Tips, Tricks, Troubleshooting & More
for Windows, The Internet, Software,  & Your PC

Plug Ins  | Tips & Tricks | Errors | Windows | Software | Databases | Technology | Scanners | Troubleshooting

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Related webpages on LibrarySupportStaff.com
Avoiding viruses, scams, and hoaxes in your email
Controlling Adware, Spyware and Malware, tips for removal
Good article to read: Inside Spyware: Part 4 
Additional Ways to Prevent Spyware and Adware 
http://www.winplanet.com/article/2981-.htm

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• Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader  Acrobat Reader software allows you to view, navigate, and print PDF (Portable Document Format) files across all major computing platforms. PDF files are the de facto standard for the electronic distribution of documents because of their compact size, and because they retain the look and feel of the original document – including typography, page layout, and graphics. Acrobat Reader works as a plug-in with either Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer. 
• Macromedia Flash Player Macromedia Flash Player lets you experience animation and entertainment in your Web browser. Flash works as a browser plug-in with Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator 
• Windows Media Player, you can play streamed media content from one easy-to-use application. The Media Player supports NetShow Advanced Streaming Format (ASF) plus other streamed media file types including WAV, AVI, QuickTime, and RealAudio and RealVideo. 
• Quicktime Player QuickTime is the Apple technology that makes streaming video, sound, music, 3D and virtual reality come alive for both Macintosh and Windows. QuickTime VR (Virtual Reality) permits you to rotate objects, zoom in or out, look in any direction, and navigate from one scene to another. You may download free QuickTime from Apple (there is a fee for QuickTime Pro). Follow the installation instructions provided. 
• RealPlayer RealOne Player streaming media system delivers rich media experiences to World Wide Web users through the synchronization and playback of multiple media types 
• Browser Plugins  | http://www.winappslist.com/internet/plugins.htm
   
  Find a very Useful Printable available at chartjungle.com
  a Internet Website Information sheet,  you can print it out and make copies, and then fill in important information about logins and passwords, etc for websites you register for. 
  Don't rely on internet bookmarks, and information stored on your computer - 
  have a 3 ring notebook to organize information that is important to you, keep it handy for reference.

  And be sure to Back up important documents on a CD or DVD, Jump drive, etc., 
  Label it and Date it, and Store it properly.

TIPS & TRICKS and Websites that have it all - all you want to know

Good websites with HELP and ADVICE

WINDOWS help
excerpts quoted from  individual websites:

Annoyances.org is the most complete collection of information assembled for and by actual users of Microsoft Windows. 
http://www.annoyances.org/

Beginners Guides: 101 Tips and Tweaks for Windows XP 
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1494

Bob Cerelli's Windows page
The main goal of this site is to provide clear, accurate and easy to understand information regarding Windows95/98/ME/2000/XP
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/

Free PC Tech 
http://freepctech.com/index.php
Windows XP tips
http://freepctech.com/pc/xp/xpindex.shtml

Microsoft.com
Using Windows XP > Computer Setup and Maintenance
Customize Your Computer
From screen resolution to background photos, you can make Windows XP look and work the way you want.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/customize/default.mspx

PCWorld tips & troubleshooting
http://www.pcworld.com/resource/browse/0,cat,1593,sortIdx,1,pg,1,00.asp

WUGNET (windows users group network)
Computing Tips
Every day we feature a graphically illustrated Computing Tip featuring either Windows XP, Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, or PC Hardware! These are the topics you've most requested and we appreciate all your feedback that has made our Computing Tips so popular. Additionally, we have archived the many years of tips we have produced for Windows 9x, Windows 2000 & Windows NT.
http://wugnet.com/tips/default.asp

See more websites re: Windows help and tips below

Lockergnome.com
To inform, empower, and entertain - Lockergnome is here as a resource for people who are curious about the world of technology around them. Novices and experts are welcome to explore our ever-growing list of resources.
http://www.lockergnome.com/

MalekTips
Free Computer and Technology Help ... over 2,640 Tips to help you Save Time and Get More Enjoyment out of Computers, Digital Cameras, and Technology. 
http://malektips.com/

Resources informational sites:

What Does That Error Message Really Mean?
http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Does-That-Error-Message-Really-Mean?&id=38045

Web Server Error Messages
http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/error.asp

What causes things like fatal exception errors and invalid page faults?
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question288.htm

Articles: in PCWorld.com magazine
Window Tips: XP Error Messages--You Decide What to Report 
Customize outbound Windows XP error messages; add sounds and visual effects to your PC's error messages; diagnose memory errors; a better way to tweak Windows.
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,108734,00.asp
ALL Windows Tips articles
http://www.pcworld.com/resource/browse/0,cat,1594,sortIdx,1,pg,1,00.asp

Stupid PC Error Messages: Fatal! 
How lousy software design makes bad situations even worse.
Stephen Manes | From the February 2005 issue of PC World magazine
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,118811,00.asp

