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:
NOTE: This tip is an off-shoot of our Print Screen tip that you will also want to read and watch.
We all have computer mishaps and end up having to call for help. One of the first questions the helper (tech support) always asks is, “What was the message you received?”
Most of the time, in our frustration, we failed to write down the content of the message. Here is a tip that will bypass the writing altogether and allow you to answer that first question from your digital helper.
When an error occurs follow these steps:
1. Before Clicking on the OK or Cancel button on the error message press the Print Screen button on your keyboard (it’s located above the Delete, and Home keys on the middle of your keyboard)
2. Close the error message
3. Open your favorite Continue reading →
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 up your help screen. From the help screen you can look up topics and learn more about the program you are using.
PRINT SCREEN (PRT SCR, PRNT SCR, etc.) – Located to the right of the F keys, the Print Screen button is handy for capturing Continue reading →
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:
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.
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:
RIGHT Click on a blank part of your desktop
Click New –> Shortcut
Type the following phrase EXACTLY as shown in the box (or better yet, Copy and Paste it): %SystemRoot%\System32\shutdown.exe /s
Click Next
Type a name for your shortcut like Shutdown, It’s Over, Time to Go…you choose
Click Finish
Now RIGHT click on the new shortcut you created
Click Properties
Click Change icon (you might get an error message, just click OK)
Click an icon you want to use for the shutdown
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.
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:
The screen is absolutely stunning…clear, bright, and responsive.
I really miss being able to select text and use copy and paste.
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.
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.
The mapping and integrated GPS and searchable maps make traveling and looking for addresses and places to eat or get a coffee a snap.
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.
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:
Not long ago, a commenter on the web site suggested we put up some links to our some of our best and most visited tips. I thought it was a great idea, and here are seven that I came up with. If you have your own favorite or most helpful HelpMeRick.com tips, please share them with everyone by leaving a comment below.
Cut, Copy, and Paste - I believe that this invaluable skill should be a computer prerequisite
These techniques should be standard tools for any computer user. However, many computer users find these techniques elusive.
The ability to move (cut) or copy information from one computer program to another sets you free to do so much more with your computer. Cut, Copy and Paste function by temporarily storing the information, cut or copied, into a temporary holding spot of memory known as the clipboard (Click here for the Webopedia definition).
The information held in the clipboard stays there and is available to Paste until either the computer is restarted or another item is cut or copied. Make special note of this fact when using the “Cut” command, because if you cut or copy another item before pasting the first item, the first one is lost.
Before choosing Cut or Copy, the computer needs to know what you want to cut or copy. This is done by using the mouse to select or highlight the item or items. I have two tips that describe the art of selecting or highlighting text and files.
Copying and pasting text from a web site to an email will provide a useful method of practicing this technique…here’s how:
Find some text to copy (this tip will do) and highlight the text with your mouse
Click Edit from the menus
Click Copy
Switch over to your email program and start a new email
Put your cursor (blinking vertical line) in the body of the message
Click Edit from the menus
Click Paste
Pretty nifty, eh? You can use this very same technique to copy and paste text from email to email, from your word processor to email (or vice versa), from the web to your word processor, etc.
Copy and Paste Shortcuts
Instead of clicking Edit and Copy, you can push Ctrl + C on your keyboard or RIGHT click on the text you highlighted and click Copy from the menu.
Instead of pushing Edit and Paste from the menus, try Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert on the keyboard or RIGHT click at your destination and choose Paste from the menus.
Copy and Paste with Folders and Files
Copying and pasting files and folders works the same way as copying and pasting text…here’s how:
Click on a file (like a Word document or picture) or a folder (like My Documents)
Click Edit from the menus
Click Copy
Navigate to a different folder or drive
Click on the new folder’s name
Click Edit from the menus
Click Paste
When using Cut, Copy and Paste with files and folders, be very cognizant of the fact that one you copy or cut another item, the previous one is gone. Make darn sure that you have pasted the information you don’t want to lose before cutting or copying a new item.
Keep practicing your cut, copy and paste techniques, and I’m sure you will find them an irreplaceable part of your computer knowledge.
For a visual demonstration of how this extremely important and helpful computer skill is, watch the how-to video below:
After two solid months of using 
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. 
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HelpMeRick.com started as a monthly tip site for beginners in 1996, and now supports our popular call-in computer show, and hosts thousands of useful computer tips and links.