Control + F

One of my daily visits brought me to a growing business today. As I waited to work on one of the employee’s computers, I noticed that she spent a good 10-15 seconds scrolling through a medium size spreadsheet looking for a particular entry. I then asked if I could give her a quick tip on how to search through her spreadsheet faster using Ctrl+F on her keyboard. She said, “sure”. When you push Ctrl+F in a...

The Castellini Approach to Internet Security ̵...

EDITORS NOTE:   I originally posted this article in 2007. A lot has changed in 6 years, so I’ve updated the article with new information and links. Please heed the information here to save you time, money and frustration and pass along to your friends and family! This past week I saw way too many people who are not taking advantage of the free information we give out on the show and the web site. Their computers were...

Microsoft’s new Outlook.com for MSN and Hotm...

Microsoft announced today that all of their MSN and Hotmail users will be automatically transitioned to the new Outlook.com format over the next couple of months. It has been an option to upgrade to the new system for about six months, but will be permanent and automatic soon. You will not lose or have to change your email address. Your existing email and contacts will also make the transfer over to the new system with no...

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, family and friends will want to use your computer to check their email or play a game or two. Unlike the TV, a...

How to use Gmail’s New Compose and Reply Scr...

Recently Google started rolling out a new compose screen for Gmail users and new Reply/Forward screens as well. Their premise was simplification and less cluttered interface. The first will be debatable by many Gmailers, but the 2nd cannot denied…it is almost too uncluttered. In summary, the font toolbar, attachments (drag and drop still works), and inserting photos have all been put at the bottom of the compose or...

WARNING! Spyware/Virus Infections Getting Nastier!

This article applies primarily to Windows users (any version) since virii and spyware infections are pretty much limited to Windows users at this time. However, Apple and Linux users should heed the advice that I will lay out here and help their Windows using friends and family as well. First and foremost, EVERY Internet user should read, study, and understand the who, what, why, and how of spyware and virus infections by...

Start your password tracking system today!

One common problem I help solve every day is the recovery of passwords. For some reason, tracking passwords and usernames becomes a daunting task for most computer users. The advice I dispense most often when asked how to track all of the usernames and passwords we accumulate these days is to simply write it down. Not just anywhere, however, but in an address book, on an index card and filed in a recipe box, or on full sheets...

Your friends and family CAN & DO send you mal...

Update:  This tip has been on my site for more than 5 years, but I’m editing it a little and including an email I received today that demonstrates the real world implications of my tip. Keep in mind that friends and family don’t purposely send you problems, but read on to understand exactly what I mean. Probably the biggest single misconception I hear from computer users almost daily goes like this: “I...

How to get Gmail to show you search results from t...

My brother asked this question earlier this week and at his suggestion, I’m sharing the answer here. He mentioned that he thought the search in Gmail wasn’t very good (which is preposterous since it has no match). He went on to explain that his searches weren’t finding items he had deleted. “au contraire”, I quickly retorted. I told him Google’s Gmail does search his Trash, but, he, the...

How to forward a specific email from a Gmail conve...

This question has come up rather frequently lately so decided to construct a tip from it. The problem arises when a Gmail user wants to forward a message from earlier in a Gmail conversation (group of emails about the same subject…see illustration and video). When you click a conversation, Google only displays the most recent message. If you click forward, then all the messages in the conversation go along for the ride...

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...

Google rolling out new Gmail look and functions &#...

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...

How to transfer photos to a Windows 7 computer and...

Pictured below are two sets of instructions I put together today for a new Windows 7 user who uses the MSN browser and email. He was frustrated at the learning curve and asked for help…here are the results. I hope these instructions help others as well because the steps can be generalized for AOL browser users, Windows Live Mail users, and Microsoft Outlook users as...

All 45 of my Gmail tips

At today’s local computer users group, I discussed the basics and more of Google’s Gmail. All of the tips and tricks I discussed at the meeting and many more are here for you at HelpMeRick.com. Start by clicking here to see all my articles and tips regarding Gmail. Leave any Gmail related questions you have in the comments! Thanks.

5 Steps to Using Online Financial Sites Safely

Every year computer users who use the Internet to check account balances, transactions, and even paying bills grows by nearly 30%. According to one Pew study, more than 50 million Americans use online banking services. 50 million sounds like a large number, but that still reflects less than 50% of online American adults. Bank web sites continue to evolve by becoming easier to use, more secure, and more helpful than ever...