Answer Line: Stop Those Annoying Boot-Up Error Messages 
Plus: Get an old app to print via USB; Spybot's faulty DSO bug report; and create a backup of your CMOS.
Lincoln Spector | From the June 2005 issue of PC World magazine
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,120357,00.asp

TROUBLESHOOTING
WINDOWS STOP MESSAGES
http://aumha.org/win5/kbestop.php

See the resources on this page
http://www.annoyances.org/

Disk Cleanup Tip
If you’re running low on hard drive space,
and you want to find a way to free up space without
deleting valuable programs, 
one option is to run Disk Cleanup 
(access it by clicking Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools).
The program deletes unneeded files that programs leave scattered on your hard drive.

Visit these Online Learning Spots - they often will have Computer Hardware & Periperals, and Systems training,
as well as Software applications tutorials:

• HP Learning Center 
• Barnes & Noble University 
• Virtual University

Help With PCs.com
Computer Tricks - Computer Tips
http://www.helpwithpcs.com/tipsandtricks/tips.htm

Visit What Is.com - and Find out!
http://whatis.techtarget.com/

The Secret Guide to Computers
Excerpt quoted:
Read it online for free! The Secret Guide to Computers is the world's only complete computer tutorial.
http://www.secretguide.net/read/index.php

Visit the CompInfo Center
Find The Best Sources of Computer Information
http://www.compinfo-center.com/

PC Hell
Quoted excerpt:
Everyone has been to PC Hell at one time or another. It's that place you visit when your personal computer is driving you insane with problems, glitches, and so on. To try to soothe the frustration, we'll provide some tips, hints, and troubleshooting remedies to help you get out of PC Hell. Be warned however, sometimes there is no exit....
http://www.pchell.com/index.shtml
*Related - see LibrarySupportStaff.com's page with resources about email viruses, spam mail, etc.

Smart Computing Articles **Please NOTE!!**
Links to SmartComputing Articles may not access
content after Feb. 2002, unless you are a Smart Computing subscriber
It is a terrific magazine! and subscribing to it now - gives you access to content of past issues.

• Learn How to: Organize Files & Folders 
  Put Everything In Its Place 
  Smart Computing  January 2003 • Vol.7 Issue 1
  Page(s) 9-12 in print issue
  Copyright 2004© Sandhills Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
  And
  "Take Control Of Your Files & Folders"   - Organize & Ye Shall Find 
  Smart Computing  August 2001 • Vol.7 Issue 8
  Page(s) 19-20 in print issue
  Copyright 2004© Sandhills Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

  Quoted Excerpt
  File & Folder Tips

  One of the nice things about Windows 95/98/Me/XP is that there are usually several ways to do the same thing. The following tips can help you master your files and folders your way.

  • Is your mouse arm getting tired? Try these shortcut keystrokes. To rename a highlighted file or folder, press F2. Type a name, then press ENTER. Some other keystrokes are CTRL-X (CTRL and X at the same time) to Cut, CTRL-C to Copy, and CTRL-V to Paste.

  • Windows Explorer has an Up button near the top of its window. Click it to move from the highlighted folder to the next one above it.

  • Most recent applications have Create New Folder buttons near the tops of their Save As windows (click File and Save As to save a document for the first time). A Create New Folder button lets you make an appropriate folder if you’re ready to save a document that just doesn’t belong in your existing folders.

  • If you save or move a file to the Desktop, you’ll see it as an icon when the Desktop is visible. Don’t be tempted to leave many files there, though. They clutter your screen and tie up system resources, such as memory.
  Copyright 2004© Sandhills Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
  

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  Share Drives & Folders
  Spread The Wealth Across Your Network 
  Smart Computing  November 2003 • Vol.1 Issue 1
  Page(s) 44-46 in print issue
  Copyright 2004© Sandhills Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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  More Tips:
  Find a File on Your Computer (Microsoft Windows) from Learn that.com
  Quoted directly from Learn That.com site
  http://www.learnthat.com/courses/computer/findfiles/
  Have you ever needed a file on your computer that you never thought you would use again?
  Maybe you wrote a letter to someone, and need to see exactly what you said. 
  Or maybe you have saved old reports from your job somewhere on your computer, 
  and are now frantically trying to find them. If this hasn't happened to you yet, 
  it will eventually, and that is why it's helpful to know how to
  find files on your computer's hard drive using Microsoft Windows®. 

