Posts Tagged: toolbar

Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
25
Jan 08

Ubuntu client update

Today, I helped my customer who I installed Ubuntu for almost four months ago. “It has been working great so far”, he informed me. We mainly worked on fine tuning some aspects of the desktop and panels (Ubuntu toolbars). He also wanted to use a calendar, but didn’t know how to approach the included Evolution program which is similar to Microsoft Outlook. However, as I pointed out last summer during my “14 days with Ubuntu”, I like the direction Evolution is heading, but it is far from polished.

Although Evolution comes with Ubuntu automatically, I still recommend using Thunderbird for an Ubuntu email program (also superb for Windows’ users too). And for a calendaring program on any operating system, Mozilla’s Sunbird works extremely well or if you already use Thunderbird for email, their Lightning program adds calendaring to Thunderbird.

However, for my customer today, we went the Web 2.0 route and chose to use the fast and flexible Google Calendar. It is easy to learn, loaded with just the right features that are easy to use and because it is web based can be accessed from any computer, any where in the world. You can use any of these programs for absolutely no cost, and in many ways they are more flexible and functional then anything you can buy.

I am ecstatic that my retired customer is enjoying using Ubuntu on his machine and doesn’t miss Windows at all. I think the fact that he was willing to give an alternative, open source operating system a try was extremely admirable and in many ways brave. The fact that he continues to use Ubuntu and function well with it is a testament to the fine work that Ubuntu and other open source companies have done developing solid, competitive products that will shape the future of computing for all of us.

OnAir Solutions / Riding Shotgun with Rick / Windows Tips — 11 Comments
23
Jan 08

Missing file names under documents or photos in thumbnail view

Lately, more than a few people have had trouble with missing file names in the thumbnail view of some of their folders. It isn’t entirely apparent why this happens, but fortunately the cure is pretty simple. If you are one of the poor souls who happens to be missing their file names, follow these steps:

  1. Open the offending folder to see the thumbnails
  2. Click View from the menus (or the view button on the toolbar), and click Details
  3. Hold the SHIFT key down on your keyboard and Click View from the menus (or the view button on the toolbar), and click Thumbnails


You should now see thumbnails with file names under them.

Apparently this was added to Windows as a feature to allow the thumbnails to be displayed a little larger, so you can use this technique to toggle the file names on or off in thumbnail view.

 

 

 

Riding Shotgun with Adam — No Comments
2
Jan 08

What we teach actually works!!

Today I saw a client I have not seen in a long time. They are a great family with four teenagers at home. One year I had to reformat their computer three times because of their knack for picking up spyware.

While I enjoyed the money, I did not enjoy doing all those reformats. Reformatting a computer is my least favorite project.

Gradually I would break them of their habits and have them using Firefox, AVG and a variety of anti-spyware tools. Each year I have seen them less and less.

I saw them today to help them setup a new laptop and I decided to scan their desktop computer for spyware while I was there.

Their system was far from clean, but the stuff that the scans found was not serious. They had a lot of little fake search toolbars, a lot of Zango related stuff but not major viruses or malicious spyware. I was very happy that they had been following my advice and they were very happy that they hadn’t seen me in almost a year.

Email Tips — 6 Comments
20
Dec 07

Backup Your Email Address Book – Video Tip

You can back up your address book very simply to a floppy disk or USB Flash drive and the heartache it has the potential to prevent far outweighs the thirty seconds it takes to complete the task. Follow these steps depending on the program you use:

 Outlook Express Windows Mail Users

  1. Insert USB Flash Drive
  2. Start Outlook Express 
  3. Click the Address Book icon from the toolbar.
  4. Click File –> Export –> Other Address Book from the menus
  5. Choose the Text (CSV) option
  6. Click Next
  7. Click in the Save In box and choose your flash drive
  8. Type “address book backup” in the File name box
  9. Click Save
  10. Click OK after backup completes
  11. Pull out your disk, label it and keep it someplace safe

Windows Mail Users(Vista)

  1. Insert USB Flash Drive
  2. Start Windows Mail
  3. Click File –> Export –> Windows Contacts from the menus
  4. Choose CSV option
  5. Click Export
  6. Click in the Browse button and choose your flash drive
  7. Type “address book backup” in the File name box
  8. Click Save
  9. Click Next
  10. Put a checkmark in the First and Last Name fields
  11. Click Finish
  12. Click OK after backup completes
  13. Pull out your disk, label it and keep it someplace safe

Thunderbird Users

  1. Insert a USB Flash Drive
  2. Start Thunderbird
  3. Click Window –> Address book from the menus
  4. Click File –> Export
  5. Click in the Save In box and choose your flash drive
  6. Type “address book backup” in the File name box
  7. Click Save
  8. Pull out the disk, label it and keep it someplace safe

 

AOL Users

Version less than 6.0, Start AOL, open the address book, insert a floppy or USB flash drive and use the “Save/Replace” button to save your address book.

