Read Newspapers Online

I enjoy walking to get my newspaper each morning and reading it at the breakfast table. However, I also enjoy reading my old hometown newspaper and a paper I used to read in college. The Internet makes it possible to read a large majority of newspapers from around the world. If you know the name of your newspaper, the first thing to try is: Click ONE time in the Address bar of your browser (long white box at the top of the...

Print Anything You See on Your Screen – Vide...

Many times a computer user may need the ability to print what they see on the screen, but can’t access a Print command.  Using the underutilized Print Screen button on the keyboard can rectify this situation. The Print Screen button is usually located just to the right of your F keys and above the Insert, Home, Delete key section. In the ol’ days of DOS, pushing this button would indeed send a paper flying out of...

Extricating Spyware

Article updated: July 2010 In 2004, spyware/adware became the #1 threat to personal computers. For a definition of spyware, visit Webopedia. Getting rid of spyware has reached a point that it takes an expert, or a lot of persistence, to really get rid of it totally. Following is a list of steps that we frequently take to completely restore a compromised computer. Depending on the level of problems, we may omit some steps,...

Deleting Programs and Files

This tip conjures up some points from older tips, but needs to be reiterated. Follow these rules-of-thumb to keep your system clean and more importantly running smoothly. Use these rules when deleting individual files: Never delete files that you did not create. If you can’t trace the origin of the file, leave it alone. If the file sports one of the generic looking ‘windows’ icons (see picture), do not...

Email Filters – Outlook Express

This tip gives you the tools you need to help organize your email with Outlook Express or Windows Mail. Using Filters is like having an assistant go through your email for you and sort it before you see it.  Click here for a previous tip on how to use filters to keep spam out of your inbox. This week’s tip describes email filters using Outlook Express and its rules based system: 1. Create mail folders for Jokes, Spam...

How to Use the “Extra” Keys on Your Ke...

There are roughly 50 keys on your keyboard that you use on a regular basis, but there are at least 104 total keys on your keyboard. So, what are those other keys for? Here is a list of the keys you may not be using that can make your computing life a lot easier – in no particular order. F1 – The F1 key is located above your number and letter keypad. In almost any program anywhere in Windows, pressing F1 will bring...

Cleaning and removing Antivirus 2009, PAV and othe...

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...

Stop a document from printing – Video Tip

We all run into a problem sooner or later where something we printed didn’t print correctly or we want to stop it from printing. In today’s tip, I explain how to stop the printer from printing and then clean the print job from your computer. Turn off your printer using its power switch Immediately watch for a message by your clock that has anything to do with your printer Click the little bubble message (if you...

Google News Alerts

Would you like to get targeted news/web searches delivered to your email? Google Alerts can do that for you. Google Alerts allow you to get automated, customized news and web searches delivered to your email daily, weekly, or as breaking news alerts based on the criteria you provide. The service can be used without a Google account, but if you start using the service more, and you will, having an account will allow you to...

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...

Web mail…remember web mail

Believe it or not, there are still folks out there using dial-up Internet. As email attachments grow in size with full-size pictures and videos, even email can be difficult for dial-up users. Instead of battling slow connections and waiting for dozens (or hundreds) of emails to download, remember that all email services have a web based component. Go to your email providers web site, and look for a Login orWeb Mail option....

Curbside Recycling

When I help people setup a new computer, camera or printer, the standard question asked by the new gadget owner is; “What shall I do with the old one?” I think that the value of tech curbside recycling is highly undervalued. Curbside recycling involves hauling your old hardware out to the curb and just leaving it there. In most moderately busy neighborhoods (HOA’s rules aside), a piece of technology on the...

How to add the print and other buttons to Firefox ...

We love the Mozilla Firefox browser, but out-of-the-box it doesn’t show the print button. Also, some people like to have the Bookmark and History buttons available as well. This tip shows you how to add any or all of these buttons as well as others you might want. In Firefox, RIGHT click on a blank part of the toolbar (or Click View –> Toolbars –> Customize from the menus) Click and drag the buttons...

Yet another feature yanked from the NEW Microsoft ...

While working with a small business client today, they asked how to insert a picture into a Word document from their scanner. “Oh, that’s an easy one”, I said to myself. Then I realized they were using the new Office 2007. In all previous versions of Microsoft Word and other word processor worth their weight, you follow these steps to insert a picture from a scanner into a document:  Click Insert...

Your hard drive is meant to hold stuff

Every week I’m out making my rounds, I hear this expression; “My computer is really slow it must have too much stuff in it and needs to be cleaned out.” Your computer can never have have too much “stuff.” Your hard drive is designed to hold tens of thousands of documents, pictures, music and more. The number of files you store on your computer has next to nothing to do with your perceived speed...