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Power Toys for Windows (Windows 98)

Many computer users enjoy tweaking and customizing their computers. However, at times, this can cause problems with the performance and even the operation of the computer. 

Power Toys is an unofficial add-on (meaning Microsoft does not officially support it even though they include it on the Windows 98 CD)  to Windows. Power Toys allows you to adjust items like:

Mouse
General
Explorer
Internet Explorer
Desktop
My Computer 		Control Panel
Network
New menu
Add/Remove menu
Boot
Repair
Paranoia

Keep your system running clean

It’s easy to become a digital pack rat. However, using all this space on your computer can contribute to slower performance.

Here are some tips of how to keep your system clutter free.

* Use the Disk Cleanup utility (Windows 98 and Me users) to delete temporary windows and Internet files.
* If you use a digital camera or scanner, archive your older images on a ZIP disk or CDR (also important for backups).
* Keep your email folders cleaned out…especially delete unwanted Sent messages and don’t forget to empty your deleted email folder as well.
* Speaking of email, also delete any unwanted email attachments you have received (AOL users look for your downloaded files under the C drive, then AOL, then Download folder)

Does Your Wallpaper Fit?

One tip that has evaded us over the years is sharing the magic of making wallpaper fit your screen. Wallpaper personalizes your computer and makes your desktop yours.

If you use Windows 98 and above, you can add any photo you want to your desktop as wallpaper. But often the picture doesn’t quite fit well on the screen leaving space around the picture. If you want to get rid of the space around your wallpaper, try this:

1. RIGHT Click on your desktop (not on an icon)
2. Click on Properties from the menu
3. Click on the Desktop or Background tab
4. In the position box, click and choose “Stretch”

Beware of Fraudulent Email

This week I had the unfortunate job of helping a client of mine change email addresses and passwords. Not that the change itself was unfortunate, it was the reason for the change. Earlier in the week, she fell prey to an Internet scam known as ‘phishing’.

Phishing starts in our email box. The email looks and almost sounds completely official and usually claims to represent a large company like AOL, Earthlink, Citibank, eBay, etc. Even the company’s logo and maybe an address or telephone number will appear in the email as well. The email states that either the company has had a catastrophic computer melt down and needs to rebuild their customer information database OR it says that for your security you need to react.

Adding a Mail notification sound to your email

OK, I?m going to pick on AOL a little this week. Who believes that ?You?ve got mail!? is not only horrible grammar, but also pretty corny!

If you are an AOL user and want to change that sound or are an independent Internet user who uses Netscape, or Outlook Express, Eudora, etc for their mail, this tip will help you add your own customized sound to your email.

The first thing you need is a sound file. You can get this one of three ways:

1. Use the stock sounds that come with Windows
2. Download a sound from the Internet (see Links of Interest below)
3. Or my favorite, record your own sound (or record your children, grandchildren, friend, dog, etc )

When Should You Use the RIGHT Mouse Button?

Many people ask me when is the appropriate time to click the RIGHT mouse button. My short answer is to try it everywhere. The RIGHT mouse button (or secondary mouse button) provides quick access to many common functions via a pop up menu. And those functions change depending on what program you are using and where you are in that program.

For example, in almost any application, if you click the RIGHT mouse button, you will have access to cut, copy, and paste. If you are in email, or the Internet or a word processing program any you need to copy some text to another area, first highlight it then RIGHT click on it to quickly get to the Copy function.

Print your Digital Photos with a Developer

Digital camera owners typically take three to four times as many photos than their film counterparts. And why not…there are no developing or film costs. However, the printer industry would love for you to print out all those photos you are taking.

With digital, the potential savings can be huge IF you approach the printing process as I outline below:

  • Backup all your photos to a CD (preferably make at least two backups) as these files are your ‘digital negatives’
  • Not every photo needs to be printed
  • Only print the photos you will frame, scrapbook, hang on the fridge, or send to friends or family
  • Print them at the size appropriate for the occasion
  • Use your home printer to print just the fridge and occasional scrap book photos Yes, do not use your home printer to print the majority of your shots. Instead, carefully pick out the photos you want printed, copy them to a CD, and take them to a local film developer.

Most photo labs today will print your digital memories. Using a photo lab to print your digital pics offers many advantages: * Cheaper (less than 20 cents per photo vs. well over a dollar per photo for prints from your ink jet) 

Changing Shortcut Icons – Video Tip

Lately many of our tips have focused on Internet and computer safety and security. As important as these topics are, computers still do have a fun side. In fact, Adam and I often refer to computers as the ‘hot rod’ of the new millennium…you can customize it to your own liking. In today’s tip, you will learn how to customize boring old shortcuts on your desktop. Since Windows 95, Microsoft gave users the ability to change icons to suit their own tastes, but this feature doesn’t get practiced very often.