Stay Signed In
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
Are you tired of clicking Start, Turn Off Computer and then the Turn Off button to shut down
here's a little shortcut that you can put on your desktop which just needs a double click to turn it off.
Right click on your Desktop.
Scroll down to "New" then click on "Shortcut".
Type: shutdown -s -t 00 and click Next.
Give your shortcut a name --example --"Shutdown" then click "Finish".
its just that easy.
To Shutdown the computer now just double click on the Shutdown icon
if you want it to hibernate type in
"Shutdown -H -T 10"
instead
-T 10 provides a 10 second delay (adjust as you prefer) before hibernation starts,
to provide time to abort the process with "Shutdown -A."
Faster Restart
Perhaps you have gotten an "illegal operation" message and have been "advised" to re-start, or your resources are running low. That in itself is frustrating. Why take the extra time to re-load everything when you don't need to. Using the following method will only re-load windows, not all of your drivers. Hence, it is much faster.
Here's how to do it......
Just go to "start">"shut down"> and select "re-start"......when you are ready to click "ok", hold down the "shift" key at the same time as you do so. Then release it. Windows will re-start. You'll even get a little message saying so. Try it next time and you'll see the difference. Woody
Faster PC
Go to Tools > Internet Options > Browser History>Settings, and see that the control is set to between 0-100, anything higher will slow down your pc.
Log Off
I have a great tip for everyone. Once in awhile I get impatient with the computer... and I click on the same button a million times...then the computer freezes..sometimes it just spontaniusly freezes on us. Well I have a trick. If you hit the windows button (the key beside the ALT button) the start menu will pop up....it will show you to log of or shut down and stuff like that....well hit log off...and you simply log back on right away...it saves alot of time!
How to increase Recycle Bin size as much as you want
You can increase and decrease the size of the Recycle Bin. There are some size limitations with Recycle Bin size, its default size is equivalent to 10 percent of the drive size. But if you delete a larger size file accidentally, you can retrieve this file from Recycle Bin that is why you should set the maximum storage size of the Recycle Bin.
First Right click on the Recycle Bin icon on the Desktop of your computer then go to Properties.
Adjust the slider bar in the center of the screen from 10% to maximum size as you want.
Then click OK button to save your new sitting and exit the Recycle Bin Properties Window.
After change reboot your computer to have Windows fully initiate the necessary changes to your system.
How to cut down your All Programs list.
Is your All Programs list running out of room? Is it on it's third and last column?
Here's a way to make more room.
Right click Start
Explore all users
Double click on programs
Right click in an empty space
Click on new folder to create a new folder
Name/title it whatever you want or like
Now drag and drop programs into that new folder. Do that to each new folder you've created.
You can create any number of categorized folders to reduce the space in your Start> All Programs list.
Your All Programs will now show those folder(s) and have a side menu with all the programs you have added in it.
Bandwith
What is Bandwidth Theft
Bandwidth Theft is a big problem on the internet. What is Bandwidth?
Bandwidth is
the measurement of useage of a website, measured in bytes, and is charged, usually
monthly. When you go to a website, and the page starts to load, that uses bandwidth.
Every picture, graphic, midi file, streaming video, all use bandwidth.
If you find something you like at a web site, such as a picture, or a cartoon, or a piece
of clip art, and you decide to "take it" and use it on your own web page, or post it in
on a message board, and use the "copy and paste" method, you are stealing bandwidth.
That item remains on the server where you found it, and even though you are pasting it
to another web page, it is still using bandwidth from where you got it. It's as if
someone has tapped into their water line. The water useage is still being measured
on their water meter, but the water is being used by the neighbors. That's theft.
Most people who steal bandwidth, do it completely unaware. They don't realize the
huge costs incurred by the owners of the web sites or the web hosts. Many sites are
shut down every month when they've exceeded bandwidth useage simply because of
the theft from other sites. Many free media sites have disappeared because of
this problem. Free media on the internet is definitely jeopardized by this practice.
The cost can quickly exceed the limits of a budget and many sites have closed down
as a result.
To prevent bandwidth theft, you MUST save photos and graphics correctly. Do not copy
the graphic and paste it into any web page. You MUST right click and select "save
picture as". This puts the item into a file on your own computer and disconnects it
from the server. From the file on your computer, you can upload it to your web page,
message board, or personal albums online.
