Posts Tagged: copy

Internet Tips — 2 Comments
22
Oct 08

7 ways to become a more efficient web user – Video Tip

This is a reintroduction and retitling of a previous video/tip because of a copyright infringement complaint from Franklin Covey. Hopefully, the new title and verbiage will satisfy their legal staff.

All week long I help computer users of all ages and experience levels. Too often, I see that many computer users (beginners and experienced alike) do not utilize or know about some basic web browsing skills that will speed their work and give them less problems when using the Internet.

In this week’s tip, I will highlight the inefficient habits computer users use and replace them with tips that will make YOU a quicker and more profecient web user.

1.  Using an old browser

No matter how old your computer is or what operating system you are using, DO NOT USE INTERNET EXPLORER 6 (IE 6). IE 6 is late 20th century technology and is not compatible with much of the web today and it also poses the greatest security risks.

Instead, use Mozilla Firefox, Opera,  or if you must use Internet Explorer, use version 7.

2.  Using a search engine instead of the address bar

If you know a web address you are trying to visit, do NOT use a search engine to type that address, type it directly into the address bar and press Enter on your keyboard.

3.  Closing the web browser or clicking the Home icon before going to another web site.

When changing channels on a television, you don’t always go back to channel 1, then go to the channel you wanted do you? Likewise, with the web, you can simply click a bookmark or type web address in the address bar to move on to a new web site. You don’t need to close the window or click Home first.

4.  Keeping the default browser home page

Your Internet provider often installs their web site as your “home page” (the first page you see when you launch your browser). However, if you never use that page, change it to something you will use.

5.  Overuse of the back button

With older browsers (see Habit 1 above), we had little choice but to click on links, then the back button to reach our previous page. True, some people learned to use multiple browser windows, but even that is a dated technique now.

Modern browsers give us the efficiency and elegance of opening multiple pages in what are known as tabs. Tabbed browsing will drastically cut your use of the back button and change your web browsing life forever…for the better.

6.  Wasting paper, time, and money by printing more information than necessary

The Internet definitely gave paper companies a new lease on life because we print more today than ever before. However, too often, Internet users want a certain amount of information from a web site and end up getting 6-8 or more extra pages of information they don’t need.

Instead, take advantage of this easy to follow tip that lets YOU select exactly what you want to print and print only that.

7.  Search from a search engine site

Searching the Internet is by the greatest, in my opinion, function available for our computers. However, with modern browsers, again see Habit 1, there is no need to visit the search engine site to start your searches. Instead, use the built-in search bar in your browser. You can find it in the upper right corner of IE 7, Firefox, Safari, and Opera.

Watch the short video below to see all these tips in action and also use the links in this article for more details. Master all of these tips and you will be a web surfer with 7 highly effective habits!

Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
17
Oct 08

What is Open Source?

Jazz BandOpen Source software began soon after computers became main stream in offices and then homes. In a nut shell, Open Source refers to software developed under a set standard of rules that developers agree upon to make the software freely available, no penalties for copying or sharing the programs (in fact, it is encouraged to share the software), the source code (programming) must be made available to anyone, and the software must also have no restrictions on others making variations of the software. You can read an exact definition and read the licensing information at the Open Source Initiative web site here.

Open Source software seems to be gaining more and more traction in the computer world as budgets start to tighten in an uncertain financial climate. This week, OpenOffice.org released the newest version of their Open Source office suite software. I’ve been using the beta version of the software for a couple of months and find it to be quite good. OpenOffice is considered one of the bright lights in the Open Source software world and for good reason. It offers an extremely viable option to Microsoft Office and gains new users and fans every single day.

Another Open Source darling is Linux and its various forms (distros). Linux is an Open Source operating system and the poster child for it today is Ubuntu. Ubuntu, like OpenOffice, garners new fans by the thousands every single day because it offers a real alternative to Microsoft Windows for no cost.

Just yesterday, I read an article by Matt Hartley titled 10 Simple Methods for Happily Running Ubuntu. I enjoyed the article, but number 7 in his list stuck with me the most. It was titled, There is no free lunch. He described Open Source as being free from any initial monetary investment, but that Open Source refers more to freedom of use than free ride. What he refers to is that although Open Source software doesn’t cost any money, it does require an investment in time. Time to learn the software, time to research and troubleshoot answers to your questions, and time shared with others on public bulletin boards or other forums sharing any solutions to problems you found or sharing tips that you might have about a particular software. Matt’s sage description stresses the importance of the Open Source movement as being an active solution that everyone can and should contribute to versus a passive one where you take something but never return anything.

