General hints and tips on Computers and Software Windows
Applications, Web Software, Avoiding Spam, DOS, and more.
Always back up important
documents. Have one, preferably 2 backup system for your data. Here at
hints-n-tips we were burgled and the thieves took some of the backup
disks as well. It is a good idea to keep more than one set of data at
more than one location.
Have
good virus protection.
If
your computer is on for most of the time it is a good idea to replace
fans at least every three years.
Always
use the "Uninstall" facility, most programs make some changes to your
operating system control files, deleting the program files will not
remove these changes and quite probably stop the system from working
properly.
Use
"defrag" frequently,
Router Locking
Up. Our broadband router kept locking up and it was some
time before we realised that it was incoming phone calls that were
causing the problem. The solution we came up with was to fit a
telephone surge suppresser. The model we used was one that was
incorporated with a mains suppresser. No problems after that. Our
searching the internet on the problem came up with the information that
voltage surges and sudden pulses are quite common, most homes and
businesses experiencing several very short period pulses that exceed
500 Volts peaks several times a week -- Dare Seely
Yahoo ate my
Email. I had almost completed a very detailed email
that had taken the better part of a day to do and momentarily looked at
another window, when I returned to the browser the entire morning's
work had disappeared. Compose in Microsoft 'Text' or Apple TexEdit and
save ever so often. I have discovered that such an event is a common
occurrence - Katie Reynolds
A Fast Track
Method of Learning Software. When learning a new
computer software program, a fast track way of learning is to go
straight to the keyboard short cuts and learn the top 10 most used
features of the software program.
When learning a new computer
operating system program like Unix, Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac or
Linux, a fast track way of learning is to go straight to the Command
Line Interface and use the keyboard short cuts and learn the top 10
most used commands of the operating system. This also prevents
repetitive strain injury from using the Graphical User Interface. -- James
Snyder, Radlett, UK
Re: Backslash.
I think we should rename both slashes as s/ash and s\ash! --
sue hacking What a brilliant idea Sue.
Remember you saw it first on Hints-n-Tips -- Ed
Address Masking: When
the term is used in connection with IP addresses. Its use is similar to
making holes in a piece of paper to reveal only that, which one wishes
to see and to obscure the remainder. An IP address consists of four
numbers, and it may be that only the last number is to be
used in the current network. An example of an address mask of this type
is as follows:
255, 255, 255,0
The above set of numbers, resembles an IP address but it is nothing
more than an address mask for another number, which is an IP
address. The following link is a really good explanation of
IP numbers and the concept of masking.
http://www.cit.cornell.edu/computer/support/subsubnetting.html
Davio
McDavitt
Faster browsing. hi friends, You can open your desired web
site without entering 'www' and '.com' in the address bar. Simply type
the name of the web site and Hold down the CTRL key while pressing the
ENTER key. The web browser will automatically add the prefix of www and
suffix of .com after the site name and will open it. -- "manas
mohapatra" 25 Jun
2003
Computer General
Tips Hi One neat tip especially for newbies is to take
advantage of all the great and occasionally not so great, lol, freeware
and shareware demos available online. Shareware is a great way to try
programs be they utilities or gamez before buying them and FREE is
always a nice. Some good sites to start with are: zdnet and downloads
dot com The added benefits to these sites is all the
computer related information on technology, help files, articles, news,
ad infinitum. Barbara Van Sant
The "back-slash"
character. I would like to start a campaign to rename the
"back-slash" to something more easily stated and that could not be
confused with just "slash" When verbally reading a file or
web address the "/", forward-slash, character is easily stated as just
"slash". However, it seems to me, the "\" back-slash" just doesn't flow
as easily. I would suggest using "slish" for "back-slash"- - -Note the
comparison to "slash" for "forward-slash" Perhaps I am a Zorro fan and
the "slish" and "slash" is the sound of his sword making his "Z" mark?
-- DON SHREVE ---
Making your modem dial-up your
ISP faster To make your modem dial your ISP's dial-up number
faster, add S11=50 into your modems initialization string. this is the
maximum speed that most phone companies can accept the dialled number.