  Understanding Folders
  Folder System / Directory System (Windows Explorer)
  http://www.learnthat.com/courses/computer/directory/
  Have you ever wondered where a file comes from? 
  You load a program and try to open a file you saved earlier, 
  but you don't understand all the folders on the screen
  This online course will help explain Windows Explorer 
  and the folder system your computer uses to keep track of files.
  It's really a lot easier than you may now think, and 
  hopefully we'll discover some answers to your computer questions

  Basic Windows Tutorials - Figuring Out how Big a File is
  How do I determine the Size of a Particular File?
  http://www.learnthat.com/courses/computer/windows/filesize1.shtml
  Computer files are measured in units called "bytes" (pronounced "bites").
  A byte roughly translates into a character or letter. For example, if I type "Love & War", 
  I have typed in 10 bytes (7 letters, 1 symbol, 2 spaces). 
  Special formatting codes such as Bold, Italics, or Underline 
  add bytes to the document, as well as different fonts or font sizes.

  **Note** - to see ALL courses offered by LearnThat.com 
  visit : http://www.learnthat.com/courses/
  How Do I Download and Unzip  Files?
  http://www.passtheshareware.com/r-unzip.htm   
  

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• Read Part 1 of:  
  Organizing the Files You Download from the Net
  And Part 2More Organizing Tips
• Neat Net Tricks  
• Windows XP Tips 
• Windows 95/98 Tips & Tricks

Import E-mail Folders & Messages
You Can Easily Transfer Data From One E-mail Application To Another 
Smart Computing  October 2000 • Vol.6 Issue 10
Page(s) 61-62 in print issue

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Plug Ins  | Tips & Tricks | Windows | Software | Databases | Technology | Scanners | Troubleshooting

For Computer Hardware & Software Questions
 Become a Dr. Tech Member and  You'll Always Be Able to:
Ask Dr. Tech for Help & Support 
*excerpt quoted from website: www.askdrtech.com*:

Computer Help & Support for your PC or Mac

    * Unlimited live support all year round.
    * Friendly help without the techno-jargon.
    * Worldwide support access 24-hrs a day.
    * Solve hardware & software problems.
    * Over 40 tools & service benefits. 

• Computer Repair 
• Unlimited Live Tech Support 
  Unlimited Toll-Free PC Tech Support $89 A Year

   SHORTCUT KEYS
    Microsoft Windows and applications shortcut keys
http://www.computerhope.com/shortcut.htm

Bob Cerelli's Windows page

Free Computer Training  ~ Windows, Front Page, Palm OS and  more

From :The Beginners Center on CNet Learn all about Windows 98
And
Windows ME , WinZip and Windows Media Player
Windows Help Net/Windows 98
WinFiles.Com..Lots of Resouceful Information

Windows XP Inside & Out 
Easier than Windows 2000 and less crash-prone than Win Me, XP is Microsoft's biggest and most controversial OS upgrade in years. We tested it to see what works, what doesn't, and if you should make the leap.
Scott Spanbauer
From the November 2001 issue of PC World magazine

Free Windows XP Courses & Tutorials
http://www.learnthat.com/courses/computer/windowsxp/

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Microsoft's WINDOWS page..The MOTHER of ALL WINDOWS!!

Still, "Annoyed" by Windows!
Visit Annoyances.Org

Learn That tutorials

Basic Windows Tutorials - Windows Training
http://www.learnthat.com/courses/computer/windows/index.shtml

Basic Windows Tutorials - Backing up your Hard Drive
http://www.learnthat.com/courses/computer/windows/backup1.shtml

How to Build a Computer System or PC, Computer Assembly, Install OS 
http://www.learnthat.com/courses/computer/buildpc/

How to Determine a File's Size in Windows
http://www.learnthat.com/quicktips/windows/filesize.shtml

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See PCWorld's help for Hardware & Systems
http://www.pcworld.com/resource/browse/0,cat,1004,sortIdx,1,00.asp

See my page with resources for Keeping your Computer Clean and Humming
4compcare.html


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Plug Ins  | Tips & Tricks | Windows | Software | Databases | Technology | Scanners | Troubleshooting


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See also: and More software applications leanring links
Click on Graphic for today's Nerdy Books Software tip of the day.
Copyright 2002

Office Productivity Software :

Microsoft Office Suites
Learn the latest Microsofts' Hints, Tips and Latest Downloads For:
Microsoft OFFICE Products
Previous to Office 2000

Microsoft.com :
Excerpt quoted from website
Learn Your Favorite Software Online
The Insider Learning Library features free* interactive courses—online and at your own pace! 
Take a class from the beginning or select individual lessons to sharpen specific skills.
http://www.microsoft.com/insider/learning/lessons.asp

Education Online for Computer Software
http://www.educationonlineforcomputers.com/

Microsoft Free Online Support, Tools, Templates & More and Office Downloads

Microsoft Office 2000 Tutorials

From Microsoft: 
Learn how to use and integrate Microsoft software in the classroom with in-depth step-by-step tutorial guides for students, teachers, and staff.
http://www.microsoft.com/education/default.asp?ID=Tutorials
A Practical Guide For Teachers 
http://www.microsoft.com/education/default.asp?ID=O2kTutorial