Need a little extra space on your desktop?
icons getting a bit crowded? tired of the same old size? well....it's a piece of cake to change them.....try different sizes and see what suits your needs...here's how:
right click an empty area on your desktop.....select "properties"...then click on the "appearance" tab at the top.....look part way down that window til you find "item". scroll and select "icon"....you will see the size option then....select one you think you may want...click on "apply" and then "ok"....watch them change. if you don't like that size, just do it til you find one that suits your fancy. have fun!!!
one note of importance: if you make them smaller than 30, the little arrow indicating that they are a shortcut will disappear. If you ever go to delete something from your desktop, make sure you know what you are deleting. it may not be a shortcut. if you arent sure, just take a second, make the icons bigger again, and the shortcut arrows will appear again. no re-start even required. Woody
How we can Print our Favorites list?
Today's cool tip is to print our favorites list, because there is no option to print it when you browse your favorites list, but using a method you can create a printable HTML document.
To create this HTML list, first open Internet Explorer. Here go to File option then you will find here option Import and Export, to run the Import/Export wizard Click here then Next.
Here you can select what to import and export, Select Export Favorites option then click Next button. Next you will get option which folder you want to export. You can select the top folder Favorites or just a specific folder.
Select "Export to a File or Address" option and give it a name and location. Click Next and Finish it.
Windows XP Shortcut Keys
CTRL+C Copy.
CTRL+X Cut.
CTRL+V Paste.
CTRL+Z Undo.
DELETE Delete.
SHIFT+DELETE Delete selected item permanently not placing the item in the Recycle Bin
CTRL while dragging an item Copy selected item.
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item Create shortcut to selected item.
F2 Rename selected item.
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word.
CTRL+LEFT ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
CTRL+DOWN ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph.
CTRL+UP ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys Highlight a block of text.
SHIFT with any of the arrow keys Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document
CTRL+A Select all.
F3 Search for a file or folder.
How to Permanently Delete Files, Folder and Icons from your computer
When you delete a file, folder and icons, it’s normally moved to your system Recycle Bin, where it stays until you manually empty it. If you want to permanently delete a file, folder and icons and bypass the Recycle Bin then hold down the Shift key while deleting it. You'll get a pop-up window confirming the deletion (Yes and NO); if you click Yes, the file will delete permanently from your computer. So for Safety purposes, you should use this option for permanently deleting an unwanted file from your computer.
Yahoo Optout
This is a heads up about Yahoo that will save you from being spied on. Notice in the Yahoo statement that it
says that all of your personal computers must be opted out individually.
Yahoo is now using something called "Web Beacons" to track Yahoo Group users around the net to see what you're
doing and where you are going (similar to cookies).
Take a look at their updated privacy statement: http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us/beacons/details.html
About half-way down the page, in the section "Outside the Yahoo! Network", you'll see a "click here" link that will let you
"opt-out" of their method of snooping.
Once you have clicked that link you are opted out. Notice the "Success" message the top the next page.
Be careful because on that page there is a "Cancel Opt-out" button that if clicked will *undo* the opt-out.
Where Ya Been Surfin'?
Are you suspicious that someone in your house is visiting web sites they shouldn't? Everyone probably knows that your Web browser collects information about the places you visit and stores it on your computer. If you know where to look it's easy to find, but it's also easy to delete—especially by tech-savvy kids.
History files are the most obvious place to check. With Internet Explorer and Netscape , just type Ctrl+H to bring up History. There should be a list of sites visited each day and you can just click to return to the scene of the crime. If the history is empty after junior spent three hours online, then he is probably covering his tracks—you may want to make it family web-usage policy that if History files are deleted, then internet privileges will be revoked for a set period of time.
Cache Files (a/k/a Temporary Internet Files) keep temp copies of web pages visited on your computer. These make frequently visited pages come up quicker by saving them on your hard drive. With IE, just go to Tools / Internet Options then under "Temporary Internet Files" click " Settings ".
In the Settings Window choose "View Files" and a list of all visited sites will come up.
Again, if this folder is empty after someone has been online, then you ought to be suspicious.
Cookies are files that websites leave on your system to keep track of passwords, shopping patterns, what type of pages you like, your preferences for that particular site, and more. Porn sites leave these on your computer too, so you will find them in your temporary internet file folder (Windows XP has a separate cookie file). You'll be able to tell if there are any from porn sites.
Search for "naughty words" using Start / Search ("Find Files" in older Window OS). Even a word like "babe" could bring up cookies and image files that are still on your system.You could also search for .jpg files and see what comes up—these often remain in your temp files even after they are emptied. Double click the file to view it if you dare.
If you have kids in the house, it is a good idea to make up a family Internet Usage Contract with guidelines and rules for everyone to follow. Have your kids sign it and hold them to the rules. And, of course, you all supervise your pre-teens and check in on your teens when they are online, right?
