11.
FAQ Frequently asked
questions???
Q?. I want to keep a couple of my own pictures in
the Desktop list but they keep disappearing.
I right click on the Desktop
and select Properties. I select
Browse and select the picture
I want as my Desktop. The picture is added to the Desktop list. and displays in
the tiny monitor. I select Apply and it displays on the Desktop and it is good.
I select OK and viola! I've got my picture on the Desktop as I want.
Now, I do the same thing
again and I have a different picture on my Desktop. The next time I look at the
Desktop list ... my other picture is GONE!
A.
That is the way it works, it will hold the one picture until you put
another one in.
======================= =======================
Q?. I'm wanting to change the default programs
that open when I play a DVD or look at pictures. I have XP Home with SP2 and
haven't been able to
find an answer to what seems like a simple question using Microsoft's Help and
Support page. It only refers to SP1.
A.
Click on My Computer, Tools, Folder Options, File Types and then scroll
until you find the dos file extension, click on it, then click on Change and
select which program you want to open the file.
Some times you can RIGHT
CLICK on the File and select Open With and then select the program you want to
open it.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Q?.
I have information that I need to include in emails that I send out,
like my name, address, etc. Is there a way to make
this info come up each time I write
an e-mail?
A.
Yes. Open Outlook Express, Click on Tools, Options, Signatures. I use
this all the time, it is a great time saver.
These are the ones I use:
Kindest regards,
Joe Isaac
--------------------------------------
Kindest regards,
Joe Isaac
414 Southridge Drive
Lexington, Ky. 40505-1532
859 299 6464
joeisaac@insightbb.com
-------------------------------------------------------------
Q? My grandfather, just got his first computer this week and I'm
looking for resources to help him learn to use the computer & internet, in
particular DVDs or CDs (nothing online, as he has dial-up internet). Do you all
have any suggestions?
A. Suggest
he take Computer Basics, File Management, Word, listed in THE COMPUTER FILE.
Also attend Jerry's SIG on
Word, 1st Tuesday every
month and my SIG on Microsoft
XP/Vista, my next SIG is
2nd Tuesday in March and
thereafter.
Also visit www.ckcs.org and
click on Joe Does Windows,
and Joe's Top Fifty Tips.
Tell your Grandpa he is
entering a whole new wonderful
world.
--------------------------------------
Q? I am unable to make a print copy of an email
and
something from Microsoft
Word.
The computer says:
Windows cannot print due to a
problem with the current
printer setup. Check the
printer by printing a test age from Windows. Make sure the printer is on and on
line.
Reinstall the printer driver
A: Go to Start, Control Panel, Printers and other
Hardware, Printers and Faxes and see
if your printer is
listed and is the default.
--------------------------------------
Q? I updated a program in Microsoft XP media
called
Music match Jukebox. After
upgrading. I have this
result that I did not have
before. When I turn the
computer on and the screen is
done. My computer now
automatically dials EarthLink
and I am on the net. I
don't want this to happen
every time I boot up. How do
I correct this automatically
dialing up after booting
up. I checked the settings in
internet properties.
They seem to be correct.
A. 1.
Click on Start, Run, type in msconfig click
OK, at the top right click on
the Tab, STARTUP, now
uncheck that program so it
does not start up each time
you boot up.
You'll get a dialog box next time you boot up, just put
a check mark in the blank and
click OK.
2. Go to Start, Programs,
Accessories, System Tools,
System Restore and pick a
Bold date, when your computer
was working OK. This should
take you back before the
update.
If you need the update,
reinstall it and see if there
is an option in the
configuration that you can uncheck
so it won't start up each
time.
Response: I did as you said. msconfig unchecked the program (2 Lines).
dialog box and put check it
OK. I used System Restore to Monday the 29.
Restored and worked great .
Have old program as it was and I do not dial up
on booting. Thanks Joe. You
saved me a lot of
worry. I am up on 98 2nd
edition and not on XP. I
have had it for 6 months
only. thanks again
=======================
Q? Why are processor speeds getting lower?
A. It
does seem so, but the fact is the
new Intel Core 2 DUO processors are 40%
faster,
and 40% more energy efficient.
--------------------------------------
Q?. The last few issues of
the CKCS computer have not had
Joes Tips. Are you stopping that great advice?
It is
really the only reason I continue my
membership in the
society. What's up.
A. I'm hoping to have an
article in the March Issue.
Thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate
them.
=======================
Q?. If I were to buy a new
basic Computer what brand would
you recommend. I know about the new vista
windows
and that is what I want.
Anything else I need to know about them these
days.
Thanks for your help. Eliz.
A. For a good Vista
Computer you will have to pay $800 to $1000.
