Copy | Castellini on Computers - Computer help for beginners

Posts Tagged: copy

Changing email addresses – It’s not that difficult

photo credit: TheeErin

AOL made millions of dollars for years because computer users are afraid to change their email addresses. All week long, I hear, “Oh, it’s too hard to change email addresses now.” Or, “It will take forever to change my email address with everyone.”

Come on folks…we’re using computers! You don’t have to fill out a change of address form and march it down to the postal office. You don’t have to send out a post card to every person you know. You don’t have to fill out a change of address for all your bills and utilities.

Changing email addresses is actually pretty painless and can be cathartic as well. In fact, think of it as going into the digital identity protection program. Here’s how to make it a smooth transition Continue reading →

Share YOUR Favorite Keyboard Shortcuts

I’m always amazed at how surprised computer users become when they learn about a keyboard shortcut. A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that you press on your keyboard to perform a particular function. If you learn them and practice them, they can shave hours off of the tedious maneuvering of the mouse.

These are my favorite and most used computer keyboard shortcuts:

Alt + TAB	Switch between Open Windows
Windows key + E	Open Internet Explorer
Windows key + M	Minimize all windows and show the desktop
Ctrl + C	Copy
Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert	Paste
Arrow keys	To scroll pages and place my cursor
TAB	Move between form fields (boxes)
F2	Rename a file or folder
Ctrl + F	Usually on the web to search for a word on a page
Windows key + R	Open the Run Command

Here are a couple more tips that Continue reading →

Hardware Tips / Windows Tips — 2 Comments
9
Oct 09

How to burn a CD with Windows XP

photo credit: nickwheeleroz (on holiday)

Floppy disks have long since departed from the computer landscape. Most comptuer companies have not included floppy drives as standard equipment for at least two years. I say good riddance except for one thing…they were easy to use. Computer users felt comfortable copying and backing up information to these slow, yet convenient drives.

For quick and roomy storage today, I recommend flash memory drives (click here for a tip describing these).

However, almost all computers now come with a CD/DVD burner drive…a CD/DVD drives capable of creating (burning) CD’s. Capable is the operative word in this sentence because many computer users still feel daunted by the task of burning a CD. Windows XP aims to help simplify the process and does a reasonably good job at it. Here’s how to burn a CD with Windows XP: Continue reading →

Email Tips — 11 Comments
3
Oct 09

Backup Outlook Express Email – Video Tip

This week’s tip also applies to Windows Vista users who use Windows Mail…which is basically Outlook Express with a new name.

I still recommend that emailers save their important pictures and documents sent to them via email to a folder on their computer for easier backup (see my video tip on how to do this by clicking here), but many people also save a great deal of email and don’t want Continue reading →

Riding Shotgun with Rick / Windows Tips — 4 Comments
20
Aug 09

Cleaning and removing Antivirus 2009, PAV and others from your computer,

Photo by Jim Grandy

Preventing your computer from becoming infected is infinitely easier and less stressful than cleaning up after an infection.

Search my site for tons of information on setting up your computer for security and techniques to avoid scams. However, if you are already bit by one of the most recent nasty forms of software, Antivirus 2008, Antivirus 2009, Personal Antivirus, Internet Security 2009 among others (software I call extortionware that installs itself on your computer and then poses as Continue reading →

Application Tips — No Comments
9
Jun 09

Save as you edit and create

photo credit: Anonymous Account

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 them. By doing this, you can simply click the SAVE button (looks like little floppy disk on the toolbar) or push Ctrl+S keyboard shortcut every five minutes or so that you don’t lose your work.

Since you already named the document/project, using the save feature is quick and easy as your work on it. I guarantee at some point in your computing life time, you will thank me for this tip…or curse yourself for not putting it into action.

Computer User Group / General Computer Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 14 Comments
26
Apr 09

10 Skills EVERY computer user should have (or learn)

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 computer for fifteen years or one, these skills should be second nature:

Cut, Copy, Paste
Print just what you want (word processing, email, web)
Backup your address book
Select (highlight) text or files
Properly uninstall unwanted programs
Burn a CD
Download files from the Internet
Use MSCONFIG ; Another MSCONFIG tip
Search the Internet
Attach Files to an email

If you already know how to do these skills, please pass this article along to someone who doesn’t…help me help other computer users.