( This tip was found at a website. I take no credit or responsibility for it. cc )
Virtual Memory
If you purchased a new computer with windows XP as your operating platform you will have at least 512 MB of RAM (Random Access Memory) and the 8o that you refered to will be the size of your hard drive in Gigga Bytes (GB).
You also have a facility known as Virtual Memory (VM) which uses a Swap File to move information back and forth between RAM and VM. VM is like RAM on your hard drive and is just another storage space.
If you are having the problems you describe it may be a good idea to increase the size of you Virtual Memory and doing so will allow more information to be stored there and free up the RAM for use by PSP.
To do this follow these instructions:-
Click Start > right click on My Computer > select properties. (Its the bottom one)
Click on the Advanced tab.
Click on the Performance button.
Click on the Advanced tab.
Click the Change button in the Virtual memory area. (near the bottom)
Click where it says Custom size.
In the Initial size you should enter a value of at least 1024. I have mine set a little higher at 1280.
In the maximum size you should have at least 1536. Again I have mine a little higher at 1800.
When you have your values in click OK, then OK again, and then OK once more untill the box closes.
You should now shut down and re-start window for the changes to take effect.
Custom slide show
Windows XP lets you create your own slide-show-based screensaver. First, drag and drop the pictures you'd like to use into your My Pictures folder, located inside the My Documents folder. Now, right-click an empty space on your desktop and choose Properties. Click the Screen Saver tab, and from within the pull-down menu, highlight the My Pictures Slideshow option. The Settings button lets you adjust parameters such as size and transition effects. Click Preview for a quick demonstration or click OK to activate your screensaver.
Prefetch Clutter
Do you find that it takes longer and longer for applications to open when you boot Windows XP? One common cause is the Win XP prefetch system.
"What's Prefetch?" you ask. It's a way for Windows to pre-load the data needed for running applications before you launch them. It's supposed to make them launch quicker. What actually happens is that programs you hardly ever use take up space and the wrong data gets prefetched.
Good news—these PF instructions can safely be deleted making your boot time faster.
Go to Start / Run and type in "Prefetch" (or go to C:\WINDOWS\PREFETCH). You'll probably see a big long list.
Enable Single Click in Windows XP
Enable Single Click in Windows XP.
To Single click again:
Open My Computer,
Tools,
Folder Options,
In the Click items as follows, select "Single-click to open an item..."
Apps in an instant
For one-click access to frequently used apps, right-click the taskbar, select Toolbars and check Quick Launch. Now drag your shortcut icons onto the Quick Launch bar to the right of the Start button. To view more of them, click the double chevron for a list, or hover your mouse over the dotted area until it turns into a double-sided arrow and slide it over to the right.
Blast spyware
Prevent browser hijacks and other Internet-related annoyances by keeping updated copies of Lavasoft's Ad-Aware and Spybot-Search & Destroy on your hard drive. Both are freeware and help immunise your computer against potential threats.
Control windows using your keyboard
If you like to keep four or five windows open while you work (or play) on your computer, you'll appreciate knowing these keyboard shortcuts. You can quickly switch between your Web browser, e-mail, instant message windows, and other programs without taking your hands off the keyboard.
Minimize a window to your taskbar
ALT, SPACEBAR, N
Maximize a window so it takes up your whole desktop
ALT, SPACEBAR, X
Restore a window so it's visible but doesn't take up your whole desktop
ALT, SPACEBAR, R
Close a window
ALT+F4
Switch to the last window you had open
ALT+TAB
Switch to any window
Hold down the ALT key, and press TAB until the window you want is active
Make a keyboard shortcut
You can create your own keyboard shortcuts to launch commonly used programs. For example, I type CTRL+ALT+E to run my email program and CTRL+ALT+W to run Microsoft Word. This way I don't need to find the icon on my desktop or Start menu. To do this, you first need to find a shortcut to the program somewhere on your computer. (Usually you can find one on your Start menu.) Click your RIGHT mouse button on the shortcut and choose Properties. In the "Shortcut Key" field, type the letter you want for your hotkey. (Make sure you don't duplicate a hotkey you've already used - Windows won't warn you!). Click OK. Now you can launch that program by holding down the CTRL and ALT keys while pressing the hotkey you specified. I love hotkeys, because I have too many icons on my desktop and my Start menu is huge!
Lost in translation?
Need to translate text? Head over to Google Translate, paste the text into the field and make a selection from the drop-down menu. You can also insert URLs to translate Web pages.
