HelpMeRick.com - Computer help for beginners - Castellini on Computers

Clean your inbox Update: Following on the heels of Gmail’s update, I thought I would re-share this article as well that I posted nearly 4 years ago. To this day, I still follow these recommendations and email is no longer a thorn in my digital side. Give it a try! Email truly revolutionized communication. The ability to retrieve a message from anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds is mind boggling. However, judging by the size of your inboxes (a poll I...

Google rolling out new Gmail look and functions – Video Tip UPDATE: I posted this tip in November of 2011, but many Gmail users didn’t have the new Gmail interface yet, so I’m bringing this back out of the archives since all new accounts and most exiting ones are now in the new format. Starting today, Google is rolling out the option for you to try out there new interface (look and function). You will see an option to try out the system in the lower right hand side of your Gmail screen (see picture at...

How to find the best apps in Apple’s App Store If you use an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, you have access to more than 600,000 apps (at the time of this writing) and growing. Great news right? Yes and no. If you don’t practice a little search narrowing , then finding a good app can be a frustrating and time consuming experience. In this tip, I give you a step-by-step outline on how to quickly and accurately separate the good apps from the mediocre or poor apps. Give it a try and let me know what...

Windows XP User Picture

Windows XP reached its first birthday last month. Yet, as with all other versions of Windows, learning all the tricks takes a lot of time OR just listening to my show and reading the Tip of the Week! If you use Windows XP and use the default ‘two column’ Start menu, then you see your Windows user name and picture at the top of the menu. The stock pictures that come with Windows XP include a frog, cat eye,...

Windows XP Printing

Over the past year, I have pointed out many of the great features of Windows XP. One more to add to the list is the improved printing engines added to XP. In particular, I really like that XP prints the last page first and the first page last for documents that span two or greater pages. You might think that this seems backward, but think about it for a moment. When you print with Windows 95/98/Me, you have to take the...

Windows XP Makes Computing Easier

When Microsoft released the latest version of Windows in October ’01, one of the most touted features was its redesigned user interface. The press and reviewers of the software initially called the interface “Fisher Price” like, but after working with the operating system over the past four months, I have come to appreciate some of the new usability features. Some basic computing functions like renaming,...

Windows XP Look and Feel

Recently, I read an article that described the new Windows XP color and icon scheme as “Fisher-Price” like…you know, the toy company. It made me chuckle and has some truth to it. I happen to be ok with the new change, but you may not. If you aren’t, you can easily revert back to the traditional Windows colors and icons by: 1. RIGHT Click on the desktop 2. Click on Properties 3. Choose Windows...

Windows Update? Yes, you should…

When Windows XP was released nearly two years ago, it was hailed as a ‘self-healing’ operating system (via the Windows Update system). Two years later, it has, in my humble opinion, held its own as a stable, fast operating system. However, Microsoft remains a large target for the tech degenerates of the world to launch assaults upon. And when these ingrates go after Microsoft, they unfortunately take many of us...

Windows Tools that Moved

Windows XP has been with us almost eight months now and XP users are starting to request some XP specific tips. Don’t let it be said that I’m not responsive to my listeners requests (I welcome and consider them all). If you are using the new Windows XP and have been looking for some old favorite tools from your Windows 95/98 days, read onward my friend. I use Windows Explorer probably more than any other tool in...

Using the Resource Meter

Lack of memory can cause many of the most common computer problems. Learn how to keep track of your computer memory and what to do about it using the Resource Meter. Windows 98 and Me usually have this feature installed by default. You can find the resource meter by clicking on Start –> Programs –> Accessories –> System Tools –> Resource Meter Windows 95 users may need to install the...

Take Advantage of Window’s Folder Views

Viewing files and their attributes works great in all version of Windows IF you know hot to take advantage of the different folder views. It makes managing and searching through your files much easier. In all versions of Windows, you can view files in List, Icon, Tile, or Details view. With Windows XP, you can view files in Thumbnail view or Filmstrip view for pictures. Tile view shows an icon representing the program used...

Tackle the OPEN WITH problem with confidence

The reason we see the “open with” dialog box (see picture) when a file is double-clicked boils down to one of two scenarios: 1) We do not own a program that can read the file or 2) We shouldn’t be viewing or messing with the file anyway. To approach this box, first determine what type of file it was you were attempting to open by canceling the box above, then RIGHT click on the file and click properties to...

System File Checker (Windows 98 only)

Some very astute listeners asked me to expand on the System File Checker I refer to on the air. System File Checker (SFC) exists only in Windows 98 and Windows 98 SE. Windows 95 didn’t have it and neither do Windows Me or Windows XP. SFC was designed to help cut down on illegal operations and blue screen make to crucial system files. If your Win98 system has become unstable or ‘buggy’, running the SFC...

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Windows XP User Picture

Windows XP Printing

Windows XP Makes Computing Easier

Windows XP Look and Feel

Windows Update? Yes, you should…

Windows Tools that Moved

Using the Resource Meter

Take Advantage of Window’s Folder Views

Tackle the OPEN WITH problem with confidence

System File Checker (Windows 98 only)

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