I think I’m drawn to Open Source software for a few reasons. 1) The talent and knowledge of the programmers who develop the software amaze me. 2) The thought of being self-reliant and learning to use resources (existing knowledge and collaboration with others) to solve a problem makes sense to me and is extremely self-satisfying, and 3) Paying money for something that doesn’t completely solve a problem for me doesn’t make a lot of fiscal sense.

Getting more people to adopt Open Source software is not always easy. I think this is so because consumers are so brand conscious these days. If it doesn’t have a flashy logo or name on the software or device, then it can’t possibly be worth their time…especially if it is free. I try to look at anything I buy or use from a perspective of; can it do what I need it to do, can it do it efficiently, and can I readily find help for it when I run into a problem or need to learn something new. Open Source often time does fit the bill quite nicely. Sometimes it does not. However, I think any computer user owes it to him or herself to investigate Open Source alternatives to commercially available software. You may be surprised at the quality and functionality of Open Source software while at the same time saving money and becoming a little more knowledgeable and self-sufficient when it comes to your computer use.

Photo by Antikris

Windows Tips — 6 Comments
30
Sep 08

Instant Shutdown in Windows Vista – Video Tip

Many moons ago, I shared with you a tip on how to create a desktop icon to shutdown Windows XP instantly. It’s about time that I share with you the same tip applied to Windows Vista. Here’s how it is done:

  1. RIGHT Click on a blank part of your desktop
  2. Click New –> Shortcut
  3. Type the following phrase EXACTLY as shown in the box (or better yet, Copy and Paste it):    %SystemRoot%\System32\shutdown.exe /s
  4. Click Next
  5. Type a name for your shortcut like Shutdown, It’s Over, Time to Go…you choose
  6. Click Finish
  7. Now RIGHT click on the new shortcut you created
  8. Click Properties
  9. Click Change icon (you might get an error message, just click OK)
  10. Click an icon you want to use for the shutdown
  11. Click OK

You can see all these steps in action in the video below AND get a bonus tip of how to change the action of the little power button on the start menu.

Computer User Group / Hardware Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 10 Comments
25
Sep 08

Setting up a new computer

new computer boxPrevention is the best medicine when it comes to avoiding illness in ourselves. Prevention in the computer world is no different. And like a newborn baby, a newly purchased computer is subject to many terrible diseases and problems if not properly cared from the moment it is taken from its cardboard box. I follow these steps when setting up a new computer system for my clients, and recommend this methodology for all new computer setups:

  1. Before setting up the new computer, back up all of your data to CD’s, DVD’s, external hard drives, or flash drives for transfer to the new computer  Make sure you get not only your obvious data like documents, pictures, and financial data, but also your address book, email settings, favorites, etc. Remember, you can backup data, but not programs.
  2. Make note of your email settings and configuration (if you didn’t back them up).
  3. Download a copy of a AVG Antivirus and have them on a CD or flash drive at the ready.
  4. When setting up the new PC, DO NOT connect printers, scanners, cameras, and especially the Internet until later.
  5. Once at the new desktop, the first place to head is the Control Panel and Add/Remove programs (Programs and Features in Vista). Remove all trial software that you don’t plan on purchasing (Quicken, Quickbooks, Office suites, etc). Also remove any <!–break–>Internet provider software that you will not use like AOL, Earthlink, NetZero, etc.
  6. Now go back to Add/Remove programs and uninstall any trial security software that came with the machine.
  7. If you uninstalled the pre-installed security software (recommended), install the AVG antivirus program you have at the ready.
  8. Now, you can hook up your Internet connection. Once you have a connection established, update your anti-virus software immediately.
  9. Setup your email program and accounts.
  10. Install your peripherals (scanners, printers, etc) per your manufacturers instructions.
  11. Install any programs that you want on the new system
  12. Transfer your data from their backup locations.
  13. Strongly consider downloading and using Mozilla Firefox as your primary browser.

  14. Create your Recovery CD set found in your manufacturer’s options or utilities folder (if required).

    Enjoy your properly setup and safe, new computer!

