If the popups and sudden system slowdown aren’t sufficient indicators, here are two other ways to tell that you have spyware.
1. Tons of toolbars in Internet Explorer
2. More than 10 items in the system tray by the clock
Special thanks to my client who unknowingly contributed material for this video which I recorded with my cell phone.
One of my favorite tips to teach people is the use of the Quick Launch bar (click here for the tip for all other versions of Windows) for always having your most commonly needed files or programs at your ready. Microsoft made the process harder to accomplish in the new Vista, but it can still be done. Here's how:
Watch the video below to
This tip evaded me for many years, but now you can benefit from its use. The tip works in any versions of Windows including Windows Vista's Windows Mail.
When asked how to delete a message without opening it in Microsoft Outlook Express, I traditionally answered by directing the computer user to the View menu (See Tip #156). This works, but if you want to turn the Preview back on you have to go through the same number of steps.
Why would you want to delete emails without opening them? A couple of reasons include not wanting to open an email that advertises how to enlarge certain private parts or see an ad of Jolene's sorority web site and you may not want to open a potentially dangerous email that might have a virus.
Desktop icons are great to access commonly used programs and files, but I have found an even faster way to access those commonly used programs and keep my desktop a little cleaner at the same time.
After following the outlined steps below, you will have an orderly toolbar that contains easy one-click access to your favorite programs or files:
RIGHT Click on your Taskbar (next to the Start button)
Click Toolbars
Click Quick Launch (or make sure there is already a check mark there)
Actually, Microsoft designed the new browser that way so that there is more room for browsing. However, if you want the menu bar (the one with File, Edit, View, Favorites, etc) back, follow these steps:
That will do it. You can't move the menu bar above the new address bar, but at least it will be visible and usable from now forward. For those of you who just want quick access to the menu bar, but don't mind that it is missing, remember the Alt key trick to get the menu bar to appear when you need it.
The Amazing Photoshop Elements Toolbox
There are so many wonderful things you can do with Photoshop Elements.
You will find many of our tips in our notes from previous meetings.
This time we will spend most of our time discussing the Magical Photoshop Elements Toolbox.
There are three kinds of tools in the Toolbox:
Hover your mouse over any area in the toolbox to see its name. Hold your left mouse button down over any tool with a little diagonal triangle at the bottom to see hidden tools with similar functions.
Selecting: These tools create "Marching Ants" that indicate that an area has been selected. Selection tools include the Marquee Tool, Lasso Tool, Magic Wand and Brush Selection Tool These are all found in the top 5th of the Toolbox.
Once and area is selected, any changes you make will only apply to the selected area.
Painting: These tools "paint" effects by holding down the left mouse button while moving the mouse in the area you want to change. Painting tools include the Paintbrush, Pencil, Erase, Red Eye, Blur, Sharpen, Sponge, Smear, and Clone Stamp tools.
All painting tools allow you to change the area that you are working on by adjusting the brush size and you can apply affects by making changes in the Options bar (tool bar under the file menu that changes when you select a tool).
Custom Tools: These are tools that don't fit into
Emailing Your Digital Photos
A few things to remember:
Always save a copy of the ORIGINAL photo
You can always go down on resolution, but you can never go up.
72 dpi for email and web – 300 dpi for printing
I wrote this Windows 98 fax tip many years ago, but I realized this week that some people still do need to use a fax. Here is some updated information for faxing with Windows XP:
Setup the FAX
If your computer has a modem, you should have the Microsoft Fax already setup. To see if it is ready to go, click Start –> Control Panel and double-click the Printers and Faxes option. If you see the Fax in the installed printers you are ready to go. If you don't see it next to your other printers, then Click the "Setup faxing" option from the task lists on the left and follow the instructions.
Sending a FAX
Receiving a FAX
We discussed Picasa 2 late last year, but since then I have discovered many more wonderful things that can be done with the program. In fact, I now use it more often than any other program for my day-to-day digital photography.
HOW TO GET PICASA:
1. 
Either click on this button, or go to www.picasa.com and click on the Free Download button.
What can you do with Picasa 2?
Picasa 2 is a free program made by Google that allows you to organize your photos without any effort on your part.
Besides organizing photos it also has some great creativity tools including gift CDs, slide shows, and blogging tools.
HOW TO GET PICASA:
1. Either click on this button, or go to www.picasa.com and click on the Free Download button.