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I can get on Yahoo! but I can’t connect to the Internet

Let me begin by saying that it is never the purpose of our Shotgun articles to make fun our clients or make anyone feel ignorant. We often use examples from our daily adventures simply to point out common problems, misconceptions or new problems to watch out for.

Today I had a client who told me she couldn’t get on the Internet, she could only read her Yahoo! email.

When I hear something like this, I know that the client has a misunderstanding about something or I don’t understand the problem.

Since Yahoo! is on the Internet, you have to be able to connect to the Internet to use their services. When I got to her house I discovered that her computer helpers at home had put shortcuts to Yahoo!, Google and one that just opened the browser to a home page.

Norton may slow computers down

ALERT!!

Today I saw a client with a slow computer. I removed Norton Antivirus and the computer instantly regained the speed of its youth.

Later in the day I saw another client with a slow computer. I removed Norton Antivirus and the computer instantly regained the speed of its youth.

There seems to be a trend here because over the past two years I have seen dozens of computers with slowness problems. After removing Norton Antivirus the computer instantly regained the speed of its youth.

Good ol’ AOL

Amazingly, I have not railed against AOL yet in any of my ‘Shotguns’. No matter how hard I try, somehow the topic comes up. Just today, I helped a customer hook up her new DSL Internet and cancel her AOL account. By switching to DSL, she is saving about $2 a month locally and gaining so much more service. In some areas, you can save $10 or more by switching to DSL.

What else is gained by switching to DSL service from AOL?

Nothing is by the book

There are two things that make the businesses Rick and I run different from running a computer shop or working as the IT guy in a big company.

1. We see dozens of computers each week and no two of them are the same in any way.

2. Rarely is anything done by the book.

Every person has their own preference for desktop wallpaper, word processing program, Windows version, printer, antivirus, digital camera, web browser, etc.

Elements 3 Features

What’s New In Elements 3
 

Quirky Features:

Not all of the new features in Elements 3 are extremely useful. Although many of the new features are designed to help the beginner, they are too complicated to be of any use. Some of theses new quirky features include:

1. Create – The most useful of the quirky new features, this feature allows you to make slideshows, greeting cards, photo album pages and more. Don’t expect the versatility of a program like Print Shop though.

Remember to Logout from Financial Sites

Millions of computer users now bank and trade online. The convenience of online banking and trading is not disputed, but some still wonder about safety. All large banking institutions take the time and effort to shore up security from their end to protect you and your transactions. They also know that if they don’t provide the best in security that they won’t be in business very long.

 However, no matter how safe our banking and trading institutions make the process, we computer users still have some responsibility as well. To insure your safety online when performing financial transactions, follow these steps:

Keep an eye on the kids

One common question I get from parents is how to keep kids safe while using the Internet.  Here are some apps and sites to help answer questions about kids and the Internet:

Cyber Patrol 

Get Net Wise

However, if you use Internet Explorer, then you have a great tool already built into the browser itself.  Here’s how to use it:

  1. Click on Start
  2. Click on Settings
  3. Click on Control Panel
  4. Double Click on Internet Options (or Internet)
  5. Click on the Content tab
  6. Click on the Enable button next to the "Content Advisor"
  7. Use the tools provided to restrict access to web sites that you approve (make sure that you remember and protect the password you set for this feature)

Give this tool a try and I think you will find it useful.

Do you have kids or grandchildren?

If so, don’t throw out your old computer when you upgrade to a newer one.

Clean up your old computer and install:

  • a simple word processor
  • drawing program (like Broderbund’s Kid Pix)
  • educational games (there are many good free ones available at download sites on the Web)
  • web browser with filter software

This allows your children to learn, use and be responsible for a computer without compromising your computer or data if a small hand gets too anxious.  And if you both need to get a project out, there is no need to rush each other!

Quickly Navigating to a website

When you read about a web site or hear one advertised on the radio or TV, do you know hot to get to it quickly?  If no, here’s how:

This tip will work with ANY online service or browser or operating system.  

As you are reading this tip, look toward the top of your monitor.  Do you see a long white box with an http:…. address in it?  This is called the browser address or location bar.  You will interact with it to successfully complete this tip.

  1. Click ONE time anywhere in the long white address bar toward the top of the screen (the current address will become highlighted)
  2. Type the address of the web page you are looking for (ex:  www.helpmerick.com   note that you do NOT have to type the http:// part of the address)
  3. Push ENTER or RETURN on your keyboard and you will be transported the address you typed.

That’s it, no more complicated than these three steps.  Just make sure that your spelling is correct and that you use periods instead of commas. 

Navigating the Web

Just starting out on the Web? This tip is for you!

This tip will work with ANY online service or browser or operating system.  

When you are looking at your Internet screen,  do you see a long white box with an http:…. address in it?  This is called the browser address or location bar.  

  1. Click ONE time anywhere in the long white address bar toward the top of the screen (the current address will become highlighted)
  2. Type the address of the web page you are looking for (ex:  www.yourpcpartner.com   note that you do NOT have to type the http:// part of the address)
  3. Push ENTER or RETURN on your keyboard and you will be transported the address you typed.

That’s it! No more complicated than these three steps.  Just make sure that your spelling is correct, use periods instead of commas, and don’t use spaces.