Versions greater than 6.0 do not have the option of saving to a floppy because the address book is actually saved on AOL’s computers.

Juno Users

Refer to the instructions at Juno’s web site for details if you are using Juno 5.0 or earlier. Juno Platinum users can retrieve email in Outlook Express and use the instructions above.

Riding Shotgun with Rick / Windows Tips — 4 Comments
5
Nov 07

Deep Cleaning Temporary Files in Windows XP

Temporary files are used by our computers to provide behind the scenes speed and function. When we use any program from Solitaire to programming a database, our computers are performing hundreds or thousands of duties behind the scenes…creating, modifying, and sometimes deleting files.

The files left behind are known as temporary files. Temporary files are just that; temporary and expendable. Thousands of them can stack up over time taking up valuable space and slowing your computer.

Since Windows 98, Microsoft has provided us a great little tool called Disk Cleanup. Disk Cleanup can delete Temporary Internet Files, Temporary Windows files and more all in one easy to use utility. Disk Cleanup can be found by:

1. Click Start
2. Click Programs (All Programs)
3. Click Accessories
4. Click System Tools
5. Click Disk Cleanup

You can also get to Disk Cleanup by RIGHT clicking your hard drive icon in the My Computer window or Windows Explorer, then clicking Properties.

Check all the boxes for the items that you want to clean out of your system (all of them are expendable). Next, click OK and all those files will be swept away.

This tool does a good job and is included in Windows, but it does leave behind some extra temporary files that you should delete every 4-6 weeks.

To keep temporary Internet files from getting out of control read our tip here on limiting the disk space devoted to these files.

Two third party tools we like make sure that all temporary files are deleted:

CleanUp!
CCleaner

Both are free and work great. However, if you are a tinkerer and don’t mind getting your hands a little dirty, the steps below teach you how to deep clean your system yourself without extra tools.

WARNING – These steps require extreme attention to detail. Please do not attempt if you don’t feel comfortable performing these advanced steps.

To find and delete the temp files that the Windows Disk Cleanup doesn’t get, follow these steps:

1. Double-click “My Computer” from the desktop or click on it in your Start menu.
2. Double-click the “C” drive (your hard drive)
3. Click Tools –> Folder Options from the menus
4. Click the View tab
5. Find and click the circle that says ’show hidden files’
6. Click OK
7. Double-click Documents & Settings
8. Double-click your computer user name (may be owner or registered user in some cases)
9. Double-click the “Local Settings” folder
10. Double-click the “Temp” folder
11. Click Edit –> Select All from the menus
12. Push Delete on your keyboard
13. Click Yes
14. Click the “Back” button on the toolbar
15. Double-click the “Temporary Internet Files” folder
16. Click Edit –> Select All from the menus
17. Push Delete on your keyboard
18. Click Yes
19. Close the Window and then empty the recycle bin.

Again, if you don’t feel comfortable following these directions, consult a computer technician who can help you.

Application Tips — No Comments
18
Oct 07

Print Envelopes with One Click – Video Tip

Using Microsoft Word and a little customizing of the Word toolbar, this tip will get you printing envelopes easily.

If you write business letters with the recipient’s address in the body of the message, Word will pick up the address and insert it into your envelope when you use the envelope tool. Click on the Tools menu and then Envelopes and Labels. From there, you can print your envelope and set your default return address. Experiment with your printer a little to get the direction and feed of the envelope correct to make your printing easier.

Now to get the button on your toolbar for one-click access, follow these steps for Microsoft Word versions 2003 and prior (the video shows the methodology for Word 2007 and OpenOffice Writer as well):

1. Click on Tools from the menus
2. Click on Customize
3. Click on the Commands tab
4. Click on Tools in the Categories column
5. Scroll and find the Envelopes and Labels button in the Commands column
6. Click on it and drag it out to your toolbar…you can place it anywhere you want (I put mine next to the printer button)
7. Click on close

Now anytime you need to print an envelope your button is within reach.

The short video tutorial demonstrates these steps for you in pre-Word 2007 steps, Word 2007, and OpenOffice Writer.

Tip within a tip: Use these same steps to add any button you want to the toolbar.

Internet Tips — 1 Comment
11
Oct 07

You can change your Internet Home Page – Video Tip

When you buy a new computer, the Internet browser comes pre-configured with a home page (first web site you see when you start your web browser). For PC’s, it is usually MSN. For Mac’s it is Apple.com. If you download Firefox (which everyone should be using), its default home page is a Firefox branded Google page. Sometimes your Internet provider’s web site takes over as your home page if you run one of their setup disks.

