Don’t buy Microsoft Office when you buy a ne...

Despite what big box store sales people try to sell you, don’t buy a copy of Microsoft Office. On all new commercial computers today, manufacturers install a trial version of Microsoft Office AND a copy of Microsoft Office Starter Edition. Microsoft Office Starter Edition does NOT expire and is every bit as functional as its costly brethren. The Starter editions includes only Word and Excel. If you need PowerPoint or...

Converting Microsoft Works to Microsoft Office ...

I created these notes for a customer who just moved to Windows 7 from Windows XP. He had many documents and spreadsheets saved from an old Microsoft Works (4.0) that we needed to convert to Microsoft Office since buying newer versions of Microsoft Works is not easy. Click here to view, save, or print the notes I generated for this conversion process. ...

5 Reasons why YOU should be moving to the cloud

I have written many articles about Web 2.0 or cloud computing. Cloud computing means that you work with programs and/or data that are not installed or saved on your computer. Instead, the programs and/or data live on an Internet connected computer (server) somewhere else in the world. Among other things, these computers/services provide: Security via the password and user name that you choose. Access to the service from any...

Learn Minesweeper & give Solitaire or FreeCel...

Solitaire seems to be a game that is synonymous with computers. Microsoft planted the game in Windows not only for entertainment, but also for new computer users to learn mouse skills (click-and-drag, double-click, etc). Some computer users have branched out to FreeCell and like it better than Solitaire. However, have you tried playing Minesweeper? Minesweeper appears difficult upon first look. And yes, it does require some...

Creating Tables in Microsoft Word – Part II ...

In Part I of my “Creating Tables” tip, I discussed what a table was, how to create them, and some basics on how to customize them. In Part II of the tip, I discuss how to use reverse text, cell coloring, sorting, formulas and create a form all with tables.

Creating Tables in Microsoft Word – Part I &...

Since many of us in the post-35 year old set learned how to type and create documents with a typewriter, we tend to try and use computer word processors like a typewriter. The two technologies couldn’t be further apart from each other and other than touch typing, we need to throw out almost all our knowledge of document creation from those days. FRUIT COLOR VITAMINS Apple Red or Green Vitamin...

Easy File Management – Video Tip

You can easily delete and rename files from within almost any computer program. To delete a file or folder: Click  File from the menu of any program Click  Open In the window that pops up, click ONCE on any document you want to delete Push Delete on your keyboard.  Repeat as many times as you would like.   To rename a file or folder: Click File from the menu of any program Click  Open Click ONCE on the file you...

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...

Enable your menus and toolbars in Internet Explore...

This tip applies to Windows Vista and Windows 7 users only. Since Microsoft opted to not include XP users in the upgrade path to Internet Explorer 9, you XP users can file this tip until you upgrade to your next computer (if you stay with Windows). If you chose or were automatically updated to Internet Explorer 9, you may be like many of my clients who are not happy with the minimalist layout (similar to that of Google...

Making Single Space the Default in Microsoft Word ...

For some unknown reason (to me), Microsoft has decided to make paragraph spacing in Word 2007, 2010 and Start Edition double-space by default. In all previous version of Word, you need to press the Enter key twice to double-space. When formatting street addresses, for example, a user typically wants them to be single spaced, but that doesn’t happen in the newer versions of Word. Sure, you could try to remember to press...

How to fix Microsoft Outlook email address lookup ...

Microsoft Outlook’s time is up…actually it has been up for many years. The interface gets worse and worse. The fact that very few of us work solely on one device makes it more irrelevant. And the fact that transferring of data gets more and more complex is absolutely unconscionable in this day and age of technology. Case in point: Today, I worked with a client who uses Outlook 2007 or 2010 on 4 different computers...

How to install, customize, & delete Windows 7...

Last week I was showing a client how to use Windows 7 gadgets to give him updated weather information for cities where friends and family lived. He was extremely appreciative and it reminded me that I don’t always post fun things to do with our computers and gadgets would be a fun how-to to post. So here it is! Windows Vista also had gadget capability, but as with almost everything else it had, it was not well...

Solution to Microsoft Outlook 2007 or 2010 not ope...

This particular problem has come a few times lately, so I thought I better write out the solution for the website for both my memory and for others who might have the problem. Here’s what the problem looks like: Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2010 users try to open a Microsoft Word or Excel document and cannot do so. Usually this occurs with Word/Excel 2007 or 2010 only. To solve the problem of opening Word (and Excel)...

How to download, install, and configure Avast Anti...

I try to continually test and analyze what is available in the world of computers for my clients and web site visitors. Security tops the list of the testing, reading, and studying I do. Recently, AVG released yet another upgrade, and more bulk. As of today, I no longer recommend that users use AVG Antivirus. My current recommendations are as follows: Ubuntu/Linux - No need for additional security products Apple (Mac OS X)...

Use Templates to Save Time

Computers can either save you loads of time or waste your valuable time…it depends on your approach. One way to surely save you some time is to learn to find and utilize templates. Templates are like stencils. Something you can use over and over by providing you a skeleton or outline of a project. You can create your own templates or find them online. The most basic template is re-using an existing document you already...