Hardware Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 4 Comments
4
Aug 08

What I learned in the first 4 days of my iPhone 3G

I picked up my new iPhone late on Thursday night, worked with it on Friday, then left with it for a quick trip to see my brother and my first and only nephew. Prior to this phone, I have used some sort of smartphone since 2000…all Palm software based. Prior to that I used Palm handheld computers since about 1997.

I decided to move to the iPhone because I felt that the Palm innovation had stagnated…about 5 years ago. Plus, with all the innovation and development happening around the iPhone, I knew it was a great opportunity to take my smartphone usage even further than the Palm based systems had. A real quick word about any smartphone; they aren’t met for every cell phone user. Smartphones are designed for people who want to check email, lookup information on the web, get maps, send text messages, add specialty programs like conversion programs, time trackers and much more to their phone.

Enough blabber, here are some of my thoughts about the iPhone after only four days of use:

  1. The screen is absolutely stunning…clear, bright, and responsive.

  2. I really miss being able to select text and use copy and paste.

  3. I thought that visual voice mail was a gimmick…until I tried it. Voice mail on the iPhone is a sheer pleasure and saves a lot of time. Visual voice mail allows users to listen to voice mail in any order, rewind pause, and fast forward messages easily, and more.

  4. Now I know why Treo users were/are upset that Palm never added Wifi to their phones. The ability to use a Wifi connection is awesome and makes the web function very quick…even though the 3G network from AT&T works well too.

  5. The mapping and integrated GPS and searchable maps make traveling and looking for addresses and places to eat or get a coffee a snap.

  6. The third party iPhone application developers and web application developers are innovating in this space like no other. In a year, I think the iPhone might actually be able to cook and drive my car! Most of the applications are quick, useful, and joy to use.

These are just a few of my initial observations, but so far, the iPhone has not disappointed at all and has in fact exceeded my expectations for how I would use it and how it would function. The screenshot above is an actual capture of one of my iPhone launch screens and shows some of the programs that I’ve added to the iPhone already.

Internet Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 2 Comments
10
Jul 08

Solution for computer users who can’t print from Internet Explorer 7 (IE 7)

Since I use Firefox exclusively for my browsing, I haven’t seen this problem yet, but today I ran into a computer that could print from anywhere but Internet Explorer 7 (IE7). Turns out that, in her case, the upgrade to AVG 8.0 caused the problem. A standard installation of AVG 8 installs a security toolbar in Firefox, if you use it, or Internet Explorer 7. The toolbar is meant to help users from clicking on potentially harmful web links. However, the toolbar, like most toolbars, slows down browsing speeds and in the case of Internet Explorer 7 with Windows Vista, it also disables the ability to print!

The solution to get Internet Explorer (IE7) working again is to uninstall AVG 8.0 and reinstall it using the following instructions. Incidentally, these instructions were posted by an alert and astute visitor to the web site within a week of my original AVG 8.0 post. I use this method exclusively when installing AVG 8.0 on client’s computers:

How to install AVG without LinkScanner

  1. Download the AVG 8.0 Free Edition installation package by clicking here
  2. Save the file to your C: drive (not the desktop or any folder)
  3. Change the file name to avg (or avg.exe if you can see the three letter extensions)
  4. Click Start
  5. Click Run
  6. Type:   C:\avg.exe /REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSurf /REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSearch
    • You might want to copy and paste the above text into the run box so you don’t mistype something
  7. Click OK and follow on-screen instructions to complete installation.

For Vista and XP users who can’t print with Internet Explorer 7 after installing AVG, this solution will get you printing again.

If, however, AVG 8 is not your problem, then your best bet is to reset Internet Explorer 7 by:

  1. Closing all Internet Explorer windows
  2. Click Start –> Control Panel
  3. Click Internet Options in Windows XP  (Click Network and Internet, then Internet Options in Windows Vista)
  4. Click the Advanced tab
  5. Click Reset
  6. Click Reset
Digital Photography / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 3 Comments
4
Jun 08

Why print pictures at home?

We talk about this topic many times here at HelpMeRick.com, but too few people are reaping the benefits (and cost savings) of printing their digital photos via a print shop instead of at home. Printing pictures at home costs a lot of money and takes up way too much time. And unless you spring for the more expensive printers, inks, and paper, the results of home printing are sub-par at best.

