Archive for January, 2006
Avoiding physical problems caused by computer use
It’s important to make sure that using a computer doesn’t cause physical strain. Back and wrist problems are not uncommon, not to mention eye strain. There is nothing at the site that commonsense wouldn’t tell you but it doesn’t hurt to look at Microsoft’s 10 healthy computing tips. Another reference to look at is from [...]
Have your Internet favorites or bookmarks available anywhere
I travel a lot and sometimes I end up using a computer in a library, Internet cafe, or other public place. I like to have access to my Internet favorites (AKA bookmarks) so I have a copy of them at a place on the Web where I can access them from anywhere. I happen to [...]
The Return of the C:\ Prompt?
The command line returns! Actually it never went away. However PC World reports that there will be a new command-line interface in Windows Vista. That may not sound very interesting to many people but it means that a lot of system and file tasks may be easier. PC World says
Code-named Monad, the new shell will [...]
Forgotten Windows XP passwords
Many home users of Windows do not bother with passwords for their user accounts but if you do use passwords (a good idea for multi-user systems) then you may want to create a password reset disk. Then if you forget your password, you wil have a way to get back into your user account. The [...]
Backup file for Windows product activation
Windows keeps a file that contains a coded record or “hash” of the type of hardware that your system has installed. It is part of the Windows Product Activation process. The file’s name is wpa.dbl and it is in the folder Windows\system32\. There is also a backup file wpa.bak. These files should be copied [...]
Make Web pages easier to read in Internet Explorer (continued)
Size is not the only font property that can affect the readability of a Web page. Font style matters also. Some sites use serif fonts such as Times New Roman. These fonts are standard for print media but are harder to read on Web pages. If you wish a more Web friendly style of font, [...]
Make Web pages easier to read in Internet Explorer
If you find that the text on a Web page is too small to read comfortably, go to the IE menu entry, View-Text Size. There are five settings listed; choose the one best suited for you. If the font sizes have been set to specific pixel settings by the author of the page, this method [...]
Notepad tip- Go to a given line
The Windows accessory Notepad is a humble but very useful little program. I use it all the time. Here is one of its lesser-known features. When you have a file open in Notepad, you can send the cursor to a particular line by pressing the keyboard combination “Ctrl+g” and then entering the line number [...]
A multitude of ways to use a thumb drive
“Thumb” drives or USB flash drives or whatever you call them have become the medium for all kinds of applications. PC World has an article on some of the many ways that these handy little gadgets are being used. Not only are they great for moving files from one computer to another but they can [...]
Gone but Not Forgotten: Recovering Deleted Files
The usual procedure for deleting a file in Windows contains the safety feature of first placing the deleted file in the Recycle Bin. If you change your mind and want the file back, it can then be restored. But what about permanently deleted files? If you bypass the Recycle Bin or empty it, the “deleted” [...]
Easy ways to access favorite folders with custom toolbars
If you have several folders that you access frequently, you can have them readily at hand by creating a custom toolbar. First, create a folder that contains the shortcuts you want. Then, to create a taskbar-based toolbar, right-click an empty area of the Task Bar, select Toolbars and then New Toolbar. Choose your folder in [...]