1. 3 GB Ram
2. At Least 250 GB of Hard drive.
3. At Least 19 " flat panel Display
4. Windows Vista Home Premium.
5. Plays and Creates CD and DVD
6. AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3200 or Intel
Equivalent At Least 2 GHz
I had KY Trade build me one and they did a
great job,
373 Virginia Ave, Phone 225-1700,
they give you a free 2 year warranty and a 5%
discount
for belonging to CKCS.
The new Windows Vista Premium operating system
if fantastic.
Windows Vista Basic does not have the good
stuff in it.
--------------------------------------
Q?. My cursor has locked in
place several times recently.
The only way I have been able to move it to close
down
and reboot. It is fine then. Any suggestions? Roy
A.
From Paul
Stackhouse: I have found a couple of
solutions.
First of all, if it is a USB mouse, try
unplugging it and
putting it into another USB jack, if another
is
available, otherwise just wait ten seconds and
plug it
into the same one. If it is a PS/2 mouse, it
should
not be plugged in while the system is running.
Secondly. One keyboard shortcut that is very
important to close programs and even shut down
and re-start your computer without using the
mouse is:
ALT+F4.
If it keeps happening, replace your mouse with
a name
brand (Logitech, Microsoft,
etc.)
--------------------------------------
1st Question on Vista:
Q?. I'm in 'geek' overload in
learning the how to's on my new Vista.
Hoping you can answer a
question for me: In setting up the sidebar, I want the whole month
calendar; but, its only displaying the individual day. How do I get the
whole month calendar and not just the individual day?
PS I understand you'll be
going over the Vista on March 13th. My intentions are to be there and
re-join.
A. Click on the Day and it will
show the monthly calendar.
Click on that day of
the month and it will return to that day.
You can go back months and
years, if you return to the big date there will be a red flag, click on it to
return to the correct date.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Q.? In my
email (Outlook Express) what are the little boxes with a red X in them (where pictures are supposed to be), and what
do I do to open the pictures ??????
A. This is tricky, it is because your email came
from 2 or more different sites and only the site with the text came with your
email.
=======================
Q.? I just purchased and installed new software
"DVD
MovieFactory4". As I
double click to try to open it - it gives me the dialog box "Please run at
1024X768 resolution or higher".
Where do I go in Windows XP
to change the resolution in our HP computer? I've tried to explore
"set-up", but can't find
resolution. . . Help!
A. Right
click on the Desktop, left click on Properties, Click on Settings and use the
slide bar at the bottom left.
My resolution goes from 800
by 600 to 1600 by 1200.
The higher the resolution the
smaller everthing gets.
Q.? Do you
accept any and all Microsoft Windows Update automatically to your computer?
A. Only
the High-Priorty Updates.
--------------------------------------
Q.
?Why are they going to discontinue the free AVG.
A. Suggest
you use the new free AVG antivirus it is a 36 MB
download and it is also on the TIPS CD I give out.
If you don't have one there may be some left in my CKCS
mail box.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/us/frt/0?prd=aff
Microsoft's free Windows Defender for your anti spyware.
Microsoft's free firewall which comes with XP and Vista.
This is what I use and I like it. Windows Defender updates
automatically with the rest of Microsoft products once set
up.
Other advantages of Defender is that you may click on:
Tools, then:
1. Options; Automatically scan my computer at certain times.
2. Software Explorer; Show your Startup programs.
3. Windows Defender Website;
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
Q. How do I set AVG, my anti-virus Program up for
automatic updates.
A. Right click the AVG icon (it is on the right
side of the Taskbar), click on Launch AVG control center, Right click
Scheduler, then click Scheduled Tasks, then Edit Schedule.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Other Free Anti-Spyware. You may use more than one
AntiSpyware, but should use only 1 AntiVirus and 1 Firewall.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Q.? Deleting a letter in a sentence then typing a
new letter in its place next old letter is deleted instead of new letter being
printed. What am i doing to cause this?
Do you have a remedy?
A. Hit your Insert key on the keyboard one time.
=======================
Q.? Joe, I'm trying to install the "ckcs" icon on my
desktop, but have not been able to do it. I have checked the tips, but can't
find that particular tip by using the find method. What tip should I use to
find how to do it?
A. Go to www.ckcs.org
When the CKCS screen first comes up, make the screen small
enough so you can see your Desktop, put your cursor on the little e in front of web address at the top of the
screen and left click and drag it to the Desktop and turn it loose.
This works for ANY web address.
=======================
Q.? Joe, I am working on a
3 page Word document. I want to delete the 3rd blank page. How do I this?
A. Open the Document, go to View, click on Print Layout, scroll
to the bottom of page 2, left click and drag
your cursor through the rest of the document to highlight it, then hit the
Delete key on your keyboard.