To do this, right click on my computer, select properties, device
manager, click the plus mark next to your modem, double click on the
modem, select connection, and advanced. Type in S11=50 into the extra
settings box and apply. You will then need to restart your computer for
the setting to take effect. --
James Amon Also thanks to Raymondo Watson
Mouse cleaning: If your mouse misbehaves don't just
clean the ball. Clean the 3 rollers as well. A cotton bud dipped in
alcohol usually works. If the deposits are really stubborn use the end
of a matchstick to scrape them off. -- BJOHNbarker
My first one is one that your
site could probably use. There are spiders (internet programs) which
collect email addresses by searching all web pages email addresses or
for a mailto: link. These are added to the CDs of "over a million
internet addresses" which are sent to spammers. A better idea now is to
use a form or CGI which does not have the email address on the html
page. Another option is to make your email address a gif image so that
it can be easily be read by real people but not automatic programs -- Gandalf
Parker
Spamming Can Be
Reduced by including "nospam" or something similar
inside your e-mail address. I frequently do it on Usenet or when I
think that the spiders are likely to scoop me up!!! --
levitator101
Deleting
programs from your hard drive (Windows95/98) Better safe
than sorry! Always use the Utility that you will find in the “Settings”
Panel (Start/Settings/Add-Remove Programs) or the “undelete” utility
that came with the program. If you get messages asking if you want to
delete components of the program that may be used elsewhere, then in my
experience we you should say no and leave them there. They may be
taking up some space on your drive but there is a probability that your
system will crash if you remove them. You can get rid of all the
programs you don’t want the next time you do a low level format on the
drive. - Hector Velasquez-Conn, Perth
Use a Kitchen timer to tell
when you have reached the end of your planned session on your
PC. Your productivity will improve if you plan in advance
what you intend doing in session. Schedule all
of working time spent on your machine -- John Krebs Denver
Slippery mouse? Sometimes it
is not enough to just remove the dust from your mouse. Wash
and scrub the ball with detergent and an abrasive pad. I
found that even on poor "mousing surfaces" that there were no more
problems with slippage. Don't you just love the term "mousing
surface"?. I found it on one of my partner's computer magazines - had
me chuckling all afternoon -- Adele Smith, Darwin Australia
Speed up searching by using
"metasearchers" such as As Jeeves, Dogpile or Metacrawler visit the search page on this site to find
these and more-- Davie
Sound: You
can made complicated echo sound effects using the pretty
basic sound recorder program that comes with Windows . To do this open
the WAV file that you want to enhance, and then choose Edit, Copy. When
you do this move the slider to the right a little. To get a mild
reverberation effect set the slider to about 0.05 seconds (see the
exact time in the box). To make a larger echo move the slider even
further. Then choose Edit, Paste Mix to finish it. Click the play
button to test it out. -- Trev
Tip
for Web Design. A 16th tip to add to to "The Top
Fifteen Mistakes of First Time Web Design ": Spend a few minutes
testing and debugging your web pages to make certain you
don't have simple yet irritating mistakes such as duplicated
paragraphs and text in the content. ;~) -- Robert
McLellan Application Systems Analyst E-Business Solutions/Sales
& Logistics I/S Temple-Inland Forest Products Corp.
936.829.7357
Security:
keep all of your computer gear away from prying eyes. Keep it all away
from the window to deter burglars. -- R Holson
If using a computer several
hours a day you run the risk of developing painful hand and arm
troubles, i.e repetitive strain injury. I managed to recover
from an extremely painful right forearm simply by transferring the
mouse to the left hand side of the computer and changing over to a left
hand mouse on the settings panel. Wrist rests on the keyboard and mouse
help too. -- Anna K Levcowicz
Windows: when
cutting and pasting text or images in any windows software a quick
shortcut is to highlight the text you want to use and then use on of
the corresponding keyboard shortcuts. CTRL + X is cut, CTRL + C is
COPY, and CTRL + V is paste. -- Anon.
Graphics: to copy an image of
the screen onto the clipboard in windows you can press the PRINT SCREEN
button (called 'Prt Sc' or something like that on you keyboard). This
only works for non-Windows applications only if they are running in
text mode. -- Phil D Ramirez
Windows: Do you get annoyed
whenever you insert a compact disk into the CD-ROM drive and it
automatically plays. Bypass the auto-play by holding down shift whilst
inserting the CD-ROM. -- Gareth Richards, Essex UK
Password Security:
Be
original, make it as difficult as possible for the potential
intruder. Don't use obvious ones and do change them
frequently. If you find it difficult to remember them don't write them
down on a piece of paper you keep in your desk drawer or in an easily
accessible file. Using the one you used last time
reduces the security of your information significantly, as does using
the same one on more than one system or application. You are
often given a choice about how many letters you can use, use them
all. Letters and numbers are better than just
letters. If you are given the option of using upper and lower
case then do so. Be original.
If you are like me and have a failing memory then if you have them
written down then use a code to keep them safe.
Children and
Computers AOL has a good Parental Controls. It is
a good idea to take advantage of them and others like it. There is no
substitute for good over-the-shoulder supervision, and there are some
pretty nasty sites and lots of scary people out there. Always
stay involved with their surfing activities. Teach them never
to share passwords or give out personal information. Ensure
that they only ever go into chat rooms using a screen name that does
not accept e-mail.
Some software is available to
help you limit what your kids can see.
Mac Tip -
To get a 'hash' symbol on Apple keyboards use the 'alt' key and the
numerical 3 key together - davidoff
home
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If you
do not care about the pain of others then you do not deserve to be
called a human being -
Saadi 12th century Persian poet
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