Computer management
Remapping special keys on the keyboard
I have posted about remapping keys like the “caps lock” before. I have also written elsewhere about remapping the standard keyboard in general. However, a special case is presented by those keys that are added by manufacturers to access software like Internet Explorer or email clients or media players. These keys often do not correspond [...]
Open file and folder properties sheets from the keyboard
Some of the most common file or folder operations involve the properties sheet. It is usual to access this dialog box by right-clicking on the file or folder and then selecting “Properties” from the context menu. Another way that may be faster is to hold down the “Alt” key and double-click the file or folder. [...]
Free partitioning software
For various reasons it is sometimes desired to divide up the space on a hard drive into separate partitions. For example, you might want to have access to several operating systems or you might want to place your data and your programs on separate partitions. There are several commercial partitioning programs but one that is [...]
Quick keyboard launch of applications
The Quick Launch toolbar has provided a way to easily open favorite applications with a mouse click ever since Windows 98. In Windows Vista, a hotkey function using the Windows key was introduced and then continued in Windows 7. Each icon in the Quick Launch Bar is assigned a number 1-9 from left to right. [...]
Can all information be free?
In this age of the Internet, the question of copyright and intellectual property is a thorny one. The New York Times has an interesting discussion by John Tierney of some aspects of the question, including some points raised in a book by Jaron Lanier:
When does the wisdom of crowds give way to the meanness of [...]
Remove the touchpad problem when typing
I know that touch is the hot new paradigm of computer interfacing but I have never liked touchpads on laptops. One problem that I and others have with touchpads is the annoyance of accidentally contacting them while typing. I’d be working away on a document and suddenly half of it would disappear or text would [...]
Backing up is essential but restoring is the real test
OK, you made that New Year’s resolution to back up and so far you are following through. But there is one thing about backups that doesn’t get mentioned often enough. The whole point of a backup is to be able to restore it if something happens to your system. That’s why backups have to be [...]
How to find out what’s on your system
It is my experience that average PC users have only a vague idea of what software and hardware is on their systems. For a variety of reasons, it’s a good idea to have a record of what you have and periodically I mention free utilities for that purpose. Windows has its own utility, System [...]
Give a suspicious file the real once-over
Got a file you want to check out? Really check out? How about scanning it with 41 different anti-virus programs? That’s what Virus Total Uploader will do. Lifehacker gives some details:
VirusTotal Uploader automatically uploads any file to online virus scanner VirusTotal, scanning it for viruses with 41 different popular antivirus applications—and now it’s even better [...]
Taking advantage of the average PC user
The average PC owner is at a great disadvantage when it comes to computer repairs and fixes. Very few have any idea of what goes on in Windows and most have to accept on faith whatever someone tells them about a misbehaving computer. To some extent this is also true of cars and household appliances [...]
New Year’s resolutions for the PC user
I suspect that most people soon fall by the wayside when it comes to keeping those resolutions made for the New Year. After all, if things were easy, we wouldn’t have to be making declarations of good intentions in the first place. Nonetheless, I think it’s worth looking at some practices that all PC users [...]