=======================
Q.? I have a question that we really would
appreciate your
thoughts/advice on. Currently, we have
"dial-up" Internet service and we are paying for an extra phone line
designated just for our computer. For about the same price we could get rid of
the phone line and go to either "broadband" with Insight Cable or
"DSL" with Windstream phone company. You are with Insight - how do
you like it?
What waived your decision to go with broadband versus
DSL? Also, we recently read that broadband was more susceptible to hackers –
what are you thoughts on this? Thank you very much for you thoughts and time.
A.
You are smart to go Broadband, it is fantastic.
I've been with Insightbb for years and they have been
great.
I just read where AOL is free for those on Broadband.
Here are the speeds:
Dial Up 56K or less
DSL 1000K
Cable 10000K
Either DSL or Cable is great.
Dial Up has a changing IP address and Broadband has a
fixed IP address and are more susceptible to hackers, but your firewall
protects you. I've have never had a problem with hackers.
Go Broadband, you will love it.
--------------------------------------
Q.? Which version of Windows Vista is right for you?
A. There will be five versions: 3 for Home use and 2 for
Business.
I recommend Vista Premium.
Basic does not have the good stuff.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/versions/default.mspx
======================= =======================
Q. How do you change from double
click to single click.
A. Double Click on My Computer,
Tools, Folder Options and select Single Click.
=======================
Q.
I just received your email and it is in blue type. I would
like to print it in black rather
than using color ink. Is there a
quick fix?
A. Go to File, Print, Preferences,
and select Print Color Images in Black and White.
======================= =======================
Q. and A.Just had to share with you how DSL came
about for me. I called my local
ISP, which is QX.Net, to inquire about DSL services. QX
ordered the DSL equipment (from Alltel at that time), I paid a computer service
to install it and my phone bill went up $10.00 a month. I pay $14.95
a month to QX Net and Windstream gets $10 more.
This
is not the only way to go, but it was another option and I LOVE
IT!!!
Can't imagine going back to dialup.
Thank
you, Joe, for continuing to include me on your notes from class. I enjoy
them so!!!!
=======================
Q. How do I print a list of files when I'm in
Windows Explorer?
(I have XP Professional). This has
been bugging me for some time.
A. PrintFolder
This no nonsense
utility lets you print or save a list of files
located in any folder, Names, Size, Date:
Just RIGHT-click
any folder in Windows
Explorer and select "PrintFolder" in the pop-up menu.
This Program is
on the TIPS 2007 CD.
I am also
emailing you the program.
--------------------------------------
Q. I may have inadvertently blocked
my son's email
messages-both to and from. Is there
a way I can unblock this?
A. Open OUTLOOK EXPRESS, click on
TOOLS, MESSAGE RULES, BLOCKED SENDERS LIST, and uncheck your son's email
address.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Q. My computer was repaired at Best Buy and they lost
lots on my stuff. I lost my favorites and you had told us about a great site -
had reference in the site name. I love it - I have trouble reading the phone
book (I can't!!) and the site was invaluable for me to look up people,
business. Would you send me the name?
A. On the right side, look up Yellow Pages and White
Pages
There is a ton
of web sites here, just go down thru them and try to find what you want.
http://www.ckcs.org/topfifty/22.html
-------------------------------------------------------------
Q. A strange
event has me puzzled. I was typing in email as a Blind Carbon Copy, when the
list of names in my addresses list suddenly flipped. It is now in reverse
order, ending with a name that begins with the letter A. I have tried the
obvious (to me), such as Control Z when it happened and shutting down and
starting up anew. Short of going to System Restore, is there a simpler way?
A. In OUTLOOK
EXPRESS, when you open a folder of names, if you click on NAMES at the very top
of the names, it will reverse their order.
--------------------------------------
Q. Junk
mail: Every day I get the same thing
about pharmacy and Dr ads, I delete them and block them but it comes back the
next day I bet I get about 20 of those if you could help me on this I
appreciated Take care
A. When you are
viewing a piece of Junk Mail in OUTLOOK EXPRESS, go to the top and click on
Message, then click on Block Sender.
At the bottom of some of the
emails, you can unsubscribe.
This will help some. The other way
is to change your email address.
--------------------------------------
Q. I just got
home from The program at computer center.
Found this ad on Corel Paint Shop
Pro Photo XI in my email.
They sure make it sound tempting.
What do you think?
A. I don't know
about Corel Paint Shop Pro , but I have Jasc Paint Shop Pro and it is a
fantastic program, but way over my head.
I have no intentions of going that
deep with Photos.
Try the free Microsoft Photo Story
3, Picasa 2, and Irfan, these are simple Free Photo Programs, and they are hard
enough to figure out and they do a lot of major things, but do not get in to
the really technical stuff.
After you learn these and you need
more, then go to the Paint Shop Pro programs.
At our next Windows class on
Tuesday, November 14, 7pm
we will demo the above free
programs.
