How to download and install CutePDF Free – V...

CutePDF has been one of my favorite computer utilities for many years. This small (free) utility lets you create a PDF (portable document format) file from anything that you can print. I use it to save web pages, online shopping receipts, and many other items that I might be tempted to print to paper. Instead, I print it using CutePDF and save the resulting PDF file in a folder for long term storage and retrieval. No paper,...

How to save money on paper and ink

Business Week published an article in 1975 touting the virtues of and dawning of the paperless office. Sadly, except for the paper industry, we still aren’t there 35+ years later! In the past 40 years, paper use has tripled. In the United States alone, we use more than 400 million ink cartridges per year. I do not consider myself an environmentalist. However, I do consider myself a practicalist (I’m coining the...

How to type on a PDF or scanned form – Video...

One of the computer’s greatest weaknesses is filling in forms…until now! For a long time, I have recommended using FoxIt Reader as my PDF (Adobe portable document format) reader of choice. On and off, they have offered tools to help you fill in forms or annotate documents, but with their newest version, the form filler or typewriter tool is now enhanced and permanent. FoxIt’s typewriter tool is fast,...

10 Skills EVERY computer user should have (or lear...

I originally posted this list in January 2007. However, through my keen observation skills, I discovered that all computer users have not yet read and digested this information. For this reason, I’m posting it again because I won’t stop working to educate computer users until every computer user knows these 10 skills. Computers have become almost a main stream household appliance. Whether you have been using a...

Web surfing 101…again

Catching up on my reading, I ran across yet another article outlining how easily unsuspecting web users can be duped into infecting their machines and voluntarily giving up their own hard earned money. You MUST read this article, IF you want to keep yourself, your wallet, and your computer safe. Wired published the article I was reading today in their Ocotober issue. You can read it by clicking here. Executive summary:  Bad...

How to print labels the EASY way! – Video Tip

You can learn and start using this tip TODAY to make Christmas card or group mailings a breeze. Too many computer users have no idea what a database is, how to use it, and how to merge it with another program to create labels. Since printing mailing labels is only a once per year activity for many of you, learning how to do it again every single year requires too much time and frustration. In this week’s tip, I take all...

Holiday Computer Madness

Every year for the last 7-8 years, I bring up a version of this tip to help save you time and money during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years visiting season. Please follow the advice. I can guarantee that it will save you and your computer lots of grief. With all the traveling done during the holidays, your computer is bound to be taken hostage by friends and family wanting to check their email or play a game or two....

Learn Minesweeper & give Solitaire or FreeCel...

Solitaire seems to be a game that is synonymous with computers. Microsoft planted the game in Windows not only for entertainment, but also for new computer users to learn mouse skills (click-and-drag, double-click, etc). Some computer users have branched out to FreeCell and like it better than Solitaire. However, have you tried playing Minesweeper? Minesweeper appears difficult upon first look. And yes, it does require some...

Easy File Management – Video Tip

You can easily delete and rename files from within almost any computer program. To delete a file or folder: Click  File from the menu of any program Click  Open In the window that pops up, click ONCE on any document you want to delete Push Delete on your keyboard.  Repeat as many times as you would like.   To rename a file or folder: Click File from the menu of any program Click  Open Click ONCE on the file you...

Remember to Minimize

Every now and then, I like to bring up tips that appear elementary, but are seldom used. This week’s tip falls into that category. In my travels, it surprises me how many computer users forget that more than one computer program can be run at the same time. The trick is not necessarily running multiple programs, but keeping track of where they are. If you are using a word processor, for example, and you want to check a...

Rick’s guide to trouble free computing

In January, this web site and my business turned 16 years old. In that time, I have worked on thousands of computers ranging from the oldest DOS machines to the newest gaming and Mac monsters. My youngest client in that time has been 5 years old and my oldest was a 94 year old author writing a book for the first time on a PC. When your work in any field for a certain period of time, you start to spot patterns and...

5 Quick and Easy Steps to Spring Clean your PC

Spring has sprung and along with your other spring cleaning chores add these five computer cleaning techniques to keep your computer clean, cool, and happy. Desktops: Unplug all of your cables (label them if necessary) and take the tower outside. Open up the side (usually thumb screws or a latch on the back of the computer) and blow the dust out of the system with a can of compressed air. I recommend starting from the top...

9 Tweaks I perform for a new client’s comput...

When I meet a client’s computer for the first time, I go through a little routine to check for problems, improve performance, and speed up boot times. You can do it to your own computer too. Use Task Manager to see how many processes are running and determine how much tweaking I have to do to startup. Use msconfig to streamline the startup process Install CCleaner to cleanup temporary files Check on the amount of RAM...

Selecting Text and Files – Video Tip

Here are some techniques for making the selection of files and text easier and more efficient for you as you work with your computer. This tip also includes a narrated video to further demonstrate these important skills. Double click on a word to select it Click and drag in the margin of your word processor to select entire line(s) of text Push the Ctrl+A key on your keyboard to select all text in a ...

Learn how to use the Printer Friendly option ̵...

Last year, I wrote an article and made a how-to video focusing on how to print your web based email in an easier to read and fit format that also saves, time and money. At the end of that video, I briefly talked about the printer friendly format available from many sites on the web that will reformat what you are reading into a more paper and ink friendly format. In today’s tip, I focus on the printer friendly aspect of...