Through all of this, you had no say so as to what your home page is. Fortunately, it is a simple procedure to change the home page to anything you want. Here’s how to change it no matter what web browser you use (except Internet Explorer 7):

  1. Pull up the web site you want to see first when you start Internet sessions
  2. Click and drag the little icon next to the address of that site to the Home icon (looks like little house)
  3. Click Yes on the confirmation dialog box asking if you really want to change your home page

That’s it. Now if you are one of the many unfortunate souls who is using Windows Vista, watch how “elegant, quick and streamlined” Microsoft has made this process with Internet Explorer 7:

  1. Pull up the web site you want to see first
  2. Click the drop down arrow next to the Home icon…no not the one at the end of the toolbar, the one righ next to the Home icon
  3. Click Add or Change Home Page
  4. Read and decide whether you want to “use this page as your only home page” or “Add this web page to your home page tabs” (a question which will befuddle many computer users)
  5. Click the option of the answer you chose
  6. Click Yes 

See, that’s DOUBLE the intuitive steps that we have used for more than 10 years and all other browsers use! That’s Microsoft progress! That’s Vista! But Vista sure is purdy.

To see these steps in action, watch the video below:

Riding Shotgun with Adam — No Comments
15
Aug 07

Watch for check boxes when installing all software

When it comes to installing new software programs I have two rules that should get you through the process and keep you out of trouble.

1. When in doubt, click on the affirmative (Next, OK, Finish, I Agree, etc).

2. ALWAYS WATCH FOR CHECK BOXES!

The second rule is becoming more important as search engines and other sites that provide ad-sponsored services promote themselves by partnering up with other software companies. While installing a program like JAVA or Adobe Reader, you may be asked whether you want to install other programs such as Google Desktop or Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition. Simply unchecking these boxes will cut your install time significantly and save from other undesired hassles.

Here is an example:

You download Adobe Reader so that you can print out some tax forms from the web.
While installing there is a check box asking if you want to also download and install Adobe Photoshop Album. You leave it checked.
After installing all programs, you notice that whenever you try to use your digital camera, flash drive or CD-ROM containing photos, Adobe Photoshop Album pops up and tries to take over the process. This will annoy you.

Example #2:
You download and install a Java update when prompted. This is a good thing. However as you install it asks if you want to install Google Desktop. You leave it checked.
After downloading and installing, you notice a new little feature called the Google Updater. It keeps popping up and asking you questions that you don’t know the answer to so you agree. Soon you have Google Desktop, a new Google Toolbar in your web browser, a GoogleTalk program running in your system try by your clock and constant nags from the Google Updater that there are still more updates.

Typically leaving check boxes checked will not cause any major problems, but they can confuse you. If you want to install Quicktime, make sure that you only download Quicktime if you are not an iTunes user. Quicktime will try to get you to install iTunes as well which will take over some of the functions of Windows Media Player and other audio and video options you may not want changed.

General Computer Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
9
Jul 07

Learning a new computer

I have spent more than 10 years helping computer users get the most out of their computers. Without hesitation, I can say that the biggest obstacle any computer user encounters is change (which is precisely why I can’t figure out what Microsoft was thinking with Vista and Office
2007).
One of the most common services I provide computer users is setting up new systems. No matter how much I try and duplicate the old system, including the same icons, desktop background, port all the email addresses, etc, I always get questions for about two months that fall into one of three categories; “Why is this different?”, “Where did (fill in the blank) go?”, and “When will I get used to this new computer?”

I wonder if new car dealerships get the same questions when they sell a new car?

I’ve mentioned it many times, we don’t like change. Change makes us nervous and uneasy. When it comes to answering these questions and giving advice before I leave a customer with a new computer setup, I offer the following advice:

  • Look for the programs, icons, and other aspects of the
    computer that you DOrecognize.
  • Start off using your new computer by performing the tasks that you are most comfortable with like games or email.
  • If you run into something that looks different, take a deep breath and look again for things you recognize like the menu bar (File, Edit, View, etc) or toolbar icons like Print or Copy and Paste. Then expand from there.
  • Most things about computer aren’t necessarily new, they are just rearranged or look different. Using your past experiences with computers will help you learn the “new” system.
Windows Tips — 4 Comments
30
Jun 07

Quickly resizing photos with Windows Vista – Video Tip

Web designers, eBay sellers, and other folks who need to quickly and painlessly resize large digital photos had an excellent option in Windows XP. (See our tip: An Easier Way to Resize Your Digital Photos). However, that little utility doesn’t work any longer with Windows Vista. I’ve devised a little workaround that works, albeit not perfect. Here’s how:

  1. Open the folder where the photos you want to resize reside
  2. Select the photos to resize (remember Ctrl+Click)
  3. Click the Email button on the toolbar
  4. You will get a dialog box asking you what size you want to make the photos
  5. Click OK
  6. An email will open in a few seconds with the resized photos attached to the email
  7. Switch back to your open picture folder
  8. Create a new folder to house the resized photos (unless the originals are expendable)
  9. Position the email and the picture folder so you can see both
  10. Select the photos from the email
  11. Drag them to the awaiting folder

These steps make more sense when you watch the video below:


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