Riding Shotgun with Rick / Videocasts — 1 Comment
11
Jan 09

Rick answers his email Videocast – 027

A great question this week about how to fill out a paper form using your computer. Many other good questions as well including my answer to a writer who downloaded an illegal copy of Photoshop. This week, the Videocast is brought to you by questions from: Terry, Fern, Marcia, Sudarshin, Richard, Gayle, Kim, Bernie, Bill, Azumah, Jack, and Mike.

Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
29
Dec 08

Don’t buy a new computer yet

2009 is upon us and computer prices are incredibly low, but if you can wait a year to buy a new computer, I would highly recommend it. Why? Microsoft plans on releasing the next version of Windows either late in 2009 or early in 2010. All indications point to the earlier release since Microsoft is anxious to bury Vista.

Last week, Microsoft extended the life of Windows XP for a fifth time! This indicates the continued reluctance (especially in the business world) to adopt Windows Vista. Currently, you can get XP installed on a new computer only through Dell’s business web site and through some independent builders. Buying a copy of Windows XP from limited vendors doesn’t help much either since so many of the new computers out there today don’t ship with or have Windows XP drivers available for video, audio, Ethernet and other hardware components.

I still firmly believe that if you don’t use any Windows specialty software and tend to use your computer only for email, Internet, digital photography, word processing, and games, you should seriously think about an Apple computer or installing Linux/Ubuntu on a new or existing computer an bypass Windows altogether. If you don’t want to follow that advice or need specialty Windows software, stay with what you have for another year until Windows 7 is released.

The beta (test) versions of Windows 7 are being released now, and I plan to install and keep up with them in the next couple of months. Keep your eye on the site for more information on Windows 7 as I learn more.

Riding Shotgun with Rick — 5 Comments
24
Oct 08

Treo, what Treo?

iPhone 3G Screen Shot After two solid months of using my iPhone 3G, I decided it was time for a short update. As many of you know, I used a Palm device for many years, ending with the Treo from 2003 through this August. When the first iPhone came out, I was intrigued, but thought Apple missed the boat, for me, by not utilizing the fastest cellular data network and not allowing 3rd party applications. When they announced the new iPhone last January and finally released it this summer, they had added the fast cellular network service and opened the system for third party development. It caught my attention in a big way this as it has 7 million other new iPhone 3G owners since its release in July.

Overall, the iPhone has performed wonderfully and with the exception of no cut, copy and paste (when Apple? when?) it has performed admirably. I have been able to duplicate all the functions I used the Treo for, and added many new capabilities. I use the phone the most…after all, it is a cell phone. The visual voice mail system that lets you pick which message to listen to first or have the ability to visually pause, rewind or fast forward voice mail is stunningly implemented and makes managing voice mail much easier.

For extra applications, I settled on SplashID to manage my passwords, Grocery Zen to create shopping lists (I get through the store in at least 25% less time now), Now Playing to look up movie times, Pandora for listening to music (don’t have much time to do this, but it works well), Woot On! to check the daily Woot, but especially helpful when there is a Woot Off, WeDict for a dictionary, Wikipanion for great mobile access to Wikipedia, SportsTap keeps me up to date on sports I follow, Units application for converting volume, length, weight, etc. I also downloaded and occasionally use Word Warp, Sudoku, Tris (tetris clone), reMovem, and Blocks Classic for quick games. For future travel, I downloaded the mobile versions of Yelp and Hotels.com.

The built-in email application works well, and I use it daily in addition to browsing the web. The iPhone truly has exceeded my expectations, and I have no regrets about moving from the Palm based Treo and over to the iPhone. Apple promises to add cut, copy, and paste to the iPhone at some point. I hope they make it quick!

If you happen to own an iPhone, leave a comment below and let me know what your experiences are with it. Also, let me know what applications you have added and which are your favorites.