I prefer to save my money and valuable time by sending my digital photos to an online photo processing service like Shutterfly. Services like Shutterfly make uploading my photos fast and easy and then I put together my own coffee-table book that gets used over and over. If I just want prints, I like to either copy them to a CD and take them to a local developer or use Picasa and upload them to a local store development center like Walgreens, WalMart, etc.

Remember that the bottom line for our computer is that they are supposed to save us time, not waste it. Printing your digital photos using your local and online resources will save you time and money!

Application Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 1 Comment
2
May 08

Remove .NET Framework and solve Quickbooks startup problem

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, uninstalling .NET via the add/remove programs doesn’t work in these situations. As is almost always the case, an extremely smart and industrious individual came up with a solution. I found this tool on a blog while searching for a solution. It is a clever removal tool for all aspects of the .NET Framework. It is recommended that you try using the Add/Remove programs method for uninstalling it first, but if it doesn’t work, use the tool.

Once you remove the .NET software, however, you need to install it again. To do so, download a copy of the .NET installer software by clicking here.

Again, this tip is for very specific instances of .NET Framework problems. It can also be used in situations where you have a Windows update for .NET that never installs properly.

Riding Shotgun with Adam — 2 Comments
29
Apr 08

How to use a USB flash drive

As often as once per day I recommend to someone that they invest in a USB flash drive for backup of regular files. The most common response I get back is, “I have one, I just don’t know how to use it.”

Here’s how to do it. Keep in mind that USB flash drives do not work well with Windows 98 so these instructions are for Windows XP and up.

1. Open My Computer and make a note (mental or otherwise) what letters appear next to the drives. You should see C:, D: etc. Chances are that the flash drive will occupy the next available letter, but keep My Computer open just to be sure.

2. With My Computer open, plug in the flash drive and wait for it to be recognized and installed by the computer. This could take as long as a minute to happen. You are waiting for the computer to tell you that the hardware has been successfully installed.

If you have previously plugged the flash drive into the computer, you may not get any such notification.

3. Close any windows that pop-up in the process but watch the icons in My Computer closely – you will see a new drive letter appear. That drive letter indicates your flash drive. Make note of it.

4. You are now ready to backup. If the file that you want to backup is in My Documents do the following:

    a. Open My Documents

    b. Right-click on the file that you want to copy to the flash drive

    c. Choose SEND TO from the menu that comes up

    d. Left-click on the flash drive letter

This will copy the file to the flash drive – or in other words you have backed it up.

5. If you are backing up a program such as PAF, Quicken or Quickbooks, do the following:

    a. Click on FILE and choose the backup option

    b. When it asks for the destination – type in the drive letter that you want the program to backup to, i.e. “F:”

    c. Finish the backup process by clicking on the affirmative option whenever it prompts you to do something such as OK, YES, NEXT, I AGREE.

This will backup the file to the flash drive.

 

Riding Shotgun with Adam / Tips & Tricks — No Comments
23
Apr 08

Managing your digital photos

Organizing your digital photos is so important. Too often I see people who have major computer problems and think that everything is backed up only to find that their digital photos were so spread out on their computer that the only had a portion of them backed up.

Many people simply copy their digital photos onto their computer wherever a given piece of software puts them and they have no idea where that is. These notes will help you setup a system for managing your digital photos so they will be easy to find and backup even without programs like Picasa.

Here are a few links that will help you:

Rick Castellini’s file management PowerPoint presentation

Everything on HelpMeRick.com about Picasa 

HelpMeRick.com YouTube channel

In order to find your photos, you must establish a good filing system on your computer. The system you choose depends on you and how you use your digital camera.

If you take pictures of family and events, you may prefer to organize your photos by date, person or event. If you shoot nature and wildlife then you may choose to organize by animal, flower or location.

How your computer’s drive hierarchy works:

A: is always your floppy drive

B: is never present because it is your second floppy drive (you probably don’t even have an A:)

C: is your computer’s main hard drive

The next letters are assigned by next available letter in the following order hard drives, CD/DVD drives, removable drives.

To rename a folder or a file – click on it once then press the F2 key. Rename the file then press ENTER on your keyboard.

There is no limit to the number of sub-folders that can be contained within a folder.

 

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