Save as you edit and create

I regularly talk about backup on this site and on the radio show.  One part of backup that you might have overlooked is the process of saving the work that is currently on your screen. Whether it be an email, a word processing document, a movie, a photo or any other file you are editing, saving as you work always pays off. The process is simple, the habit takes perseverance. Save and name your project as soon as you begin...

Use keyboard shortcuts to save time editing text &...

Save some time when editing any type of text document (email, word processing document, blog, etc) by learning these keyboard shortcuts: Press Home to get to the beginning of a line Press End to move to the end of a line Press Ctrl + Home to get to the top of a document Press Ctrl + End to get to the end of a document Press Ctrl + Up Arrow to get to the beginning of a paragraph Press Ctrl + Down Arrow to get to the end of a...

Email of the Week – 001

Starting today, I will be posting a minimum of one email from your submissions here on the web site in addition to my regular weekly feature Rick Answers His Email Videocast. I will title them all the same way and they will have their own category you can access from the Category list on the right of every page here at HelpMeRick.com. I will also include the original email (via submissions from the Ask a question form listed...

How to upgrade to AVG 8.5 Free – Video Tip

AVG released the new version of their security software about two weeks ago. Many of you have asked, should you upgrade and if so, how. Follow these steps and watch this video on how to get through process quickly and correctly. It is imperative that you both read these instructions and watch the video. Visit my site and scroll down to my Links & Resources section on any web page here at HelpMeRick.com Click AVG...

Stop the Microsoft Office Agreement (EULA) from po...

If you are using Microsoft Office 2003 and Windows Vista, you might run into a situation where the End User License Agreement pops up every time you start Outlook, Word, Excel or other Office programs. No matter how many times you click “I agree”, the license keeps appearing. To stop the EULA from appearing, follow these steps: Close ALL Microsoft Office related programs (Outlook, Publisher, Powerpoint, Excel,...

What to do with an AVG found virus sreen

If you use AVG Antivirus, you will be presented with the above screen at some time or another. Don’t immediately push the Move to Vault button or the Heal button. Instead, check the box labeled Remove as Power User, then click the Heal button. Checking that box first yanks the legs out from the virus and disposes of it immediately. ...

Microsoft Word’s AutoComplete and AutoCorrec...

If you use Microsoft Word, you may notice that at the end of a letter, if you start typing ‘Sin’, a little yellow box flashes up with ‘Sincerely’ in it. Likewise, if you start a letter with ‘To whom’, the box flashes at you with ‘To whom it may concern’. These little yellow boxes are part of Word’s Auto-Complete and Auto Format functions. Microsoft Word tries to guess...

Change your Bullets – Video Tip

Bullets, in Microsoft Word and other word processors, allow users to bring attention to a list of items as seen here: Bullets are fun Bullets are customizable Bullets make documents easier to read Unlike my boring ‘dot’ bullets above, you can use this week’s tip to customize your Microsoft Word bullets to suit your style and document’s purpose. First, to create a bulleted list follow these...

AVG Update Error – Video Tip

AVG has been experiencing incredible growth over the past two years, and unfortunately that has translated into some occasional problems with getting updates from their servers. When you receive an update error, however, that does NOT mean you are unprotected. It simply means that you can’t get an update at that particular moment. Watch the video below to hear and see my explanation of this issue, what it means to you,...

Choose how many recently opened files show in Micr...

In almost any program where you can create, save, and edit documents, clicking the File menu (or the Office orb in Office 2007) shows a list of your most recently used documents for that program. With Microsoft Office, you can control exactly how many recent documents are shown. With Microsoft Office 2003 applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc) and all versions prior, you control this option by following these steps in...

Google Earth – The Dime Tour – Video T...

If you have high speed Internet and haven’t tried Google Earth, give it a try. Even if you aren’t a geography buff, you will find Google Earth to be a fascinating resource to try out. Google Earth is another free product from Google that combines their excellent searching skills with a fully interactive globe. You can search for street addresses, points of interest, historical locations and then layer on other...

Create photo slide shows online in minutes! –...

Some may say I drank the Web 2.0 cool-aid, but I say bring me another glass! This week I bring you yet another astounding piece of online technology that gives you the power to create a professional photo slide show complete with music and transitions in minutes! I frequently get asked to make suggestions for creating a photo slide show, but I know that most programs require too much time and expertise to be useful. Enter...

Solution to strange folders synchronizing error in...

I ran into a problem with Microsoft Outlook 2007 that I never seen. When Outlook was running, a small icon in the system tray was working like crazy on synchronizing folders. Synchronizing folders in Outlook 2007 is usually reserved for large office environments where users share calendars, contacts, etc. This particular computer user was on a standalone system. The little icon itself wasn’t the problem, but the fact...

Remove .NET Framework and solve Quickbooks startup...

Microsoft Framework .NET consists of a set of tools that allow programmers to tap into some web related technologies for creating rich, interactive applications for our computers and web sites. Unfortunately, it sometimes causes problems as well. This week alone, I helped 3 Quickbooks users overcome problems with their programs hanging or failing to start by uninstalling and reinstalling the .NET Framework. Unfortunately,...

Zoho Spreadsheet Update

My favorite online application suite, Zoho, just got a little more powerful today for spreadsheet users. The Zoho spreadsheet, known as Zoho Sheet, added two huge features today; Macros and Pivot Tables. Power spreadsheet users use these two features often and will appreciate Zoho Sheet’s new found power. For an overview, watch this video from Zoho: ...