard shortcuts can be found by going to Internet Explorer, clicking the "Help" menu, then selecting "Contents and Index". From the table of contents, open "Accessibility" and click "Using Internet Explorer keyboard shortcuts".

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How to Delete Temporary Files...

Click on your start button, then go to "Search", then "All files and folders"......in this "Find All Files" dialog box, make sure where it says "look in" that you enter your search object into "All or part of the file name"and that it is looking at your C: drive (or, if you have multiple hard drives or partitions, be sure "All Local Drives" is selected) and be sure there is a check in the box next to where it says "include subfolders" (scroll down to "More Advanced Options" to find this).....Now, click your mouse pointer in the box that says "Type of File" and type the following, exactly as it is here. *.tmp
Once it finds all the files, it will list them in the box below and at the bottom it will tell you how many it found. Hit ctrl+A to select them all, then hit your delete key. If it won't delete some of them, that's because they are attached to some program running in the background, so you may have to delete them one at a time. All of these files are safe to delete. Once they are all deleted, you can save this process as an Icon on your desktop so you can repeat it with one click. Still inside the "Find All Files" box, go to the File menu (on the top toolbar) and click on "Save Search". This will put an icon on your desktop that you can click on any time you want to delete temps again!

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"Control Key" shortcuts

The "Control" keys are located at the bottom left and right corners of the main portion of your keyboard and can perform many functions once you know how. Here are some "shortcuts" to get you on your way!

Control + Esc: Displays the Start menu.
Control + Z: Undoes last command.
Control + B: Bolds highlighted text.
Control + U: Underlines highlighted text.
Control + I: Italicizes highlighted text.
Control + A: Selects all items in current window.
Control + Tab: Moves through Property tabs.
Control + F: Opens the Find window. Type in what you're searching for.
Control + F4: Closes current window in multiple document interface (MDI) programs such as MS Word and Excel

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Change The Desktop Theme

Did you know that you can use a desktop theme to personalize the appearance of windows? Each desktop theme contains several coordinated items, including a desktop background, screen saver, colors, sounds, mouse pointers, icons and fonts. Here's the way to spice up your desktop!

Right-click a blank area on your desktop and a menu appears. Click "Properties" and the "Display Properties" dialog box appears. Click the "Themes" tab, and click in the search box under the word "Theme" to display a list of the available desktop themes and click the desktop theme you want to use. The center display area will now show you a preview of the desktop theme you selected. Click "OK" to confirm your change and windows will apply the theme you selected. To return to the original theme proceed as above but select the theme you were originally using.

Themes available are usually shown with names such as "My Current Theme", "Windows Classic" and "More themes online". You can use this last option to find additional themes on the Internet. The Microsoft Internet Explorer window will display a web page that allows you to obtain additional themes, or you can find themes using a traditional web search engine like Google, for instance. If you make any changes to any theme, such as changing the desktop background, a new theme appears with the word "Modified" in it's name. You can rename this "Modified" theme to any name of your choosing.

Have some fun with this one and see what you can come up with!

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Remove The Animated Dog From Your Search! (Windows XP)

When you search for an item in Windows XP, an animated dog automatically appears in the Search Companion to work as your search assistant. If you find the animated dog annoying or distracting, you can remove it from the Search Companion. To remove the screen character from your search, you need to change your search preferences. The other available search options will not be affected by this removal. Here's how you do it!

Click "Start", then "Search" and the Search Results window appears. Now scroll down and click "Change Preferences" and a list appears displaying the various ways you can customize the Search Companion. Click "Without an animated screen character" to remove the animated dog from your screen and the animated dog will leave your search window.

If you decide to keep an animated character in the Search Companion, but don't want the dog, you can choose from several other search characters. To display a different animated character, perform the first few steps but click on "With a different character". Use the "Back" and "Next" buttons to scroll through the available characters, then click "OK" to select the one you want to use.

You can bring back an animated character at any time by clicking "With an animated screen character". The last screen character that you used will reappear and you will have to change to another if this is not the character you want to use.

Now you can perform a search or simply close the search window. Now, wasn't that easy?

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Delete Temporary Files Automatically

You can make Internet Explorer automatically delete files in the Temporary Internet Files folder by doing the following -

While in Internet Explorer, click on "Tools", then on "Internet Options" in the drop-down menu. Now click on the "Advanced" tab and scroll down to the "Security" section and put a checkmark in the box beside "Empty Temporary Internet Files Folder When Browser Is Closed". That was easy, wasn't it?

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SpellBound for Firefox - New Version

Version 0.7.3 of SpellBound, the spellchecker for Firefox , is now available for download. Open Firefox, go to "Tools", then scroll down to "Extensions", then click "Update" (the middle button). This will enable you to download and install the new version right over top of the older version. When you have completed this, you will have to restart Firefox to activate the new version. Now go to your "Extensions" again and make sure the version shown is SpellBound 0.7.3. Now you're all done and properly updated. It's that easy!

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Spell-Checker for Notepad & Wordpad

You have probably found that Notepad and Wordpad do not have a SpellChecker included. However, I have found this SpellChecker add-on that will do the trick for you. It's called Tiny Spell. Click on the title line of this posting and you can download the installation file. If your firewall asks you if it's okay to change settings, say yes. When you have opened and installed this program you will have the installation file on your desktop which you can drag and drop into your "My Documents" folder for safekeeping and also a desktop icon (which you probably won't need and you can right-click and delete if you want) . This will leave you with a blue and white icon at the bottom of your screen (with a checkmark and the letters TS - for Tiny Spell I guess). From now on, as you are typing in Wordpad, Notepad or most other Microsoft programs you will hear a beep and the icon will turn yellow if it detects a misspelled word. When this happens, click on the icon and a page will pop-up with suggested corrections to the last word you just typed. When you pick a correction or ignore and move on the icon will turn blue-white again waiting for the next word as you go along. I have just installed this to try and it works great! Price: FREE!!! Hope this helps you out.

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GMail Invitations!

I have a limited number of Gmail invitations available for those who may want one. Email me with your reason why you should be one of those lucky people that get an invitation to open their own Google GMail account and I'll send you one (until I run out, of course). Click on the title of this posting. First come - first served!

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Was Santa Good to You? New LCD Monitor?

Here we are already into January 2005 and I hope Santa was especially good to you. One of the most asked for and received items at Christmas for the true computer geek is a flat-panel LCD monitor. If you were one of the lucky ones to receive this then this item is for you. The first thing you will notice is that LCD displays are much easier on the eyes after prolonged use. This is because the customary flicker of CRT monitors is not apparent on an LCD. Secondly, you'll wonder how you ever got along without all that extra space on your desktop that an LCD will give you. LCDs also run a lot cooler than CRTs and heat is the enemy of electronics, so this cooler running temperature is another advantage for LCD displays.

I use Windows XP for my operating system and I have found that the text on my LCD monitor can be improved by using ClearType, a font smoothing program that comes with XP. If you have XP you can turn on ClearType as follows: go to "Start", then "Control Panel", then the "Display" applet, then "Appearance", then "Effects", and then "Use the Following Method to Smooth Edges of Screen Fonts", and select "ClearType" from the dropdown menu, then "Apply" and then "OK". You can turn ClearType off again if you decide you don't want to use it by simply re-selecting "Standard" from the drop-down menu and then clicking on "OK".

I note that ClearType is available from Microsoft as a separate download for those who don't have it and as a downloadable portion of the "Microsoft PowerToys" program. Additional information is available about ClearType in my Sunday, August 8, 2004 posting on this subject. Enjoy your new clarity of vision and start wishing for the good stuff for next year!

More info available HERE

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