Change the picture on your Welcome screen
By default, each user account in Microsoft Windows XP has a standard picture (such as a chess set, a dog, or an astronaut) associated with it. If you'd like to make the picture more personal, you can add your own image for each account. Changing pictures is fun, and it makes it easier for young children to use your computer.
To change the picture on the Welcome screen
1.
Log on to your computer as an administrator.
2.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3.
Under Pick a category, click User Accounts.
4.
Under or pick an account to change, click the account you want to choose a picture for.
5.
Under What do you want to change..., click Change the picture.
6.
Click Browse for more pictures.
7.
Click the picture you want to display for that account, and then click Open.
Windows XP displays the picture on the Welcome screen for the account you selected. To choose pictures for other accounts, return to step 3.
Instantly activate a screen saver
Screen savers were originally intended to prevent monitor burn-in, which could occur if a single image was displayed most of the time. Over time, that image would essentially become etched into the display, making the monitor harder to use. Monitor technology has improved over the years, and screen savers have become more a form of entertainment than a way to avoid burn-in.
Screen savers can be used to display your favorite photos or other images you'd like to see. Sometimes you might want to immediately start your screen saver like you would any other program, without waiting several minutes for it to start automatically.
To add a shortcut to your desktop that you can double-click to instantly start your screen saver
1.
Click the Start button, and then click Search.
2.
In the Search Results window, click All files and folders.
3.
In the All or part of the file name box, type *.scr. Then, click Search.
4.
You will see a list of screen savers in the search results. Pick the screen saver you want. You can preview it by double-clicking it. To add a shortcut to your desktop, right-click the file, click Send To, and then click Desktop.
Now you can instantly start your screen saver by double-clicking the icon on your desktop.
Use a Web graphic for your desktop background
The Web has many beautiful pictures. If you find a picture you particularly like, such as the following image of the puppy, you can make it your desktop background, so that you can see it whenever you use your computer.
To use a Web graphic for your desktop background
1.
Use Microsoft Internet Explorer to open the Web page with the picture you like.
2.
Right-click the picture, and then click Set as Background.
Help save energy and the environment by putting your monitor to sleep
You can save electricity and reduce your impact on the environment by activating your monitor’s sleep feature in Microsoft Windows XP. Activating sleep settings on just one computer may prevent considerable CO2 emissions each year. Letting your monitor sleep allows it to go into a low-power mode when you’re not using it. To wake your monitor, you simply touch your mouse or keyboard.
To set Windows XP to automatically turn your monitor off when your computer isn’t being used
1.
Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.
2.
In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Screen Saver tab. Then, click the Power button.
3.
In the Power Options Properties dialog box, click the Turn off monitor list, and select a time to automatically turn off your monitor. Five minutes is a realistic setting. If you have a portable computer, set the time for both Plugged in and Running on batteries.
4.
Click OK twice.
Windows XP will let your monitor sleep after your computer has been idle for the specified number of minutes. To reactivate your monitor, move your mouse, or press a key. You’ll save almost as much power as if you had manually turned your monitor off, but you won’t have to press your monitor’s power button.
How to quickly open the ClipBook Viewer
When you use the Cut or Copy command on the Edit menu, the material you cut or copy is automatically copied to the Clipboard. The Clipboard is a temporary holding area for the items you've cut or copied. You can use the ClipBook Viewer to see the information that you've copied to the Clipboard.
You can also store information permanently in your local ClipBook and share it with other users. The local ClipBook opens when you start ClipBook Viewer.
The ClipBook Viewer isn't listed in the Start menu in Microsoft Windows XP, so if you want quick access to it, just create a shortcut on your desktop.
To open the ClipBook View
1.
Right-click your desktop, point to New, and then click Shortcut.
2.
In the location field, type %windir%\system32\clipbrd.exe
3.
Click Next.
4.
Click Finish.
5.
Now you can double-click the clipbrd shortcut on your desktop to launch the ClipBook Viewer.
Sort programs on your All Programs menu alphabetically
Finding programs on your All Programs menu can become difficult if you have a lot of programs installed. When you install new programs, Microsoft Windows XP adds each new item to the end of the All Programs menu. You can, however, quickly sort the items on your All Programs menu in alphabetical order.
To sort items on your All Programs menu alphabetically
1.
Click Start, click All Programs, and then right-click any folder or icon.
2.
On the shortcut menu, click Sort by Name.
That's it—your programs are instantly alphabetized. Enjoy your newly organized All Programs menu.
This same tip works for your Favorites menu in Internet Explorer. In both cases, you'll probably need to go back periodically and sort the lists again, because Windows XP doesn't automatically keep the list in alphabetical order.
