Skip to content

Windows Tips

Small and Free Utility Software Gems

Those of you who have kept up with me over the years know that I’m not a utility junkie. The fewer utilities and installed programs the better for me.

That being said, I admire and cherish great utilities that serve purposes I need. Some of my favorites over the years include Tech Smith’s Snag It screen capture tool and Camtasia which I use to create our video tips. I also am never without a desktop tape calculator. My current favorite is the Moffsoft Tape Calculator.

Right-click: Properties – VIDEO TIP

People always ask about the difference between right-click and left-click. The primary difference is that the right-click always brings up a menu called the context menu.

The items on the context menu change depending on where on the screen you click the mouse.

The video explains the importance of the Properties option on the context menu.

What version do I have?

One of the first questions tech support people will ask you if you have problems that need solved is what version of Windows you are using and what version of the program you have a question about you are using. Fortunately, finding out the answer takes just a few steps:

Locating your Windows version

  1. Click Start
  2. RIGHT Click the My Computer icon (or Computer icon)
  3. Click Properties
  4. The System Properties screen appears telling you not only what version of Windows you are using, but also how much RAM (temporary memory) you have and how fast your computer’s processor is. 

or, you can push the Windows key + the Pause/Break key on your keyboard to get the same screen  

Locating the name and version of any program

  1. Start any program
  2. Click Help from the menus in that program
  3. Click About
  4. The program’s information screen will appear telling you the official name of the program, its version number, and sometimes the programs support web site address and/or phone number.

Use this handy tip to gather important information about your computer before calling for help to save yourself and your computer helper time.

 

Dude! Where’s my icons? What to do when all your desktop icons disappear

All your icons are gone off of your desktop and you can’t bring them back.

It’s an easy fix:

1. Right-click on your desktop
2. Click Arrange Icons By (or something similar depending on your version of Windows)
3. Click Show Desktop Icons

Wait a few seconds and all of your icons will come back. If they don’t you should get a Mac or Ubuntu computer.

Use the Task Manager to troubleshoot program problems – Video Tip

While Windows is far from a perfect operating system, it does provide some tools to help deal with its imperfections.

One of the tools you can use to shut down a troublesome program without having to completely restart your system is the Task Manager.

For instance, if a program happens to freeze or stops responding to your mouse clicks or keyboard strokes, try this technique before reaching for the power button:

  1. Push Ctrl+Alt+Delete on your keyboard to brink up the Task Manager window (Close Program window in Windows 95, 98, and Me)
    • NOTE: Windows Vista users:  Ctrl+Alt+Del will bring up a screen where you have to click the Start Task Manager button before moving to the next step.
  2. Find and click ONE time on the program that is giving you trouble, then click the End Task button
  3. The program should close and disappear from the Task Manager list.
  4. If not, wait a few seconds and you should see another window pop-up…click the End Task button again or preat step #2

Using this technique should allow you to return to Windows and continue on with your computing…again, without the need for a full reboot of your system. It doesn’t work one hundred percent of the time, but it does work often enough that you will be rebooting your computer less. Watch the short video below to view this technique in action and learn a few other tricks not outlined here:

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.

Using Check boxes to Select Files and Folders – Video Tip

Some computer users have trouble remembering or using the keyboard and mouse shortcuts to select multiple files and folders. Windows Vista offers an option to allow users to check boxes instead of using the keyboard/mouse combos to select multiple files. To enable this option, again in Windows Vista only, follow these steps:

  1. Open in folder (My Computer, Documents, Windows Explorer, etc)
  2. Click Organize from the menus
  3. Click Folder and Search Options
  4. Click the View tab
  5. Scroll through the Advanced settings and check the Use check boxes to select items option
  6. Click Apply
  7. Click OK 

Watch the short 2 minute video below to see a demonstration of this feature and how to enable it.

Another fluff feature unveiled in Windows Vista – Video Tip

Windows Vista still doesn’t seem to be gaining any momentum in the fans department after 10 months. Today, I discovered this new feature (see the 53 second video below) that Microsoft took 7 years and billions of dollars to develop and implement in Vista. Once again, instead of Wow, I’m asking, “Why?”

How to fix Windows Mail when you can’t delete messages

I ran into a problem today with a Windows Vista machine that apparently isn’t unique. This tip only applies to Windows Vista users who use Windows mail.

Problem: Can’t delete any messages in Windows Mail…which also prevents new messages from being read.

Symptom: When you try and delete a message in Windows Mail, you get an “Internal Error” message then have to restart the program.

Solution:

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)