Castellini on Computers - Computer help for beginners » pictures http://helpmerick.com Easy to understand computer help Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:54:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Easy to understand computer help Rick Castellini clean Rick Castellini rick@yourpcpartner.com rick@yourpcpartner.com (Rick Castellini) Castellini on Computers Easy to understand computer help technology, tech, computers, Internet, Web, how-to, instruciton Castellini on Computers - Computer help for beginners » pictures http://helpmerick.com/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/small_COC_logo.jpg http://helpmerick.com Should I backup? http://helpmerick.com/should-i-backup.htm http://helpmerick.com/should-i-backup.htm#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:14:03 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=308 Should you carry health insurance? Should you carry car insurance? Should you save for retirement? Should you eat every day? Does a bear....  Well, hopefully you get the picture. The answer is a resounding YES!!

You should backup, and depending on your computer needs and usage your backups should occur frequently (sometimes daily). Many computer users equate backing up their computers with their mother's giving them castor oil. It's no fun, but a necessary evil. What is castor oil any way?

Things you should backup on your computer include:

]]> http://helpmerick.com/should-i-backup.htm/feed 4 A quicker way to Rename folders and files in Windows http://helpmerick.com/renaming-folders-and-files-in-windows-xp.htm http://helpmerick.com/renaming-folders-and-files-in-windows-xp.htm#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:52:03 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=167 One of my favorite new features involves the renaming of files. You can still use the techniques I outlined in a previous tip, but renaming files can be even faster with the right steps. If you have the need to rename a group of files (for example a group of freshly downloaded pictures from your digital camera), you can select them and rename them in groups. Here's how:

  1. Select the files or folders you want to change to a common name by clicking on them ONE time while holding down the Ctrl key 
  2. Push F2 on your keyboard OR right click on any file and click Rename OR click on the Rename tool from the Edit menu or the tool bar to the left of the folder
  3. Type the new name for your file or folder
  4. Press Enter on your keyboard
  5. Windows now assigns the same name to all the files and numbers them starting with #1

This method saves loads of time and makes organizing your files much easier. Look through our newly designed Tips Archive for even more Windows tips, including Windows XP tips.

]]> http://helpmerick.com/renaming-folders-and-files-in-windows-xp.htm/feed 5 Backup Outlook Express Email – Video Tip http://helpmerick.com/backup-outlook-express-email-video-tip.htm http://helpmerick.com/backup-outlook-express-email-video-tip.htm#comments Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:10:16 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=1707 This week's tip also applies to Windows Vista users who use Windows Mail...which is basically Outlook Express with a new name.

I still recommend that emailers save their important pictures and documents sent to them via email to a folder on their computer for easier backup (see my video tip on how to do this by clicking here), but many people also save a great deal of email and don't want to lose it. Outlook Express (Windows Mail) saves all email in files with a .dbx extension. The files are named for the folders you have created in your email, so you will see files like inbox.dbx, saved.dbx, family.dbx, etc. Whatever email folders you have created will have a corresponding .dbx file.

These files, unfortunately, are buried in the Windows files system. This week's video tip demonstrates how to locate these files on your computer so you can then copy them to flash drive (best idea) or CD/DVD.

]]> http://helpmerick.com/backup-outlook-express-email-video-tip.htm/feed 11 Nikon to release camera with built-in projector http://helpmerick.com/nikon-to-release-camera-with-built-in-projector.htm http://helpmerick.com/nikon-to-release-camera-with-built-in-projector.htm#comments Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:05:13 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=3321 http://helpmerick.com/nikon-to-release-camera-with-built-in-projector.htm/feed 0 Add photos to Facebook quickly and easily – Video Tip http://helpmerick.com/add-photos-to-facebook-quickly-and-easily.htm http://helpmerick.com/add-photos-to-facebook-quickly-and-easily.htm#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:49:49 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=2490 http://helpmerick.com/add-photos-to-facebook-quickly-and-easily.htm/feed 0 Digital Photography Basics – February 2009 http://helpmerick.com/digital-photography-basics-february-2009.htm http://helpmerick.com/digital-photography-basics-february-2009.htm#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:25:55 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=2367 Adam Cochran ran our Digital Photography Special Interest Group (DPSIG) for almost six years and all that great information he shared during that time is archived here at HelpMeRick.com. Make sure to use that information.

In today's class we covered the basics about digital photography divided into three quick, hard hitting segments: 

]]> http://helpmerick.com/digital-photography-basics-february-2009.htm/feed 0 Using the Windows Snipping Tool – Video Tip http://helpmerick.com/using-the-windows-snipping-tool-video-tip.htm http://helpmerick.com/using-the-windows-snipping-tool-video-tip.htm#comments Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:27:33 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=2335 One new feature that Windows Vista brought to the table is an easier way to take pictures of your screen...known as screen shots. In previous versions of Windows you had to learn how to use the Print Screen button (click here for my tip on that technique) or find a third party utility to do the same thing.Windows Vista introduced a new tool called the Snipping Tool that makes taking screen shots easier and more flexible than Print Screen. Vista users can find the Snipping Tool in the Accessories menu. The Snipping Tool will also be included in the upcoming Windows 7. To see how it works, watch my video below.

]]> http://helpmerick.com/using-the-windows-snipping-tool-video-tip.htm/feed 0 5 Reasons why YOU should be moving to the cloud http://helpmerick.com/5-reasons-why-you-should-be-moving-to-the-cloud.htm http://helpmerick.com/5-reasons-why-you-should-be-moving-to-the-cloud.htm#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:56:56 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=2303 Cloud ComputingOver the past two or there years, 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. These computers provide security via the password and user name that you choose. Five reason come immediately to mind on why you should start moving your data and computing power to the cloud.

1.  Although more powerful than ever before, computers have become more unreliable than ever.

In particular, Windows computers require more expertise to keep them safe, updated, and problem free than at any time in the short history of home computers. Macintosh and Linux operating systems certainly require less technical expertise from the security standpoint, but still rely on desktop applications to create, save and edit data. Web based (cloud) applications provide plenty of power and flexibility for the vast majority of computer users while also presenting a simpler interface.

2.  You already spend 90% of your time in the cloud already. 

Non-business computer users spend the majority of their computer time]]> http://helpmerick.com/5-reasons-why-you-should-be-moving-to-the-cloud.htm/feed 7 Firefox or Internet Explorer doesn’t display all pictures or backgrounds http://helpmerick.com/firefox-or-internet-explorer-doesnt-display-all-pictures-or-backgrounds.htm http://helpmerick.com/firefox-or-internet-explorer-doesnt-display-all-pictures-or-backgrounds.htm#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:18:27 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=2268 For some reason, I have seen this issue about six times in the past few weeks with Windows XP computers. The browser (both Firefox and/or Internet Explorer) symptoms include:

  • Web sites don't display all images
  • Text seems distorted
  • Backgrounds don't display

The solution to your browser not displaying the images or backgrounds properly is removing the high contrast setting in the Control Panel. Here's how:

  1. Click Start
  2. Click Settings --> Control Panel
  3. Double-click the Accessibility options
  4. Click the Display tab
  5. Un-check the "use high contrast" box
  6. Click Apply
  7. Click OK

If your web site viewing is looking a little goofy, and pictures, menus and text aren't displaying properly, give these steps a try!

]]> http://helpmerick.com/firefox-or-internet-explorer-doesnt-display-all-pictures-or-backgrounds.htm/feed 11 Setting up a new computer http://helpmerick.com/setting-up-a-new-computer.htm http://helpmerick.com/setting-up-a-new-computer.htm#comments Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:17:58 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=120 Prevention 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:
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