--------------------------------------
Q. I would like
to know the best way to protect myself from identity theft? The articles I have
read say identity theft insurance is the only way. Please advise.
Also, I do not want to pay a fee to
own a credit card and would like to make purchases on the internet.
I need to pay to renew my license
and they
recommends a one time payment card.
I need some direction. Please
advise.
A. I can only
tell you what I do.
My credit cards cost me nothing, in
fact they pay me 5% on
somethings I charge and 1% on all
others. I have been using
credit cards for years and find
them a great convenience. I pay them once a month over the Internet and have
the money deducted electronically from my bank.
I have never had a problem with
credit cards, in fact they protect you some time. I made a $250 purchase of
some books on the Internet and paid with a credit card, I never received the
books and the credit card company took the charge off my card.
I do not have Identity Theft
Insurance.
--------------------------------------
Q. After installing IE #7
There is no
longer a top "tool bar" where there is
"file---edit---view---insert---"etc
with their corresponding drop
down windows.
A. Open IE then:
RIGHT CLICK on
an empty space on your Tool Bar and click on Menu Bar and the
"file---edit---view---insert---"etc should appear and solve your
problem.
=======================
Q. Sometimes I get an error number, how do I
find out what it means?
A. Put the error number in Google and most
of the time it will tell you.
=======================
Q. I'm having
trouble reading the tiny print on a few of my favorite web sites. Is there a way to change that to larger
print? Rolling over it with alt or
control key down doesn't help.
A. Open
Internet Explorer, at the top, click on View, then Text Size, select the size
you want.
=============== ===============
Q. I forgot how
to find "defrag". Can you help me? Thanks,
A. Click on MY
COMPUTER, then Right Click on the C drive, click on Properties, then Tools,
then Defrag.
=======================
Q. The icons
showing the open files have been along the bottom. By some mysterious way I
moved them to the right vertical position with one click. Now I cannot return
to the original position. Can you help?
A. Put your
cursor on an empty space on the Taskbar, left click and drag it to the bottom
of the monitor.
=======================
Q. I have many
old floppy disks that I would like to throw away. Please advise the best way to
do this.
A. If they have important information
on them I reformat them, then I pry them open and take my scissors and cut
them, then just put them in my regular garbage bag with my regular garbage.
=======================
Q. I don't
believe that I know how to email a FILE.
A. Open OUTLOOK
EXPRESS, click on Attach, then click on the down arrow and start browsing until
you find the file you want to attach, then click on it.
=======================
Q. I was wondering if you have a good
website for finding part of my family. I just want to start communicating with
them after many years and hoping to be able to find their mailing address.
Sorry I missed the CKCS meeting Tuesday pm, and I know I missed a special show.
Joe, thanks for the hard work and the many special things you do for us. Will
see you in December.
A.You can type their name and city or
state into Google and sometime get their address and phone number.
Type in Family History in Google
and you'll get a load of sites.
I found that Ancestry.com was a
great place to look, but you have to pay for it. If you go to the Lexington
Libraries and get on their computers you could use it free.
Search 4 billion names, census
images and immigration records. http://www.ancestry.com/
Search for family ancestors.
Billions of free family tree, family
history, ancestry, genealogy and
census records.
I also found that Birth
Certificates and Death Certificates were a great source of information. I think
I paid $6 for each one in 1990 and paid it online and they sent me a certified
copy directfrom Frankfort, Ky.
http://www.vitalrec.com/ky.html
There is also an Ellis Island web
site.
I'm also forwarding your email to
our Genealogy expert, Phyllis Spiker, Her SIG is the 3rd Tuesday each month.
Good Luck, you'll find what you are
doing very rewarding.
--------------------------------------
Q. I don't know how it happened but my e-mail
screen is on the right side of my screen and I am unable to move it to the
proper area.
I've tried to
drag it and no luck. Somehow, I think it happened
with my mouse
through my carelessness. Could you help me
PLEASE???? Thank you so much.
A. Put your cursor
on the top blue part of the window, left click and drag to the left, in the
upper right hand corner click on the box, it is next to the X. Let me know if this works.
It worked. Thank
you so much. You're better than Microsoft.
Merry Christmas.
=======================
Q. My Windows folder is full of these things called "$NtUninstallQ...etc".
A. There's a
whole bunch of them! Are they OK to delete? (YES)
When you
install a patch or update in Windows XP, it makes a directory for files you'll
need if you decide to uninstall the update/patch.
Go to My
Computer / C: / Windows and they should be there.
If you don't
see them, go to Tools / Folder Options
and make sure the radio button for "Show hidden files and folders" is
selected. If not, choose it then click the "Apply to all folders"
button.)
Next, select
the "$NtUninstall..." directories and Delete.
===============================
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